JP2016036480A - Drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately determine the end of drying in a drying operation.SOLUTION: The drying machine includes: a water collecting and draining path 25 for collecting and draining dehumidification water generated by an evaporator 18 of a heat pump device 24; a dehumidification water sensor 27 for detecting that the dehumidification water has passed the water collecting and draining path 25; and control means 28 for controlling a drying operation. The control means 28 determines whether or not an output value from the dehumidification water sensor 27 is equal to or larger than a threshold value, counts the time when the output value is equal to or larger than the threshold value, and determines that a dry state has been reached when the count number becomes equals to or less than a predetermined number and the situation continues for a predetermined period of time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

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

  Conventionally, since this type of dryer is excellent in energy efficiency and has a low heating temperature, a heat pump device is used for drying clothes and the like. In the drying operation, the degree of drying of the clothes is detected to determine the end of drying, and the end of drying can be determined based on the inlet air temperature supplied to the drum and the outlet air temperature discharged from the drum. It is considered (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air circulation mechanism and a heat pump of a conventional washer / dryer described in Patent Document 1, and FIG. 7 is a graph of an inlet air temperature and an outlet air temperature of the drum during the drying operation.

  6 and 7, a drying chamber 51 in which an object to be dried such as clothing is accommodated, an exhaust port 53 that exhausts air in the drying chamber 51 to the air circulation path 52, and air in the air circulation path 52 is supplied. A blower 55 to be supplied into the drying chamber 51 from the port 54, a heat pump device 58 in which an evaporator 56 and a condenser 57 are disposed in the air circulation path 52, and an inlet for detecting the inlet air temperature supplied to the drying chamber 51. A temperature sensor 59 and an outlet temperature sensor 60 that detects the temperature of the outlet air discharged from the drying chamber 51 are provided. The inlet air temperature detected by the inlet temperature sensor 59 and the outlet air temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 60 The end of drying is determined based on the temperature difference.

  As shown in the graph of FIG. 7, when the drying of the clothing proceeds by the start of the drying operation, the inlet air temperature detected by the inlet temperature sensor 59 becomes constant. On the other hand, since the wet clothing in the drying chamber 51 takes away the heat of the heated air from the air supply port 54, the outlet air temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 60 is compared with the temperature detected by the inlet temperature sensor 59. The temperature difference detected by the inlet temperature sensor 59 and the outlet temperature sensor 60 is considerably different at the start of the drying operation, but gradually decreases as the clothing is dried, and the temperature difference is a predetermined amount ( For example, when it is less than 10 deg), the end of drying is determined.

  In addition, in a dryer using a heat pump device, it is considered that the end of drying is determined based on dehumidified water generated by an evaporator in a drying operation (see, for example, Patent Document 2). A dehumidifying water container is provided to store the dehumidified water generated by the evaporator, the dehumidifying water level in this dehumidifying water container is detected, the amount of dehumidified water per unit time is calculated, and the end of drying is determined based on that value. Is to do.

JP 2012-254207 A JP 2007-117578 A

  However, in the conventional configuration described in Patent Document 1, the degree of change in the temperature difference detected by the inlet temperature sensor 59 and the outlet temperature sensor 60 becomes smaller as the clothes are dried. In the graph of FIG. 7, the degree of change in the temperature difference from the drying time of about 60 minutes to about 100 minutes of the end of operation is small. Since this temperature difference value is affected by the ambient temperature of the place where the dryer is installed, it is not possible to accurately determine the end of drying, and the operation ends in an undried state or the operation time is extended. There was a problem that fabric damage was caused by overdrying.

