JP2018110789A - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing and drying machine capable of removing lint captured with a filter dispensing with a power source.SOLUTION: The washing and drying machine includes: a water tank 8 having an air outlet 10 and an air inlet 11; a water-feeding pipe 71 for flowing water fed to the water tank 8; a circulation air trunk 20 which communicates the air outlet 10 with the air inlet 11; an air-blowing means 27 which circulates air in the water tank 8 through the circulation air trunk 20; a dehumidification heating means 30 which dehumidifies and heats the air flowing in the circulation air trunk 20; a filter 53 which captures lint contained in the air flowing in the circulation air trunk 20; a cleaning means 54 which cleans the filter 53; and a driving mechanism 55 which removes lint from a capturing surface 53a of the filter, the lint captured with the filter 53 by moving the cleaning means 54 to the filter 53 with a water power of the water flowing through the water-feeding pipe 71.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a washing dryer.

  In a laundry dryer, lint such as lint generated from the laundry as a result of the drying operation is taken into the circulating air passage along with the air in the water tank and is prevented from accumulating in the blower, heat absorber, heat source, etc. A filter that captures lint is provided on the upstream side of the blower, the heat absorber, the heat source, and the like in the circulation air passage. When lint accumulates on the filter, the filter becomes clogged and the drying performance deteriorates. Therefore, conventionally, a laundry dryer provided with a blade that scrapes lint accumulated on the filter is known (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

  However, in Patent Document 1 described below, since a blade for scraping lint is rotated by a motor, a dedicated power source is required, resulting in an increase in cost.

JP 2011-130785 A

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a washing / drying machine that can remove lint captured by a filter without requiring a power source such as a motor and can prevent a decrease in drying performance.

  The washing and drying machine according to the present invention includes a water tank having an exhaust port and an air supply port, a water supply pipe through which water supplied to the water tank flows, a circulation air passage connecting the exhaust port and the air supply port, and the water tank. An air blowing means for circulating the air in the circulation air passage, a dehumidification heating means for dehumidifying and heating the air flowing in the circulation air passage, and a filter for capturing lint contained in the air flowing in the circulation air passage; The cleaning means for cleaning the filter, and the drive mechanism for removing the lint captured by the filter by moving the cleaning means relative to the filter by the hydraulic force of the water flowing through the water supply pipe.

The perspective view which shows the external appearance of a washing dryer. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view showing the schematic configuration of the washing / drying machine according to the first embodiment, partially broken away. The longitudinal cross-sectional rear view shown partially fractured | ruptured about schematic structure of a washing-drying machine. The top view shown except an outer case about schematic structure of a washing-drying machine. AA sectional drawing of FIG. BB sectional drawing of FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The washing / drying machine of the present embodiment is a so-called drum-type washing / drying machine whose drive shaft is directed sideways, and as shown in FIG. 1, a substantially rectangular box-shaped outer box 1 and a base plate 2 provided at the lower part thereof. The outer shell is composed of A laundry entrance / exit 3 having a circular opening is formed at the center of the front face 1a of the outer box 1. A door 4 is provided on the front surface 1a of the outer box 1 so as to be able to turn in the horizontal direction via a hinge, and the laundry entrance 3 is opened and closed by the door 4. Opening / closing of the door 4 is detected by a door opening / closing detection sensor 5 constituted by a magnetic sensor, a mechanical switch, or the like.

  An operation display panel 6 for setting various operations of the washing / drying machine and displaying the operation status is provided at a position above the laundry doorway 3 in the upper front portion of the outer box 1, and on the side of the operation display panel 6. A drawer type detergent charging case 7 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a substantially cylindrical water tank 8 having an open front surface and a closed rear surface is disposed in the outer box 1. The aquarium 8 is elastically supported on the base plate 2 in such a manner that the axial direction of the aquarium 8 is a horizontal axis in the front-rear direction and is slightly inclined rearward so that the front opening communicates with the laundry entrance 3. It is elastically supported through the mechanism.

  The aquarium 8 is supplied with water such as tap water from the water supply device 40 from the outside of the apparatus, and can drain the water in the aquarium 8 out of the apparatus through the drain valve 13 from the drain port 12 provided at the bottom of the aquarium 8. It is configured.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the water supply device 40 is provided in the left-right direction center from the center of the water tank 8, that is, from the top of the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder of the water tank 8. In the case of the present embodiment, the water supply device 40 is provided at a position away from the top of the rotary drum 14 in the left direction when viewed from the front of the washing / drying machine.

