JP2023136778A - Drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide technique enabling a filter member to be easily cleaned.SOLUTION: A drying machine comprises a housing, a washing tub disposed in the housing, an air channel which is disposed in the housing and in which dry air discharged from the washing tub flows, and a filter member which is disposed in the air channel and captures lint included in the dry air flowing in the air channel. An opening is disposed in the housing. The filter member is constituted to be switchable between a first state and a second state, wherein in the first state, the filter member is disposed in the air channel and captures the lint, and in the second state, the filter member is exposed to the opening and extends along the housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The technology disclosed herein relates to a dryer.

The washer/dryer disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes: a housing, a washing tub disposed within the housing, an air path disposed within the housing through which drying air discharged from the washing tub flows; The filter member is disposed within the air passage and captures lint contained in the drying air flowing within the air passage.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-102346

With the configuration of Patent Document 1, cleaning the filter member is troublesome. Therefore, the present specification provides a technique that allows the filter member to be easily cleaned.

The dryer disclosed in this specification includes: a casing, a washing tub disposed within the casing, an air path disposed within the casing through which drying air discharged from the washing tub flows; A filter member is provided that is disposed within the air passage and captures lint contained in the drying air flowing within the air passage. The housing is provided with an opening. The filter member is switchable between a first state in which the filter member is disposed in the air path and captures lint, and a second state in which the filter member is disposed in the opening and extends along the housing. It is composed of

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing a washing dryer according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a top view schematically showing a washer/dryer according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a washer/dryer according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the filter unit of the embodiment (a diagram showing the filter member in a first state). FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the filter unit of the embodiment (a diagram showing the filter member in a second state). FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a filter member and a cleaning mechanism according to an embodiment. The figure which shows typically the brush member of an Example.

A washer/dryer 2 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the washer/dryer 2 includes a casing 50, a water tank 51 disposed within the casing 50, and a washing tub 52 disposed within the water tank 51. . The washer/dryer 2 also includes a water supply channel 53, a drainage channel 55, a circulating air channel 40, and a filter unit 10, which are arranged within the housing 50.

A front opening 69 is provided in the front portion 59 of the casing 50 of the washer/dryer 2 . Further, a door 68 for opening and closing the front opening 69 is attached to the front part 59 of the housing 50. Further, the upper surface portion 57 of the housing 50 is provided with an upper opening portion 58 .

The washing/drying machine 2 of the embodiment is an inclined drum type washing/drying machine including an inclined water tank 51 and a washing tub 52. In a modification, the washer/dryer 2 may be a vertical washer/dryer including a pulsator. The washer/dryer 2 can perform a washing operation in which the laundry in the washing tub 52 is washed and a drying operation in which the laundry in the washing tub 52 is dried. The washing tub 52 is rotated by a motor 70 disposed within the housing 50 .

The water supply channel 53 of the washer/dryer 2 has an upstream end connected to a water supply source (for example, water supply), and a downstream end connected to the water tank 51. The water supply channel 53 supplies water supplied from a water supply source into the water tank 51 . A water supply valve 54 is provided in the water supply channel 53, and when the water supply valve 54 is opened, water is supplied into the water tank 51.

The drainage channel 55 has an upstream end connected to the water tank 51 and a downstream end connected to a drainage destination (for example, a drainage pan). Drain channel 55 discharges water discharged from water tank 51 to a drainage destination. A drain valve 56 is provided in the drain channel 55, and when the drain valve 56 is opened, the water in the water tank 51 is discharged to a destination.

The circulation air passage 40 is a passage that circulates air for drying the laundry in the washing tub 52. The circulation air passage 40 includes, in order from the upstream side, an exhaust air passage 41, a heat exchange air passage 42, and an air supply air passage 43. The upstream end of the exhaust air passage 41 is connected to an exhaust port 71 provided at the top of the water tank 51. Air in the water tank 51 and the washing tub 52 is discharged to the exhaust air passage 41 through the exhaust port 71. A downstream end of the exhaust air passage 41 is connected to a heat exchange air passage 42 . The air that has flowed through the exhaust air passage 41 is sent to the heat exchange air passage 42.

