JP3829343B2

JP3829343B2 - Clothes dryer

Info

Publication number: JP3829343B2
Application number: JP18374995A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 久萩原; 正一松井
Original assignee: Panasonic Corp; Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Corp; Panasonic Holdings Corp
Priority date: 1995-07-20
Filing date: 1995-07-20
Publication date: 2006-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2015-07-20
Also published as: JPH0928998A

Description

【０００１】
【産業上の利用分野】
本発明はモータで回転駆動される回転ドラム内へ温風を送り衣類を乾燥させる衣類乾燥機に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
近年、家庭用の衣類乾燥機には、タフト毛布、マイヤー毛布、ベビー毛布などの家庭生活に使う毛布を乾燥する機能があり、生活に幅広く利用されている。
【０００３】
従来、この種の衣類乾燥機は、複数個からなる正特性感温抵抗ヒータ（以下、ＰＴＣヒータという）が発する熱により被乾燥物を乾燥させる構成になっており、毛布などの熱に弱い乾燥物を乾燥させる場合、布傷みを防ぎ、かつ乾燥時間を短くするために、乾燥運転初期から回転ドラム内の温度が所定温度以上になるまでは、通常衣類を乾燥させるときと同じ量の熱量をＰＴＣヒータから衣類に供給し、以降は加熱量を減らしていた。また、回転ドラム内の温度が所定温度に達するまでの時間と周囲温度により衣類の種類および乾燥度合いを検知して乾燥時間を決定していた。
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
このような従来の衣類乾燥機では、毛布を乾燥させる場合、回転ドラム内の温度が所定温度に達すまでの時間と周囲温度だけで毛布の種類と、乾燥度合いを検知していたので、タフト毛布とベビー毛布のようにあまり重さに違いがない毛布の布質の区別をすることができず、最適な乾燥時間で乾燥運転を終了しないという問題を有していた。
【０００５】
本発明は上記課題を解決するもので、タフト毛布とベビー毛布のように同じような毛布においても、布質を見分け最適な乾燥時間で乾燥運転を終了させることを目的としている。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の衣類乾燥機は上記目的を達成するために、衣類を乾燥させる回転ドラムと、前記回転ドラム内へ温風を循環させる送風手段と、前記回転ドラム内への送風経路に設けた加熱手段と、前記送風手段または回転ドラムを回転駆動するモータと、前記加熱手段、モータなどを制御する制御手段と、前記回転ドラムの排気温度を検知する第１の温度検知手段と、前記加熱手段の吸い込み空気温度を検知する第２の温度検知手段とを備え、前記制御手段は、毛布を乾燥させる乾燥運転時において、乾燥運転開始前に前記第２の温度検知手段により検知した温度Ｔ２を周囲温度Ｔｉｎとして記憶し、乾燥運転開始後、前記第１の温度検知手段により検知した温度Ｔ１が毛布が傷む温度の所定温度Ｔａを超えると前記加熱手段をオフし、その後前記所定温度Ｔａより低く前記周囲温度Ｔｉｎより高い所定温度Ｔｃ以下になると前記加熱手段をオンする前記加熱手段のオン−オフ制御を繰り返すようにし、前記第１の温度検知手段により検知した温度Ｔ１が所定温度Ｔａを超えた回数が２回以上の所定回数に達すると、乾燥運転開始から前記所定回数に達するまでの時間を経過時間ｔａとして記憶し、その後前記所定温度Ｔｃを検知した後の前記加熱手段の加熱量を前記オン時の加熱量より少なくするとともに、前記経過時間ｔａと前記周囲温度Ｔｉｎとにより乾燥運転終了までの残り乾燥時間ΔＴを設定し、前記残り乾燥時間ΔＴ経過後に乾燥運転を終了するようにしたものであって、前記加熱手段の加熱量を前記オン時の加熱量より少なくした乾燥運転時に、前記第１の温度検知手段で検知した温度Ｔ１が、前記所定温度Ｔａ以下の所定温度Ｔｂを超えた場合には、その超えた時点、またはその超えた時点以降所定時間経過後、または前記残り乾燥時間ΔＴ経過時点のうち、最も早い時点に、乾燥運転を終了するようにしたことを課題解決手段としている。
