JP2014100174A - Clothes dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clothes dryer capable of providing the degree of dryness when a user views a display content of a display to improve usability.SOLUTION: The clothes dryer comprises: a drying chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet, in which an article to be dried is housed; a circulation air passage provided outside the drying chamber and having one end part connected to the air inlet and other end part connected to the air outlet; a blower for circulating air in the drying chamber through the circulation air passage; drying means having heating means for heating the circulation air circulated by the blower and dehumidification means for cooling and dehumidifying the circulation air to dry the article to be dried in corporation with the blower; dryness degree determination means for determining a degree of dryness of the article to be dried in a drying operation; and a display for displaying the degree of dryness determined by the dryness degree determination means in a drying operation.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a clothes dryer.

  In a clothes dryer, such as a drum-type washing and drying machine that can perform from washing to drying, when a course to be performed from washing to drying is set, clothes are put into a rotating tub (drum) that also serves as a washing tub and drying room When the operation is started in such a state, the weight of the thrown clothes is first detected, the temperature of the room where the washing / drying machine is installed is detected, and based on the detection result, the control means takes until the end of the operation. There are some which calculate an initial guide time and display the calculated guide time on the display unit of the operation panel. At this time, the user can set courses such as a dry careful course (overdried state) and an iron course (raw dry state) as well as a standard course as an operation course. The initial reference time displayed on the display unit also varies depending on the set course. The reference time is also a display of the remaining time, and the display of the time decreases as the driving process proceeds. The user can predict the driving end time by looking at the time display.

  In recent years, depending on the user who uses such a washing and drying machine, there are various ways to use it as a drying machine, such as drying it to some extent and then drying it in the room or taking out clothes that are easy to shrink or ironing. It has become. However, the user does not know how much the drying rate of the clothing has progressed even when viewing the display of the remaining time. For this reason, the current situation is that the operation is temporarily stopped, the door is opened, and the clothes are directly touched by hand to check the dryness.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-244575 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-235080

  Therefore, a clothes dryer is provided in which the user can grasp the degree of dryness by looking at the display on the display and can improve the usability.

  The clothes dryer according to the present embodiment has an air supply port and an exhaust port, and a drying chamber in which an object to be dried is accommodated, and one end portion of the clothes dryer connected to the air supply port. A circulation air passage whose other end is connected to the exhaust port, a blower that circulates air in the drying chamber through the circulation air passage, heating means that heats the circulation air circulated by the blower, and the circulation Dehumidifying means for cooling and dehumidifying air, drying means for drying the object to be dried in cooperation with the blower, drying degree determining means for determining the degree of drying of the object to be dried during a drying operation, and the drying A display for displaying the dryness determined by the dryness determination means during operation.

1 is an external perspective view of a clothes dryer (washing dryer) according to a first embodiment. Longitudinal side view of the schematic configuration of the clothes dryer, partially broken away Longitudinal rear view showing the schematic configuration of the clothes dryer partially broken Schematic configuration diagram showing the relationship between the refrigeration cycle and the circulation air path by the heat pump unit The front view of the display part vicinity in an operation panel is shown, (a) is a figure which shows the example of a display of a display part when setting the drying degree at the time of completion | finish of drying before a driving | operation start, (b) is in a drying process. Showing a display example of the display unit Block diagram showing schematic configuration of control system The figure which shows the temperature change of each part at the time of drying operation, and the change of the frequency of a compressor FIG. 6 equivalent diagram according to the second embodiment The figure which shows the example of a display of the display part of a portable terminal FIG. 6 equivalent diagram according to the third embodiment The figure which shows the relationship between the total electric energy of a compressor and an air blower for every clothing weight, and a drying rate (drying degree). FIG. 2 equivalent diagram according to the fifth embodiment

Hereinafter, the clothes dryer by several embodiment is demonstrated based on drawing. In addition, in each embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the substantially same component, and description is abbreviate | omitted.
(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a laundry dryer 1 as a clothes dryer includes an outer box 2, a water tank 3, a rotating tank 4, a motor 5, and a door 6. In the present embodiment, the door 6 side of the outer box 2 will be described as the front side of the washing / drying machine 1. This washing / drying machine 1 is a so-called drum-type washing / drying machine having a heat pump-type drying function and having a rotating shaft 7 connected to the rotating tub 4 oriented in the front-rear direction. The outer box 2 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape with a steel plate or the like, and the front surface is slightly inclined forwardly downward. An entrance 8 for clothing is formed on the inclined front surface, and a door 6 for opening and closing the entrance 8 is provided. The door 6 can be rotated in the front-rear direction via a hinge (not shown).

