JP2013255531A - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing and drying machine capable of collecting and removing lint remaining in a drying air path by a drying filter.SOLUTION: A washing and drying machine, when removing lint remaining in a drying air path, increases a speed of drying air flowing in the drying air path to peel off the lint remaining in the drying air path by a flow of the drying air increased in speed to take the lint into the drying air to collect and remove the lint by a drying filter. The washing and drying machine can take the lint, which otherwise cannot be collected or removed in the drying air path, into the fast flow of the drying air to collect and remove the lint conveyed in the flow by the drying filter.

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing and drying machine that dries clothes and the like with high-temperature air, and particularly relates to a washing and drying machine that includes a filter that collects lint in a drying air passage through which drying air flows. is there.

  2. Description of the Related Art Washing / drying machines having a function of drying dry clothes heated by a heat source such as an electric heater or a heat pump after the clothes are washed, rinsed, and dehydrated are dried.

  This washing dryer dries clothes using dry air circulating in the rotating drum. For example, the high temperature air blown from above the rotating drum removes moisture from the clothes and rotates the air containing water vapor. It is sent to the drying air passage from below the drum, moisture is condensed in the drying air passage, converted into dry air, heated again, and supplied to the rotating drum.

  Since the rotating drum dries the clothes while rotating, the lint is peeled off from the rotating clothes, taken into the drying air, and sent to the drying air path. The air dehumidified in the drying air passage is then transferred by a blower fan provided in the drying air passage, and lint contained in the air is collected and removed by a drying filter provided in the drying air passage.

  A general configuration of the washing / drying machine is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-72464 (Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-72464 A

  In such a washing dryer using a drying filter, lint accumulates on the drying filter as the usage time elapses, but the drying filter is configured to be detachable from the washing dryer. When a lot of lint accumulated on the filter, it was possible to remove the accumulated lint by removing the dry filter and cleaning it.

  However, the lint is not necessarily collected by the dry filter, and in some cases, it may also accumulate in the dry air path. Unlike the drying filter, the drying air passage is not configured to be removed and cleaned, and lint accumulates in the drying air passage as the number of times of drying increases. And it was not hygienic. Further, depending on the case, there is a possibility that it may cause troubles such as an obstacle to the flow of dry air and a longer drying time or a reduced drying effect.

  Therefore, it has become necessary to peel off the lint stagnant in the drying air path as soon as possible, transport it to the drying filter, and collect the lint with the drying filter.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a washing and drying machine capable of collecting and removing lint stagnant in a drying air passage with a drying filter.

  The feature of the present invention is that when removing the lint in the drying air passage, the speed of the air flowing through the drying air passage is increased, and the lint stuck in the drying air passage is peeled off by this accelerated air flow. It is in the place where it is taken into the stream and collected with a dry filter.

  According to the present invention, the waste yarn stagnated in the drying air passage can be taken into the fast flow of air, and the waste yarn riding on this flow can be collected and removed by the drying filter. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the accumulation of lint in the dry air passage and to reduce the generation of germs and mold.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the external appearance of the washing-drying machine to which this invention is applied. It is a permeation | transmission perspective view which shows the internal structure of the washing-drying machine shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the dry air path part which shows the structure of the dry air path, and especially the switching valve is arrange | positioned. It is sectional drawing of the dry air path part of the state which connected the dry air path which is one of the operation modes of a switching valve. It is sectional drawing of the dry air path part of the state which interrupted | blocked the dry air path which is one of the operation modes of a switching valve, and connected the inside of a housing | casing and the rotating drum. It is sectional drawing of the dry air path part of the state which connected the dry air path and the inside of a housing | casing to the rotating drum which is one of the operation modes of a switching valve. It is a flowchart figure of the drying air path cleaning mode of the washing dryer which becomes one Example of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the state by which the opening / closing door of the washing / drying machine was opened when the flowchart shown in FIG. 7 was performed. It is a flowchart figure of the drying air path cleaning mode of the washing dryer which becomes the other Example of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view in the state where the auxiliary air opening / closing door of the washing / drying machine was opened when the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 was executed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications and application examples are included in the technical concept of the present invention. Is also included in the range.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washing / drying machine 1 includes an outer tub 2, a rotating drum 3, a housing 4, an opening / closing door 5 a, a door opening 5 b, a heater 6, a blower fan 7, a drying air path 8, and a drying filter 9. , A switching valve 10a, a switching valve opening 10b, an auxiliary opening / closing door 11a, an auxiliary opening 11b, an auxiliary intake passage 12, a drain hose 13, a drying air passage 14, a jet outlet 15 and the like. The auxiliary opening / closing door 11a is opened when the drying air passage is cleaned as will be described later.

