JP2020168231A - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a washing and drying machine capable of achieving improvement of maintainability regarding a drying filter.SOLUTION: A washing and drying machine 1 includes: an outer tub 3 in which water is stored; and a circulation passage 20 including a take-out port 20D and a return port 20E connected to the outer tub 3. The washing and drying machine 1 includes: a blower part 21 for taking out air in the outer tub 3 into the circulation passage 20 from the take-out port 20D and returning it to the outer tub 3 from the return port 20E for circulating it; and a heating part 22 provided in the circulation passage 20 and for heating the air in the circulation passage 20. The washing and drying machine 1 includes a drying filter 42 arranged further at a take-out port 20D side than the heating part 22 in the circulation passage 20. The drying filter 42 includes a vertical surface part 42A for capturing foreign substances from the air going toward the return port 20E from the take-out port 20D in the circulation passage 20. The washing and drying machine 1 includes: a water supply part 50 for supplying water to the vertical surface part 42A from an upper side Z1; a wiper 62 capable of moving along the vertical surface part 42A; and an actuator for moving the wiper 62.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a washer / dryer.

The washer / dryer described in Patent Document 1 below includes an outer tub for storing water, a drum arranged in the outer tub for accommodating laundry, and a circulation air passage. The circulation air passage includes an air inlet and an air outlet connected to an outer tank, and a blower unit having a blower and a heater. When the blower operates, the air in the outer tank is sucked into the circulation air passage from the air suction port and circulates so as to flow into the outer tank from the air discharge port. The circulating air is heated by a heater in the circulating 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 drying filter can be removed from the blower unit for cleaning.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-244944

In the washing / drying machine described in Patent Document 1, since it is necessary for the user to periodically remove and clean the drying filter, maintenance of the drying filter is troublesome. In particular, in the current washing and drying machine, it is necessary to clean the drying filter every time the drying process is completed, so that the number of times the drying filter is removed increases. The greater the number of times the drying filter is removed, the greater the risk that the user will break the drying filter when removing or installing the drying filter.

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 maintainability of a drying filter.

The present invention includes a housing, an outer tub that is supported by the housing and stores water, a washing tub that is housed in the outer tub and stores laundry, an outlet connected to the outer tub, and an outlet. A circulation path having a return port, a blower portion for circulating air by taking out air in the outer tank from the outlet into the circulation path and returning it to the outer tank from the return port, and a ventilation section provided in the circulation path. A heating unit for heating the air in the circulation path and a drying filter arranged in the circulation path on the outlet side of the heating unit, and returning from the outlet in the circulation path. Includes a drying filter having a vertical surface portion that captures foreign matter from air toward the mouth, a water supply unit that supplies water to the vertical surface portion from above, a wiper that can move along the vertical surface portion, and an actuator that moves the wiper. , A washer / dryer.

Further, in the present invention, the washer / dryer further includes a water supply unit and a control unit that controls the actuator, and the control unit moves the wiper to the lower part of the vertical surface portion by the actuator as a maintenance process. It is characterized in that water is supplied to the vertical surface portion from above by the water supply portion.

Further, in the present invention, the washer / dryer is a duct that houses the drying filter as a part of the circulation path, and has a duct having a relief hole formed below the vertical surface portion and the outer tank. It is characterized by further including a drainage channel for draining the water inside and a flow path connecting the relief hole and the drainage channel.

According to the present invention, the air in the outer tub of the washer / dryer is taken out into the circulation path from the outlet and circulated so as to return to the outer tub from the return port. The circulating air is heated by the heating unit in the circulation path to become hot air, which dries the laundry in the washing tub. A drying filter provided in the circulation path on the outlet side of the heating portion captures foreign matter contained in the air from the outlet to the return port in the circulation path in the vertical surface portion for circulation. Therefore, it is possible to prevent foreign matter in the air from adhering to the heating portion.
When the water supply unit supplies water to the vertical surface portion of the drying filter from above, the foreign matter captured and attached to the vertical surface portion is peeled off from the vertical surface portion by the water flowing down the vertical surface portion. Foreign matter adhering to the vertical surface portion is also peeled off from the vertical surface portion by being wiped off by a wiper moving along the vertical surface portion. The foreign matter peeled off from the vertical surface portion, for example, falls in the circulation path, reaches the inside of the outer tank from the outlet, and is removed from the inside of the outer tank when the outer tank is drained. Since the washer / dryer has an automatic cleaning function of the drying filter with water or a wiper in this way, the user does not have to remove the drying filter for maintenance. Therefore, the maintainability of the drying filter can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, it is assumed that the wiper wipes the foreign matter from the vertical surface portion of the drying filter, so that the foreign matter adheres to the wiper. In that case, as a maintenance process, the wiper is placed on the lower portion of the vertical surface portion. Water is supplied to the vertical surface from above while moving to. As a result, foreign matter adhering to the wiper can be removed from the wiper by the water flowing down the vertical surface portion. Therefore, the user does not have to maintain not only the drying filter but also the wiper. Therefore, maintainability can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, the water supplied from the water supply unit and the foreign matter removed from the vertical surface portion of the drying filter are allowed to flow from the escape hole and the flow path of the duct to the drainage channel without passing through the outer tank. be able to. As a result, it is possible to prevent water and foreign matter from adhering to the laundry in the washing tub housed in the outer tub.

