JP2016179146A - Clothes dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To acquire stable drying performance by enabling efficient cleaning of a lint filter.SOLUTION: A clothes dryer of the embodiment includes: a drying chamber in which clothes to be dried are accommodated; drying means for drying the clothes accommodated in the drying chamber; a lint filter provided in a ventilation flue in which the air exhausted from the drying chamber passes and for capturing lint included in the air passing the ventilation flue; and a cleaning member for cleaning the lint filter by peeling off the lint captured by the lint filter. During a drying step for drying the clothes, a cleaning operation by the cleaning member is performed intermittently.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a clothes dryer.

  As a clothes dryer, for example, a drum-type laundry dryer having a function of washing clothes and a function of drying clothes is known. In this type of washing / drying machine, the axial direction of the water tank functioning as a drying chamber is horizontal, and a drum having a horizontal rotation axis is rotatably provided in the water tank, and the object to be washed and dried in the drum. Of clothing is housed. The water tank is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet, and a circulation air passage having one end connected to the air inlet and the other end connected to the air outlet is provided outside the water tank. Also provided is a drying means provided with a blowing means for circulating the air in the water tank through the circulation air passage, a heating means for warming the air flowing through the circulation air passage, and a dehumidifying means for dehumidifying the air flowing through the circulation air passage. ing. Furthermore, the ventilation path by the side of the exhaust path of the circulation air path is provided with a lint filter for capturing lint contained in the air discharged from the air outlet of the water tank.

JP 2008-6045 A

  In this type of washing and drying machine, if the amount of lint trapped and accumulated by the lint filter increases, the amount of air flowing through the circulation air passage decreases, resulting in a decrease in drying performance. For this reason, it is necessary to clean the lint filter appropriately.

  Therefore, a clothes dryer capable of efficiently cleaning the lint filter and obtaining stable drying performance is provided.

  The clothes dryer according to the present embodiment is provided in a drying chamber in which clothes to be dried are stored, drying means for drying the clothes stored in the drying chamber, and a ventilation path through which air discharged from the drying chamber passes. A lint filter that captures lint contained in air passing through the ventilation path, and a cleaning member that cleans the lint filter by peeling off lint captured by the lint filter. During the drying process of drying the clothes, the cleaning operation by the cleaning member is intermittently performed.

The fracture | rupture side view which shows schematic structure of the washing dryer (clothing dryer) in 1st Embodiment Schematic diagram of a washing dryer including drying means Broken side view of the upper part of the washer / dryer with the filter cover of the filter unit opened. Front view of the upper part of the washing and drying machine in the state of FIG. Cross-sectional plan view of lint collection container (A)-(c) is a figure which shows typically the cleaning process at the time of cleaning the lint adhering to the 1st lint filter with a cleaning member. The figure which shows the operation frequency of the compressor in the drying process, the temperature change of each part, and the operation timing of a cleaning member The figure which shows the table of the operation | movement interval (t1) of the cleaning member for every driving | running condition. The figure which shows 2nd Embodiment and shows the change of the drying chamber exit temperature in a drying process, and the operation timing of a cleaning member. The 3rd Embodiment is shown and the figure which shows the change of the condenser (heating means) temperature in the drying process, and the operation timing of a cleaning member. The figure which shows 4th Embodiment and shows the change of the humidity of the circulation air path in a drying process, and the operation timing of a cleaning member. The 5th Embodiment is a figure showing the change of the temperature difference between the drying chamber inlet temperature and the drying chamber outlet temperature in the drying process, and the operation timing of the cleaning member. The 6th Embodiment is a figure showing the change of the operation frequency of the compressor and the temperature of each part in the drying process, and the operation timing of the cleaning member.

Hereinafter, the clothes dryer by several embodiment is demonstrated based on drawing. In addition, in each embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the substantially same component, and description is abbreviate | omitted.
(First embodiment)
A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. A washing / drying machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a drum type having a washing function and a drying function for clothes, and also functions as a clothes drying machine. The outer box 2 of the washing / drying machine 1 has a substantially rectangular box shape, and the front surface 2a (the left side surface in FIG. 1) is inclined downward. Although not shown, the front surface 2a is provided with a laundry doorway, and a door 3 that opens and closes the laundry doorway is rotatably provided.

