JP2015204860A - clothes dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clothes dryer which surely detects dehumidification water without output of a dehumidification sensor becoming unstable because even a small amount of dehumidification water flows in the vicinity of an electrode of the dehumidification sensor on an inclined surface.SOLUTION: In a housing 2, a clothes dryer includes: an outer tub 1 of a drying chamber having an air inlet 20 and an air outlet 15 for drying air; an air channel 14 for communicating and connecting the air inlet 20 and the air outlet 15; a blower 19 for blowing drying air into the outer tub 1 through the air channel 14; a heat pump device 23 having an evaporator 17, a condenser 18 and the air channel 14; and a drain pipe 26 for draining dehumidification water generated in the heat pump device 23. The drain pipe 26 has a detection part 37 in which a dehumidification water sensor 28 is provided for detecting that the dehumidification water has passed through the inside of the drain pipe 26. The detection part 37 has an inclined bottom surface 37a in which the dehumidification water flows in a drainage direction. The inclined bottom surface 37a has inclination in the drainage direction on a vertical cross sectional surface, and also has inclination on a cross sectional surface. The dehumidification water sensor 28 is provided including a lowermost part by the inclination on the cross sectional surface on the outside of the inclined bottom surface 37a.

Description

  The present invention relates to a clothes dryer for drying textiles such as clothes.

  In recent years, for example, in a domestic drier, a drier that performs a drying operation using a heat pump device has been provided in place of a conventional drier operation using a heater for heating. This type of dryer includes a heat pump device in which a compressor, a condenser, a capillary tube, and an evaporator are connected in a closed loop by a refrigerant line. A circulation ventilation passage is provided for returning the air in the drying chamber containing the clothing to the drying chamber through the evaporator and the condenser in order. In this circulation ventilation path, by driving the blower, the drying air heated by the condenser is supplied into the drying chamber to take away moisture from the laundry of the clothes, and then is cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator, and again the condenser Circulation is performed such as being heated at The drying method using this heat pump device has advantages such as excellent energy efficiency and a low heating temperature and less wrinkles and shrinkage compared to a drying method using a heater.

  A conventional dryer is provided with a temperature detection unit in the air circulation path, and determines the end of drying based on the temperature difference of the temperature detection unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This type of dryer will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 11, 12, and 13. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional dryer, FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional air circulation mechanism and a heat pump device, and FIG. 13 shows changes in the temperature of the inlet / outlet of the drying chamber during a drying operation in the conventional dryer. It is a graph to show.

  As shown in FIG. 11, in order to increase the volume of the rotary drum 104 into which clothes are put, the water tank 103 containing the rotary drum 104 is largely occupied inside the housing 102. For this reason, other parts including the heat pump device 123 have a limited area that can be occupied. The heat pump device 123 is often configured on the primary side (inlet side) of the blower 119 in order to configure the circulation ventilation path 114 using the empty space efficiently.

  11 and 12, the water tank 103 and the rotating drum 104 as the drying chamber 101 in which clothes are accommodated, and circulation of returning the air in the drying chamber 101 to the drying chamber 101 through the air duct 114 when the drying step is performed. The air blower 119 which performs this is provided. Further, the heat pump device 123 arranged in the ventilation duct 114, the evaporator 117 and the condenser 118, the inlet temperature sensor 125 for detecting the inlet air temperature supplied to the drying chamber 101, and the outlet air temperature to be discharged are detected. And an outlet temperature sensor 124. Furthermore, it has a control device 127 that controls the overall operation of the dryer and determines the end of drying based on the temperature difference between the inlet air temperature and the outlet air temperature. The evaporator 117 and the condenser 118 constitute a heat pump cycle in which the refrigerant is circulated by the operation of the compressor 121 and the like. That is, the high-humidity air discharged from the drying chamber 101 is cooled by the evaporator 117 and dehumidified. Here, the drying air whose absolute humidity has decreased reaches the condenser 118 via the ventilation duct 114. The drying air that has passed through the condenser 118 is heated to become high-temperature and low-humidity air and blown into the drying chamber 101 through the ventilation duct 114 into the drying chamber 101 to dry the clothes.

Each mechanism of the above-described dryer is controlled by a control device 127. The control device 127 determines the end of the drying step as follows. That is, the ventilation duct 114 has an inlet temperature sensor 125 that detects the temperature of the drying air at the inlet portion of the drying chamber 101 and an outlet temperature sensor 124 that detects the temperature of the drying air at the outlet portion of the drying chamber 101. These temperature sensor signals are provided to the control device 127. After the start of the drying step, the control device 127 constantly monitors the temperature difference between the inlet air temperature and the outlet air temperature detected by the temperature sensors.

  As shown in FIG. 13, when the drying operation is started and the body of the dryer is warmed, and the clothing is fully dried, the temperature detected by the inlet temperature sensor 125 of the drying chamber 101 becomes constant. On the other hand, since the wet clothing in the drying chamber 101 takes away the temperature of the heated air entering from the drying chamber inlet, the temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 124 is considerably higher than the temperature detected by the inlet temperature sensor 125. Low. Therefore, the difference between the temperatures detected by the two temperature sensors is considerably different at the start of drying, but gradually decreases as the drying of the clothing proceeds. If the temperature difference falls below a predetermined amount (for example, 10 deg), it is determined that the drying is finished.

  On the other hand, in order to improve the accuracy of detecting the end of drying, a clothes dryer including a dehumidified water detection device that detects the presence or absence of dehumidified water generated by a heat pump device has also been proposed. The drying air heated by the condenser of the heat pump device heats the wet clothing to become high humidity, and the moisture of the drying air is dehumidified by the evaporator to become dehumidified water. The dehumidified water detection device has a dehumidified water sensor. The dehumidified water sensor is provided in a drain pipe through which dehumidified water generated in the evaporator of the heat pump device flows, and detects the passage of the dehumidified water and generates a signal.

  FIG. 14 is a graph showing the temperature at the entrance and exit of the drying chamber during the drying operation of a conventional clothes dryer equipped with a dehumidifying water detection device, and the transition of detection by the dehumidifying water sensor. According to FIG. 14, the dehumidified water detection signal from the dehumidified water sensor disappears completely when about 70 minutes have passed since the start of operation. This means that even when heated drying air is supplied to clothing, no drop of dehumidified water is generated. In other words, in this example of operation, the timing at which about 70 minutes have elapsed from the start of operation when the signal for detecting the passage of dehumidified water from the dehumidified water sensor disappears is the end detection timing of the drying operation. Therefore, the control device determines the end of drying at this timing. Then, when the signal is not detected again within a predetermined time after the detection signal from the dehumidifying water sensor disappears, the control device determines that the drying is finished and stops the compressor.