【０００７】
【作用】
本発明は上記課題解決手段により、マイヤー毛布、タフト毛布、ベビー毛布などの種類の違う毛布を乾燥させる場合でも、乾燥機を運転する周囲温度の影響を受けることなく、毛布の種類や、湿り具合に応じた最適な乾燥時間を決定することができ、過乾燥状態になり毛布が傷んだり、また未乾燥の状態で乾燥運転を終了したりすることを防ぐことができる。
【０００８】
【実施例】
以下、本発明の一実施例を図１および図２を参照しながら説明する。
【０００９】
図に示すように、回転ドラム１は被乾燥物（衣類）を収納して乾燥させるもので、熱交換型両翼ファン（送風手段）２により回転ドラム１内の温風を循環させる。熱交換型両翼ファン２は、回転ドラム１内に温風を循環させると同時に外部からの空気を取り入れてファンを冷却し、回転ドラム１の循環空気を除湿する。ＰＴＣヒータ３（加熱手段）は、回転ドラム１への送風経路、すなわち循環空気取入れ口に配設して循環空気を加熱する。
【００１０】
モータ４は、回転ドラム１と熱交換型両翼ファン２を回転駆動させるもので、モータ４の回転数を制御することにより回転ドラム１と熱交換型両翼ファン２の回転数を制御でき、ＰＴＣヒータ３の発熱量を制御でき電流制御が可能となる。第１の温度検知手段５ａは、回転ドラム１内の空気の排気側に設けており、回転ドラム１内の温度に対応した排気温度を検知している。第２の温度検知手段５ｂは、ＰＴＣヒータ３の吸い込み空気温度を検出するものである。
【００１１】
制御手段６は、通常マイクロコンピュータなどで構成し、第１の温度検知手段５ａで検知した回転ドラム１内の温度に基づき、ＰＴＣヒータ３を構成するヒータ３ａ、３ｂにそれぞれ接続したリレー接点７ａ、７ｂを制御し、ヒータ３ａ、３ｂをオン、オフ制御し回転ドラム１内の温度を制御する。
【００１２】
また、第１の温度検知手段５ａ、第２の温度検知手段５ｂにより検知した温度データに基づき、回転ドラム１内の衣類の布質、布量、乾燥状態などを検知して最適な乾燥時間を決定している。すなわち、第１の温度検知手段５ａで検知した温度が所定温度Ｔａを所定時間ｔ１内に超え、かつ、以降の乾燥運転においてＰＴＣヒータ３の加熱量を少なくした場合に、第１の温度検知手段５ａで検知した温度が所定温度Ｔｂを超えると、乾燥運転を終了するようにし、第２の温度検知手段５ｂにより検知した温度により、所定時間ｔ１を変えるようにしている。また、モータ４に直列に接続された双方向性サイリスタ８を制御することにより、モータ４も制御している。また、乾燥運転開始からの経過時間を計時している。
【００１３】
上記構成において図３および図４を参照しながら動作を説明する。
【００１４】
図３は動作フローチャートで、ステップ３１で乾燥運転をスタートさせ、ステップ３２では乾燥運転開始時に第２の温度検知手段５ｂにより検知した温度データＴ２により周囲温度を求める。一般に、乾燥運転を開始する以前に第２の温度検知手段５ｂで検知した温度データは周囲温度と同じであると考えられるので、ステップ３２で第２の温度検知手段５ｂにより検知した温度データＴ２を周囲温度Ｔｉｎとする。
【００１５】
ステップ３３では、第１の温度検知手段５ａで検知した温度データＴ１を制御手段６に入力し保存する。そして、前回ステップ３３で第１の温度検知手段５ａが検知した温度データＴ１を前回検知した温度データＴ１ｐとして保存し直す。そして、ステップ３４で、温度データＴ１が図４で示す所定温度Ｔａを超えたか否かを判定する。
【００１６】
つまり、前回入力した温度データＴ１ｐは所定温度Ｔａ以下で、今回入力した温度データＴ１が所定温度Ｔａを超えたか否かを判定する。超えたと判定した場合は、ステップ３５で、温度データＴ１が何回所定温度Ｔａ以上になったかをカウントするカウンタを＋１する。そして、ステップ３６で、このカウンタが２以上になったかを判定する。カウンタが２以上になるまで、ステップ３３からステップ３６の処理を繰り返して行う。
【００１７】
また、ステップ３３からステップ３６の間、これと並行して、制御手段６は、第１の温度検知手段５ａで検知した温度データＴ１を基に、ヒータ３ａ、３ｂを図４（ｂ）（ｃ）に示す（経過時間ｔａまで）ように制御する。つまり、温度データＴ１が上昇時は、所定温度Ｔｂを超えると、ＰＴＣヒータ３の１つをオフし、所定温度Ｔａを超えると、さらにもう１つのＰＴＣヒータ３をオフする。また、温度データＴ１が下降時は、所定温度Ｔｂ以下になると、ＰＴＣヒータ３の１つをオンし、第３の所定温度Ｔｃ以下になると、さらに１つＰＴＣヒータ３をオンする。
【００１８】
