JP2024003308A - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve performance for removing lint adhered to a heat exchanger.

SOLUTION: A washing and drying machine of the present invention (a drum-type washing and drying machine 100) has a heat pump unit 300 that dehumidifies and heats circulated air. The heat pump unit 300 has a compressor 307, a condenser 301 disposed in a ventilation route through which the circulated air flows, an evaporator 302 disposed on an upstream side of the condenser 301 in the ventilation route through which the circulated air flows, and an expansion valve 308 disposed in piping connecting between the condenser 301 and the evaporator 302. The ventilation route has a bypass air channel 255 that avoids the evaporator 302 and communicates with the condenser 301. The heat pump unit 300 has a damper 256 that opens and closes the bypass air channel 255 and switches between the bypass air channel 255 and the ventilation route flowing into the evaporator 302.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

COPYRIGHT: (C)2024,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a washer/dryer for washing and drying clothes and the like.

There are washer/dryers that perform the process from washing to drying continuously. During the drying process of a washer/dryer, a blower fan and heat source create high temperature, low humidity air, which is blown into the washing tub. The temperature of the clothes in the wash layer increases and moisture evaporates from the clothes. The air containing evaporated moisture is dehumidified by a dehumidifier. Methods for removing evaporated moisture include a method of cooling and dehumidifying the circulating air, and a method of replacing the circulating air with surrounding low-humidity air. Furthermore, as a cold source for cooling and dehumidifying, there are a method using a heat pump and a method using cooling water.

In the heat pump method, a fin-tube type heat exchanger is used to ensure heat transfer performance for dehumidifying the circulating air and subsequently heating it.

Furthermore, in the drying process of a washer/dryer, lint, which is fine fiber waste, is generated when the clothes come into contact with each other due to agitation in the washing tub. Normally, this lint is removed by a drying filter installed in the circulating air passage and dried by circulating air, but some of the lint slips through the drying filter and is removed by the fin gaps in the fin-tube heat exchanger. easy to be captured. Therefore, the lint that cannot be completely captured by the dry filter tends to adhere to the fin gaps of the evaporator located upstream of the heat pump.

In a heat exchanger with lint attached, the accumulated lint creates thermal resistance to the heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing through the heat transfer tubes and the air flowing through the fin gaps, preventing heat exchange from proceeding. Because it is buried, it creates ventilation resistance and prevents air circulation itself. The mechanism by which lint accumulates is that the initially deposited lint acts as a core, and the lint that passes through later gets entangled with this lint, and the deposition progresses. For this reason, it is best to always remove lint and keep it free of adhesion.

As a method for removing lint, there is a technique described in Patent Document 1, for example. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a washer/dryer equipped with a heat pump device includes a cleaning mechanism that removes dust attached to a dehumidifying section of the heat pump device. The cleaning mechanism includes a water sprinkling section, which emits tap water toward the dehumidifying section to clean the dehumidifying section.

Furthermore, there is a technique described in Patent Document 2 as a technique for cleaning the heat exchanger of an air conditioner. In Patent Document 2, a heat exchanger is provided in each of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, which are separate housings, and one is used as an evaporator and the other as a condenser to perform indoor heating and cooling.

For example, when cleaning the heat exchanger on the indoor unit side, run the operation to lower the heat exchanger temperature to allow frost or ice to adhere to the surface of the heat exchanger fins, and then raise the heat exchanger temperature. Operate to thaw frost or ice. Dust adhering to the heat exchanger is removed by the force of the falling water as the frost or ice thaws. In Patent Document 2, the operation of lowering the heat exchange temperature and the operation of raising the temperature of the heat exchanger are performed by changing the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the heat exchanger. Therefore, Patent Document 2 includes a four-way valve for switching the refrigerant flowing into the heat exchanger.

Patent No. 5994453 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-189270

In the technology described in Patent Document 1, since water is sprinkled from the outer surface of the heat exchanger, water cannot penetrate into the gap between the piping surface of the heat exchanger and the lint, and the gap between the fin surface and the lint, so the piping surface of the heat exchanger Also, it was difficult to remove the lint from the fin surface. In particular, since the lint adhering to the piping surfaces and fin surfaces of the heat exchanger is compressed by the wind pressure of the blower fan, it is difficult to remove the lint.

In addition, in the cleaning mechanism in the air conditioner described in Patent Document 2, in order to melt the frost that has formed on the evaporator, the four-way valve is switched and the evaporator and condenser are thermally replaced to clean the piping surface and fins. Since the heat pump is designed to generate heat, it requires a four-way valve and piping to connect the heat exchanger as components of the heat pump, making it difficult to install it in a washer/dryer with limited installation space. Furthermore, the technique described in Patent Document 2 does not have a mechanism for storing and separately utilizing the heat pumped up during icing operation, and is therefore less efficient.

An object of the present invention is to provide a washer/dryer with improved performance in removing lint attached to a heat exchanger.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an outer tank capable of storing liquid therein, a drum rotatably supported within the outer tank and containing laundry, and a drum that blows air to the drum to circulate air. and a heat pump unit that dehumidifies and heats the circulating air. In the washing/drying machine, the washing/drying machine includes an evaporator disposed upstream of the condenser, and an expansion means provided in a pipe connecting the condenser and the evaporator. The heat pump unit includes a bypass air path that communicates with the condenser while avoiding the evaporator, and the heat pump unit includes switching means for opening and closing the bypass air path to switch between the bypass air path and a ventilation path flowing into the evaporator. It is characterized by having the following.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a washer/dryer with improved performance in removing lint attached to a heat exchanger.

