JP3151976B2 - Clothes dryer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a clothes dryer for circulating warm air into a rotating drum driven by a motor to dry clothes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, household clothes dryers have become widespread, and there has been a demand for reducing operating noise during driving.

Conventionally, this type of clothes dryer is configured such that the rotating drum is driven to rotate at a substantially constant rotational speed, and the temperature of the hot air circulated in the rotating drum is controlled to be substantially constant. Was common.

[0004]

In such a conventional clothes dryer, a heating means such as a PTC heater is turned on and off in order to control the temperature of the hot air circulated in the rotating drum to be substantially constant. In the temperature control mode, the heater current is controlled every time the PTC heater is turned on and off.
There has been a problem that the rotation speed fluctuation becomes large and the noise becomes high. In addition, the intermittent operation of the rotary drum after the drying operation has a problem that the operation time is long, the intermittent drive operation is performed, and the rotational speed of the rotary drum is constant.

[0005] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and sets an optimum rotation speed of a rotating drum for each operation process.
It aims to reduce driving noise and noise.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a rotating drum for drying clothes, a blowing means for circulating warm air into the rotating drum, and a blowing path into the rotating drum. Heating means, a motor for rotating the blowing means or the rotating drum, a rotation detecting means for detecting the number of rotations or a rotation cycle of the rotating drum, the motor, etc., and a temperature for detecting the temperature inside the rotating drum. Detection means, and control means for inputting signals from the rotation detection means and the temperature detection means to control the number of rotations of the motor or the heating means, wherein the control means detects a temperature detected by the temperature detection means. A first drying process until the temperature reaches a set value, a second drying process after the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means reaches a set value, and a rotation after the first or second drying process is completed. Has a ram intermittent operation step, the second
In the drying step, the rotating drum is rotated at a constant speed.
Control in the intermittent operation step.
The number of rotations is lower than the number of rotations in the second drying process.
The first problem-solving means is to intermittently drive the above operation .

Further, in addition to the first means for solving the above-mentioned problems, there is provided a current detecting means for detecting a current of the heating means, and a current comparing and setting means for inputting an output of the current detecting means. In the drying step 1, the current detection
The current of the sensing means does not exceed or fall below the specified current value
As in accordance with the output signal of the previous SL current comparison setting means, and that it has to <br/> so that to control the rotational speed of the rotary drum and blowing means interlocked to the second means for solving problems.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided:
In the first drying step until the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means reaches the set value, the set number of rotations is controlled by the current of the heating means to control the number of rotations of the rotating drum. In the second drying step after reaching the set value, the rotation speed of the rotating drum is controlled to be constant,
Further, in the intermittent operation step of the rotating drum after the completion of the first or second drying step, the rotation speed of the rotating drum is controlled to be low. Therefore, it is possible to set the optimal rotation speed of the rotating drum for each of the drying operation steps, and it is possible to reduce the operation noise and the noise.

[0009] The rotary drum intermittent operation process after completion Drying operation long operation time, for controlling low rotational speed of the rotation drum a intermittent driving operation, it can be reduced operating noise, noise.

Further, on the pressurized thermal means, even at a temperature adjustment mode to off, for controlling the constant substantially limit the controllable rotation speed range the rotational speed of the rotary drum, operating noise,
Noise can be reduced.