  A water tank 4 is disposed in the outer box 2 in a state where it is elastically supported via a suspension (not shown). The water tank 4 has a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open front surface and a closed rear surface, and is disposed in a slightly upwardly inclined state with the axial direction oriented in the front-rear direction. A front opening of the water tub 4 is connected to the laundry entrance through a bellows-shaped bellows 5. The water tank 4 functions as a drying chamber during a drying operation for drying laundry (clothing).

  A drum 6 is rotatably disposed in the water tank 4. As with the water tank 4, this drum 6 also has a bottomed cylindrical shape with an opening on the front surface and a closed rear surface, with the axial direction oriented in the front-rear direction and arranged in a slightly upwardly inclined state. Has been. A large number of holes 6 a are formed in the peripheral wall portion and the rear wall portion of the drum 6. These holes 6a function as water passage holes through which water passes during washing, and function as ventilation holes through which dry air passes during drying. A motor 7 is provided on the back of the water tank 4, and the drum 6 is configured to be rotationally driven by the motor 7 via the rotation shaft 8. Although not shown, a plurality of baffles are provided inside the peripheral wall portion of the drum 6. Laundry including clothes is accommodated in the drum 6 through the laundry doorway, the opening of the water tub 4, and the opening of the drum 6.

  Next, the circulation air path connected to the water tank 4 and the drying means for drying the laundry (clothing) accommodated in the drum 6 will be described with reference to FIG. The water tank 4 is provided with an air inlet 10 on the rear wall, and an upward air outlet 11 at an upper portion of the front portion of the peripheral wall portion. A filter unit 13 (to be described later) is connected to the upper part of the air outlet 11 via a bellows-like connection duct 12 for absorbing vibration. A front end portion of the exhaust duct 14 is connected to the rear portion of the filter unit 13. The exhaust duct 14 extends rearward and then turns downward. The lower end of the exhaust duct 14 is one end of the heat pump duct 16 of the heat pump 15 provided in the lower part of the outer box 2 and below the water tank 4. It is connected to the.

  The heat pump duct 16 extends in the lateral direction, and the other end is connected to a suction port 18 a of the fan casing 18 in the blower 17. The blower 17 includes a fan casing 18, a fan 19 disposed in the fan casing 18, and a fan motor 20 that rotationally drives the fan 19. A discharge port 18b of the fan casing 18 is provided upward, and one end of an air supply duct 22 is connected to the discharge port 18b via a bellows-shaped connection duct 21 for absorbing vibration. The other end of the air supply duct 22 extends upward and is connected to the wind inlet 10 at the rear of the water tank 4.

  Here, a circulation air path is formed by the connection duct 12 connected to the air outlet 11 of the water tank 4, the filter unit 13, the exhaust duct 14, the heat pump duct 16, the fan casing 18 of the blower 17, the connection duct 21, and the air supply duct 22. 23. The circulation air passage 23 has one end connected to the air inlet 10 and the other end connected to the air outlet 11 outside the water tank 4 and in the outer box 2. The circulation air passage 23 also functions as a ventilation passage through which air discharged from the water tank 4 constituting the drying chamber passes.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the heat pump 15 forms a refrigeration cycle by connecting a compressor 25, a condenser 26, an expansion device 27, and an evaporator 28 through a pipe 24. Among these, the condenser 26 and the evaporator 28 are disposed in the heat pump duct 16 in the circulation air passage 23. In the heat pump duct 16, the condenser 26 is disposed near the blower 17, and the evaporator 28 is disposed near the exhaust duct 14. The condenser 26 functions as a heating unit that heats the air passing through the circulation air passage 23, and the evaporator 28 functions as a dehumidification unit that cools and dehumidifies the air passing through the circulation air passage 23. In this case, the blower 17 and the heat pump 15 function as a drying unit that circulates the air in the water tank 4 through the circulation air passage 23 to dry the clothes in the drum 6.

  In the heat pump 15, temperature sensors 29 a, 29 b, 29 c, and 29 d that detect the temperatures of the vicinity of the discharge port of the compressor 25, the vicinity of the inlet of the condenser 26 and the evaporator 28, and the vicinity of the inlet of the compressor 25. Is provided. Among these, the temperature sensor 29b provided in the condenser 26 functions as a temperature detection means for heating means that detects the temperature of the condenser 26 that is a heating means.