1 is an external perspective view of a drum-type washer/dryer 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the right side of the internal structure of a drum-type washer-dryer 100 according to Example 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the internal basic structure of a drum-type washer/dryer 100 according to Example 1 of the present invention, as seen diagonally from the front right, and an enlarged perspective view showing a heat pump unit 300. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of air during freezing operation of the evaporator 302 according to Example 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of air during the deicing operation of the evaporator 302 according to Example 1 of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control device of a drum type washer/dryer 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the washing and drying operation (washing to drying) in the drum-type washing and drying machine 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially cross-sectional perspective view of a heat pump unit 300 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partially cross-sectional perspective view of a heat pump unit 300 according to Example 3 of the present invention.

Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, in principle, the same elements are given the same reference numerals in all the figures. Further, descriptions of parts having the same functions will be omitted. Note that the configuration described below is merely an example, and the embodiments of the present invention are not intended to be limited to the following specific embodiments.

Further, in the following embodiments, an example will be described in which the present invention is applied to a drum-type washer-dryer, but the present invention is also applicable to a vertical-type washer-dryer. In the following explanation, as shown by the arrows in Figure 1, the drum-type washer-dryer is viewed from the front, and the right side of the front of the drum-type washer-dryer is "right", the left side is "left", and the top is defined as "upper" and the lower side as "lower".

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a drum-type washer/dryer 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the right side of the internal structure of the drum type washer/dryer 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal basic structure of the drum-type washer/dryer 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as seen diagonally from the front right, and an enlarged perspective view showing the heat pump unit 300. In the enlarged perspective view of the heat pump unit 300 in FIG. 3, the compressor 307 is omitted.

First, the appearance of the drum type washer/dryer 100 will be described. The drum-type washer/dryer 100 has a frame formed by combining a side plate 1a and a reinforcing material (not shown), which are mainly made of steel plates and resin molded products, on the upper part of a base 1h, and further has a front cover 1c on top of the frame. , a housing 1 is formed by attaching a top cover 1e. A door 9 for loading and unloading laundry 30 is provided on the front cover 1c, and a rear cover 1d (FIG. 2) is attached to the back.

Next, the general structure of the drum type washer/dryer 100 will be briefly described. The housing 1 is provided with an outer tank 20 that can store water (liquid) therein. The outer tank 20 is supported by a plurality of suspensions 5 at the bottom. Inside the outer tub 20, a drum 29 is provided which is rotatably supported and accommodates laundry 30. The outer tub 20 is equipped with a door 9 that can be opened and closed, and the laundry 30 is put into the drum 29 by opening the door 9. A fluid balancer 31 is provided on the outer periphery of the opening of the drum 29 to reduce vibrations caused by unbalance of the laundry 30 during dewatering.

Moreover, a plurality of lifters 33 for lifting laundry 30 are provided inside the drum 29. The drum 29 is directly connected to a drum drive motor 36 via a main shaft 35 connected to a metal flange 34 for the rotating drum. The driving method for the drum 29 may be, for example, a so-called belt drive configuration in which a pulley fixed to the main shaft and a motor fixed to the outer tank are connected via a belt to drive the rotating drum.

A rubber bellows 10 made of an elastic material is attached to the opening of the outer tank 20. The bellows 10 serves to maintain watertightness between the inside of the outer tank 20 and the door 9. This prevents water leakage during washing, rinsing, and dehydration.

The drum 29 has a number of small holes (not shown) in the side wall for centrifugal dewatering and ventilation. A drain port 37 opened to the water receiving portion 54 of the outer tank 20 is connected to the drain hose 26 via a drain valve V1. Further, the overflow hose 17 is attached to the front surface of the outer tank, and joins the drain hose 26 on the downstream side of the drain valve V1. That is, the drain valve V1 is configured to communicate with the drain hose 26 regardless of whether the drain valve V1 is opened or closed. If the amount of water increases above a predetermined water level to which an overflow hose 17 is attached, the system is configured to forcibly drain the water in any case. However, there is no functional problem even if the drain valve V1 is configured to merge with the drain hose 26 upstream of the drain valve V1.

A circulation pump 18 for pumping up the washing water to the upper part of the outer tub 20 and spraying it on the laundry 30 in the drum 29 is fixed to the base 1h side below the outer tub 20. The washing water enters the suction port side of the circulation pump 18 from the drain port 37 of the water receiving part 54 provided at the bottom of the outer tank through the lint filter 222, is pressurized by the circulation pump 18, and then flows from the water spray nozzle 223 to the drum. Water is sprayed towards the interior of 29. Further, a drain port 37 provided at the bottom of the water receiver 54 for draining water is connected to the drain hose 26 via the lint filter 222 and the drain valve V1, so that the water in the water receiver 54 can be drained.

In the first embodiment, a hot air drying method is used in which air is circulated between the drum 29 and the heat pump unit 300 using the blower fan 2 to dry the drum. The drying mechanism of the first embodiment includes a blowing fan 2 that circulates air, a heat pump unit 300 that dehumidifies the circulating air and then heats it, and a blowing nozzle 203 provided in the outer tank 20 to blow hot air into the drum 29. It mainly consists of a hot air duct 251 that guides the air to the heat pump unit 300, and a blower duct section 252 that returns the humid air discharged from the drum 29 to the heat pump unit 300. A ventilation path is formed by the ventilation fan 2, heat pump unit 300, hot air duct 251, and ventilation duct section 252, and circulating air flows within the ventilation path.

The heat pump unit 300 includes a compressor 307 that compresses refrigerant, a condenser 301 disposed in a ventilation path through which circulating air flows, and a condenser 301 located upstream of the condenser 301 in the ventilation path through which circulating air flows. It includes an evaporator 302 and an expansion valve 308 (expansion means) provided in a pipe connecting the condenser 301 and the evaporator 302. In other words, the heat pump unit 300 is arranged so that the evaporator 302 and the condenser 301 are arranged in order from the blower duct section 252 side in such a way that the circulating air can pass between the fins 303 of each fin. The evaporator 302, condenser 301, and expansion valve 308 are housed in the case portion 261. The case portion 261 constitutes the outer shell of the heat pump unit 300.

