JP2016036481A - 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 dehumidification water sensor 27 detects the passage of the dehumidification water without a contact with the dehumidification water passing the water collecting and draining path 25. The control means 28 determines dryness based on an output of the dehumidification water sensor 27.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. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air circulation mechanism and a heat pump of a conventional washing / drying machine described in Patent Document 1, and FIG. 11 is a graph of an inlet air temperature and an outlet air temperature of the drum during the drying operation.

  10 and 11, a drying chamber 51 in which an object to be dried such as clothes 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. 11, when the drying of the garment 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. 11, the degree of change in the temperature difference from the drying time of about 60 minutes to the 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, a dryer according to the present invention includes a drying chamber provided with an air supply port and an exhaust port for drying air, an air passage connected in communication with the air supply port and the exhaust port, An air blower for blowing drying air into the drying chamber through an air passage, a compressor, a condenser, a throttle means, and an evaporator are connected by a pipe line so that refrigerant circulates, and the condenser and the evaporator are connected to the air A heat pump device disposed in the road, a drainage path for collecting and draining dehumidified water generated by the evaporator, a dehumidifying water sensor for detecting that the dehumidified water has passed through the drainage path, and controlling the drying operation Control means for detecting the passage of the dehumidified water in a non-contact manner with the dehumidified water flowing through the drainage path, and the control means determines the drying based on the output of the dehumidified water sensor. Is to do.

  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 drainage path, and the dehumidified water sensor detects the passage of the dehumidified water without contacting the dehumidified water flowing through this drainage path. It is possible to prevent foreign matter from adhering to the dehumidified water sensor due to contact with the dehumidified water, and it is possible to accurately detect the dry state of clothes and the like in the drying chamber.

  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 AA sectional view of the dryer in FIG. Output graph of dehumidified water sensor obtained from passage of dehumidified water of the dryer Flow chart showing the processing procedure of the dryer Graph showing the relationship between the cycle time and the drying time obtained from the output of the dehumidifying water sensor of the dryer Graph showing the relationship between the amount of dehumidified water and the drying time of the dryer Graph showing the relationship between drying speed and cycle time obtained from the output of the dehumidifying water sensor of the dryer Schematic diagram for detecting the passage of dehumidified water in the dryer according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 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 connected to the air supply port and the exhaust port, and air for drying into the drying chamber through the air passage. A blower for blowing air, a compressor, a condenser, a throttle means, and an evaporator connected by a pipe line so that a refrigerant circulates, and the condenser and the evaporator disposed in the air path, and The dehumidified water sensor, comprising: 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 collection and drainage path; and a control means for controlling a drying operation. Detects the passage of the dehumidified water in a non-contact manner with the dehumidified water flowing through the collection and drainage path, and the control means makes a determination of drying based on the output of the dehumidified water sensor, thereby performing the drying operation. Dehumidified water is removed from the evaporator of the heat pump device. When collected, the dehumidified water sensor collects the dehumidified water sensor without detecting contact with the dehumidified water flowing through the collective drainage channel. Can be prevented, the passage of dehumidified water can be accurately detected, and the detection accuracy of the dry state of clothes in the drying chamber can be improved.

  In particular, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, an inflow portion for allowing dehumidified water to flow into the drainage path is provided, and the drainage path has a substantially vertical section from the inflow portion to the dehumidification water sensor. The inflow part is provided so that dehumidified water falls in a hollow part away from the inner surface of the collection and drainage path, and the dehumidified water sensor detects passage of dehumidified water falling in the hollow part. As a result, the dehumidified water that has flowed into the collection and drainage path falls in the hollow part away from the inner surface of the collection and drainage path, and the dehumidification water touches the dehumidification water sensor to prevent foreign matter from adhering to the dehumidification water sensor. The passage of water can be accurately detected.