Further, according to the second means for solving the problem, the number of revolutions of the rotating drum at the start of operation can be controlled by the current flowing through the heating means, and the number of revolutions of the blowing means interlocked with the rotating drum can be reduced. Sound and noise can be reduced.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in the figure, a rotary drum 1 is for storing and drying an object to be dried (clothing), and hot air is circulated in the rotary drum 1 by a heat exchange type double-wing fan (blower means) 2. The heat exchange type double-wing fan 2 circulates warm air in the rotating drum 1 and simultaneously takes in air from the outside to cool the fan and dehumidifies the circulating air in the rotating drum 1. P
The TC heater (heating means) 3 is disposed in a blowing path to the rotary drum 1, that is, in a circulating air intake, and heats circulating air. The filter 4 is provided in a blowing path of the heat exchange type double-wing fan 2, that is, an air outlet of the air in the rotating drum 1. If the filter 4 is clogged by lint or the like, the amount of air to be blown is reduced, the heating power of the PTC heater 3 is reduced, and the drying time is prolonged and the drying efficiency is reduced. The motor 5 drives the rotary drum 1 and the heat exchange type double-blade fan 2 to rotate. By controlling the rotation speed of the motor 5, the rotation speed of the rotary drum 1 and the heat exchange type double-blade fan 2 can be controlled.
The amount of heat generated by the heater 3 can be controlled, and current control can be performed. The temperature detecting means 6 detects an exhaust gas temperature corresponding to the temperature inside the rotary drum 1 and is attached to an exhaust port of the rotary drum 1.

The rotation detecting means 7 detects the number of rotations of the rotating drum 1, and attaches a magnet 8 to the rotating drum 1 to 3-6.
The magnetic sensor (not shown) is fixed to the main body, and the rotation speed of the rotating drum 1 is detected. The control means 9 controls the rotation speed of the motor 5 and the PTC heater 3.
Rotation speed setting means 10 for setting the rotation speed of rotary drum 1
A rotational speed comparing means 11 for comparing the output of the rotational detecting means 7 with an output of the rotational speed setting means 10;
A conduction angle control means 13 for controlling a conduction angle of the bidirectional thyristor 12 connected in series to the motor 5 by the output of
Current comparison setting means 1 for inputting the output of current detection means 14
5 and temperature control means 1 for inputting the output of temperature detection means 6
6 and a process control means 17 for controlling the operation process. The difference between the rotation speed of the rotary drum 1 detected by the rotation detection means 7 and the set rotation speed from the rotation speed setting means 10 is compared with the rotation speed. Means 11 for comparing the conduction angle control means 13
Controls the bidirectional thyristor 12 to control the rotation speed of the motor 5. Phase control is considered as the simplest conduction time control method. In the case of an inverter, not only the conduction time but also the frequency is controlled. In this way, stable rotation control of the motor 5 and the rotating drum 1 can be performed.

The control means 9 includes a current control mode (first drying step) until the temperature detected by the temperature detection means 6 reaches a set value, and a control mode after the temperature detected by the temperature detection means 6 reaches the set value. The number of rotations of the rotary drum 1 is controlled in accordance with the temperature control mode (second drying step) and the respective steps of the intermittent operation of the rotary drum after the current control mode or the temperature control mode. That is, the process control means 17
The output of the temperature control means 16 to which the output of the temperature detection means 6 for detecting the temperature of the circulating air to the rotating drum 1 is input, and the second drying after the temperature detected by the temperature detection means 6 reaches a set value. In the process, while controlling the rotation speed set by the rotation speed setting means 10 so that the rotation speed of the rotating drum 1 becomes a constant rotation speed, in the rotating drum intermittent operation process,
The set number of revolutions of the revolution number setting means 10 is controlled so that the number of revolutions of the rotating drum 1 becomes low. Further, the relay contacts 18a, 18b connected to the PTC heaters 3a, 3b are controlled by the output of the temperature control means 16,
The PTC heaters 3a and 3b are turned on and off to control the temperature of the circulating air.

The current detecting means 14 includes a current transformer 1
9 and a current-voltage conversion circuit 20, which detects the input current of the PTC heater 3 and outputs the output to the current comparison setting means 1.
Enter 5 The current comparison setting means 15 compares the set current value of the PTC heater 3 with the output of the current detection means 14,
The output is input to the rotation speed setting means 10 to control the set rotation speed. Here, the set rotation speed set by the rotation speed setting means 10 is set such that the current of the PTC heater 3 does not become equal to or more than a predetermined current value.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of one embodiment of the present invention.
1, the initial rotation speed is low as shown in FIG. 5 (36 rpm)
After setting the current control mode, step 32
Turns on the motor 5. In step 33, it is determined whether or not the current control mode is set. If the current control mode is set, the process proceeds to step 34, where the PTC heater 3 is turned on. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step 35, where the current detecting means 14
The current of the C heater 3 is detected, and the set number of revolutions of the number of revolutions setting means 10 is controlled via the current comparison setting means 15. At step 36, the number of revolutions of the motor 5 is controlled by the set number of revolutions. The operation at this time will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

