JP3452026B2 - Washing and drying 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 washer / dryer having a process of blowing warm air into an inner tub to dry laundry, and capable of consistently performing from washing to drying.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a new washing and drying machine, the inventors have
A washing and drying machine having the configuration shown in FIG. 7 is proposed. The configuration will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 7, a casing 1 has an outer tank 2 supported by a suspension mechanism 3 for suspension vibration isolation. A motor 4 is provided below the outer tub 2, and a hollow washing / dehydrating shaft 5 having a biaxial structure and a clutch 6 for switching the transmission of rotational force to the washing / dehydrating shaft 5 at the time of washing or dehydration are provided. It is connected to an inner tank 7 rotatably provided inside the outer tank 2.

A fluid balancer 8 is provided above the inner tank 7, and a rotary blade 9 is rotatably provided at the inner bottom portion of the inner tank 7. The drain valve 10 drains the water in the outer tub 2. The circulation blower 11 blows warm air into the inner tank 7 for drying, and is provided substantially above the housing 1. The heater 12 heats the air blown by the circulation blower 11. The cooling blower 13 is provided on the side wall of the housing 1,
Cold air is introduced into the housing 1 from the outside.

The upper surface of the outer tub 2 is covered with an outer tub cover 14, and an openable / closable inner lid 15 is provided at a substantially central portion of the outer tub cover 14. The discharge port 16 is provided in the outer tank cover 14 and discharges the warm air blown by the circulation blower 11. The discharge port 16 and the end of the circulating air passage 17 connected to the heater 12 are connected by a stretchable upper bellows hose 18. A warm air outlet 19 is provided in the lower portion of the outer tub 2, and the warm air outlet 19 and the circulating air passage 17 are connected via a switching valve 20 by a telescopic lower bellows hose 21. 22 is a dehumidification water drainage port. The inner tub 7 contains the put-in clothes 23.

The circulating air from the circulation blower 11 passes through the heater 12, the upper bellows hose 18, the discharge port 16, the inside of the inner tank 7, small holes (not shown) around the inner tank 7, the lower portion of the outer tank 2,
Lower bellows hose 21 provided at the bottom of the outer tub 2, switching valve 2
0, the circulation air passage 17 is passed through, and the passage is circulated to the circulation blower 11 again.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. Washing·
In the rinse step, with the drain valve 10 and the switching valve 22 closed, the clothes 23 and the detergent are put into the inner tub 7, water or hot water is supplied, and the clutch 6 of the transmission mechanism is set to the washing side. The power of the motor 4 is transmitted to the rotary blades 9 via the washing / dewatering shaft 5, and the rotary blades 9 rotate, whereby the clothes 23 are stirred in water and washed / rinsed.

In the dehydration process, after the washing / rinsing process is completed,
After draining the water in the inner tub 7 by opening the drain valve 10, the clutch 6 of the transmission mechanism is switched to the dehydration side, and the power of the motor 4 is transmitted to the inner tub 7 via the washing / dehydrating shaft 5. By rotating and imparting a centrifugal force to the clothes 23, water is separated from the clothes 23, passes through the drain valve 10, and is drained to the outside.

In the drying process, first, the switching valve 20 is opened and the rotary blades 9 are slowly rotated to peel off the clothes 23 attached to the inner wall of the inner tub 7 due to the centrifugal force during dehydration. The rotary blades 9 are momentarily and strongly rotated in the forward and reverse directions to throw the clothes 23 upward in the inner tub 7 and agitate them.

At the same time, the warm air heated by the circulation blower 11 through the heater 12 is supplied to the upper bellows hose 1.
It is sent to the inside of the inner tank 7 through the discharge port 8. The warm air warms the clothes 23 in the inner tub 7 to remove the moisture, and the outer tub 2, the lower bellows hose 21, and the circulating air passage 17 are heated.
When it passes through, it is dehumidified and drained from the dehumidified water drainage port 22 because it is cooled by the air blown from outside by the cooling blower 13. Then, it returns to the ventilation fan 11 again and is dried.