  Moreover, in the conventional structure described in the said patent document 2, since dehumidified water was stored in the container and the water level was detected, there existed a problem that it was difficult to detect the change of a water level accurately. That is, since dehumidified water dripped from the evaporator is received by the container, the opening projected area of the container is large and the fluctuation of the water level is small. Moreover, since the amount of dehumidified water is small just before the end of drying, the fluctuation of the water level is further reduced. Furthermore, there is a problem that it is not possible to accurately determine the completion of drying due to the fact that the water level fluctuates due to vibration accompanying the rotation of the drum during the drying operation.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a dryer that can accurately determine the end of drying.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the dryer of the present invention includes a drying chamber provided with an air supply port and an exhaust port for drying air, and an air passage connected to the air supply port and the exhaust port, The condenser and the evaporator are connected by a pipe line so that a refrigerant circulates between a blower that blows drying air into the drying chamber through the air passage, a compressor, a condenser, a throttle means, and an evaporator. A heat pump device disposed in the air passage, a drainage path for collecting and draining dehumidified water generated in the evaporator, a dehumidifying water sensor for detecting that the dehumidified water has passed through the drainage path, and a drying operation. Control means for controlling, the control means determines whether the output value from the dehumidified water sensor is equal to or greater than a threshold value, counts the time equal to or greater than the threshold value, the count number becomes a predetermined number or less, When it lasts for a predetermined time It is obtained so as to determine a.

  As a result, when dehumidified water is generated in the evaporator of the heat pump device during the drying operation, the dehumidified water is collected in the collection and drainage path, and the output value from the dehumidification water sensor that detects the passage of the dehumidification water flowing through this collection and drainage path is processed with a threshold value. Thus, it is possible to accurately detect the drying state of clothes in the drying chamber, and it is possible to accurately determine the end of drying.

  The dryer of the present invention can accurately determine the end of drying by a drying operation.

The block diagram of the dryer in Embodiment 1 of this invention Schematic for detecting the passage of dehumidified water from the dryer Output graph of dehumidified water sensor obtained from passage of dehumidified water of the dryer Flow chart showing the processing procedure of the dryer Relationship between the number of counts obtained from the dehumidifying water sensor of the dryer and the drying time Schematic configuration diagram of air circulation mechanism and heat pump in conventional washing and drying machine Graph of drum inlet air temperature and outlet air temperature during drying operation in the washer / dryer

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drying chamber provided with an air supply port and an exhaust port for drying air, an air passage communicating with 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 in which a compressor, a condenser, a throttle means, and an evaporator are connected by a pipe line so that a refrigerant circulates, and the condenser and the evaporator are disposed in the air path, A collecting and draining path for collecting and draining dehumidified water generated in the evaporator; a dehumidifying water sensor for detecting that the dehumidifying water has passed through the collecting and draining path; and a control means for controlling a drying operation. Determines whether the output value from the dehumidified water sensor is equal to or greater than a threshold value, counts the time equal to or greater than the threshold value, determines that the count number is equal to or less than a predetermined number, and continues to be dry for a predetermined time. So that When dehumidified water is generated in the evaporator of the heat pump device during operation, the dehumidified water is collected in the collection and drainage path, and the output value from the dehumidification water sensor that detects the passage of the dehumidification water flowing through this collection and drainage path is processed with a threshold value, thereby It is possible to accurately detect the dry state of the clothes. In addition, since temperature detection means is not used, the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the drum is not affected, and the time above the threshold is not affected by the ambient temperature of the environment where the dryer is installed. By counting, the timing of completion of drying can be accurately detected.

  In a second aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first aspect of the invention, the display means for displaying the remaining dry time is provided, and the control means displays the remaining time on the display means when the count number becomes a predetermined number or less. By changing it, the control means can accurately detect the dehumidified water even during the drying, so that the remaining drying time can be displayed with high accuracy.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the control means displays the drying extension time in the remaining time of the display means when it is determined that the drying operation is performed. The end can be accurately displayed and notified.

  In a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, the temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the drying air is provided, and the control means has an output of the temperature detection means at a predetermined value. When the end of drying is judged after exceeding, the ambient temperature of the environment where the dryer is installed is extremely low, and when the temperature rise of the drying air by the condenser is slow, or by the drying air Even when the temperature rise of clothes or the like in the drying chamber is slow, it is possible to accurately detect the timing of completion of drying.

  In a fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, the dehumidified water sensor includes an electrostatic sensor whose capacitance changes as the dehumidified water passes through the drainage path. Thus, in addition to the presence or absence of dehumidified water that passes through the collection and drainage path, the amount of dehumidified water can be detected in accordance with the change in capacitance.

  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 configuration diagram of a dryer according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for detecting passage of dehumidified water of the dryer.