The heat exchange air passage 42 is provided between the exhaust air passage 41 and the air supply air passage 43. The upstream end of the heat exchange air passage 42 is connected to the exhaust air passage 41, and the downstream end of the heat exchange air passage 42 is connected to the air supply air passage 43.

In the heat exchange air passage 42, an evaporator and a condenser (both not shown) of the heat pump 80 are arranged. The evaporator and condenser of the heat pump 80 dehumidify and heat the air flowing through the heat exchange air passage 42 . As a result, the air supplied into the water tank 51 and the washing tub 52 is dehumidified and heated. Note that the principle of the heat pump 80 is well known, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

Further, a blower fan 81 is arranged within the heat exchange air passage 42 . The blower fan 81 is rotatably disposed within the heat exchange air passage 42 and is rotated by the drive of a motor 83. As the blowing fan 81 rotates, air is sent from the upstream side to the downstream side of the heat exchange air path 42. The air flowing through the heat exchange air passage 42 is sent to the air supply air passage 43.

The upstream end of the air supply air passage 43 is connected to the heat exchange air passage 42 , and the downstream end of the air supply air passage 43 is connected to an air supply port 72 provided at the rear of the water tank 51 . The air flowing through the air supply air path 43 is supplied into the water tank 51 and the washing tub 52 through the air supply port 72. The laundry in the washing tub 52 is dried by the air supplied into the washing tub 52.

Next, the filter unit 10 will be explained. The filter unit 10 is configured to capture lint contained in the drying air flowing through the exhaust air path 41. The filter unit 10 is arranged in the upper part of the housing 50. The filter unit 10 is arranged at a position corresponding to an upper opening 58 provided in the upper surface 57 of the housing 50. The filter unit 10 is detachably attached to the housing 50.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the filter unit 10 includes an air passage member 12, a filter member 20, a cleaning mechanism 30, and a lid member 60. The air passage member 12 is connected to the exhaust air passage 41 of the circulation air passage 40. The air passage member 12 constitutes a part of the exhaust air passage 41. The air passage member 12 includes an inlet section 13, an outlet section 14, and an opening section 15. Dry air flowing through the exhaust air path 41 flows into the air path member 12 from the inlet portion 13, passes through the air path member 12, and flows out of the air path member 12 from the outlet portion 14.

The opening 15 is provided at the upper part of the air passage member 12 and opens upward. The opening 15 is arranged below the upper opening 58 of the housing 50. The opening 15 of the air passage member 12 and the upper opening 58 of the housing 50 overlap in the vertical direction of the housing 50 . The opening 15 of the air passage member 12 is located between the inlet part 13 and the outlet part 14 in the flow direction of the drying air.

The filter member 20 includes a filter 21, a frame member 22, and a shaft member 23. The filter 21 is made of, for example, nonwoven fabric or mesh, and can capture lint contained in the drying air. The frame member 22 is configured, for example, in a lattice shape and supports the filter 21.

The filter member 20 is attached to the air passage member 12 via a shaft member 23 and a support member 24. The filter member 20 is rotatable with respect to the air passage member 12 with the shaft member 23 as the rotation center. The support member 24 rotatably supports the filter member 20 via the shaft member 23. The filter member 20 is attached to the upper end of the support member 24. The support member 24 is detachably attached to the air path member 12.

The filter member 20 is configured to be switchable between a first state (see FIG. 4) and a second state (see FIG. 5) by rotating with respect to the air path member 12. The filter member 20 is rotated clockwise by, for example, a reaction force of a spring mechanism (not shown) to switch from the first state to the second state. Moreover, the filter member 20 rotates counterclockwise by being pressed by a pressing member 62 of a lid member 60, which will be described later, and switches from the second state to the first state.

In the first state, the filter member 20 is arranged so as to extend across the flow direction of the drying air flowing in the air passage member 12 (that is, the drying air flowing in the exhaust air passage 41). In the first state, the filter member 20 extends vertically between the inlet section 13 and the outlet section 14 of the air path member 12. In the first state, the filter member 20 captures lint contained in the drying air flowing through the air path member 12 using the filter 21 .