  The water tank 3 is housed inside the outer box 2 and is elastically supported via a suspension (not shown). The rotating tank 4 is accommodated in the water tank 3. Both the water tank 3 and the rotating tank 4 are formed in a cylindrical shape. The water tank 3 has an opening 10 formed at the front end and an end plate 11 provided at the rear end, and is arranged in an upwardly inclined shape in which the front opening 10 side is higher than the rear end plate 11 side. Has been. The opening 10 and the entrance / exit 8 are connected by a cylindrical bellows 12.

  As with the water tank 3, the rotary tank 4 has an opening 13 formed at the front end and an end plate 14 provided at the rear end, and the front opening 13 side is higher than the rear end plate 14 side. It is arranged in an upwardly inclined manner. A balance ring 15 is provided at the peripheral edge of the opening 13 of the rotating tub 4. The opening 13 of the rotating tub 4 communicates with the entrance / exit 8 through the opening 10 of the water tub 3 and the bellows 12. Therefore, laundry such as clothes is put into and out of the rotating tub 4 through the doorway 8, the opening 10 and the opening 13 with the door 6 opened. The water tank 3 and the rotating tank 4 function as a storage chamber for storing clothes and also function as a drying chamber during drying. The door 6 is transparent, and the state in the rotating tub 4 can be seen through from the front of the door 6 with the door 6 closed.

  A drainage part 17 is provided at the lower part of the rear part of the water tank 3. The drainage unit 17 includes a drainage port 18, a drainage valve 19, and a drainage hose 20. In a state where the drain valve 19 is closed, the water supplied into the water tank 3 is stored in the water tank 3, and the water in the water tank 3 is drained from the drain port 18 as the drain valve 19 is opened. It is discharged out of the machine through the valve 19 and the drainage hose 20. The water tank 3 has an exhaust port 21 and an air supply port 22. The exhaust port 21 is provided in the upper front portion of the peripheral wall constituting the cylindrical portion of the water tank 3. The air supply port 22 is provided on the end plate 11 of the water tank 3 at a portion slightly above the center of the end plate 11. The exhaust port 21 and the air supply port 22 communicate the inside and the outside of the water tank 3.

  The rotating tub 4 has a plurality of holes 23. The hole 23 is formed in substantially the entire region of the peripheral wall portion and the end plate 14 constituting the cylindrical tubular portion. The hole 23 mainly functions as a water passage hole through which water enters and exits during the washing operation and the dehydration operation, and functions as a ventilation hole through which air enters and exits during the drying operation. In FIG. 1, only a part of the plurality of holes 23 is shown for simplification of the drawing. Although not shown, the rotating tub 4 is provided with a plurality of baffles inside the cylindrical portion. The baffle lifts or stirs clothes (laundry) accommodated in the rotating tub 4 as the rotating tub 4 rotates.

  The motor 5 is provided at the center of the end plate 11 on the back surface of the water tank 3. The motor 5 is, for example, an outer rotor type DC brushless motor. The rotating shaft 7 connected to the rotor of the motor 5 passes through the end plate 11 of the water tank 3 and protrudes into the water tank 3, and is connected and fixed to the center portion of the end plate 14 of the rotating tank 4. Thereby, the motor 5 rotates the rotating tub 4 directly.

  The washing / drying machine 1 includes a water supply device 25 shown in FIG. The water supply device 25 includes a water supply case 26, a water supply valve 27, a water supply hose 28, and the like. One end of the water supply hose 28 is connected to the water inlet of the water supply valve 27, and the other end is connected to an external water source such as a water supply. The water outlet of the water supply valve 27 is connected to the water supply case 26, and the water outlet of the water supply case 26 is connected to the water tank 3. As the water supply valve 27 is opened, water from the water source is supplied into the water tank 3 through the water supply hose 28, the water supply valve 27 and the water supply case 26. As shown in FIG. 1, a detergent case 29 is provided at the upper left of the front surface of the washing / drying machine 1. The detergent case 29 is provided so as to be drawn out in the front-rear direction with respect to the water supply case 26. By putting the detergent into the detergent case 29, the detergent is supplied into the water tank 3 together with water when the water tank 3 is supplied with water.

  The washing / drying machine 1 includes a circulation air passage 30 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The circulation air passage 30 has one end connected to the air supply port 22 and the other end connected to the exhaust port 21 in the outer box 2 and outside the water tank 3. And the air inlet 22 are connected. Specifically, the circulation air passage 30 includes an exhaust duct 31, a filter device 32, a connection duct 33, a heat exchange unit 34, and an air supply duct 35. Among these, the exhaust duct 31 connects the exhaust port 21 of the water tank 3 and the filter device 32 as shown in FIG. The exhaust duct 31 has a bellows-like hose, for example. The filter device 32 is provided inside the outer box 2 and above the water tank 3. A filter 36 (see FIG. 4) is provided in the filter device 32. When air (exhaust gas) discharged from the exhaust port 21 toward the exhaust duct 31 passes through the filter 36 of the filter device 32, foreign matters such as lint contained in the air are captured by the filter 36.