  1 and 2, an outer tub (drying chamber) 1 is elastically supported by a plurality of suspension mechanisms 3 inside a housing 2 of a dryer. The drum 4 has a bottomed cylindrical shape and is provided in the outer tub 1 so as to be rotatable around a drum rotation shaft 4a. The drum 4 has an inlet 6 through which a drying object (hereinafter referred to as clothing or the like) such as clothing 5 is taken in and out on the front side, and communicates with the inside of the outer tub 1 through a plurality of discharge holes 8 provided in the peripheral wall 7 of the drum 4. doing.

  The peripheral wall 7 in the drum 4 is provided with a stirring baffle 9 for lifting the clothes 5 and the like in the rotating direction of the drum 4. The outer tub 1, the drum 4, and the drum rotation shaft 4a are disposed so as to be inclined upward by an angle θ1 (for example, 20 °) with respect to the horizontal.

  A motor (driving means) 10 is provided outside the rear surface side of the outer tub 1 to rotate the drum 4 forward and backward around the drum rotation shaft 4a. The motor 10 is constituted by a brushless DC motor, and the rotation speed can be freely changed by inverter control.

  On the front surface of the housing 2, a door 11 that opens and closes a substantially circular insertion port 6 through which clothes 5 and the like are taken in and out is provided. The opening 1 a of the outer tub 1 facing the inlet 6 is connected to the housing 2 by a packing 12 while ensuring an airtight configuration.

  An air circulation path (wind path) 13 including the drum 4 is formed in the upper part of the outer tub 1. The air circulation path 13 is provided with an inlet 14 on the rear surface, which is the bottom of the drum 4 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and is provided with an air inlet 15 at the rear of the outer tub 1 facing the inlet 14. The exhaust port 16 through which drying air is discharged from the tank 1 is provided on the front side above the peripheral side surface of the outer tank 1 formed in a cylindrical shape.

  The drying air that comes into contact with the clothes 5 and the like stirred in the drum 4 and deprives the moisture and exits from the exhaust port 16 flows from the front to the rear in the direction of the arrow A in the air circulation path 13. Are passed through the lint filter 17, the evaporator 18, the condenser 19, and the blower 20 in this order, and circulates again from the air supply port 15 through the inlet port 14 into the drum 4.

  The lint filter 17 captures lint such as lint generated from the clothing 5 contained in the circulating air, and prevents defects due to lint deposits on the evaporator 18, the condenser 19, and the blower 20. It is provided to be removable from the main body of the machine. The blower 20 is driven by a fan motor 20a.

  The evaporator 18 and the condenser 19 are heat exchangers composed of a duct 21 through which the refrigerant flows and fins that promote heat exchange, and a compressor 22 that compresses the refrigerant, and air by heat of the refrigerant compressed to high temperature and pressure. The refrigerant circulates through the condenser 19 that heats the drying air flowing through the circulation path 13, the throttle means 23 that depressurizes the high-pressure refrigerant, and the evaporator 18 that cools and dehumidifies the drying air flowing through the air circulation path 13. Are connected to each other by a pipe line 21 to constitute a heat pump device 24. The refrigerant circulates in the direction of arrow b.

  The collection / drainage path 25 is a path that is located at the bottom of the heat pump device 24 and collects the dehumidified water dehumidified by the evaporator 18 and discharges it to the outside of the housing 2. The collection / drainage path 25 is provided with a funnel-shaped water receiving portion 26 below the evaporator 18 provided in the air circulation path 13. The water droplets condensed and dropped by the evaporator 18 are collected at one place by the water receiving portion 26 and flow through the drainage path 25.

  The drainage path 25 is provided with a dehumidified water sensor (dehumidified water detecting means) 27 that detects the generation of dehumidified water in the evaporator 18. The dehumidified water sensor 27 serving as a dryness detection means is configured by an electrostatic sensor and detects that the dehumidified water has passed through the collection / drainage path 25, and the dehumidification water collected by the water receiver 26 is collected in the collection / drainage path 25. It is arrange | positioned in the downstream vicinity of the inflow part 25a which flows in into.

  The collection / drainage path 25 inclines the vicinity of the downstream side of the inflow portion 25a downward by an angle θ2 (for example, 30 °) with respect to the vertical. The dehumidified water sensor 27 is disposed on the gravity lower side that becomes the dehumidified water passage 25b due to the inclination when the dehumidified water collected by the water receiving section 26 flows from the inflow section 25a through the collection / drainage path 25.