In the second state, the filter member 20 extends laterally so as to be exposed to the opening 15 of the air passage member 12 and the upper opening 58 of the housing 50. In the second state, the filter member 20 is arranged so as to extend along the upper surface portion 57 of the housing 50. In the second state, the filter member 20 extends along the flow direction of the dry air flowing within the air path member 12. In the second state, the filter member 20 is arranged such that the surface that captures lint faces upward.

The cleaning mechanism 30 of the filter unit 10 is configured to clean the filter member 20. The cleaning mechanism 30 is attached to the upper part of the air path member 12. The cleaning mechanism 30 includes a brush member 31 and a dust box 36. The brush member 31 is configured to scrape off lint captured by the filter member 20 from the filter member 20 by moving along the filter member 20 in the second state.

As shown in FIG. 7, the brush member 31 includes a slide member 32, a gear mechanism 34, and a brush 33. The slide member 32 extends along the filter member 20 in the second state. The slide member 32 is connected to a gear mechanism 34, and moves (slides) along the filter member 20 by the operation of the gear mechanism 34. For example, the user of the washer/dryer 2 manually slides the slide member 32. In a modified example, the slide member 32 may be configured to automatically slide by rotating the gear mechanism 34 by driving a motor (not shown). The gear mechanism 34 includes, for example, a rack and a pinion, and the pinion rolls along the rack. A slide member 32 connected to the pinion slides along the rack. Thereby, the slide member 32 slides along the filter member 20.

The brush 33 is fixed to the slide member 32 and extends downward from the slide member 32. The brush 33 extends toward the filter member 20 in the second state. The brush 33 slides along the filter 21 of the filter member 20 when the slide member 32 slides along the filter member 20. Due to this. The lint trapped in the filter 21 is scraped off by the brush 33.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the dust box 36 is attached to the upper part of the air passage member 12. The dust box 36 is placed next to the filter member 20 in the second state. The dust box 36 and the filter member 20 are arranged side by side. The dust box 36 is configured to accommodate lint scraped off from the filter member 20 by the brush member 31. An opening 38 is provided in the side surface of the dust box 36. The opening 38 opens toward the filter member 20 in the second state. The lint scraped off by the brush member 31 is collected into the dust box 36 through the opening 38.

The lid member 60 opens and closes the opening 15 of the air passage member 12 and the upper opening 58 of the housing 50. The lid member 60 is detachably attached to the air path member 12. The lid member 60 closes the opening 15 and the upper opening 58 when attached to the air path member 12. Further, the lid member 60 covers the filter member 20 and the cleaning mechanism 30 when attached to the air path member 12. When the lid member 60 is removed from the air passage member 12, the opening 15 and the upper opening 58 are opened. Further, the filter member 20 and the cleaning mechanism 30 are exposed to the outside through the opening 15 and the upper opening 58.

The lid member 60 includes a pressing member 62 that projects downward when attached to the air path member 12. The pressing member 62 protrudes toward the filter member 20 in the second state and presses the filter member 20 downward. The filter member 20 is switched from the second state to the first state by being pressed by the pressing member 62.

(effect)
The washer/dryer 2 of the embodiment has been described above. As described above, the washer/dryer 2 includes the filter member 20 that is disposed within the exhaust air path 41 and captures lint contained in the drying air flowing through the exhaust air path 41. The filter member 20 is arranged in a first state in which it is disposed in the exhaust air passage 41 and captures lint, and in a first state in which it is exposed to an upper opening 58 provided in the upper surface portion 57 of the casing 50. The second state is configured to be switchable between the second state and the second state in which the first state is arranged so as to extend along the second state. According to this configuration, the filter member 20 can be easily cleaned when the filter member 20 is in the second state. Further, when the filter member 20 is in the first state, lint contained in the drying air can be reliably captured.

The washer/dryer 2 includes a brush member 31 that scrapes lint from the filter member 20 by moving along the filter member 20 in the second state. According to this configuration, the filter member 20 can be easily cleaned by scraping off the lint captured by the filter member 20 with the brush member 31.

The washer/dryer 2 also includes a dust box 36 that is disposed beside the filter member 20 in the second state and stores the lint scraped off by the brush member 31. According to this configuration, the filter member 20 can be kept clean. Also, you can throw away the lint all at once.