  The filter device 32 is connected to the upstream side of the heat exchanging section 34 via the connection duct 33. The heat exchange part 34 is provided in the lower part of the outer box 2 and below the water tank 3. The heat exchanging unit 34 generates dry hot air by dehumidifying and heating the air passing through the inside. An evaporator 37 and a condenser 38 are provided in the heat exchange unit 34. The evaporator 37 is disposed upstream of the condenser 38 with respect to the air flow in the heat exchange unit 34 during the drying operation. The evaporator 37 and the condenser 38 constitute a heat pump unit 41 together with the compressor 39 and the pressure reducing device 40 provided outside the heat exchange unit 34. The air passing through the heat exchanging section 34 is cooled by the evaporator 37 and dehumidified thereby. The evaporator 37 functions as a dehumidifying means. The air dehumidified by the evaporator 37 is then heated by the condenser 38 to become hot air. The condenser 38 functions as a heating means.

  The heat pump unit 41 is configured by connecting a condenser 38, a decompression device 40, and an evaporator 37 in order with respect to the refrigerant flow direction with respect to the compressor 39 via a pipe through which the refrigerant passes. The evaporator 37 and the condenser 38 are configured by, for example, a tube having a large number of fins provided at minute intervals. By flowing the refrigerant through the tube, heat between the air passing between the fins and the refrigerant is obtained. Exchange. The evaporator 37 and the condenser 38 function as a heat exchanger. The compressor 39 is configured such that the drive frequency can be changed by inverter control, for example. In this case, the pressure reducing device 40 is constituted by an electric expansion valve whose throttle opening is adjustable.

  The downstream side of the heat exchange unit 34 is connected to the air supply port 22 of the water tank 3 via the air supply duct 35. A blower 42 is provided at a connection portion between the heat exchange unit 34 and the air supply duct 35. The motor of the blower 42 is configured such that the number of rotations can be changed. When the blower 42 is driven, the air in the heat exchange unit 34 is sucked and discharged to the air supply duct 35 side. Thereby, the flow of the air which circulates through the water tank 3 and the circulation air path 30 arises as shown by the arrow of FIG.2, FIG.3, FIG.4. In this case, when the air flow in the circulation air passage 30 is viewed, the exhaust port 21 is on the most upstream side, and the air supply port 22 is on the most downstream side.

  In this configuration, when the compressor 39 and the blower 42 are driven for the drying operation, the warm air dehumidified and heated in the heat exchange unit 34 is supplied via the supply duct 35 by the blowing action of the blower 42. It is supplied into the water tank 3 from the air port 22. Thereafter, the hot air mainly enters the rotary tub 4 from the hole 23 in the end plate 11 of the rotary tub 4 and deprives moisture from clothes (laundry) in the rotary tub 4, and then mainly the hole 23 in the peripheral wall portion. To the outside of the rotating tub 4. The air containing moisture flows into the circulation air passage 30 from the exhaust port 21. The air that has flowed into the circulation air passage 30 first passes through the exhaust duct 31 and the filter device 32. At this time, the lint that comes out of the clothes and is contained in the air is captured by the filter 36 in the filter device 32. Thereafter, it flows to the heat exchanging section 34 through the connection duct 33. As described above, the drying operation is performed by circulating air between the water tank 3 and the circulation air passage 30 and dehumidifying and heating the air in the circulation air passage 30. In this case, the heat pump unit 41 functions as a drying unit that dries clothing (an object to be dried) in cooperation with the blower 42.

  In FIG. 1, an operation panel 44 is provided above the door 6 at the upper portion of the front surface of the washing / drying machine 1, and a push button 45 for opening the door 6 is provided above the door 6. Yes. As shown in FIG. 5A, the operation panel 44 includes a display unit 46 made of, for example, a liquid crystal panel, a start key 47, a dial 48 rotatably provided around the start key 47, and the like. A plurality of operation keys 49 are provided. The start key 47, dial 48, and operation key 49 constitute an operation unit. The operation panel 44 functions as a display device including the display unit 46.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the washing and drying machine 1 further includes a control device 51, a room temperature sensor 53, an air supply side temperature sensor 54, an exhaust side temperature sensor 55, a compressor discharge side temperature sensor 56, and a condenser temperature sensor 57. , An evaporator inlet side temperature sensor 58, an evaporator outlet side temperature sensor 59, a water level sensor 60, a door switch 61, a motor current sensor 62, a door lock device 63, a buzzer 64, and the like. The control device 51 is composed mainly of a microcomputer, has a function of controlling the overall operation of the washing / drying machine 1, and functions as a control means.