A side surface of the case portion 261 is composed of a partition plate 253. A ventilation path is formed inside the case portion 261 and communicates with the ventilation duct portion 252 via a duct connection portion 254 formed in the case portion 261 . The partition plate 253 forms the side surface of the ventilation path.

An evaporator 302 and a condenser 301 are arranged in the ventilation path inside the case portion 261. Further, the vent portion 305 of the heat exchanger tube 304 that is perpendicular to the fin 303 protrudes from the partition plate 253 to the outside. That is, the vent portion 305 is arranged outside the ventilation path. The evaporator 302 is equipped with a heater 306 (heating means) arranged so as to be in contact with the vent section 305.

A heater 306 is provided to thaw the evaporator 302 from freezing. Further, like the vent section 305, the heater 306 is arranged outside the ventilation path. Therefore, the heater 306 does not become a ventilation resistance to the ventilation to the ventilation path in the heat pump unit 300 during the drying process, and furthermore, when the heater 306 is energized during the ice melting, the heat transferred to the heat transfer tube 304 is reduced. Since a portion of the circulating air is not directly heated, the heat exchanger tubes 304 can be efficiently heated.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the heater 306 be fixed in contact with the vent portion 305 of the heat transfer tube 304 at a location where lint is likely to adhere when the circulating air during drying flows into the evaporator 302 . With this configuration, unlike the method in which the entire evaporator is heated to high pressure by switching the four-way valve, only the heat transfer tube 304 where the lint removal effect can be obtained can be heated in a focused manner, resulting in efficient heating. Ice can be thawed and subsequent drying operations can be carried out without delay.

Furthermore, since the heater 306 is attached to the vent section 305 outside the ventilation path, lint is less likely to accumulate on the surface of the heater 306 during the drying process, which may cause a short cut at the electrode section (not shown). The risk of electrical leakage can also be reduced. In addition, since the vent part 305 has a curved shape unlike a straight pipe part, when it is arranged in an arc shape in the row direction of the evaporators 302, the axis of the heater 306 is also aligned in the row direction of the evaporators 302. By arranging the heat exchanger tubes 304 and 304, the contact portion can be made to have a finite length to some extent rather than a point contact, and the contact thermal resistance from the heater 306 to the heat transfer tube 304 can be reduced, so that heat can be transferred efficiently. I can do it.

Next, the air flow inside the drum type washer/dryer 100 will be explained. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of air during freezing operation of the evaporator 302 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of air during the deicing operation of the evaporator 302 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The ventilation path of the heat pump unit 300 is provided with a bypass air path 255 that bypasses the evaporator 302 and communicates with the condenser 301. The bypass air passage 255 is located above the evaporator 302 and allows air to flow to the condenser 301 without passing between the fins 303 of the evaporator 302. Further, the bypass air passage 255 of the heat pump unit 300 is provided with a damper 256 (switching means) that opens and closes the bypass air passage 255 and switches between the bypass air passage 255 and the ventilation passage flowing into the evaporator 302.

During a freezing operation to freeze the evaporator 302, the damper 256 opens the bypass air passage 255 so that circulating air can pass through the bypass air passage 255, which has less ventilation resistance than the evaporator 302. The heat pump unit 300 operates with the expansion valve 308 narrowed in opening. In response to the suction from the compressor 307, refrigerant is not supplied to the evaporator 302 from the expansion valve 308 side, resulting in a low pressure.Furthermore, since there is no airflow to the evaporator 302, the temperature of the refrigerant in the heat transfer tubes 304 of the evaporator 302 rapidly increases. When the surface temperature of the heat transfer tubes 304 becomes below freezing point, the moisture in the air around the evaporator 302 begins to freeze. Unlike water spraying, the water vapor held in the atmosphere condenses and freezes, so that in addition to the outer surface of the lint, ice can also form in the gaps between the lint and the heat exchanger tubes 304 and fins 303. In addition, the hot air coming out of the condenser 301 is blown out into the drum 29 through the blowing nozzle 203 in the same way as during the drying operation, so the hot air is , heat is taken away by the outer tank 20 and drum 29, which have a large heat capacity. In other words, heat is stored in the outer tank.

On the other hand, during a thawing operation to thaw the frozen evaporator 302, the compressor 307 is stopped and only the blower fan 2 is driven. At this time, the damper 256 is controlled to close the bypass air passage 255, thereby allowing the circulating air to pass through the evaporator 302. If there is a large amount of freezing or if there is little heat supplied to the heat transfer tube 304 from the atmosphere surrounding the vent portion 305, it is preferable to energize the heater 306 to heat it. When the circulating air passes through the drum 29 and the outer tank 20, it absorbs the heat stored during the freezing operation and flows into the evaporator 302 in a heated state, so that the ice also progresses from the frozen outer surface. Therefore, the ice can be melted in a short time by melting the ice from the inner surface that contacts the heat exchanger tubes 304 and the fins 303 and from the outer surface of the ice.

When thawing the ice in the gaps between the lint and the heat transfer tubes 304 and fins 303, the sliding of the lint is promoted due to the volume change from ice to water, and the penetration of the melted water into the inside of the lint fibers progresses. The lint easily floats from the surfaces of the heat exchanger tubes 304 and fins 303 and is eventually peeled off, flowing down with the deicing water.

In addition, if the humidity of the circulating air is lower than a predetermined value during freezing operation, water is used to wash away lint attached to the filter 258 of the exhaust port 257 that exhausts part of the circulating air during drying operation and around the exhaust port 257. It is preferable to increase the humidity of the circulating air by continuously operating and cleaning the cleaning means 259.

In the first embodiment, a part of the circulating air is exhausted from the exhaust port 257 during the drying operation, and the same amount of ambient air is taken in from between the evaporator 302 and the condenser 301, in order to cope with the time-saving drying operation. Therefore, in order to warm the drum 29 and the outer tank 20 with circulating air during the freezing operation shown in FIG. It is structured as follows. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to replace the circulating air with surrounding outside air, so that heat can be efficiently stored in the drum 29 and the outer tank 20. In a configuration in which the intake port 260 and the damper 256 are located apart, there is no problem with the original function even if two dampers or means for individually closing the intake port 260 are provided.