  In a third aspect of the invention, in particular, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the control means obtains a cycle time from an output value from the dehumidified water sensor, and when the cycle time reaches a predetermined time or more, the control means By making the judgment, it is not affected by the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the drum, and it is not affected by the ambient temperature of the environment where the dryer is installed. By doing so, it is possible to accurately detect the timing of completion of drying.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, the control means obtains a drying rate from the cycle time and calculates a drying rate of clothes and the like. The means can accurately detect the dehumidified water even during the drying, obtain the drying speed, and calculate the drying rate, so that the end of drying can be detected accurately.

  In a fifth aspect of the present invention, in particular, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the fifth aspect includes display means for displaying the remaining drying time, and the control means displays when the cycle time reaches a predetermined time or more. By changing the display of the remaining time of the means, the control means can accurately detect the dehumidified water even during the drying, so that the remaining time of drying can be displayed with high accuracy.

  In a sixth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the first to fifth aspects 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 is performed. It is possible to accurately display and notify the end of the drying operation.

  In a seventh aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the first to sixth 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 of 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.

  According to an eighth invention, in particular, in any one of the first to seventh inventions, the dehumidified water sensor is constituted by an optical sensor whose light amount changes as the dehumidified water passes through the drainage path. The amount of dehumidified water that passes through the collection and drainage path can be detected in a non-contact manner with an optical sensor, the period time can be measured by the change in the amount of light, and the amount of dehumidified water can be detected.

  In a ninth aspect of the invention, in particular, in any one of the first to seventh aspects of the invention, the dehumidified water sensor is constituted by an electrostatic sensor whose capacitance changes as the dehumidified water passes through the drainage path. As a result, the amount of dehumidified water passing through the collection and drainage path can be detected in a non-contact manner by the electrostatic sensor, the period time can be measured by the change in capacitance, and the amount of dehumidified water can be 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 block diagram of a dryer according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for detecting the passage of dehumidified water of the dryer, and FIG. 3 is A of FIG. 2 of the dryer. It is -A sectional drawing.

  1 to 3, 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 rotating shaft 4a are disposed to be inclined forward by an angle θ (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 optical sensor and detects that the dehumidified water has passed through the collection / drainage path 25, and the dehumidification water collected by the water receiving unit 26 enters the collection / drainage path 25. It arrange | positions in the downstream vicinity of the inflow part 25a which flows in.

  The drainage path 25 is provided with at least a section from the inflow part 25 a to the dehumidified water sensor 27 in a substantially vertical direction, and the inflow part 25 a is such that the dehumidified water falls in the hollow part 25 b separated from the inner surface of the drainage path 25. The dehumidified water sensor 27 is provided so as to detect the passage of the dehumidified water falling through the hollow portion 25b in a non-contact manner.

  The dehumidifying water sensor 27 constituted by an optical sensor is provided so that a pair of light emitting elements 27a and light receiving elements 27b face each other on the front side of the side surface of the collection and drainage path 25 formed in a cylindrical shape, and the dehumidifying water dropped from the inflow portion 25a emits light. Without touching the element 27a and the light receiving element 27b, the passage of the dehumidified water can be detected by the dehumidified water falling between them.

  Specifically, when there is no passage of dehumidified water, the light from the light emitting element 27a is directly incident on the light receiving element 27b without being blocked by the dehumidified water. When the dehumidified water passes, the light from the light emitting element 27a is blocked by the dehumidified water, and the light incident on the light receiving element 27b is remarkably reduced, so that it is possible to easily detect whether or not the dehumidified water has passed.

  The dehumidified water that has flowed into the drainage / drainage path 25 falls in the hollow portion 25b away from the inner surface of the drainage / drainage path 25, and prevents foreign matter from adhering to the dehumidification water sensor 27 when the dehumidification water touches the dehumidification water sensor 27. be able to.

  Lint such as lint generated from the clothing 5 and the like passes through the air circulation path 13 by the circulating drying air and is captured by the lint filter 17, but all lint is captured in order to secure a constant air volume. The foreign matter such as fine lint that has passed through the lint filter 17 adheres to the fins of the evaporator 18.