  The room temperature sensor 53 is provided in the outer box 2 and detects the temperature of the room in which the washing / drying machine 1 is installed. As shown in FIG. 4, the air supply side temperature sensor 54 is provided in the vicinity of the air supply port 22 in the circulation air passage 30 and detects the temperature of the air in the vicinity of the air supply port 22. The supply side temperature sensor 54 functions as supply side temperature detection means. The exhaust side temperature sensor 55 is provided in the vicinity of the exhaust port 21 in the circulation air passage 30 and detects the temperature of the air in the vicinity of the exhaust port 21. The exhaust side temperature sensor 55 functions as an exhaust side temperature detecting means.

  The compressor discharge side temperature sensor 56 is provided on the refrigerant discharge side of the compressor 39 and detects the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 39. The condenser temperature sensor 57 is provided in the condenser 38 and detects the temperature of the condenser 38. The evaporator inlet side temperature sensor 58 is provided in the vicinity of the refrigerant inlet of the evaporator 37 and detects the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the evaporator 37. The evaporator outlet side temperature sensor 59 is provided near the refrigerant outlet of the evaporator 37 and detects the temperature of the refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator 37. The evaporator inlet side temperature sensor 58 and the evaporator outlet side temperature sensor 59 function as an evaporator temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the evaporator 37. Each of these temperature sensors 53 to 59 is composed of, for example, a thermistor and is connected to the control device 51.

  The water level sensor 60 detects the water level of the water stored in the water tank 3. The door switch 61 detects the opening and closing of the door 6 that opens and closes the doorway 8, and functions as a door opening detection means and a door closing detection means. These water level sensor 60 and door switch 61 are also connected to the control device 51. The motor current sensor 62 detects a current flowing through the motor 5 that rotates the rotating tub 4, and is also connected to the control device 51. The door lock device 63 locks the door 6 in the closed state in the locked state and allows the door 6 to be opened in the unlocked state, and is controlled by the control device 51. The buzzer 63 is controlled by the control device 51 so as to ring at the end of operation.

  The control device 51 includes signals from the start key 47, dial 48, and other operation keys 49 on the operation panel 44, signals from the temperature sensors 53 to 59, water level sensor 60, door switch 61, motor current sensor 62, and the like. Is entered. The control device 51 is based on these input signals and a control program provided in advance, the display unit 46 of the operation panel 44, the motor 5, the drain valve 19, the water supply valve 27, the compressor 39, the decompression device 40, the blower 42, the door. It has a function of controlling the lock device 63, the buzzer 64, and the like. In this case, as will be described later, the control device 51 also functions as a drying degree determination unit that determines the degree of drying of an object to be dried during a drying operation.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
A case will be described in which clothes are put into the rotating tub 4 and a course for washing to drying is set and executed in a state where the power switch is turned on. When the course to be dried is set, the display unit 46 of the operation panel 44 displays a level display unit 66 that displays the level of drying step by step as shown in FIG. In this level display section 66, the drying rate is displayed from the front of 70% to the overdried state above 100%. Usually, the level display unit 66 displays the drying rate at the end of drying to be 100%. When the user wants to change the drying rate at the end of drying, the user sets the desired drying rate by rotating the dial 48 on the right side of the display unit 46. FIG. 5 (a) shows an example in which the drying rate at the end of drying is set to 90%, for example, for ironing. In FIG. 5, the lighted portion is indicated by hatching for convenience.

  When the user sets the drying rate at the end of drying, the user presses the start key 47. Then, the control device 51 first detects the room temperature by the temperature sensor 53 for room temperature, and then detects the weight of the clothing stored in the rotating tub 4. In the weight detection, the motor 5 rotates the rotating tub 4 with a preset operation, the current value flowing through the motor 5 is detected by the motor current sensor 62, and the weight is determined based on the detected value. The control device 51 and the motor current sensor 62 function as weight detection means. Then, the control device 51 calculates a reference time (predicted operation time) until the end of operation (end of drying) based on the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 53 for room temperature and the detected weight detected by the weight detection. indicate.

  Then, washing, rinsing, and dehydration processes are sequentially performed. In the washing process, first, the water supply valve 27 is controlled to supply water into the water tank 3. At this time, the detergent put into the detergent case 29 is also supplied into the water tank 3 together with water. After supplying water to the set water level in the water tank 3, the clothes in the rotating tank 4 are washed by appropriately rotating the rotating tank 4 by the motor 5. When the washing time ends, intermediate draining is performed after draining by controlling the drain valve 19. In the intermediate dehydration, the clothes are centrifugally dehydrated by rotating the rotating tub 4 in one direction at a high speed by the motor 5. After this, a rinsing process is performed. The rinsing process is performed in the same manner as the washing process except that no detergent is used. The washing process may be performed several times. When the rinsing process is completed, a final dehydration process is performed. The final dehydration process is performed in the same manner as the intermediate dehydration process. Note that the display time (remaining time) displayed on the display unit 46 decreases with the passage of time.

