JP3859026B2 - Clothes dryer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a clothes drying apparatus using a room such as a bathroom.
[0002]
[Prior art]
It has been publicly known to start a drying operation for heating and ventilating a bathroom and drying clothes in the bathroom at a preset start time.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a case, the absolute humidity in the bathroom at the start time of the drying operation varies due to the remaining hot water in the bathtub, etc., and thus there is a problem that the time until the clothing is completely dried varies.
[0004]
In order to solve this problem, it is conceivable to perform a dry operation before the set start time, but in that case, there is a possibility of performing the dry operation even though there is no clothing in the bathroom, and this is a problem that wastes energy. was there.
[0005]
Even in a clothes drying apparatus that tends to vary in absolute humidity at the beginning of the drying operation, such as in a bathroom, for example, the present invention equalizes the variation in time until the drying of the clothes is completed and uses as much energy as possible during the drying operation. The purpose is to avoid wasting.
[0006]
Another aspect of the present invention is that, in a clothes drying apparatus having a high absolute humidity at the beginning of the drying operation, such as in a bathroom, for example, the time until the drying of the clothes is completed is shortened and energy associated with the drying operation is wasted as much as possible. The purpose is not to.
[0007]
[Means for solving the problems and their functions and effects]
According to the present invention, there is provided a functional unit having a first function for reducing the indoor absolute humidity, and a second function for promoting the release of moisture from the clothing in the room separately from the first function, And a setting means for setting the start time of the function. In the clothes drying apparatus that controls the functional unit so that the clothes in the room are dried, when the start time is set by the setting means, the first time before the start time is set. By providing the control means for executing the function, it is possible to level the variation of the absolute humidity at the set start time.
[0008]
On the other hand, since the second function is not executed before the set start time, energy is not wasted by executing the function even though no clothing is installed in the room.
[0009]
As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first function can be configured by the function of ventilating outside the room, and the second function can be configured by the function of heating the room or clothing.
[0010]
Here, since the heating function which is the second function normally has a large energy consumption amount, the energy consumption amount is greatly reduced by not executing this function before the set start time.
[0011]
In another embodiment, by configuring the second function with the function of blowing wind on indoor clothing, the function of blowing wind on indoor clothing is not executed before the set start time, and energy is wasted. Is prevented.
[0012]
As another embodiment, the first function can be configured as a function of dehumidifying the room.
[0013]
The present invention is also provided with a detecting means for detecting the humidity in the room, and is configured to execute the first function before the start time when the indoor absolute humidity is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. When the absolute humidity is high, the absolute humidity at the start time can be reduced by executing the first function.
[0014]
On the other hand, if the absolute humidity in the room is low before the start time, energy waste can be prevented by not executing the first function.
[0015]
As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the time at which the first function is started can be set to a time that is a predetermined time later than the set start time of the second function. The predetermined time that goes back from this start time is determined based on the balance between the effect of lowering the absolute humidity and the energy consumption.
[0016]
The present invention also provides a clothing drying apparatus that controls a functional unit so that the indoor clothing is dried. The first control mode in which the energy consumed by the functional unit is relatively small, and the drying efficiency of the clothing by the functional unit is relatively low. Control means having a large second control mode and setting means for setting the start time of the second control mode are provided, and the control means is set before the start time when the start time is set by the setting means. By configuring in advance to execute the first control mode, it is possible to shorten the time until the drying of the clothes is completed.
[0017]
On the other hand, since the second control mode is not executed before the set start time, the second control mode is executed to waste energy even though no clothing is installed in the room. Absent.
[0018]
As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the functional unit is configured to have a first function including a function of ventilating outdoors or a function of applying air to clothes, and a second function of heating indoors or clothes. At the same time, during the first control mode, it is possible to prevent waste of energy during the first control mode by reducing the amount of heating by the heating means as compared with the second control mode. Furthermore, if the heating is stopped during the first control mode, energy waste can be further prevented.
[0019]
On the other hand, during the first control mode, by executing in advance the first function consisting of the function of ventilating outside the room or the function of blowing air on the clothes, the time until the drying of the clothes can be shortened.
[0020]
As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the time at which the first control mode is started can be set to a time that is a predetermined time later than the set start time of the second control mode. The predetermined time that goes back from the start time is determined in consideration of the effect of shortening the time until the drying of the clothes is completed and the energy consumption.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a bathroom drying apparatus to which the present invention is applied. A bathtub 2 is provided in the bathroom 1, and a drying apparatus main body 3 is installed on the back of the ceiling of the bathroom 1.
[0022]
A decorative panel 4 is attached to the ceiling of the bathroom 1 at a position corresponding to the drying device main body 3, and the decorative panel 4 has an inlet 5 to the drying device main body 3 from the bathroom 1, and the drying device main body 3. The air outlet 6 into the bathroom 1 is formed.