  Thus, knowing that the generation of dehumidified water has disappeared can accurately detect that the clothes in the drying chamber are dry. In addition, since the temperature detector that detects the temperature difference between the entrance and exit of the drying chamber is not used, it is not affected by the temperature difference between the entrance and exit of the drying chamber. I do not receive it.

JP 2012-254207 A

  However, in the conventional dryer that determines the end of drying based on the temperature difference between the former inlet air temperature and the outlet air temperature, the difference in temperature detected by the two temperature sensors is gradually reduced as the drying of the clothing proceeds. However, the degree of change in value is considerably small. This temperature difference value is greatly affected by the ambient temperature of the place where the dryer is installed. For example, when the ambient temperature is low, the temperature difference value remains large for a long time because heat is also taken away from the outside air in addition to the wet clothing, and the variation factor of the temperature difference detection is large. As a result, the accuracy of detecting the end of drying when it is judged that the clothing has dried is lowered, and the operation ends with the clothing remaining undried, or the operation time becomes longer and the clothing becomes overdried, causing fabric damage or shrinkage. Had the problem of.

On the other hand, in the conventional clothes dryer provided with the latter dehumidified water detection device, it is possible to accurately detect that the clothes in the drying chamber are dry by knowing that the generation of the dehumidified water is eliminated by the dehumidifying water sensor. In addition, since the temperature detector is not used, it is not affected by the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the drying chamber, and it is not affected by the ambient temperature of the place where the dryer is installed, and the timing of the end of drying is accurate. Can be detected. This dehumidified water sensor is disposed in a detection unit provided in the middle of the drainage path of the dehumidified water to the outside of the housing. The detection unit has an inclined bottom surface on the bottom surface, and a dehumidifying water sensor is disposed outside the inclined bottom surface to detect dehumidified water flowing on the inclined bottom surface.

  However, since the evaporator that generates dehumidified water is disposed in the circulation path of the drying air, fine lint scraps that could not be collected by the lint filter are attached to the surface, and the dehumidified water is It is discharged including lint waste. Therefore, lint scraps may accumulate on the inner surface of the drain pipe including the detection unit as the operation time elapses. In that case, dehumidified water flows over the accumulated lint layer, and the distance from the dehumidified water sensor's sensing electrode is the distance that lint has accumulated, so the detection reaction becomes unstable and the worst detection is impossible. It becomes.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and is not affected by the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the drying chamber or the ambient temperature of the place where the dryer is installed, and can be detected even with a small amount of dehumidified water. The dehumidification sensor output flows in the vicinity of the electrode of the dehumidification sensor to reliably detect the dehumidified water without increasing instability, and the detection accuracy is improved to reliably detect the end of drying, thereby making the drying more efficient An object is to provide a clothes dryer for driving.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a clothes dryer according to the present invention connects a drying chamber having an air supply port and an exhaust port for drying air, and the air supply port and the exhaust port in a casing. An air passage, a blower for blowing drying air into the drying chamber through the air passage, a heat pump device having an evaporator and a condenser in the air passage, and a drain pipe for draining dehumidified water generated by the heat pump device The drainage pipe has a detection unit provided with a dehumidification water detection device that detects that the dehumidification water has passed, and the detection unit has an inclined bottom surface through which the dehumidification water flows in the drainage direction. The inclined bottom surface is configured to have an inclination in the drainage direction in the longitudinal section and also in the transverse section, and the dehumidified water detection device is disposed at least on the outer side of the inclined bottom surface by the inclination in at least the transverse section. Including bottom It is intended to be provided.

  According to the above configuration, since at least a part of the inclined bottom surface of the detection unit of the drain pipe to which the dehumidified water detection device is attached is inclined so that the dehumidified water flows in the lowermost part of the flow path, Instead of depositing uniformly, it deposits at the bottom of the flow path. And when a lint deposit layer is actually formed, it flows through the boundary between a lint waste deposit layer and an inclined bottom surface. As a result, the dehumidified water flows in the vicinity of the dehumidified water detection device and the portion where the lint debris is not deposited on the inclined bottom surface, so that the detection sensitivity of the dehumidified water detection device is good, and even in long-term use. A stable detection reaction can be maintained and dehumidified water can be detected reliably.

  Since the clothes dryer of the present invention is not affected by the ambient temperature at the installation location and can accurately detect the timing of the completion of drying, a clothes dryer that performs a drying operation without waste can be realized.

Side surface sectional drawing of the clothes dryer in Embodiment 1 of this invention Configuration diagram of an electrode sensor which is an example of a dehumidifying water sensor of a clothes dryer in the present embodiment The block diagram of the electrostatic sensor which is an example of the dehumidification water sensor of the clothes dryer in this Embodiment Side sectional view of a clothes dryer having a washing function in another example of the present embodiment (A) Longitudinal sectional view of the dehumidifying water detector of the clothes dryer in the present embodiment (b) AA sectional view of (a) Control block diagram of clothes dryer in the present embodiment The graph which shows transition of detection of the dehumidification water sensor at the time of drying operation of a clothes dryer in this embodiment (A) Longitudinal sectional view of the dehumidified water detection part of the clothes dryer in Embodiment 2 of the present invention (b) BB sectional view of (a) (A) Longitudinal sectional view of the dehumidifying water detection part of the clothes dryer in Embodiment 3 of the present invention (b) CC sectional view of (a) (A) Longitudinal sectional view of the dehumidified water detection part of the clothes dryer in Embodiment 4 of the present invention (b) DD sectional view of (a) Side sectional view of a conventional dryer The figure which shows schematic structure of the air circulation mechanism and heat pump apparatus in the conventional dryer. Graph showing the temperature transition of the drying chamber at the time of drying operation in a conventional dryer Graph showing the transition of the temperature of the drying chamber entrance and exit and the detection of the dehumidifying water sensor during the drying operation in a conventional dryer

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clothes dryer including a drying chamber having an air supply port and an exhaust port for drying air, an air passage communicating the air supply port and the exhaust port, A blower for blowing drying air through the air passage into the drying chamber, a heat pump device having an evaporator and a condenser in the air passage, and a drain pipe for draining dehumidified water generated in the heat pump device, The drainage pipe has a detection unit provided with a dehumidification water detection device that detects that the dehumidified water has passed, the detection unit has an inclined bottom surface through which the dehumidified water flows in the direction of drainage, and the inclined bottom surface is The dehumidified water detecting device is configured to have an inclination in the drainage direction in the longitudinal section and also in the transverse section, and the dehumidifying water detecting device is provided outside the inclined bottom surface and includes at least a lowermost portion due to the inclination in the transverse section. Is .