At step 51, a one second timer is set.
In step 52, the current is detected by the current detecting means 14,
In step 53, the current comparison setting means 15 calculates an error from the current set value. This calculation result is used as the rotation speed setting means 1
In step 54, the rotation cycle of the rotating drum 1 is calculated and set according to the calculation result. Then, the cycle Ts calculated and set in step 55 is compared with the maximum cycle Tsmax. If the cycle Ts is longer than the maximum cycle Tsmax, the process proceeds to step 56, and the maximum cycle Tsmax is set as the set cycle. If the cycle Ts is smaller than the maximum cycle Tsmax, the process proceeds to step 57, where the calculated cycle Ts is compared with the minimum cycle Tsmin.
Is smaller than the minimum period Tsmin, the process proceeds to step 58, and the process proceeds to step 59 using the minimum period Tsmin as a set period. When the cycle Ts is larger than the minimum cycle Tsmin, the process proceeds to step 59. Therefore, the set cycle Ts set by the rotation speed setting means 12 is set smaller than the maximum cycle Tsmax and larger than the minimum cycle Tsmin.

In step 59, it is determined whether or not a rotation detection signal has been input from the rotation detection means 7. If the rotation detection signal has been input, in step 60, the rotation period T
And proceeds to step 61. In step 61, the rotation speed comparing means 13 detects an error from the set period Ts and proceeds to step 62, where it is determined whether the detected error is within the set range. If the detected error is within the set range, the next step (step in FIG. Proceed to 36). If the detected error is not within the set range, the process proceeds to step 63, where the control phase is calculated and set by the conduction angle control means 13, and the rotation speed of the rotary drum 1 is controlled to the rotation speed set by the rotation speed setting means 10. Then proceed to the next step. In step 59, if the rotation detection signal has not been input from the rotation detection means 7, the process proceeds to the next step.

At step 37 in FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not the detected temperature of the temperature detecting means 6 has reached a set value, and when it is determined at time t1 in FIG. 5 that the detected temperature of the temperature detecting means 6 is not less than the set value. Proceeding to step 38, the current control mode is released and the temperature control mode is entered. At step 39, the PTC heater 3 is turned off. At step 40, the set number of revolutions of the revolution number setting means 10 is kept constant by the output of the process control means 17. The rotation speed of the rotary drum 1 is controlled to a constant high speed (45 rpm). If the detected temperature of the temperature detecting means 6 is not equal to or higher than the set value in step 37, the process proceeds to step 41, where P
The TC heater 3 is turned on. Thereafter, it is determined in step 42 whether or not drying has been completed. If drying has not been completed, the process returns to step 33, and the above operation is repeated through steps 33 to 36. If it is determined in step 42 (time t2 in FIG. 5) that the drying is completed, the process proceeds to step 43, where the rotary drum 1 is operated intermittently by entering a rotary drum intermittent operation step. At this time, the rotation speed of the rotary drum 1 is controlled to be low as shown in FIG.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the control means 9 controls the current control mode until the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 reaches the set value, and the control means 9 sets the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means 6 to the set value. The number of rotations of the rotating drum 1 is controlled in accordance with each of the temperature control mode after the current control mode and the intermittent operation of the rotary drum 1 after the current control mode or the temperature control mode is completed. Since the rotation speed is controlled to be constant, even in the temperature control mode in which the PTC heater 3 is turned on and off, the rotation speed of the rotating drum 1 is controlled to be constant, so that operation noise and noise can be reduced. Since the number of rotations of the rotating drum in the intermittent operation of the rotating drum is controlled to be low, the intermittent operation of the rotating drum after the end of the drying operation has a long operation time. To control reduced the number can be reduced operating noise, noise.