[0023]
The drying apparatus main body 3 has a ventilation fan 7, a ventilation fan motor 8, a ventilation pipe 9 for discharging a part of the air sucked from the suction port 5 to the outside of the bathroom 1, and a part of the air sucked from the suction port 5. A circulation fan 10, a circulation fan motor 11, and a heater 12 are provided for discharging the bathroom 1 as hot air.
[0024]
Further, a temperature detection sensor 13 for detecting the temperature of the sucked air and a humidity detection sensor 14 for detecting the humidity of the sucked air are provided on the drying device main body 3 side from the suction port 5. About the attachment position of these sensors 13 and 14, you may install in the arbitrary locations in the bathroom 1 if it is a position which can detect temperature and humidity correctly.
[0025]
A remote control 15 for controlling the drying device main body 3 is provided at an appropriate place in the dressing room adjacent to the bathroom 1, and the remote control 15 issues an operation signal to a control device (not shown) in accordance with the switch operation, and performs control. The apparatus sends out control signals to the ventilation fan motor 8, the circulation fan motor 11, and the heater 12 based on the detection signals of the temperature detection sensor 13 and the humidity detection sensor 14 and the operation signal of the remote controller 15, thereby moving outside the bathroom 1. The amount of ventilation, the amount of hot air discharged into the bathroom 1, and the temperature of hot air into the bathroom 1 are controlled.
[0026]
FIG. 2 shows details of the remote controller 15, a ventilation fan motor 8, a circulation fan motor 11, a drying operation switch 101 for starting the operation of the heater 12, a ventilation fan motor 8, and a cool breeze for starting the operation of the circulation fan motor 11. The operation switch 102, the ventilation operation switch 103 for starting the operation of the ventilation fan motor 8, the circulation fan motor 11, the heating operation switch 104 for starting the operation of the heater 12, and each operation of the drying apparatus main body 3 by operating the switches 101 to 104 Reservation time setting switch 105 for setting the start time, display unit 106 for displaying the time set by the reservation time setting switch 105, and reservation confirmation for storing the time set by the reservation time setting switch 105 in the control device By operation of switch 107 and switches 101-104燥 device operation stop switch 108 for stopping each operation of the main body 3, the lighting switch 109 for illuminating the point / extinguished (not shown) disposed in the bathroom 1 it is provided.
[0027]
Next, the drying operation performed by the control device based on the operation of the drying operation switch 101 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0028]
First, when the drying operation switch 101, the reservation time setting switch 105, and the reservation confirmation switch 107 are appropriately set, the start time of the drying operation is set (S101).
[0029]
Then, based on the detection signal from the humidity detection sensor 14, it is monitored whether or not the absolute humidity in the bathroom 1 is equal to or higher than the set value (S102), and if it is equal to or higher than the set value, an operation start signal is sent to the ventilation fan motor 8. The ventilation operation is started (S103).
[0030]
Subsequently, it is confirmed whether or not a time that is a predetermined time later than the start time set in step S101 (S104). If the time that is a predetermined time is reached, if the ventilation operation is not started, the ventilation fan motor 8 is set. In response to this, an operation start signal is sent to start the ventilation operation (S105).
[0031]
The predetermined time to be traced is determined by the volume of the bathroom 1 and the delivery capacity of the ventilation fan 7, and is set to a time required to ventilate the air corresponding to the bathroom volume 2 to 3 times, for example. That is, if the time required to ventilate the air of the bathroom volume once is 10 minutes, it is set to about 20 to 30 minutes.
[0032]
Thereafter, it is confirmed whether or not the start time set in step S101 is reached (S106). When the start time is reached, an operation start signal is sent to the circulation fan motor 11 and the heater 12 to start the drying operation. (S107).
[0033]
Then, after starting the drying operation, it is confirmed whether or not the set time has passed (S108). If the set time has passed, the ventilation fan motor 8, the circulation fan motor 11 and the heater 12 are stopped and the operation is finished (S109). .
[0034]
This set time is the time until the clothes in the bathroom 1 are completely dried, and the length may be varied based on various conditions. In addition to the step S108, the humidity detection sensor 14 is used instead of the clothes. The dry state may be sequentially detected, and the operation may be terminated when the detected content reaches a value indicating a state in which the clothes are completely dried.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a bathroom drying apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing details of a remote controller 15 of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a drying operation of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Bathroom 3 ... Drying apparatus main body, 5 ... Inlet, 6 ... Air outlet, 7 ... Ventilation fan 10 ... Circulation fan, 12 ... Heater, 14 ... Humidity detection sensor

Claims (2)

A clothes drying apparatus capable of performing a ventilation operation for discharging air sucked from the room to the outside, and a drying operation for drying the clothes by heating the air sucked from the room and returning it to the room,
Setting means having a setting switch for the drying operation start switch and the drying operation start time;
When the start switch for the drying operation and the setting switch for the start time are accepted and the start time for the dry operation is set, the ventilation operation is executed before the start time, and the dry operation is started when the start time is reached. A clothes drying apparatus comprising: control means for controlling to do so. A humidity detection sensor for detecting the humidity in the room;
The control means includes
The clothes drying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the start time is set by the setting means, the ventilation operation is executed when the humidity detected by the humidity detection sensor before the start time is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. .

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