  In the washing / drying machine 1, the rotary drum 3 included in the outer tub 2 disposed in the housing 4 is rotated by an electric motor (not shown). Further, tap water used for washing is also supplied from a water tap (not shown). When a necessary amount of tap water is supplied into the outer tub 2, the rotating drum 3 is rotated by an electric motor to wash laundry such as clothes. What to wash.

  When washing is completed, the wash water in the outer tub 2 is drained from the drain hose 13 by a drain plug (not shown), and then the rotating drum 14 is rotated to perform dehydration.

  When washing, rinsing, and dehydration are completed, a drying process is executed, and high-temperature air dried by the heater 6 and the blower fan 7 is blown into the rotary drum 3 from the outlet 15 of the drying air passage 8, and the inside of the rotary drum 3. Dry clothing. Also during this drying, the rotating drum 3 is rotated to reduce uneven drying of clothes.

  A heat pump mechanism may be employed in place of the heater 6, and the heat pump can dehumidify and heat the drying air.

  The air blown into the rotary drum 3 flows into the drying air passage 14, is dehumidified at this portion, and flows into the drying air passage 8 again.

  When the drying process is completed, the opening / closing door 5a is opened, the dried clothes are taken out, and the laundry drying is completed.

  The above washing, rinsing, dehydrating and drying steps are selected and executed by a control device (not shown) provided in the washing / drying machine 1, and the details of each step are already well known. Since there is, further explanation is omitted.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the lint is collected and removed. During drying, the moist air in the rotary drum 3 is dehumidified when passing through the drying air passage 14, and the lint is removed by the drying filter 9. Is then accelerated by the blower fan 7, heated by the heater 6, and ejected from the ejection port 15 toward the clothing in the rotary drum 3. The drying filter 9 is configured to be removable from the housing 4 because cleaning is necessary when lint accumulates.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the switching valve 10 a is configured to be movable so as to continuously change its area from a position closing the switching valve opening 10 b to a position closing the drying air passage 8.

  FIG. 4 shows a case where the switching valve opening 10 b is closed, and shows a state in which dry air passes from the dry air passage 14 toward the dry air passage 8. In other words, the drying air is circulated by connecting the upper and lower portions of the rotating drum 3 with the drying air passage 14 and the drying air passage 8.

  FIG. 5 shows a case where the drying air passage 8 is blocked. The humid air from the drying air passage 14 is blocked, and the high-temperature and low-humidity air inside the housing 4 is passed from the switching valve opening 10b to the drying air passage. 8 shows a state of being taken in and fed into the rotary drum 3.

  Heat is generated in the housing 4 by an electric motor that rotates the rotating drum 3, a blower fan 7, various mechanical bearings, and the like, and this heat is transferred to air taken from a gap outside the housing 4 to be drying air. . As a result, exhaust heat is effectively utilized.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the switching valve 10a can take an arbitrary position between a position where the switching valve opening 10b is closed and a position where the drying air passage 8 is closed. In this case, the switching valve 10a can narrow the passage of air between the drying air passage 14 and the switching valve opening 10b, and has an effect of increasing the flow velocity of both air.

  In the case of this embodiment, the moisture condensed in the drying air passage 14 is discharged from the drain hose 13, and the moist air in the outer tub 2 is discharged from the drain hose 13 by increasing the pressure. It has become.

  Next, a method for cleaning lint stagnant in the drying air path 8 and the drying air path 14 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the “dry air path cleaning mode” of the washing / drying machine according to the first embodiment (Example 1) of the present invention. This dry air path cleaning mode is the above-described washing, rinsing, It is executed by a control device built in the washing / drying machine 1 for executing the steps of dehydration and drying.

  This dry air path cleaning mode is one of the sequences of the washing and drying machine 1 and is activated by depressing a dry air path cleaning mode button (not shown) provided on the operation panel unit of the washing and drying machine 1.

  In this embodiment, when the dry air path cleaning mode is executed, the switching valve 10a is executed in such a manner that the air is circulated by connecting the dry air path 8 and the dry air path 14 as shown in FIG. is there.

  In FIG. 7, it is determined in step 60 whether or not the dry air path cleaning mode button has been pressed, and if it is determined that the dry air path cleaning mode button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step 61; Monitor whether the cleaning mode button is pressed.

  If it is determined in step 60 that the dry air path cleaning mode button has been pressed, in step 61, the opening / closing door 5a closing the door opening 5b of the washing dryer 1 is opened. FIG. 8 shows a state where the opening / closing door 5a of the washing / drying machine is opened.