  And the control apparatus 51 transfers to a drying process, after the process of final dehydration is complete | finished. In the drying process, first, the weight of the clothes in the rotating tub 4 is detected again. This weight detection is also performed in the same manner as the weight detection before washing. The weight obtained by the weight detection before washing is usually the weight of the dry cloth in a state where the clothes are dried, and the weight obtained by the weight detection after the final dehydration is the weight of the cloth in a state where the clothes are wet. The control device 51 calculates the initial dehydration rate before drying based on the comparison between the detected weight before washing and the detected weight after final dehydration, and displays the initial value on the level display unit 66 in the display unit 46. . As an initial value, for example, only the leftmost level that is 70% in front is lit.

  After the weight detection, the control device 51 controls the blower 42, the heat pump unit 41, and the motor 5 to execute the drying process. Among these, the air in the water tank 3 is circulated through the circulation air passage 30 by the operation of the blower 42. The compressor 39 of the heat pump unit 41 is driven at an initial frequency based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 53 for room temperature, and the temperature of the condenser 38 and the like is increased so that the temperature of the condenser 38 becomes constant. The frequency is controlled. Moreover, clothing is agitated by rotating the rotating tub 4 alternately forward and reverse at a low speed by the motor 5, and the clothing comes into contact with the circulating air and is dried.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a change in temperature of each part and a change in frequency of the compressor 39 in the drying process. In FIG. 7, T1 indicates a temperature detected by the evaporator outlet side temperature sensor 59, and is referred to as an evaporator outlet side temperature. T2 indicates the detected temperature of the evaporator inlet side temperature sensor 58 and is referred to as an evaporator inlet side temperature. T3 indicates the temperature detected by the exhaust side temperature sensor 55 and is referred to as the exhaust side temperature. T4 indicates the detected temperature of the supply side temperature sensor 54 and is referred to as supply side temperature. T5 indicates the temperature detected by the condenser temperature sensor 57 and is referred to as the condenser temperature. T6 indicates a temperature detected by the compressor discharge side temperature sensor 56, and is referred to as a compressor discharge side temperature. H1 indicates the operating frequency of the compressor 39.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when drying progresses, the supply side temperature T4 on the inlet side to the water tank 3 rises in the same manner as the condenser temperature T5, and is eventually maintained at a substantially constant temperature. On the other hand, the exhaust side temperature T3 on the outlet side of the water tank 3 gradually increases while being delayed from the supply side temperature T4, and the temperature difference S1 between the supply side temperature T4 and the exhaust side temperature T3 gradually decreases. This temperature difference S1 becomes substantially maximum when the condenser temperature T5 reaches the set temperature. The degree of decrease from the maximum temperature difference has a correlation with the drying rate of the clothing, and the control device 51 compares the detected temperature of the temperature sensor 53 for room temperature with the reference data for each clothing weight to determine the drying rate (drying rate). ) And a level corresponding to the drying rate is displayed on the level display unit 66 of the display unit 46.

  For example, when the outside air temperature is 20 ° C. and the clothing weight is 5 kg, if the temperature difference S1 between the supply side temperature T4 and the exhaust side temperature T3 is reduced by 10 ° C. from the maximum temperature difference, the drying rate is 90%. judge. Further, when the drying rate reaches an overdrying region exceeding 100%, the dehumidifying load is reduced, and the evaporator temperature (evaporator inlet side temperature T2, evaporator outlet side temperature T1) is lowered. Similarly, regarding the degree of decrease from the maximum temperature of the evaporator inlet side temperature T2 or the evaporator outlet side temperature T1, the drying rate (drying degree) is determined by comparing the outside air temperature with the reference data for each clothing weight, A level corresponding to the drying rate is displayed on the level display unit 66 of the display unit 46.

  That is, until the overdrying, the degree of drying is determined by the degree of decrease in the temperature difference S1 between the supply side temperature T4 and the exhaust side temperature T3. In the overdrying region, the evaporator temperature (evaporator inlet side temperature T2 or evaporator) The degree of drying is determined by the degree of decrease in the outlet side temperature T1). Therefore, for example, when the drying degree suitable for ironing is set (for example, a drying rate of 90%), the control device 51 ends the drying operation when determining that the set drying degree is reached, At the end, the buzzer 64 is sounded to notify the end of the driving.

  In addition, for example, the degree of drying at the end of drying by the user was set to overdrying that sufficiently dried (the state in which moisture contained in normal clothing was also removed, that is, the drying rate exceeding 100%). In some cases, when the user wants to take out some clothes at a drying rate of about 90%, the current degree of dryness can be grasped by looking at the display on the level display unit 66 of the display unit 46, so that the user can take it out halfway. It can be used for judgment. In addition, when taking out a part of clothing on the way, when the start key 47 is pressed, the drying operation is temporarily stopped and the locked state by the door lock device 63 is released. By pressing the push button 45 in this state, the door 6 can be opened and a part of the clothes in the rotating tub 4 can be taken out. Thereafter, by pressing the start key 47 again with the door 6 closed, the drying operation is resumed, and the drying operation is performed until the set dryness is reached.