Next, the configuration of the control device 90 of the drum type washer/dryer 100 will be explained. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control device for a drum type washer/dryer 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, the control device 90 includes a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as "microcomputer") 110. The microcomputer 110 acquires user operations (operation switches 12, 13) and various information signals (temperature sensors T1, T2, T3, T4, conductivity sensor 4) in the washing process and drying process. Further, the microcomputer 110 is connected to a motor M10, a water supply solenoid valve 16, a drain valve V1, a circulation pump 18, a blower fan 2, a compressor 307, an expansion valve 308, and a damper 256 via a drive circuit, and controls opening and closing of these. Controls rotation and energization. Further, the microcomputer 110 controls the display 14, a buzzer (not shown), etc. in order to notify the user of information regarding the drum-type washer/dryer 100. The microcomputer 110 also includes an operation pattern database 111, a process control section 112, a rotation speed calculation section 113, a clothing weight calculation section 114, a conductivity measurement section 115, a detergent amount/washing time determination section 116, a turbidity determination section 117, and a threshold value. A storage unit 118 is provided.

The microcomputer 110 is activated when the power switch 47 is pressed to turn on the power, and executes a basic control processing program for washing and drying as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the washing and drying operation (washing to drying) in the drum type washing and drying machine 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The steps from washing to drying in the drum type washer/dryer will be explained below.

As shown in FIG. 7, the control device 90 of the drum-type washer/dryer 100 receives an input for selecting a course of the operating process (course selection) in step S1. Here, the user opens the door 9, puts the laundry 30 to be washed into the drum 29, and closes the door 9. Then, by operating the operation switches 12 and 13, the user selects and inputs the course of the operating process. By operating the operation switches 12 and 13, the selected operating process course is input to the control device 90. The control device 90 reads a corresponding driving pattern from the driving pattern database 111 based on the input driving process course, and proceeds to step S2. In the following description, it is assumed that a standard course (washing, rinsing twice, dehydration, and drying) including the cleaning process of the evaporator 302 has been selected.

In step S2, the control device 90 executes a step of detecting the weight (cloth amount) of the laundry 30 placed in the drum 29 (cloth amount sensing). Specifically, the process control unit 112 drives the motor M10 to rotate the drum 29, and the clothing weight calculation unit 114 calculates the weight (cloth amount) of the laundry 30 before water is added.

In step S3, the control device 90 executes a process of calculating the detergent amount and operating time. The conductivity measurement unit 115 detects the conductivity (hardness) of the supplied water. Further, a temperature sensor T1 provided at the lower part of the outer tank 20 (for example, the drain port 37) detects the temperature of the supplied water. The detergent amount/washing time determining unit 116 performs a map search based on the detected amount of cloth, the conductivity (hardness) of water determined by the conductivity measuring unit 115 using the detected value from the conductivity sensor 4, and the temperature of the water. Determine the amount of detergent to be added and the operating time. Then, the process control unit 112 displays the determined detergent amount and operating time on the display 14.

In step S4, the control device 90 waits for a predetermined time (detergent addition waiting step), and then proceeds to step S5. While waiting, the user refers to the amount of detergent displayed on the display 14 and puts detergent into a detergent dispenser (not shown). If automatic detergent injection is set, the detergent injection operation can be omitted.

The washing process is roughly divided into a detergent dissolving process (step S5), a pre-washing process (step S6), and a main washing process (step S7). Furthermore, the main washing process is divided into the first main washing process (main washing 1 process) and the subsequent second main washing process (main washing 2 processes), but each process is clearly differentiated according to the operating progress. There is no functional problem even if it is not installed. Further, even if some of the operations in the process described later are omitted, the function of the washing process as a whole remains the same.

In step S5, the control device 90 executes a detergent dissolving step. A predetermined solenoid valve of the water supply solenoid valve 16 is opened and water is supplied. The supplied water is introduced into the detergent inlet and then introduced into the outer tank 20. The detergent liquid put into the outer tank 20 passes through a water supply path (not shown) and is supplied to the water receiving part 54 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) located at the bottom of the drum 29. When the circulation pump 18 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is driven after the detergent solution is added, the water in the water receiver 54 flows from the drain port 37 through the lint filter 222 to the suction port of the circulation pump 18 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). (not shown). The washing water pressurized by the circulation pump 18 is returned to the water receiving portion 54 from a water nozzle (see FIG. 3) communicating with the outlet of the circulation pump 18 (circulation path for the detergent dissolving process).

At this point, the control device 90 detects the conductivity using the conductivity sensor 4 (discrimination means) in the water receiver 54, and compares the conductivity database for the highly concentrated detergent aqueous solution and the conductivity for the softener aqueous solution. Check against the database.

By repeating the circulation, a uniform high-concentration detergent solution with detergent dissolved in a small amount of water is produced. A highly concentrated detergent solution is sprayed onto the clothes. At this time, the drum 29 is rotated to agitate the laundry 30 and the circulation pump 18 distributes the laundry evenly.

