JP2020078464A - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a washing and drying machine capable of improving maintainability regarding a drying filter and capable of capturing a lot of foreign objects by the drying filter.SOLUTION: A washing and drying machine 1 includes: an outer tub 3 in which water is stored; a circulation passage 20 connected to the outer tub 3; a blower part 21 for taking out the air in the outer tub 3 from a take-out port 20D into the circulation passage 20 and returning it to the outer tub 3 from a return port 20E; and a heating part 22 provided in the circulation passage 20. The washing and drying machine 1 includes: a plurality of drying filters F arranged further on the take-out port 20D side than the heating part 22 in the circulation passage 20; and a water supply part 50. The plurality of drying filters F are arranged being overlapped in the flow direction of the air in the circulation passage 20. Each drying filter F has a vertical surface part FA for capturing foreign objects from the air toward the take-out port 20D from the take-out port 20D in the circulation passage 20. The water supply part 50 supplies water to the vertical surface part FA of each drying filter F from an upper side Z1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a washer/dryer.

  The washing/drying machine described in Patent Document 1 below includes an outer tub in which water is stored, a drum which is disposed in the outer tub to accommodate laundry, and a circulation air passage. The circulating air passage includes an air suction port and an air discharge port connected to the outer tub, and a blower unit having a blower and a heater. When the blower operates, the air in the outer tank is circulated so as to be sucked into the circulation air passage from the air suction port and flow into the outer tank from the air discharge port. The circulating air is heated by the heater in the circulation air passage. The heated air dries the laundry in the drum. A drying filter that captures foreign matter such as lint contained in the circulating air is arranged in the blower unit. The dry filter can be removed from the blower unit for cleaning.

JP, 2011-244984, A

  In the washer/dryer described in Patent Document 1, the user needs to periodically remove and clean the drying filter, which requires maintenance of the drying filter. Also, it is always desirable that the drying filter be able to capture many foreign substances.

  The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washer/dryer capable of improving the maintainability of the drying filter and capturing a large amount of foreign matter by the drying filter.

  The present invention relates to a housing, an outer tub supported by the housing and storing water, a washing tub accommodated in the outer tub for accommodating laundry, and an outlet connected to the outer tub. A circulation path having a return port, an air blower for extracting air in the outer tub from the outlet into the circulation path and returning the air from the return port into the outer tub for circulation, and provided in the circulation path A heating unit that heats the air in the circulation path, and a plurality of drying filters that are arranged closer to the outlet than the heating unit in the circulation path, from the outlet in the circulation path. Each has a vertical surface portion that captures foreign matter from the air toward the return port, a plurality of drying filters arranged to overlap in the flow direction of the air in the circulation path, and the vertical surface portion of the plurality of drying filters. A washer/dryer including a water supply unit for supplying water from above.

  Further, in the present invention, the washer/dryer includes a pair of vertical walls sandwiching a space between adjacent drying filters from among the plurality of drying filters, and the space is provided between the pair of vertical walls. A bottom wall closed from below, the water supply unit closes the space from above, one side of the pair of vertical walls has an escape hole facing the outside of the space, and the top surface of the bottom wall The part descends toward the escape hole and is connected to the escape hole.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the water supply unit is a plurality of water supply ports provided corresponding to the plurality of drying filters, and has a water supply port facing the vertical surface portion of the corresponding drying filter from above. ..

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of the water supply ports are provided side by side along the vertical surface portion of the corresponding drying filter, and each of the water supply ports extends vertically in a straight line shape. ..

  In the present invention, the water supply unit is a flow path that has an inflow port and is connected to the water supply port, and has a flow path that causes water that flows in from the inflow port to flow out to the water supply port, The flow passage area of the inflow port is larger than the total of the flow passage areas of all the water supply ports.

According to the present invention, the air in the outer tub of the washer/dryer is taken out from the outlet into the circulation path and circulated so as to return from the return port into the outer tub. The circulating air becomes hot air by being heated by the heating unit in the circulation path, and dries the laundry in the washing tub. A drying filter provided on the outlet side of the heating unit in the circulation path captures foreign matter contained in the air flowing from the outlet to the return port in the circulation path for circulation on the vertical surface portion. Therefore, foreign matter in the air can be prevented from adhering to the heating portion. Since a plurality of drying filters are provided and arranged so as to overlap in the air flow direction in the circulation path, the air flowing in the circulation path sequentially passes through the plurality of drying filters. Therefore, many foreign substances can be captured from the air flowing in the circulation path by these drying filters.
When the water supply unit supplies water to the vertical surface of each of the drying filters from above, foreign matter that has been captured and adhered to the vertical surface is separated from the vertical surface by the water flowing down the vertical surface. This foreign substance falls in the circulation path, reaches the inside of the outer tank through the outlet, and is removed from the outer tank when the outer tank is drained. Since the washer/dryer has the automatic maintenance function of the drying filter as described above, the user does not have to remove the drying filter for maintenance. Therefore, the maintainability of the dry filter can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, among the plurality of drying filters, a space between adjacent drying filters is sandwiched between a pair of vertical walls from the side, and is closed from below by a bottom wall that is installed between these vertical walls. It comes off and is blocked from above by the water supply part. This can prevent the air that has passed through the drying filter and reached the space from leaking out of the space without reaching the next drying filter. Therefore, since the air flowing in the circulation path surely passes through the plurality of drying filters in order, many foreign matters can be captured from the air flowing in the circulation path by these drying filters.
The vertical part of the drying filter closest to the outlet is directly exposed in the circuit. Therefore, when water is supplied to the vertical surface portion from the water supply unit, the foreign matter adhering to the vertical surface portion quickly falls in the circulation path after being peeled from the vertical surface portion and reaches the outer tank from the outlet.
On the other hand, of the drying filters adjacent to each other with the space between the adjacent drying filters interposed therebetween, the vertical surface portion of the drying filter located on the downstream side in the air flow direction in the circulation path is arranged facing the space. So it is not directly exposed in the circulation. An escape hole that faces the outside of the space is formed in one of the pair of vertical walls, and an upper surface portion of the bottom wall is inclined so as to descend toward the escape hole and connect to the escape hole. When water is supplied from the water supply unit to the vertical surface facing the space, foreign matter adhering to the vertical surface is peeled off, falls in the space, is placed on the upper surface of the bottom wall, and slides down along the slope of the upper surface. Reach the escape hole. The foreign matter that has reached the escape hole goes out of the space, falls in the circulation path, and reaches the outer tank from the outlet. Therefore, not only the foreign matter captured in the vertical surface portion of the drying filter closest to the outlet but also the foreign matter captured in the space between the adjacent drying filters is fed into the outer tub by the water supply section. Therefore, since the user does not have to remove the foreign matter from the space by removing the dry filter, the maintainability of the dry filter can be further improved.

  Further, according to the present invention, each of the plurality of water supply ports provided in the water supply unit faces the vertical surface portion of the corresponding drying filter among the plurality of drying filters from above. As a result, the vertical surface of each drying filter is sprayed with water from the corresponding water supply port from above, so that the foreign matter can be reliably peeled off from the vertical surface of each drying filter. Therefore, the maintainability of the drying filter can be further improved.

  Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of water supply ports are provided so as to be arranged side by side along the vertical surface portion of the corresponding drying filter, and each water supply port extends vertically in a straight line. Thereby, the water falling from each of the plurality of water supply ports arranged side by side is poured onto the vertical surface portion of each drying filter from the upper side, so that it is possible to reliably remove foreign matter in a wide range in the horizontal direction on the vertical surface portion. Therefore, the maintainability of the drying filter can be further improved.