[0011]

In such a conventional structure, the inner tub 7 rotates at a high speed in the dehydration process, but when the clothes 23 in the inner tub 7 are in an unbalanced state,
According to the rotation, the entire outer tank 2 including the inner tank 7 vibrates greatly. In this vibration mode, since the suspension mechanism 3 is installed almost in the lower part of the outer tub 2, the vicinity of the lower half of the outer tub 2 is the center, and the vicinity of the upper fluid balancer 8 is horizontal.
It vibrates complicatedly in the vertical direction.

At this time, since the upper bellows hose 18 remains fixed on the side of the circulating air passage 17, the discharge port 16
There is a problem in that the movement of the side becomes large, the vibration of the entire outer tub 2 is transmitted to the housing 1 as it is, and the vibration of the whole outer tub 2 causes the bellows hose 17 to collide with the surroundings.

Further, since the upper bellows hose 18 has a substantially cylindrical shape, the flow velocity of the air stream discharged from the discharge port 16 cannot be expected to increase, and there is a problem that the warm air of the clothes 23 is weakly hit. Was.

Further, since the inside of the upper bellows hose 18 is hollow, many bubbles generated during use of detergent during the washing process reach the heater 12 through the inside thereof, which causes various inconveniences. Also had.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art by making it difficult to transmit the vibration of the outer tub during the dehydration process to the housing, and by using a flexible hose that guides warm air during the dehydration process during dehydration. The purpose is to reduce collisions with the surroundings due to vibration and to enable efficient drying.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has an inner tub which has a central axis of rotation in the vertical direction in an outer tub elastically suspended inside a casing and which accommodates laundry. Is rotatably supported, and a rotary blade is rotatably provided on the inner bottom of the inner tank.
The inner tank or the rotary blades are driven by the driving means, the circulating air is blown into the inner tank by the circulating air blowing means, and the air blown by the circulating air blowing means is heated by the heating means, and the air is blown to the inside of the casing by the cooling air blowing means. The cooling air passage is configured to introduce cooling air from the
Cooled by external cooling air from the cooling air blower,
The upper surface of the outer tub is covered with an outer tub cover having an openable / closable inner lid, and the outer tub is provided between a discharge port provided in the outer tub cover for discharging circulated air and an opening of a circulating air passage for guiding the air blown by the circulating air blowing means. Are connected by an elastic flexible hose, and the flexible hose has a bellows shape of a substantially inverted truncated cone shape having a large diameter on the circulation air passage side.