  The dehumidified water condensed in the evaporator 18 flows into the collection and drainage path 25 together with foreign matter such as lint attached, but since the dehumidified water passes without touching the dehumidified water sensor 27, the foreign matter adheres to the dehumidified water sensor 27. Can be prevented, and the passage of dehumidified water can be accurately detected.

  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. The dehumidified water falls through the hollow portion 25b away from the inner surface of the collection and drainage path 25, and passes between the light-emitting element 27a and the light-receiving element 27b of the dehumidified water sensor 27 without touching them.

  The dehumidifying water sensor 27 detects the passage of the dehumidifying water intermittently falling between the light emitting element 27a and the light receiving element 27b in a non-contact manner, and when the dehumidifying water passes, an output is generated, and when the dehumidifying water does not pass. No output is generated. The control means 28 always grasps the detection state of the dehumidified water sensor 27.

  FIG. 4 shows the detection of the dehumidified water by the dehumidified water sensor 27 obtained from the passage 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. 4, 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 drainage drainage path 25. When about 70 minutes have passed, the dehumidified water detection signal from the dehumidified water sensor 27 gradually decreases.

  This means that the drying is almost finished, and if the drying operation is further performed, there is a possibility that an overdried state is reached. In other words, in this example of operation, when the dehumidified water detection signal from the dehumidified water sensor 27 disappears, it is already dried, and if the drying operation is continued further, the state of overdrying Therefore, it is necessary to determine the end of drying before that 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 higher, dry determination is performed by the optical sensor serving as the dry detection means, that is, the dehumidified water sensor 27 (step S3).

  The output from the optical 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 time when the sensor output exceeding this threshold is obtained is stored. The period of time during which the sensor output is obtained is measured from the time when the output is obtained (step S4).

  For example, if the sensor output when dehumidifying water is present is 0V, the threshold is set to 2V, and the sensor output is measured in units of 100 msec. If the dehumidifying water continuously flows during this period, the cycle time is about 100 msec. .

  This cycle time varies depending on how the dehumidified water flows. When drying progresses and flows intermittently, the sensor output is once per second, and the cycle time is 1 second. As drying progresses further, the sensor output cycle time becomes 2 to 3 seconds.

  A predetermined value is provided for this cycle time, and the sensor output cycle time that is equal to or greater than the threshold value is measured. It is determined whether or not this cycle time has reached a predetermined value or more, for example, 3 seconds or more (step S5).

  If it does not become the predetermined value or more, the measurement of the cycle time is repeated, and the drying operation is continued. If the value exceeds the predetermined value, the remaining time display displayed on the display means 29a is changed (step S6). As the remaining time displayed here, a time that requires a little more drying, for example, 30 minutes is displayed.

  Further, during this time, the measurement of the cycle time of the sensor output is continued, and when this cycle time is equal to or more than the predetermined value and is continued for a predetermined time, for example, 5 minutes (step S7), it is determined that the drying ( 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. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the cycle time obtained from the output of the dehumidified water sensor 27 and the drying time. It can be seen that the sensor output cycle time becomes longer as the drying state progresses. Therefore, in this cycle time, it is determined that a predetermined value or more is dry, and thereafter, the drying operation can be terminated by performing the drying operation for a predetermined time.

  FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of dehumidified water and the drying time. It can be seen that the amount of dehumidified water increases linearly as the drying time increases, and that the amount of dehumidified water decreases as the drying progresses and is about to end.

  FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relationship between the drying speed obtained from the output of the dehumidified water sensor 27 and the cycle time. When the cycle time is short, the drying rate is very fast, and as the cycle time becomes longer, the drying rate becomes slower. When the cycle time exceeds a certain value, the drying rate is almost zero, that is, overdried.