  Further, according to the present invention, in the water supply section, the water that has flowed into the flow path from the inflow port flows out from each water supply port and is poured onto the vertical surface portion of the drying filter from above. The flow passage area of the inflow port is larger than the sum of the flow passage areas of all the water supply ports. As a result, the water that has flowed into the flow path from the inflow port can be distributed throughout the flow path, and therefore the water in the flow path can flow out from each water supply port at the same momentum and at the same timing. Therefore, it is possible to evenly and simultaneously remove foreign matter from the vertical surface of each drying filter. Therefore, the maintainability of the drying filter can be further improved.

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional left side view of a washer/dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outer tub and the drying unit arranged in the washer/dryer as seen from the rear side. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the outer tank and the drying unit. FIG. 4 is a rear view of the filter unit that constitutes the drying unit. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the filter unit. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the filter unit. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the filter unit. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the drying unit including a vertical section. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an essential part of the outer tank and the drying section including the vertical cross section. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a duct and a filter unit that form a drying unit. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the duct and the filter unit.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a schematic left side view of a vertical cross section of a washer/dryer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The direction orthogonal to the plane of FIG. 1 is called the left-right direction X of the washer/dryer 1, the left-right direction in FIG. 1 is called the front-back direction Y of the washer-dryer 1, and the vertical direction in FIG. 1 is the vertical direction of the washer-dryer 1. It is called Z. In the left-right direction X, the back side in the plane of FIG. 1 is called the right side X1, and the front side in the plane of FIG. 1 is called the left side X2. In the front-rear direction Y, the left side in FIG. 1 is called the front side Y1, and the right side in FIG. 1 is called the rear side Y2. Of the vertical direction Z, the upper side is called the upper side Z1 and the lower side is called the lower side Z2. The washer/dryer 1 is a so-called drum type washer/dryer. The washer/dryer 1 includes a casing 2, an outer tub 3 arranged in the casing 2, a water supply channel 4 and a drainage channel 5 connected to the outer tub 3, and a drainage channel 5 from the outer tub 3 to the outer tub 3. A drainage filter 6 that captures foreign matter from the discharged water, a washing tub 7 housed in the outer tub 3, a motor 8 that rotates the washing tub 7, and a drying unit that dries the laundry L in the washing tub 7. 9 and 9 are included.

  The housing 2 is formed in a box shape. The front surface 2A of the housing 2 is, for example, a vertical surface. The front surface 2A is formed with an opening 2B that allows the inside and outside of the housing 2 to communicate with each other. A door 10 that opens and closes the opening 2B is provided on the front surface 2A.

  The outer tub 3 is elastically supported by the housing 2 via a suspension rod (not shown). The outer tub 3 includes a cylindrical circumferential wall 3A having an axis J extending in the front-rear direction Y along the horizontal direction H, and a disk-shaped rear wall 3B in which a hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A is closed from the rear side Y2. , A ring-shaped front wall 3C connected to the front edge of the circumferential wall 3A. The back wall 3B is arranged vertically and has an outer peripheral portion 3D and a central portion 3E protruding one step further toward the rear side Y2 than the outer peripheral portion 3D. A through hole 3F is formed in the center of the central portion 3E so as to penetrate the central portion 3E in the front-rear direction Y along the axis J. The front wall 3C includes an annular first portion 3G protruding from the front end edge of the circumferential wall 3A to the axis J side, a cylindrical second portion 3H protruding from the inner peripheral edge of the first portion 3G to the front side Y1, and The second portion 3H has an annular third portion 3I protruding from the front end edge toward the axis J. Inside the third portion 3I, there is formed a doorway 3J communicating with the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A from the front side Y1. The doorway 3J faces the opening 2B of the housing 2 from the rear side Y2 and communicates with the opening 2B.

  The water supply passage 4 has one end (not shown) connected to a faucet (not shown) and the other end 4A connected to, for example, the central portion 3E of the back wall 3B of the outer tub 3. At the time of water supply, water from the faucet is supplied from the water supply passage 4 into the outer tub 3. In the outer tub 3, tap water or water such as detergent water in which a detergent is dissolved is stored. A water supply valve 11 that is opened and closed to start and stop water supply is provided in the water supply path 4.

  The drainage channel 5 is connected to the lower end of the outer tub 3, for example, the lower end of the first portion 3G of the front wall 3C. The water in the outer tub 3 is discharged out of the machine through the drainage channel 5. A drain valve 12 that is opened and closed to start and stop drainage is provided in the middle of the drainage path 5.

  The drainage filter 6 is provided in the drainage path 5 at an upstream portion closer to the outer tub 3 than the drainage valve 12. Since the front end of the drainage filter 6 is exposed to the front surface 2A of the housing 2, the user can hold the front end of the drainage filter 6 and attach/detach the drainage filter 6 to/from the housing 2. A known structure can be used as the structure of the drainage filter 6.

  The washing tub 7 is slightly smaller than the outer tub 3. The washing tub 7 includes a cylindrical circumferential wall 7A arranged coaxially with the circumferential wall 3A of the outer tub 3, a disc-shaped back wall 7B in which a hollow portion of the circumferential wall 7A is closed from the rear side Y2, and a circumferential wall. 7A has a circular annular wall 7C that extends from the front end edge toward the axis J side. A plurality of through holes 7D are formed in at least the circumferential wall 7A of the washing tub 7, and the water in the outer tub 3 travels between the outer tub 3 and the washing tub 7 through the through holes 7D. Therefore, the water level in the outer tub 3 and the water level in the washing tub 7 match. A support shaft 13 extending along the axis J toward the rear side Y2 is provided at the center of the back wall 7B of the washing tub 7. The rear end portion of the support shaft 13 passes through the through hole 3F of the rear wall 3B of the outer tub 3 and is arranged on the rear side Y2 of the rear wall 3B.

  Inside the annular wall 7C, a doorway 7E communicating with the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 7A from the front side Y1 is formed. The entrance/exit 7E faces and communicates with the entrance/exit 3J of the outer tub 3 and the opening 2B of the housing 2 from the rear side Y2. The doorway 3J and the doorway 7E are collectively opened and closed by the door 10 together with the opening 2B. The user of the washer/dryer 1 puts the laundry L in and out of the washing tub 7 through the opened opening 2B, the entrance 3J, and the entrance 7E.

  The motor 8 is arranged in the housing 2 on the rear side Y2 of the back wall 3B of the outer tub 3. The motor 8 is connected to a support shaft 13 provided in the washing tub 7. The driving force generated by the motor 8 is transmitted to the support shaft 13, and the washing tub 7 rotates around the axis J together with the support shaft 13. A clutch mechanism (not shown) may be provided between the motor 8 and the support shaft 13 to transmit or disconnect the driving force of the motor 8 to the support shaft 13.

  The drying unit 9 includes a circulation path 20, a blower unit 21, and a heating unit 22. The circulation path 20 is a flow path arranged on the upper side Z1 of the outer tub 3 in the housing 2. The circulation path 20 has an intermediate portion 20A extending in the front-rear direction Y, a rear portion 20B extending from the rear end of the intermediate portion 20A to the lower side Z2, and a front portion 20C extending from the front end of the intermediate portion 20A to the lower side Z2. An outlet 20D is formed at the front end of the lower end of the rear portion 20B. The outlet 20D is connected to a portion higher than the upper limit water level in the outer peripheral portion 3D of the back wall 3B of the outer tub 3, and communicates with the inside of the outer tub 3 from the rear Y2. A return port 20E is formed at the lower end of the front portion 20C. The return port 20E is connected to the upper end of the second portion 3H of the front wall 3C of the outer tub 3 and communicates with the inside of the outer tub 3 from the upper side Z1.