This makes it difficult to transmit the vibration of the outer tub during the dehydration process to the housing, and also reduces the collision of the stretchable hose that guides the warm air during the dehydration process with the vibration during the dehydration process. And can be efficiently dried.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is such that an outer tub elastically suspended inside a housing and a central axis of rotation in the vertical direction are rotatably provided in the outer tub. An inner tub that supports and stores laundry, a rotary blade that is rotatably provided on the inner bottom of the inner tub, a driving unit that drives the inner tub or the rotary wing, and circulates air into the inner tub. Circulating air blowing means, heating means for heating the air blown by the circulating air blowing means, and cooling for introducing cooling air into the housing from the outside
For blowing air from outside by the blowing means and the cooling blowing means
A circulation air passage that is further cooled and guides the air blown by the circulation air blowing means. The outer tank is covered with an outer tank cover having an openable / closable inner lid, and the outer tank cover is provided to discharge the circulating air. The discharge port and the opening of the circulating air passage are connected by a flexible flexible hose, and the flexible hose has a large diameter on the circulating air passage side and is formed in a substantially inverted truncated cone shape. Cooling air from the outside inside the housing
And a cooling air blowing means for introducing the
Which is cooled by the air blown from the
In a washer / dryer provided with a circulating wind passage for guiding the wind, a bellows having a substantially inverted truncated cone shape having a large diameter on the circulating wind passage side is provided between an outer tub cover covering the upper surface of the outer tub and an end of the circulating wind passage. Since it is connected with a flexible hose with a shape, even if the entire outer tank including the inner tank vibrates significantly during the dehydration process, the effect of the inverted truncated cone shape reduces the effect of vibration on the outer tank side. Vibration during dehydration is less likely to be transmitted to the case side,
Also, the flexible hose will not collide with the surroundings. Further, in the flexible hose, the passage becomes narrower as the hot air progresses, so that the flow velocity increases and the liquid is discharged into the inner tank, so that the clothes come into good contact with the clothes and the clothes can be efficiently dried.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first aspect, between the flexible hose having a bellows shape having a substantially inverted truncated cone shape and a discharge port provided in the outer tank cover for discharging the circulating air. Is connected to the center of the inner tank by tilting it toward the center of the inner tank. Since it is discharged as a result, it is diffused from the center to the outer periphery in the inner tank, hits clothes well, and can be dried efficiently.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first or second aspect, the discharge port provided in the outer tank cover for discharging the circulating air is located substantially inscribed in the upper opening of the inner tank. The flexible hose that expands and contracts has an inverted frustoconical shape, which saves a lot of space on the inner lid and allows a large opening for clothes. Therefore, it can be easily put in even when washing and drying large clothes such as blankets.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first or second aspect, a flow of the circulating wind is provided inside the circulating wind discharge side of the flexible hose having a substantially inverted truncated cone shape. It has a check valve that can be opened freely and that is closed in the opposite direction, and can prevent bubbles generated during the washing process from entering the heating means through the inside of the flexible hose. .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first or second aspect, the flow of the circulating air is provided on the inner surface of the outer tank cover near the discharge port provided in the outer tank cover for discharging the circulating air. A check valve which is openable to the opposite direction and closed in the opposite direction and made of a flexible material is provided, and bubbles generated in the washing process enter the heating means through the inside of the flexible hose. In addition, the check valve made of a flexible material is located on the inner surface of the outer tank cover, that is, on the inner tank side.Therefore, the hot air that enters the inner tank through this check valve must be at the center of the inner tank. The hot air in the inner tank is
It diffuses from the center of the inner tub to the outer periphery, hits clothes well, and can be efficiently dried.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) As shown in FIG. 1, the casing 24 supports the outer tank 25 by a plurality of suspension mechanisms 26 for suspension vibration isolation. A motor (drive means) 27 is provided below the outer tub 24, and a hollow washing / dehydrating shaft 28 having a biaxial structure, and a clutch 29 for switching the transmission of rotational force to the washing / dehydrating shaft 28 at the time of washing or dewatering are provided. It is connected to the inner tank 30 rotatably provided inside the outer tank 24 via.

A fluid balancer 31 is provided above the inner tank 30, a rotary blade 32 is rotatably provided on the inner bottom portion of the inner tank 30, and a stirring blade 32a is provided on the upper surface of the rotary blade 30. The drain valve 33 drains the water in the outer tub 25 from the drain port 3
It drains from No. 4. The circulation blower (circulation blower) 35 blows warm air for drying, and is provided substantially above the housing 24. Heater (heating means) 36
Heats the air blown by the circulation blower 35.
The cooling blower (cooling blower) 37 is provided on the side wall of the housing 24 and introduces cool air from the outside into the housing 24.

An outer tank cover 38 is provided on the upper surface of the outer tank 25,
An openable and closable inner lid 39 is provided at a substantially central portion of the outer tank cover 38.
Is provided. A discharge port 40 is provided in the outer tank cover 38 to discharge warm air (circulation air). Discharge port 40
And the opening 42 of the circulating air passage 41a following the heater 36 are provided in a substantially opposed positional relationship so that the diameter of the opening 42 of the circulating air passage 41a is larger than the diameter of the discharge port 40 provided in the outer tank cover 38. The opening 42 and the discharge port 4
0 and 0 are connected to each other by a flexible hose 43 that can expand and contract in a substantially vertical direction.