According to the above-described embodiment, the following operational effects can be obtained.
During the drying operation, the degree of dryness of the clothing is displayed on the display unit 46 of the operation panel 44, so that the user can grasp the current degree of dryness by viewing the display. As a result, for example, when it is desired that some clothes are ironed or air-dried, or there are clothes that tend to shrink, it can be taken out in a dry state desired by the user, and usability can be improved. It becomes like this.

  The user can set the degree of drying at the end of the drying operation on the operation panel 44. For this reason, for example, when it is desired to dry carefully and finish it, it is set to the maximum upper limit level, and when it is desired to finish it in a state suitable for ironing, it is set to a level of around 90%. It is possible to end in the dry state, and this can also improve the usability. Further, since the drying degree at the end of the drying operation can be set with the dial 48, the drying degree can be set with a simple operation.

  As a drying means, a heat pump unit 41 having a compressor 39, a condenser 38 constituting a heating means, and an evaporator 37 constituting a dehumidifying means is used, and air supplied from the air supply port 22 into the water tank 3 serving as a drying chamber. An air supply side temperature sensor 54 for detecting the temperature of the exhaust air, an exhaust side temperature sensor 55 for detecting the temperature of the air discharged from the exhaust port 21 toward the circulation air passage 30, and an evaporator inlet for detecting the temperature of the evaporator 37. The control device 51 that includes a side temperature sensor 58 and an evaporator outlet side temperature sensor 59 and determines the degree of dryness of the supply side temperature sensor T4 and the exhaust side temperature sensor 55 that are detected temperatures of the supply side temperature sensor 54. The degree of decrease in the temperature difference S1 between the detected temperature and the exhaust side temperature T3 and the detected temperature of the evaporator inlet side temperature T2 or the detected temperature of the evaporator outlet side temperature sensor 59. Based on the degree of reduction is the evaporator outlet side temperature T1, and the determining comprises a dry degree of the clothes is a material to be dried. According to this, it becomes possible to determine the dryness of clothing with high accuracy.

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. As shown in FIG. 8, the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a transmission / reception device 68 and a portable terminal 69 are provided. The transmission / reception device 68 is connected to the control device 51. The control device 51 can transmit / receive to / from the portable terminal 69 via the transmitting / receiving device 68. For example, the portable terminal 69 includes a display unit 70 that can perform a touch input operation, and the display unit 70 can display information on the operation state of the washing / drying machine 1. In addition, the mobile terminal 69 can be used to set and correct the operating conditions of the washing / drying machine 1. The portable terminal 69 functions as a display that displays the degree of drying during the drying operation.

  In the above configuration, if the user holds the portable terminal 69, the portable terminal 69 is operated to display information on the operating state of the washing / drying machine 1 even when the user is away from the washing / drying machine 1. By displaying on the unit 70, the operating state of the washing / drying machine 1 can be grasped. For example, during the drying operation of the washing / drying machine 1, a display as shown in FIG. 9 is made on the display unit 70 of the portable terminal 69. The display unit 70 includes a level display unit 71 corresponding to the level display unit 66 displayed on the display unit 46 of the operation panel 44, a start key 72 corresponding to the start key 47, and a dial 73 corresponding to the dial 48. An example in which is displayed is shown. The dial 73 is a touch type dial. For example, when the user changes the setting of the drying rate, if the finger is moved in the circumferential direction along the dial 73 in a state where the finger is in contact with the display of the dial 73, the level display unit 71 is set according to the operation direction. The lighting location of will change. The level display unit 71 sequentially displays the degree of drying as the drying progresses.

Therefore, if the user has the portable terminal 69, the user can grasp the current degree of drying even if the user is away from the washing / drying machine 1. When the drying operation is performed by the washing / drying machine 1, for example, under conditions where the room temperature (outside temperature) is low and the weight of the clothes is large, a maximum of about 5 hours may be required. In such a case, when it is desired to take out some clothes at a desired degree of dryness, the degree of dryness can be confirmed even in a place away from the washing / drying machine 1 and temporarily stopped, for example. For this reason, it becomes possible to go out safely even during the drying operation, and usability can be further improved. Moreover, if clothes are accommodated in the rotation tank 4 and preparation for driving is made, the washing / drying machine 1 is set so that drying is completed in accordance with the return time using the portable terminal 69 on the go. It is also possible. Also by this, usability can be further improved.
In this case, transmission / reception between the transmission / reception device 68 of the washing / drying machine 1 and the portable terminal 69 may be performed directly or via a telephone line or the Internet.

(Third embodiment)
The third embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. As shown in FIG. 10, the third embodiment includes a compressor current sensor 75 and a blower current sensor 76, and the control device 77 detects a total integrated power amount of the compressor 39 and the blower 42. It is characterized in that it functions as an integrated power amount detection means. The compressor current sensor 75 detects a current flowing through the compressor 39 and outputs a detection signal to the control device 77. The blower current sensor 76 detects a current flowing through the blower 42 and outputs a detection signal to the control device 77.