  The blower unit 21 is a so-called blower, and includes a rotary blade 23 arranged in an upstream region near the outlet 20D in the circulation path 20, and a motor (not shown) for rotating the rotary blade 23. When the rotary vanes 23 rotate, the air in the outer tub 3, that is, the air in the outer tub 3 and the air in the washing tub 7 is taken out from the outlet 20D into the circulation path 20 as indicated by the thick dashed arrow, It is returned to the outer tank 3 through the return port 20E. As a result, the air in the outer tub 3 circulates so as to sequentially flow through the outer tub 3 and the circulation path 20.

  The heating unit 22 is a heat exchanger in a heat pump or a general heater, and at least a part of the heating unit 22 is provided in the circulation path 20. The portion of the heating unit 22 provided in the circulation path 20 has a plurality of fin-shaped heat radiation units 22A. When the heating unit 22 operates, the heat radiating unit 22A has a high temperature, so that the air flowing in the circulation path 20 is heated and becomes hot air when passing around the heat radiating unit 22A.

  The washer/dryer 1 includes a control unit 24 configured as a microcomputer. The control unit 24 executes the washing/drying operation by controlling the operations of the motor 8, the water supply valve 11, the drain valve 12, the blower unit 21, and the heating unit 22. The washing/drying operation includes a washing process, a rinsing process, a dehydrating process, and a drying process.

  Prior to the start of the washing process, detergent is put into the washing tub 7. In the washing process, the control unit 24 opens the water supply valve 11 for a predetermined time to supply water to the outer tub 3 and the washing tub 7 and then rotates the washing tub 7 by the motor 8 in the washing process. As a result, the laundry L in the washing tub 7 is tapped and washed. In tapping, tumbling is repeated in which the laundry L is lifted to some extent and then falls naturally on the water surface. Contamination is removed from the laundry L by the impact of tumbling and the detergent components contained in the detergent water accumulated in the washing tub 7. When the control unit 24 opens the drain valve 12 and drains the water after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the tumbling, the washing process is completed.

  In the rinsing step, the control unit 24 opens the water supply valve 11 for a predetermined time to supply water to the outer tub 3 and the washing tub 7 with the drain valve 12 closed, and then causes the motor 8 to rotate the washing tub 7. Then, the tumbling described above is repeated, so that the laundry L is rinsed with tap water in the washing tub 7. When the control unit 24 drains water after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of tumbling, the rinsing process ends. The rinsing process may be repeated multiple times. In the dehydration process, the control unit 24 spins the washing tub 7 with the drain valve 12 open. The laundry L in the washing tub 7 is dewatered by the centrifugal force generated by the spin rotation of the washing tub 7. The water that has exuded from the laundry L due to the dehydration is discharged from the machine through the drainage channel 5. The dehydration step may be performed not only after the rinsing step but also after the washing step.

  In the drying process, the control unit 24 causes the air blowing unit 21 and the heating unit 22 to generate hot air, circulate the hot air between the washing tub 7 and the circulation path 20, and supply the hot laundry to the laundry L in the washing tub 7. Thereby, the laundry L is dried. In the washing operation, foreign matter such as lint is generated, and the foreign matter flows along with hot air during the drying process. If foreign matter adheres to and accumulates on the heat radiation section 22A of the heating section 22, there is a risk that the heating efficiency of the heating section 22 will decrease and the performance of the circulation path 20 will deteriorate due to the deterioration of the air flow. There is a need to. Therefore, the drying unit 9 further includes a filter unit 25, a branch path 26, and a water injection valve 27. Below, the blower unit 21 and the circulation path 20 will be described in detail, and then the filter unit 25, the branch path 26, and the water injection valve 27 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outer tank 3 and the drying unit 9 as viewed from the rear side Y2. The blower unit 21 includes a hollow disk-shaped casing 29 that houses the rotary vanes 23. The casing 29 is a part of the circulation path 20 and is fixed to the housing 2. The inner space of the casing 29 constitutes a connecting portion between the intermediate portion 20A and the rear portion 20B in the circulation path 20.

  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the outer tank 3 and the drying unit 9. The circulation path 20 includes a duct 30 that occupies most of the rear portion 20B, and a connection hose 31 that connects the casing 29 and the duct 30. The duct 30 includes a main body 32 and a cover 33 (see FIG. 2).

  The main body 32 is a curved wall 32A that is curved so as to descend to the lower left side along the upper left portion of the circumferential wall 3A of the outer tub 3, and a substantially semicircular plate shape that bulges to the front side Y1 and that is the curved wall 32A. It has a top wall 32B extending from the right end to the left side X2. Between the curved wall 32A and the ceiling wall 32B, a downstream space 32C that is narrowed in the vertical direction Z toward the right side X1 is defined. The ceiling wall 32B extends obliquely with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend toward the left side X2. The top wall 32B is provided with a cylindrical upper coupling portion 32D that projects to the upper side Z1. The internal space of the upper coupling portion 32D is in a state of communicating with the downstream space 32C from the upper side Z1. The internal space of the downstream space 32C and the upper coupling portion 32D constitutes a part of the internal space of the rear portion 20B of the circulation path 20. The main body 32 has a side wall 32E provided between the end edges of the curved wall 32A and the ceiling wall 32B so as to close the downstream space 32C from the front side Y1 and the left side X2.

  The main body 32 has a first vertical wall 32F extending from the rear end of the curved wall 32A to the lower side Z2, and a horizontal wall 32G protruding from the lower end of the first vertical wall 32F to the rear side Y2. The upper end of the first vertical wall 32F is curved in an arc shape along the curved wall 32A, and the lower end of the first vertical wall 32F is linear while being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend toward the left side X2. Extend to. The horizontal wall 32G has a strip shape and extends along the lower end of the first vertical wall 32F while being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H. The rear end of the side wall 32E is arranged on the rear side Y2 of the downstream space 32C, and the lower part of the rear end of the side wall 32E is connected to the left ends of the first vertical wall 32F and the horizontal wall 32G.

  The main body 32 has a second vertical wall 32H, which is L-shaped when viewed from the rear, and which borders the rear end of the side wall 32E and the lateral wall 32G. At the lower end portion of the second vertical wall 32H, one or a plurality of the above-mentioned outlets 20D are formed. In this embodiment, one elongated hole-shaped outlet 20D that is long in the vertical direction Z is formed and penetrates the second vertical wall 32H in the front-rear direction Y. The second vertical wall 32H is provided with a tubular lower connecting portion 32I protruding toward the front side Y1 while framing the outlet 20D. A through hole 3K having the same shape as the outlet 20D is formed in the back wall 3B of the outer tub 3. The lower connecting portion 32I is inserted into the through hole 3K from the rear side Y2. Thereby, the outlet 20D is connected to the back wall 3B and communicates with the inside of the outer tub 3.

  The main body 32 has an outer wall 32J protruding toward the rear side Y2 while continuously edging the right edge of the first vertical wall 32F and the left edge, lower edge and right edge of the second vertical wall 32H. The outer wall 32J is formed in a substantially U shape in a rear view, and the two upper ends of the outer wall 32J are connected to the left end and the right end of the rear end of the top wall 32B, respectively. A notch 32JA recessed to the front side Y1 is formed at the upper end portion of the outer wall 32J connected to the right end of the top wall 32B. A plurality of first locking portions 32JB protruding from the outer peripheral surface are provided in a region near the front of the outer peripheral surface of the outer wall 32J. The bolt B1 (see FIG. 2) is inserted into the insertion hole formed in each first locking portion 32JB, and is assembled in the screw hole 3L provided at the corresponding position on the back wall 3B of the outer tub 3. As a result, the entire duct 30 including the main body 32 is fixed to the outer tank 3. The main body 32 has an intermediate space 32K defined by the rear end of the side wall 32E, the lateral wall 32G, the top wall 32B, and the right portion of the outer wall 32J. The intermediate space 32K has a substantially rectangular shape in a rear view, is a thin space in the front-rear direction Y, is adjacent to the first vertical wall 32F from the rear side Y2, and communicates with the downstream space 32C from the rear side Y2.

