JP2022068944A - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a washing and drying machine capable of performing drying operation that outputs high-speed wind with a maximum current value that does not demagnetize and suppresses insufficient drying or overdrying.SOLUTION: A washing and drying machine of the present invention comprises: a rotary tank 3 in which laundry is stored; an air blowing fan that sends drying air into the rotary tank 3; an air blowing fan motor 11 that drives the air blowing fan; a current detection unit that detects current flowing in the air blowing fan motor 11; and a control unit 100 that controls the air blowing fan motor 11. The control unit 100 is configured to rotate the air blowing fan motor 11 by fixing the speed at the point in time when a predetermined threshold value is exceeded if the current detected by the current detection unit is the threshold value or higher.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a washer / dryer for washing laundry.

In the drying process, there is a washer / dryer equipped with a blower fan that blows air into the washing tub, a blower blower fan motor that drives the blower fan, and a control device that controls the blower blower fan motor.

Patent Document 1 is known as a washer / dryer provided with such a control device. Patent Document 1 states that "the air heated by the heater by operating the blower fan blows warm air into the washing tub from the hot air outlet, warms the clothes and evaporates the moisture, and the air becomes hot and humid. It is sucked into the drying duct, cooled and dehumidified by the cooling water flowing down the dehumidifying mechanism, becomes dry low-temperature air, heated again by the heater, and dried by circulating so as to be blown into the washing tub. " A hot air outlet is provided on the upper surface of the washing tub to blow out warm air, and high-speed hot air with a product of air volume and air speed of 1.6 (N) or more is blown onto the clothes in the washing tub. It has a structure that "stretches wrinkles."

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2020-10863

When high-speed warm air is blown onto clothes in the washing tub as in Patent Document 1, the rotation speed of the blower fan motor gradually increases, and the current flowing through the blower fan motor also rises.

In this way, if the number of revolutions is gradually increased in the drying step, the temperature characteristics in the washing tub may change, resulting in insufficient drying or overdrying, and the operation may be terminated.

An object of the present invention is to provide a washing / drying machine capable of a drying operation that outputs high-speed air at a maximum current value that does not demagnetize and suppresses insufficient drying or overdrying.

In order to achieve the above object, the washer-dryer of the present invention includes an inner tub in which laundry is housed, a blower fan for sending dry air into the inner tub, and a blower fan motor for driving the blower fan. The control unit has a current detection unit that detects the current flowing through the blower fan motor and a control unit that controls the blower fan motor. The control unit has a predetermined current detected by the current detection unit. If it is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the blower fan motor is rotated by fixing it at the rotation speed at the time when the threshold value is exceeded.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a washing / drying machine capable of a drying operation that outputs high-speed air with a maximum current value that does not demagnetize and suppresses insufficient drying or overdrying.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the washer-dryer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the configuration example of the control device in a washing / drying machine. It is a figure which shows the control flow of the drying operation of a control device. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the rotation speed and the current value of a fan motor for blowing air at the time of a dry operation.

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the washer-dryer S, which is a vertical washer-dryer, will be described as an example. The blower 22 can be applied to a dryer and other equipment.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a washer / dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a right vertical sectional view showing a washer / dryer S on which a blower 22 is mounted. The washer / dryer S is right and left when viewed from the user side (front side).

As shown in FIG. 1, the washer / dryer S drives an outer frame 1 of a housing, an outer tub 2 for storing washing water, a rotary tub (inner tub, washing tub) 3 for accommodating laundry, and a rotary tub. It is provided with a drive motor 10 and a blower 22 which are traction motors. The blower 22 of this embodiment has a role of producing dry air in the drying step of the washer / dryer S.

The outer tank 2 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin, and is vibration-proof supported in the center of the outer frame 1 and housed in the outer frame 1.

The rotary tub 3 is a washing / dehydrating tub for accommodating laundry to be washed, dehydrated, and dried. The rotary tank 3 is provided in the center of the inside of the outer tank 2. Further, the rotary tank 3 has a rotary shaft in the vertical direction and is rotatably supported in the outer tank 2.

At the bottom of the rotary tank 3, a stirring blade 4 for stirring and rinsing the washing water is rotatably provided. The stirring blade 4 is operated to repeat forward rotation / reverse rotation during the washing operation and the drying operation. Further, the stirring blade 4 rotates at high speed together with the laundry in the rotary tub 3 together with the rotary tub 3 during the dehydration operation, and dehydrates the water contained in the laundry by centrifugal force.

The drive motor 10 is provided in the outer frame 1 and rotationally drives the stirring blade 4 and the rotary tank 3. As the drive motor 10, for example, a DC brushless motor is used. The DC brushless motor is controlled by vector control. Although the drive motor 10 directly drives the stirring blade 4 and the rotary tank 3, it may be driven by using a reduction mechanism such as a belt.

