JP2714323B2 - Dry cleaning machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dry cleaning machine for cleaning, draining and drying in the same drum.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a dry cleaning machine of this type is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-26849. This solvent is heated during washing, the solvent used in the solvent tank is returned to the solvent tank during the dewatering step, the solvent in the solvent tank is purified through a filter during the drying step, and the solvent temperature is reduced by a solvent cooler. And then returned to the solvent tank again.
The solvent cooler is partially supplied with cooling water for a drying cooler that condenses and recovers a solvent gas contained in air circulating through the drum and the circulation air passage during the drying process.

[0003]

In the above conventional example,
Cooling water supplied to the solvent cooler and the drying cooler (gas cooler) is cooled by a cooling device called a water chiller. This cooling device cools the cooling water by circulating a refrigerant in the device with a compressor.

[0004] In order to increase the cooling capacity of the solvent cooler or the drying cooler, and to increase the solvent cooling heat retention power of the solvent cooler or the solvent gas condensation and recovery power of the drying cooler, the cooling capacity of the cooling device may be increased. In the winter season, the cooling water may be too cold and freeze, and in order to protect it, an anti-freezing device may be activated or the compressor ON-O
The frequency of the flip-flop increases, and a failure easily occurs.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, it is sufficient to lower the cooling capacity of the cooling device. , The air temperature in the drum is not reduced by the cooler for drying, and the solvent condensation / recovery capacity is reduced accordingly.

In this case, if the solvent uses a petroleum-based solvent, air containing a large amount of solvent gas cannot be completely condensed by the drying cooler, is heated by the drying heater, and is supplied again into the drum. As the temperature in the interior rises, there is a danger that the solvent gas concentration in the drum will rise due to the evaporation of the clothing and the amount of solvent gas in the drum, which will cause the clothing to burn and the solvent gas in the drum to explode. Generally, when the solvent gas concentration reaches from 0.6% to 1.0%, it is considered to be the lower explosive limit concentration.

Further, in order to avoid burning of clothes in the drum and explosion of solvent gas, the temperature near the outlet of the drying cooler is monitored, and if the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the operation may be stopped. Then, the number of stoppages of the product increases and the reliability of the product decreases.

[0008] The present invention is to solve such a problem.

[0009]

Means of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems are as follows. An outer tub and a rotatably disposed inside the outer tub for storing, washing, draining and drying laundry. A drum for performing a process, a solvent tank for storing a cleaning solvent, a gas cooler for cooling and condensing the solvent gas, and a circulation for circulating air containing the solvent gas provided through the drum and the gas cooler. An air path, a heater for drying provided in the circulation air path for heating air supplied into the drum, a solvent cooler for cooling the solvent, and cooling water for the gas cooler and the solvent cooler. Cooling water supply means for supplying, a circulation pipe for supplying and circulating the solvent in the solvent tank to the solvent tank again via the solvent cooler, a temperature detection means provided at an outlet of the gas cooler, Inspection When detecting a predetermined temperature by means, a configuration in which a cooling control means for instructing the stop of the supply of cooling water to the solvent cooler to the cooling water supply means.

[0010]

In other words, if the air temperature in the drum containing the solvent gas increases due to room temperature, operation frequency, drying temperature, etc. and the cooling capacity of the gas cooler becomes insufficient, the outlet temperature of the gas cooler also increases. When the temperature detecting means detects a predetermined temperature at which the cooling capacity is determined to be insufficient, the cooling control means instructs the cooling water supply means to stop supplying the cooling water to the solvent cooler, and instructs the gas cooler to perform the corresponding cooling. Water is supplied to increase the cooling capacity.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an outer tub, and 2 denotes a drum. The drum 2 is rotatably provided in the outer tub 1 for storing clothes, washing, draining, drying and deodorizing. For performing each of the steps. Reference numeral 3 denotes a solvent tank, which includes a drain tank 3a for storing a solvent used for cleaning and a storage tank 3b for storing a purified solvent to be used for cleaning. Reference numeral 6 denotes a pump for pumping the solvent from the solvent tank 3, reference numeral 7 denotes a filter, which comprises a first filter 7a for mainly removing fatty acids from the solvent and a second filter 7b for mainly decolorizing the solvent.