  The main body 32 has a vertical partition plate 32L and a horizontal partition plate 32M protruding from the second vertical wall 32H to the rear side Y2. The vertical partition plate 32L is arranged adjacent to the middle space 32K from the left side X2, extends from the rear end of the ceiling wall 32B to the lower side Z2, and is connected to the edge of the upper side Z1 in the outlet 20D. A through hole 32N formed in a rectangular shape elongated in the up-down direction Z is formed in the middle of the vertical partition plate 32L. The horizontal partition plate 32M is arranged on the lower side Z2 of the intermediate space 32K and on the upper side Z1 of the outlet 20D, and is installed between the intermediate part of the vertical partition plate 32L and the right part of the outer wall 32J. The horizontal partition plate 32M extends substantially parallel to the top wall 32B and the horizontal wall 32G while inclining with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend toward the left side X2. The left end of the upper surface portion of the horizontal partition plate 32M is connected to the lower end of the through hole 32N of the vertical partition plate 32L. A slit 32P that divides the horizontal partition plate 32M in the left-right direction X is formed in the middle of the horizontal partition plate 32M. A screw hole 32Q is formed in the rear surface portion of the second vertical wall 32H in the slit 32P.

  The main body 32 has an arrangement space 32R defined by a vertical partition plate 32L, a horizontal partition plate 32M, a ceiling wall 32B, and a right portion of the outer wall 32J. The arrangement space 32R has a substantially rectangular shape in rear view, is a thin space in the front-rear direction Y, and communicates with the intermediate space 32K from the rear side Y2. In the arrangement space 32R, the portion on the upper side Z1 above the lateral wall 32G overlaps the entire area of the intermediate space 32K in rear view. The filter unit 25 is arranged in the arrangement space 32R. In the main body 32, an upstream space 32S defined by a portion of the vertical partition plate 32L below the through-hole 32N, the horizontal partition plate 32M, and the right and lower portions of the outer wall 32J is formed. The upstream space 32S is a space having a substantially semicircular shape that bulges to the lower side Z2 when viewed from the rear, and is located on the lower side Z2 of the arrangement space 32R with the horizontal partition plate 32M interposed therebetween, and is located rearward of the outlet 20D. Communicate from Y2.

  In the main body 32, a vertical space 32T is formed which is sandwiched by the left portion of the outer wall 32J and the vertical partition plate 32L from both sides in the left-right direction X and extends in the vertical direction Z in an elongated manner. The vertical space 32T is closed from the front side Y1 by the left end of the second vertical wall 32H, and closed from the upper side Z1 by the left end of the top wall 32B. The lower end of the vertical space 32T communicates with the upstream space 32S from the left side X2. The main body 32 includes a blocking plate 32U that is provided between the portion of the vertical partition plate 32L that is on the upper side Z1 of the through hole 32N and the left portion of the outer wall 32J. The vertical space 32T is divided into a lower region of the lower side Z2 below the blocking plate 32U and an upper region of the upper side Z1 above the blocking plate 32U by the blocking plate 32U located in the middle thereof. The through hole 32N communicates with the lower region of the blocking plate 32U from the right side X1.

  The cover 33 (see FIG. 2) has a contour that substantially coincides with the outer wall 32J and the ceiling wall 32B of the main body 32 in a rear view, and is formed in a plate shape that becomes narrower toward the lower side Z2. The cover 33 is provided with a plurality of locking portions 33A (see FIG. 2) protruding from the outer edge of the cover 33. Corresponding to the locking portion 33A, a plurality of second locking portions 32JC protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the outer wall 32J of the main body 32 are provided in a region rearward of the outer wall 32J. Bolts (not shown) are inserted through the insertion holes formed in each locking portion 33A and assembled in the corresponding screw holes 32JD provided on the rear end surface of the second locking portion 32JC. As a result, the cover 33 is fixed to the main body 32 from the rear side Y2, and the duct 30 is completed (see FIG. 2).

  In the completed duct 30, the arrangement space 32R, the upstream space 32S, and the vertical space 32T provided on the rear surface side of the main body 32 are closed from the rear side Y2 by the cover 33. The rear ends of the vertical partition plate 32L and the blocking plate 32U contact the front surface of the cover 33. Therefore, the arrangement space 32R and the lower region of the vertical space 32T, which are arranged with the vertical partition plate 32L interposed therebetween, do not communicate with each other except through holes 32N of the vertical partition plate 32L. Further, in the vertical space 32T, the lower region and the upper region, which are arranged so as to sandwich the blocking plate 32U, are blocked. Since there is a gap Q (see FIG. 12) between the rear end of the horizontal partition plate 32M and the front surface of the cover 33, the arrangement space 32R and the upstream space 32S communicate with each other through this gap Q.

  The connection hose 31 is, for example, a rubber cylinder, and its internal space is open to the upper side Z1 and the lower side Z2. A bellows portion 31A is provided between the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the connection hose 31. The lower end portion of the connection hose 31 is fitted onto the upper coupling portion 32D of the duct 30. The upper end of the connection hose 31 is connected to the casing 29 of the blower unit 21. The internal space of the connection hose 31 constitutes a part of the internal space of the rear portion 20B of the circulation path 20. It is suppressed by the elastic deformation of the bellows portion 31A that the vibration of the outer tub 3 is transmitted to the blower portion 21 during the washing and drying operation.

  FIG. 4 is a rear view of the filter unit 25. The overall shape of the filter unit 25 in a rear view is a rectangle having two sides inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend toward the left side X2, and another two sides extending substantially vertically along the vertical direction Z. The shape, specifically, a parallelogram shape is formed. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the filter unit 25. The filter unit 25 is formed in a thin box shape in the front-rear direction Y.

  FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the filter unit 25. The filter unit 25 includes a first filter member 41, a second filter member 42, and a water supply cover 43.

  The first filter member 41 has a frame portion 41A having a substantially rectangular outline in a rear view, a pair of left and right vertical walls 41B protruding from the frame portion 41A to the front side Y1, and protruding from the lower end of the frame portion 41A to the front side Y1. It has a bottom wall 41C. The upper edge and the lower edge of the frame portion 41A are inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend toward the left side X2. The right edge and the left edge of the frame portion 41A extend substantially vertically along the vertical direction Z. The lower end portion of the right edge of the frame portion 41A is curved so as to shift to the left side X2 toward the lower side Z2. A rib-shaped upper insertion portion 41D is provided at the upper edge of the frame portion 41A so as to project in the upper side Z1 and extend in the left-right direction X along the upper edge. An opening 41E that penetrates the frame portion 41A in the front-rear direction Y is provided in almost the entire area of the frame portion 41A when viewed from the rear. The frame portion 41A has a single or a plurality of vertical ribs 41F that vertically cut the opening 41E. In this embodiment, two vertical ribs 41F are provided side by side in the left-right direction X, and the openings 41E are equally divided by the vertical ribs 41F into three small openings 41EA arranged in the left-right direction X. Each small opening 41EA is formed in a vertically long rectangular shape, more specifically, a parallelogram shape having two sides parallel to the upper edge and the lower edge of the frame portion 41A. The first filter member 41 is provided with a drying filter F1 that covers the entire area of each small opening 41EA. The drying filter F1 in this embodiment is a mesh sheet attached to the frame portion 41A, but may be a lattice integrally formed with the frame portion 41A. A rear surface portion of the drying filter F1 that extends vertically and horizontally is referred to as a vertical surface portion F1A. A lateral rib 41G that extends in the left-right direction X along the lower end of the opening 41E while protruding to the rear side Y2 is provided on the rear surface portion of the frame portion 41A below the opening 41E.

