JP3367762B2 - Drum type washer / 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 drum type fully automatic washer / dryer, and more specifically, a drum for continuously operating each process from washing to drying while the laundry is stored in the drum. Type washer / dryer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a drum type washer / dryer of this type has a structure in which the drum rotates about a horizontal axis in a water tank, and the steps of washing, rinsing, dehydrating and drying are performed by the same drum. Since it can be performed, it is a typical washing and drying machine that has the functions of washing (washing, rinsing), dehydration and drying.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a conventional drum type washing machine, in which 1 is an outer box, 2 is a door, and 3 is a display operation section.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the essential parts of the drum type washing machine shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the inside of a conventional drum type washing machine has a water tub 4 suspended by a spring, which has a structure capable of absorbing vibrations generated during washing, rinsing, dehydrating and drying processes. Inside the water tank 4, there is a drum 5
Are arranged to rotate about a horizontal axis. A large number of water passage holes 6 are provided on the peripheral wall of the drum 5 for supplying or draining washing water.

Further, a drying heater 7, a blower 8 for circulating hot air, and a circulation duct 9 are provided above the water tank 4. A door 2 for loading and unloading laundry is provided on the front of the outer box 1, and the door 2 is provided with a water tank 4
It is hermetically sealed by a door packing 10 between and so that washing water and warm air during drying do not leak out of the machine. 11 is a drive motor for rotating the drum 3, and 12
Is a drainage pump for draining washing liquid out of the machine.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a lint filter provided in the middle of a pipe connecting the lower part of the water tank 4 and the drainage pump 12,
The outer case 1 has a structure that can be detached from the lower front surface. A water level sensor 14 is connected to the lowermost part of the water tank 4 and detects the water level in the water tank 4. Reference numeral 15 is a dehumidifier, and 16 is a water supply valve.

In the drum type washer / dryer constructed as described above, the door 2 is opened to put the laundry in the drum 5,
When laundry is put in the drum 5, the door 2 is closed, and continuous operation of each process from washing to drying is set. When the continuous operation is set, first, the drum 5 is rotated by the drive motor 11 and the cloth amount detecting means detects the cloth amount of the laundry before the washing is started by the variation value of the motor torque, and the water supply valve 16 is turned on. After opening, water is supplied into the water tank 4 and a washing process is performed.

The washing step is carried out by pouring a washing liquid in which a detergent is dissolved from above into the laundry and rotating the drum 5 at a low speed. The laundry in the drum 5 is lifted to the vicinity of the top of the drum 5 by the centrifugal force and the baffle due to the rotation of the drum 5, and then dropped (tabling) by its own weight. By repeating this tab ring, the laundry is "washed" by the impact force when it falls. Further, the rinsing step is performed in the same manner. The water level of the laundry is detected by the water level sensor 14.

The dewatering step is performed by rotating the drum 5 at a high speed and using the centrifugal force to press the laundry against the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the drum 5. At this time, the water is blown from the water passage hole 6 of the drum 5, travels along the inner surface of the water tank 4 and is guided to the lower portion, and is discharged to the outside by the drainage pump 13.

The drying step is performed by rotating the drum 5 at a low speed while blowing the air heated by the drying heater 7 and having a high temperature into the drum 5 by the blower 8. The air in the water tub 4 heated by the drying heater 7 to a high temperature is agitated by the rotation of the drum 5 to raise the temperature of the entire inside of the water tub 4 including the laundry and evaporate the moisture contained in the laundry. . This hot and humid air directly contacts the cooling water while passing through the distance from the outlet of the hot air circulation duct 9 connected to the water tank 4 on the water tank 4 side to the drying heater 7 to condense water. The dehumidification is performed by discharging the moisture out of the machine. The dehumidified air is heated again by the drying heater 7, and the laundry is dried by repeating this cycle.

[0011]

However, in the case of the drum type washer / dryer configured as described above, the cloth amount detecting means (not shown) detects the cloth amount of the laundry before the start of washing. However, since the operating time for each process from washing to drying was determined based on the detected amount of cloth, the moisture content of the cloth that has undergone the washing process and the moisture in the drum are not taken into consideration. In the process, depending on the water content of the laundry that has passed the washing process and the humidity in the drum, the laundry cannot be dried until the drying process is completed, or conversely, the laundry is dried quickly before the drying process is completed. The remaining drying time is wasted, and the power consumption required for the remaining drying time is also wasted, and if the laundry that has been dried quickly is continued to be dried until the end of the drying process, the laundry will be damaged. The point is Was Tsu.