  The control device 77 detects the integrated electric energy of the compressor 39 based on the detection signal of the compressor current sensor 75, the voltage applied to the compressor 39, and the driving time of the compressor 39 during the drying operation. It has a function. The control device 77 also has a function of detecting the integrated power amount of the blower 42 based on the detection signal of the blower current sensor 76, the voltage applied to the blower 42, and the drive time of the blower 42 during the drying operation. I have. Then, the control device 77 adds up the integrated power amount of the compressor 39 and the integrated power amount of the blower 42 during the drying operation, and detects the total integrated power amount of the compressor 39 and the blower 42. Functions as a means.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of the relationship between the drying rate at the room temperature of 20 ° C. and the total integrated power amount of the compressor 39 and the blower 42 for each clothing weight. The control device 77 includes such a data table. For example, when the clothing weight is 4 kg, if the total integrated power amount of the compressor 39 and the blower 42 is 1200 Wh, it is determined that the drying rate is 90%. If the total integrated power amount is 1300 Wh, the drying rate is 95%. Judge that there is. The control device 77 functions as a dryness degree determining means for determining the dryness degree of the clothes (to-be-dried object) based on the total integrated power amount during the drying operation.

  The control device 77 calculates the total integrated power amount by summing up the integrated power amount of the compressor 39 and the integrated power amount of the blower 42 during the drying operation, and based on the total integrated power amount and the data of FIG. The drying rate is determined, and the determination result is displayed as a level on the display unit 46 of the operation panel 44.

Also in such an embodiment, the same operational effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained.
Generally, when a part of clothes sticks to the inner surface of the rotating tub 4 at the time of final dehydration, and drying is performed in this state, the drying operation may end in an undried state. In this case, if a part of the clothing is stuck to the inner surface of the rotating tub 4, the circulating air flowing in the rotating tub 4 has a small contact area with the clothing and the dehumidifying load is reduced, so that the input of the compressor 39 is reduced. As described above, the drying operation may end with a portion remaining in an undried state. In this regard, according to the present embodiment, the degree of dryness is determined and displayed based on the total integrated power amount of the compressor 39 and the blower 42, so that even if some clothes are stuck, It is possible to suppress an error in determining the degree.

(Fourth embodiment)
A fourth embodiment will be described. The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the degree of drying of an object to be dried (clothing) is determined based on the change in the detected weight of the weight detecting means for detecting the weight of the clothes in the rotating tub 4. ing.

When the course from washing to drying is set, the control device 51 performs the first weight detection before the washing process. The clothing at this time is usually in a dry cloth state, and the detected weight at this time can be regarded as the weight in the dry cloth state. Then, the control device 51 performs the second weight detection before the drying process after the final dehydration. The clothing at this time is in the state of a compress, and the detected weight at this time can be regarded as the weight in the state of the compress. And the control apparatus 51 performs weight detection operation | movement several times during a drying process. At this time, since the torque of the motor 5 is large when the drying rate is low, the current value of the motor 5 becomes large. As the drying progresses, the current value of the motor 5 also decreases as the clothing weight decreases. In the second half of the drying process, drying proceeds and the clothes change to a state close to a dry cloth. Therefore, it is possible to determine the degree of drying based on the change in the detected weight for the first time, the detected weight for the second time, and the detected weight during the third and subsequent drying strokes. It is displayed on the display unit 46.
Also in this embodiment, the same effect as the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Fifth embodiment)
A fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The fifth embodiment is characterized in that a reflective infrared sensor 80 is provided at the lower part of the front portion of the water tank 3. The infrared sensor 80 has a light emitting element that emits infrared light and a light receiving element that receives infrared light, and is attached so that the detection portion at the tip faces the inside of the rotating tub 4. In this case, the infrared sensor 80 is measured at a close distance from the clothing at the timing when the rotation speed of the rotating tub 4 is reversed (when reversing from normal rotation to reverse rotation, when reversing from reverse rotation to normal rotation). Therefore, it is installed in the lower part of the front part of the water tank 3. The detection signal of the infrared sensor 80 is also output to the control device 51.

  During the drying process, the control device 51 optically detects the amount of water contained in the clothing (cloth) using the infrared sensor 80, and determines the degree of drying (drying rate) of the clothing based on this. The degree of drying (drying rate) is determined from the amount of moisture by applying the phenomenon that the light energy absorbed increases when the amount of moisture contained in the clothing is large.

  In this embodiment, for example, when the refrigerant leaks in the heat pump unit 41, or even if a normal dehumidification drying failure occurs due to frost formation on the evaporator 37, the moisture content is directly detected to determine the degree of drying. Therefore, the determination error can be suppressed.