  As a result, at least a part of the inclined bottom surface of the detection part of the drain pipe to which the dehumidified water detection device is attached is inclined so that the dehumidified water flows in a concentrated manner at the bottom of the flow path, so that lint debris accumulates uniformly. Rather than deposit, it deposits at the bottom of the channel. And when a lint deposit layer is actually formed, it flows through the boundary between a lint waste deposit layer and an inclined bottom surface. As a result, the dehumidified water flows in the vicinity of the dehumidified water detection device and in the portion where the lint debris on the inclined bottom surface is not deposited, so the reactivity of detecting the dehumidified water is good and stable even for long-term use. The detection reaction can be maintained, and the dehumidified water can be reliably detected.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, in the clothes dryer of the first aspect of the invention, the detection unit has a water inlet pipe above the dehumidified water detection device, and the shape of the cross section of the inclined bottom surface is convex downward. The dehumidified water detection device is provided outside at least one of the inclined surfaces constituting the V shape.

As a result, even if the dehumidified water detection device is provided only on one side of the inclined bottom surface having a V shape, the dehumidified water is dripped from the water intake pipe provided above, and the dehumidified water detection device is surely disposed. The dehumidified water flows through the inclined surface, and the dehumidified water can be reliably detected. Furthermore, if the dehumidifying water detection device is provided outside both inclined surfaces constituting the V shape, the dehumidifying water drops from the water intake pipe provided above, and the dehumidifying water flows anywhere below. It can be detected reliably. Therefore, the flow path to the detection unit is complicatedly bent, the flow rate of the dehumidification water is small, and the water intake pipe protruding to the detection unit is relatively short. Even in the case of scattering in various directions, the dehumidified water can be reliably detected because it passes through somewhere in the dehumidified water detection device.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the clothes dryer of the first aspect of the invention, the detection unit has a water inlet pipe above the dehumidified water detection device, and the shape of the cross section of the inclined bottom surface is convex downward. The dehumidified water detection device is provided in a curved shape outside the inclined bottom surface. Thereby, no matter where the dehumidified water flows on the inclined bottom surface, the flow reaches the lowermost part of the curved surface shape, and the dehumidified water can be detected reliably. In addition, by using a dehumidified water detection device using curved electrodes, it is possible to cover the entire area of the inclined bottom surface with a single dehumidification water detection device, and there is no need to use a plurality, and it is more cost-effective. Become.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the clothes dryer of the first aspect of the invention, the detection unit has a water inlet pipe above the dehumidified water detection device, and the shape of the cross section of the inclined bottom surface is substantially the center on the inside. The portion has a recessed portion that is recessed downward, and gradually inclines in the direction of both side surfaces, and the recessed portion is formed with the smallest thickness.

  As a result, since the substantially central portion of the inclined bottom surface is recessed, the dehumidified water flows with priority on the recessed portion, and the recessed portion is the thinnest so that the distance from the electrode of the dehumidified water detection device is short, and the dehumidified water The reactivity to detect is improved. Even if lint debris accumulates in the recess, the dehumidified water flows along the boundary between the inclined surface and the lint deposit layer in the vicinity of both side surfaces. In addition, because it flows through the part where lint debris is not deposited on the inclined bottom surface, it has good reactivity to detect dehumidified water, and can maintain a stable detection reaction even in long-term use. Can be detected. In addition, if it arrange | positions so that a recessed part may pass through the center part of the electrode of a dehumidification water detection apparatus, the reactivity which detects dehumidification water becomes more stable.

  According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the clothes dryer according to any one of the second to fourth aspects of the invention, the water inlet pipe protrudes into the detection unit with the outlet facing downward above the dehumidified water detection device. It is provided. Thereby, the dehumidified water discharged from the water intake pipe first drops on the surface of the inclined bottom surface where the dehumidified water detection device is attached, on which lint debris is not deposited, and reaches the boundary with the lint deposit layer along the inclination. After that, since it will flow along the boundary, the dehumidified water will surely flow through the portion of the inclined bottom surface where lint debris is not deposited, and the dehumidified water can be reliably detected.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a clothes dryer according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an outer tub 1 constitutes a drying chamber. The outer tub 1 is elastically supported by a plurality of vibration isolation mechanisms 3 inside a housing 2 of the clothes dryer. The drum 4 is provided in the outer tub 1 and accommodates laundry clothes 5. The drum 4 has a bottomed cylindrical shape having an insertion port 6 through which clothes 5 are taken in and out on the front side (left side in FIG. 1), and is rotatably supported by a drum rotating shaft 11. The drum 4 has a plurality of inlet holes 8a through which drying air flows into the bottom wall 7a, and a plurality of outlet holes 8b through which the drying air is discharged into the peripheral wall 7b. Further, an inner surface of the peripheral wall 7 is provided with a stirring baffle 9 for efficiently lifting the garment 5. The outer tub 1, the drum 4, and the drum rotating shaft 11 are disposed so as to be tilted forwardly upward by an angle θ (for example, 10 ° to 20 °) with respect to the horizontal. In addition, these are not limited to being inclined and may be arranged horizontally.

A driving device 10 is provided outside the outer tub 1 to directly and reversely rotate the drum 4 via the drum rotation shaft 11. On the front surface of the housing 2, there is provided a substantially circular slot 6 for taking in and out the garment 5 and a door 12 for opening and closing it. The opening of the outer tub 1 facing the charging port 6 is connected to the housing 2 by a packing 13 while ensuring airtightness. The driving method of the driving device 10 is not limited to the direct driving method that is provided outside the back surface of the outer tub 1 and directly drives the drum 4, and may be a belt driving method, a gear driving method, or the like.

  Above the outer tub 1, an air passage 14 serving as an air circulation path including the outer tub 1 and the drum 4 is configured. In the present embodiment, the circulating air in the air passage 14 is referred to as drying air. The air passage 14 is the inlet of the outer tub 1 through which the drying air that has exited from the exhaust port 15 that is the outlet of the outer tub 1 passes in the order of the lint filter 16, the evaporator 17, the condenser 18, and the blower 19. It is configured to circulate again through the air supply port 20 into the outer tub 1 and the drum 4.

  The lint filter 16 captures lint such as hair and cotton waste generated from the clothing 5 and contained in the drying air. Thereby, the malfunction by the lint deposition in the evaporator 17, the condenser 18, and the air blower 19 is prevented. The lint filter 16 is provided so as to be removable from the washing / drying machine main body. The blower 19 includes a fan motor 19 a that drives the blower 19, and blows and circulates drying air to the outer tub 1 through the air passage 14.