ステップ３６で、カウンタが２以上（温度データＴ１が２回以上所定温度Ｔａを超えた）になったと判定された場合、ステップ３７に進む。ステップ３７では、制御手段６により、乾燥運転開始時からステップ３７に進んだときまでの経過時間ｔａを計時し、この経過時間ｔａが所定時間ｔ１以下か否かを判定する。この所定時間ｔ１は、ステップ３２で求めた周囲温度Ｔｉｎにより決まる値とする。所定時間ｔ１と周囲温度Ｔｉｎとの関係は、（表１）に示すようにする。
【００１９】
【表１】

【００２０】
ここで、所定時間ｔ１とは、マイヤー毛布などの厚手の毛布と、ベビー毛布、タフト毛布などの薄手の毛布を区別するために設けた時間である。ステップ３３からステップ３６の間でヒータ３ａ、３ｂをオン、オフ制御した場合、図５に示すように、周囲温度Ｔｉｎの影響を受けつつ、一般に、マイヤー毛布などの厚手の毛布を乾燥させた場合の経過時間ｔａ１と、タフト毛布やベビー毛布などの薄手の毛布を乾燥させた場合の経過時間ｔａ２、ｔａ３とでは、タフト毛布やベビー毛布などの薄手の毛布を乾燥させた場合の所定時間ｔａの方が短いという特徴がある。なお、図５において、破線Ａはマイヤー毛布、一点鎖線Ｂはタフト毛布、実線Ｃはベビー毛布の場合の温度データを示している。
【００２１】
つまり、経過時間ｔａが所定時間ｔ１以下の場合は、タフト毛布やベビー毛布などの薄手の毛布とし、ステップ３８でその旨を示す少量検知フラグをセットする。また、経過時間ｔａが所定時間ｔ１以上の場合は、マイヤー毛布などの厚手の毛布とし、少量検知フラグはセットしないでステップ３９に進む。
【００２２】
ステップ３９では、これ以降のヒータ３ａ、３ｂの制御方法を変更するための設定を行う。つまり、図４（経過時間ｔａ以降）に示すように、ヒータ３ａ、３ｂが同時にオンしないようにする。温度データＴ１が上昇時は、所定温度Ｔａ以上になったとき、ＰＴＣヒータ３をオフし、下降時は所定温度Ｔｂ以下になったとき、ＰＴＣヒータ３のどちらかをオンさせる。そして、乾燥運転が終了するまでこの制御を行う。
【００２３】
また、ステップ４０では、経過時間ｔａと周囲温度Ｔｉｎにより、毛布の種類と、乾燥度合いを推測し、（表２）に示すような残り乾燥時間ΔＴを決定する。なお、（表２）における単位は分である。
【００２４】
【表２】

【００２５】
ステップ４１では、ステップ４０で設定した残り乾燥時間ΔＴを経過したかを判定する。経過した場合はその時点で乾燥運転を終了してステップ４６に進む。残り乾燥時間を終了していない場合は、ステップ４２に進み、少量検知フラグがセットしているかを判定する。少量検知フラグをセットしていない場合は、ステップ４１に戻り再び残り乾燥時間を経過したか判定し、残り乾燥時間が終了するまで繰り返す。
【００２６】
つまり、マイヤー毛布などの厚手の毛布は、ステップ４０で決めた残り乾燥時間ΔＴにより乾燥運転を完結する。一方、ステップ４２で、少量検知フラグがセットされていると判定された場合（タフト毛布やベビー毛布などの薄手の毛布）、ステップ４３とステップ４５の処理を行う。この処理を行う目的は、タフト毛布とベビー毛布を区別するための処理で、残り乾燥時間ΔＴの運転中に一般にベビー毛布の方がタフト毛布に比べて早く乾燥するので、ベビー毛布の乾燥を検知し、その時点で乾燥運転を終了させ、最適な乾燥時間にするためのものである。
【００２７】
また、乾燥運転を行っている環境（高温度下や閉め切った場所など）によっては、ステップ３９でＰＴＣヒータ３の設定を切り替えた後でも、第１の温度検知手段５ａにより検知した回転ドラム１の温度がオーバーシュートして数分間所定温度Ｔａを超えていることがある。そのため、ステップ３９でＰＴＣヒータ３の設定を切り替え後、ある一定時間は、たとえ第１の温度検知手段５ａで検知した温度が所定温度Ｔｂを超えていたとしても、まだ毛布は乾燥していないとし乾燥運転を継続するようにする。
【００２８】
ステップ４３で、第１の温度検知手段５ａで検知した温度データＴ１を制御手段６に入力し、ステップ４４で、温度データＴ１が所定温度Ｔｂに達したか判定する。図５に示すように、一般に、乾燥度合いが進むと、温度データＴ１が再び上昇するという特徴があるので、温度データＴ１が所定温度Ｔｂに達していなかったら、まだ乾燥していないとし、ステップ４１に戻る。
【００２９】
ステップ４５では、前述したように、温度データＴ１がオーバーシュートで所定温度Ｔｂを超えているのを防ぐために設けたディレイ時間が経過したかを判定するための処理で、ステップ３９でＰＴＣヒータ３の設定を変更してからの時間ｔ２が所定時間ｔｂを経過したか判定する。まだ経過していない場合は、ステップ４１に戻り乾燥運転を継続し、所定時間ｔｂを経過していたら、ベビー毛布などの薄手の毛布が乾燥したとし、乾燥運転を終了させる。また、温度データＴ１が所定温度Ｔｂに達しない場合は、残り乾燥時間ΔＴが経過するまで乾燥運転を継続する。