  A temperature sensor 30 a is provided near the wind inlet 10 in the circulation air passage 23, and a temperature sensor 30 b and a humidity sensor 31 are provided near the exhaust duct 14 in the heat pump duct 16. Among these, the temperature sensor 30a in the vicinity of the wind inlet 10 detects the temperature of the air in the vicinity of the wind inlet 10, and functions as temperature detection means for the drying chamber inlet. The temperature sensor 30b near the exhaust duct 14 detects the temperature of the air discharged from the water tank 4, and functions as a temperature detecting means for the air passage and a temperature detecting means for the drying chamber outlet. The humidity sensor 31 detects the humidity of the air discharged from the water tank 4 and functions as a ventilation path humidity detection means. During the drying operation, the operation of the compressor 25 is controlled based on the detected temperatures of the temperature sensors 29a to 29d, 30a, and 30b.

  Next, the filter unit 13 will be described with reference to FIGS. The filter unit 13 includes a lint collection container 35 fixed in the upper part of the outer box 2, a filter cover 36 rotatably provided on the upper part of the outer box 2 via a hinge portion 36 a, and the filter cover 36, a first lint filter 37 provided in the interior 36, a cleaning member 38 for cleaning the lint capturing surface 37a of the first lint filter 37, and a motor 39 as drive means for rotating the cleaning member 38. ing.

  Among these, the lint collection container 35 is positioned at the center and is provided with a wind guide wall 40 provided in an upward short cylindrical shape, and is provided so as to surround the wind guide wall 40 and is higher than the wind guide wall 40. It has a double cylindrical shape integrally including an outer peripheral wall 41 having a substantially cylindrical shape facing upward. Inside the wind guide wall 40 is a vent 40a, and the wind discharged from the wind outlet 11 flows upward through the vent 40a. The wind guide wall 40 and the outer peripheral wall 41 are connected by a lower end portion, and this is used as a lint receiving portion 42. The lint receiving part 42 has an annular container shape whose upper surface is open. As shown in FIG. 5, a lint collecting portion 43 extending forward is provided at one location on the outer peripheral wall 41 that is the outer peripheral portion of the lint receiving portion 42. An opening 44 is formed in the outer peripheral wall 41 at a portion corresponding to the lint collecting portion 43, and the lint collecting portion 43 communicates with the lint receiving portion 42 through the opening 44. At the front of the lint collection unit 43, a lid 45 is provided that can be rotated via a hinge (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lid 45 can be opened and closed from the front surface 2 a side of the outer box 2.

  In a state where the lint collection container 35 is attached to the upper portion of the outer box 2, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the upward air outlet 11 and the vent 40 a are connected to each other by the connection duct 12. .

  The filter cover 36 has a frame shape with an open bottom surface, and the upper part of the rear part is rotatably attached to the upper part of the outer box 2 via the hinge part 36a. The front portion of the filter cover 36 is curved downward. A hook 46 is provided at the lower end of the front portion of the filter cover 36, and the hook 46 is detachably engaged with an engaging portion 47 provided on the front surface side of the outer box 2. Yes. A rear wall portion 48 extending downward from the hinge portion 36 a in FIG. 1 is provided at the rear portion of the filter cover 36, and a circular opening 49 is formed in the rear wall portion 48. A second lint filter 50 is provided at the front end of the exhaust duct 14. In the state of FIG. 1 in which the filter cover 36 is closed, the rear wall 48 is close to the second lint filter 50 from the front, and the opening 49 corresponds to the second lint filter 50. In the second lint filter 50, the lint capturing surface 50a is the front surface.

  The first lint filter 37 is attached so as to be in a substantially horizontal state by being positioned below the filter cover 36 in the state of FIG. 1 with the filter cover 36 closed. In the first lint filter 37, the lint capturing surface 37a is a lower surface. Therefore, in the state of FIG. 1, the first lint filter 37 is in the filter cover 36 that constitutes a part of the circulation air passage 23 and is located at a position facing the air outlet 11 of the water tank 4 from above. The lower lint capturing surface 37a is opposed to the air outlet 11 from above. The lint capturing surface 37a is formed larger in diameter than the air outlet 11 and the vent 40a.

  A cleaning member 38 is provided on the lower surface side of the first lint filter 37. The cleaning member 38 is configured by a brush in which a large number of bristles 38b are implanted in a rod-like base portion 38a, and the tip of the bristles 38b is directed upward so as to contact the lint capturing surface 37a. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the base portion 38 a of the cleaning member 38 has a form extending in a circular arc shape from the center portion of the first lint filter 37 to the outside in the radial direction.