  The pair of vertical walls 41B includes a right vertical wall 41BA protruding from the right edge of the frame portion 41A to the front side Y1 and extending in the vertical direction Z, and a left vertical wall 41B protruding from the left edge of the frame portion 41A to the front side Y1 and extending in the vertical direction Z. 41 BB and. The lower end of the right vertical wall 41BA is curved along the lower end of the right edge of the frame 41A. The front end portion of the right vertical wall 41BA constitutes a rib-shaped right insertion portion 41BC which is narrowed by one step in the left-right direction X and extends in the up-down direction Z. An escape hole 41BD that penetrates the left vertical wall 41BB in the left-right direction X is formed at the lower end of the left vertical wall 41BB, which is one of the pair of vertical walls 41B. In the left vertical wall 41BB, the front end portion of the portion on the upper side Z1 above the escape hole 41BD constitutes a rib-shaped left insertion portion 41BE which is narrowed by one step in the left-right direction X and extends in the up-down direction Z.

  The bottom wall 41C is installed between the lower ends of the right vertical wall 41BA and the left vertical wall 41BB. The upper surface portion 41CA of the bottom wall 41C is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend toward the escape hole 41BD on the left side X2 and is connected to the escape hole 41BD. A locking portion 41CB protruding from the bottom wall 41C to the lower side Z2 is provided at the center of the bottom wall 41C in the left-right direction X. An insertion hole 41CC that penetrates the locking portion 41CB in the front-rear direction Y is formed in the locking portion 41CB.

  The second filter member 42 has a frame portion 42A having a substantially rectangular contour in a rear view, and a ceiling wall 42B protruding from the upper edge of the frame portion 42A to the rear side Y2. The upper edge and the lower edge of the frame portion 42A are inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend toward the left side X2. The right edge and the left edge of the frame portion 42A extend substantially vertically along the vertical direction Z. The lower end of the right edge of the frame portion 42A is curved so as to shift to the left side X2 as it goes to the lower side Z2. An opening 42C that penetrates the frame portion 42A in the front-rear direction Y is provided in almost the entire area of the frame portion 42A in a rear view. The frame portion 42A has a single or a plurality of vertical ribs 42D that vertically cut the opening 42C. In this embodiment, two vertical ribs 42D are provided side by side in the left-right direction X, and the openings 42C are equally divided into three small openings 42CA arranged in the left-right direction X by these vertical ribs 42D. Each small opening 42CA is formed in a rectangular shape having the same size as each small opening 41EA of the first filter member 41, strictly speaking, a parallelogram shape. The second filter member 42 is provided with a drying filter F2 that covers the entire area of each small opening 42CA. Although the drying filter F2 in this embodiment is a mesh sheet attached to the frame portion 42A along the vertical and horizontal directions, it may be a lattice integrally formed with the frame portion 42A. The rear surface portion of the drying filter F2 that extends vertically and horizontally is referred to as a vertical surface portion F2A.

  Below, the dry filter F1 of the 1st filter member 41 and the dry filter F2 of the 2nd filter member 42 may be generically called "dry filter F." The vertical surface portion F1A of the drying filter F1 and the vertical surface portion F2A of the drying filter F2 may be collectively referred to as “vertical surface portion FA”.

  A pair of right ribs 42E extending in the up-down direction Z along the right edge of the frame 42A are provided on the rear side of the frame 42A on the right side X1 of the opening 42C. A right insertion groove 42F extending in the vertical direction Z is formed between these right ribs 42E. A pair of left ribs 42G extending in the up-down direction Z along the left edge of the frame 42A is provided on the left side X2 of the rear surface of the frame 42A with respect to the opening 42C. A left insertion groove 42H extending in the vertical direction Z is formed between these left ribs 42G.

  The top wall 42B has a rectangular plate shape that is long in the left-right direction X, and has a main body portion 42BA that is inclined downward to the left along the upper edge of the frame portion 42A, and a rectangular plate shape that is shorter than the main body portion 42BA. And an extension portion 42BB extending from the right end of the main body 42BA to the right side X1 along the horizontal direction H. The main body portion 42BA is a rectangular plate-shaped lower portion 42BC forming the overall contour of the main body portion 42BA in a plan view, and a rectangular plate shape provided on the upper surface of the lower portion 42BC and arranged inside the outline of the lower portion 42BC in a plan view. 42BD of the upper part of. An upper insertion groove 42BE (see FIG. 14 described later) extending in the left-right direction X is formed at the rear end portion of the lower surface portion of the lower portion 42BC. The extension portion 42BB is a rectangular plate-shaped lower portion 42BF that forms the entire contour of the extension portion 42BB in a plan view, and a rectangle that is provided on the upper surface of the lower portion 42BF and is arranged inside the contour of the lower portion 42BF in a plan view. It has a plate-shaped upper portion 42BG. The left end of the lower portion 42BF is connected to the right end of the lower portion 42BC of the main body portion 42BA, and the left end of the upper portion 42BG is connected to the right end of the upper portion 42BD of the main body portion 42BA. A frame-shaped outer edge portion 42K surrounding the upper portion 42BD and the upper portion 42BG in plan view is formed on the upper surface portion of the top wall 42B as a part of the upper surface portion of the lower portion 42BC and the lower portion 42BF.

  A plurality of water supply ports 42J having the same shape and the same size are formed in the body portion 42BA. Each water supply port 42J extends vertically, that is, linearly in the up-down direction Z, and penetrates both the lower portion 42BC and the upper portion 42BD (see FIGS. 9 and 10 described later). Each water supply port 42J has a substantially rectangular flat cross section, and this flat cross section is the same at any position of the water supply port 42J in the vertical direction Z. The plane cross section of the water supply port 42J is the flow passage area of the water supply port 42J. These water supply ports 42J are distributed over the entire rear end portion of the upper portion 42BD, and are distributed over the entire area of the front end portion of the upper portion 42BD, and the plurality of first water supply ports 42JA arranged in a line at equal intervals along the left-right direction X. And a plurality of second water supply ports 42JB arranged in a line at equal intervals along the left-right direction X. In this embodiment, 12 first water supply ports 42JA and 12 second water supply ports 42JB are provided. The above-described upper insertion groove 42BE is arranged between the row of the first water supply ports 42JA and the row of the second water supply ports 42JB (see FIG. 14).

  The water supply cover 43 has a hollow main body 43A that is long in the left-right direction X, and a hollow connection portion 43B that is connected to the main body 43A from the right side X1. The lower surface portion 43AA of the main body portion 43A is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend toward the left side X2. The internal space 43AB of the main body portion 43A is opened to the lower side Z2 from an opening 43AC (see FIG. 8) formed over almost the entire area of the lower surface portion 43AA. The lower surface portion 43BA of the connection portion 43B extends along the horizontal direction H. The internal space 43BB of the connecting portion 43B is opened to the lower side Z2 from an opening 43BC (see FIG. 8) formed over almost the entire area of the lower surface portion 43BA. The opening 43BC of the connecting portion 43B is connected to the opening 43AC of the main body portion 43A from the right side X1, and the internal space 43BB of the connecting portion 43B is connected to the internal space 43AB of the main body portion 43A from the right side X1. A pipe-shaped tube portion 43BD extending to the rear side Y2 is provided on the rear surface portion of the connecting portion 43B. The internal space 43BE of the pipe portion 43BD communicates with the internal space 43BB of the connection portion 43B from the rear side Y2. The internal space 43AB of the main body part 43A, the internal space 43BB of the connection part 43B, and the internal space 43BE of the pipe part 43BD together form a flow path 43C in the water supply cover 43. A circular opening formed in the rear end surface of the pipe portion 43BD and opening the internal space 43BE to the rear side Y2 constitutes an inlet 43CA of the flow passage 43C. The opening area of the inflow port 43CA is the flow passage area of the inflow port 43CA.