  The dehumidified water sensor 27 measures the capacitance by bringing the pair of electrodes 27a and 27b of the electrostatic sensor into close contact with the lower side of the gravity of the passage 25b of the drainage path 25 through which the dehumidified water flows, and passes the dehumidified water. Is detected. Specifically, by configuring the oscillation circuit so that the capacitance of a certain terminal of the oscillation circuit (in this case, between the electrode 27a and the electrode 27b) becomes an element of the oscillation condition, the dehumidified water becomes an electrostatic sensor. Oscillation is started by being close to, so that it can be easily detected by the control means 28, and an output is generated when the dehumidified water passes, and no output is generated when the dehumidified water stops passing.

  When an electrostatic sensor is used as the dehumidifying water sensor 27, there is no protrusion in the drainage / drainage path 25, and it is advantageous because lint, hair, etc. flowing in the dehumidifying water are not caught by the sensor unit.

  In addition, you may comprise the dehumidification water sensor 27 with an electrode sensor. A pair of electrodes of an electrode sensor is provided in the passage 25b of the dehumidified water in the drainage path 25 to measure the conductivity, and the passage of the dehumidified water that is condensed and dripped by the evaporator 18 can be detected. .

  For the measurement of conductivity, for example, an RC oscillation circuit is constituted by the impedance between a pair of electrodes and a capacitor on a control circuit (not shown), and the change in impedance is output as a change in frequency. Can be easily detected by the control means 28.

  The control means 28 controls the motor 10, the blower 20, the compressor 22, etc., and controls the drying operation. Further, the control means 28 detects the passage of the dehumidified water flowing through the drainage path 25 by the dehumidified water sensor 27, and determines the end of drying.

  An operation display unit 29 is provided at the upper front of the housing 2. The operation display unit 29 is provided with an operation unit (not shown) having an operation button or the like for setting the drying operation content, and a display means 29a for displaying the setting content, the operation status, the remaining drying time, the drying extension time, and the like. Yes.

  About the dryer comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below. When a textile product such as clothing 5 to be dried is put into the drum 4 and the drying operation is started by operating the operation button of the operation display unit 29, the amount of the inputted clothing 5 etc. is detected first. The operating time is detected by means (not shown), and the operation time corresponding to the detected amount of clothing 5 or the like is set, the drum 4 is rotated, and the blower 20 and the compressor 22 of the heat pump device 24 are operated.

  The drying air heated by the condenser 19 is blown by the blower 20 and reaches the drum 4 from the air supply port 15 through the introduction port 14. The drying air blown into the drum 4 comes into contact with the wet clothing 5 etc., and the clothing 5 etc. is heated and dried, while the drying air takes heat away from the clothing 5 etc. It becomes steamed.

  The drying air that has come into contact with the clothes 5 and the like in the drum 4 leaves the outer tub 1 through the exhaust port 16 and flows into the air circulation path 13. The high-humidity air from the drum 4 is cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator 18, reaches the condenser 19, is heated again to be supplied into the drum 4 as high-temperature and low-humidity air, and advances drying of the clothes 5 and the like. .

  At this time, the thermal energy released from the condenser 19 to the circulating air is approximately equal to the sum of the amount of power consumed by the compressor 22 and the amount of heat absorbed from the evaporator 18. Therefore, an output higher than the power input to the compressor 22 is obtained from the condenser 19, and the clothes 5 and the like can be dried with less power consumption, which is excellent in energy saving.

  Here, dehumidification by the evaporator 18 will be described. During the drying operation in which the heat pump device 24 is operated, the temperature of the evaporator 18 is always in a cold state of 5 to 15 ° C., and the air dampened by absorbing moisture such as the clothing 5 in the drum 4 is rapidly absorbed by the evaporator 18. As a result of the cooling, condensation occurs on the surface of the fins of the evaporator 18 and water droplets are generated.

  When the water droplets are combined approximately every 10 to 30 seconds and grow into a certain amount of water mass, the water vapor (referred to as dehumidified water in the sense of dehumidified water from the clothing) in the state of water mass from the evaporator 18 Drip downward.