  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. The dehumidified water that has flowed into the collection / drainage path 25 from the inflow part 25a falls on the substantially central portion of the vertical hollow part 25b of the collection / drainage path 25, and enters the light emitting element 27a and the light receiving element 27b of the photosensor that is the dehumidification water sensor 27. It passes between both elements so that the light from the light emitting element 27a may be crossed without touching.

  The output voltage of the optical sensor is obtained by converting the change in the amount of light into a voltage value by the control means 28. After measuring the voltage, it is determined whether this voltage value is below the threshold, and the period from the time when the voltage output value is below the threshold to the next threshold is set as the period time. If it is determined that the period time is equal to or less than the predetermined value, it is determined that the period has not yet been sufficiently dried. Therefore, the measurement is performed again from the measurement of the voltage value of the dehumidified water sensor 27 serving as the dryness detection means.

  After the cycle time becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined value, it is further checked whether the cycle time is equal to or greater than the predetermined value for a certain period. For example, it can be determined whether or not this period time continues for 3 seconds or longer, and if it continues, it can be determined that it has dried. That is, it is determined whether or not this cycle time is 3 seconds or more, and if this cycle time continues for, for example, 5 minutes or more, it is determined to be dry. The drying extension time 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, the period time is measured from the voltage value of the photosensor below the threshold value and the time of the voltage value below the next threshold value. If there is, it is determined to be dry, and the extended time after the dry determination can be automatically set to a time corresponding to the clothing capacity of 6 kg, for example, about 12 minutes.

  In this way, the cycle time is measured from the voltage value below the threshold value from the voltage value of the photosensor and the time of the voltage value below the next threshold value, and if this cycle time is above the threshold value, it is determined to be dry. Thus, it is possible to accurately detect the dry state of the clothes 5 or the like put in the drum 4.

  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.

  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 dehumidified water sensor 27 and a control means 28 for controlling the drying operation are provided. The dehumidified water sensor 27 detects the passage of the dehumidified water in non-contact with the dehumidified water flowing through the collection and drainage path 25, and the control means 28 is dehumidified. Based on the output of the water sensor 27, When the dehumidified water is generated in the evaporator 18 of the heat pump device 24 by the drying operation, the dehumidified water is collected in the collection / drainage path 25, and the dehumidification water sensor 27 is connected to the dehumidification water flowing through the collection / drainage path 25. The passage of the dehumidified water can be detected without contact, the foreign matter can be prevented from adhering to the dehumidified water sensor 27 due to the contact with the dehumidified water, and the passage of the dehumidified water can be accurately detected to detect the clothes in the drying chamber 1. The detection accuracy of a dry state such as 5 can be increased.

  In addition, an inflow part 25a for allowing dehumidified water to flow into the collection / drainage path 25 is provided, and the collection / drainage path 25 is provided with a substantially vertical section from the inflow part 25a to the dehumidification water sensor 27, and the inflow part 25a collects dehumidified water. The hollow portion 25b separated from the inner surface of the drainage path 25 is provided so as to fall, and the dehumidified water sensor 27 detects passage of the dehumidified water that falls through the hollow portion 25b and flows into the drainage path 25. The dehumidified water falls in the hollow portion 25b away from the inner surface of the collection and drainage path 25, and can prevent foreign matter from adhering to the dehumidified water sensor 27 when the dehumidified water touches the dehumidified water sensor 27. Can be accurately detected.

  Further, the control means 28 obtains the cycle time from the output value from the dehumidified water sensor 27, and determines that it is dry when the cycle time reaches a predetermined time or more. It is not affected by the temperature difference, and it is not affected by the ambient temperature of the environment where the dryer is installed, and the timing of the end of drying can be detected accurately by measuring the period time above the threshold. it can.

  Further, the control means 28 obtains the drying speed from the cycle time, and calculates the drying rate of the clothing 5 and the like. The control means 28 accurately detects the dehumidified water even during the drying, and thereby the drying speed. Since the drying rate can be calculated, the end of drying can be detected with high accuracy.