  The opening / closing door 5a is configured to be opened using an opening / closing mechanism using an electromagnetic mechanism. When a drive signal is received from the control device, the electromagnetic mechanism is activated to open the opening / closing door 5a. If this opening / closing mechanism is not used, the opening / closing door 5a is opened to the user by giving a guidance message such as “Execute dry air path cleaning mode. Open the opening / closing door” by the voice guidance device. You may be allowed to ask.

  Next, it proceeds to step 62 to determine whether or not the open / close door 5a has been opened. If it is determined that the open / close door 5a has been opened, the process proceeds to step 63. Otherwise, the process returns to step 62 to determine whether the open / close door 5a has been opened. To monitor. Whether the open / close door 5a is open can be detected by a switch (not shown) attached to the open / close door 5a.

  If it is determined in step 62 that the opening / closing door 5a has been opened, in step 63, the blower fan 7 is rotated. The blower fan 7 may be a constant rotation type fan or a variable type fan whose rotation speed is adjusted. In the case of the variable type, a drive signal is sent to the electric motor that drives the fan so as to rotate in the high rotation speed region as much as possible.

  When the blower fan 7 is operated with the open / close door 5a opened as shown in FIG. 8, a large amount of air outside the washing / drying machine 1 can be sucked into the outer tub 2 and the rotary drum 3 from the door opening 5b. It becomes like this.

  If the opening / closing door 5a cannot be opened, the amount of air flowing through the drying air passage 8 and the drying air passage 14 is limited, so the speed of the air flowing through the drying air passage 8 and the drying air passage 14 is necessary in the normal drying process. Speed.

  However, if the blower fan 7 is operated with the open / close door 5a opened, a large amount of air outside the washing / drying machine 1 can be sucked into the outer tub 2 and the rotating drum 3 from the door opening 5b. The wind speed of the air flowing through the air path 8 and the dry air path 14 can be increased.

  As the wind speed of the air flowing in the drying air path 8 and the drying air path 14 increases, the lint remaining in the drying air path 8 and the drying air path 14 is peeled off by the high-speed air, and the drying filter 9 And can be effectively collected by the drying filter 9.

  Next, in a state where step 63 is being executed, the routine proceeds to step 64, where it is determined whether or not the time from the start of operation of the blower fan 7 has exceeded a predetermined time. If the predetermined time is not exceeded, the process returns to step 63 to continue the operation of the blower fan 7, and if the predetermined time is exceeded, the dry air path cleaning mode is terminated.

  In this way, since the blower fan 7 is operated with the open / close door 5 a opened, a large amount of air can be sucked into the outer tub 2 and the rotating drum 3. For this reason, since a large amount of air flows from the rotary drum 3 into the drying air path 8 and the drying air path 14, the air speed of the air can be increased.

  As the wind speed of the air flowing in the drying air path 8 and the drying air path 14 increases, the lint remaining in the drying air path 8 and the drying air path 14 is peeled off by the high-speed air, and the drying filter 9 And can be effectively collected by the drying filter 9.

  According to the present embodiment, the lint stagnant in the drying air passage can be taken into the fast flow of air, so that the lint on the flow can be collected and removed by the drying filter. . For this reason, it is possible to suppress the accumulation of lint in the dry air passage and to reduce the generation of germs and mold.

  In addition, if a large amount of lint accumulates and the passage area of the drying air passage becomes narrow, it may interfere with the flow of dry air, resulting in a longer drying time or a lower drying effect. However, this can be prevented in advance. In particular, the accumulation of lint is remarkable in the portion where the air flow is changed, such as in the vicinity of the bent portion of the connecting portion of the drying air passage 8 and the drying air passage 14, and there is a concern that the passage area may be reduced. Therefore, by preventing the accumulation of lint, obstructions such as an increase in drying time and a decrease in drying effect can be eliminated.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The difference from the first embodiment is that a special auxiliary is performed without opening the opening / closing door 5a when executing the “dry air passage cleaning mode”. The opening / closing door 11a is opened.

  In FIG. 9, it is determined in step 80 whether or not the dry air path cleaning mode button has been pressed, and if it is determined that the dry air path cleaning mode button has been pressed, the process proceeds to step 81; Monitor whether the cleaning mode button is pressed.

  If it is determined in step 80 that the dry air path cleaning mode button has been pressed, in step 81, the auxiliary opening / closing door 11a closing the auxiliary opening 11b provided in the lower part of the washing machine 1 is opened. FIG. 10 shows a state where the auxiliary opening / closing door 11a of the washing / drying machine is opened.

