JP3367171B2 - 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 which circulates warm air in a rotary drum which is driven by a motor to dry clothes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, household clothes dryers have become widespread. However, as hygiene-consciousness has increased, bacteria and mites attached to clothes after washing have been eradicated so that they can be removed more effectively than sun drying. A clothes dryer having a high fungal effect has been proposed.

Conventionally, in this type of clothes dryer, a rotary drum is rotatably driven at a substantially constant number of rotations, hot air is circulated, and a drying operation is performed after a preheat drying period, a constant rate drying period, and a rate reducing drying period. It is generally finished.

[0004]

In such a conventional clothes dryer, when there is a constant rate drying period in which the moist heat condition of a predetermined temperature can be maintained for a predetermined time, bacteria such as germs adhering to the clothes are removed. It can be performed. Here, it is known that the higher the constant rate drying temperature is, and the longer the constant rate drying period is, the more the bactericidal effect is improved. However, depending on the amount of clothes to be dried, the degree of wetness of the clothes, and the room temperature of the place where the clothes are used, there may be almost no constant rate drying period. However, there was a problem that the sterilization effect of was decreased.

Further, as hygiene-consciousness has increased, a further bactericidal effect is desired especially for diapers used by infants, but the above-mentioned conventional clothes dryer cannot obtain a sufficient bactericidal effect. There was a problem.

[0006] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems and makes it possible to maintain a predetermined sterilizing effect even when the amount of clothes to be dried, the degree of wetness of clothes, and the room temperature of the place of use are different, and It is intended to further improve the sterilization effect when drying hygiene-oriented clothes such as diapers.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a rotating drum for drying clothes, an air blowing means for circulating warm air into the rotating drum, and an air blowing path into the rotating drum. Heating means provided in the rotary drum
A filter provided at the exhaust port from the inside to the air blowing path,
Temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the rotating drum;
Current detection means for detecting the current of the heating means, a motor for rotationally driving the blower means or the rotary drum, rotation detection means for detecting the rotation speed or rotation cycle of the rotary drum, motor, etc., and rotation of the motor Control means for controlling the number or the heating means, and an operation setting means which is connected to the control means and can set an operation course of a rotation speed of the blower means or the rotary drum lower than a normal rotation speed, the control The means sets the output signal of the temperature detection means and the current detection means when the operation setting means sets a driving course of a rotation speed lower than the normal rotation speed .
The clogging state of the filter is judged by the output signal.
After the rotation de at low rotational speed set by the operation course
The first problem solving means is to rotate the ram .

Further, the control means of the first means for solving the problem is usually turn the rotational speed of the rotary drum when the constant rate drying operation detects the completion of the output signal of the temperature sensing means
The second problem solving means is to increase the number of turns .

[0009]

According to the first means for solving the above problems, the present invention provides:
The operation setting means can set the operation course of the rotation speed of the blower means or the rotating drum lower than the normal rotation speed, and when the operation course of the low rotation speed is set , the temperature inside the rotating drum is detected after the operation is started. Temperature detecting means,
Filter by current detection means that detects the current of heating means
-Determining the clogging condition of the fan
Since the number of rotations of the drum is lowered, the heat exchange rate, that is, the drying efficiency can be reduced, and the constant rate drying period can be lengthened, and the constant rate drying temperature can be increased. the amount of drying clothes or wet degree of the clothes, also unlike room temperature where it is used, predetermined sterilizing effect can be maintained, can be further improved its performance, the rotation of the blowing means or rotating drum Number usually rotates
Even when a driving course with a lower rotation speed is set,
Clogging state of the filter can Rukoto inform the user.

Further , by the second means for solving the problem , the rotation speed of the blower means or the rotary drum is increased to the normal rotation speed from the time when it is detected that the constant-rate drying operation is completed, so that the constant- speed drying period has a predetermined value. The sterilization effect can be maintained, and since the number of rotations of the rotary drum is high during the rate-reducing drying period, the wrinkles of the clothes can be reduced.

[0011]

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

As shown in the figure, a rotary drum 1 is for accommodating and drying an article to be dried (clothes), and hot air is circulated in the rotary drum 1 by a heat exchange type double-blade fan (blowing means) 2. . The heat exchange type double-blade fan 2 circulates warm air in the rotary drum 1 and at the same time takes in air from the outside to cool the fan and dehumidify the circulating air in the rotary drum 1.
The PTC heater (heating means) 3 is arranged in the air blowing path to the rotary drum 1, that is, in the circulating air intake, and heats the circulating air. The filter 4 is provided in the ventilation path of the heat exchange type double-blade fan 2, that is, in the air exhaust port of the rotary drum 1 so as to collect the thread waste in the circulating air.