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional left side view of the washer / dryer according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outer tub and the drying unit arranged in the washing / drying machine as viewed from the rear side. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the outer tank and the drying unit. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a duct and a filter member constituting the drying unit. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the duct, the filter member, and the wiper mechanism. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the duct, the filter member, and the wiper mechanism.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional left side view of the washer / dryer 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The direction orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 1 is referred to as the horizontal direction X of the washer / dryer 1, the horizontal direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as the front-rear 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. Of the left-right directions X, the back side on the paper surface of FIG. 1 is referred to as the right side X1, and the front side on the paper surface of FIG. 1 is referred to as the left side X2. Of the front-rear direction Y, the left side in FIG. 1 is referred to as the front side Y1, and the right side in FIG. 1 is referred to as the rear side Y2. Of the vertical directions 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 passes from the outer tub 3 through the housing 2, the outer tub 3 arranged in the housing 2, the water supply channel 4 and the drainage channel 5 connected to the outer tub 3, and the drainage channel 5. It includes a drainage filter 6 that captures foreign matter from the discharged water. The washer / dryer 1 includes a washing tub 7 housed in the outer tub 3 and accommodating the laundry L, a motor 8 for rotating the washing tub 7, and a drying unit 9 for drying the laundry L in the washing tub 7. Including further.

The housing 2 is formed in a box shape. The front surface 2A of the housing 2 is, for example, a vertical surface. An opening 2B is formed in the front surface 2A to communicate the inside and outside of the housing 2. A door 10 for opening and closing the opening 2B is provided on the front surface 2A.

The outer tank 3 is elastically supported by the housing 2 via a hanging rod (not shown). The outer tank 3 includes a cylindrical circumferential wall 3A centered on an axis J extending in the front-rear direction Y along the horizontal direction H, and a disk-shaped back wall 3B in which the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A is closed from the rear side Y2. It has a ring-shaped front wall 3C connected to the front end 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 from the outer peripheral portion 3D to the rear side Y2. At the center of the central portion 3E, a through hole 3F that penetrates the central portion 3E in the front-rear direction Y along the axis J is formed. The front wall 3C includes an annular first portion 3G protruding from the front end edge of the circumferential wall 3A toward 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 a second portion. It has an annular third part 3I protruding from the front end edge of the second part 3H toward the axis J side. Inside the third part 3I, an entrance / exit 3J communicating from the front side Y1 is formed in a hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A. The entrance / exit 3J faces the opening 2B of the housing 2 from the rear side Y2 and communicates with the opening 2B.

The water supply channel 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 tank 3. At the time of water supply, water from the faucet is supplied from the water supply channel 4 into the outer tank 3. Water such as tap water or detergent water in which a detergent is dissolved in tap water is stored in the outer tank 3. A water supply valve 11 that opens and closes to start and stop water supply is provided in the middle of the water supply channel 4.

The drainage channel 5 is connected to the lower end of the outer tank 3, for example, the lower end of the first portion 3G of the front wall 3C. The water in the outer tank 3 is discharged to the outside of the machine from the drainage channel 5. A drain valve 12 that opens and closes to start and stop drainage is provided in the middle of the drainage channel 5.

The drainage filter 6 is provided in the drainage channel 5 at an upstream portion closer to the outer tank 3 than the drain 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 grasp the front end of the drainage filter 6 and attach / detach the drainage filter 6 to / from the housing 2. A known configuration can be used as the configuration of the drainage filter 6.

The washing tub 7 is one size 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 disk-shaped back wall 7B in which the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 7A is closed from the rear side Y2, and a circumferential wall. It has an annular wall 7C that projects from the front end edge of 7A 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 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. At the center of the back wall 7B of the washing tub 7, a support shaft 13 extending to the rear side Y2 along the axis J is provided. The rear end portion of the support shaft 13 is arranged on the rear side Y2 of the back wall 3B through the through hole 3F of the back wall 3B of the outer tank 3.

Inside the annular wall 7C, an entrance / exit 7E communicating with the front side Y1 is formed in a hollow portion of the circumferential wall 7A. The doorway 7E communicates with the doorway 3J of the outer tank 3 and the opening 2B of the housing 2 facing each other 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 open opening 2B, the doorway 3J, and the doorway 7E.

The motor 8 is arranged in the housing 2 on the rear side Y2 of the back wall 3B of the outer tank 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 along with the support shaft 13. A clutch mechanism (not shown) that transmits or shuts off the driving force of the motor 8 to the support shaft 13 may be provided between the motor 8 and the support shaft 13.

The drying unit 9 includes a circulation path 20, a blowing unit 21, and a heating unit 22. The circulation path 20 is a flow path arranged in the upper side Z1 of the outer tank 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 Z2, and a front portion 20C extending from the front end of the intermediate portion 20A to the lower Z2. An outlet 20D is formed at the front end of the lower end portion of the rear portion 20B. The outlet 20D is connected to a portion of the outer peripheral portion 3D of the back wall 3B of the outer tank 3 that is higher than the upper limit water level, and communicates with the outer tank 3 from the rear side 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 portion of the second portion 3H of the front wall 3C of the outer tank 3 and communicates with the outer tank 3 from the upper side Z1.