8 is a solvent cooler for cooling the solvent,
The cooler 8 is provided with a cooling water pipe 8a through which cooling water passes, and a liquid temperature thermistor 8b near the outlet of the solvent cooler 8 for detecting the temperature of the solvent.
The cooling water valve V9 connected to the cooling water pipe 8a is opened and closed so that the temperature detected at 15 ° C. is maintained at 15 ° C. to 17 ° C.

9 is a solvent heater for heating the solvent,
A double cylinder comprising an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, wherein the inner surface of the inner cylinder through which the solvent flows is made of copper, spiral fins are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder, and a heating source is provided between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. As steam comes in.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a circulation air passage provided through the drum 2. The circulating air passage 10 is provided so as to communicate from the outer tub outlet 11 to the outer tub inlet 12 of the outer tub 1. The fan 14 for sucking and circulating the air into the circulation air passage 10, the air (hot air) in the drum 1 is cooled by cooling water, and the gas cooler 15 for condensing the solvent gas contained in the air is cooled by the gas cooler 15. A drying heater 16 for heating the air again is provided.

Further, an exhaust valve 17 provided in the vicinity of the fan 14 for discharging mist and solvent gas generated in the drum 1 to the outside of the circulation air passage 10 for sucking fresh air from outside. And a gas thermistor 21 provided near the outlet of the gas cooler 15 and serving as temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the air coming out of the gas cooler 15.

The exhaust valve 17 operates so as to open the circulating air passage 10 when the exhaust port 19 is closed, and to open the exhaust port 19 when the circulating air passage 10 is closed. The intake valve 18 opens the circulation air passage 10 when the intake port 20 is closed,
When the intake port 20 is opened, an operation is performed to close the circulation air passage 10 side.

During the drying step, the air in the drum 2 is circulated through the air path 10 by the fan 14 in the drying step, and the circulated air is cooled by the gas cooler 15 to condense and recover the solvent gas. Thereafter, the circulating air is heated by the drying heater 16 and supplied again as drying air into the drum 2.

Reference numeral 22 denotes a water separator that removes water from the solvent condensed by the gas cooler 15 and supplies it to the drain tank 3a. Reference numeral 23 denotes a button trap that removes buttons and the like from the circulating solvent during cleaning. Reference numeral 24 denotes a solvent during cleaning. Soap tank for storing soap to supply to the heater 25, solvent heater 9
And a steam supply device for supplying steam to the heater 16 for drying, and 26 is a solvent cooler 8 and a gas cooler 15.
A cooling water supply device for supplying cooling water to the steam generator, wherein steam and cooling water circulate through the respective supply devices.

Solvent tank 3, pump 6, filter 7,
The solvent cooler 8 and the solvent heater 9 are connected to each other by a circulation line 27 and a valve provided at an appropriate position to form a closed loop.

Regarding the valve, V1 is the storage tank 3
V2 is a valve that opens to supply the solvent in the circulation line 27 to the circulation line 27, and V2 is a valve that opens the solvent in the drain tank 3a to the circulation line 27.
V3 is a valve that opens to supply the solvent discharged from the pump 6 to the drain tank 3a, V4 is a valve that opens to bypass the filter 7, and V5 is a valve that opens from the pump 6. V6 is a switching valve for switching the supply of the solvent that has passed through the circulation line 27 to the drum 1 through the storage tank 3b or the supply line 28.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a solvent discharge port provided at the bottom of the outer tank 1, which is connected to a circulation line 27 between the solvent tank 3 and the pump 6 via a button trap 23 and a valve V7. Further, a soap tank 24 is connected via a valve V8 between the connection portion of the valve V7 and the circulation pipe line 27, and the cleaning valve V8 is opened to mix the soap into the solvent.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a cooling water pipe for supplying the cooling water of the cooling water supply device 26 to the solvent cooler 8 and the gas cooler 15, and a solvent cooler pipe 31 for supplying the cooling water to the solvent cooler 8 via a valve V9 and a gas supply line. It branches to a gas cooler tube 32 that supplies cooling water to the cooler 15.