  The auxiliary opening / closing door 11a is configured to be opened using an opening / closing mechanism using an electromagnetic mechanism. When a drive signal is received from the control device, the electromagnetic mechanism is activated to open the auxiliary opening / closing door 11a.

  When this opening / closing mechanism is not used, the auxiliary opening / closing door 11a is opened to the user by giving a guidance notification such as “Execute dry air path cleaning mode. Open the auxiliary opening / closing door” by the voice guidance device. You may be allowed to ask.

  Next, the process proceeds to step 82 to determine whether or not the auxiliary opening / closing door 11a has been opened. If it is determined that the auxiliary opening / closing door 11a has been opened, the process proceeds to step 83. Otherwise, the process returns to step 82 and the auxiliary opening / closing door 11a is opened. Monitor whether or not Whether or not the auxiliary door 11a is open can be detected by a switch (not shown) attached to the auxiliary door 11a.

  If it is determined in step 82 that the auxiliary opening / closing door 11a has been opened, in step 83, the blower fan 7 is rotated.

  Then, when the blower fan 7 is operated with the auxiliary opening / closing door 11a opened as shown in FIG. 10, a large amount of air outside the washing / drying machine 1 from the auxiliary opening 11b via the auxiliary intake passage 12 and the outer tub 2 and The rotating drum 3 can be sucked.

  When the auxiliary opening / closing door 11a cannot be opened, the amount of air flowing through the drying air passage 8 and the drying air passage 14 is limited, so the speed of the air flowing through the drying air passage 8 and the drying air passage 14 is the normal drying process. The required speed.

  However, if the blower fan 7 is operated with the auxiliary opening / closing door 5a opened, a large amount of air outside the washing / drying machine 1 can be sucked into the outer tub 2 and the rotating drum 3 from the auxiliary intake passage 12 through the auxiliary opening 5b. The speed of the air flowing from the rotary drum 3 through the drying air path 8 and the drying air path 14 can be increased.

  As the wind speed of the air flowing in the drying air path 8 and the drying air path 14 increases, the lint remaining in the drying air path 8 and the drying air path 14 is peeled off by the high-speed air, and the drying filter 9 And can be effectively collected by the drying filter 9.

  Next, in the state where step 83 is being executed, the routine proceeds to step 84, where it is determined whether or not the time from the start of operation of the blower fan 7 has exceeded a predetermined time. If the predetermined time is not exceeded, the process returns to step 83 to continue the operation of the blower fan 7, and if the predetermined time is exceeded, the dry air path cleaning mode is terminated.

  Thus, since the blower fan 7 is operated with the auxiliary opening / closing door 11a opened, a large amount of air can be sucked into the outer tub 2 and the rotating drum 3. For this reason, since a large amount of air flows from the rotary drum 3 into the drying air path 8 and the drying air path 14, the air speed of the air can be increased.

  As the wind speed of the air flowing in the drying air path 8 and the drying air path 14 increases, the lint remaining in the drying air path 8 and the drying air path 14 is peeled off by the high-speed air, and the drying filter 9 And can be effectively collected by the drying filter 9.

  In the first embodiment, the open / close door 5a for taking in and out the clothes is an air intake port used in the dry air path cleaning mode. However, in the second embodiment, the auxiliary open / close door 11a provided at the lower portion of the washing / drying machine 1 is provided with a dry wind. Air intake used for road cleaning mode. For this reason, there exists an advantage which can make a drive mechanism small with respect to the drive mechanism of the opening / closing door 5a with a large outer diameter.

  Further, when the opening / closing door 5a having a large outer diameter is opened when the floor around the washing / drying machine 1 is cleaned, it becomes an obstacle to cleaning, but when the auxiliary opening / closing door 11a is employed, it is provided at the lower part of the washing / drying machine so that it is cleaned. There is also an advantage that does not get in the way.

  In addition, although the auxiliary opening / closing door 11a and the auxiliary opening 11b are provided in the lower front portion of the washing / drying machine 1, they may be provided on the side surface or the back surface.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6. What is different from the first and second embodiments is the opening / closing position of the intake valve 10a.

  In the dry air path cleaning mode shown in the first and second embodiments, the open / close position of the switching valve 10a is the position shown in FIG. 4, but in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the switching valve 10a is the switching valve opening 10b. Is open at a position intermediate between a position for closing the air and a position for closing the drying air passage 8. The basic operation in the dry air path cleaning mode is the same as in the first and second embodiments.

