JP4924521B2 - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing / drying machine for washing and drying clothes.

  Conventionally, this type of washing / drying machine is for washing, dehydrating and drying by putting in clothes. Especially when drying is performed after washing and dehydration, the clothes are dried in a limited space. Since drying is performed, there is a problem that the clothes after drying are in a state of strong wrinkles, and various methods have been considered for solving the problem.

One of them is to reduce wrinkles after completion of drying by spraying mist on the warm air circulation path in the drying process (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The other one is to reduce wrinkles by controlling the drying air to a predetermined temperature or less with a heat pump device (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Furthermore, the other one is a drum-type washing / drying machine in which the drum is tilted forward in order to facilitate the taking in and out of the laundry. This is to reduce wrinkles by improving the stirring body (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
JP 2003-311067 A JP 2004-358028 A JP 2006-158488 A

  However, there is a problem that it takes time to dry the structure in which the conventional mist is sprayed to dry while humidifying the clothes and the structure in which drying is performed at a low temperature with drying air of a predetermined temperature or lower. Further, in the configuration in which the clothes are not biased by the stirring body, the clothes can be dispersed in the drum, so that the drying time can be shortened. However, mechanical force by stirring acts on the clothes to reduce wrinkles. The effect was not enough.

  This invention solves the said conventional subject, and it aims at reducing the wrinkle of the clothing after completion | finish of drying.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a washing and drying machine according to the present invention includes a rotating drum that accommodates laundry, a casing that includes the rotating drum, a rotary drum that includes the rotating drum, and is supported in the casing. A water tank, a drum drive motor that is provided on the back surface of the water tank and rotates the rotation axis of the rotary drum while tilting horizontally or upward, an air supply port and an exhaust port that are open on the back surface and the peripheral side surface of the water tank, and one end Is connected to the exhaust port, the other end of which is connected to the air supply port, a circulating air passage for drying air, a blower for blowing the drying air into the rotating drum and the circulating air passage, and the inside of the rotating drum The dehumidifying means for dehumidifying the drying air deprived of moisture from the laundry contained in the laundry, the heating means for heating the drying air dehumidified by the dehumidifying means, and the cross-sectional area of the circulation air passage through which the drying air passes Variable air passage interruption Product variable means, and control means for controlling the blower and the air passage cross-sectional area variable means, the control means, the air passage cross-sectional area until a first predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the drying operation. The circulating air passage is set to a first cross-sectional area by a variable means, and the blower is rotated at a first rotational speed. After the first predetermined time has elapsed, the circulating air passage is changed by the air passage cross-sectional area variable means. Is set to a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area, and the blower is rotated at a second rotational speed greater than the first rotational speed.

  As a result, the air drying cross-sectional area is increased in the early drying stage (from the start of the drying operation until the first predetermined time elapses), so that the garment has less wrinkle sticking. It can be obtained in a number, and the drying time can be shortened and the power consumption of the blower can be reduced. Then, after the middle of drying (after the first predetermined time has elapsed), the air passage cross-sectional area is reduced and the blower is rotated at a large rotational speed, so that warm air with increased wind speed is blown to the clothing and fixed to the clothing. Wrinkles are reduced, and at the same time, a large amount of power is used to rotate the blower at a large rotational speed, so that a large amount of wind is obtained and the heat generated by the large power operation is applied to the warm air, so the warm air temperature is reduced. As a result, the drying time can be shortened, and the wrinkles of the clothes after drying is effectively reduced. In addition, power consumption is also suppressed.