Further, in the drum type dryer disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-150697, the rotation speed of the motor or the drum at the start of the drying operation is detected, and the inside of the drum is dried on the basis of the rotation speed at the start. The load amount is detected, and the time required for the drying operation is predicted and displayed based on the dry load amount, but it exists only as a function of the dryer, and continuous operation from the washing process to the drying process is performed. There was a problem that it was not applied to things.

The drum type washer / dryer of the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems. When the continuous operation of each process from the washing to the drying process is set, insufficient drying of the laundry occurs. It is an object of the present invention to provide a drum type washer / dryer that does not occur and can prevent damage to the laundry due to overdrying.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, a drum type washer / dryer of the present invention is provided with a cloth amount detecting means for detecting the amount of laundry in the drum and the cloth amount detecting means. In the drum type washer / dryer, which is equipped with setting means capable of setting continuous operation in each process of washing, rinsing, dehydration, and drying in the same drum based on the detected amount of cloth, When the continuous operation of each process from washing to drying is set, the cloth amount of the laundry before the start of washing detected by the cloth amount detecting means at the start of washing is stored, and after the dehydration, the cloth is again washed. Whether or not there is a large difference between the stored cloth amount of the laundry before the start of washing and the stored cloth amount detected again after the dehydration by detecting the cloth amount of the laundry after the dehydration by adding the water content with the amount detecting means. If it is judged that there is a large difference in the amount of cloth, standard drying While longer setting the drying time of the compensation time a the addition <br/> drying the rolling time, the fabric
If it is judged that the difference in the amount is small, the standard drying operation time is
Decrease the regular time b and set the drying time in the drying process to be short
The drying time setting means is provided.

[0015]

Furthermore, it is made comprises a remaining time display means for displaying the remaining time of the drying time set in the upper Symbol drying time setting means.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention in the above-described arrangement, if the continuous operation of the washing process at set means to the drying step is set, is detected by the laundry amount detecting means before starting the washing in the drying time setting means The amount of laundry is memorized, the amount of laundry is detected again by the amount of laundry detection means after dehydration, and the stored amount of laundry before the start of washing and the stored amount of water after the dehydration are added. By setting the drying time of the drying process based on the difference between the amount of laundry and the amount of laundry, the laundry will not be insufficiently dried,
In addition, it is possible to prevent the laundry from being damaged due to overdrying, and moreover, it is possible to dry the laundry in an optimum drying time without wasting power consumption due to overdrying.

[0018]

Further , by displaying the drying time of the drying step by the remaining time display means, the accurate drying time can be displayed.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the drum type washer / dryer of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

The same parts as those of the conventional example of the present invention are designated by the same reference numerals, and the basic structure of the drum type washer / dryer of the present invention is as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Since it is substantially similar to the above, the main part and the part relating to the invention will be mainly described below.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a drum type washing machine according to the present invention, in which 1 is an outer box, 2 is a door, and 3 is a display operation section.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the essential parts of the drum type washing machine shown in FIG. In the drum type washing machine of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the water tub 4 is suspended by a spring, and has a structure capable of absorbing vibrations generated during washing, rinsing, dehydrating and drying processes. Inside the water tank 4, a drum 5 is arranged so as to rotate around a horizontal axis. A water passage hole 6 for supplying or draining washing water is provided on the peripheral wall of the drum 5.
Are provided in large numbers. Further, a drying heater 7, a blower 8 for circulating hot air, and a circulation duct 9 are provided above the water tank 4. A door 2 for loading and unloading laundry is provided on the front of the outer box 1. The door 2
Is sealed by a door packing 10 between the water tank 4 and
The structure is such that washing water and hot air during drying do not leak out of the machine. Reference numeral 11 is a drive motor for rotating the drum 3, and 12 is a drainage pump for draining washing liquid and the like out of the machine.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a lint filter provided in the middle of a pipe connecting the lower part of the water tank 4 and the drainage pump 12,
The outer case 1 has a structure that can be detached from the lower front surface. A water level sensor 14 is connected to the lowermost part of the water tank 4 and detects the water level in the water tank 4. Reference numeral 15 is a dehumidifier, and 16 is a water supply valve.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of the display operation unit 3.
In FIG. 3, the display operation unit 3 is a control panel 1
7, power switch 18, start / pause switch 1
9. Course switch 20 for selecting a course, manual switches 21 to 24 capable of manual setting of washing, rinsing, dehydration and drying, and selection of continuous operation from washing to dehydration or continuous operation from washing to drying Washing / drying switch 25, end sound ON / OFF switch 26 for selecting ON / OFF of a buzzer sound to notify the end, and a display device for displaying the numbers set as described above, the remaining time during operation, and selection items of each mode. Has 27.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an electric control circuit of the display operation unit 3. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 29 is a read-only memory (hereinafter abbreviated as ROM) as a component in a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as microcomputer) 28, which stores all the operation contents. The time, the drying time, and the like can be changed by pressing the manual switch 21 or 24 that allows manual setting. Further, a data writing memory (hereinafter, abbreviated as RAM) 30 stores signals from the input key circuit through the input control units 31 to 35.