  In this embodiment, when the blower fan 7 is operated with the intake valve 10a half open, the air passage near the connecting portion between the drying air passage 8 and the drying air passage 14 becomes narrow, and the wind speed can be increased. By increasing the wind speed, the lint stagnating in the drying air path 8 and the drying air path 14 can be guided to the drying filter 9, and can be effectively collected by the drying filter 9.

  Incidentally, since there is a bend in the vicinity of the connection portion between the drying air passage 8 and the drying air passage 14, stagnation of lint tends to occur at this portion, but in this embodiment, the vicinity of the connection portion between the drying air passage 8 and the drying air passage 14. It is expected that the lint can be efficiently peeled by narrowing the air passage and increasing the wind speed of the bent portion.

  Further, since air is also supplied from the inside of the housing 4, for example, when there is little air supplied from the auxiliary opening / closing door 11 a in the second embodiment, air can be supplied in addition to this, so the drying air path 8 is further increased. And the speed of the air flowing through the drying air passage 14 can be increased.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment, the dry air path cleaning mode is executed by the external input of the dry air path cleaning mode button. However, in this embodiment, the dry air path cleaning mode is performed after the drying process is finished. Is different.

  Although not described with reference to the drawings, a cleaning mode addition setting button for adding a drying air path cleaning mode is provided on the operation panel unit of the washing / drying machine 1 at least when the drying process is completed. The dry air path cleaning mode shown in any one of Example 2 and Example 3 is executed at least when the drying process is completed.

  Therefore, the computer in the control device operates to forcibly start the flowchart of the dry air path cleaning mode in FIG. 7 or FIG. 9 when the drying process is completed.

  In this case, the determination step of Step 60 or Step 80 of Example 1 or Example 2 may be changed to a determination step “whether or not the drying process is completed”.

  Therefore, when the drying process is completed, each step of the first embodiment or the second embodiment is executed, and the air velocity of the air flowing in the drying air passage 8 or the drying air passage 14 is increased, whereby the drying air passage 8 or the drying air passage. The waste yarn stagnating in 14 is peeled off by this high-speed air, guided to the drying filter 9, and can be effectively collected by the drying filter 9.

  Moreover, since the lint is immediately after the drying process is completed, the lint is stagnant in the drying air passage 8 and the drying air passage 14 in a state of being easily peeled off. It is easily peeled off and guided to the dry filter 9 and can be effectively collected by the dry filter 9.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when removing the lint of the drying air passage, the speed of the drying air flowing through the drying air passage is increased, and the yarn stagnated in the drying air passage by the accelerated flow of the drying air. Debris can be peeled off, taken into dry air, collected and removed with a dry filter. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the accumulation of lint in the dry air passage and to reduce the generation of germs and mold.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Washing-dryer, 2 ... Outer tub, 3 ... Rotating drum, 4 ... Housing, 5a ... Opening / closing door, 5b ... Door opening, 6 ... Heater, 7 ... Blower fan, 8 ... Drying air path, 9 ... Drying filter DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10a ... Switching valve, 10b ... Switching valve opening, 11a ... Auxiliary opening / closing door, 11b ... Auxiliary opening, 12 ... Auxiliary intake path, 13 ... Drainage hose, 14 ... Drying air path, 15 ... Spout.

Claims (5)

An outer tub having an opening for taking in and out the laundry;
A rotating drum in which the laundry is stored;
A housing for housing the outer tub and the rotating drum;
An open / close door that opens and closes the opening of the outer tub;
A drying mechanism having a drying source connected to the heating source, the blower fan and the rotating drum;
A drying filter that is detachably attached to the drying air passage and removes lint from the air flowing through the drying air passage;
Set and execute each mode of washing, rinsing, dehydration, and drying process, and set a drying air path cleaning mode that speeds up the air flowing through the drying air path to clean the lint stuck in the drying air path And a control means for executing the washing and drying machine. In the washing and drying machine according to claim 1,
The control means opens the open / close door that opens and closes the opening of the outer tub and drives the blower fan when executing the drying air path cleaning mode. In the washing and drying machine according to claim 1,
The control means, when executing the dry air path cleaning mode, opens an auxiliary opening connected to the outer tub and opened to the outside of the housing by an auxiliary opening / closing door and drives the blower fan. And a washing dryer. In the washing and drying machine according to any one of claims 2 and 3,
The dry air passage is provided with a switching valve, and when the dry air passage cleaning mode is executed, the passage area of the dry air passage is reduced by the switching valve so that the air velocity is increased. Dryer. In the washing and drying machine according to claim 1,
The said control means performs the said drying air path cleaning mode, after each process of washing, a rinse, spin-drying | dehydration, and drying is completed, The washing-drying machine characterized by the above-mentioned.

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