【００３０】
なお、本実施例において、図３で示した動作フローチャートにおけるステップ４５では、第１の温度検知手段５ａで検知した温度データＴ１が所定温度Ｔｂを超えた時点で即乾燥運転を終了するようにしているが、所定時間ΔＴ２だけ乾燥運転を継続し行い、その後乾燥運転を終了するようにしても同様な効果が得られる。
【００３１】
また、ステップ４４で乾燥運転を終了するか否かを判定するにあたって、第１の温度検知手段５ａにより検知した温度データＴ１が所定温度Ｔｂを超えたかで判定しているが、所定温度Ｔｂでなく、所定温度ＴａまたはＴｃと比較した場合でも同様な効果が得られる。
【００３２】
【発明の効果】
以上のように本発明の衣類乾燥機は、衣類を乾燥させる回転ドラムと、前記回転ドラム内へ温風を循環させる送風手段と、前記回転ドラム内への送風経路に設けた加熱手段と、前記送風手段または回転ドラムを回転駆動するモータと、前記加熱手段、モータなどを制御する制御手段と、前記回転ドラムの排気温度を検知する第１の温度検知手段と、前記加熱手段の吸い込み空気温度を検知する第２の温度検知手段とを備え、前記制御手段は、毛布を乾燥させる乾燥運転時において、乾燥運転開始前に前記第２の温度検知手段により検知した温度Ｔ２を周囲温度Ｔｉｎとして記憶し、乾燥運転開始後、前記第１の温度検知手段により検知した温度Ｔ１が毛布が傷む温度の所定温度Ｔａを超えると前記加熱手段をオフし、その後前記所定温度Ｔａより低く前記周囲温度Ｔｉｎより高い所定温度Ｔｃ以下になると前記加熱手段をオンする前記加熱手段のオン−オフ制御を繰り返すようにし、前記第１の温度検知手段により検知した温度Ｔ１が所定温度Ｔａを超えた回数が２回以上の所定回数に達すると、乾燥運転開始から前記所定回数に達するまでの時間を経過時間ｔａとして記憶し、その後前記所定温度Ｔｃを検知した後の前記加熱手段の加熱量を前記オン時の加熱量より少なくするとともに、前記経過時間ｔａと前記周囲温度Ｔｉｎとにより乾燥運転終了までの残り乾燥時間ΔＴを設定し、前記残り乾燥時間ΔＴ経過後に乾燥運転を終了するようにしたものであって、前記加熱手段の加熱量を前記オン時の加熱量より少なくした乾燥運転時に、前記第１の温度検知手段で検知した温度Ｔ１が、前記所定温度Ｔａ以下の所定温度Ｔｂを超えた場合には、その超えた時点、またはその超えた時点以降所定時間経過後、または前記残り乾燥時間ΔＴ経過時点のうち、最も早い時点に、乾燥運転を終了するようにしたものであって、前記加熱手段の加熱量を前記オン時の加熱量より少なくした乾燥運転時に、前記第１の温度検知手段で検知した温度Ｔ１が、前記所定温度Ｔａ以下の所定温度Ｔｂを超えた場合には、その超えた時点、またはその超えた時点以降所定時間経過後、または残り乾燥時間ΔＴ経過時点のうち、最も早い時点に、乾燥運転を終了するようにしたから、マイヤー毛布、タフト毛布、ベビー毛布などの種類の違う毛布を乾燥させる場合でも、乾燥機を運転する周囲温度の影響を受けることなく、毛布の種類や、湿り具合に応じた最適な乾燥時間を決定することができ、過乾燥状態になり毛布が傷んだり、また未乾燥の状態で乾燥運転を終了したりするのを防止することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の一実施例の衣類乾燥機の制御ブロック図
【図２】同衣類乾燥機の断面図
【図３】同衣類乾燥機の動作フローチャート
【図４】同衣類乾燥機の動作タイムチャート
【図５】同衣類乾燥機の毛布乾燥時の温度変化を示す特性図
【符号の説明】
１回転ドラム
２熱交換型両翼ファン（送風手段）
３ＰＴＣヒータ（加熱手段）
４モータ
５ａ第１の温度検知手段
６制御手段[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a clothes dryer that dries clothes by sending warm air into a rotating drum that is rotationally driven by a motor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, home-use clothes dryers have a function of drying blankets used in home life such as tuft blankets, Meyer blankets, and baby blankets, and are widely used in daily life.