In step S6, the control device 90 executes a pre-washing process. In this process, there is usually laundry 30 soaked with detergent in the outer tub 20 and a small amount of detergent in the water receiver 54 at the bottom of the outer tub 20. By rotating the drum 29, the laundry 30 is lifted to the top of the drum 29 and then dropped to the bottom by gravity, thereby performing beating-washing based on a tumbling operation. As a result, the detergent liquid soaked into the laundry 30 is squeezed out, and the circulation pump 18 is driven intermittently as necessary to spray the detergent liquid onto the laundry 30 again. Even during this operation, the cleaning performance can be improved by increasing the cleaning temperature of the washing water and the laundry, so if necessary, the airflow from the blower fan 2 is heated by the heat pump unit 300 and then blown. By increasing the washing temperature level, it is also possible to promote penetration of the highly concentrated detergent liquid into the laundry 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the air blowing nozzle 203 from the blower fan 2 is provided at a position facing the water spray nozzle 223 and the water supply port 271 on the circumference of the outer tank 20, so that the high concentration detergent solution is not sprayed. By preventing the interference of warm air that promotes penetration, efficient cleaning can be achieved. Since the laundry 30 retains high concentration detergent liquid, heat conduction is better than when air occupies the fiber gaps of the laundry 30, and heating can be performed efficiently. This allows more dirt to be separated from the fibers in a shorter time. The separated dirt is quickly dispersed in the water-retained high-concentration detergent solution, which prevents it from agglomerating and re-adhering.

Further, a circulation pump (not shown) with a smaller flow rate than the circulation pump 18 may be installed separately. In this case, the droplets may be mixed with the warm air and sprayed onto the laundry 30 by pumping up the water from the water receiving portion 54 and spraying it into the hot air near the outlet of the blower. During the washing process, if additional water is supplied until a normal circulation level can be secured and the water is dispersed by the circulation pump 18, the temperature of the laundry 30 will drop rapidly. Therefore, by using the above-mentioned configuration and distributing a smaller amount of circulating water on warm air, the water contained in the laundry 30 can be evenly replaced little by little. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a sudden drop in the temperature of the laundry 30, so that the cleaning performance can be further improved.

In driving the heat pump unit 300, the cleaning process of the evaporator 302 can also be repeated. In this case, the damper 256 is switched to the side that opens the bypass air passage 255, and the circulating air that has passed through the condenser 301 becomes warm air, so when it is blown out from the blow-off nozzle 203 into the drum 29, it warms the laundry 30. be able to. Since the atmosphere inside the drum is warmed in the pre-washing process, it is preferable to stop the compressor 307 and perform a deicing operation in which only air is blown before entering the main washing process (described later).

In step S7, the control device 90 executes the main washing process. In the main washing step, when the pre-washing step is completed, additional water is supplied to increase the amount of water in the water receiver 54 and raise the water level. This water level shall be maintained at a level sufficient for pumping up washing water from the water receiving portion 54 by the circulation pump 18 and continuously spraying it from the water sprinkling nozzle 223 at the upper part of the outer tub 20.

Spraying from the water nozzle 223 may be continuous or intermittent. Specifically, while a lot of dirt is still attached to the back side of the laundry 30, the washing water is continuously sprayed to promote agitation of the washing water. Thereby, the washing water retained by the laundry 30 can always be replaced with washing water having a low dirt concentration. After most of the dirt has been removed, it is more efficient to remove the remaining dirt by mainly using the mechanical force of tapping. Therefore, it is preferable that the second half of the spraying be performed intermittently so as not to interfere with mechanical power. Further, by making the driving force of the circulation pump 18 intermittent, power consumption can be suppressed, which is preferable from the viewpoint of energy saving.

The water sprinkling nozzle 223 is installed in the outer tank 20 above the central axis of the rotatable drum 29 when viewed from the front of the drum type washer/dryer 100, and at the front side closer to the front when viewed from the side of the drum type washer/dryer 100. It is located in As a result, the spraying area from the water nozzle 223 is spread at a wide angle with respect to the radial direction of the drum 29. In this first main washing step, the laundry 30 accumulated under the drum 29 is lifted up by the rotation of the drum 29 and dropped from above inside the drum 29, and the laundry 30 is mechanically distributed over a wide area. Give it strength and wash it. The larger the diameter of the drum, the more synergistic effects can be obtained between spraying over a wider area and washing by beating, and the time required for the main washing process can be shortened.

Further, the control device 90 executes a second main washing process as necessary. By supplying water at the end of the above-mentioned main washing process (first main washing process), the amount of water in the second main washing process is made larger than the amount of water in the first main washing process. Further, the circulation flow rate of the circulation pump 18 in the second main washing process is made larger than the circulation flow rate of the circulation pump 18 in the first main washing process. Furthermore, the rotational speed of the motor M10 of the drum 29 in the second main washing process is set lower than the rotational speed of the motor M10 in the first main washing process. The combination of the first main washing process and the second main washing process is an operation algorithm that suppresses darkening and stiffness of the laundry 30.

In a part or all of the first main washing step or the second main washing step, while the washing water pumped up by the circulation pump 18 is sprayed from the water sprinkling nozzle 223, the laundry 30 does not reach the tumbling motion in the drum 29. A washing operation may be performed in which the drum 29 is rotated while being stuck to the side inner wall. By such an operation, the washing water contained in the laundry 30 is pushed out by centrifugal force, and the washing is carried out by the flow of the washing water inside the fibers, which is constantly sprinkled and supplied with water from the watering nozzle 223. It is possible to suppress the generation of lint due to the rubbing of laundry items 30 against each other, and it is possible to reduce the amount of lint that is circulated due to the circulating air in the drying process, and the cleaning process of the evaporator can be reduced.

As described above, in the case of a drum-type washer/dryer, the laundry 30 is lifted to the top of the drum by the lifter 33 as the drum 29 rotates, and then the laundry 30 is dropped to the bottom of the drum by gravity. Since the overflow hose 17 is connected to the front part of the outer tub, the washing water may flow up to the position of the overflow hose 17 depending on the case. Also, during the washing process, water may be poured into the air duct 252 from a water injection tool (not shown) provided in the air duct 252 in order to wash away lint that has adhered to the internal filter due to past washing and drying.

In step S8, the control device 90 executes a first rinsing step (first rinsing step). In this step, the drain valve V1 is opened to drain the washing water, and then the drain valve V1 is closed to supply rinsing water into the outer tub 20 to a predetermined water level. Thereafter, the drum 29 is rotated to stir and rinse the laundry 30 and the rinsing water.