  The evaporator 17 and the condenser 18 are heat exchangers having a pipe through which a refrigerant flows and fins that promote heat exchange between the refrigerant and air. The heat pump device 23 includes a compressor 21 that compresses and discharges the sucked refrigerant, a condenser 18 that exchanges heat between the compressed high-pressure and high-temperature refrigerant and air, a throttling device 22 that depressurizes the high-pressure refrigerant, and a decompression unit. An evaporator 17 that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the air that has become low in temperature is circulated and connected through a refrigerant pipe. The heat pump device 23 is configured above the outer tub 1 or inside the housing 2 in accordance with the arrangement of the air passage 14.

  The drain pipe 26 is disposed below the evaporator 17, and collects and dehumidifies the dehumidified water generated when the moisture of the drying air is condensed by the evaporator 17. The drain pipe 26 has a trap to be described later and a drain outlet after the trap. If there is another drainage channel for discharging water outside the housing 2, the drainage outlet of the drainage pipe 26 may be connected to another drainage channel. A dehumidified water sensor 28 which is a dehumidified water detection device is attached to a position not far from the evaporator 17 in the middle of the drain pipe 26 and detects that the dehumidified water has passed through the drain pipe 26. The dehumidified water sensor 28 is provided on the inclined bottom surface 37 a of the detection unit 37 of the drain pipe 26. Thereby, it can be reliably detected that the dehumidified water has passed through the drain pipe 26. The form and method of the dehumidified water sensor 28 are not particularly limited as long as the dehumidified water can detect that the dehumidified water has passed through the drain pipe 26. In the present invention, two methods are specifically mentioned.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an electrode sensor which is an example of a dehumidifying water sensor of the clothes dryer in the present embodiment. The electrode sensor is configured such that a pair of electrodes 28a and 28b are inserted into the inclined bottom surface 37a of the detection unit 37 of the drain pipe 26, and the conductivity between the pair of electrodes is measured. The control device 27 detects the passage of dehumidified water generated in the evaporator 17 of the heat pump device 23 based on the measured change in conductivity. For the measurement of the conductivity, for example, an RC oscillation circuit is constituted by the impedance between the electrode 28a and the electrode 28b and a capacitor on a control circuit (not shown), and the change in impedance is output as a frequency change, If converted to a voltage value, the control device 27 can easily detect it.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an electrostatic sensor which is another example of the dehumidifying water sensor of the clothes dryer in the present embodiment. The electrostatic sensor is configured such that a pair of electrodes 28c and 28d are attached to the back side of the inclined bottom surface 37a of the detection unit 37 of the drain pipe 26, and the capacitance between the pair of electrodes is measured. . The control device 27 detects the passage of dehumidified water generated in the evaporator 17 of the heat pump device 23 based on a change in the measured capacitance. Specifically, the oscillation circuit is configured so that the capacitance of a certain terminal of the oscillation circuit (in this case, between the electrode 28c and the electrode 28d) becomes an element of the oscillation condition. As a result, when the dehumidified water comes close to the electrostatic sensor, the oscillation starts, so that the controller 27 can easily detect it. In addition, the method using an electrostatic sensor does not have a protrusion in the drain pipe 26 compared with the method using an electrode sensor. Therefore, it is advantageous in that lint such as cotton dust or hair mixed in the dehumidified water is not caught on the sensor unit.

  Further, the control device 27 is provided in the lower part of the front surface in the housing 2. The control device 27 controls the drive device 10 and the blower 19 while monitoring inputs from various detection devices based on the user's operation settings, and executes the operation of the dryer.

  FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of a clothes dryer having a washing function in another example of the present embodiment, and is a schematic diagram showing drainage paths of washing water and dehumidified water. As another embodiment of the clothes dryer shown in FIG. 1, the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and the components not shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The dashed arrows in FIG. 4 indicate the direction in which the wash water and dehumidified water flow. The washing water is a general term for the washing liquid containing the detergent used in the washing step and the rinsing water used in the rinsing step.

  Since the outer tub 1 and the drum 4, which are drying chambers, are inclined upward, water in the outer tub 1 collects in the lower part on the back side of the housing 2. Therefore, one end of a drainage pipe 29 provided for drainage during operation of each step of washing, rinsing and dehydration is connected to the lower part on the back side of the outer tub 1. The other end of the drainage pipe 29 is connected to the entrance of a foreign matter filter 30 provided at the lower front side of the housing 2 in order to remove foreign matters such as lint, buttons, coins, etc. coming out of the laundry. The foreign matter filter 30 is detachable from the front of the housing for maintenance. The foreign matter filter 30 has two outlets for washing water.

  A discharge pipe 29 a that discharges washing water to the outside of the housing 2 is connected to one outlet side of the foreign matter filter 30. The drainage path of the washing water is constituted by the drainage pipe 29 and the discharge pipe 29a communicating therewith. Immediately after the foreign matter filter 30, a drain valve 31 that is opened and closed by the control device 27 is provided. The drain valve 31 is controlled to be closed when water is accumulated in the drum 4 in the washing step and the rinsing step, and is controlled to be opened in the drain step for draining water. The other outlet of the foreign matter filter 30 is connected to the outer tub 1 by a circulation pipe 32. A circulation pump 33 is provided in the middle of the circulation pipe 32. In the washing step and the rinsing step, the circulation pump 33 injects washing water onto the clothes in the drum 4 by a nozzle (not shown) provided at the outlet of the circulation pipe 32. Thereby, the washing water circulates between the outer tub 1 and the foreign matter filter 30.

  A first trap 34 is configured on the discharge pipe 29 a on the outlet side of the drain valve 31. The washing water that has passed through the first trap 34 is drained out of the housing. The first trap 34 is provided to prevent the drying air from leaking out of the casing during the drying operation. The first trap 34 is provided to prevent the sewage odor from flowing backward when the drain outlet is installed so as to communicate with the sewage. Further, an overflow channel 36 communicating from the outer tub 1 is connected between the drain valve 31 and the first trap 34. In the overflow channel 36, when the water supply device 46 (see FIG. 6) connected to the water supply fails and the drain valve 31 continues to be supplied despite the closed state, water flows from the outer tub 1 to the overflow channel 36. Drain before overflowing to prevent water leakage from the housing 2.

The drain pipe 26 has a drain outlet connected to the drain pipe 29 of the outer tub 1, and constitutes a second trap 35 just before being connected to the drain pipe 29. The drain pipe 29 may be the same as the drain pipe 29 as long as it is in the vicinity of the connection portion of the drain pipe 29 of the outer tub 1 without being connected directly to the drain pipe 29. The dehumidified water sensor 28 shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 is provided on the inclined bottom surface 37a of the detection unit 37 of the drain pipe 26 at the upper part in the casing, and is separated from the second trap 35 in the vertical direction. It is installed.