Reference numeral 36 is an arithmetic unit for comparing the data stored in the RAM 30 and performing addition / subtraction, 37 is a control unit for controlling the operation in the microcomputer, 3
Reference numeral 8 is a timer, and 39 to 41 are control units for operating each device in accordance with the signals extracted from the above.

Further, as an external circuit of the microcomputer 28, the input key circuit 4 including the above key switches 18 to 26.
2. Drying heater current measuring circuit 43 for measuring the current of the heater during drying, cloth amount detecting circuit 44 for detecting the amount of laundry, cloth quality detecting circuit 45 for detecting the material of the laundry, load control circuit 46, Display circuit 27 for displaying time / course / remaining time, buzzer 47 for notifying sound of end / error occurrence, heater 7 for drying, drive motor 11,
A load drive circuit 48 for controlling the drainage pump 13 and the like, a power supply circuit 49, and a reset circuit 50 are connected.

Next, a first washing operation showing an embodiment of the drum type washer / dryer of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the first from the washing process to the drying process
As shown in FIG. 5, when the operation of the drum type washer / dryer is started, laundry is put in the drum 5 and the power switch 18 is turned on in step S1.
However, the display is initialized when the power is turned on.

Next, a setting course is selected from preset driving courses, the process proceeds to step S2, the start / temporary stop switch 19 is pressed (ON), and the start / temporary stop switch 19 is pressed. Proceeding to step S3, the drum 5 is rotated by the drive motor 11, and the cloth amount detection circuit 44 detects the cloth amount of the laundry before the washing is started based on the variation value of the motor torque, and the process proceeds to step S4. The amount of cloth detected by the amount-of-cloth detection circuit 44 is stored by the microcomputer 28, the process proceeds to step S5, and after the detection of the amount of cloth for laundry is completed, the water supply valve 16 is opened to supply water to the water tank 4. The detergent is poured into the laundry and included in the laundry, and the process proceeds to step S6, where the washing process is performed.

In the washing step, the drive motor 11 rotates the drum 5 at a low speed to wash the laundry in the drum 5 by tumbling.

When the washing process is completed, the drive motor 11 stops the rotation of the drum 5, and step S7
Then, the drainage pump 12 is turned on to drain the washing water to the outside of the machine, and the washing water takes a route from the lower portion of the water tank 4 to the drainage pump 12 via the lint filter 13. At this time, the lint included in the wash water is collected by the lint filter 13 to prevent the drain pipe and the like from being blocked by the lint.

When the drainage of the washing water in the water tub 4 is completed, the process proceeds to step S8 and the intermediate dehydration is performed. In the intermediate dehydration, the drive motor 11 rotates the drum 5 at a high speed, and the centrifugal force causes the washing water contained in the laundry to flow from the water passage hole 6 of the drum 5 to reach the inner surface of the water tank 4 and the lower portion thereof. And is forcibly discharged to the outside by the drainage pump 12.

Further, when the intermediate dehydration is completed, the process proceeds to step S9, the water supply valve 16 is opened to supply water again to the water tank 4, and the process proceeds to step S10 to perform the rinsing process. The rinsing step is performed by including washing water containing no detergent in the laundry, rotating the drum 5 at a low speed by the drive motor 11, and tumbling the laundry in the drum 5.

When the rinsing process is completed, the process proceeds to step S11, the drainage pump 12 is turned on to drain the wash water out of the machine, and the water supply (step S9) → rinse (step S10) → drainage (step S11). ) → The flow of intermediate dehydration (step S8) is repeated 2-3 times, and step S
Proceeding to 13, the dehydration process of the laundry is performed.

In the dehydration step, the drum 5 is rotated at a high speed by the drive motor 11 so that the water contained in the laundry is flown from the water passage hole 6 of the drum 3 and travels along the inner surface of the water tank 4 to be guided to the lower portion thereof. The water is forcibly discharged to the outside by the drainage pump 11.