In step S9, the control device 90 executes a second rinsing process (rinsing 2 process). In the second rinsing step, similarly to the first rinsing step, the drain valve V1 is opened to discharge the rinsing water, and then the drain valve V1 is closed to supply rinsing water to a predetermined water level in the outer tank 20. . Thereafter, the drum 29 is rotated to stir and rinse the laundry 30 and the rinsing water.

In a part or all of the first rinsing process or the second rinsing process, the rinsing water pumped up by the circulation pump 18 is sprayed from the water spray nozzle 223 while the drum 29 is rotated so that the laundry 30 does not reach the tumbling operation. It may also be a rinsing operation in which the cleaning agent is rotated while sticking to the inner wall of the container 29. Due to such an operation, the rinse water contained in the laundry 30 is pushed out by centrifugal force, and if the rinsing water is constantly sprinkled with water from the water nozzle 223 and supplied, the rinse water contained in the laundry 30 is pushed out by the friction between the laundry 30. The generation of lint can be suppressed, the amount of lint circulated with the circulating air in the drying process can be reduced, and the cleaning process of the evaporator can be reduced.

In step S10, the control device 90 executes a dehydration process. In this step, after opening the drain valve V1 to drain the rinse water in the outer tub 20, the drum 29 is rotated to centrifugally dewater the laundry 30. The rotational speed of dewatering is increased to a set rotational speed according to the load unless there is a problem such as the laundry 30 being unbalanced and the current value of the motor M10 exceeding the upper limit. When the rotational speed of dewatering is increased and the drum 29 rotates at high speed, vibrations are transmitted to the outer tank 20, and the outer tank 20 itself also vibrates slightly. In addition, the bellows 10 can absorb vibrations transmitted to the door 9 side as the drum 29 rotates at high speed. Since the blowers are each connected to the outlet of the outer tank 20 by bellows, vibrations can be absorbed.

Further, within this dehydration process, a cleaning process for the evaporator 302 can be repeated. In this case, the damper 256 is switched to the side that opens the bypass air passage 255, and the circulating air that has passed through the condenser 301 becomes warm air, so when the hot air is blown into the drum 29 from the blow-off nozzle 203, the laundry is It can warm up to 30. Since the atmosphere inside the drum is warmed in the pre-washing process, it is preferable to perform an ice-thawing operation in which the compressor 307 is stopped and only air is blown before entering the drying process (described later). Furthermore, by performing the cleaning process of the evaporator 302 during the dehydration process, it can also serve as a so-called warm-up operation of the compressor 307, thereby promoting the start-up of warm air in the drying process.

In step S11, the control device 90 executes a drying process. In the drying process, the blower fan 2 is first driven, and then the compressor 307 in the heat pump unit 300 is driven. After the expansion valve 308 is fully opened and adjusted to its origin, the degree of opening is adjusted so that a thermistor (not shown) provided in the suction pipe of the compressor 307 does not become cold. The rotation speed of the compressor 307 is adjusted so that the difference between a thermistor (not shown) provided in the discharge pipe and a hot air thermistor provided at the outlet of the blower fan is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. After the air that has become high temperature in the heat pump unit 300 is pressurized by the blowing fan 2, it is blown into the drum 29 through the blow-off nozzle 203 to exchange heat with the laundry 30 and evaporate water from the laundry 30. The circulating air containing moisture evaporated from the laundry 30 is returned to the heat pump unit 300 via the air blow duct section 252 at the outlet of the outer tub 20.

In the heat pump unit 300, the circulating air is cooled to below the dew point temperature by the evaporator 302 disposed on the windward side, and is dehumidified. The temperature of the air is then raised in a condenser 301 to produce low-humidity warm air.

Further, in the final stage of drying, as the drying of the laundry 30 progresses, the humidity of the circulating air decreases. In this case, in the evaporator 302, since the circulating air returning from the drum 29 has relatively low humidity, the sensible heat of the circulating air is pumped up and returned to the circulating air (reheating) in the downstream condenser 301. becomes. Therefore, the opening degree of the damper 256 is adjusted to reduce the amount of return air flowing into the evaporator 302 so that a part of the circulating air flows through the bypass air passage 255 side. If the amount of refrigerant circulation is maintained and the amount of heat absorbed in the evaporator 302 is secured, the temperature of the circulating air passing through the evaporator 302 can be lowered by reducing the air volume, so dehumidification can be performed by lowering the temperature to the dew point temperature. I can do it. At the inlet side of the condenser 301, the remaining circulating air that has passed through the bypass air passage 255 side and the air that has passed through the evaporator 302 are combined, so that the temperature and air volume of the circulating air can be restored at the inlet side of the condenser 301. Therefore, the amount of heat exchange in the condenser 301 can be secured, and hot air can also be secured. If you want to increase the temperature of the laundry 30 or shorten the drying time, it is better to incorporate the above control. As described above, since the amount of dehumidification in the evaporator 302 can be ensured even with low-humidity circulating air, the amount of heat pumped up can also be maintained, and the amount of air heating in the condenser 301 can also be maintained.

Dryness determination is performed by measuring the exhaust temperature T1a of the outer tank 20 and the outlet side of the blower fan 2 using a temperature sensor T1 (not shown) provided in the air duct 252 of the outer tank at the start of drying or at a specified time from the start of operation. The hot air temperature T4a is measured by the provided temperature sensor T4 (initial temperature setting). After that, after a specified time corresponding to the load has elapsed, the exhaust temperature T1b and the hot air temperature T4b of the outer tank 20 are measured for termination determination, and the difference between the initial temperature and the termination determination temperature is determined (ΔT1 = T1a - T1b, ΔT4=T4a−T4b). Furthermore, it is checked whether the temperature difference (ΔT1-ΔT4) between them is equal to or higher than a specified temperature, and the completion of drying is determined.