In this flexible hose 43, as shown in FIG. 2, the diameter of the warm air inlet 44 on the side of the opening 42 of the circulating air passage 41a is equal to the diameter of the warm air outlet 45 on the side of the discharge port 40 provided in the outer tank cover 38. Has a substantially inverted frustoconical bellows shape larger than the diameter. Hereinafter, a bellows-shaped flexible hose having a substantially inverted truncated cone shape is referred to as a bellows hose.

A warm air outlet 46 is provided in the lower portion of the outer tub 25, and the warm air outlet 46 and the circulating air passage 41 are connected via a switching valve 47.
It is connected by a lower bellows hose 48 which is expandable and contractible. 49
Is a dehumidification water drainage port. The thrown clothes 50 are contained in the inner tank 30. Further, 51 is a temperature sensor, 52 is a display unit, and 53 is a control unit. 54 is a water supply unit including a water supply valve.

The warm air (circulation air) circulated by the circulation blower 35 passes through the heater 36, the bellows hose 43, the discharge port 40, the inside of the inner tank 30, the small holes (not shown) around the inner tank 30, and the outside. It circulates to the circulation blower 35 again through the lower bellows hose 48 provided under the tank 25 and the outer tank 25, the switching valve 47, and the circulating air passage 41.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. Washing·
In the rinsing process, according to the display unit 52, the drainage valve 33 and the switching valve 47 are closed under the control of the control unit 53, the clothes 50 and the detergent are put into the inner tank 30, and water or hot water is supplied by the water supply unit 54. By supplying water and switching the clutch 29 of the transmission mechanism, the power of the motor 27 is transmitted to the inner tub 30 or the rotary blades 32 via the washing / dewatering shaft 28, and the inner tub 30 or the rotary blades 32 rotate. The clothes 50 are allowed to pass water containing a detergent, or the clothes 50 are stirred and washed in water containing a detergent to be washed and rinsed.

In the dehydration process, after the washing / rinsing process is completed,
The water in the inner tank 30 is controlled by the control unit 53 so that the drain valve 33
After the water is drained from the drainage port 34 to the outside, the clutch 29 of the transmission mechanism is switched to the dehydration side, the power of the motor 27 is transmitted to the inner tub 30 via the washing / dehydration shaft 28, and is rotated. By applying a centrifugal force to the water, the water is separated from the clothes 50, passes through the drain valve 33 and the drain port 34, and is drained to the outside.

In the drying process, similarly, under the control of the control unit 53, first, the switching valve 47 is opened, and the rotary blades 32 are slowly rotated, so that the inner wall of the inner tank 30 is attached by the centrifugal force during dehydration. After the clothes 50 are peeled off, the rotor blades 32 are momentarily and strongly rotated in the forward and reverse directions to catch the clothes 50 on the stirring blade 32a and throw the clothes 50 upward in the inner tub 30. .

At the same time, the circulation blower 35 sends the warm air heated by passing through the heater 36 into the inner tank 30 through the bellows hose 43 and the discharge port 40. The warm air warms the clothes 50 in the inner tub 30 to remove the moisture, and the outer tub 25, the lower bellows hose 48, and the circulation air passage 4 are heated.
When passing through No. 1, it is dehumidified and dehumidified water drain port 49 because it is cooled by external blowing by cooling blower 37.
Is drained to the outside. Then, again, the blower 3 for circulation
Return to 5 and dry.

In the course of such an operation, in the dehydration process, since the inner tub 30 rotates at a high speed of about 800 r / min, when the clothes in the inner tub 30 are unbalanced, The vibration of the entire tank 25 becomes large. Moreover, since the suspension mechanism 26 is installed near the lower portion of the outer tub 25, the center of vibration is relatively near the lower portion, and the outer tub cover 38 at the upper portion violently vibrates in the horizontal and vertical directions.

