JP5592163B2 - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a washing and drying machine provided with means for dewatering and drying clothes.

Drying clothes with a washing and drying machine that can perform washing to drying continuously creates high-temperature and low-humidity air with a blower fan and a heat source (heater), and blows it into a washing and dewatering tank (rotary drum). Is performed by evaporating moisture from the clothing and discharging the evaporated moisture outside the apparatus.
As a method for removing evaporated water, an exhaust system that discharges evaporated water to the outside of the machine (always supplying new air) and cools the evaporated water to condense and then discharges the moisture (condensed water) outside the machine ( There is a dehumidification method that drains) (the same air is circulated). However, in home-use laundry dryers, a dehumidification method that does not allow moisture to enter the room where the laundry dryer is installed is often used.

The drying operation of the washing dryer includes (1) a short drying time, (2) low power consumption, (3) a good drying finish (low wrinkle of clothing), (4) application to clothing There is a demand for less damage.
Among these, regarding (1) and (2), a washing and drying machine is known that efficiently performs drying by appropriately controlling the air volume and temperature of the air according to the progress of drying (Patent Document 1). . There is also known a washing / drying machine that improves the movement of clothes in a washing and dewatering tank and efficiently evaporates moisture from the clothes (Patent Documents 2 and 3). Furthermore, a washing and drying machine is known that uses a water cooling method as a dehumidification method, and has improved the heat exchange efficiency with hot air of high temperature and humidity by allowing cooling water to flow uniformly over the entire wall surface of the air passage (Patent Literature). 4). In addition, a dehydration operation is performed at the beginning of the drying operation to remove moisture from the clothing as much as possible.
Regarding (3), wrinkles are generated when clothes are entangled or twisted during drying, and therefore, laundry dryers are known which are less likely to cause tangling and twisting of clothes (Patent Documents 2 and 3).
Regarding (4), there is a washing and drying machine provided with a low temperature drying course in which the temperature of hot air is limited so that the temperature of clothing does not rise too much (suppressing the input of the heater) (Patent Document 5).

JP 62-44299 A JP-A-9-774 JP-A-2005-080946 JP 2002-346272 A JP 2004-89508 A

Thus, in order to shorten the drying time and reduce the power consumption of the drying operation, it is required to improve the dewatering performance in the dewatering operation performed at the beginning of the drying operation.
In order to improve the dewatering performance in the dehydration operation of the washing and drying machine, (A) increase the rotational speed of the washing and dewatering tank in which the clothes are put and increase the centrifugal force, (B) increase the time of the dehydration operation, ( There are known methods such as C) increasing the temperature of the clothes being dehydrated, (D) providing a convex surface on the tank wall surface of the washing and dewatering tank, and (E) applying wind to the clothes being dehydrated.

Of these, (A) is the most common method for improving the dehydration performance.
However, the higher the rotational speed of the washing / dehydrating tank during dehydration operation, the more the power consumption of the motor that rotates the washing / dehydrating tank increases, and the dewatering performance tends to saturate with respect to the rotational speed of the washing / dehydrating tank. Show.
For this reason, increasing the rotational speed of the washing and dehydrating tank during the dehydration operation improves the dewatering performance and reduces the power consumption during the drying operation. However, if the rotational speed exceeds a certain value, the dewatering performance will be saturated, and the overall power consumption will start to increase. Even if the rotational speed is increased more than necessary, the effect of reducing the overall power consumption will be lost. . Further, in order to rotate the washing and dewatering tank at a high speed, it is necessary to increase the strength of the washing / drying machine, leading to an increase in cost.

  In (B), the power consumption of the motor increases linearly with respect to the dehydration time, while the dewatering performance shows a saturation tendency. For this reason, if the dehydrating time is too long, the power consumption of the entire drying operation including the dehydrating operation increases.

(C) can be realized by blowing warm air into the washing and dewatering tank during the dehydration operation. As the temperature of the garment increases, the viscosity and surface tension of the moisture contained in the garment decrease, so the moisture content of the garment decreases and the dewatering performance improves.
However, since the clothes being dehydrated are stuck to the wall surface of the washing and dewatering tank, it is difficult to uniformly blow warm air over the entire clothes. Moreover, in order to generate a warm air, it is necessary to supply electric power to a heat source, and the power consumption at the time of a dehydration operation increases.

(D) is an effective method for reducing the moisture content in the vicinity of the tank wall surface, and the effect is greater as the height of the convex surface is higher. In addition, there is an advantage that the dewatering performance can be improved without increasing the power consumption during the dewatering operation.
However, due to the convex surface, the effective volume of the washing and dewatering tank is reduced. For this reason, when the amount of clothing is large, the movement of clothing during drying operation deteriorates, and power consumption during drying operation increases, offsetting the effect of reducing power consumption due to improved dewatering performance. The power consumption of the entire drying operation including it cannot be reduced.