At the end of the drying process, a cleaning process of the evaporator 302 is performed. If a step is set in which the temperature of the laundry 30 is increased to sterilize the laundry 30 at the final stage of drying, the washing step may be overlapped with that step in order to generate warm air in the washing step as well. In addition, the cleaning process may be performed by determining in advance the time required to freeze the surface of the evaporator 302, and may be a process for a fixed period of time, or if the thermistor (not shown) installed in the evaporator 302 is capable of measuring temperatures below freezing. For example, the freezing operation may be terminated after confirming that the temperature of the thermistor has reached a predetermined temperature.

Subsequently, the damper 256 is switched to perform ice-melting operation. Because the process is continuous from drying, sufficient exhaust heat from the compressor 307 can be ensured, so the heater 306 is energized to perform ice-melting operation only when necessary. The time required for the evaporator 302 surface to be de-frosted may be determined in advance for the de-icing operation, and the process may be performed over a fixed period of time. If it is measurable, the deicing operation may be terminated after confirming that the temperature of the thermistor has reached a predetermined temperature.

The cleaning process of the evaporator 302 may be set to be performed separately from the drying process, and it is preferable that the cleaning process can be selected to reflect the degree of lint adhesion, for example, only the washing course can be selected after operation.

Note that if the drying process is not set in the course selection (step S1), the operation is ended in step S10.

According to Example 1, the following effects can be expected.
(1) In Example 1, without increasing the basic components of the heat pump used for drying, the heat pumped up during freezing is stored in the outer tank and recovered with circulating air when the ice is thawed, so it is efficient. It can be used to melt ice and reduce power consumption.
(2) In Example 1, since the heat of the hot air can be transferred from the fins to the heat exchanger tube during ice melting, the ice can also be melted from the surface side of the heat exchanger tube, and lint can be peeled off from the surface of the heat exchanger tube. In addition, since the warm air is not only thawing the frost from the outside surface side but also from the surface side of the heat transfer tube, the thawing time can be shortened and cleaning can be carried out efficiently.
(3) In the first embodiment, since the bypass air path 255 is provided in the ventilation path to bypass the evaporator 302 and ventilate the condenser 301, even during the drying process, ice formation on the evaporator 302 and subsequent It is possible to perform ice-melting operation, and drying can be performed without deteriorating heat transfer performance.
(4) In the first embodiment, the evaporator 302 is equipped with a bypass air passage 255 that prevents wind from flowing, and a damper 256 that opens and closes this bypass air passage 255, so that the evaporator 302 is cleaned. Therefore, a four-way valve for switching the refrigerant flowing to the evaporator 302 is not required, and the size of the drum-type washer/dryer can be suppressed.

Next, Example 2 of the present invention will be described using FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a partially sectional perspective view of a heat pump unit 300 according to Example 2 of the present invention. Components that are common to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, a side air passage 264 is formed on the outside of the partition plate 253 that constitutes a part of the case portion 261. A vent portion 305 is exposed in the side air passage 264. Further, the case portion 261 is provided with a compressor case 265 that accommodates the compressor 307 and a communication fan case 266 that accommodates the communication fan 263 adjacent to each other. The internal space of the compressor case 265 and the internal space of the communication fan case 266 communicate with the side air passage 264.

A slit 262 (inflow opening) communicating with the outside is formed in the compressor case 265. Similarly, the communication fan case 266 is formed with a ventilation hole (not shown) that communicates with the outside.

The compressor 307 generates heat when it starts operating. In the second embodiment, the heat generated by the operation of the compressor 307 is used to melt the ice in the evaporator 302.

During a thawing operation to thaw the frozen evaporator 302, the damper 256 closes the bypass air passage 255 and the communication fan 263 is operated so that circulating air flows into the evaporator 302. When the communication fan 263 is operated during the deicing operation, outside air (air) is taken in through the slit 262 of the compressor case 265, and the taken outside air is heated by the heat radiation of the compressor 307. The heated outside air flows through the side air passage 264, contacts the vent portion 305 exposed in the side air passage 264, and imparts heat to the vent portion 305. The outside air that has given heat to the vent section 305 flows into the communication fan case 266 and is exhausted to the outside through the ventilation port by the communication fan 263.

According to the second embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the heat radiation of the compressor 307 can be used to heat the evaporator 302 with a relatively simple configuration, and power consumption can be reduced. .

Next, Example 3 of the present invention will be described using FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a partially sectional perspective view of a heat pump unit 300 according to Example 3 of the present invention. Components common to those in Examples 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the third embodiment, a side air passage 264 is formed on the outside of the partition plate 253 that constitutes a part of the case portion 261. A vent portion 305 is exposed in the side air passage 264. Furthermore, a compressor case 265 that accommodates the compressor 307 is provided adjacent to the case portion 261 . The internal space of the compressor case 265 communicates with the side air passage 264.

A first pipe 309 having good heat conductivity is wound around the side body of the compressor 307 and fixed in contact with the first pipe 309 . A second pipe 310 having good heat conductivity is fixed in contact with the vent portion 305 of the evaporator 302 . A drain pan 311 is arranged below the evaporator 302 to receive drain water from the evaporator 302 after the ice has been melted. The case portion 261 is equipped with a pump 312 that sucks up drain water, and one end of the pump 312 on the suction side is connected to the drain portion 311a of the drain pan 311. The other end of the pump 312, which is the discharge side, is connected to one end of the first pipe 309. That is, the pump 312 is disposed between the drain pan 311 and the first pipe 309 and has a function of sucking up drain water from the drain pan 311 and sending it to the first pipe 309 .

The other end of the first pipe 309 is connected to one end of the second pipe 310, and the drain water that has passed through the second pipe 310 is drained from the other end of the second pipe 310. Drainage from the second pipe 310 is drained to the outside of the drum-type washer/dryer 100 via the drain hose 26. It is preferable to install a filter (not shown) on the suction side of the pump 312 to remove impurities such as lint.