A steam pipe 33 supplies steam from the steam supply device 25 to the solvent heater 9 and the drying heater 16 via a valve V10. A solvent heater pipe 34 supplies the solvent heater 9 via a valve V11.
And the drying heater tube 3 to be supplied to the drying heater 16
It branches to 5. The steam supplied to the drying heater 16 is returned to the steam supply device 25 via the valve V12.

In FIG. 2, the components having the same reference numerals as those described above are the same and will not be described.

Reference numeral 36 denotes a motor for rotating the drum 2, 4
Is a control device for driving and controlling the dry cleaning machine. The control device 4 includes a cooling control device 5 that controls the temperature of the solvent cooler 8 based on the temperature detected by the liquid temperature thermistor 8b and the temperature of the gas cooler 15 based on the temperature detected by the gas thermistor 21.

In such a configuration, when washing clothes, each step of washing, dewatering, drying and deodorizing is executed.

In the cleaning step, only the valves V1 and V5 are opened and the switching valve V6 is opened to the supply line 28 side, and the pump 6 is driven to supply the solvent into the drum 2
A predetermined amount is supplied through 8. Thereafter, the motor 36 is driven to rotate the drum 2 for a predetermined time to wash the clothes.

During this time, only the valves V5, V7 and V8 are opened, the switching valve V6 is opened on the supply line 28 side, and the drum 2 → outer tank outlet 29 → button trap 23 → valve V7 → pump 6 → filter A closed path of 7 → solvent cooler 8 → solvent heater 9 → supply line 28 → drum 2 is formed, and the pump 6 is driven to circulate the solvent. This is because the solvent is kept at a solvent temperature (25 ° C. to 35 ° C.) suitable for cleaning by the solvent cooler 8 and the solvent heater 9.

Further, about two minutes before the end of the cleaning step, the solvent is heated by the solvent heater 9 so as to be higher than the temperature at the time of cleaning. This is to increase the temperature of the solvent to lower the viscosity of the solvent, thereby making it easier to separate the solvent from the garment, and to shorten the time required for the liquid removal in the next step.

In the liquid removing step, the motor 36 is rotated at a high speed, only the valves V7 and V3 are opened, and the pump 6 is driven to supply the solvent in the drum 2 to the drain tank 3a. If all the solvent in the drum 2 has been supplied to the drain tank 3a, the process ends.

In the drying step, the exhaust port 1 is
9 and closing the intake port 20 with the intake valve 18,
The fan 14 is driven for a predetermined time to circulate the air in the drum 2 in the circulation air passage 10. In the circulation air passage 10, first, a solvent contained in the air is condensed and removed by a gas cooler 15, and then heated by a drying heater 16 and supplied to the drum 2.

During this time, only the valves V2 and V5 are opened, and the switching valve V6 is opened toward the storage tank 3b.
The pump 6 is driven to move the solvent from the drain tank 3a to the storage tank 3b. This is because, in order to use the solvent used in the washing for the next washing, removal of the fatty acid and decolorization of the solvent are performed by the filter 7 and the solvent is cooled by the solvent cooler 8.

In the deodorizing step, the exhaust valve 17 is
9 is opened, the intake valve 20 is opened by the intake valve 18, and the fan 14 is driven for a predetermined time to take in fresh air into the drum 2, and the air is applied to clothing to remove the smell of the solvent.

The drying step of the above steps will be further described with reference to FIG. In the drying step, first, the valves V2 and V5 are opened (S1), the switching tank Vb side of the switching valve V6 is opened (S2), and the pump 6 is driven (S3) to remove the solvent in the drain tank 3a. The transfer is started, and the fan 14 is driven (S4) to start the air circulation in the drum 2.

Next, the valve V9 is opened (S5), and the cooling water from the cooling water supply device 26 is supplied to the cooling water pipe 8a of the solvent cooler 8. The cooling water from the cooling water supply device 26 is always supplied to the gas cooler 15.

The solvent in the drain tank 3a is stored in the storage tank 3
After the transfer to the valve b, the valve V2 is closed and the valve V1 is opened (S6), and the storage tank 3b → the pump 6 → the filter 7 → the solvent cooler 8 → the solvent heater 9 → the switching valve V
6 → The circulation of the solvent is started through the path of the storage tank 3b.