  A motor 39 is fixedly attached to the central portion on the upper surface side of the first lint filter 37, and a rotating shaft 39 a of the motor 39 passes through the first lint filter 37 downward. One end of the cleaning member 38 is connected to the tip of the rotating shaft 39a. Accordingly, the cleaning member 38 is rotated by the motor 39, and the hair 38b rubs the lint capturing surface 37a of the first lint filter 37 along with the rotation, and peels the lint captured on the lint capturing surface 37a. The rotation direction of the cleaning member 38 is the direction indicated by the arrow A in FIG. The first lint filter 37 is provided with a partition portion 37b that partitions the first lint filter 37 into a cross shape. In this case, as the first lint filter 37, a standard of 125 mesh / 2.54 cm is used.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a protrusion 51 protruding forward is provided on the upper part of the rear portion of the lint collection container 35. The protrusion 51 is made of a flexible material such as rubber, and when the cleaning member 38 is rotated in the state shown in FIG. 1 with the filter cover 36 closed, the tip of the cleaning member 38 on the outer peripheral side. The portion becomes a position close to the tip of the protrusion 51. In the filter cover 36, a seal member 52 is provided in the vicinity of the hinge portion 36a. The seal member 52 closes the gap between the hinge portion 36a and the outer box 2 side with the filter cover 36 closed, so that the wind flowing through the circulation air passage 23 does not leak.

  In FIG. 4, an operation panel 53 is provided above the front surface 2 a of the outer box 2 so as to be positioned on the left side of the filter unit 13. The operation panel 53 is provided with an operation unit and a display unit. Although not shown, the washing / drying machine 1 includes a water supply means for supplying water to be used during the washing operation into the water tank 4, a drainage means for discharging the water in the water tank 4 to the outside of the machine, and the water tank 4. A water level sensor for detecting the water level in the inside, a current sensor for detecting a current flowing through the motor 7, and the like are provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a control device 54 is provided at the lower part in the outer box 2. The control device 54 is mainly composed of a microcomputer and has a function of controlling the overall operation of the washing / drying machine 1. Signals from the temperature sensors 29a to 29d, 30a, and 30b, the humidity sensor 31, the water level sensor, the current sensor, and the like are input to the control device 54.

  And the control apparatus 54 is based on the setting content of the operation panel 53, the signal of each of these sensors, and the control program with which it prepared beforehand, the said motor 7, the heat pump 15, the air blower 17, the motor 39 of the cleaning member 38, the said water supply means And a function for controlling the drainage means and the like, and functions as a control means.

  Next, the case where the clothes (laundry) accommodated in the drum 6 are dried will be described. During the drying operation, the door 3 is closed and the filter cover 36 in the filter unit 13 is closed. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the drying operation course includes a standard course and a rush course, and the course is set by the user on the operation panel 53. The rush course is a course in which the drying operation is performed in a short time compared to the standard course. For example, the speed is increased by increasing the rotational speed of the blower 17 and increasing the air flow rate compared to the standard course. is there.

  The control device 54 detects the weight and quality of the clothes accommodated in the drum 6 before starting the drying process. As the weight detection, for example, the drum 6 is appropriately rotated by the motor 7 and the current flowing through the motor 7 is detected by the current sensor, and the weight of the clothing in the drum 6 is determined in, for example, three stages as shown in FIG. judge. When the detected current is large, it is determined that the clothing weight is large, and when the detected current is small, it is determined that the clothing weight is small. Further, as the cloth quality detection, for example, based on the fact that the drum 6 is appropriately rotated by the motor 7 and the current flowing through the motor 7 is detected by the current sensor, it is determined whether there is a lot of cotton or a lot of synthetic fiber. When the variation in the detection current is large, it is determined that there are many cottons, and when the variation in the detection current is small, it is determined that there are many synthetic fibers.

  FIG. 8 shows a table of operation intervals (t1) of the cleaning member 38 for each operation condition. For example, when the set course is a standard course, the detected clothing weight is 2 kg or more and less than 4 kg, and the determined cloth quality includes a large amount of synthetic fiber, the operation interval t1 of the cleaning member 38 is set to 70 minutes. The operation interval t1 of the cleaning member 38 will be described later.

  The control device 54 starts the drying process when the detection of the weight and the quality of the clothing is completed. In the drying process, the drum 6 is appropriately rotated, the compressor 25 of the heat pump 15 is driven, and the blower 17 is further driven.