The motor 5 rotationally drives the rotary drum 1 and the heat exchange type double-blade fan 2. By controlling the rotation speed of the motor 5, the rotation numbers of the rotary drum 1 and the heat exchange double-blade fan 2 can be controlled. , The amount of heat generated by the PTC heater 3 can be controlled, and the current can be controlled. The first thermistor 6a and the second thermistor 6b are temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the rotary drum 1, and respectively detect the air temperature before and after heat exchange by the heat exchange type double-blade fan 2. Is.

A magnet 7 attached to the rotary drum 1 and a magnetic sensor 8 fixed to the main body generate a pulse signal according to the number of revolutions of the rotary drum 1, and the rotation detecting means 9 inputs the pulse signal. The rotation speed of the rotary drum 1 is detected from the pulse cycle.

The control means 10 controls the rotation speed of the motor 5 and PT.
The C heater 3 is controlled, and the rotation speed comparison means 12 for comparing the output of the rotation detection means 9 with the output of the rotation speed setting means 11 and the conduction time of the power semiconductor element 13 by the output of the rotation speed comparison means 12 Angle control means 14 for controlling
The data from the current comparison setting means 15, the filter clogging determination means 16, the constant rate operation end detection means 17, and the first thermistor 6a for controlling the set rotation speed of the rotation speed setting means 10, and the PTC heater are input. The temperature control means 19 controls ON / OFF of the relays 18a and 18b respectively connected to 3a and 3b to control the temperature of the circulating air.

The filter clogging judging means 16 judges the clogging state of the filter 4 based on the data from the second thermistor 6b and the current detecting means 20. At the time when the clogging judgment is made or the judgment is finished (first Timing)
Then, a command is issued to the rotation speed setting means 11 so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum 1 becomes a predetermined rotation speed n1 (for example, 30 rpm).

The constant-rate operation end detecting means 17 inputs data from the first thermistor 6a and the second thermistor 6b,
It is to detect that the constant rate drying period has ended and shift to the decreasing rate drying period. For example, the temperatures detected by the first thermistor 6a and the second thermistor 6b are set to TH1 and T2, respectively.
If it is H2, it may be detected that the amount of change in the temperature difference (TH1-TH2) per unit time is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Then, when it is detected that the constant rate drying period has ended (second timing), a command is issued to the rotation speed setting means 11 so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum 1 becomes a predetermined rotation speed n3 (for example, 40 rpm). I'm trying to put it out.

The current detecting means 20 is the current transformer 2
1 and the current-voltage conversion circuit 22, detect the input current of the PTC heater 3, and output the output from the current comparison setting means 1.
Enter in 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 20,
The output is input to the rotation speed setting means 11 to control the set rotation speed. Here, the set rotation speed set by the rotation speed setting means 11 is set so that the current of the PTC heater 3 becomes an air volume that does not exceed or fall below a predetermined current value.

The operation setting means 23 is connected to the control means 10 and operates and displays a plurality of types of driving courses. The operation setting means 23 inputs the rotation speed setting means 11 so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum 1 is the normal rotation speed. A driving course (diaper course) with a lower rotation speed n1 can be set.

The power supply opening / closing means 24 is connected in series to the PTC heater 3 or the motor 5 and controls the energization from the AC power supply 25.

The operation in the case where the "diaper course" is selected by the operation setting means 23 in the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

First, at step 30, the operation of the "diaper course" is started, after initialization at step 31, the set rotational speed of the rotary drum 1 is set at n2 (for example, 3) at step 32.
6 rpm), and at step 33, the motor 5 is energized to drive the rotary drum 1 and the heat exchange type double-blade fan 2 to rotate, and the PTC heater 3 is turned on. In step 34,
The set rotation speed is calculated so that the current of the PTC heater 3 becomes an air volume that does not exceed a predetermined current value.

Then, in step 35, step 34
The rotation speed is controlled so as to reach the rotation speed calculated in step 1, and the relays 18a and 18b are controlled so that the temperature inside the rotary drum 1 does not exceed a predetermined value based on the temperature detected by the first thermistor 6a. PT by controlling on / off
The C heaters 3a and 3b are controlled. In step 36, it is judged whether or not the set rotational speed n calculated in step 34 has become a predetermined value n3 (for example, 40 rpm) or more, and n
If it is 3 or more, the process proceeds to step 37. Otherwise, return to step 34.

At step 37, the clogging state of the filter 4 is judged, and when the judgment is completed, the routine proceeds to step 38, where the set rotational speed is lowered to n1 (for example, 30 rpm).
A method for determining clogging of the filter 4 will be described later. In step 39, the rotational speed of the rotary drum 1 is controlled to the set rotational speed n1 and the heater is controlled.
The process is repeated until it is determined in step 40 that the constant rate operation end detecting means 17 has finished the constant rate drying operation.

If it is determined in step 40 that the constant rate drying operation has ended, the routine proceeds to step 41, where the set rotational speed is returned to n3. Then, in step 42, the rotational speed of the rotary drum 1 is controlled to the set rotational speed n3, and the heater control is performed, and the heating operation is performed until it is determined in step 43 that the drying operation is completed. Stop driving.