[0003]
Conventionally, this type of clothes dryer has a structure in which an object to be dried is dried by heat generated by a plurality of positive temperature sensitive resistance heaters (hereinafter referred to as PTC heaters). When drying an item, in order to prevent fabric damage and shorten the drying time, the same amount of heat as that used for drying clothes is usually used from the beginning of the drying operation until the temperature inside the rotating drum reaches a predetermined temperature or higher. The clothes were supplied from the PTC heater to the clothing, and thereafter the heating amount was reduced. Also, the drying time is determined by detecting the type of clothes and the degree of drying based on the time until the temperature in the rotating drum reaches a predetermined temperature and the ambient temperature.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such a conventional clothes dryer, when the blanket is dried, the type of the blanket and the degree of drying are detected only by the time until the temperature in the rotating drum reaches the predetermined temperature and the ambient temperature. It is difficult to distinguish the quality of a blanket that is not so different in weight as a baby blanket, and the drying operation is not completed in an optimal drying time.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to distinguish the cloth quality and finish the drying operation with an optimal drying time even for similar blankets such as tuft blankets and baby blankets.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the clothes dryer of the present invention has a rotating drum for drying clothes, a blowing means for circulating hot air into the rotating drum, and a heating means provided in a blowing path into the rotating drum. A motor for rotationally driving the blowing means or the rotating drum, a control means for controlling the heating means, the motor, etc., a first temperature detecting means for detecting the exhaust temperature of the rotating drum, and a suction of the heating means and a second temperature detecting means for detecting the air temperature, wherein, during the drying operation for drying the blankets, the temperature T2 has been detected by said second temperature detection means before the drying operation starts ambient temperature stored as Tin, after the drying operation starts, the first temperature T1 detected by the temperature detecting means is turned off the heating means exceeds a predetermined temperature Ta of the temperature at which blankets hurts, then the On the heating means for turning on the heating means and equal to or less than a predetermined temperature Tc not higher than the low Ku said ambient temperature Tin from the constant temperature Ta - temperature T1 to repeat the off control, was detected by the first temperature sensing means When the number of times that the temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature Ta reaches a predetermined number of times of 2 or more, the time from the start of the drying operation until the predetermined number of times is reached is stored as an elapsed time ta, and then the predetermined temperature Tc is detected. The heating amount of the heating means is made smaller than the heating amount at the time of ON, and the remaining drying time ΔT until the end of the drying operation is set by the elapsed time ta and the ambient temperature Tin, and the drying operation is performed after the remaining drying time ΔT has elapsed. In the drying operation in which the heating amount of the heating means is less than the heating amount at the time of turning on, the first temperature detecting means detects the heating amount. Temperature T1 was found when said exceeds a predetermined temperature Ta below the predetermined temperature Tb, the time that exceeded or exceeded after time after the predetermined time has elapsed and, or of the remaining drying time ΔT elapse, the earliest The problem solving means is that the drying operation is terminated at the time.
[0007]
[Action]
The present invention solves the above problem solving means even when drying different types of blankets such as Meyer blankets, tuft blankets, baby blankets, etc., without being affected by the ambient temperature at which the dryer is operated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the drying operation from being overdried and the blanket being damaged, or the drying operation from being finished in an undried state.
[0008]
【Example】
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
[0009]
As shown in the figure, the rotating drum 1 is for storing and drying an object to be dried (clothing), and hot air in the rotating drum 1 is circulated by a heat exchange type two-blade fan (air blowing means) 2. The heat exchange type two-blade fan 2 circulates warm air in the rotating drum 1 and simultaneously takes in air from outside to cool the fan and dehumidify the circulating air in the rotating drum 1. The PTC heater 3 (heating means) is disposed in the ventilation path to the rotating drum 1, that is, in the circulating air intake, and heats the circulating air.