An outer lid 5 that can be opened and closed is provided on the upper portion of the outer frame 1. The rear side of the outer lid 5 is axially supported by a top cover 6 provided on the upper part of the outer frame 1. Below the outer lid 5 on the upper part of the outer tank 2, an inner lid 34 is provided so as to be openable and closable around the rear axis. Laundry is taken in and out of the rotary tub 3 by opening the outer lid 5 and the inner lid 34.

Inside the outer frame 1, a water supply unit 7 is provided on the rear side of the outer lid 5 of the top cover 6. The water supply unit 7 has a water supply box (not shown) having a plurality of water channels inside. The water supply unit 7 pours tap water or bath water supplied from the water supply hose connection port 8 protruding upward from the top cover 6 into the outer tank 2. Further, on the front side of the top cover 6, a detergent and finishing agent charging device 35 is provided. The detergent and finishing agent are poured between the outer tank 2 and the rotary tank 3 by the charging hose 36.

Further, the washer / dryer S is provided with a drying mechanism 9 for drying the laundry. The drying mechanism 9 circulates and dehumidifies the drying air for drying the laundry in the rotary tub 3. The drying mechanism 9 is mostly occupied by the drying air circulation path. The drying air circulation passage includes a bottom circulation passage 20 communicating with the bottom of the outer tank 2 and a dehumidifying vertical passage 21 extending upward from the bottom circulation passage 20.

The suction side of the lower part of the blower 22 is connected to the upper end of the dehumidifying vertical passage 21. A drying filter 45 is arranged between the blower 22 and the dehumidifying vertical passage 21 to prevent foreign matter from flowing into the blower 22. The discharge side at the front of the blower 22 is connected to and communicates with the return connection circulation path 25. The blower 22 includes a blower fan (blower fan) and a blower fan motor 11 (blower blower fan motor) for driving the fan.

The return connection circulation path 25 communicates with the upper part of the outer tank 2 via a part of the upper bellows hose 23. The bottom circulation path 20 communicates with the bottom of the outer tank 2 via a part of the lower bellows hose 26.

The lower bellows hose 26 is connected to the bottom drop portion 31 of the outer tank 2. The bottom drop portion 31 communicates with the washing water drainage channel 42 for drainage and the washing water circulation channel 43 for circulation via the lower communication pipe 41. The washing water drainage channel 42 is provided with a normally closed type drain valve 44 that is opened only at the time of drainage.

The drain valve 44 is closed during the washing operation and the drying operation. The drain valve 44 opens at the time of draining the washing water, and drains the washing water and the rinsing water stored in the outer tub 2 from the washing water drainage channel 42 to the outside (outside the machine) of the washing / drying machine S. The washing water circulation water channel 43 is provided with a foreign matter removing trap 32 for removing lint and the like.

The washing water circulation water channel 43 is connected to the washing water circulation water vertical water channel 46. The washing water circulating water vertical water channel 46 rises along the outer surface of the outer tub 2 and extends to the upper side of the rotary tub 3 and communicates with the washing thread waste removing device 33 provided on the upper side of the rotary tub 3.

The washing water and rinsing water collected in the outer tub 2 flow through the washing water circulating water vertical water channel 46 and are sprayed into the rotary tub 3 from the washing thread waste removing device 33 and poured. Since washing and rinsing are performed while continuing such spraying and water injection, washing and rinsing are performed with a small amount of water.

The washer / dryer S includes a water level sensor 47 that detects the water level of the washing water and the rinsing water accumulated in the outer tub 2. An air trap 50 is provided near the bottom of the outer tank 2. An air tube 49 is connected to the air trap 50 so as to communicate with the air trap 50. A water level sensor 47 is communicated and connected to the upper end of the air tube 49.

The washer / dryer S of FIG. 1 is provided with a control device 100 which is a control unit, and an example of this is shown in FIG. The control device 100 includes a microcomputer CPU, power modules PM1 and PM2, and a power module cooling fan 103 as main components, and the power modules PM1 and PM2 convert a power source into a direct current having an appropriate value, respectively. Power is supplied to the drive motor (main motor) 10 and the blower fan motor (blower motor) 11. Further, the power supply is supplied to the motor of the power module cooling fan 103.

The microcomputer CPU takes in signals of various places and gives control signals to each place in order to appropriately control the work processing process in the washer / dryer S. FIG. 2 describes the relationship between signal transmission / reception between the power modules PM1 and PM2 and the power module cooling fan 103.

According to FIG. 2, the microcomputer CPU internally generates a command such as a rotation speed command value, converts the generated rotation speed command value into a current command value, and gives a control signal Sg1 to the power module PM1. A (command value) is given, a control signal Sg3 (command value) is given to the power module PM2, and a control signal Sg2 (command value) is given to the power module cooling fan 103. Further, the microcomputer CPU has taken in the temperature signals Sg4 and Sg5 detected by the thermistors 111 and 112 installed in the power modules PM1 and PM2.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the control flow of the blower fan motor 11 during the drying process in the control device 100. The flow from START to END in FIG. 3 is called an update flow.