  The water supply apparatus 40 includes a water supply valve 41, a water injection case 42, and the like. The water supply valve 41 is a three-way valve having one input unit 41a, a first output unit 41b, and a second output unit 41c, and is configured by an electromagnetic valve that is driven to open and close based on control of a control device. The water supply valve 41 has a closed state in which the connection between the input unit 41a and the first output unit 41b and the second output unit 41c, a first open state in which the input unit 41a and the first output unit 41b are communicated, and an input unit 41a and the 2nd open part which connects the 2nd output part 41c are switched.

  The input part 41a of the water supply valve 41 is connected to an external water source such as a water tap through a water supply hose 43 shown in FIG. The first output part 41 b of the water supply valve 41 is connected to the water injection case 42. The water injection case 42 has the detergent charging case 7 shown in FIG. 1, and when the water supply valve 41 is switched to the first open state, the water is supplied via the water supply hose 43 and the water supply valve 41 so that the user can use the detergent. The detergent charged from the charging case 7 into the water pouring case 42 is dissolved and poured into the water tank 8.

  The second output part 41 c of the water supply valve 41 is connected to the water discharge part 70 via a water supply pipe 71 described later, and the water supplied via the water supply hose 43 and the water supply valve 41 is supplied from the water discharge part 70 into the water tank 8. Is done.

  The water tank 8 has an exhaust port 10 and an air supply port 11, and a circulation air passage 20 is connected to the exhaust port 10 and the air supply port 11. The exhaust port 10 is located in the upper front portion of the peripheral wall constituting the cylindrical portion of the water tank 8, and is located in the left-right direction from the center in the left-right direction of the water tank 8, that is, from the top of the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the water tank 8 Is provided. In the case of this embodiment, the exhaust port 10 is provided at a position away from the top of the water tank 8 in the right direction when viewed from the front of the washing / drying machine, and opens upward. The air supply port 11 is provided in a portion slightly above the center of the back surface of the water tank 8. The exhaust port 10 and the air supply port 11 communicate the inside and the outside of the water tank 8.

  A cylindrical rotating drum 14 whose front surface is open and whose rear surface is closed is rotatably disposed in the water tank 8. The rotary drum 14 is disposed in the water tank 8 in a state where the axial direction is a horizontal axis in the front-rear direction and is slightly inclined downward. A number of holes 15 through which water and air can be passed are formed in the peripheral wall and back wall of the rotating drum 14, and the inside of the rotating drum 14 communicates with the water tank 8 through the holes 15. The front opening of the rotating drum 14 is also communicated with the laundry entrance 3, and the rotating drum 14 accommodates the laundry put in from the laundry entrance 3. The rotating drum 14 is rotationally driven by a drum motor 17 provided on the back surface of the water tank 8. The rotating drum 14 having such a configuration functions as a washing tub during a washing stroke, as a dehydrating tub during a dehydration stroke, and as a drying tub during a drying operation.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a circulation air passage 20 is connected to the exhaust port 10 and the air supply port 11 provided in the water tank 8. The circulation duct 20 includes an exhaust duct 22, a filter device 50, a connection duct 24, a heat exchange unit 30, and an air supply duct 26 in order from the upstream side with respect to the air flow, and the exhaust duct connected to the exhaust port 10. The air in the water tank 8 is exhausted from the duct 22, and the air flowing through the circulation air passage 20 is supplied into the water tank 8 from the air supply duct 26 connected to the air supply port 11.

  The heat exchanging unit 30 is provided in the lower part on the inner side of the outer box 1 and below the water tank 8 and the rotating drum 14. The heat exchanging unit 30 functions as a dehumidifying and heating unit that generates dry hot air by dehumidifying and heating the air passing through the inside. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the heat exchange unit 30 has an evaporator 31 and a condenser 32 inside. The evaporator 31 is provided on the upstream side of the condenser 32 with respect to the air flow in the heat exchange unit 30 during the drying operation. The evaporator 31 and the condenser 32 constitute a heat pump mechanism, that is, a refrigeration cycle together with the compressor 34 provided outside the heat exchange unit 30. The air passing through the heat exchange unit 30 is cooled by the evaporator 31 and dehumidified thereby. The air dehumidified by the evaporator 31 is then heated by the condenser 32 to become warm air.