When the ice-melting operation is performed and drain water accumulates in the drain pan 311, the pump 312 is driven to suck up the drain water. Drain water discharged from the pump 312 flows along a first pipe 309 disposed on the side body of the compressor 307 , becomes hot water due to heat radiation from the compressor 307 , and flows into the second pipe 310 . Since the second pipe 310 is in contact with the vent section 305, the heat of the hot water is radiated to the vent section 305.

According to the third embodiment, with the above configuration, the evaporator 302 can be heated at a temperature level close to the heat radiation temperature of the compressor 307, and power consumption can be reduced.

In the third embodiment described above, the drain water from the drain pan 311 is used, but instead of using the drain water, a flow path branched from the water supply valve (not shown) is connected to the first pipe 309, and the water supply is connected to the first pipe 309. A configuration using water may also be used. In this case, water pressure can be used, so the pump 312 is not needed, and clean water free of impurities such as lint can be used, so a filter for removing impurities is not needed.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes various modifications. For example, the embodiments described above are described in detail to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to having all the configurations described. Furthermore, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of one embodiment with the configuration of another embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Further, it is possible to add, delete, or replace a part of the configuration of each embodiment with other configurations.

1... Housing, 1a... Side plate, 1c... Front cover, 1d... Back cover, 1e... Top cover, 1h... Base, 2... Ventilation fan, 4... Conductivity sensor, 5... Suspension, 9... Door, 10... Bellows , 12, 13... Operation switch, 14... Display, 16... Water supply solenoid valve, 17... Overflow hose, 18... Circulation pump, 20... Outer tank, 26... Drainage hose, 29... Drum, 30... Laundry, 31... Fluid balancer, 33... Lifter, 34... Metal flange for rotating drum, 35... Main shaft, 36... Drum drive motor, 37... Drain port, 47... Power switch, 54... Water receiver, 54b... Circulation discharge port, 90 ...Control device, 100...Drum type washer/dryer, 110...Microcomputer, 111...Operation pattern database, 112...Process control section, 113...Rotation speed calculation section, 114...Clothing weight calculation section, 115...Conductivity measurement section, 116 ... Detergent amount/washing time determining section, 117... Turbidity determination section, 118... Threshold value storage section, 203... Blowing nozzle, 222... Lint filter, 223... Watering nozzle, 251... Warm air duct, 252... Air blowing duct section, 253... Partition plate, 254... Duct connection part, 255... Bypass air path, 256... Damper, 257... Exhaust port, 258... Filter, 259... Cleaning means, 260... Inlet port, 261... Case part, 262... Slit, 263 ...Communication fan, 264...Side air passage, 265...Compressor case, 266...Communication fan case, 271...Water supply port, 300...Heat pump unit, 301...Condenser, 302...Evaporator, 303...Fin, 304...Transmission Heat pipe, 305... Vent section, 306... Heater, 307... Compressor, 308... Expansion valve, 309... First pipe, 310... Second pipe, 311... Drain pan, 311a... Drain section, 312... Pump, M10... Motor, T1, T2, T3, T4...Temperature sensor, T1a, T1b...Exhaust temperature, T4a, T4b...Hot air temperature, V1...Drain valve

Claims (8)

an outer tank capable of storing liquid therein, a drum rotatably supported within the outer tank and containing laundry, a blower fan that blows air to the drum and circulates the air, and dehumidifies and heats the circulating air. Equipped with a heat pump unit that
The heat pump unit includes a compressor, a condenser disposed in a ventilation path through which circulating air flows, an evaporator located within the ventilation path through which circulating air flows and upstream of the condenser, and the A washer/dryer comprising an expansion means provided in a pipe connecting a condenser and the evaporator,
The ventilation path includes a bypass air path that bypasses the evaporator and communicates with the condenser,
The washer/dryer is characterized in that the heat pump unit is provided with a switching means for opening and closing the bypass air passage to switch between the bypass air passage and a ventilation passage flowing into the evaporator. In claim 1,
The washer/dryer is characterized in that during a freezing operation in which the evaporator is frozen, the switching means opens the bypass air passage so that circulating air can pass through the bypass air passage. In claim 2,
A washer/dryer characterized in that during a freezing operation in which the evaporator is frozen, the expansion means is throttled more than during a laundry drying operation. In claim 1,
A washer/dryer characterized in that during a thawing operation in which the frozen evaporator is thawed, the bypass air passage is closed by the switching means so that circulating air flows into the evaporator. In claim 4,
A washer/dryer characterized in that the compressor is stopped during the ice-melting operation. In any one of claims 1 to 5,
The heat pump unit includes a partition plate formed on a side surface of the ventilation path,
a vent portion of the evaporator is projected from the partition plate and exposed outside the ventilation path;
A washing/drying machine characterized in that a heating means is arranged so as to be in contact with the vent portion exposed outside the ventilation path. In any one of claims 1 to 5,
The heat pump unit includes a case portion that accommodates the condenser, the evaporator, and the expansion means, a partition wall that partitions the case portion into the ventilation path and the side air path, and communicates with the side air path. comprising a compressor case that accommodates the compressor, and a communication fan case that communicates with the side air passage and accommodates a communication fan;
The compressor case includes an inflow opening that communicates with the outside,
The communication fan case includes a ventilation hole that communicates with the outside,
A washing/drying machine characterized in that a vent portion of the evaporator is exposed to the side air passage. In any one of claims 1 to 5,
The heat pump unit includes a case portion that accommodates the condenser, the evaporator, and the expansion means, a partition wall that partitions the case portion into the ventilation path and the side air path, and communicates with the side air path. a compressor case that houses the compressor; a drain pan that is disposed below the evaporator and receives defrosted drain water from the evaporator; and a first pipe that is wrapped around a side body of the compressor. a pump disposed between the drain pan and the first pipe to suck up drain water from the drain pan and send it to the first pipe; and the evaporator connected to the first pipe and exposed to the side air passage. A washer/dryer comprising: a second pipe disposed in contact with a vent portion of the washing/drying machine.

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