The washer/dryer 2 also includes a lid member 60 that opens and closes the upper opening 58 of the housing 50. The lid member 60 includes a pressing member 62 that presses the filter member 20 when closing the upper opening 58. The filter member 20 is switched from the second state to the first state by being pressed by the pressing member 62. According to this configuration, the filter member 20 can be easily switched from the second state to the first state.

(Modified example)
(1) The washer/dryer 2 may include a drive mechanism that switches the filter member 20 between the first state and the second state. For example, the washer/dryer 2 may include a gear mechanism connected to the shaft member 23 of the filter member 20 and a motor that drives the gear mechanism (both not shown). The configuration may be such that the filter member 20 is rotated by a gear mechanism driven by a motor. According to this configuration, the state of the filter member 20 can be switched automatically rather than manually, so the user's hands do not get dirty and the state of the filter member 20 can be switched hygienically.

(2) In the above embodiment, the washer/dryer 2 having a washing function and a drying function has been described, but the structure is not limited to this. The technology disclosed in this specification is also applicable to dryers that do not have a washing function.

(3) In the above embodiment, the upper opening 58 is provided in the upper surface portion 57 of the casing 50, and the filter member 20 is exposed to the upper opening 58 in the second state, and the filter member 20 is exposed to the upper surface of the casing 50. Although the structure is arranged so as to extend along the portion 57, the present invention is not limited to this structure.

In a modified example, an opening for the filter unit 10 may be provided in the front part 59 of the housing 50. The filter unit 10 may be placed at the front inside the housing 50. The filter unit 10 may be arranged at a position corresponding to an opening for the filter unit 10 provided in the front surface 59 of the housing 50. In the second state, the filter member 20 is arranged so as to be exposed to the opening for the filter unit 10 provided in the front face 59 of the housing 50 and extend along the front face 59 of the housing 50. It may also be a configuration.

In yet another modification, an opening for the filter unit 10 may be provided in the side surface of the housing 50. The filter unit 10 may be placed on the side inside the housing 50. The filter unit 10 may be arranged at a position corresponding to an opening for the filter unit 10 provided in the side surface of the housing 50. In the second state, the filter member 20 is arranged so as to be exposed to an opening for the filter unit 10 provided in the side surface of the housing 50 and extend along the side surface of the housing 50. It may be.

Although specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the claims. The techniques described in the claims include various modifications and changes to the specific examples illustrated above. The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims as filed. Further, the techniques illustrated in this specification or the drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving one of the objectives has technical utility in itself.

2: Washing dryer, 10: Filter unit, 12: Air path member, 13: Inlet part, 14: Outlet part, 15: Opening part, 20: Filter member, 21: Filter, 22: Frame member, 23: Shaft member , 24: Support member, 30: Cleaning mechanism, 31: Brush member, 32: Slide member, 33: Brush, 34: Gear mechanism, 36: Dust box, 38: Opening, 40: Circulation air path, 41: Exhaust air path , 42: Heat exchange air path, 43: Air supply air path, 50: Housing, 51: Water tank, 52: Washing tub, 57: Top surface, 58: Upper opening, 60: Lid member, 62: Pressing member

Claims (5)

A casing and
a washing tub disposed within the housing;
an air path disposed within the housing, through which drying air discharged from the washing tub flows;
a filter member disposed within the air passage to capture lint contained in drying air flowing within the air passage;
The housing is provided with an opening,
The filter member is switchable between a first state in which the filter member is disposed in the air path and captures lint, and a second state in which the filter member is disposed in the opening and extends along the housing. It consists of a dryer. The dryer according to claim 1, further comprising a brush member that scrapes lint from the filter member by moving along the filter member in the second state. The dryer according to claim 2, further comprising a dust box disposed beside the filter member in the second state and accommodating the lint scraped off by the brush member. Further comprising a lid member for opening and closing the opening,
The lid member includes a pressing member that presses the filter member when closing the opening,
The dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the filter member is switched from the second state to the first state by being pressed by the pressing member. The dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a drive mechanism that switches the filter member between the first state and the second state.

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