In the control device 100, in step S1, the rotation speed of the blower fan motor 11 (hereinafter referred to as the fan rotation speed) is detected by the current detection unit (shunt resistance or the like) of the current flowing through the blower fan motor 11. It is determined whether or not the fan rotation speed estimated by the rotation speed estimation unit that estimates the rotation speed based on the detected current is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value (for example, 23000 [rpm]). When the fan rotation speed is equal to or higher than the threshold value (Y), the process proceeds to step S2. When the fan rotation speed is smaller than the threshold value (N), the process ends. The rotation speed estimation unit may be detected by a sensor that detects the rotation speed. Further, here, the threshold value is set to the minimum number of revolutions at which a satisfactory dry finish is obtained.

Next, the process proceeds to step S2, but only at the beginning, step S2 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S3. Hereinafter, the second and subsequent control flows in which the command value of the rotation speed is updated will be described.

The command value (voltage command) of the fan rotation speed is sequentially output from the microcomputer CPU and updated.

In step S2, if a predetermined time, for example, 5 seconds has elapsed from the update of the command value of the fan rotation speed in the first update flow, and the rotation speed update has not stopped (before the update is completed), (Y). ), Move to step S3. If this period is not met (N), it ends.

In step S3, the current flowing through the blower fan motor 11 (hereinafter referred to as fan current) is detected by the current detection unit for a predetermined period, and the fan current is set to a predetermined threshold value (for example, 7 [A]). Determine if it is above. It should be noted that this threshold value is a value provided in consideration of the maximum current value that does not demagnetize. If it exceeds this threshold value (in the case of Y), the update of the fan rotation speed is stopped, the value is fixed (step S4), and the process proceeds to step S4. If it is smaller than the threshold value (in the case of N), the microcomputer CPU outputs a value obtained by adding a predetermined value, for example, 200 [rpm], to the command value of the fan rotation speed as the command value of the rotation speed (in the case of N). Step S5).

Next, in step S6, it is determined whether or not the command value of the fan rotation speed is larger than a predetermined upper limit value (for example, 25800 [rpm]). In addition, as this upper limit value, the value of the rotation speed which improves the dry finish is set. If it is larger than this upper limit, the microcomputer CPU limits the command value of the fan rotation speed to this upper limit (step S7), and then stops updating the fan rotation speed (step S8). .. That is, the fan rotation speed is operated at a rotation speed fixed at the upper limit value.

Here, FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the rotation speed and the current value of the blower fan motor 11 during the drying operation when the control flow of FIG. 3 is carried out.

As shown in FIG. 4A, when the fan is driven by a normal voltage and is in a normal temperature state, that is, when the load of the blower fan is small from the start of the drying operation, the fan current does not exceed a predetermined threshold value, so that the fan rotation speed is high. , It is fixed at a predetermined upper limit and operated at the fixed upper limit. Further, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), when the fan is driven by a normal voltage and is in a low temperature state, that is, when the drying operation is started and the load of the blower fan is large, the fan current exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and therefore, the time when the fan current is exceeded. It is fixed at the fan rotation speed of, and is operated at the fixed fan rotation speed. This is the same even when the fan is driven at a low voltage and is in a normal temperature state, that is, when the fan current is large from the start of the drying operation.

In this way, since the current flowing through the blower fan motor 11 is directly detected, it can be controlled regardless of the body variation such as the load and pressure loss of the blower fan, and when the detected fan current exceeds the threshold value, it can be controlled. By fixing and controlling the fan rotation speed at the time when it exceeds the limit, it is possible to operate at the maximum rotation speed regardless of the power supply voltage and the temperature inside the inner tank. Since the rotation speed is always constant, drying detection by the thermistor temperature difference (difference from the temperature in the inner tank after rising with respect to the temperature in the inner tank at the start of drying operation) can be operated correctly, and drying is performed at the correct timing. The operation can be finished.

3 Rotary tank 10 Drive motor 11 Blower fan motor 100 Control device S Washer / dryer CPU Microcomputer PM1, PM2 Power module

Claims (3)

The inner tub where the laundry is stored and
A blower fan that sends dry air into the inner tank,
The blower fan motor that drives the blower fan,
A current detector that detects the current flowing through the blower fan motor,
It has a control unit that controls the blower fan motor, and has.
When the current detected by the current detection unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit is fixed at the rotation speed at the time when the threshold value is exceeded to rotate the blower fan motor. Dryer. The washer / dryer according to claim 1.
When the current detected by the current detection unit is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit raises the rotation speed of the blower fan motor to a predetermined upper limit value, and when the upper limit value is reached, the upper limit value is reached. A washer / dryer characterized in that the fan motor for blowing is rotated by fixing it at a value. The washer / dryer according to claim 2.
The control unit is a washer / dryer, characterized in that when the current detected by the current detection unit is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, a predetermined value is added to the rotation speed command value.

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