Next, the operation when the filter clogging judging means 16 judges clogging of the filter 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. In step 50, the rotational speed of the rotary drum 1 is controlled to be constant at n3. . After delaying for a fixed time (for example, 1 minute) in step 51, step 52
Then, the temperature of the circulating air is detected by the second thermistor 6b,
In step 53, the detection level Is based on the temperature of the circulating air is calculated.

Thereafter, in step 54, the current I of the PTC heater 3 is detected by the current detecting means 20, and in step 55
The detection level Is and the current I are compared with each other. Filter 4
Clogging causes the amount of circulating air to decrease and I <
If Is, it is determined to be in a clogging state, and step 56
Then, the clogging F = 1 is set and the process ends. Otherwise, in step 57, the clogging F = 0 is set and the processing ends.

As a result, the number of rotations of the rotary drum 1 when the "diaper course" is selected by the operation setting means 23 is
As shown in FIG. That is, the period T1 is the period from the start of operation to the detection of clogging, and indicates that the rotation speed gradually increases from n2 to n3. In the period T2, the rotation speed is constant at n3 during the clogging detection period. Indicates period T3
Then, the rotation speed is kept constant at a low level n1 from the completion of the clogging detection to the end of the constant rate drying operation, and when the rate reduction drying period is started in the period T4, the rotation number is again raised to n3 and kept constant. Shows.

[0029]

As is apparent from the above embodiments, according to the present invention, a rotating drum for drying clothes, an air blowing means for circulating warm air into the rotating drum, and an air blowing path into the rotating drum. Inside the rotary drum
From the filter installed at the exhaust port from the
The temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature inside the rotating drum,
Current detection means for detecting the current of the heating means, a motor for rotationally driving the blower means or the rotary drum, rotation detection means for detecting the number of rotations or the rotation cycle of the rotary drum, motor, etc., and rotation of the motor Control means for controlling the number or the heating means, and an operation setting means which is connected to the control means and can set an operation course of a rotation speed of the blower means or the rotary drum lower than a normal rotation speed, the control The means, when the operation course of the rotation speed lower than the normal rotation speed is set by the operation setting means,
Output signal of the temperature detecting means and output of the current detecting means
After judging the clogging condition of the filter by the signal
In addition, the rotating drum at the low rotation speed set in the driving course
By rotating the, the constant rate drying period can be extended and the constant rate drying temperature can be raised, so the amount of clothes to be dried, the degree of wetness of the clothes, and even different climate, predetermined sterilizing effect can be maintained, it is possible to further improve the performance, air blowing
The speed of the means or the rotating drum is lower than the normal speed.
Even when the driving course of the number of turns is set, the filter
Ru can inform the clogging state to the user.

Further, the control means is an output signal of the temperature detecting means.
Constant rate drying because operation is the rotational speed of <br/> rotating drum when it is detected that ended raise the normal rotational speed, the blowing means from the time when the constant rate drying operation detects the completion by No. Alternatively, by increasing the rotation speed of the rotating drum to the normal rotation speed, the predetermined sterilization effect can be maintained during the constant rate drying period, and the rotation speed of the rotating drum is increased during the rate decreasing drying period, so that the wrinkles of the clothes are not wrinkled. Can be reduced.

[Brief description of 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 a control flowchart of the clothes dryer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for detecting clogging of the clothes dryer.

[Fig. 5] Timing chart of the clothes dryer

[Explanation of symbols]

1 rotating drum 2 Heat exchange type double-blade fan (air blower) 3 PTC heater (heating means) 5 motor 9 Rotation detection means 10 Control means 23 Operation setting means

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Mitsuyuki Kiuchi 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hisaya Matsui 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-2-257999 (JP, A) Actual development Sho 59-51598 (JP, U) Actual development Sho 58-145196 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) D06F 58/00-59/08

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A rotary drum 1. A drying clothes, a blowing means for circulating hot air into the rotary drum, a heating means provided in the air flow path to said rotary drum, said rotary Dora
Filter installed at the exhaust port from inside
And temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature inside the rotating drum,
A current detection unit that detects the current of the heating unit, and a motor that rotationally drives the blower unit or the rotary drum,
Rotation detecting means for detecting the number of rotations or rotation cycle of the rotating drum, motor, etc., control means for controlling the number of rotations of the motor or the heating means, and the blower means or the rotating drum connected to the control means. The rotation speed is provided with operation setting means capable of setting an operation course of a rotation speed lower than the normal rotation speed, the control means, when the operation course of the rotation speed lower than the normal rotation speed is set by the operation setting means, the temperature Output signal of detection means and the current detection means
Judgment of the filter clogging state based on the output signal of
After rotation at a low rotational speed set by the operation course
A clothes dryer with a rotating drum . 2. A control means is rotated when the constant rate drying operation detects the completion of the output signal of the temperature sensing means
Claim for increasing the rotation speed of the drum to the normal rotation speed
1. The clothes dryer according to 1 .