  Next, the assembly of the filter unit 25 will be described. The operator inserts the right insertion portion 41BC, the left insertion portion 41BE and the upper insertion portion 41D of the first filter member 41 into the right insertion groove 42F, the left insertion groove 42H and the upper insertion portion of the second filter member 42. The first filter member 41 and the second filter member 42 are combined by being inserted into the grooves 42BE (see FIG. 14). Then, the worker puts the water supply cover 43 on the top wall 42B of the second filter member 42 from the upper side Z1 to combine the water supply cover 43 and the second filter member 42. As a result, the filter unit 25 is completed. In addition, you may combine the 1st filter member 41 and the 2nd filter member 42, after combining the water supply cover 43 and the 2nd filter member 42.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the completed filter unit 25. In the completed filter unit 25, the frame portion 41A of the first filter member 41 is arranged on the rear side Y2 of the frame portion 42A of the second filter member 42. As a result, the drying filter F1 attached to the frame portion 41A is arranged so as to overlap the drying filter F2 attached to the frame portion 42A from the rear side Y2. In this way, the space S is secured between the adjacent dry filters F1 and F2. The right vertical wall 41BA and the left vertical wall 41BB of the first filter member 41 sandwich the space S from the side, that is, from both sides in the left-right direction X. The escape hole 41BD formed in the left vertical wall 41BB communicates with the space S from the left side X2 and faces the outside of the space S. The bottom wall 41C of the first filter member 41 is connected to the lower end of the frame portion 42A and closes the space S from the lower side Z2. The main body portion 42BA of the top wall 42B of the second filter member 42 closes the space S from the upper side Z1. The ceiling wall 42B and the water supply cover 43 covering the ceiling wall 42B from the upper side Z1 form a water supply unit 50.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. An outer edge portion of the lower surface portion of the water supply cover 43, which borders the opening 43AC of the main body portion 43A and the opening 43BC of the connection portion 43B, contacts the entire outer edge portion 42K of the upper surface portion of the ceiling wall 42B from the upper side Z1 (see also FIG. 6). reference). The upper portion 42BD and the upper portion 42BG of the top wall 42B are fitted into the flow passage 43C of the water supply cover 43 from the lower side Z2. The flow path 43C in the water supply cover 43 is connected to all the water supply ports 42J formed in the top wall 42B from the upper side Z1.

  9 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. In the internal space 43AB of the main body 43A that forms a part of the flow passage 43C in the water supply cover 43, the width W in the front-rear direction Y is substantially constant (see FIG. 8), but as the height dimension D moves toward the left side X2. Get smaller. In order to realize such a height dimension D, the thickness of the top wall 43AD of the main body 43A in the up-down direction Z is configured to increase toward the left side X2. The first water supply port 42JA on the rear side Y2 of the water supply port 42J is arranged at the same position in the front-rear direction Y and the left-right direction X as the vertical surface portion F1A of the drying filter F1 of the first filter member 41 and above the vertical surface portion F1A. It is located at Z1. As a result, the plurality of first water supply ports 42JA are arranged laterally, that is, in the left-right direction X along the corresponding vertical surface portion F1A of the drying filter F1, and face the vertical surface portion F1A from the upper side Z1.

  FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. The vertical surface portion F2A of the drying filter F2 of the second filter member 42 faces the space S between the drying filter F1 and the drying filter F2 from the front side Y1. The second water supply port 42JB on the front side Y1 of the water supply port 42J is arranged at the same position as the vertical surface portion F2A of the drying filter F2 in the front-rear direction Y and the left-right direction X, and is arranged above the vertical surface portion F2A Z1. Thereby, the plurality of second water supply ports 42JB are arranged side by side along the vertical surface portion F2A of the corresponding drying filter F2 and face the vertical surface portion F2A from the upper side Z1. In this way, the plurality of water supply ports 42J are provided according to the plurality of drying filters F, like the first water supply port 42JA and the second water supply port 42JB.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the duct 30 and the filter unit 25 including a vertical cross section. In FIG. 11, the cover 33 of the duct 30 is not shown. The filter unit 25 is fitted into the arrangement space 32R of the duct 30 (see also FIG. 3) from the rear side Y2. A lateral rib 42L extending in the left-right direction X is provided on the front surface portion of the frame portion 42A of the second filter member 42 on the lower side Z2 below the drying filter F2. A lateral groove 32HA extending in the left-right direction X is provided in a portion of the second vertical wall 32H of the duct 30 that faces the frame portion 42A from the front side Y1. The bottom wall 41C of the first filter member 41 is placed on the horizontal partition plate 32M of the duct 30 and the horizontal rib 42L is fitted in the horizontal groove 32HA, whereby the filter unit 25 is positioned in the arrangement space 32R. The locking portion 41CB of the bottom wall 41C fits into the slit 32P of the horizontal partition plate 32M, and the bolt B2 is attached to the screw hole 32Q of the slit 32P through the insertion hole 41CC of the locking portion 41CB (see also FIGS. 3 and 6). ). As a result, the filter unit 25 in the arrangement space 32R is fixed to the duct 30.

  In the first filter member 41 of the filter unit 25 fixed to the duct 30, the bottom wall 41C, the right vertical wall 41BA, and the left vertical wall 41BB have the horizontal partition plate 32M, the outer wall 32J, and the vertical partition plate 32L of the duct 30 (see FIG. 3). Contact each). Further, the main body portion 43A of the water supply cover 43 of the filter unit 25 contacts the ceiling wall 32B of the duct 30. As a result, the filter unit 25 occupies substantially the entire space 32R in which the duct 30 is arranged, and is located in the duct 30 between the downstream space 32C and the midway space 32K and the upstream space 32S. When viewed as the entire circulation path 20, the plurality of drying filters F in the filter unit 25 are arranged closer to the outlet 20D than the heating section 22 in the circulation path 20 (see FIG. 1). In the plurality of drying filters F, the drying filter F1 is arranged closer to the outlet 20D than the drying filter F2. The connection portion 43B of the water supply cover 43 is arranged on the right side X1 of the arrangement space 32R through the notch 32JA (see FIG. 3) of the outer wall 32J. The escape hole 41BD (see FIG. 7) formed in the left vertical wall 41BB communicates with the through hole 32N (see FIG. 3) of the vertical partition plate 32L from the right side X1.

  The branch passage 26 branches from the upstream portion of the water supply passage 4 closer to the faucet than the water supply valve 11, and is connected to the pipe portion 43BD of the connection portion 43B of the water supply cover 43. The water injection valve 27 is provided in the branch passage 26 (see FIG. 1). The water injection valve 27 is opened and closed to supply the water flowing from the water supply passage 4 to the branch passage 26 to the pipe portion 43BD and to stop the supply thereof. The opening/closing of the water injection valve 27 is controlled by the controller 24 (see FIG. 1).

  In the drying process, hot air is generated and circulated by the air blowing unit 21 and the heating unit 22 as described above. The hot air flows from the outlet 20D to the return port 20E in the circulation path 20, and rises in the rear portion 20B on the way to the air blower 21 (see a thick broken arrow in FIG. 1). FIG. 12 is a perspective view of essential parts of the outer tub 3 and the drying section 9 including a vertical cross section. 11 and 12, in the duct 30 that constitutes the rear portion 20B, the hot air rises from the outlet 20D through the upstream space 32S as shown by the thick dashed arrow to dry the filter unit 25. The filter F1 and the drying filter F2 are passed to the front side Y1 in this order. Then, this hot air reaches the downstream space 32C via the intermediate space 32K, rises inside the connection hose 31 and flows into the casing 29 of the blower unit 21 (see also FIG. 2). In this way, the drying filter F1 and the drying filter F2 are arranged so as to overlap with each other in the direction of air flow in the circulation path 20 (the direction of the thick broken arrow in each figure).