  Among these, the clothes accommodated in the drum 6 are agitated as the drum 6 is rotated. Further, as the compressor 25 is driven, the refrigerant is compressed in the compressor 25, and high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant is discharged toward the condenser 26. In the condenser 26, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant dissipates heat and condenses. Thereafter, after the high-pressure refrigerant is depressurized by the expansion device 27, the refrigerant evaporates in the evaporator 28 to absorb heat. The refrigerant evaporated and gasified is returned to the compressor 25 and compressed again.

  As the blower 17 is driven, the air heated by the condenser 26 in the heat pump duct 16 in the circulation air passage 23 is sucked into the fan casing 18 and the air is heated from the discharge port 18b. It is discharged as wind. The warm air passes through the air supply duct 22 and is supplied from the wind inlet 10 into the water tank 4. The hot air supplied into the water tank 4 is also supplied into the drum 6 through the hole 6 a of the drum 6. The warm air supplied into the drum 6 comes into contact with the clothing to warm the clothing and removes moisture from the clothing. The air containing moisture is discharged from the air outlet 11 to the connection duct 12 side of the circulation air passage 23. The air passes through the vent 40a of the lint collection container 35, the first lint filter 37, the opening 49 of the filter cover 36, and the second lint filter 50 in this order, and is discharged to the exhaust duct 14 side. The air that flows through the exhaust duct 14 enters the lower heat pump duct 16, is cooled by the evaporator 28, and is dehumidified. The dehumidified air is repeatedly heated by the condenser 26 and supplied as warm air into the water tank 4. Accordingly, the clothes in the drum 6 are gradually dried.

FIG. 7 shows the change in the operating frequency (Hz) of the compressor 25 and the temperature (° C.) of each part and the operation timing of the cleaning operation of the cleaning member 38 in the drying process.
As the clothes are dried, the lint coming out of the clothes easily moves with the circulating air. In the present embodiment, most of the lint that has exited from the air outlet 11 toward the circulation air passage 23 is captured by the lint capturing surface 37 a that is the lower surface of the first lint filter 37. Even if there is a lint that passes through the first lint filter 37, the lint is captured by the lint capturing surface 50 a of the second lint filter 50. Therefore, by capturing the lint from the clothing by the first lint filter 37 and the second lint filter 50, it is possible to prevent the lint from reaching as far as possible, and the lint can be prevented from reaching the evaporator 28 or the condenser. 26 can be prevented.

  When the amount of lint captured on the lint capturing surface 37a of the first lint filter 37 increases, the air path resistance increases, the air volume of the circulating air decreases, and consequently the drying efficiency decreases. FIG. 6A schematically shows a state in which the lint L captured on the lint capturing surface 37a of the first lint filter 37 is deposited on almost the entire surface of the lint capturing surface 37a.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the control device 54 turns on the motor 39 in the filter unit 13 when an elapsed time from the start of the drying process has elapsed for a preset time t0, for example, 1 hour. The cleaning member 38 is driven to rotate, and the cleaning operation is performed. Accordingly, the tip of the hair 38b of the cleaning member 38 rubs the lint capturing surface 37a of the first lint filter 37, and the lint L captured on the lint capturing surface 37a is peeled off. The peeled lint falls and is received by the lower lint receiving portion 42. FIG. 6B schematically shows a state in which part of the lint L remains on the lint capturing surface 37a when the cleaning member 38 rotates once or twice.

  In the present embodiment, in one cleaning operation of the cleaning member 38, the cleaning member 38 is rotated, for example, three times at a rotation speed of 1 (rotation / second) or more. By rotating the cleaning member 38 three times, almost all of the lint L captured on the lint capturing surface 37a is peeled off as shown in FIG. 6C.

  In this case, since the cleaning member 38 is formed in an arc shape that protrudes in the rotation direction from the base end portion on the rotation shaft 39a side that is the rotation center to the tip end portion, the lint peeled off from the lint capturing surface 37a L becomes easy to be pushed to the outer peripheral side along the shape of the cleaning member 38. The lint L pushed to the outer peripheral side is easily dropped and received by the lint receiving portion 42 around the vent 40a. Further, in this case, an air guide wall 40 having an upward cylindrical shape is provided around the vent 40a at the lower central portion of the lint capturing surface 37a, so that the lint falling from the lint capturing surface 37a can be It does not easily fall into 40a and is more likely to fall into the lint receiving portion 42. Even if it falls into the vent 40a, it only returns to the original water tank 4 side and is captured again by the lint capturing surface 37a during the drying operation, so that no inconvenience occurs.