  Fig.5 (a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the detection part of the dehumidification water of the clothes dryer in this Embodiment, and shows the cross section of a drainage direction. FIG.5 (b) is AA sectional drawing of Fig.5 (a). The detection unit 37 is provided in the middle of the drain pipe 26, and has an inclined bottom surface 37a through which dehumidified water flows in the drain direction. As described above, the dehumidified water sensor 39 is provided on the inclined bottom surface 37a. The shape of the AA cross section of the inclined bottom surface 37a and the cross section orthogonal to the drainage direction as seen from the AA cross section are V-shaped convex in the downward direction. Therefore, the inclined bottom surface 37a is a three-dimensional inclined surface configured to have an inclination in the direction of drainage as a part of the drain pipe 26 in the longitudinal section, and also to have an inclination as a V shape in the transverse section. Thereby, in the inclined bottom surface 37a, dehumidified water flows in the direction of drainage while concentrating on the V-shaped bottom.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the shape of the left and right inclined surfaces is particularly asymmetrical. The electrodes 39a and 39b of the dehumidified water sensor 39 are attached to the outside of the wide inclined surface constituting the V shape, including at least the V-shaped bottom. A water inlet pipe 38 for introducing dehumidified water into the detection unit 37 is provided above the dehumidification water sensor 39 so as to protrude into the detection unit 37 with the outlet 38a facing downward.

  About the clothes dryer comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below. FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of the clothes dryer in the present embodiment.

  First, when the user puts the clothes 5 into the drum 4, closes the door 12, and presses an operation start button (not shown), the washing step is started. The control device 27 controls the water supply device 25 to supply water into the outer tub 1. The drum 4 is rotated by the driving device 10 to cause the clothes 5 to contain water. Thereafter, when the water is supplied to the set water level, the water supply ends. The garment 5 is stirred by the rotation of the drum 4 and the stirring baffle 9 to be beaten or washed with centrifugal force. The washing step ends when a predetermined washing time has elapsed.

  In the next rinsing step, the control device 27 controls the drain valve 31 to drain the wash water from the outer tub 1. When drainage is completed, intermediate dehydration is performed in which the drive device 10 is driven at a higher speed than the washing step, and washing water is discharged from the clothes 5 by centrifugal force. When the predetermined time has elapsed and the driving of the driving device 10 is stopped, the intermediate dehydration is finished. Thereafter, the control device 27 closes the drain valve 31 and starts water supply by the water supply device 25. The clothes 5 are stirred by the rotation of the drum 4 and the stirring baffle 9 and rinsed. When the predetermined rinsing time has elapsed, the rinsing step ends.

  In the next dewatering step, the control device 27 controls the drain valve 31 to drain the wash water from the outer tub 1. When the drainage is completed, the control device 27 drives the drive device 10 at a higher speed than the stirring in the washing step and the rinsing step, and the final dehydration for discharging the washing water from the clothes 5 is performed. When the predetermined time has elapsed and the driving of the driving device 10 is stopped, the dehydrating step is finished. This completes the washing step.

Subsequently, in the drying step, clothes 5 with the drum 4 wet at the beginning are housed inside and rotated. The drying air is circulated in the air passage 14 by the blower 19. First, the drying air heated by the condenser 18 flows into the drum 4 from the air supply port 20 through the outer tub 1. The drying air flowing into the drum 4 comes into contact with the wet clothing 5. While the clothes 5 are heated and dried by the drying air, the drying air is deprived of heat by the clothes and becomes in a high humidity state with a lot of moisture. The drying air that has become highly humid in the drum 4 is discharged from the exhaust port 15 through the outer tub 1.
The discharged drying air absorbs heat in the evaporator 17, that is, is cooled and dehumidified. Thereafter, the drying air reaches the condenser 18 and is heated again as described above to become high-temperature and low-humidity air. The drying air thus circulates in the air passage 14 and dries the clothes 5 in the drum 4.

  At this time, the thermal energy released from the condenser 18 to the drying air is approximately equal to the sum of the amount of heat corresponding to the power consumption of the compressor 21 and the amount of heat absorbed by the evaporator 17. Therefore, the amount of heat that is greater than or equal to the power input to the compressor 21 is obtained from the condenser 18, and the garment 5 can be dried with less power consumption than an electric heater or the like.

  Next, detection of dehumidified water by the control device 27 in the drying step will be described. When the drying step is started, the control device 27 controls the compressor 21, the driving device 10, and the fan motor 19a to start the drying operation. Then, the clothes 5 are uniformly dried by circulating air while rotating the drum 4 as described above.

  During the drying operation using the heat pump device 23, the temperature of the evaporator 17 is always in a cold state of 5 ° C to 15 ° C. The high-humidity drying air discharged from the drum 4 is rapidly cooled by the evaporator 17. Thereby, dew condensation occurs on the surface of the evaporator 17 and water droplets are generated. When the water droplets generated here combine to grow to a certain amount of water, they are dropped as dehumidified water below the evaporator 17. The dehumidified water that has been dropped is collected in the drain pipe 26 and flows through the drain pipe 26 intermittently rather than a continuous flow like a river flow. At this time, when the dehumidified water passes through the detection unit 37, the dehumidified water sensor 39 detects that the dehumidified water has passed through the drain pipe 26 and outputs a signal.

  During the drying operation, the control device 27 always grasps the detection state of the dehumidified water sensor 39. The control unit 27 is provided with a timer unit 27a, and starts counting when an output signal from the dehumidified water sensor 39 is input. The timer unit 27a is reset when the next output signal is input before a predetermined time T1 (for example, 5 minutes) set in advance elapses, and starts counting again. The control device 27 repeats the above operation in a state where the dehumidified water condensed by the evaporator 17 as the clothes 5 are dried and is flowing through the drain pipe 26 as water droplets.

  FIG. 7 is a graph showing the transition of detection by the dehumidifying water sensor during the drying operation of the clothes dryer in the present embodiment. The dehumidified water sensor 39 outputs a signal at the timing when the dehumidified water passes through the detection unit 37 of the drain pipe 26. When the output signal of the dehumidified water sensor 39 is input, the control device 27 determines that “water has passed”. The graph of FIG. 7 is plotted according to the intensity of the output signal of the dehumidified water sensor 39. For reference, the temperature transitions at the entrance and exit of the drum 4 are also plotted.