  The washing / drying machine of the present invention can effectively reduce wrinkles of clothes after drying.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotating drum for storing laundry, a casing in which the rotating drum is housed, a water tank containing the rotating drum and supported in the casing, and the rotating drum provided on the back surface of the water tank. A drum drive motor that rotates the rotation axis of the water tank horizontally or upwardly, an air supply port and an exhaust port that are open on the back surface and the peripheral side surface of the water tank, one end connected to the exhaust port, and the other end A circulation air passage for drying air connected to the air mouth, a blower for blowing drying air into the rotary drum and the circulation air passage, and a drying air deprived of the laundry contained in the rotation drum Dehumidifying means for dehumidifying air, heating means for heating the drying air dehumidified by the dehumidifying means, air passage cross-sectional area varying means for varying the cross-sectional area of the circulating air passage through which the drying air passes, and the blower And the air passage Control means for controlling the area variable means, and the control means first disconnects the circulation air passage by the air passage cross-sectional area variable means until a first predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the drying operation. The area is set and the blower is rotated at a first rotational speed, and after the first predetermined time has elapsed, the circulating air passage is less than the first sectional area by the air passage sectional area variable means. By setting the area and rotating the blower at a second rotational speed that is greater than the first rotational speed, the initial stage of drying (the first predetermined time after the start of the drying operation) Since the air passage cross-sectional area is increased, a large amount of air can be obtained at a low rotational speed of the blower, and the drying time can be shortened and the power consumption of the blower can be reduced. Then, after the middle of drying (after the first predetermined time has elapsed), the air passage cross-sectional area is reduced and the blower is rotated at a large rotational speed, so that warm air with increased wind speed is blown to the clothing and fixed to the clothing. Wrinkles are reduced, and at the same time, a large amount of power is used to rotate the blower at a large rotational speed, so that a large amount of wind is obtained and the heat generated by the large power operation is applied to the warm air, so the warm air temperature is reduced. As a result, the drying time can be shortened, and the wrinkles of the clothes after drying is effectively reduced. In addition, power consumption is also suppressed.

  According to the second invention, in particular, the air passage cross-sectional area varying means according to the first invention includes a movable body movably provided in the circulation air passage and a movable body driving means for driving the movable body. Accordingly, the air passage cross-sectional area through which the drying air passes can be easily varied with a simple configuration in which the position of the movable body is simply displaced so that the passage cross-sectional area of the circulation air passage changes.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in particular, the air passage cross-sectional area variable means of the first or second aspect of the present invention is provided with a movable body that can rotate in the circulation air passage, and the movable body starts drying operation. Until the first predetermined time elapses, the air is positioned substantially in parallel with the drying air blowing direction and set to the first cross-sectional area. After the first predetermined time has elapsed, the drying air blowing direction is substantially the same. By switching to an orthogonal state and setting the second cross-sectional area, the first cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area can be accurately switched by the rotating operation of the movable body, and the fan can be rotated at a low rotational speed. The large amount of warm air can be blown with the first cross-sectional area, and the warm air with a high rotation speed at a high rotational speed is blown with the second cross-sectional area to reduce wrinkles of clothing. be able to.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, the air passage cross-sectional area variable means of the first or second aspect of the invention is provided with a movable body that can move forward and backward with respect to the circulation air passage, and the movable body starts drying operation. The first cross section is positioned outside the circulation air passage until the first predetermined time elapses and is set to the first cross-sectional area. After the first predetermined time elapses, the second cross section is placed inside the circulation air passage. By setting the area, the switching between the first cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area can be performed accurately by the advance and retreat operation of the movable body, and a large amount of hot air is supplied to the first air at a low rotational speed. It is possible to blow air with a cross-sectional area, and it is possible to reduce the wrinkles of clothes by blowing warm air with a high rotational speed at a high rotational speed with the second cross-sectional area.

  In the fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, the air passage cross-sectional area variable means according to any one of the second to fourth aspects of the invention is provided with a large number of small holes in the movable body and set to the second cross-sectional area. The second cross-sectional area can be easily set.

  In the sixth aspect of the invention, in particular, the air passage cross-sectional area variable means of any one of the second to fourth aspects of the invention is set to the second cross-sectional area by providing a gap between the circulation air passage and the movable body. By doing so, the second cross-sectional area can be easily set.

  According to a seventh aspect of the invention, in particular, a cloth amount detecting means for detecting the amount of laundry according to any one of the first to sixth aspects is provided, and the control means is based on the amount of cloth detected by the cloth amount detecting means. By setting the first predetermined time, the first predetermined time can be accurately set according to the amount of laundry.