When the dehydration process is completed, the process proceeds to step S13, and the microcomputer 28 determines whether or not the drying process is set. If it is determined that the drying process is not set, the washing is completed.

If it is determined in step S13 that the drying process is set, the process proceeds to step S14, and the cloth amount detection circuit 45 detects the cloth amount of the laundry containing water after the dehydration process. And go to step S15,
The microcomputer 28 calculates the difference between the amount of laundry before starting washing and the amount of laundry including water after completion of the dehydration process, and the microcomputer 28 determines the difference between the amount of laundry before starting washing and the amount of laundry before starting washing. The microcomputer 28 determines whether or not the difference between the amount of laundry including water after completion is large, and if it is determined that the difference in amount of laundry is large, the process proceeds to step S16, and the reference drying operation time T is reached. While adding the correction time a to set the drying operation time to be longer, while displaying the remaining drying operation time on the display device 27,
A drying process is performed.

The drying step is performed by blowing the air heated by the drying heater 7 to a high temperature into the drum 5 by the blower 8 while rotating the drum 5 at a low speed by the drive motor 11. Further, the water evaporated from the laundry during the drying process is removed by coming into contact with the cooling water inside the dehumidifying device 15 arranged in the vertical direction. The cooling water comes into contact with the warm air discharged from the drum 5, collects fine thread waste (dust-like matter) contained in the warm air, and collects it in the water tank 4
The water is drained to the outside by the drainage pump 13 via the drainage path connected at the lower part of the above, and the drying process is completed when the drying operation time elapses. At this time, the collected lint is collected by the lint filter 13.

If it is determined in step S15 that the difference between the amount of laundry before the start of washing and the amount of laundry including water after the completion of dehydration is small, the process proceeds to step S17 and the reference The drying operation time is set to be shorter by subtracting the correction time b from the drying operation time T, and the drying process is performed in the same manner as above while displaying the remaining time of the drying operation time on the display device 27. When the time has passed, the drying process ends.

Next, a second washing operation showing an embodiment of the drum type washer / dryer of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the second step from the washing step to the drying step
As shown in FIG. 6, the washing operation of steps S21 to S
In the flow of 24, the same operation as steps S1 to S5 of the first washing operation shown in FIG. 5 is performed.

Then, in step S25, the water tank 4
When the water inside reaches the predetermined water level, the water level sensor 14 detects the predetermined water level, tumbles for a short time to add water to the laundry, and the water is included in the laundry to store water in the water tank 4. The water decreases below the prescribed water level. The reduced water level is detected by the water level sensor 14, the amount of change in water level from the predetermined water level to the reduced water level is stored in the microcomputer 28, tumbling is again performed for a short time, and the reduced water level is detected by the water level sensor 14. Upon detection, the amount of change in the water level from the first tumbled and reduced water level to the second tumbled and reduced water level is stored.

Then, the quality of the laundry is judged from the results of the water level change amount and the cloth amount detection performed twice, and steps S26 to S26 are performed.
Up to 33, the same operation as steps S6 to S13 of the first washing operation is performed. In step S33 above,
If it is determined that the drying process is set, step S
In step S34, the cloth quality of the laundry determined in step S25 is called, and in step S35, the microcomputer 28 determines whether the cloth quality of the laundry is hydrophilic fiber or hydrophobic fiber. If it is determined that the cloth quality of the laundry is hydrophilic fibers, the process proceeds to step S36, the correction operation time c is added to the reference drying operation time T to set the drying operation time longer, and the display device 27 performs the drying operation. The drying process is performed while displaying the remaining time, and when the drying operation time has elapsed, the drying process ends.

If it is determined in step S35 that the laundry material is hydrophobic fibers, step S37.
Then, the drying operation time is set shorter by subtracting the correction time d from the reference drying operation time T, and the remaining drying time is displayed on the display device 27. When the drying operation time has elapsed, the drying process ends.

Next, the third washing operation of one embodiment of the drum type washing and drying machine of the present invention constructed as above will be explained with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, the third washing operation from the washing process to the drying process includes steps S41 to S5.
The flow of No. 4 is steps S21 to S of the second washing operation.
Operation similar to the flow of 34 is performed.

After that, the process proceeds to step S55, and it is judged by the microcomputer 28 whether the cloth quality of the laundry is thick or thin, and the cloth quality of the laundry is thick. If the determination is made, the process proceeds to step S56, the reference drying operation time T is added to the correction time e to set the drying operation time longer, and the display unit 27 displays the remaining time of the drying operation time while performing the drying process. When the drying operation time has elapsed, the drying process ends.