The blower portion 21 is a so-called blower, and includes a rotary blade 23 arranged in a region on the upstream side close to the outlet 20D in the circulation path 20, and a motor (not shown) for rotating the rotary blade 23. When the rotary blade 23 rotates, the air in the outer tub 3, that is, the air in the outer tub 3 and the washing tub 7 is taken out from the outlet 20D into the circulation path 20 as shown by the thick broken line arrow, and then. It is returned to the outer tank 3 from the return port 20E. As a result, the air in the outer tank 3 circulates in the outer tank 3 and the circulation path 20 in order.

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

The washer / dryer 1 further 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 step, a rinsing step, a dehydration step, and a drying step.

Prior to the start of the washing process, the detergent is put into the washing tub 7. In the washing 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 rotates the washing tub 7 by the motor 8. As a result, the laundry L in the washing tub 7 is beaten and washed. In tapping, tumbling is repeated in which the laundry L is lifted to some extent and then naturally falls to the surface of the water. Dirt is removed from the laundry L by the impact of tumbling and the detergent component contained in the detergent water collected in the washing tub 7. When the control unit 24 opens the drain valve 12 to drain water after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of 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 rotates the washing tub 7 by the motor 8. Then, since the above-mentioned tumbling is repeated, 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 step, the control unit 24 dehydrates and rotates the washing tub 7 with the drain valve 12 open. The laundry L in the washing tub 7 is dehydrated by the centrifugal force generated by the dehydration rotation of the washing tub 7. The water exuded from the laundry L due to dehydration is discharged to the outside of the machine through the drainage channel 5. The dehydration step may be carried out not only after the rinsing step but also after the washing step.

In the drying step, the control unit 24 generates hot air by the blower unit 21 and the heating unit 22 to circulate it between the washing tub 7 and the circulation path 20 and supply it to the laundry L in the washing tub 7. As a result, the laundry L is dried. In the washing operation, foreign matter such as lint is generated, and this foreign matter flows on the hot air during the drying process. If foreign matter adheres to and accumulates on the heat radiating section 22A of the heating section 22, the heating efficiency in the heating section 22 may decrease and the performance may deteriorate due to the deterioration of the air flow in the circulation path 20, so that the foreign matter is captured. There is a need to. Therefore, the drying unit 9 further includes a filter member 25, a branch path 26, and a water injection valve 27.

In the following, the filter member 25, the branch passage 26, and the water injection valve 27 will be described after the blower portion 21 and the circulation passage 20 have been described in detail. 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 portion 21 includes a hollow disk-shaped casing 29 containing the rotary blades 23. The casing 29 is a part of the circulation path 20 and is fixed to the housing 2. The internal 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 connecting 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 curved so as to descend to the lower left side along the upper left portion of the circumferential wall 3A of the outer tank 3, and a substantially semicircular plate-shaped curved wall 32A bulging to the front side Y1. It has a top wall 32B extending from the right end to the left side X2. A downstream space 32C narrowed in the vertical direction Z toward the right side X1 is partitioned between the curved wall 32A and the top wall 32B. The top wall 32B extends at an angle 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 connecting portion 32D projecting to the upper side Z1. The internal space of the upper connecting portion 32D is in a state of communicating with the downstream space 32C from the upper Z1. The internal space of the downstream space 32C and the upper connecting 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 erected between the edges of the curved wall 32A and the top wall 32B so as to block 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. Extends 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 portion of the side wall 32E is arranged on the rear side Y2 of the downstream space 32C, and the lower portion of the rear end portion of the side wall 32E is connected to the left ends of the first vertical wall 32F and the horizontal wall 32G, respectively.

The main body 32 has a second vertical wall 32H having an L-shape in rear view, which borders the rear end portion of the side wall 32E and the horizontal wall 32G. At the lower end of the second vertical wall 32H, one or more of the above-mentioned outlets 20D are formed. In this embodiment, one elongated hole-shaped outlet 20D 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 that protrudes to the front side Y1 while edging the outlet 20D. A through hole 3K having the same shape as the outlet 20D is formed in the outer peripheral portion 3D of the back wall 3B of the outer tank 3. The lower connecting portion 32I is inserted into the through hole 3K from the rear side Y2. As a result, the outlet 20D is connected to the back wall 3B and communicates with the outer tank 3.