  The dropped dehumidified water is collected by the water receiving portion 26 and flows into the collection / drainage path 25 from the inflow portion 25a. When the dehumidified water flows through the collection / drainage path 25, the dehumidification water intermittently flows in the collection / drainage path 25 while maintaining the state of a mass of water along the gravity lower side which becomes the passage 25b of the dehumidification water due to the inclination. The dehumidified water sensor 27 disposed on the gravity lower side serving as the water passage portion 25b detects the passage of the dehumidified water intermittently passing through the collection and drainage path 25, and the control means 28 always provides the dehumidified water sensor 27. Knowing the detection status of

  FIG. 3 shows the detection of the dehumidified water by the dehumidified water sensor 27 obtained from the flow of the dehumidified water during the drying operation. In this graph, the same clothes and the like dried with a conventional dryer are dried with the dryer of the present invention, and the control means 28 has dehumidified water passed through the collection and drainage path 25 by the dehumidified water sensor 27. The fact that the “water passing” signal is detected at the timing is plotted on the graph.

  In addition, in order to compare the end detection timing with the conventional dryer, the transition of the inlet air temperature detected by the inlet temperature sensor and the transition of the outlet air temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor is also plotted as in the conventional dryer. Yes.

  According to FIG. 3, it can be seen that during the drying operation, dehumidified water condensed in the evaporator 18 of the heat pump device 24 is generated in conjunction with the drying of the clothes 5 and the like and flows through the collection and drainage path 25. When about 70 minutes have elapsed since then, the dehumidified water detection signal from the dehumidified water sensor 27 disappears.

  This means that no further dehumidifying water is generated even if the drying air heated by the condenser 19 is given to the clothing 5 or the like. That is, in this example of operation, the dehumidifying water sensor 27 At the timing when the dehumidified water detection signal disappears (about 70 minutes have passed since the start of operation), it is already in a dry state. It is necessary to determine the end of drying and set a desired drying extension time.

  Next, a flow is demonstrated based on the flowchart of FIG. First, non-dried clothing 5 or the like to be dried is put into the drum 4 of the dryer (step S0). The drying level of the dryer and various settings are performed, and when the operation button is turned on, the drum 4 starts rotating, and the drying operation is started (step S1).

  For example, 10 minutes after starting the operation of the heat pump device 24, the inlet temperature sensor 30 detects the drum inlet temperature (step S2). When this temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, for example, 50 ° C. or more, the electrostatic sensor serving as the dryness detection means, that is, the dehumidified water sensor 27 performs dryness determination (step S3).

  First, the output from the electrostatic sensor outputs a certain output value when dehumidified water is detected. Therefore, a threshold is set for the output value at this time, and the number of times when a sensor output equal to or greater than this threshold is obtained is counted. (Step S4). For example, if the sensor output at the time of “with dehumidified water” is 5 V, 4 V is set as the threshold value, and when the sensor output is measured in units of 100 msec for 1 minute, if there is dehumidified water during this time, it is counted up to 600 times. It will be.

  This count number decreases as the amount of dehumidified water flowing decreases or the interval increases. The sensor output that is equal to or greater than the threshold is measured, and it is determined whether the count is equal to or less than a predetermined value, for example, 30 (step S5).

  If it is not less than the predetermined value, the counting is repeated and the drying operation is continued. If the value is less than the predetermined value, the remaining time display displayed on the display screen of the dryer is changed (step S6). As the remaining time to be displayed, a time that requires a little more drying, for example, 30 minutes is displayed.

  Further, during this period, the count exceeding the threshold value of the sensor output is continued, and if the count number equal to or greater than the threshold value is not more than the predetermined value and continues for a predetermined time, for example, 5 minutes (step S7), drying is performed. Is determined (step S8).

  When it is determined to be dry, the remaining time display is changed. As the remaining time displayed here, a time corresponding to the drying extension time, for example, 10 minutes is displayed (step S9). After continuing the drying operation for a predetermined time corresponding to the drying extension time, the drying operation is terminated (step S10).

  FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the count number equal to or less than the threshold value of the voltage value obtained from the electrostatic sensor output that is the dehumidifying water sensor 27 and the drying time. It can be seen that the count is decreasing as the dry state approaches. Therefore, in this count number, it is determined that the predetermined value or less is dry, and thereafter, the drying operation can be terminated by performing the drying operation for a predetermined time.