At this time, since the diameter of the discharge port 40, which vibrates violently, is smaller than that of the fixed opening 42 of the circulating air passage 41a, the range of movement by the vibration of the discharge port 40 is in the vertical direction and in the circulation passage. The vibrations in the vertical direction are absorbed in the vicinity of the diameter range of the opening 42 of 41a, and the bellows shape of the inverted frustoconical bellows hose 43 that connects the opening 42 of the circulation air passage 41a and the discharge port 40 is absorbed. However, it is not transmitted to the housing 24, and with respect to horizontal vibration, since the moving range of the bellows hose 43 is near the lower part of the diameter of the opening 42 of the circulating air passage 41a, it is said to collide with the periphery. There is no problem.

As described above, according to this embodiment, even when the entire outer tank including the inner tank vibrates greatly during the dehydration process,
Due to the effect of the inverted frustoconical shape of the bellows hose 43, the influence of vibration on the outer tub 25 side is reduced, vibration during dehydration is less likely to be transmitted to the housing 24 side, and a washer / dryer with small vibration can be obtained. .

In the drying process, warm air is discharged into the inner tank 30 through the bellows hose 43. The bellows hose 43 has a diameter of the warm air inlet 44 on the side of the opening 42 of the circulating air passage 41a. However, since it has a bellows shape of a substantially inverted truncated cone shape larger than the diameter of the hot air outlet 45 on the discharge port 40 side provided in the outer tank cover 38, the flow velocity of the hot air discharged is increased and the inner tank is discharged. 30 will be rushed into the inside of the clothes 50
Since it vigorously passes through the surface of, the drying is promoted and the drying can be performed efficiently.

Second Embodiment As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting member 55 is provided between the bellows hose 43a having a substantially inverted truncated cone shape and the discharge port 40a provided in the outer tank cover 38a for discharging the circulating air. The inner tank 30 is connected while being inclined toward the center. Opening 42 of circulating air passage 41a
And the bellows hose 43a are connected in a substantially vertical direction. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. In addition,
Since the operation from the washing process to the dehydration process and the basic operation of the drying process are the same as those of the above-mentioned embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

In the drying step, the warm air that has passed through the bellows hose 43a is blown into the inner tank 30 from the discharge port 40a through the connecting member 55, as in the first embodiment. At this time, since the connecting member 55 is inclined toward the center of the inner tub 30, the warm air is discharged toward the center of the inner tub 30.

As a result, the warm air is diffused from the central portion of the inner tub 30 toward the outer peripheral portion thereof, evenly hits the clothes 50, and can be dried efficiently. Also,
Since the bellows hose 43 is formed in a substantially inverted truncated cone shape,
By absorbing the vibration in the dehydration process and increasing the flow velocity of the warm air, the same action and effect as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Third Embodiment) As shown in FIG. 4, a discharge port 40b provided on the outer tank cover 38b for discharging warm air (circulation air) is located at the position of the fluid balancer 31 provided on the upper portion of the inner tank 30. The position is set so as to substantially inscribe the inner diameter (upper opening of the inner tank 30) and to face the inner diameter. A bellows hose 43b connects between the discharge port 40b and the opening 42 of the circulating air passage 41a in a substantially vertical direction. An inner lid 39b is provided on the outer tank cover 38b. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.

The operation of the above structure will be described. By installing the discharge port 40b so as to face the position where the discharge port 40b is inscribed in the inner diameter of the fluid balancer 31, it is possible to maximize the size of the inner lid 39b, and also to discharge warm air into the inner tank 30. You can As a result, a large opening for clothes can be secured, and large clothes such as a blanket can be easily put in even during washing and drying.

Example 4 As shown in FIG. 5, the bellows hose 43c having an inverted truncated cone shape
A check valve 56, which is open to the flow of warm air from the heater 36 toward the inner tank 30 and closes in the opposite direction, is provided inside and near the discharge port 40c. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. In addition,
Since the basic operation from the washing process to the drying process is the same as the operation of the above-mentioned embodiment, its explanation is omitted.