The main body 32 has an outer wall 32J protruding to 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 rear view, and the two upper end portions of the outer wall 32J are connected to the left end and the right end of the rear end portion of the top wall 32B, respectively. A notch 32JA recessed to the front side Y1 is formed at the upper end 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 closer to the front on the outer peripheral surface of the outer wall 32J. The bolt B1 (see FIG. 2) is inserted into the insertion hole formed in each of the first locking portions 32JB, and is assembled into the screw hole 3L provided at the corresponding position on the back wall 3B of the outer tank 3. As a result, the entire duct 30 including the main body 32 is fixed to the outer tank 3. The main body 32 is formed with an intermediate space 32K partitioned by the rear end portion of the side wall 32E, the side 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 the 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 intermediate space 32K from the left side X2, extends from the rear end portion of the top wall 32B to the lower side Z2, and connects to the edge of the upper side Z1 at the outlet 20D. The horizontal partition plate 32M is arranged in Z2 below the intermediate space 32K and Z1 above the outlet 20D, and is erected between the intermediate portion of the vertical partition plate 32L and the right portion of the outer wall 32J. The horizontal partition plate 32M extends substantially parallel to the top wall 32B and the horizontal wall 32G while being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend toward the left side X2. A slit 32P that divides the horizontal partition plate 32M into two 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 is formed with an arrangement space 32R partitioned by a vertical partition plate 32L, a horizontal partition plate 32M, a top wall 32B, and a right portion of an outer wall 32J. The arrangement space 32R has a substantially rectangular shape in the 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 Z1 above the side wall 32G overlaps the entire area of the intermediate space 32K in the rear view. The filter member 25 is arranged in the arrangement space 32R. In the main body 32, an upstream space 32S is formed in the vertical partition plate 32L, which is partitioned by a portion Z2 below the horizontal partition plate 32M, a horizontal partition plate 32M, and a right portion and a lower portion of the outer wall 32J. The upstream space 32S is a space having a substantially semicircular shape that bulges to the lower side Z2 when viewed from the rear, is located in the lower side Z2 of the arrangement space 32R with the horizontal partition plate 32M in between, and is located on the rear side of the outlet 20D. Communicate from Y2.

The main body 32 is formed with a vertical space 32T that is sandwiched from both sides in the left-right direction X by the left portion of the outer wall 32J and the vertical partition plate 32L and extends elongated in the vertical direction Z. The vertical space 32T is closed from the front side Y1 by the left end portion of the second vertical wall 32H, and is closed from the upper side Z1 by the left end portion 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 cover 33 (see FIG. 2) has a contour that substantially coincides with the outer wall 32J and the top wall 32B of the main body 32 in the 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 thereof. Corresponding to the locking portion 33A, a plurality of second locking portions 32JC protruding from the outer peripheral surface are provided in a region closer to the rear on the outer peripheral surface of the outer wall 32J of the main body 32. A bolt (not shown) is inserted into an insertion hole formed in each locking portion 33A and assembled into a screw hole 32JD provided on the rear end surface of the corresponding 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 end of the vertical partition plate 32L comes into contact with the front end portion of the cover 33. Therefore, the arrangement space 32R and the vertical space 32T arranged so as to sandwich the vertical partition plate 32L are blocked from each other. Since there is a gap Q (see FIG. 4) between the rear end of the horizontal partition plate 32M and the front end of the cover 33, the arrangement space 32R and the upstream space 32S communicate with each other through this gap Q.

The connecting hose 31 is, for example, a rubber cylinder, and its internal space is opened to the upper Z1 and the lower 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 of the connecting hose 31 is fitted onto the upper connecting portion 32D of the duct 30. The upper end of the connection hose 31 is connected to the casing 29 of the blower portion 21. The internal space of the connecting hose 31 forms a part of the internal space of the rear portion 20B of the circulation path 20. The transmission of the vibration of the outer tub 3 to the blower portion 21 during the washing / drying operation is suppressed by the elastic deformation of the bellows portion 31A.

The filter member 25 is formed in a thin plate shape in the front-rear direction Y. The overall shape of the filter member 25 in the 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. It is formed in a shape, specifically a parallel quadrilateral shape.

The filter member 25 includes a frame 41, a drying filter 42, and a water supply cover 43. The frame 41 has a main body 41A having a substantially rectangular outline when viewed from the rear, a pair of left and right vertical walls 41B protruding from the main body 41A to the front side Y1, and a bottom wall 41C protruding from the lower end of the main body 41A to the front side Y1. For example, it is made of resin. The upper and lower edges of the main body 41A are inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend toward the left side X2. The right and left edges of the main body 41A extend substantially vertically along the vertical direction Z. An opening 41D that penetrates the main body 41A in the front-rear direction Y is provided in almost the entire area of the main body 41A in the rear view. The main body 41A has one or more vertical ribs 41E that traverse the opening 41D. In this embodiment, two vertical ribs 41E are provided side by side in the left-right direction X, and the openings 41D are evenly divided into three small openings 41DA arranged in the left-right direction X by these vertical ribs 41E. Each small opening 41DA is formed in a vertically long rectangular shape, strictly speaking, in a parallel quadrilateral shape having two sides parallel to the upper and lower edges of the main body 41A.

The bottom wall 41C of the main body 41A is erected between the lower ends of the left and right vertical walls 41B, and is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend toward the left side X2 along the lower edge of the main body 41A. At the center of the bottom wall 41C in the left-right direction X, a locking portion 41CA protruding from the bottom wall 41C to the lower side Z2 is provided. The locking portion 41CA is formed with an insertion hole 41CB that penetrates the locking portion 41CA in the front-rear direction Y.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the duct 30 and the filter member 25 as viewed from the rear side Y2. In FIG. 4, the cover 33 of the duct 30 is not shown (the same applies to FIGS. 5 and 6 described later). The frame 41 further has a top wall 41F protruding from the upper edge of the main body 41A to at least the rear side Y2. The top wall 41F has a rectangular plate shape that is long in the left-right direction X and is arranged so as to be inclined to the lower left along the upper edge of the main body portion 41A, and a rectangular plate shape that is shorter than the main body portion 41FA. It has an extension portion 41FB extending from the right end of the main body 41BA to the right side X1 along the horizontal direction H. A plurality of water supply ports 41G having the same shape and the same dimensions are formed in the main body 41FA. In this embodiment, 12 water supply ports 41G are provided. Each water supply port 41G extends vertically, that is, linearly in the vertical direction Z, and penetrates the main body portion 41FA. These water supply ports 41G are arranged in a line at equal intervals in the left-right direction X along the upper end of the rear surface 41AB of the main body 41A.