Thereafter, the detected temperature of the liquid temperature thermistor 8b,
That is, the temperature of the solvent is detected to determine whether the temperature is 15 ° C. or less (S7). Since the solvent is kept at about 30 ° C. in all the washing steps, it is determined that the temperature is 15 ° C. or more here.

If it is determined that the temperature is 15 ° C. or more, the detected temperature of the gas thermistor 21, that is, the outlet temperature of the gas cooler 15 becomes 1
It is determined whether the temperature is 8 ° C. or higher (S8). Here, since it has just been started, the outlet temperature is determined to be 18 ° C. or less.

Then, it is determined whether or not the drying time has elapsed (S9), and the process returns to step S5 to repeat the same operation again.

As the time elapses, the solvent is cooled and the liquid temperature drops. If the temperature is detected to be 15 ° C. or less in step S7,
The valve V9 is closed (S10), and it is determined whether the liquid temperature has reached 17 ° C. or higher (S11).

If it is determined that the temperature is not lower than 17 ° C., the valve V9 is opened (S12), and the process returns to step S5. If it is determined that the temperature is 17 ° C. or less, it is determined whether the outlet temperature is 18 ° C. or more, similarly to step S8 (S1).
2). If the temperature is not equal to or higher than 18 ° C., it is determined whether the drying time has elapsed (S13), and the process returns to step S10.

When it is determined in step S9 or S13 that the drying time has elapsed, the pump 6 is stopped,
The valves V1 and V6 are closed, and the valve V9 is closed to shift to the next deodorizing step.

During the drying process, when the temperature of the air in the drum 2 is high and the cooling capacity of the gas cooler 15 becomes insufficient, the outlet temperature of the gas cooler 15 increases. This temperature is detected by the gas thermistor 21, and if it is determined in step S8 or step S12 that the temperature is 18 ° C. or higher, the pump 6
Is stopped (S14), and the valves V1 and V5 are closed (S1).
Along with 5), the valve V9 is closed (S16), the supply of the cooling water to the solvent cooler 8 is stopped, and the corresponding amount is supplied to the gas cooler 15, so that the cooling capacity of the gas cooler 15 is increased. This state is maintained until it is determined that the drying time has elapsed (S17). After the elapse of the drying time, the drying step is finished and the process proceeds to the next step of deodorization.

From the above, when the cooling capacity of the gas cooler 15 is insufficient, the amount of the solvent condensed in the gas cooler 15 decreases, and the solvent gas concentration in the drum 2 increases,
Since the clothes may catch fire or the solvent gas may explode, the cooling water used for the solvent cooler 8 can be supplied to the gas cooler 15 to increase the cooling capacity.

[0045]

According to the present invention, the cooling capacity of the gas cooler can be eliminated, and air containing no solvent gas can be supplied to the drum. Accidents such as gas explosion can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a dry cleaning machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a control block of the dry cleaning machine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an operation flowchart of a drying process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer tank 2 Drum 3 Solvent tank 8 Solvent cooler 10 Circulating air path 15 Gas cooler 21 Gas thermistor (temperature detecting means) 26 Cooling water supply device 27 Circulating conduit 39 Cooling control device

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An outer tub, a drum rotatably arranged in the outer tub, for storing laundry, performing washing, draining, and drying steps, and a solvent tank for storing a cleaning solvent. A gas cooler for cooling and condensing the solvent gas, a circulation air passage provided through the drum and the gas cooler for circulating air containing the solvent gas, and a heater for heating the air supplied into the drum. A drying heater provided in a circulation air passage, a solvent cooler for cooling the solvent, a cooling water supply unit for supplying cooling water to the gas cooler and the solvent cooler, and a solvent in the solvent tank for the solvent. A circulation pipe for supplying and circulating again to the solvent tank via a cooler, a temperature detection means installed at the gas cooler outlet, and when the temperature detection means detects a predetermined temperature, the cooling water supply means A dry cleaning machine comprising a cooling control means for instructing a stop of supply of cooling water to a solvent cooler.