  In the eighth aspect of the invention, in particular, the control means of any one of the first to seventh aspects of the invention sets the circulation air passage to the second cross-sectional area by the air passage cross-sectional area varying means and rotates the blower in the second rotation. After the second predetermined time has elapsed after rotating for a number of times, the drying operation is terminated by rotating the first predetermined number of cross-sectional areas for the third predetermined time to finish the drying operation. In addition, the power consumption of the blower can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by the form of this invention.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a washing and drying machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of air passage cross-sectional area varying means, and FIG. 3 is a side view thereof. The washing / drying machine is provided with a water tank 3 elastically supported by a suspension 2 in a housing 1 and a rotating drum 4 for storing laundry in the water tank 3 in a rotatable manner. The front side of the rotating drum 4 is provided with a loading port 5 for taking in and out the laundry and can be opened and closed by a door 6, and the front side provided with the loading port 5 is inclined forward and upward. The rotating drum 4 is driven to rotate forward and backward by a drum driving motor 7 provided on the back side of the water tank 4 and controlled by the control means 8.

  A circulation air passage 11 through which drying air circulates is connected to an air supply port 9 opened on the back surface of the water tank 3 and an exhaust port 10 opened on the side peripheral surface. In the circulation air passage 11, a blower 12 for blowing drying air, a dehumidifying means 13 for dehumidifying moisture taken from the laundry in the rotating drum 4, and a heating means 14 for heating the air dehumidified by the dehumidifying means 13. Is arranged. An air supply port 9 and an exhaust port 10 opened in the water tank 3 are disposed above the drum drive motor 7 so that water generated by washing and dehydration does not enter the circulation air passage 11.

The circulation air passage 11 near the air supply port 9 is provided with air passage cross-sectional area varying means 15 for varying the cross-sectional area of the circulation air passage 11 through which drying air passes. The air passage cross-sectional area varying means 15 is provided outside the circulation air passage 11 with a movable body 16 movably provided in the circulation air passage 11 and a movable body driving means 17 constituted by a motor for driving the movable body 16. Is configured.

  The movable body 16 is rotatably provided around a rotating shaft 18 provided at a biased position in the circulation air passage 11 and is driven by the movable body driving means 17 so as to be in a state substantially parallel to the blowing direction of drying air. (A) position and (b) position which is substantially orthogonal to the air blowing direction A, and are controlled by the control means 8 so as to operate in the arrow B direction. The movable body 16 is provided with a plurality of small holes 19 so that the cross-sectional area of the circulation air passage 11 through which the drying air passes is reduced when the movable body 16 is in the position (b) that is substantially orthogonal to the blowing direction a. Yes.

  Next, the operation of the washing / drying machine of the present invention will be described. When laundry and detergent are put into the rotating drum 4 from the slot 5 and the door 6 is closed and a start button (not shown) is pressed, the laundry put in by the cloth amount detecting means 20 for detecting the amount of laundry. The amount of water set according to the amount of the object is poured, and the drum driving motor 7 rotates the rotating drum 4 to execute the washing process. Thereafter, water is poured to wash away the detergent, and the rotating drum 4 rotates at high speed to perform dehydration. The control means 8 sequentially executes the drying process in accordance with a preset program such as a washing process, a dehydrating process, and a rinsing process.

  In the drying process, drying air is blown to the circulation air passage 11 by the blower 12, moisture is taken away from the laundry dehydrated in the rotary drum 4, and the moist air enters the circulation air passage 11 from the exhaust port 10 and dehumidifies. Cooling and dehumidification is performed by means 13. The dehumidified low-temperature and low-humidity dry air is heated by the heating means 14 and enters the rotary drum 4 through the air supply port 9. This series of operations is repeated and the drying air circulates in the circulation air passage 11 to dry the clothes. Progresses. During this time, the rotating drum 4 repeats forward and reverse rotation at a predetermined rotational speed to stir the clothes.

  From the start of the drying operation until the first predetermined time T1 elapses, the air passage cross-sectional area variable means 15 is controlled by the control means 8 so that the passage cross-sectional area of the drying air passing through the circulation air passage 11 becomes large. The movable body 16 is driven by the movable body driving means 17 to be in a position (a) where the air is in a state substantially parallel to the blowing direction of the drying air, and is set to the first cross-sectional area and the blower 12 is first rotated. Rotate by number. And after 1st predetermined time T1 progress, the movable body 16 is displaced to the (b) position used as a substantially orthogonal state with the ventilation direction (a), and drying air passes through the small hole 19. FIG.