  The drying level of the clothing 5 or the like exposed to the warm air introduced into the drum 4 from the inlet 14 is determined by the amount of dehumidified water generated in the evaporator 18 of the heat pump device 24. A dehumidifying water sensor 27 composed of an electrostatic sensor is provided in the passage portion 25b of the drainage path 25 through which the dehumidified water flows, and the fact that the dehumidified water has passed through the drainage path 25 is detected by a change in capacitance.

  The voltage of the electrostatic sensor is obtained by converting the change in capacitance into a voltage value by the control means 28. After voltage measurement, it is determined whether or not this voltage value is less than or equal to a threshold value, and when the voltage output value is less than or equal to the threshold value, the number of counts per minute is obtained, and this count number is greater than or equal to the threshold value Since it is determined that it has not been sufficiently dried, the measurement is performed again from the voltage value measurement by the electrostatic sensor as the dryness detection means.

  Subsequently, it is checked whether or not the voltage value is equal to or greater than a threshold value for a certain period. For example, it can be determined whether or not this voltage value continues at 2 V or more for 1 minute, and if it continues, it can be determined that it has dried. Alternatively, it is determined whether or not the count value for which the voltage value is equal to or less than the threshold value for 1 minute is equal to or less than 50. The extended drying time after determining the drying based on the clothing volume detected before driving can be set as a function of the clothing capacity.

  Normally, the drying extension time is set to 20 minutes regardless of the clothing capacity, but if the clothing capacity can be detected and the value is fed back to the extension time, an automatic setting of 1 to 20 minutes is possible. When the capacity is medium, for example 4 kg, it is possible to operate with an extension time of 5 minutes.

  In this way, by setting the drying extension time optimally, energy consumption is small, and the drying can be completed in an optimal drying state. For example, when 6 kg of towels, sheets, etc. are dried on a cotton course, the load on the motor 10 due to the rotational drive of the drum 4 is first detected by the cloth amount detection means (not shown) for detecting the capacity of the clothes 5 etc. The capacity of the clothing 5 or the like can be detected.

  Next, after the drying operation is started, a voltage value equal to or lower than the threshold value is counted for 1 minute from the voltage value of the electrostatic sensor. The time can be automatically set to a time corresponding to a clothing capacity of 6 kg, for example, about 12 minutes.

  In this way, the time when the voltage value of the electrostatic sensor is equal to or less than the threshold value is counted for 1 minute, and if the count number is equal to or less than the threshold value, it is determined that the clothes are dry, and thus the clothes 5 or the like put into the drum 4 Can be accurately detected.

  Further, the dehumidified water sensor 27 does not detect the dehumidified water for a predetermined time (for example, about 10 minutes) after the start of the drying operation. The reason for this is that when the drying operation is started, the drying air heated by the condenser 19 is supplied into the drum 4 by the blower 20 to heat the clothing 5 and the like, and the drying air takes moisture from the clothing 5 and the like. This is because if it does not become wet, condensation occurs in the evaporator 18 and no dehumidified water is generated.

  Accordingly, it is possible to prevent erroneous determination of the end of drying at the timing immediately after the start of the drying operation, and the detection start of the dehumidified water is performed after a predetermined time has elapsed after the start of the drying operation. Note that the dehumidified water sensor 27 may output the dehumidified water passage signal, and the dehumidified water may be detected after the clothing 5 and the like are substantially dried.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the drying chamber 1 provided with the air supply port 15 and the exhaust port 16 for drying air, the air passage 13 connected to the air supply port 15 and the exhaust port 16, The condenser 19 is connected to the blower 20 for blowing the drying air into the drying chamber 1 through the passage 13, the compressor 22, the condenser 19, the throttling means 23, and the evaporator 18 through the pipe 21 so that the refrigerant circulates. And a heat pump device 24 in which the evaporator 18 is disposed in the air path 13, a drainage path 25 for collecting and draining dehumidified water generated in the evaporator 18, and detecting that the dehumidified water has passed through the drainage path 25. A dehumidifying water sensor 27 and a control means 28 for controlling the drying operation are provided. The control means 28 determines whether or not the output value from the dehumidifying water sensor 27 that is periodically acquired in a predetermined time is equal to or greater than a threshold value. Count the time above this threshold The output from the dehumidified water sensor 27 detects the passage of the dehumidified water flowing through the collection / drainage path 25 when the count number is equal to or less than the predetermined number and continues for a predetermined time. By processing the value with a threshold value, it is possible to accurately detect the drying state of the clothes 5 and the like in the drying chamber 1, and without being affected by the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the drum 4 and the ambient temperature, It is possible to accurately determine the end of drying.