  During the drying operation, dehumidified water condensed by the evaporator 17 of the heat pump device 23 is generated as the clothes 5 are dried, and the dehumidified water flows through the drain pipe 26. According to FIG. 7, the dehumidified water detection signal from the dehumidified water sensor 39 disappears when about 70 minutes have elapsed since the start of operation. This means that even if the drying air heated by the condenser 18 is supplied to the garment 5, no dehumidified water is generated. In other words, in this example of operation, the timing at which the signal for detecting the dehumidified water from the dehumidified water sensor 39 disappears and about 70 minutes have elapsed since the start of the operation is the end detection timing of the drying operation. Accordingly, when the control device 27 does not detect the signal again during the predetermined time T1 after the detection signal from the dehumidifying water sensor 39 disappears, the control device 27 determines that the drying is finished and stops the compressor 21.

From the above, the drying air heated by the condenser 18 of the heat pump device 23 heats the clothing and evaporates the moisture, thereby becoming a high humidity state. On the other hand, the high-humidity drying air is cooled by the evaporator 17 to generate dehumidified water, and the generated dehumidified water flows through the detection unit 37 of the drain pipe 26. The control device 27 can accurately detect that the clothes in the drying chamber are indirectly dried by always grasping the passage of the dehumidified water of the detection unit 37 by the dehumidified water sensor 39. Further, since the drying detection method using only the temperature detection unit is not used, the temperature difference between the inlet and the outlet of the drum 4 is not affected, and the drying is not affected by the ambient temperature of the place where the clothes dryer is installed. The end timing can be detected accurately.

  According to FIG. 7, the passage of the dehumidified water by the dehumidified water sensor 39 is not detected for about 10 minutes after the start of operation. This is because even when the drying operation is started, the temperature of the drying air heated by the condenser 18 gradually rises and is supplied to the clothes 5 in the drum 4 by the blower 19 to heat the clothes, It takes some time for the air to evaporate and the drying air to become highly humid. Furthermore, it is because it takes time for moisture to condense in the evaporator 17 and flow as dehumidified water. For this reason, it is normal that the passage of dehumidified water is not detected immediately after the start of operation. Therefore, in this embodiment, the end of drying is not detected for 10 minutes after the start of operation, and the end determination is made after 10 minutes have elapsed since the start of operation. As a result, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of the end of drying at a timing shortly after the start of the drying operation.

  The control device 27 drives the drum 4 and the blower 19 for a while after stopping the compressor 21. As the predetermined time T2 elapses and the temperature in the outer tub 1 decreases, the driving of the drum 4 and the blower 19 is stopped, and the drying step is completed.

  The end detection of the drying operation described so far can be detected by using the dehumidified water sensor 39. However, the end of the drying operation can be detected by adding the outlet temperature detection unit 24 that measures the temperature of the outlet of the drum 4. The accuracy of detection can be improved. In the present embodiment, the end of drying by the dehumidified water sensor 39 is determined after the outlet temperature detection unit 24 exceeds 40 ° C. Thereby, even when the atmospheric temperature in the place where the clothes dryer is installed is considerably low and the temperature rise of the drying air by the condenser 18 is slow or when the clothing temperature rise by the drying air is slow, the drying is performed. The end timing can be detected accurately.

  Further, in the configuration of the present embodiment, the evaporator 17 for generating dehumidified water is disposed in the air passage 14 through which the drying air circulates, so that the surface of the fin or pipe is captured by the lint filter 16. Fine lint waste that could not be collected is adhered, and the dehumidified water is discharged including lint waste. Therefore, lint waste may accumulate on the inner surface of the drain pipe 26 provided with the detection unit 37 as the operation time elapses. In that case, since the inclined bottom surface 37a of the detection unit 37 to which the dehumidified water sensor 39 is attached is inclined three-dimensionally, the dehumidified water flows through the V-shaped bottom end, and lint debris is uniformly deposited on the inclined bottom surface 37a. Rather than depositing, it deposits from the V-shaped bottom end.

  When the lint deposit layer 40 is actually formed, the dehumidified water flows along the boundary A between the lint deposit layer 40 and the inclined bottom surface 37a to which the dehumidified water sensor 39 is attached. As a result, the dehumidified water flows in the vicinity of the dehumidified water sensor 39 and in the portion where the lint debris is not deposited on the inclined bottom surface 37a. A stable detection reaction can be maintained and dehumidified water can be detected reliably.

  Further, since the water intake pipe 38 protrudes into the detection unit 37 with the outlet 38a facing down above the dehumidified water sensor 39, the dehumidified water discharged from the water intake pipe 38 is indicated by a dotted arrow in the figure. First, the lint bottom surface 37a to which the dehumidified water sensor 39 is attached is dropped on the surface where lint debris is not deposited, and reaches the boundary A with the lint deposition layer along the inclination. After that, since it will flow along the boundary A, the dehumidified water will surely flow through the portion of the inclined bottom surface 37a where lint debris is not deposited, and the dehumidified water can be detected reliably.

It should be noted that, at the end of the drying operation in which the flow rate of the dehumidified water is reduced, the ratio of the dehumidified water to the inner diameter of the water inlet pipe 38 is small, so that a relatively free flow may occur in the water inlet pipe 38. In particular, when the drain pipe 26 is bent and the slope is steep, the dehumidified water flows in the drain pipe 26 with a spiral complicated flow, and when the length of the inlet pipe 38 is relatively short, It may be scattered in a direction different from the protruding direction. Therefore, it is desirable to make the drain pipe 26 leading to the water inlet pipe 38 as smooth as possible, or make the length of the water inlet pipe 38 longer than a certain length. In addition, by making the inner shape of the water inlet pipe 38 so that the inner diameter decreases toward the inside of the detection unit 37, even the turbulent flow on the upstream side is rectified and dehumidified in the direction of protrusion of the water inlet pipe 38. It is also possible to discharge water.

  In addition, since the inner surface of the detection unit 37 and the end of the water intake pipe 38 protruding inside are separated from each other, the dehumidified water discharged from the water intake pipe 38 is dripped by the gravity into the dehumidified water sensor 39 configured vertically downward. Therefore, the dehumidified water can be reliably detected without being transferred to the upper surface or side surface of the detection unit 37 and bypassing the electrode.

  Incidentally, in the present embodiment, lint scraps accumulate on the inclined bottom surface 37a of the detection unit 37, but it is not only that that it passes through the lint filter 16, but various things depending on the state of clothing and tap water in each household. May accumulate. For example, animal hair, dust adhering to clothing, and scales caused by calcium and magnesium components contained in tap water can be considered. In any case, the dehumidified water flows through the portion of the inclined bottom surface 37a where the lint debris is not deposited, so that the dehumidified water can be reliably detected.

  In the present embodiment, one of the V-shaped inclined bottom surface 37a is widened and the dehumidified water sensor 39 is provided on the wide inclined surface. However, the dehumidified water sensor is provided on either the width of the inclined surface or the inclined surface. It is not limited.