  The vertical surface portion F1A of the drying filter F1 and the vertical surface portion F2A of the drying filter F2 are arranged so as to face the upstream side of the circulation path 20 and capture the foreign matter T (see FIG. 11) from the hot air in the circulation path 20. As the drying process progresses, many foreign substances T are captured and accumulated in the vertical surface portion F1A and the vertical surface portion F2A. As a result, it is possible to prevent foreign matter T from adhering to the heating unit 22 provided in the circulation path 20 at a position further away from the outlet 20D than the drying filter F in the circulation path 20. In particular, since the foreign matter T that could not be captured by the vertical surface portion F1A is captured by the vertical surface portion F2A, the risk of the foreign material T flowing out and adhering to the heating unit 22 can be reduced. Further, the space S between the drying filter F1 and the drying filter F2 is laterally sandwiched by the pair of vertical walls 41B, closed from the lower side Z2 by the bottom wall 41C, and closed from the upper side Z1 by the water supply unit 50. .. This can prevent the air that has passed through the drying filter F1 and reached the space S from leaking out of the space S without reaching the next drying filter F2. Therefore, since the air flowing in the circulation path 20 surely passes through the plurality of drying filters F in order, more foreign matter T can be captured from the air flowing in the circulation path 20 by these drying filters F. it can.

  FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the duct 30 and the filter unit 25. In FIG. 13, the cover 33 of the duct 30 is not shown. A door 51 for opening and closing the through hole 32N of the vertical partition plate 32L is provided in the lower region of the vertical space 32T located at the left end in the duct 30. The door 51 has a rectangular plate shape elongated in the up-down direction Z, is supported by the vertical partition plate 32L via a rotating shaft 52 passing through the upper end thereof, and is rotatable around the rotating shaft 52 in the left-right direction X. .. The door 51 of FIG. 13 is in the closed position in which the through hole 32N is closed from the left side X2 along the vertical partition plate 32L. Even if the air flowing into the upstream space 32S of the duct 30 from the outlet 20D reaches the lower region of the vertical space 32T in the drying process, the door 51 is urged toward the closed position by this air. Therefore, the air in the upstream space 32S is suppressed from flowing to the drying filter F2 side through the through hole 32N and the escape hole 41BD (see FIG. 7) of the filter unit 25 without passing through the drying filter F1. That is, the air in the upstream space 32S can be made to flow so as to always pass through the drying filter F1.

  The control unit 24 opens the water injection valve 27 after the drying process, that is, after the washing and drying operation is completed. The water supply valve 11 may be provided on the upstream side closer to the faucet than the branch position of the branch passage 26 in the water supply passage 4, and in that case, the control unit 24 controls both the water supply valve 11 and the water injection valve 27. open. Water from the faucet flows into the flow passage 43C from the inlet 43CA of the pipe portion 43BD of the water supply cover 43 via the water supply passage 4 and the branch passage 26.

  The water that has flowed into the flow path 43C flows out from the flow path 43C to each water supply port 42J and is jetted from each water supply port 42J. The water sprayed from the first water supply port 42JA of the water supply port 42J is poured onto the vertical surface portion F1A of the drying filter F1 from the upper side Z1 and flows down along the vertical surface portion F1A, as indicated by a thick dashed arrow. The foreign matter T adhering to the vertical surface portion F1A is peeled off from the vertical surface portion F1A by the water flowing down the vertical surface portion F1A, falls directly into the upstream space 32S of the duct 30, and reaches the outlet 20D. Since the vertical ribs 41F extending in the direction in which water or foreign matter T falls are provided around the drying filter F1, the foreign matter T falls smoothly without being caught by the vertical ribs 41F. An outer wall 32J that defines the upstream space 32S in the duct 30 is provided with a guide portion 30A that is inclined toward the outlet 20D, and the guide portion 30A guides the foreign matter T and water to the outlet 20D. The foreign matter T that has reached the take-out port 20D drops into the outer tub 3 through the take-out port 20D and collects in the outer tub 3. Similarly to the foreign matter T, the water that has been poured onto the vertical surface portion F1A from each first water supply port 42JA also falls from the duct 30 into the outer tub 3 and collects in the outer tub 3.

  The vertical surface portion FA1 of the drying filter F1 closest to the outlet 20D is directly exposed in the upstream space 32S forming the circulation path 20. Therefore, when water is supplied to the vertical surface portion FA1 from the first water supply port 42JA, the foreign matter T adhering to the vertical surface portion FA1 is quickly peeled off from the vertical surface portion FA1 and then immediately falls in the circulation path 20 to be discharged from the outlet 20D to the outer tank. Reach within 3. The lower connecting portion 32I that borders the outlet 20D in the duct 30 is inserted from the rear side Y2 into the through hole 3K of the rear wall 3B of the outer tub 3, and the front end of the lower connecting portion 32I is the front portion of the rear wall 3B. Is exposed from the outer tank 3 (see FIG. 12). That is, since there is no obstacle such as a step between the outlet 20D and the inside of the outer tub 3, the foreign matter T can reach the inside of the outer tub 3 from the outlet 20D without being caught on the way.

  FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the duct 30 and the filter unit 25. In FIG. 14, the cover 33 of the duct 30 and the first filter member 41 are not shown, and the drying filter F2 of the second filter member 42 is exposed and shown. The water sprayed from the second water supply port 42JB of the water supply ports 42J is poured from the upper side Z1 onto the vertical surface portion F2A of the drying filter F2, and flows down along the vertical surface portion F2A, as indicated by the thick dashed arrow. The foreign matter T adhering to the vertical surface portion F2A is peeled off from the vertical surface portion F2A by the water flowing down the vertical surface portion F2A, drops in the space S between the drying filter F1 and the drying filter F2, and then falls on the bottom wall of the first filter member 41. It mounts on the upper surface part 41CA of 41C. Around the drying filter F2, a vertical rib 42D extending in the direction in which water or foreign matter T falls is provided, so that the foreign matter T falls smoothly without being caught by the vertical rib 42D.

  The space S is sandwiched by the drying filter F1 and the drying filter F2 from the front-rear direction Y, laterally sandwiched by the right vertical wall 41BA and the left vertical wall 41BB, and closed from the lower side Z2 by the bottom wall 41C (see also FIG. 7). ). Therefore, the water and the foreign matter T on the upper surface portion 41CA of the bottom wall 41C always slides down along the slope of the upper surface portion 41CA toward the left side X2, and penetrates the escape hole 41BD of the first filter member 41 and the vertical partition plate 32L. Reach the hole 32N. That is, the destinations of the water and the foreign matter T on the upper surface portion 41CA of the bottom wall 41C are set in the escape holes 41BD. The water and foreign matter T that have reached the through holes 32N push the door 51 from the right side X1. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 14, the door 51 pivots from the closed position to the left side X2 to open the escape hole 41BD and the through hole 32N, so that the water and the foreign matter T on the upper surface portion 41CA escape. It goes out of the space S through the hole 41BD and the through hole 32N, falls in the lower region of the vertical space 32T of the duct 30, and reaches the outlet 20D. The foreign matter T and the water that have reached the outlet 20D fall into the outer tub 3 from the outlet 20D and accumulate. After the foreign matter T and water have passed through the escape hole 41BD and the through hole 32N, the door 51 returns to the closed position by its own weight or the urging force of the urging member (not shown).