[0010]
The motor 4 rotationally drives the rotary drum 1 and the heat exchange type two-blade fan 2, and by controlling the rotation speed of the motor 4, the rotation speed of the rotary drum 1 and the heat exchange type two-blade fan 2 can be controlled. 3 can control the amount of heat generated, and current control becomes possible. The first temperature detection means 5 a is provided on the air exhaust side of the rotary drum 1 and detects the exhaust temperature corresponding to the temperature in the rotary drum 1. The second temperature detection means 5b detects the intake air temperature of the PTC heater 3.
[0011]
The control means 6 is usually composed of a microcomputer or the like, and based on the temperature in the rotating drum 1 detected by the first temperature detection means 5a, relay contacts 7a connected to the heaters 3a, 3b constituting the PTC heater 3, respectively. 7b is controlled and the heaters 3a and 3b are turned on and off to control the temperature in the rotating drum 1.
[0012]
Further, based on the temperature data detected by the first temperature detection means 5a and the second temperature detection means 5b, the cloth quality, the amount of clothes, the drying state, etc. of the clothes in the rotary drum 1 are detected, and the optimum drying time is determined. Has been decided. That is, when the temperature detected by the first temperature detecting means 5a exceeds the predetermined temperature Ta within the predetermined time t1, and the heating amount of the PTC heater 3 is reduced in the subsequent drying operation, the first temperature detecting means When the temperature detected at 5a exceeds the predetermined temperature Tb, the drying operation is terminated, and the predetermined time t1 is changed according to the temperature detected by the second temperature detecting means 5b. The motor 4 is also controlled by controlling the bidirectional thyristor 8 connected in series to the motor 4. In addition, the elapsed time from the start of the drying operation is measured.
[0013]
The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0014]
FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart. In step 31, the drying operation is started. In step 32, the ambient temperature is obtained from the temperature data T2 detected by the second temperature detecting means 5b at the start of the drying operation. In general, since the temperature data detected by the second temperature detecting means 5b before starting the drying operation is considered to be the same as the ambient temperature, the temperature data T2 detected by the second temperature detecting means 5b in step 32 is used. The ambient temperature is Tin.
[0015]
In step 33, the temperature data T1 detected by the first temperature detection means 5a is input to the control means 6 and stored. Then, the temperature data T1 detected by the first temperature detection means 5a in the previous step 33 is stored again as the previously detected temperature data T1p. In step 34, it is determined whether or not the temperature data T1 has exceeded a predetermined temperature Ta shown in FIG.
[0016]
That is, it is determined whether or not the temperature data T1p input last time is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature Ta and the temperature data T1 input this time exceeds the predetermined temperature Ta. If it is determined that the temperature has been exceeded, in step 35, the counter that counts how many times the temperature data T1 has exceeded the predetermined temperature Ta is incremented by one. Then, in step 36, it is determined whether this counter is 2 or more. The processing from step 33 to step 36 is repeated until the counter becomes 2 or more.
[0017]
In parallel with this, from step 33 to step 36, the control means 6 replaces the heaters 3a and 3b with reference to FIGS. 4B and 4C based on the temperature data T1 detected by the first temperature detection means 5a. ) (Up to the elapsed time ta). That is, when the temperature data T1 rises, when the temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature Tb, one of the PTC heaters 3 is turned off, and when the temperature data T1 exceeds the predetermined temperature Ta, another PTC heater 3 is further turned off. When the temperature data T1 is decreasing, one of the PTC heaters 3 is turned on when the temperature data T1 is lower than the predetermined temperature Tb, and one more PTC heater 3 is turned on when the temperature data T1 is lower than the third predetermined temperature Tc.
[0018]
If it is determined in step 36 that the counter has become 2 or more (the temperature data T1 has exceeded the predetermined temperature Ta at least twice), the process proceeds to step 37. In step 37, the control means 6 measures the elapsed time ta from the start of the drying operation to the time when it proceeds to step 37, and determines whether or not this elapsed time ta is equal to or shorter than the predetermined time t1. The predetermined time t1 is a value determined by the ambient temperature Tin obtained in step 32. The relationship between the predetermined time t1 and the ambient temperature Tin is as shown in (Table 1).