  The downstream side of the heat exchange unit 30 is connected to the air supply port 11 of the water tank 8 by an air supply duct 26. A blower fan 27 made of, for example, a sirocco fan is provided at a connection portion between the heat exchange unit 30 and the air supply duct 26. The blower fan 27 sucks air in the heat exchanging unit 30 and discharges it to the air supply duct 26 side to circulate the air in the water tank 8 through the circulation air passage 20. Thereby, the warm air dehumidified and heated by the heat exchanging unit 30 is supplied from the air supply port 11 into the water tank 8 and further into the rotating drum 14 by the blowing action of the blower fan 27.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the filter device 50 is provided on the inner upper portion of the outer box 1, above the water tank 8 and the rotating drum 14, in this case, slightly above the exhaust port 10. . The upstream side of the filter device 50 is connected to the exhaust port 10 of the water tank 8 through the exhaust duct 22.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the exhaust duct 22 is a duct having an accordion portion 22 a extending upward from the exhaust port 10, and absorbs vibration generated in the water tank 8 to suppress transmission of vibration to the filter device 50. The water tank 8 and the filter device 50 are connected by piping.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the filter device 50 includes a filter case 51, a water discharge unit 70 provided in the filter case 51, and a filter unit 52.

  The filter case 51 has a cylindrical shape with an opening on the upper surface, and communicates vertically with the opening 1 c provided on the top plate 1 b of the outer box 1. The opening 1 c provided in the top plate portion 1 b of the outer box 1 is closed with a lid 60 that can be opened and closed together with the opening provided on the upper surface of the filter case 51. The filter case 51 has an exhaust duct 22 connected to the lower surface of one end and a connection duct 24 connected to the other end, so that the air in the water tank 8 exhausted from the exhaust port 10 flows inside the filter case 51. ing.

  The water discharge unit 70 is a water discharge nozzle that discharges water into the exhaust duct 22, and is disposed above the upper opening of the exhaust duct 22 with the spray port 72 facing downward. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the base 73 of the water discharge unit 70 is connected to the second output unit 41 c of the water supply valve 41 by the water supply pipe 71, and when the water supply valve 41 is switched to the second open state, the water supply hose 43, water is supplied through the water supply valve 41 and the water supply pipe 71.

  The water supplied to the base 73 of the water discharge unit 70 is sprayed downward from the spray port 72 so as to evenly spread over the entire inner surface of the exhaust duct 22, and together with the lint, washing away the lint adhering to the inner surface of the exhaust duct 22. It flows into the water tank 8 from the exhaust port 10 and then flows down to the bottom of the water tank 8 along the outer peripheral surface of the rotating drum 14. Thereafter, the water that has flowed down to the bottom of the water tank 8 is discharged from the drain port 12 to the outside of the washing and drying machine together with the washed lint.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the filter unit 52 includes a mesh-like filter 53 that is provided inside the filter case 51 and captures lint contained in the air flowing in the circulation air passage 20, and the lint captured by the filter 53. And a drive mechanism 55 that moves the cleaning unit 54 relative to the filter 53. In the present embodiment, a plurality of filter units 52 are arranged side by side in the air flow direction inside the filter case 51. The plurality of filter units 52 provided in the filter case 51 have the same basic configuration. Therefore, here, the filter unit 52 on the upstream side in the air flow direction will be described, and the other filter units 52 will be described. Detailed description is omitted.

  The filter 53 is provided inside the filter case 51 by curving a sheet-like mesh so as to have a semi-cylindrical shape that swells downstream in the air flow direction inside the filter case 51. The filter 53 forms a lint capturing surface 53 a that is recessed on the upstream side in the air flow direction, and captures lint from the air flowing in the filter unit 1.

  As an example, the filter 53 has a frame 53 b provided at the peripheral edge thereof held by semicircular arc guide grooves 56 formed on the left and right side walls of the filter case 51, and the lid body 60 opens the opening 1 c of the outer box 1. In the opened state, the filter case 51 is detachably provided by being inserted and removed from the upper side of the guide groove 56.

  The cleaning means 54 includes a pair of left and right rotating shafts 54a rotatably supported on the left and right side walls of the filter case 51, a pair of handle portions 54b extending from the rotating shaft 54a toward the lint capturing surface 53a, and a pair of handle portions. And a brush 54c provided so as to connect the tips of 54b. The rotating shaft 54 a is provided in parallel to the lint capturing surface 53 a of the filter 53 and rotates by receiving a driving force from the driving mechanism 55. The brush 54c is provided in parallel with the lint capturing surface 53a of the filter 53, scrapes the lint captured by the lint capturing surface 53a by rubbing against the lint capturing surface 53a as the rotating shaft 54a rotates.

  The drive mechanism 55 includes a housing 55a inserted in the middle of the water supply hose 43 and a turbine 55b provided in the housing 55a, and a rotating shaft 54a of the cleaning means 54 is coaxially connected to the turbine 55b. The water flowing through the water supply pipe 71 flows into the housing 55a of the drive mechanism 55 and rotates the turbine 55b. Thereby, the drive mechanism 55 rotates the rotating shaft 54a of the cleaning means 54 in a constant rotation direction R, and the brush 54c scrapes and removes the lint captured by the lint capturing surface 53a.