  Further, since the projection 51 is provided on the lint collection container 35 side at a portion close to the tip of the cleaning member 38 when the cleaning member 38 rotates, the lint pushed to the outer peripheral side by the cleaning member 38 is provided. L hits the projection 51 and is easily peeled off from the lint capturing surface 37a and falls to the lint receiving portion 42.

  It can be expected that a swirl flow as shown by an arrow B1 in FIG. 5 is generated inside the lint collection container 35 by the wind passing through the vent 40a. When such a swirl flow is generated, the lint L received by the lint receiving portion 42 also rides on the swirl flow and swirls in the lint receiving portion 42 and flows from the opening 44 to the lint collecting portion 43 side. It can be expected (see arrow B2 in FIG. 5). The lint that has once entered the lint collecting unit 43 side is difficult to come out to the lint receiving unit 42 side and is stored in the lint collecting unit 43. In this case, it is more effective if an air guide plate is provided in a direction in which a swirling flow is generated around the vent 40a.

  Such a single cleaning operation of the cleaning member 38 is completed in, for example, three rotations. Then, the control device 54 stops until a set time of the operation interval (t1) set in the table of FIG. 6, for example, 70 minutes elapses from one cleaning operation, and after the set time elapses, the second time After that, the cleaning operation is stopped until 70 minutes have passed, and after the set time has passed, the third cleaning operation is performed. Thus, in this embodiment, the cleaning operation by the cleaning member 38 is intermittently performed during the drying process. As described above, by intermittently cleaning the lint capturing surface 37a of the first lint filter 37, it is possible to prevent the air volume of the circulating air from being lowered, and it is possible to improve the drying efficiency.

  On the other hand, when the vicinity of the filter unit 13 is cleaned or inspected after the drying operation is completed, the filter cover 36 is disengaged by the hook 46, and then the filter cover 36 is removed as shown in FIGS. 36 is rotated backward using the hinge portion 36a as a fulcrum to be in an open state. In this state, since the upper surface of the lint collection container 35 is opened, the lint L in the lint receiving portion 42 and the lint L in the lint collection portion 43 can be easily taken out. The lint L in the lint collecting unit 43 can be taken out by opening the front cover 45 even when the filter cover 36 is closed.

  Moreover, in the state where the filter cover 36 is opened, the lint capturing surface 37a of the first lint filter 37 faces upward, so that the lint capturing surface 37a can be easily cleaned. Furthermore, in this state, since the lint capturing surface 50a of the second lint filter 50 is also exposed forward, the lint capturing surface 50a can also be easily cleaned from the front. When cleaning and inspection near the filter unit 13 are completed, the filter cover 36 is rotated forward, and the hook 46 is engaged with the engaging portion 47.

  In the washing / drying machine 1, a switch for detecting opening / closing of the filter cover 36 is provided, and the control device 54 detects that the filter cover 36 has not been opened / closed even when the drying operation is performed five times, for example. Then, by sounding an alarm or displaying it on the display unit of the operation panel 53, the user is encouraged to remove the lint lump in the lint collection container 35, thereby further improving the drying performance. Can be maintained.

According to the above-described embodiment, the following operational effects can be obtained.
During the drying process of drying the clothes, the cleaning operation by the cleaning member 38 for the first lint filter 37 is intermittently performed. According to this, during the drying process, while the cleaning operation of the cleaning member 38 is stopped, the drying of the clothing proceeds, and the lint L is captured on the lint capturing surface 37a of the first lint filter 37. It gradually accumulates. Further, the captured lint L is also easily dried. Then, by rotating the cleaning member 38 in a state where it is accumulated to some extent, the cleaning operation is performed, so that the lint L peeled off by the cleaning member 38 is easily entangled and becomes a lump. As a result, the lint L is more easily peeled off. By performing the cleaning operation by the cleaning member 38 intermittently a plurality of times, it is possible to suppress the reduction of the circulating air volume as much as possible, and contribute to the improvement of the drying efficiency. Further, by intermittently cleaning the first lint filter 37, the outflow of the lint L to the downstream second lint filter 50 side can be prevented as much as possible.

  Incidentally, when the cleaning member 38 is rotated in a state where the lint L captured on the lint capturing surface 37a is wet, the lint L is difficult to peel off. It may become difficult to peel off. In this regard, in this embodiment, the cleaning operation of the cleaning member 38 is stopped at the beginning of the drying operation, and the lint L is removed by starting the cleaning operation after the lint L is relatively dry. Easy to peel off. In this case, since the start timing for starting the cleaning operation of the cleaning member 38 is set at the preset set time t0, the setting is easy.