If it is determined in step S55 that the cloth material of the laundry is hydrophobic fibers, step S57.
And the correction time f is subtracted from the reference drying operation time T to set the drying operation time to be short, and while the remaining time of the drying operation time is displayed on the display device 27, the drying process is performed in the same manner as above. When the drying operation time has elapsed, the drying process ends.

Next, a fourth washing operation of an embodiment of the drum type washer / dryer constructed as above according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. First, the fourth washing operation from the washing process to the drying process is performed at step S6 as shown in FIG.
In the flow of 1 to S73, the same operation as the flow of steps S31 to S43 of the second washing operation shown in FIG. 6 is performed.

If it is determined in step S73 that the drying process is set, a current is passed through the drying heater 7 to perform the drying process, and the process proceeds to step S74 where the drying heater current measuring circuit 43 is used. A current value flowing through the drying heater 7 is measured, and the process proceeds to step S75 to determine whether the current value measured by the drying heater current measuring circuit 43 is smaller than the reference value or within the reference value or larger than the reference value. If it is determined that the current value is smaller than the reference value, the process proceeds to step S76,
When the drying operation time is set to be longer by adding the correction time g to the reference drying operation time T, the drying process is performed while the remaining time of the drying operation time is displayed on the display device 27, and when the drying operation time elapses. The drying process is completed.

If it is determined in step S75 that the current value is within the reference value, the process proceeds to step S77, in which the remaining time of the reference drying operation time T is displayed,
The drying process is performed, and when the drying operation time has elapsed, the drying process ends.

Further, if it is determined in step S75 that the current value is larger than the reference value, the process proceeds to step S78, the correction time h is subtracted from the reference drying operation time T to set the drying operation time short, While the remaining time of the drying operation time is displayed on the display device 27, the drying step is performed in the same manner as above, and the drying step is completed when the drying operation time has elapsed.

[0055]

Since the drum type washing and drying machine of the present invention exhibits a structure as described above, if the continuous operation of the process of at setting means to the drying wash is set, the drying time setting means Before the start of washing, the amount of laundry detected by the amount of laundry is stored, and after dehydration, the amount of laundry is detected again by the amount of laundry to detect the stored amount of laundry before the start of washing. By setting the drying time in the drying process based on the difference between the amount of laundry and the amount of laundry after dehydration with the addition of water content, there is no underdrying of laundry, and due to overdrying It is possible to prevent the laundry from being damaged, and
It is possible to dry laundry in an optimum drying time without wasting power consumption due to overdrying.

[0056]

Further , by displaying the drying time of the drying process by the remaining time display means, the accurate drying time can be displayed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of a drum type washer / dryer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the drum type washer / dryer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a main portion of a display operation unit showing an embodiment of the drum type washer / dryer of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of a microcomputer showing an embodiment of a drum type washer / dryer of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a first washing operation flow chart showing an embodiment of the drum type washer / dryer of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a second washing operation flow chart showing an embodiment of the drum type washing and drying machine of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a third washing operation showing an embodiment of the drum type washing and drying machine of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a fourth washing operation flowchart showing an embodiment of the drum type washing and drying machine of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of a conventional drum type washer / dryer.

10 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the drum type washer / dryer shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

7 Drying heater 14 Water level sensor 27 Display 43 Drying heater current measurement circuit 44 Cloth amount detection circuit 45 Fabric detection circuit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) D06F 33/02

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cloth amount detecting means for detecting a cloth amount of laundry in a drum, and washing, rinsing, dewatering and drying in the same drum based on the cloth amount detected by the cloth amount detecting means. In a drum type washer / dryer equipped with setting means capable of setting continuous operation of each step, when continuous operation of each step from washing to drying is set by the setting means, the above-mentioned at the start of washing. The cloth amount of the laundry before the start of the laundry detected by the cloth amount detecting means is stored, and after the dehydration, the cloth amount of the laundry after adding the water content is detected again by the cloth amount detecting means, It is determined whether the difference between the stored amount of laundry before the start of washing and the amount of laundry detected again after dehydration is large, and if it is determined that the difference in the amount of laundry is large, the standard drying operation time is set. while longer setting the drying time of the drying step by adding compensation time a The difference between the quantity of laundry
If it is determined that the
A drum type washer / dryer, comprising a drying time setting means for setting a shorter drying time in the drying step by subtracting b . 2. The setting of the drying timemeansSet by
The remaining time display means for displaying the remaining dry time is provided.
The drum-type washing according to claim 1, whereinDry
Machine.