[0019]
[Table 1]

[0020]
Here, the predetermined time t1 is a time provided to distinguish a thick blanket such as a Meyer blanket and a thin blanket such as a baby blanket or a tuft blanket. When heaters 3a and 3b are controlled on and off between step 33 and step 36, generally when a thick blanket such as a Meyer blanket is dried while being influenced by the ambient temperature Tin as shown in FIG. The elapsed time ta1 and the elapsed times ta2 and ta3 when a thin blanket such as a tuft blanket or baby blanket is dried are a predetermined time ta when a thin blanket such as a tuft blanket or baby blanket is dried. It is characterized by being shorter. In FIG. 5, the broken line A represents temperature data in the case of a Meyer blanket, the alternate long and short dash line B represents a tuft blanket, and the solid line C represents temperature data in the case of a baby blanket.
[0021]
That is, when the elapsed time ta is equal to or less than the predetermined time t1, a thin blanket such as a tuft blanket or a baby blanket is used, and a small amount detection flag indicating that is set in step 38. If the elapsed time ta is equal to or longer than the predetermined time t1, a thick blanket such as a Meyer blanket is used, and the process proceeds to step 39 without setting the small amount detection flag.
[0022]
In step 39, settings for changing the control method of the heaters 3a and 3b thereafter are performed. That is, as shown in FIG. 4 (after the elapsed time ta), the heaters 3a and 3b are not turned on simultaneously. When the temperature data T1 rises, the PTC heater 3 is turned off when the temperature becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature Ta. When the temperature data T1 falls, when the temperature data T1 falls below the predetermined temperature Tb, one of the PTC heaters 3 is turned on. This control is performed until the drying operation is completed.
[0023]
In step 40, the type of blanket and the degree of drying are estimated from the elapsed time ta and the ambient temperature Tin, and the remaining drying time ΔT as shown in (Table 2) is determined. The unit in (Table 2) is minutes.
[0024]
[Table 2]

[0025]
In step 41, it is determined whether the remaining drying time ΔT set in step 40 has elapsed. If it has elapsed, the drying operation is terminated at that time and the routine proceeds to step 46. If the remaining drying time has not ended, the process proceeds to step 42 to determine whether the small amount detection flag is set. If the small amount detection flag is not set, the process returns to step 41 to determine again whether the remaining drying time has elapsed, and repeats until the remaining drying time ends.
[0026]
That is, a thick blanket such as a Meyer blanket completes the drying operation with the remaining drying time ΔT determined in step 40. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 42 that the small amount detection flag is set (thin blanket such as a tuft blanket or baby blanket), the processing in

steps

43 and 45 is performed. The purpose of this process is to distinguish between the tuft blanket and the baby blanket. During operation for the remaining drying time ΔT, the baby blanket generally dries faster than the tuft blanket. At that time, the drying operation is terminated to obtain an optimum drying time.
[0027]
Further, depending on the environment in which the drying operation is performed (such as under high temperature or in a closed place), even after the setting of the PTC heater 3 is switched in step 39, the rotation of the rotating drum 1 detected by the first temperature detecting means 5a is changed. The temperature may overshoot and exceed the predetermined temperature Ta for several minutes. Therefore, after switching the setting of the PTC heater 3 in step 39, it is assumed that the blanket is not yet dried for a certain period of time even if the temperature detected by the first temperature detecting means 5a exceeds the predetermined temperature Tb. Continue drying operation.
[0028]
In step 43, the temperature data T1 detected by the first temperature detection means 5a is input to the control means 6, and in step 44, it is determined whether the temperature data T1 has reached a predetermined temperature Tb. As shown in FIG. 5, generally, as the degree of drying progresses, the temperature data T1 rises again. Therefore, if the temperature data T1 has not reached the predetermined temperature Tb, it is assumed that the temperature data T1 has not yet been dried. Return to.
[0029]
In step 45, as described above, it is a process for determining whether or not the delay time provided for preventing the temperature data T1 from exceeding the predetermined temperature Tb due to overshoot has elapsed. It is determined whether the time t2 after changing the setting has passed the predetermined time tb. If it has not yet elapsed, the process returns to step 41 to continue the drying operation. If the predetermined time tb has elapsed, it is assumed that a thin blanket such as a baby blanket has been dried, and the drying operation is terminated. When the temperature data T1 does not reach the predetermined temperature Tb, the drying operation is continued until the remaining drying time ΔT has elapsed.
[0030]
In this embodiment, in step 45 in the operation flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the immediate drying operation is terminated when the temperature data T1 detected by the first temperature detecting means 5a exceeds the predetermined temperature Tb. However, the same effect can be obtained by continuing the drying operation for a predetermined time ΔT2 and then ending the drying operation.