  The cleaning member 38 cleans the lint capturing surface 37a of the first lint filter 37 by a rotating operation, and is configured to rotate one or more times by one cleaning operation. According to this, even if the lint L cannot be peeled off by only one rotation, the lint L can be satisfactorily peeled off by rotating a plurality of times. The cleaning member 38 can be efficiently peeled off by rotating the cleaning member 38 at a speed of 1 (rotation / second) or more.

  The operation interval t1 of the cleaning operation of the cleaning member 38 is set for each operation course. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, even when the clothing weight and the fabric quality are the same, the operation interval t1 is set shorter in the rush course than in the standard course. In the rush course, the rotational speed of the blower 17 is higher than that in the standard course, so that the amount of the lint L captured by the first lint filter 37 is likely to increase in a relatively short time. For this reason, by setting the operation interval t1 shorter than in the case of the standard course, it is possible to perform cleaning suitable for the course, and it is possible to perform cleaning more efficiently.

  The operation interval t1 of the cleaning operation of the cleaning member 38 is set to be shorter than the case where the clothing weight is large. When the weight of clothing is heavy, the amount of clothing is large and the amount of lint L generated tends to be larger than when the weight is heavy. For this reason, when the clothing weight is heavy, by setting the operation interval t1 shorter than when the clothing is light, cleaning suitable for the amount of clothing can be performed, and cleaning can be performed more efficiently.

  The operation interval t1 of the cleaning operation of the cleaning member 38 is set to be shorter when there is more cotton-based clothing than when there is less cotton-based clothing. When there is a lot of cotton-based clothing, lint L is more likely to occur than when there is little cotton-based clothing. For this reason, when there is a lot of cotton-based clothing, it is possible to perform cleaning suitable for the amount of lint L generated by setting the operation interval t1 to be shorter than when there are few cotton-based clothing, and cleaning more efficiently. Is possible.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points. That is, the timing at which the cleaning operation by the cleaning member 38 is started during the drying process is determined by the detection temperature (drying chamber outlet temperature) of the temperature sensor 30b constituting the drying chamber outlet temperature detection means and the ventilation path temperature detection means. The temperature is assumed to be 40 ° C. in this case.

  The detected temperature detected by the temperature sensor 30 b is a temperature close to the first lint filter 37 and also a temperature close to the lint L captured by the first lint filter 37. For this reason, by determining the start timing of the cleaning operation of the cleaning member 38 based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 30b, the cleaning operation of the cleaning member 38 is started while the temperature of the lint L rises and is relatively dry. The lint L can be easily peeled off.

(Third embodiment)
A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points. That is, the detection temperature (condenser temperature) of the temperature sensor 29b constituting the temperature detection means for the heating means is a predetermined temperature, in this case 70 ° C., at the timing of starting the cleaning operation by the cleaning member 38 during the drying process. It is time.

  If the temperature of the condenser 26 constituting the heating means rises to 70 ° C., the lint L captured by the first lint filter 37 also rises in temperature and is relatively dry. The lint L can be easily peeled off by starting the cleaning operation of the cleaning member 38 in this state.

(Fourth embodiment)
A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points. That is, when the cleaning operation by the cleaning member 38 is started during the drying process, the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 31 (humidity near the drying chamber outlet) for detecting the humidity near the drying chamber outlet in the circulation air passage 23 is predetermined. The humidity is 60% in this case.

  The humidity detected by the humidity sensor 31 is close to the humidity of the lint L captured by the first lint filter 37. For this reason, the lint L can be easily peeled off by starting the cleaning operation of the cleaning member 38 based on the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 31.

(Fifth embodiment)
A fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The fifth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points. That is, the timing at which the cleaning operation by the cleaning member 38 is started during the drying process is set to the detection temperature of the temperature sensor 30a constituting the drying chamber inlet temperature detection means in the circulation air passage 23 and the drying chamber outlet temperature detection means. The temperature difference between the detected temperatures of the temperature sensor 30b (drying chamber inlet / outlet temperature difference) exceeds the peak P.

  If the temperature difference between the drying chamber inlet temperature and the drying chamber outlet temperature exceeds the peak P, the clothing is dried, and the lint L captured by the first lint filter 37 is also relatively dried. I guess that. Therefore, the lint L can be easily peeled off by starting the cleaning operation by the cleaning member 38 at this time.