(Embodiment 2)
Fig.8 (a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the dehumidification water detection part of the clothes dryer in Embodiment 2 of this invention, and shows the cross section of a drainage direction. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. The basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted, and different configurations will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the detection unit 37 has a different configuration of the inclined bottom surface 37b. The shape of the cross section orthogonal to the drainage direction as seen from the BB cross section and the BB cross section of the inclined bottom surface 37b is a V-shape that protrudes downward, and is substantially symmetrical with the same size of the left and right inclined surfaces. is there. Accordingly, the inclined bottom surface 37b is a three-dimensional inclined surface configured to have a slope in the drainage direction as a part of the drain pipe 26 in the longitudinal section and also to have a slope as a V shape in the transverse section. Thereby, in the inclined bottom surface 37b, dehumidified water flows in the drain direction while concentrating on the V-shaped lowermost part.

  The electrodes 41a and 41b of the two dehumidified water sensors 41 are attached to the outside of both inclined surfaces constituting the V shape, including at least the V-shaped bottom. A water intake pipe 38 for introducing dehumidified water into the detection unit 37 is provided so as to protrude into the detection unit 37 with the outlet 38a facing downward above the valley which is a substantially intermediate point of the plurality of dehumidification water sensors 41. ing.

  About the clothes dryer comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated. Since the basic operation and action are the same as in the first embodiment, detection of dehumidified water in the detection unit 37 in the drying step after the washing step will be described.

Since the inclined bottom surface 37b of the detection unit 37 to which the dehumidified water sensor 41 is attached is three-dimensionally inclined, the dehumidified water flows through the bottom of the V shape, and lint waste does not accumulate uniformly on the inclined bottom surface 37b. And deposited from the bottom of the V shape. When the lint deposit layer 40 is actually formed, the dehumidified water flows along the boundaries B1 and B2 between the lint deposit layer 40 and the inclined bottom surface 37b to which the dehumidified water sensor 41 is attached. As a result, the dehumidified water flows in the vicinity of the dehumidified water sensor 41 and the portion of the inclined bottom surface 37b where lint debris is not deposited. A stable detection reaction can be maintained and dehumidified water can be detected reliably.

  Note that when the drying operation is about to end when the flow rate of the dehumidified water decreases, and when the drain pipe 26 is bent and the inclination is steep, the dehumidified water discharged from the water intake pipe 38 is indicated by a dotted arrow in the figure. Instead of flowing straight downward in the vertical direction, the flow becomes relatively free as a spiral in the water inlet pipe 38 as indicated by the one-dot chain line arrow in the figure, and when the length of the water inlet pipe 38 is relatively short, The water pipe 38 may be scattered in a direction different from the protruding direction.

  However, in this embodiment, since the dehumidified water sensors 41 are provided on both sides of the V-shaped inclined bottom surface 37b, the dehumidified water discharged from the water intake pipe 38 is scattered around. However, it will eventually pass somewhere in the dehumidified water sensor 41. When the lint deposit layer 40 is actually formed, the dehumidified water flows through the boundary B1 or B2 between the lint deposit layer 40 and the inclined bottom surface 37b. As a result, the dehumidified water flows through the portion of the inclined bottom surface 37b where the lint debris is not deposited, and the dehumidified water can be reliably detected. Moreover, since it is not necessary to lengthen the water intake pipe 38, the detection part 37 can be comprised in a space-saving. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to make the drain pipe 26 into a smooth shape that does not bend, the arrangement of the drain pipe 26 and the detection unit 37 inside the housing 2 is also relatively flexible.

  Even if the dehumidified water is discharged directly from the water intake pipe 38 and dropped directly above the lint accumulation layer 40, the dehumidified water does not flow straight as it is due to the operational vibration of the clothes dryer itself. In addition, after the flow bends to either the left or right boundary B1 or B2, the boundary flows as it is, so that the dehumidified water can be reliably detected. However, the dehumidified water can flow more reliably at the boundary by arranging the water intake pipe 38 eccentrically above either one of the plurality of dehumidified water sensors 41 rather than above the intermediate point. Is possible.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the dehumidified water sensor is divided and provided on each inclined surface, but may be provided as one V-shaped dehumidified water sensor.

(Embodiment 3)
Fig.9 (a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the detection part of the dehumidification water of the clothes dryer in Embodiment 3 of this invention, and shows the cross section of a drainage direction. FIG.9 (b) is CC sectional drawing of FIG.9 (b). The basic configuration is the same as that of the first and second embodiments, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted, and different configurations will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the detection unit 37 is different from the second embodiment in the configuration of the inclined bottom surface 37c. The shape of the cross section orthogonal to the drainage direction that can be seen from the CC cross section and the CC cross section of the inclined bottom surface 37c is a curved surface that protrudes downward. Therefore, the inclined bottom surface 37c is a three-dimensional inclined surface configured to have an inclination in the direction of drainage as a part of the drain pipe 26 in the longitudinal section and to have an inclination as a curved surface shape in the transverse section. Thereby, dehumidified water flows in the direction of drainage in the inclined bottom surface 37c while concentrating on the lowest part of the curved surface.

In the dehumidified water sensor 42, the electrodes 42a and 42b have the same curved surface shape, and are arranged without a gap including the lowermost portion of the curved surface outside the curved surface shape of the inclined bottom surface 37c. The inclined bottom surface 37c has a curved surface shape that protrudes downward. Therefore, wherever dehumidified water is discharged, the inclined bottom surface 37c eventually flows to the bottom of the curved surface shape, and lint debris accumulates at the bottom. And actually the lint deposit 4
When 0 is formed, the dehumidified water flows along the boundaries C1 and C2 between the lint deposition layer 40 and the inclined bottom surface 37c. As a result, the dehumidified water flows in the vicinity of the dehumidified water sensor 42 and in the portion of the inclined bottom surface 37c where lint debris is not deposited, so that the dehumidified water can be reliably detected.

  Further, by using the dehumidified water sensor 42 using the curved electrodes 42a and 42b, the entire area of the inclined bottom surface 37c can be covered with a single dehumidified water sensor 42, and it is not necessary to use a plurality of them, so that it is more cost effective. It will be excellent.