  The lid 60 that covers the upper surface opening of the filter case 51 is configured in a container shape including a collection unit 61 that collects lint scraped off by the brush 54c. On the upper surface of the lid 60, a take-out lid 63 for opening and closing a take-out port 62 for taking out lint collected in the collection unit 61 is provided. A slit 64 that opens above the filter case 51 and a protrusion 65 that protrudes from the edge of the slit 64 are provided on the lower surface of the lid 60.

  The slit 64 is an opening that extends in parallel with the lint capturing surface 53a of the filter 53, and is provided in front of the lint capturing surface 53a in the rotation direction R of the brush 54c. Of the edges in the longitudinal direction of the slit 64, a protrusion 65 projecting so as to incline downward (toward the filter case 51) toward the tip of the edge located on the front side in the rotation direction R of the brush 54 c. Is provided. In this example, the protrusion 65 has a comb shape in which a plurality of protrusions are provided at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the slit 64.

  Such a protrusion 65 passes through the brush 54c from which the lint has been removed from the lint capturing surface 53a of the filter 53, so that the lint adhering to the brush 54c is scraped off and introduced into the collection unit 61 through the slit 64.

  The washing machine of the present embodiment is provided with a control device (not shown) provided with a microcomputer, and this control device provides input signals of the operation display panel 6 and the door open / close detection sensor 5 and a control program provided in advance. The washing process and the drying process are executed by controlling the water supply valve 41, the drain valve 13, the drum motor 17, the blower fan 27, the compressor 34, and the like. In addition, the control device executes a lint removal step of removing lint attached to the exhaust duct 22 and the filter 53 after the completion of the drying step.

  For example, when the user selects a washing / drying operation in which a washing process and a drying process are performed, the control device first executes a washing process in which washing, rinsing, and dehydration are performed, and then performs a drying process.

  In the washing process, water is poured into the water tank 8 for switching the water supply valve 41 to the first open state in which the input part 41a and the first output part 41b are communicated, the rotary drum 14 is driven to rotate by the drum motor 17, and the drain valve 13 The drainage of the water in the water tank 8 by opening and closing is executed as necessary.

  In the drying process to be executed after the washing process, while the drain valve 13 is closed, the heat exchange unit 30 and the blower fan 27 are driven to supply dry hot air into the water tank 8 and the rotating duct 14 and the rotating duct. The clothes in the rotary duct 14 are dried by rotating the 14.

  And after a drying process, if a control apparatus detects that the door 4 was opened and closed after completion | finish of a drying process by the door opening / closing detection sensor 5, it will judge that the clothing in the rotating drum 14 was taken out by the user, The drain valve 13 is opened, and the water supply valve 41 is switched to a second open state in which the input unit 41a and the second output unit 41c are communicated to execute the lint removal step.

  In the lint removal step, the water supplied from the water supply hose 43 flows through the water supply pipe 71 and is then sprayed from the spray port 72 of the water discharge unit 70 toward the inner surface of the exhaust duct 22. Rinse off any attached lint. At that time, as the water flows through the water supply pipe 71, the brush 54 c of the cleaning means 54 rotates together with the turbine 55 b provided in the drive mechanism 55 to scrape and remove the lint captured by the lint capturing surface 53 a of the filter 53. To do.

  Then, when the control device executes the lint removal step as described above for a predetermined time, for example, about several minutes, the water supply valve enters a closed state in which the connection between the input unit 41a and the first output unit 41b and the second output unit 41c is cut off. 41 is switched, and then the operation of the washing and drying machine is turned off to end the operation.

  In the washing and drying machine of the present embodiment, the water discharge unit 70 that sprays water on the exhaust duct 22 and the cleaning means 54 that scrapes and removes lint captured by the filter 53 are provided on the inner surface of the exhaust duct 22. Adhering lint and lint adhering to the filter 53 of the filter unit 52 can be removed, and a reduction in drying performance can be suppressed while reducing the user's trouble of cleaning the filter 53. In this embodiment, since the drive mechanism 55 rotates the brush 54c of the cleaning means 54 by the hydraulic force of the water flowing through the water supply pipe 71 to remove lint attached to the filter 53, a dedicated power source is used for the drive mechanism 55. There is no need to provide it.