[0022]

As is apparent from the above embodiments, according to the present invention, a rotating drum for drying clothes, a blowing means for circulating warm air into the rotating drum, and a blowing path to the rotating drum Heating means, a motor for rotating the blowing means or the rotating drum, a rotation detecting means for detecting the number of rotations or a rotation cycle of the rotating drum, the motor, etc., and a temperature for detecting the temperature inside the rotating drum. Detection means, and control means for inputting signals from the rotation detection means and the temperature detection means to control the number of rotations of the motor or the heating means, wherein the control means detects a temperature detected by the temperature detection means. A first drying step until the temperature reaches the set value, a second drying step after the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means reaches the set value, and a rotation driving after the first or second drying step. Has a beam intermittent operation step, the second
In the drying process, the rotating drum rotates at a constant rotation speed
Control in the intermittent operation step.
The number of revolutions at a lower number of revolutions than during the second drying step.
Since the operation is performed intermittently, it is possible to set the optimum rotation drum rotation speed for each of the operation processes,
Driving noise and noise can be reduced.

Further, the control means controls the rotational speed of the rotary drum in the intermittent operation of the rotary drum to substantially the lower limit of the controllable rotational speed range. Even during the intermittent drive operation, the number of rotations of the rotary drum is controlled to be low, so that the operation noise and noise can be reduced.

In the second drying step after the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means has reached the set value or more, the control means controls the rotational speed of the rotary drum to substantially the upper limit within the controllable rotational speed range. I turned on the heating means,
Even in the temperature control mode in which the rotating drum is turned off, the number of rotations of the rotating drum is controlled to be constant, so that the operating noise and the noise can be reduced.

Furthermore, comprising a current detecting means for detecting a current of the heating means, and a current comparator setting means for inputting an output of said current detecting means, the control means, in the first drying step, the current sensing means The current is above a certain current value or
In accordance with the output signal of the previous SL current comparison setting means so as not to hereinafter of the rotary drum and blowing means interlocked thereto
Since the number of revolutions is controlled, the number of revolutions of the rotating drum at the start of operation can be controlled by the current flowing to the heating means, the number of revolutions of the blowing means linked to the rotating drum can be reduced, and the operating noise and noise can be reduced. Can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the clothes dryer.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the clothes dryer.

FIG. 4 is a subroutine flowchart for controlling the number of revolutions of the clothes dryer.

FIG. 5 is an operation time chart of the clothes dryer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 rotating drum 2 heat exchange type double wing fan (blowing means) 3 PTC heater (heating means) 5 motor 6 temperature detecting means 7 rotation detecting means 9 control means

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Michibata 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. 56) References JP-A-4-240497 (JP, A) JP-A-63-5800 (JP, A) JP-A-4-99600 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , (DB name) D06F 58/28

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A rotating drum for drying clothes, blowing means for circulating warm air into the rotating drum, heating means provided in a blowing path into the rotating drum, and the blowing means or the rotating drum. A motor for rotationally driving, a rotation detecting means for detecting the number of rotations or a rotation cycle of the rotating drum, the motor, and the like; a temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature in the rotating drum; Control means for inputting a signal to control the number of rotations of the motor or the heating means, the control means comprising: a first drying step until a temperature detected by the temperature detecting means reaches a set value; A second drying step after the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means reaches a set value; and an intermittent operation step of the rotary drum after the first or second drying step is completed .
In the drying step, the rotating drum is rotated at a constant speed.
Control in the intermittent operation step.
The number of rotations is lower than the number of rotations in the second drying process.
Clothes dryer that makes the operation of the machine intermittent . A current detecting means for detecting a current wherein the heating means, and a current comparator setting means for inputting an output of said current detecting means, the control means, in the first drying step, before
When the current of the current detecting means is equal to or greater than a predetermined current value.
Not do so in response to the output signal of the previous SL current comparison setting means, rotational speed of the rotary drum and blowing means interlocked thereto
Clothes dryer of claim 1, wherein which is adapted to control.