In the drying process, the warm air that has passed through the bellows hose 43c enters the inside of the inner tank 30 through the outer tank cover 38c, as in the first embodiment. At this time, although the check valve 56 is provided near the discharge port 40c, the flow can be discharged without resistance.

When bubbles or the like accumulated in the inner tub 30 try to flow toward the bellows hose 43c in the washing process or the like, the check valve 56 prevents the bubbles from entering and adversely affects the heater 36. Can be prevented. Also, the check valve 5
Since 6 is provided inside the bellows hose 43c,
This avoids such a problem that the clothes 50 jump up and get caught by the check valve 56 during the drying process. As a result, a washer / dryer having a safe structure can be obtained.

(Embodiment 5) As shown in FIG. 6, a discharge port 40d is provided in the outer tank cover 38d so that warm air (circulating air) is discharged, and inside the outer tank cover 38d in the vicinity of this discharge port 40d. A check valve 57 is provided on the inner surface of the tank 30 side, which is open to the flow of circulating air and is closed to the opposite direction and is made of a flexible material. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. In addition,
Since the basic operation from the washing process to the drying process is the same as the operation of the above-mentioned embodiment, its explanation is omitted.

In the drying process, the warm air that has passed through the bellows hose 43d enters the inside of the inner tank 30 through the discharge port 40d provided in the outer tank cover 38d, as in the first embodiment. At this time, the check valve 57 is provided on the inner surface of the discharge port 40d on the inner tank 30 side. However, with respect to this flow, the check valve 57 is discharged without resistance, and the movable portion is on the outer peripheral side.
The wind can be discharged toward the center of the inner tank 30 according to the inclination of the check valve 57.

As a result, the warm air diffuses from the center of the inner tub 30 and hits the clothes 50 evenly to promote the drying. Further, since the check valve 60 is made of a flexible material, the clothes 50 can be dried without being caught.
As a result, it is possible to obtain a washer / dryer that is safe and has good drying efficiency.

[0052]

As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention, the outer tub elastically suspended inside the housing and the central axis of rotation in the vertical direction are provided in the outer tub. An inner tub that is rotatably supported by the inner tub to store the laundry, a rotary blade that is rotatably provided on the inner bottom of the inner tub, a drive unit that drives the inner tub or the rotary wing, and circulates in the inner tub Circulating air blowing means for blowing air, heating means for heating the air blown by the circulating air blowing means, and introducing cooling air from the outside into the housing.
Cooling blower means and from outside by the cooling blower means
And a circulating air passage that guides the air blown by the circulating air blowing means, and the upper surface of the outer tub is covered with an outer tub cover having an openable / closable inner lid, and the circulated air is provided on the outer tub cover. A discharge hose to be discharged and an opening of the circulating air passage are connected by a flexible hose that can be expanded and contracted, and the flexible hose has a large diameter on the side of the circulating air passage and has a substantially inverted truncated cone-like bellows shape. Cooling air from the outside inside the housing
And a cooling air blowing means for introducing the
Which is cooled by the air blown from the
In a washer / dryer equipped with a circulation wind passage that guides wind, even when the entire outer tub including the inner tub vibrates significantly in the vertical and horizontal directions during the dehydration process, the effect of the inverted truncated cone shape causes vibration on the outer tub side. The influence is reduced, vibration during dehydration is less likely to be transmitted to the housing side, and the flexible hose does not collide with the surroundings. In addition, since the flexible hose has a substantially inverted truncated cone shape, the passage narrows as the hot air progresses in the flexible hose, so the flow velocity increases and the fluid is discharged into the inner tank. And can be efficiently dried. With these, it is possible to obtain a washer / dryer with less vibration and improved drying efficiency.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the center of the inner tank is provided between the flexible hose having a bellows shape having a substantially inverted truncated cone shape and the discharge port for discharging the circulating air provided in the outer tank cover. Since it is connected by tilting toward the inner part, the circulating air discharged from the discharge port through the flexible hose in the shape of an inverted frustoconical bellows from the circulation air passage is discharged toward the center of the inner tank. Is diffused from the center to the outer periphery in the inner tank, and can evenly hit clothes to improve the drying efficiency. With these, it is possible to obtain a washer / dryer with less vibration and improved drying efficiency.

Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, the outlet provided in the outer tank cover for discharging the circulating air is opened so as to face the position substantially inscribed in the upper opening of the inner tank.
The insertion port area of the inner lid provided on the outer tank cover can be increased, and large clothes such as a blanket can be easily inserted even when washing or drying.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 4, the flexible hose having a bellows shape having a substantially inverted truncated cone shape can be freely opened with respect to the flow of the circulating air in the circulating air discharge side, and the opposite direction. Since a check valve that closes against the direction of the is installed, it is possible to prevent bubbles generated during the washing process from entering the heating means through the inside of the flexible hose, and the check valve does not catch clothes. , Can improve safety.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 5, the inner surface of the outer tub cover provided in the outer tub cover near the discharge port for ejecting the circulated air is open to the flow of the circulated air and reverse. A check valve made of a flexible material that is closed in the direction of the direction is provided, so that foam generated during the washing process is prevented from entering the heating means through the inside of the flexible hose and is also passed through the check valve. The warm air that enters the inner tank will always enter toward the center of the inner tank, and the warm air will diffuse from the center of the inner tank toward the outer periphery, and will hit the clothes evenly, which will increase efficiency. Can be dried well. Further, since the check valve is made of a flexible material, it is possible to prevent clothes from being caught, and it is possible to obtain a safe washer / dryer with high drying efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a washer / dryer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a bellows hose of the washing and drying machine.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a washer / dryer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a washer / dryer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a washer / dryer according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a washer / dryer according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a conventional washer / dryer.

[Explanation of symbols]

24 housing 25 outer tank 27 motor (driving means) 30 inner tank 32 rotors 35 Circulation blower (circulation blower) 36 heater (heating means) 37 Cooling blower (cooling blower) 38 Outer tank cover 39 Inner lid 40 outlets 41a Circulating wind passage 42 opening 43 Bellows hose (flexible hose)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-11-253686 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) D06F 1/00-51/02

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An outer tub elastically suspended inside a casing, an inner tub having a central axis of rotation in the vertical direction and rotatably supported in the outer tub for accommodating laundry, and the inner tub. A rotary blade rotatably provided on the inner bottom of the device, a driving means for driving the inner tank or the rotary blade, a circulating air blowing means for blowing a circulating air into the inner tank, and an air blown by the circulating air blowing means. And a cooling air from the outside inside the housing
Cooling blower means and from outside by the cooling blower means
And a circulating air passage that guides the air blown by the circulating air blowing means, and the upper surface of the outer tub is covered with an outer tub cover having an openable / closable inner lid, and the circulated air is provided on the outer tub cover. A discharge hose for discharging and the opening of the circulation air passage are connected by a flexible flexible hose, and the flexible hose is formed into a bellows shape of a substantially inverted truncated cone shape having a large diameter on the circulation air passage side. Machine. 2. A bellows-shaped flexible hose having a substantially inverted truncated cone shape and a discharge port for discharging circulating air provided in the outer tank cover are connected while being inclined toward the center of the inner tank. Washer / dryer. 3. The washing / drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the outlet provided in the outer tank cover for discharging the circulating air is opened so as to face a position substantially inscribed in the upper opening of the inner tank. 4. A check valve that is open to the flow of circulating wind and is closed in the opposite direction inside the circulating wind discharge side of a bellows-shaped flexible hose having a substantially inverted truncated cone shape. The washer / dryer according to claim 1, further comprising: 5. A flexible member which is open to the flow of the circulating air and closed in the opposite direction on the inner surface of the outer tank cover near the discharge port for discharging the circulating air provided on the outer tank cover. The washer / dryer according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a check valve constituted by.