[0031]
Further, in determining whether or not to end the drying operation in step 44, it is determined whether or not the temperature data T1 detected by the first temperature detecting means 5a exceeds the predetermined temperature Tb, but not the predetermined temperature Tb. Even when compared with the predetermined temperature Ta or Tc, the same effect can be obtained.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the clothes dryer of the present invention includes a rotating drum that dries clothing, a blowing unit that circulates warm air into the rotating drum, a heating unit provided in a blowing path into the rotating drum, A motor for rotating the blowing means or the rotating drum, a control means for controlling the heating means, the motor, etc., a first temperature detecting means for detecting the exhaust temperature of the rotating drum, and the suction air temperature of the heating means. and a second temperature detection means for detecting, wherein, during the drying operation for drying the blankets, stores temperature T2 has been detected by said second temperature detection means before the drying operation started as ambient temperature Tin and, after the drying operation starts, the first temperature T1 detected by the temperature detecting means is turned off the heating means exceeds a predetermined temperature Ta of the temperature at which hurts blanket, then the predetermined temperature Ta On the heating means for turning on the heating means and high have become below the predetermined temperature Tc from low rather the ambient temperature Tin Ri - to repeat the off control, the first temperature T1 detected by the temperature detecting means is a predetermined temperature When the number of times exceeding Ta reaches two or more predetermined times, the time from the start of the drying operation until reaching the predetermined number of times is stored as an elapsed time ta, and then the heating means after detecting the predetermined temperature Tc is stored . The heating amount is made smaller than the heating amount at the time of ON, and the remaining drying time ΔT until the end of the drying operation is set by the elapsed time ta and the ambient temperature Tin, and the drying operation is ended after the remaining drying time ΔT has elapsed. The temperature T detected by the first temperature detecting means during the drying operation in which the heating amount of the heating means is less than the heating amount at the time of ON. But when said exceeds a predetermined temperature Ta below the predetermined temperature Tb, the time that exceeded or exceeded after subsequent time a predetermined time, or of the remaining drying time ΔT elapse, the earliest point in time, The drying operation is terminated, and the temperature T1 detected by the first temperature detection unit during the drying operation in which the heating amount of the heating unit is less than the heating amount at the time of the ON is the predetermined temperature. When the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature Tb equal to or lower than Ta, the drying operation is terminated at the earliest point of time when the temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature, after the predetermined time has elapsed , or when the remaining drying time ΔT has elapsed. Therefore, even when drying different types of blankets such as Meyer blankets, tuft blankets, baby blankets, etc., the type of blanket and wetness are not affected by the ambient temperature of the dryer. Optimum drying time can be determined in accordance with, or damaged blanket becomes over-dry, also from or to end the drying operation at a wet state can be prevented.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a control 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. Time chart [Fig. 5] Characteristic diagram showing temperature change during blanket drying of the clothes dryer [Explanation of symbols]
1 Rotating drum 2 Heat exchange type double-wing fan (air blowing means)
3 PTC heater (heating means)
4 Motor 5a First temperature detection means 6 Control means

Claims

A rotating drum that dries clothing; a blowing means that circulates warm air into the rotating drum; a heating means provided in a blowing path into the rotating drum; and a motor that rotationally drives the blowing means or the rotating drum; Control means for controlling the heating means, motor, etc., first temperature detection means for detecting the exhaust temperature of the rotating drum, and second temperature detection means for detecting the intake air temperature of the heating means, wherein, during the drying operation for drying the blankets, the temperature T2 of the prior drying operation start detected by said second temperature sensing means is stored as the ambient temperature Tin, after the drying operation starts, the first temperature the temperature T1 was detected off the heating means exceeds a predetermined temperature Ta of the temperature at which hurts blankets by detection means, not higher than then the lower-Ku predetermined temperature Ta the ambient temperature Tin Said heating means for turning on the heating means and falls below the constant temperature Tc on - to repeat the off control, the number is more than twice the first temperature T1 detected by the temperature detecting means exceeds a predetermined temperature Ta When the predetermined number of times is reached, the time from the start of the drying operation until the predetermined number of times is reached is stored as an elapsed time ta, and then the heating amount of the heating means after detecting the predetermined temperature Tc is determined from the heating amount at the time of ON. The remaining drying time ΔT until the end of the drying operation is set based on the elapsed time ta and the ambient temperature Tin, and the drying operation is ended after the remaining drying time ΔT has elapsed. The temperature T1 detected by the first temperature detecting means during the drying operation in which the heating amount of the means is less than the heating amount at the time of the ON is a predetermined temperature that is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature Ta. If it exceeds Tb is the time that exceeded or exceeded after time after the predetermined time has elapsed and, or of the remaining drying time ΔT elapse, the earliest point in time, clothes drying which is adapted to terminate the drying operation Machine.