The drying filter 42 is in a state of covering the entire area of each small opening 41DA of the main body 41A. The drying filter 42 is provided separately in three according to each small opening 41DA, but in this embodiment, the three separated drying filters 42 are regarded as one drying filter 42. The drying filter 42 in this embodiment is a mesh sheet attached to the main body 41A, but may be a grid integrally formed with the main body 41A. Further, although the drying filter 42 is made of metal in this embodiment, it may be made of the same resin as the main body 41A. The rear surface portion extending along the top, bottom, left, and right of the drying filter 42 is referred to as a vertical surface portion 42A. The vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42 is arranged flush with the rear surface 41AB of the main body portion 41A. The plurality of water supply ports 41G provided on the top wall 41F of the frame 41 are arranged horizontally, that is, in the left-right direction X along the vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42, and face the vertical surface portion 42A from the upper side Z1.

The water supply cover 43 has a main body portion 43A that is long and hollow in the left-right direction X, and a hollow connecting portion 43B that is connected to the main body portion 43A from the right side X1. The internal space 43AA of the main body 43A and the internal space 43BA of the connecting portion 43B are in a state of communication with each other. The connecting portion 43B is provided with a pipe-shaped pipe portion 43C protruding from the connecting portion 43B. In FIG. 4, the pipe portion 43C projecting to the rear side Y2 is shown, but the pipe portion 43C may project to the right side X1 (see FIG. 5). The internal space 43CA of the pipe portion 43C communicates with the internal space 43BA of the connecting portion 43B. The internal space 43AA of the main body 43A, the internal space 43BA of the connecting portion 43B, and the internal space 43CA of the pipe portion 43C together form a flow path 43D in the water supply cover 43. The pipe portion 43C may be provided not in the connecting portion 43B of the water supply cover 43 but in the extending portion 41FB of the top wall 41F of the frame 41 (see FIG. 5).

The water supply cover 43 covers the top wall 41F of the frame 41 from the upper side Z1 and is combined with the frame 41. In the filter member 25 completed in this way, the internal space 43AA of the main body 43A of the water supply cover 43 is closed from the lower Z2 by the main body 41FA of the top wall 41F, and the connection portion 43B of the water supply cover 43 is closed. The internal space 43BA is in a state of being blocked from the lower Z2 by the extending portion 41FB of the top wall 41F. The flow path 43D in the water supply cover 43 is connected to all the water supply ports 41G formed on the top wall 41F from the upper side Z1. The top wall 41F and the water supply cover 43 that covers the top wall 41F from the upper side Z1 form a water supply unit 50.

As shown in FIG. 4, the filter member 25 is accommodated in the duct 30 by being fitted into the arrangement space 32R of the duct 30 from the rear side Y2. The bottom wall 41C of the frame 41 of the filter member 25 is placed on the horizontal partition plate 32M of the duct 30, so that the filter member 25 is positioned in the arrangement space 32R. The locking portion 41CA 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 41CB of the locking portion 41CA (see also FIG. 3). As a result, the filter member 25 in the arrangement space 32R is fixed to the duct 30. The locking portion 41CA may be provided at a position other than the bottom wall 41C on the frame 41.

In the frame 41 of the filter member 25 fixed to the duct 30, the bottom wall 41C, the right vertical wall 41B and the left vertical wall 41B come into contact with the horizontal partition plate 32M, the outer wall 32J and the vertical partition plate 32L of the duct 30, respectively. .. Further, the main body 43A of the water supply cover 43 of the filter member 25 comes into contact with the top wall 32B of the duct 30. As a result, the filter member 25 occupies almost the entire area of the arrangement space 32R of the duct 30, and is located in the duct 30 between the downstream space 32C and the intermediate space 32K and the upstream space 32S. Looking at the entire circulation path 20, the drying filter 42 in the filter member 25 is arranged in the circulation path 20 on the outlet 20D side of the heating unit 22 (see FIG. 1). The extension portion 41FB of the top wall 41F of the frame 41 and the connection portion 43B of the water supply cover 43 are arranged on the right side X1 of the arrangement space 32R through the notch 32JA (see FIG. 3) of the outer wall 32J.

The branch passage 26 branches from the upstream portion closer to the faucet than the water supply valve 11 in the water supply passage 4, and is connected to the pipe portion 43C 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 43C or to stop the supply. The opening and closing of the water injection valve 27 is controlled by the control unit 24 (see FIG. 1). The water injection valve 27 is included in the water supply unit 50 described above.