  In particular, in this embodiment, the drive mechanism 55 is connected in the middle of the water supply pipe 71 that connects the water supply valve 41 and the water discharge unit 70, and the drive mechanism 55 is a brush of the cleaning unit 54 by the hydraulic force of water supplied to the water discharge unit 70. In order to rotate 54c, the lint trapping surface 53a of the filter 53 was captured by rotating the brush 54c at the same time as washing the lint attached to the inner surface of the exhaust duct 22 by spraying water from the water discharge unit 70 to the exhaust duct 22. The lint can be scraped, and at a suitable timing according to the operating condition of the washing and drying machine, in this case, the lint adhering to the filter 53 at the outlet can be scraped off at the same time as the inlet of the exhaust duct 22 is washed. The lint adhering from the upstream part of the circulation duct 20 can be effectively removed.

  In particular, in this embodiment, the lint removal process is executed after the drying process executed after the washing process is completed and before the power of the washing dryer is turned off. The lint, which is easy to stick, can be removed early before it sticks tightly.

  In the present embodiment, since the brush 54c of the cleaning means 54 includes the collection unit 61 that collects lint scraped off from the filter 53, the user can easily take out the collected lint.

  In the present embodiment, the brush 54c from which the lint has been removed from the lint capturing surface 53a passes through the protrusion 65, so that the lint attached to the brush 54c can be scraped and introduced into the collection unit 61.

  In the present embodiment, since the collection unit 61 is provided inside the lid 60 that closes the upper surface opening of the filter case 51, the user can easily take out the lint collected in the collection unit 61.

  In the present embodiment, since a plurality of filters 53 that capture lint in the air flowing in the circulation air passage 20 are provided side by side in the air flow direction of the circulation air passage 20, the lint capture rate can be improved. In addition, in the present embodiment, since the cleaning means 54 is provided for each of the plurality of filters 53, it is possible to suppress a decrease in drying performance while reducing a user's trouble of cleaning the filter 53.

  In the present embodiment, the cleaning unit 54 and the drive mechanism 55 are provided for each of the plurality of filters 53. However, the cleaning unit 54 and the drive mechanism 55 are provided at least on the filter 53 located on the most upstream side in the air flow direction. Also good. The structure of the filter device 50 can be simplified by providing the cleaning means 54 and the drive mechanism 55 only on the most upstream filter 53 to which lint is likely to adhere, among the plurality of filters 53.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the lint removal process is performed after the completion of the drying process, but the lint removal process may be performed before the start of the washing process or before the start of the drying process.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, these embodiment was shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof as well as included in the scope and gist of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Outer box, 8 ... Water tank, 10 ... Exhaust port, 11 ... Air supply port, 14 ... Rotating drum, 20 ... Circulation air path, 27 ... Blower fan, 30 ... Heat exchange part, 40 ... Water supply apparatus, 41 ... Water supply Valve 41a ... Input part 41b ... First output part 41c ... Second output part 42 ... Water injection case 43 ... Water supply hose 50 ... Filter device 51 ... Filter case 52 ... Filter unit 53 ... Filter 53a ... lint capturing surface, 53b ... frame, 54 ... cleaning means, 54a ... rotating shaft, 54b ... handle, 54c ... brush, 55 ... drive mechanism, 55a ... housing, 55b ... turbine, 56 ... guide groove, 60 ... lid Body, 61 ... collection part, 62 ... take-out port, 63 ... take-out lid, 64 ... slit, 65 ... projection, 70 ... water discharge part

Claims (6)

A water tank having an exhaust port and an air supply port;
A water supply pipe through which water to be supplied to the water tank flows;
A circulation air passage connecting the exhaust port and the air supply port;
Air blowing means for circulating air in the water tank through the circulation air passage;
Dehumidification heating means for dehumidifying and heating the air flowing in the circulation air passage;
A filter that captures lint contained in the air flowing in the circulation air passage;
Cleaning means for cleaning the filter;
A washing and drying machine comprising: a drive mechanism that moves the cleaning means relative to the filter by the hydraulic force of the water flowing through the water supply pipe and removes lint captured by the filter from the lint capturing surface. The circulation air passage includes an exhaust duct provided between the exhaust port and the filter, and a water discharge section for discharging water into the exhaust duct.
The washing / drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the water supply pipe supplies water to the water discharge unit.   The washing / drying machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a collection unit for collecting lint removed by the cleaning unit.   The washing / drying machine according to claim 3, further comprising a protrusion that takes the lint removed by the cleaning unit from the cleaning unit and collects the lint in the collecting unit. The circulation air passage includes a filter case that opens to the upper surface and stores the filter therein, and a lid that closes the upper surface opening of the filter case,
The washing / drying machine according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the collection unit is provided on the lid. A plurality of the filters are provided side by side in the air flow direction of the circulation air passage,
The washing / drying machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cleaning means is provided at least in a filter located on the most upstream side.

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