(Embodiment 4)
Fig.10 (a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the dehumidification water detection part of the clothes dryer in Embodiment 4 of this invention, and shows the cross section of a drainage direction. FIG.10 (b) is DD sectional drawing of FIG.10 (b). The basic configuration is the same as that of the first and third embodiments, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted, and different configurations will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the detection unit 37 is different from the third embodiment in the configuration of the inclined bottom surface 37d. The outside of the shape of the cross section orthogonal to the drainage direction that can be seen from the DD cross section and the DD cross section of the inclined bottom surface 37d is substantially horizontal, and the inner side is recessed in the vicinity of the center with the width of the dimension W downward, As it asymptotically, it is gently uphill. Therefore, the inclined bottom surface 37d is a three-dimensional inclined surface configured to have an inclination in the direction of drainage as a part of the drain pipe 26 in the longitudinal section and also in the transverse section. Thereby, in the inclined bottom surface 37d, the dehumidified water flows in the direction of drainage while concentrating on the lowermost part of the inclined surface.

  In the dehumidified water sensor 43, the electrodes 43a and 43b have a flat plate shape and are disposed on the outer surface of the inclined bottom surface 37d. The inside of the inclined bottom surface 37d has a cross-sectional shape that is gently inclined from both sides to the vicinity of the center and is recessed in the vicinity of the center, so that the dehumidified water finally becomes the lowest recess regardless of where the dehumidified water is discharged. Since the thickness of the dent is thinnest, the distance from the electrodes 43a and 43b of the dehumidified water sensor 43 is short, and the dehumidified water detection is more reactive. Moreover, lint waste accumulates in the recess. When the lint deposition layer 40 is actually formed, the dehumidified water flows through the boundary D1 or D2 between the lint deposition layer 40 and the inclined bottom surface 37d. Further, since the inner slope of the inclined bottom surface 37d is gentle, the distance from the electrodes 43a and 43b of the dehumidified water sensor 43 is sufficiently close, and the dehumidified water flows through the portion of the inclined bottom surface 37d where lint debris is not deposited reliably. Therefore, the dehumidified water can be detected with certainty.

  In addition, the reactivity of detection of dehumidified water is most stabilized by disposing the central portion of the electrode of the dehumidified water sensor 43 so that the recessed portion passes. Further, by setting the vicinity of both side surfaces where the thickness is the largest on the inclined bottom surface 37d to such a thickness that the dehumidified water sensor 43 reacts sufficiently, lint debris accumulates over a long period of use, and the lint deposition layer 40 and the inclined bottom surface Even when the boundary D1 or D2 with the 37d changes from near the center of the inclined bottom surface 37d to both side surfaces, the dehumidifying water has good detection reactivity and maintains a stable detection reaction even during long-term use. The dehumidified water can be reliably detected.

  Furthermore, the angle of the gentle inclination from both side surfaces of the inclined bottom surface 37d toward the center is preferably an angle that takes into account the installation conditions of the clothes dryer, assembly variations of the detection unit 37, and the like. However, if the angle is too large, the thickness of the inclined bottom surface 37d increases and the detection sensitivity becomes dull. For example, the inclination angle when installing the clothes dryer is assumed to be 2 degrees, the variation angle during assembly is assumed to be 1 degree, the inclination is set to a maximum of 5 degrees in consideration of the safety factor, and the maximum thickness in the vicinity of both side surfaces is the dehumidified water sensor. It is preferable to set the flow path width of the detection unit 37 so that 43 can be set to a thickness having sufficient detection sensitivity.

Moreover, in this Embodiment, although the width | variety of the dent part was comprised as the dimension W, the value of the optimal dimension W changes with the minimum particle diameter of the dehumidification water dripped. If the minimum particle size of the dehumidified water is smaller than the dimension W, the dehumidified water may meander and flow within the width of the recess, and the detection sensitivity slightly decreases. Therefore, it is preferable that the minimum particle size of the dehumidified water is larger than the dimension W. In a general heat pump device used for a clothes dryer, the minimum particle size of the dehumidified water dropped on the detection unit 37 is about φ2 mm. Therefore, it is best to set W = 2 mm.

  As described above, the clothes dryer according to the present invention detects the dehumidified water obtained by condensing the moisture of the clothes from the drying air without using the temperature detection device in the drying operation using the heat pump device. Therefore, the present invention can be applied not only to clothes dryers but also to laundry dryers having a washing function.

1 Outer tank (drying room)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Case 3 Anti-vibration mechanism 4 Drum 5 Clothing 6 Input port 10 Drive apparatus 14 Air path 15 Exhaust port 17 Evaporator 18 Condenser 19 Blower 20 Air supply port 21 Compressor 23 Heat pump device 24 Outlet temperature detection part 26 Drain pipe 27 Control device 28 Dehumidified water sensor (dehumidified water detector)
28a, 28b, 28c, 28d Electrode 37 detector 37a, 37b, 37c, 37d Inclined bottom surface 38 Water inlet pipe 38a Outlet 39 Dehumidified water sensor (dehumidified water detector)
39a, 39b Electrode 40 Lint deposition layer 41 Dehumidified water sensor (dehumidified water detector)
41a, 41b Electrode 42 Dehumidified water sensor (dehumidified water detector)
42a, 42b Electrode 43 Dehumidified water sensor (dehumidified water detector)
43a, 43b electrode

Claims (5)

A drying chamber having an air supply port and an exhaust port for drying air inside the housing, an air passage communicating the air supply port and the exhaust port, and an air for drying into the drying chamber through the air passage A heat pump device having an evaporator and a condenser in the air passage, and a drain pipe for draining dehumidified water generated in the heat pump device, the drain pipe through which the dehumidified water has passed. A detection unit provided with a dehumidifying water detection device for detecting the detection, the detection unit has an inclined bottom surface through which the dehumidified water flows in the drainage direction, and the inclined bottom surface has an inclination in the drainage direction in the longitudinal section. In addition, the clothes dryer is configured to have an inclination in a cross section, and the dehumidified water detection device is provided on the outside of the inclined bottom surface so as to include at least a lowermost portion due to the inclination in the cross section. The detection unit has a water inlet pipe above the dehumidified water detection device, and the shape of the cross section of the inclined bottom surface is a V-shape projecting downward, and the dehumidification water detection device is the V-shape. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the clothes dryer is provided on an outer side of at least one of the inclined surfaces constituting the rim. The detection unit has a water inlet pipe above the dehumidified water detection device, and the shape of the cross section of the inclined bottom surface is a curved surface protruding downward, and the dehumidified water detection device is outside the inclined bottom surface. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the clothes dryer is provided in a curved shape. The detection unit has a water inlet pipe above the dehumidified water detection device, and the shape of the cross section of the inclined bottom surface has a concave portion in which a substantially central portion is recessed downward on the inner side, and asymptotically approaches in the direction of both side surfaces. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the dent is formed so as to have a thinnest thickness. The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the water intake pipe is provided so as to protrude into the detection unit with an outlet facing downward above the dehumidified water detection device.

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