(Sixth embodiment)
A sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The sixth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the following points. That is, after the drying process is completed, the cleaning member 38 repeats forward rotation and reverse rotation a plurality of times. When the drying process is completed, the operation of the compressor 25, the drum 6, and the blower 17 of the heat pump 15 is stopped. As the operation of the cleaning member 38, the forward rotation is rotated three times and the reverse rotation is rotated three times, and this is repeated twice.

  After the drying process is finished, the lint capturing surface 37a of the first lint filter 37 and the lint L captured by the lint filter 37 are also in a state where the drying has progressed. L can be peeled off satisfactorily. In addition, the first lint filter 37 can be more reliably cleaned by repeating the forward rotation and the reverse rotation twice as the operation of the cleaning member 38.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention can also be applied to a so-called vertical washing / drying machine in which the axial direction of the water tank and the rotating tank is directed in the vertical direction, and can also be applied to those having no washing function.
The cleaning member 38 is not limited to a brush having a large number of bristles 38b, and may be a rubber wiper that wipes the window glass.
The drying ventilation path may not be a circulation ventilation path.
A heater may be used as the heating means of the drying means. The dehumidifying means of the drying means may be a water cooling type.

  As described above, according to the clothes dryer of the present embodiment, the lint filter is efficiently cleaned by the configuration in which the cleaning operation by the cleaning member is intermittently performed during the drying process of drying the clothes. And stable drying performance can be obtained.

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

  In the drawings, 1 is a washing dryer (clothing dryer), 3 is a water tank (drying chamber), 6 is a drum (rotary tank), 7 is a motor, 13 is a filter unit, 15 is a heat pump (drying means), and 17 is a blower. (Drying means), 23 is a circulation air path (ventilation path), 26 is a condenser (heating means), 28 is an evaporator (dehumidifying means), 29b is a temperature sensor (temperature detecting means for heating means), and 30a is a temperature sensor. (Drying chamber inlet temperature detecting means), 30b is a temperature sensor (ventilation path temperature detecting means, drying chamber outlet temperature detecting means), 31 is a humidity sensor (ventilating path humidity detecting means), and 37 is a first lint. A filter, 37a is a lint capturing surface, 38 is a cleaning member, 39 is a motor (drive means), 50 is a second lint filter, and 54 is a control device (control means).

Claims (11)

A drying chamber for storing clothes to be dried;
Drying means for drying the clothing housed in the drying chamber;
A lint filter that is provided in a ventilation path through which air discharged from the drying chamber passes and captures lint contained in air passing through the ventilation path;
A cleaning member for cleaning the lint filter by peeling off the lint captured by the lint filter,
A clothes dryer for intermittently performing a cleaning operation by the cleaning member during a drying process of drying the clothes. A temperature detection means for the air passage that detects the temperature in the air passage is provided,
The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein a cleaning operation by the cleaning member is started when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means for the air passage reaches a predetermined temperature during the drying process. The drying means is provided with a heating means for heating the clothing,
A temperature detecting means for heating means for detecting the temperature of the heating means is provided,
The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means for heating means reaches a predetermined temperature during the drying process, the cleaning operation by the cleaning member is started. A ventilation path humidity detecting means for detecting humidity in the ventilation path is provided,
The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein when the humidity detected by the ventilation path humidity detecting means reaches a predetermined value during the drying process, a cleaning operation by the cleaning member is started. The air passage is connected to the drying chamber at both ends and is formed as a circulation air passage,
Drying chamber inlet temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of air supplied to the drying chamber in the circulation air passage, and drying for detecting the temperature of air discharged from the drying chamber in the circulation air passage. A temperature detection means for the room outlet,
2. The cleaning operation by the cleaning member is started when a temperature difference between a temperature detected by the drying chamber inlet temperature detecting means and a temperature detected by the drying chamber outlet temperature detecting means exceeds a peak during the drying process. Clothes dryer.   The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cleaning member cleans the lint filter by a rotation operation and rotates one or more times by one cleaning operation.   The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cleaning member cleans the lint filter by a rotation operation and rotates at a speed of 1 (rotation / second) or more.   The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an operation interval of the cleaning operation of the cleaning member is set for each operation course.   The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein an operation interval of the cleaning operation of the cleaning member is set shorter than a case where the weight of the clothes is large in some cases.   The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein an operation interval of the cleaning operation of the cleaning member is set to be shorter when the amount of cotton-based clothing is large than when the amount of cotton-based clothing is small.   The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein after the drying process, the cleaning member repeats forward rotation and reverse rotation a plurality of times.

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