In the drying step, hot air is generated and circulated by the blowing unit 21 and the heating unit 22 as described above. This hot air goes from the outlet 20D to the return port 20E in the circulation path 20, and goes up to the blower portion 21 at the rear portion 20B on the way (see the thick broken line arrow in FIG. 1). In the duct 30 constituting the rear portion 20B, the hot air rises from the outlet 20D through the upstream space 32S and passes through the drying filter 42 of the filter member 25 to the front side Y1. Then, this hot air reaches the downstream space 32C via the intermediate space 32K, rises inside the connecting hose 31, and flows into the casing 29 of the blower portion 21 (see also FIG. 2).

The vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42 is arranged so as to face the upstream side of the circulation path 20, and captures foreign matter T such as lint from the hot air in the circulation path 20. As the drying process progresses, a large amount of foreign matter T is captured and accumulated on the vertical surface portion 42A. As a result, it is possible to prevent foreign matter T from adhering to the heating portion 22 provided in the circulation path 20 on the downstream side of the outlet 20D from the drying filter 42.

The control unit 24 opens the water injection valve 27 after the drying step, 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 path 26 in the water supply channel 4. In that case, the control unit 24 provides both the water supply valve 11 and the water injection valve 27. open. The water from the faucet flows into the flow path 43D from the pipe portion 43C of the water supply cover 43 via the water supply channel 4 and the branch path 26.

The water that has flowed into the flow path 43D flows out from the flow path 43D to each water supply port 41G and is injected downward from each water supply port 41G. As shown by the thick broken line arrow, the water jetted from each water supply port 41G is poured on the upper end of the vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42 from the upper side Z1 and flows down along the vertical surface portion 42A. The foreign matter T adhering to the vertical surface portion 42A is peeled off from the vertical surface portion 42A by the water flowing down the vertical surface portion 42A, falls as it is into the upstream space 32S of the duct 30, and reaches the outlet 20D. Since the vertical rib 41E extending in the direction in which water or the foreign matter T falls is provided around the drying filter 42, the foreign matter T falls smoothly without being caught by the vertical rib 41E. A guide portion 30A inclined toward the outlet 20D is provided on the outer wall 32J or the like that partitions the upstream space 32S in the duct 30. In the duct 30, the guide portion 30A and the lower end portion of the vertical partition plate 32L of the main body 32 guide the foreign matter T and water to the outlet 20D. The foreign matter T that has reached the outlet 20D falls from the outlet 20D into the outer tank 3 and collects in the outer tank 3. The water sprayed on the vertical surface portion 42A from each water supply port 41G also falls from the duct 30 into the outer tank 3 and collects in the outer tank 3 in the same manner as the foreign matter T.

The vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42 is directly exposed in the upstream space 32S constituting the circulation path 20. Therefore, when water is supplied from the water supply port 41G to the vertical surface portion 42A, the foreign matter T adhering to the vertical surface portion 42A quickly drops in the circulation path 20 after being peeled off from the vertical surface portion 42A, and enters the outer tank 3 from the outlet 20D. To reach.

When a predetermined time has elapsed from the opening of the water injection valve 27, the control unit 24 stops the water supply to the water supply unit 50 by closing the water injection valve 27, and opens the drain valve 12. The drain valve 12 may always be opened while the water injection valve 27 is open. When the drain valve 12 is opened, the water collected in the outer tank 3 carries the foreign matter T and flows into the drainage channel 5. That is, the foreign matter T is removed from the outer tank 3 when the outer tank 3 is drained. The foreign matter T that has flowed 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 and maintains the drainage filter 6 at an appropriate timing.

As described above, in the washer / dryer 1, the water supply unit 50 supplies water to the vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42 from the upper side Z1 at a predetermined timing. That is, the washer / dryer 1 has an automatic cleaning function of the drying filter 42 with water. Further, the washer / dryer 1 also has an automatic cleaning function of the drying filter 42 by the wiper mechanism 60 described below. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the duct 30, the filter member 25, and the wiper mechanism 60 as viewed from the rear right side. The wiper mechanism 60 includes a stay 61 fixed to the duct 30, a wiper 62 attached to the stay 61, and an actuator 63.

The stay 61 has a plate shape, is fixed to, for example, the right portion of the outer wall 32J in the main body 32 of the duct 30, and is arranged so as to project from the main body 32 to the right side X1. The left end portion of the stay 61 is arranged so as to face the lower end portion of the right end portion of the vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42 from the rear side Y2.

The wiper 62 is a linear rod, and is arranged between the vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42 and the left end portion of the stay 61 in the front-rear direction Y. A brush 64 is provided on the front surface of the wiper 62 over almost the entire area in the longitudinal direction thereof. The brush 64 is composed of a large number of hairs 64A planted on the wiper 62. Instead of the brush 64, a blade (not shown) made of rubber or the like may be provided on the wiper 62. The wiper 62 shown in FIG. 5 is in a vertically elongated standby position. The wiper 62 in the standby position is in a state of overlapping the right end portion of the vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42 in the rear view, and the brush 64 is in a state of being in contact with the right end portion of the vertical surface portion 42A from the rear side Y2. The dimension of the brush 64 in the vertical direction Z at this time is slightly smaller than the dimension of the vertical surface portion 42A in the vertical direction Z. The wiper 62 in the standby position may be arranged on the right side X1 of the right end portion of the vertical surface portion 42A so as not to overlap the vertical surface portion 42A in the rear view. In any case, the wiper 62 in the standby position is in a position that does not interfere with the capture of the foreign matter T by the vertical surface portion 42A. The root portion forming the lower end portion of the wiper 62 in the standby position is connected to the stay 61 via a rotation shaft 65 extending in the front-rear direction Y and penetrating the left end portion of the stay 61. The wiper 62 is rotatable around the rotation shaft 65 together with the rotation shaft 65.