(Other embodiments)
As the dryness determination means, the temperature difference S1 between the supply side temperature T4, which is the detected temperature of the supply side temperature sensor 54, and the exhaust side temperature T3, which is the detected temperature of the exhaust side temperature sensor 55, in the first embodiment. And the degree of decrease of the evaporator inlet side temperature T2 which is the detected temperature of the evaporator inlet side temperature sensor 58 or the evaporator outlet side temperature T1 which is the detected temperature of the evaporator outlet side temperature sensor 59, the third embodiment Of the total integrated power amount of the compressor 39 and the blower 42 in FIG. 4, the change in the detected weight in the fourth embodiment, and the moisture amount detection data by the infrared sensor 80 in the fifth embodiment are combined to determine the degree of drying. It is also possible to adopt a configuration for determining.

In the drying means, the heating means may be a heater that generates heat, and the dehumidifying means may be a water-cooled or air-cooled heat exchanger.
The washing / drying machine is not limited to the drum type, and can be applied to a vertical-axis type washing / drying machine in which the axial direction of the water tank and the rotating tank is the vertical direction. Moreover, as a clothes dryer, it is applicable also to what does not have a washing function.

  As described above, according to the clothes dryer of the present embodiment, the drying degree of the clothes is displayed on the display unit during the drying operation, so that the user can grasp the current drying degree by looking at the display. Can do. As a result, for example, when it is desired that some clothing is ironed or air-dried, or there is clothing that tends to shrink, it can be taken out in the dry state desired by the user, and usability can be improved. It becomes like this.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  In the drawings, 1 is a washing dryer (clothing dryer), 2 is an outer box, 3 is a water tank (drying chamber), 4 is a rotating tank (drying chamber), 21 is an exhaust port, 22 is an air supply port, and 30 is a circulation. Air path, 37 is an evaporator (dehumidifying means), 38 is a condenser (heating means), 39 is a compressor, 41 is a heat pump unit (drying means), 42 is a blower, 44 is an operation panel (display), 46 is Display unit 48 is dial, 51 is a control device (control means, dryness determination means, weight detection means), 53 is a temperature sensor for room temperature, 54 is an air supply side temperature sensor (air supply side temperature detection means), 55 is Exhaust side temperature sensor (exhaust side temperature detecting means), 58 is an evaporator inlet side temperature sensor (evaporator temperature detecting means), 59 is an evaporator outlet side temperature sensor (evaporator temperature detecting means), and 62 is a motor current sensor. (Weight detection means), 66 is a level display section, 69 is a portable end Machine (display), 71 is a level display unit, 75 is a compressor current sensor, 76 is a blower current sensor, 77 is a control device (control means, dryness determination means, weight detection means, total integrated power amount detection means. ), 80 indicates an infrared sensor.

Claims (8)

A drying chamber having an air supply port and an exhaust port in which an object to be dried is stored;
A circulation air path provided outside the drying chamber and having one end connected to the air supply port and the other end connected to the exhaust port;
A blower for circulating the air in the drying chamber through the circulation air passage;
A heating unit that heats the circulating air circulated by the blower, and a dehumidifying unit that cools and dehumidifies the circulating air, and a drying unit that dries the object to be dried in cooperation with the blower;
A drying degree determination means for determining a drying degree of the material to be dried during a drying operation;
A clothes dryer comprising: a display for displaying the degree of drying determined by the degree-of-drying determination means during the drying operation.   The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein a drying degree at the end of a drying operation can be set in the display.   3. The clothes dryer according to claim 2, wherein the drying degree can be set by a dial. The drying means is constituted by a heat pump unit having a compressor, a condenser constituting the heating means, and an evaporator constituting the dehumidifying means,
An air supply side temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the air supplied from the air supply opening to the drying chamber; and an exhaust side temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the air discharged from the exhaust opening to the circulating air passage side. And an evaporator temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the evaporator,
The drying degree determination means is configured to detect the temperature of the object to be dried based on a temperature difference between a temperature detected by the air supply side temperature detecting means and a temperature detected by the exhaust side temperature detecting means and a temperature detected by the evaporator temperature detecting means. The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the degree of drying is determined. The drying means is constituted by a heat pump unit having a compressor, a condenser constituting the heating means, and an evaporator constituting the dehumidifying means,
A total integrated power amount detecting means for detecting a total integrated power amount of the blower and the compressor;
The clothes drying method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the drying degree determination means determines the degree of drying of the object to be dried based on the detected electric energy of the total integrated electric energy detection means. Machine. Comprising weight detection means for detecting the weight of the object to be dried contained in the drying chamber;
The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the dryness determination means determines the dryness of the material to be dried based on a change in the weight detected by the weight detection means.   The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the indicator is an information terminal.   The clothes dryer according to claim 7, wherein an operation condition can be set from the information terminal.

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