  Since the distal end portion 16a of the movable body 16 is supported by the receiving portion 11a provided in the circulation air passage 11, it is supported by the receiving portion 11a even if a large amount of wind presses the movable body 16 from the blower 12. Thus, it can be held at the position (b) that is substantially orthogonal to the blowing direction (a). Therefore, the circulation air passage 11 is set to a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area, and the blower 12 is rotated at a second rotational speed that is greater than the first rotational speed.

  Since the air passage cross-sectional area is increased at the beginning of drying (from the start of the drying operation until the first predetermined time T1 elapses) when the clothes are less wrinkled, the first air with a large amount of air is sent to the Thus, the drying time can be shortened and the power consumption of the blower 12 can be reduced. Then, after the middle of drying (after the first predetermined time T1 has elapsed), the air passage cross-sectional area is set to a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area, and the blower 12 is rotated at a second speed higher than the first rotational speed. Since the warm air with the increased wind speed is blown to the garment, the wrinkles adhering to the garment are reduced, and at the same time, the blower 12 is rotated at a large rotational speed using a large electric power. As well as being obtained, the heat generated by the high-power operation is applied to the warm air, so that the temperature of the warm air rises, the drying time can be shortened, and the wrinkles of the clothes after the drying are effectively reduced.

A first predetermined time T1 for switching the circulation air passage 11 to the second cross-sectional area after starting the drying operation.
Is determined by a dryness detection means such as a temperature sensor (not shown) arranged in the circulation air passage 11 or the like for the purpose of detecting the elapsed time from the start of drying by a timer or the dry state of clothes. The period is the middle stage of drying, and when expressed in terms of drying rate, the drying rate is arbitrarily determined in the region of 85 to 95%, as shown in the time chart of FIG.

  In the first half of the drying operation (drying rate region smaller than the above-described drying rate), since the clothes contain a large amount of moisture, the clothes are soft, and the wrinkles are hardly fixed regardless of the speed of the warm air hitting the clothes. On the other hand, after the middle of drying (drying rate region larger than the above-mentioned drying rate), the clothes are slightly hard because they contain a little moisture, and the drying operation with low-speed hot air causes weak wrinkles because the force to spread the clothes is weak. Although it adheres a lot, by increasing the speed of the warm air, the force for spreading the clothes can be strengthened, and wrinkle sticking can be reduced.

  Next, the characteristics of the blower 12 when the movable body 16 changes the air passage cross-sectional area between large and small are shown in FIGS. FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the power consumption of the blower and the rotational speed, FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the power consumption of the blower and the air flow rate, FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the rotational speed of the air blower and the air flow rate, and FIG. Respectively. A solid line is a characteristic curve when the air passage cross-sectional area is reduced, and a broken line is a characteristic curve when the air passage cross-sectional area is increased. In order to clarify the difference between the two, the characteristic values necessary to obtain the same air flow rate are indicated as ◯ when the air passage cross-sectional area is made small and ▲ when the air passage cross-sectional area is made large.

  When the air passage cross-sectional area is reduced, the blower 12 needs to increase the electric power to increase the rotation speed, and this increases the speed of the wind passing through the air supply port 9. On the other hand, if the air passage cross-sectional area is increased in order to obtain the same air flow rate, the blower 12 requires less power and rotational speed, and the wind speed passing through the air supply port 9 is also reduced.

  For these reasons, during the first half of drying (until the first predetermined time T1 elapses from the start of drying), which has a small influence on the wrinkle sticking of clothes, the blower 12 is rotated at a small number of rotations, and the movable body 16 is opened. When the air passage cross-sectional area is increased, the power consumption of the blower 12 is decreased.

  Therefore, before the middle of the drying period where the garment is less wrinkled (from the start of drying until the first predetermined time T1 elapses), the movable body 16 is opened to increase the air passage cross-sectional area. Wind can be obtained by rotating the blower 12 at a low rotational speed. Therefore, the drying time can be shortened and the power consumption of the blower 12 can be reduced.