  Further, the display unit 29a for displaying the remaining drying time is provided, and the control unit 28 is configured to change the remaining time display of the display unit 29a when the cycle time reaches a predetermined time or more. 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 optical sensor that changes the amount of light when the dehumidified water passes through the collection / drainage path 25, and the amount of dehumidification water that passes through the collection / drainage path 25 is not contacted by the optical sensor. It is possible to detect the amount of dehumidified water by measuring the period time based on the change in the amount of light.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for detecting the passage of dehumidified water in the dryer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The feature of the present embodiment is that the dehumidified water sensor 27 is constituted by an electrostatic sensor. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations, and the detailed description of the first embodiment is used.

  In FIG. 9, the dehumidifying water sensor 27 serving as a dryness detection means is configured by an electrostatic sensor, and detects that the dehumidifying water has passed through the drainage path 25 by a change in capacitance. The collected dehumidified water is disposed in the vicinity of the downstream side of the inflow portion 25 a into which the collected drainage path 25 flows.

  The drainage path 25 is provided with at least a section from the inflow part 25 a to the dehumidified water sensor 27 in a substantially vertical direction, and the inflow part 25 a is such that the dehumidified water falls in the hollow part 25 b separated from the inner surface of the drainage path 25. The electrostatic sensor is provided so as to detect the passage of dehumidified water falling through the hollow portion 25b in a non-contact manner.

  The dehumidifying water sensor 27 constituted by an electrostatic sensor is provided so that a pair of electrodes 27c and 27d face each other on the side of the side surface of the cylindrical drainage passage 25, and the dehumidifying water dropped from the inflow portion 25a is the electrode 27c. Without touching the electrode 27d, the passage of the dehumidified water can be detected in a non-contact manner by the dehumidified water falling between them.

  Specifically, by configuring the oscillation circuit so that the capacitance of a certain terminal of the oscillation circuit (in this case, between the electrode 27c and the electrode 27d) becomes an element of the oscillation condition, the dehumidified water becomes an electrostatic sensor. Oscillation is started by being close to, so that the control means 28 can easily detect.

  With the above configuration, the amount of dehumidified water passing through the collection and drainage path 25 can be detected in a non-contact manner by an electrostatic sensor, the period time is measured by the change in capacitance due to the passage of the dehumidified water, The amount can be detected.

  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 1 may be a so-called washing / drying machine provided with a washing function by providing drainage means for draining washing water and control means for controlling washing and drying operations. 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 28 Control means

Claims (9)

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 dehumidified water sensor detects the passage of dehumidified water in a non-contact manner with dehumidified water flowing through the collection and drainage path,
The drier according to which the control means makes a judgment of drying based on an output of the dehumidified water sensor. An inflow part for allowing dehumidified water to flow into the collection and drainage path is provided,
The collection and drainage path is provided with a section from the inflow portion to the dehumidified water sensor substantially vertically,
The inflow part is provided so that dehumidified water falls in a hollow part away from the inner surface of the collection and drainage path,
The dryer according to claim 1, wherein the dehumidified water sensor detects passage of dehumidified water falling through the hollow portion. The control means includes
The dryer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a cycle time is obtained from an output value from the dehumidified water sensor, and is determined to be dry when the cycle time exceeds a predetermined time. The control means includes
The dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a drying rate is obtained from the cycle time, and a drying rate of clothes or the like is calculated. A display means for displaying the remaining drying time;
The control means includes
The dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the remaining time display of the display means is changed when the cycle time becomes equal to or longer than a predetermined time. The control means includes
The dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, 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 6, 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 7, wherein the dryer includes an optical sensor that changes the amount of light when dehumidified water passes through the drainage path. The dehumidified water sensor
The dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the dryer is configured by an electrostatic sensor whose capacitance is changed by passing dehumidified water through the collection and drainage path.