  The display unit 29a displays the remaining drying time, and the control unit 28 changes the remaining time display of the display unit 29a when the count number becomes a predetermined number or less. Since the dehumidified water can be accurately detected even during drying, the remaining time of drying can be accurately displayed.

  In addition, the control means 28 displays the extended drying time as the remaining time of the display means 29a when it is determined that it is dry, and can accurately display and notify the end of the drying operation.

  Further, a temperature detection means 31 for detecting the temperature of the drying air is provided, and the control means 28 determines the end of drying after the output of the temperature detection means 31 exceeds a predetermined value. The temperature detection means 31 is composed of a thermistor provided in the air circulation path 13 between the exhaust port 16 and the evaporator 18, and detects the temperature of the drum 4 outlet of the drying air flowing into the air circulation path 13 from the exhaust port 16. To do. Specifically, the end of drying by the dehumidifying water sensor 27 is determined after the temperature of the drying air detected by the temperature detecting means 31 exceeds 40 ° C., for example.

  Thereby, when the atmospheric temperature of the environment where the dryer is installed is extremely low and the temperature rise of the drying air by the condenser 19 is slow, or the temperature rise of the clothes 5 in the drying chamber 1 due to the drying air is increased. Even when it is late, it is possible to accurately detect the timing of completion of drying.

  The dehumidified water sensor 27 is composed of an electrostatic sensor whose capacitance changes as the dehumidified water passes through the collection / drainage path 25. In addition to the presence / absence of dehumidification water passing through the collection / drainage path 25, The amount of dehumidified water can be detected according to the change in capacitance.

  The dehumidified water sensor 27 may be other than the electrostatic sensor or the electrode sensor, and may be any sensor that can detect that the dehumidified water has passed through the collection and drainage path 25.

  In addition, although the drying machine of this Embodiment dries drying objects, such as clothing 5, in the drum 4, it is a water supply means which supplies washing water in the outer tank 1, an outer tank It may be a so-called washing and drying machine provided with a draining means for draining the washing water in 1 and a control means for controlling the washing and drying operation and having a washing function. Alternatively, the object to be dried may be suspended and dried in the drying chamber.

  As described above, the dryer according to the present invention is useful as a dryer because it can accurately determine the completion of drying by a drying operation.

1 Outer tank (drying room)
13 Air circulation path (wind path)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Supply port 16 Exhaust port 18 Evaporator 19 Condenser 20 Blower 21 Pipe line 22 Compressor 23 Throttle means 24 Heat pump apparatus 25 Collection drainage path 27 Dehumidification water sensor (dehumidification water detection means)
28 Control means

Claims (5)

A drying chamber provided with an inlet and an outlet for drying air;
An air passage in communication with the air supply port and the exhaust port;
A blower for blowing drying air into the drying chamber through the air passage;
A heat pump device in which a compressor, a condenser, a throttle means, and an evaporator are connected by a pipe line so that a refrigerant circulates, and the condenser and the evaporator are disposed in the air path;
A drainage path for collecting and draining dehumidified water generated in the evaporator;
A dehumidified water sensor for detecting that the dehumidified water has passed through the drainage path;
Control means for controlling the drying operation,
The control means includes
It is determined whether or not the output value from the dehumidified water sensor is equal to or greater than a threshold value, and the time equal to or greater than the threshold value is counted. Dryer. A display means for displaying the remaining drying time;
The control means includes
The dryer according to claim 1, wherein when the count number becomes a predetermined number or less, the remaining time display of the display means is changed. The control means includes
3. The dryer according to claim 1, wherein when the drying is determined, the drying extension time is displayed in the remaining time of the display means. Provided with temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the drying air,
The control means includes
The dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the end of drying is determined after the output of the temperature detection means exceeds a predetermined value. The dehumidified water sensor
The dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the dryer is configured by an electrostatic sensor whose capacitance is changed by passing dehumidified water through the collection and drainage path.