  After the middle of drying (after the first predetermined time T1 elapses), the movable body 16 is closed and the air passage cross-sectional area is reduced, and the blower 12 is rotated at a large rotational speed. Wrinkles that are blown to the clothing and stick to the clothing are reduced. At the same time, since the blower 12 is rotated at a high rotational speed using a large amount of power, a large amount of wind is obtained and the heat generated by the large power operation is applied to the warm air, so that the warm air temperature rises. In addition, the drying time can be shortened.

  As a result, the increase in power consumption can be suppressed and the wrinkles of clothing can be reduced. In addition, according to the present invention, the movable body 16 is closed during washing so that a large amount can be obtained in the washing process. It is possible to prevent the cleaning bubbles generated in the air from flowing into the circulation air passage 11 from the air supply port 9.

  The dehumidifying means 13 uses an air cooling fan or a water-cooled heat exchanger, the heating means 14 uses an electric heater, and the blower means 12 uses a high-pressure type electric blower that can blow a large amount of wind even if there is duct resistance. Further, the heat absorption side heat exchanger provided in the evaporator using a heat pump may be used as the dehumidifying means 13, and the heat radiation side heat exchanger provided in the condenser may be used as the heating means 14.

  The circulation direction of the drying air flowing through the circulation air passage 11 may be opposite to that in FIG. 1, and the air supply port is provided on the side peripheral surface of the water tank 3 and the exhaust port is provided on the back surface. In this case, the air containing moisture from the clothing flows into the circulation air passage 11 from the exhaust port on the back, and after the moisture is removed by the dehumidifying means 13, it is heated by the heating means 14, and the dehumidified warm air is blown by the blower. 12, the flow is discharged into the rotary drum 4 from the air supply port on the side peripheral surface.

  FIG. 9 is a time chart showing the operation of another example of the air passage cross-sectional area varying means 15 and the blower 12. After the first predetermined time T1 has elapsed from the start of the drying operation, the blower 12 is increased to the second rotational speed, and the circulation air passage 11 is switched to the second cross-sectional area and after the second predetermined time T2 has elapsed. The third predetermined time T3 is rotated at the first rotational speed at the first cross-sectional area to end the drying operation. The increase in the rotational speed of the blower 12 and the decrease in the air passage cross-sectional area due to the rotation or movement of the movable body 16 are performed here for the second predetermined time T2, and then the rotational speed of the blower 12 is decreased again. The air passage cross-sectional area is increased by the rotation or movement of the movable body 16 for a third predetermined time T3, and the drying is completed.

  As a result, wrinkles are less likely to adhere to the garment before the drying is finished, so the garment is dried with less wrinkle adhesion by decreasing the rotational speed of the blower 12 and increasing the air passage cross-sectional area for drying. In addition, the power consumption of the blower 12 can be reduced.

  The first predetermined time T1 is a dryness detection means such as a temperature sensor (not shown) disposed in the circulation air passage 11 or the like for the purpose of detecting the elapsed time from the start of drying by a timer or the dry state of clothes. Alternatively, it is determined by the cloth amount detection means 20 or the like.

  An example in which the cloth amount detecting means 20 rotates the rotating drum 4 containing the clothing for a short time to obtain an electric signal related to the cloth amount (detection signal of the cloth amount detecting means) will be described with a motor current. When the drum driving motor 7 is operated before the start of washing to rotate the rotating drum 4 containing the clothing for a short time, a motor current (referred to as acceleration current) resulting from acceleration is generated. When the operation of the drum drive motor 7 is stopped, a motor current (referred to as a deceleration current) resulting from deceleration is generated.

  Since the total current, which is the sum of the acceleration current and the deceleration current, is proportional to the amount of cloth, the amount of cloth can be determined by detecting this total current. In addition to this, the amount of cloth is detected from both the motor current (or electric power) when the rotating drum 4 is rotated forward and backward for a short time and the inertial rotation angle that rotates with the inertia when the rotation of the rotating drum 4 stops. There is also a method of using a characteristic that when the amount of cloth is large, the motor current is large and the inertia rotation angle is small, and when the cloth amount is small, the motor current is small and the inertia rotation angle is large.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the air passage cross-sectional area varying means according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The air passage cross-sectional area varying means 15 is configured to move forward and backward by moving the movable plate 16 in the direction of the arrow C with respect to the circulating air passage 11, and is provided with a plurality of small holes 19. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  Until the first predetermined time T1 from the start of the drying operation elapses, the control means 8 controls the air passage cross-sectional area variable means 15 so that the passage cross-sectional area of the drying air passing through the circulation air passage 11 is increased. The movable body 16 slides on the guide portion 22 via the gear 21 or the like attached to the movable body driving means 17 so that the circulating air passage 11 is in the open state (a), and the first sectional area is reached. While setting, the blower 12 is rotated at the first rotation speed.