An example of the actuator 63 is an electric motor. The operation of the actuator 63 is controlled by the control unit 24 (see FIG. 1). The actuator 63 is arranged on the right side X1 of the main body 32 of the duct 30, that is, outside the duct 30, and is fixed to the right end of the stay 61 from the front side Y1. The actuator 63 has an output shaft 66 penetrating the right end of the stay 61. The wiper mechanism 60 includes an input gear 67 fixed to the rear end of the rotation shaft 65 of the wiper 62, and an output gear 68 fixed to the rear end of the output shaft 66. The input gear 67 and the output gear 68 are spur gears and may be directly meshed with each other, or may be connected via one or more relay gears 69 as shown in FIG. When the actuator 63 is activated, the output shaft 66 rotates with the output gear 68, and the rotation is transmitted to the input gear 67 via the relay gear 69, so that the input gear 67 has the wiper 62 and the rotation shaft 65. Along with, it rotates around the rotation shaft 65.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the main body 32 of the duct 30, the filter member 25, and the wiper mechanism 60. The wiper 62 is rotatable between the standby position indicated by the solid line and the wiping position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line. The wiping position is a position when the wiper 62 is rotated counterclockwise, for example, 120 degrees from the standby position when viewed from the rear. The wiper 62 at the wiping position overlaps the lower part of the vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42 in the rear view. The wiper 62 at the wiping position may be arranged in Z2 below the vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42. When the wiper 62 rotates between the standby position and the wiping position by receiving the driving force of the actuator 63, the wiper 62 is along the vertical surface portion 42A so as to wipe almost the entire vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42 with the brush 64. Moving. In the state where the duct 30 is completed by combining the main body 32 and the cover 33, at least the wiper 62 is arranged in the arrangement space 32R in the duct 30 in the wiper mechanism 60.

The control unit 24 reciprocates the wiper 62 between the standby position and the wiping position several times during the drying process. Therefore, the foreign matter T captured by the drying filter 42 and accumulated on the vertical surface portion 42A during the drying step is also peeled off from the vertical surface portion 42A by being wiped off by the wiper 62 that reciprocates along the vertical surface portion 42A. As described above, the foreign matter T peeled off from the vertical surface portion 42A falls in the circulation path 20 and reaches the outer tank 3 from the outlet 20D, and is removed from the outer tank 3 when the outer tank 3 is drained. The bristles 64A of the brush 64 of the wiper 62 are set to be thicker than the eyes of the drying filter 42 so that the bristles 64A of the brush 64 do not get caught in the eyes of the drying filter 42.

When the drying step is completed, as described above, the control unit 24 supplies water to the vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42 from the upper side Z1 by the water supply unit 50. This water supply is continued for, for example, one minute. The foreign matter T adhering to the vertical surface portion 42A is peeled off from the vertical surface portion 42A by this water supply.

It is assumed that the wiper 62 reciprocates during the drying process to wipe the foreign matter T from the vertical surface portion 42A, so that the foreign matter T adheres to the wiper 62, that is, the wiper 62 itself becomes dirty. Therefore, as a maintenance process for the wiper 62, the control unit 24 moves the wiper 62 to the wiping position by the actuator 63 while the water supply unit 50 continues to supply water to the vertical surface portion 42A after the completion of the drying process, and wipes the wiper 62. Rest at the picking position. By rotating the wiper 62 here, the foreign matter T remaining on the vertical surface portion 42A is wiped off. Then, the foreign matter T adhering to the wiper 62 can be removed from the wiper 62 by the force of the water flowing down the vertical surface portion 42A (see the arrow of the thick two-dot chain line in FIG. 6) by the water supply by the water supply unit 50. Therefore, the user does not have to maintain not only the drying filter 42 but also the wiper 62. Therefore, maintainability can be improved. When the one-minute water supply by the water supply unit 50 is completed, the control unit 24 rotates the wiper 62 to return it to the standby position. As a result, the maintenance process is completed. It takes about 6 seconds for the wiper 62 to rotate from the standby position to the wiping position and return to the standby position.

As described above, since the washer / dryer 1 has an automatic cleaning function of the drying filter 42 with water or the wiper 62, the user does not have to remove the drying filter 42 for maintenance. Therefore, the maintainability of the drying filter 42 can be improved. Since the drying filter 42 does not have to be removable, the structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced as compared with the removable drying filter. Further, in the case of the removable drying filter, if the user forgets the maintenance, the above-mentioned performance deterioration may occur, but in the washer / dryer 1 having the automatic cleaning function, the performance deterioration due to the maintenance forgetting can be avoided. Further, since the arrangement space required in the case of the removable drying filter can be utilized for another purpose, for example, the heating unit 22 and the rotary blade 23 can be enlarged to improve the performance.