  When a predetermined time has elapsed since the water injection valve 27 was opened, the control unit 24 closes the water injection valve 27 to stop the water supply to the water supply unit 50 and open the drain valve 12. The drain valve 12 may be always opened when the water injection valve 27 is open. When the drain valve 12 is opened, the water accumulated in the outer tub 3 carries the foreign matter T and flows into the drainage channel 5. That is, the foreign matter T is removed from the inside of the outer tub 3 when the outer tub 3 is drained. The foreign matter T flowing into the drainage channel 5 is captured by the drainage filter 6 (see FIG. 1). The foreign matter T captured by the drainage filter 6 is removed when the user removes the drainage filter 6 for maintenance at an appropriate timing.

  As described above, in the washer/dryer 1, the water supply unit 50 supplies water to the vertical surface portions FA of the plurality of drying filters F from the upper side Z1 at a predetermined timing. That is, since the washer/dryer 1 has an automatic maintenance function for the drying filter F, the user does not need to remove the drying filter F for maintenance. Therefore, the maintainability of the dry filter F can be improved. In particular, in the filter unit 25, not only the foreign matter T captured by the vertical surface portion F1A of the drying filter F1 closest to the outlet 20D but also the foreign material T captured by the vertical surface portion F2A of the drying filter F2 that overlaps the drying filter F1 across the space S is captured. The foreign matter T is also fed into the outer tub 3 by the water supply by the water supply unit 50. Therefore, since the user does not have to remove the foreign matter T from the space S by removing the dry filter F, the maintainability of the dry filter F can be further improved.

  Since the dry filter F does not have to be removable, the structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced as compared with the detachable dry filter. Further, if the user forgets the maintenance in the case of the detachable drying filter, the above-mentioned performance deterioration may occur, but in the washing/drying machine 1 having the automatic maintenance function, the performance deterioration due to forgetting the maintenance can be avoided. Moreover, since the disposition space required in the case of the detachable drying filter can be utilized for another purpose, it is possible to improve the performance by, for example, enlarging the heating unit 22 and the rotary blade 23.

  A plurality of water supply ports 42J of the water supply unit 50 are provided side by side along the vertical surface portion FA of the corresponding drying filter F, and each of the water supply ports 42J extends vertically in a straight line to form the water supply port 42J. Guide the flowing water so that it falls straight (see FIGS. 13 and 14). For this reason, the vertical surface portion FA of each drying filter F is flooded with water that drops straight from each of the plurality of water supply ports 42J arranged side by side from the upper side Z1, so that the foreign material T in a wide range in the left-right direction X in the vertical surface portion FA. Can be reliably peeled off. In particular, in the plurality of water supply ports 42J arranged in a line, since the adjacent water supply ports 42J are arranged apart from each other without being connected, it is easy to control the water jetting direction from the water supply port 42J.

  The flow passage area of the inflow port 43CA is set to be larger than the total flow passage area of all (24 in this embodiment) water supply ports 42J. In this case, the outflow amount of water from the water supply port 42J is smaller than the inflow amount of water from the inflow port 43CA to the flow path 43C. Therefore, the water flowing into the flow channel 43C from the inflow port 43CA can be spread all over the flow channel 43C by temporarily blocking the water in the flow channel 43C. Thereby, the water in the flow path 43C can be caused to flow out from each water supply port 42J at the same momentum and at the same timing. Therefore, the foreign matter T can be evenly and simultaneously peeled from the vertical surface portion FA of each drying filter F. Therefore, the maintainability of the dry filter F can be further improved.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the two drying filters F1 and the drying filters F2 are used, but three or more drying filters F may be arranged in an overlapping manner. In that case, the vertical surface portion FA of each of the drying filters F other than the drying filter F1 closest to the outlet 20D of the duct 30 is sprayed with water from the upper side Z1 to remove the foreign matter T, similarly to the above-described drying filter F2. Be done. In the plurality of drying filters F, the vertical surface portions FA are vertically arranged so as to face the outlet 20D side of the circulation path 20, that is, the upstream side, but these vertical surface portions FA may be arranged in parallel or in parallel. Need not be placed in. Moreover, each vertical surface part FA may be arrange|positioned along a vertical direction, and may be arrange|positioned inclining with respect to a vertical direction.

  In the washer/dryer 1, the drainage filter 6 may be omitted. In this case, the foreign matter T captured by each of the drying filters F and flown into the outer tub 3 is discharged to the outside of the machine through the drainage channel 5 (see FIG. 1) when the outer tub 3 is drained.

  As a part of the automatic maintenance of the dry filter F, the control unit 24 may circulate the air in the outer tub 3 by the blower unit 21 after stopping the water supply from the water supply unit 50 to the dry filter F. As a result, the dry filter F, which has been previously sprayed with water to remove the foreign matter T and is wet, is dried by the air flowing from the outer tub 3 into the circulation path 20 being bathed. The hot air may be circulated by operating the heating unit 22 as well, which accelerates the drying of the drying filter F. Since the user does not have to dry the dry filter F in this way, the maintainability of the dry filter F can be further improved.

  In the drum type washer/dryer 1 in the above-described embodiment, the washing tub 7 may be arranged such that the axis J is inclined in the horizontal direction H. The washer/dryer 1 may be a vertical washer/dryer in which the axis J extends vertically.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing/drying machine 2 Housing 3 Outer tank 7 Washing tank 20 Circulation path 20D Outlet 20E Return opening 21 Blower section 22 Heating section 41B Vertical wall 41BB Left vertical wall 41BD Escape opening 41C Bottom wall 41CA Upper surface section 42J Water inlet 43C Flow path 43CA Inlet 50 Water supply part F Drying filter FA Vertical surface part L Laundry S Space T Foreign matter Z1 Upper side Z2 Lower side

Claims (5)

Housing and
An outer tank supported by the housing and storing water,
A washing tub that is housed in the outer tub and that stores laundry,
A circulation path having an outlet and a return port connected to the outer tank,
An air blower that circulates the air in the outer tub by taking out the air from the outlet into the circulation path and returning the air from the return port into the outer tub,
A heating unit provided in the circulation path for heating the air in the circulation path;
A plurality of drying filters arranged on the outlet side of the heating unit in the circulation path, each vertical surface portion capturing foreign matter from the air from the extraction port to the return port in the circulation path. Having a plurality of drying filters arranged to overlap in the flow direction of air in the circulation path,
A washer/dryer, comprising: a water supply unit that supplies water to the vertical surface portions of the plurality of drying filters from above. Of the plurality of drying filters, a pair of vertical walls sandwiching a space between adjacent drying filters from the side,
Further comprising a bottom wall that is installed between the pair of vertical walls to close the space from below,
The water supply unit closes the space from above,
One of the pair of vertical walls has an escape hole facing the outside of the space,
The washer/dryer according to claim 1, wherein an upper surface portion of the bottom wall descends toward the escape hole and is connected to the escape hole.   The washing/drying according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the water supply unit has a plurality of water supply ports provided corresponding to the plurality of drying filters and has a water supply port facing the vertical surface portion of the corresponding drying filter from above. Machine. The water supply port is provided in plural so as to be laterally aligned along the vertical surface portion of the corresponding drying filter,
The washing/drying machine according to claim 3, wherein each of the water supply ports extends linearly in a vertical direction. The water supply unit is a flow path that has an inflow port and is connected to the water supply port, and has a flow path that causes water that flows in from the inflow port to flow out to the water supply port,
The washing/drying machine according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a flow passage area of the inflow port is larger than a total of flow passage areas of all the water supply ports.

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