Then, after the first predetermined time T1 has elapsed, the movable body 16 slides on the guide portion 22 by the movable body driving means 17 and enters the circulating air passage 12, and is in a state substantially orthogonal to the air blowing direction (b). ) To the position so that the drying air passes through the small holes 19. Since the movable body 16 is supported by the receiving portion 22a of the guide portion 22 provided in the circulation air passage 11, the movable body 16 is supported by the receiving portion 22a even if a large amount of wind presses the movable body 16 from the blower 12. Thus, it can be held at the position (b) that is substantially orthogonal to the blowing direction (a). Accordingly, the circulation air passage 11 is set to a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area, and the blower 12 is rotated at a second rotational speed that is greater than the first rotational speed.

  Therefore, since the air passage cross-sectional area is increased in the early drying stage (from the start of the drying operation until the first predetermined time T1 elapses) when the clothes are less wrinkled, the large amount of wind is less in the blower 12. It can be obtained at the first rotational speed, and the drying time can be shortened and the power consumption of the blower 12 can be reduced. Then, after the middle of drying (after the first predetermined time T1 has elapsed), the air passage cross-sectional area is set to a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area, and the blower 12 is rotated at a second speed higher than the first rotational speed. Since the warm air with the increased wind speed is blown to the garment, the wrinkles adhering to the garment are reduced, and at the same time, the blower 12 is rotated at a large rotational speed using a large electric power. As well as being obtained, the heat generated by the high-power operation is applied to the warm air, so that the temperature of the warm air rises, the drying time can be shortened, and the wrinkles of the clothes after the drying can be effectively reduced.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 11 is a side view showing the configuration of the air passage cross-sectional area varying means according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The movable body 16 of the air passage cross-sectional area varying means 15 is driven by the movable body driving means 17 so as to be rotatable about a rotating shaft 18 provided at a biased position in the circulation air passage 11, and is used for drying air. The position is switched between a position (a) that is substantially parallel to the air blowing direction (a) and a position (b) that is substantially orthogonal to the air blowing direction (a). When the movable body 16 is in the position (b) in which the movable body 16 is substantially orthogonal to the air blowing direction (b), it circulates with the end 16b of the movable body 16 so that the cross-sectional area of the circulation air passage 11 through which the drying air passes is reduced. A gap 23 is provided between the inner wall of the air passage 11. Since other configurations such as the operation of the movable body 16 and the positions (a) and (b) thereof are the same as those in the first embodiment, description thereof will be omitted.

  From the start of the drying operation until the first predetermined time elapses, as in the first embodiment, the control means 8 causes the passage cross-sectional area of the drying air passing through the circulation air passage 11 to increase. The movable body 16 of the air passage cross-sectional area varying means 15 is set to the position (a) where the movable body driving means 17 is driven by the movable body driving means 17 to be in a state substantially parallel to the blowing direction of drying air (a), and is set to the first sectional area The blower 12 is rotated at the first rotation speed. Then, after the first predetermined time T1 has elapsed, the movable body 16 is displaced to the position (b) in which the movable body 16 is substantially orthogonal to the air blowing direction a so that the drying air passes through the gap 23.

  Since the distal end portion 16a of the movable body 16 is supported by the receiving portion 11a provided in the circulation air passage 11, it is supported by the receiving portion 11a even if a large amount of wind presses the movable body 16 from the blower 12. Thus, it can be held at the position (b) that is substantially orthogonal to the blowing direction (a). Accordingly, the circulation air passage 11 is set to a second cross-sectional area that is smaller than the first cross-sectional area, and the blower 12 is rotated at a second rotational speed that is greater than the first rotational speed. Thereby, the same effects as those of the first and second embodiments can be obtained.