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, as the actuator 63 for moving the wiper 62, not only the electric motor described above but also a solenoid or the like may be used. Further, as a mechanism for transmitting the driving force generated by the actuator 63 to the wiper 62, a configuration other than the gear transmission mechanism using the input gear 67, the output gear 68, and the relay gear 69 described above can be mentioned. As an example of the configuration, pulleys are attached to each of the rotation shaft 65 of the wiper 62 and the output shaft 66 of the actuator 63, and these pulleys are connected by wires. This wire is wound around the pulley of the rotating shaft 65 of the wiper 62, for example, about half a circumference, and then pulled out and connected to an urging member such as a spring. The driving force generated by the actuator 63 is transmitted to the wiper 62 via the wire, so that the wiper 62 rotates from the standby position to the wiping position. At this time, the wiper 62 rotates from the wiping position to the standby position due to the urging force that the stretched urging member tries to contract.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the wiper 62 is rotatable between the standby position and the wiping position, but is dried by, for example, linearly moving in the vertical direction Z or the horizontal direction X while maintaining the same posture. Foreign matter T on the vertical surface portion 42A of the filter 42 may be wiped off. When the wiper 62 moves linearly in the vertical direction Z, the wiper 62 takes a horizontally long posture, the standby position is set to the upper end side of the vertical surface portion 42A, and the wiping position is set to the lower end side of the vertical surface portion 42A. Set. When the wiper 62 moves linearly in the left-right direction X, the wiper 62 takes a vertically long posture, the standby position is set to one of the left end side and the right end side of the vertical surface portion 42A, and the wiping position is the vertical surface portion. It is set on the left end side and the right end side of 42A.

In the above-described embodiment, the vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42 is vertically arranged so as to face the outlet 20D side of the circulation path 20, that is, the upstream side, but the vertical surface portion 42A may be arranged along the vertical direction. Alternatively, the arrangement may be inclined with respect to the vertical direction.

In the above-described embodiment, the foreign matter T removed from the vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42 and the water exposed to the vertical surface portion 42A are sent from the outlet 20D of the circulation path 20 to the drainage channel 5 via the outer tank 3. Head. Instead of this, in the outer wall 32J of the main body 32 of the duct 30, a relief hole 32U (see FIG. 5) is provided at the lower end of Z2 below the vertical surface portion 42A, and in the drainage channel 5, for example, on the upstream side of the drainage filter 6. The portion and the relief hole 32U may be connected by the flow path 100. As a result, foreign matter T and water in the duct 30 can reach the drainage channel 5 from the relief hole 32U and the flow path 100 without passing through the outer tank 3. As a result, it is possible to prevent foreign matter T and water from adhering to the laundry L in the washing tub 7.

In the washer / dryer 1, the drainage filter 6 may be omitted. In this case, the foreign matter T captured by each drying filter 42 and flowed into the outer tank 3 is discharged to the outside of the machine through the drainage channel 5 (see FIG. 1) when the outer tank 3 is drained.

As part of the maintenance process described above, the control unit 24 may circulate the air in the outer tank 3 by the blower unit 21 after stopping the water supply from the water supply unit 50 to the drying filter 42. As a result, the drying filter 42, which has been wet with water for removing the foreign matter T, is dried by being exposed to the air flowing from the outer tank 3 into the circulation path 20. By operating the heating unit 22, hot air may circulate, which promotes the drying of the drying filter 42. Since the user does not have to dry the drying filter 42 in this way, the maintainability of the drying filter 42 can be further improved.

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

1 Washer / dryer 2 Housing 3 Outer tank 5 Drainage channel 7 Washing tank 20 Circulation path 20D Outlet 20E Return port 21 Blower 22 Heating section 24 Control section 30 Duct 32U Relief hole 42 Drying filter 42A Vertical surface section 50 Water supply section 62 Wiper 63 Actuator 100 Flow path L Laundry T Foreign matter Z1 Upper side Z2 Lower side

Claims (3)

With the housing
An outer tank that is supported by the housing and stores water,
A washing tub housed in the outer tub and storing laundry,
A circulation path having an outlet and a return port connected to the outer tank,
A blower unit that circulates the air in the outer tank by taking it out from the outlet into the circulation path and returning it to the outer tank from the return port.
A heating unit provided in the circulation path to heat the air in the circulation path,
A drying filter arranged in the circulation path on the outlet side of the heating portion and having a vertical surface portion that captures foreign matter from the air from the outlet to the return port in the circulation path. When,
A water supply unit that supplies water to the vertical surface portion from above,
A wiper that can move along the vertical surface and
A washer / dryer that includes an actuator that moves the wiper. The water supply unit and the control unit that controls the actuator are further included.
The washer / dryer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit moves the wiper to the lower part of the vertical surface portion by the actuator and supplies water to the vertical surface portion from above by the water supply unit as a maintenance process. A duct that accommodates the drying filter as a part of the circulation path and has a relief hole formed below the vertical surface portion.
A drainage channel for draining the water in the outer tank and
The washer / dryer according to claim 2, further comprising a flow path connecting the relief hole and the drainage channel.

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