  As described above, the washing / drying machine according to the present invention can effectively reduce wrinkles of clothes with low power consumption, and thus is useful as a clothes drying machine and a washing / drying machine.

Configuration diagram of the washer-dryer according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Sectional view of air passage cross-sectional area variable means of the washing and drying machine Side view of air passage cross-sectional area variable means of the washing and drying machine Time chart showing the operation of the washer / dryer Characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the power consumption and the rotational speed of the blower of the washer / dryer Characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the power consumption of the blower of the washer / dryer and the amount of blown air Characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the rotational speed of the blower of the washer / dryer and the air flow rate Characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the rotation speed of the blower and the wind speed of the washer / dryer Time chart showing the operation of another example of the washer / dryer Sectional drawing of the air passage sectional area variable means of the washing / drying machine of Embodiment 2 of this invention Side view of the air passage cross-sectional area variable means of the washing and drying machine of Embodiment 3 of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 3 Water tank 4 Rotating drum 7 Drum drive motor 8 Control means 9 Air supply port 10 Exhaust port 11 Circulation air path 12 Blower 13 Dehumidification means 14 Heating means 15 Air passage cross-sectional area variable means 16 Movable body 17 Movable body drive means

Claims (8)

A rotating drum for storing laundry; a housing that houses the rotating drum; a water tank that includes the rotating drum and is supported in the housing; A drum drive motor that is tilted forward and rotated, an air supply port and an exhaust port that are open on the back surface and peripheral side surface of the water tank, one end connected to the exhaust port, and the other end connected to the air supply port A circulation air passage for drying air, a blower for blowing drying air in the rotary drum and the circulation air passage, and a dehumidifying means for dehumidifying the drying air deprived of moisture from the laundry stored in the rotation drum Heating means for heating the drying air dehumidified by the dehumidifying means, air passage cross-sectional area varying means for varying the cross-sectional area of the circulation air passage through which the drying air passes, the blower and the air passage cross-sectional area Variable means Control means for controlling, and the control means sets the circulation air passage to the first cross-sectional area by the air passage cross-sectional area variable means until the first predetermined time elapses after the drying operation is started. At the same time, the blower is rotated at a first rotational speed, and after the first predetermined time has elapsed, the circulating air passage is set to a second sectional area smaller than the first sectional area by the air passage sectional area variable means. In addition, a washing and drying machine in which the blower is rotated at a second rotational speed greater than the first rotational speed. The washing / drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the air passage cross-sectional area varying means includes a movable body movably provided in the circulation air passage and a movable body driving means for driving the movable body. The air passage cross-sectional area changing means is provided with a movable body rotatably in the circulation air passage, and the movable body has a blowing direction of the drying air until a first predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the drying operation. The first cross-sectional area is set in a substantially parallel state, and after the first predetermined time has elapsed, the second cross-sectional area is set by being displaced in a state substantially orthogonal to the blowing direction of the drying air. The washing / drying machine according to claim 1 or 2. The air passage cross-sectional area varying means is provided so that a movable body can be moved forward and backward with respect to the circulation air passage, and the movable body is located outside the circulation air passage until a first predetermined time elapses after starting the drying operation. The laundry drying according to claim 1, wherein the first cross-sectional area is set and the second cross-sectional area is set in the circulation air passage after the first predetermined time has elapsed. Machine. The washing / drying machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the air passage cross-sectional area varying means is set to a second cross-sectional area by providing a plurality of small holes in the movable body. The washing / drying machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the air passage cross-sectional area varying means is set to a second cross-sectional area by providing a gap between the circulation air passage and the movable body. The cloth amount detecting means for detecting the amount of laundry is provided, and the control means sets the first predetermined time based on the cloth amount detected by the cloth amount detecting means. The washing dryer according to item 1. The control means sets the circulation air passage to the second cross-sectional area by the air passage cross-sectional area varying means, rotates the blower at the second rotational speed, and after the elapse of the second predetermined time, the first time for the third predetermined time. The washing / drying machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the drying operation is terminated by rotating at a first rotational speed with a cross-sectional area of.

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