(E) enhances dewatering performance by accelerating the evaporation of water from clothing by applying wind in addition to dewatering by centrifugal force.
However, the evaporated moisture is discharged out of the washing / drying machine, and the indoor humidity may increase.
In the case where wind is not applied to the clothes, the heat of the motor is transmitted to the washing and dewatering tank during high speed dewatering, and the temperature of the clothes rises. On the other hand, the moisture content of clothes is reduced and the dehydration performance is improved by applying wind, but the temperature of the clothes at the start of the drying operation decreases, so the power consumption in the drying operation increases, resulting in the dehydration operation. The power consumption of the entire drying operation including it cannot be reduced.

  Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing / drying machine capable of improving dehydration performance and reducing power consumption.

In order to solve such a problem, the washer / dryer according to claim 1 is provided with a casing, an outer tub that is supported in an anti-vibration manner in the casing, and stores washing water therein, and rotates in the outer tub. A rotary drum that is freely supported and has a convex rib extending from the center to the outer edge on the bottom wall surface, a motor that rotationally drives the rotary drum, and a drain valve and a drain hose that discharge the washing water stored in the outer tub a drainage means having an intake valve for the intake of the housing upper part of the air, the motor, and a control device for controlling the water discharge valve and the intake valve, before Symbol controller opens the drain valve , the rotary drum is rotated at a high speed by the motor, the clothes in the rotary drum running dewatering operation you centrifugal dehydration, the during dewatering operation, open the intake valve, a high speed the rotary drum by the motor Rotating Said convex rib to function as a centrifugal fan, the casing and the intake of the body top of the air, the air in the rotary within the drum to perform the intake and exhaust step of exhausting from the drain hose from the intake valve to the rotary drum It is characterized by.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the washing-drying machine which can improve dehydration performance and can reduce power consumption can be provided.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the washing / drying machine concerning this embodiment. It is a right view which removes the side cover of the washing / drying machine which concerns on this embodiment, and shows an internal structure. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnects the washing-drying machine which concerns on this embodiment vertically at the approximate center part of the front-back direction, and shows the bottom wall surface of a rotating drum. It is a rear view which removes the back cover of the washing and drying machine concerning this embodiment, and shows an internal structure. It is a top view which cut | disconnects some housings | casings of the washing / drying machine which concerns on this embodiment, and shows an internal structure. It is a perspective view which cut | disconnects a part of housing | casing of the washing / drying machine which concerns on this embodiment, and shows an internal structure. It is arrow sectional drawing which cut | disconnected the intake valve with which the washing / drying machine which concerns on this embodiment is provided with the DD line | wire of FIG. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram which cut | disconnects longitudinally at the approximate center part of the left-right direction of the washing / drying machine which concerns on this embodiment, and shows the flow of air. It is sectional drawing of a drain trap. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the washing / drying machine which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows control of the washing-drying machine which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the detail of the high speed dehydration of the flowchart of FIG.

  Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the present description, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions are omitted.

≪Drum type washing and drying machine≫
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a washing / drying machine (drum type washing / drying machine S) according to the present embodiment.
The casing 1 constituting the outer casing of the drum type washing and drying machine S is mounted on a base 1h, and includes a left side plate 1a, a right side plate 1b (see FIG. 3), a front cover 1c, and a back cover 1d ( 2), a top cover 1e, and a lower front cover 1f. The left and right side plates 1a and 1b are joined by a U-shaped upper reinforcing material (not shown), a front reinforcing material (not shown), and a rear reinforcing material (not shown), and include a base 1h. A box-shaped casing 1 is formed and has a sufficient strength as a casing of the drum type washing and drying machine S.

  The door 9 is for closing an insertion port for putting in and taking out clothes provided in the approximate center of the front cover 1c, and can be opened and closed by a hinge (not shown) provided on a front reinforcing material (not shown). It is supported. When the door release button 9d is pressed, the lock mechanism (not shown) is released and the door 9 is opened. When the door 9 is pressed against the front cover 1c, the door 9 is locked and closed. The front reinforcing material (not shown) has a circular opening for putting clothes in and out concentrically with an opening 2c (see FIG. 2) of the outer tub 2 described later.

  The operation / display panel 6 provided at the upper center of the housing 1 includes a power switch 61, switches 62, 63 and 63 a, and a display 64. In addition, the operation / display panel 6 is electrically connected to a control device 60 (see FIG. 2) provided at the lower part of the housing 1.

  A detergent container 13 (see FIG. 5) is provided on the upper left side in the housing 1, and a drawer type detergent tray 7 is mounted from the front opening. When putting detergents, the detergent tray 7 is pulled out as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The detergent container 13 is fixed to an upper reinforcing material (not shown) of the housing 1. Further, the top cover 1e is provided with a water supply hose connection port 11a from the water tap and a water absorption hose connection port 12a for remaining hot water in the bath.

FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the internal structure of the washing / drying machine (drum type washing / drying machine S) according to this embodiment with the side cover 2b removed.
A cylindrical rotating drum 3 serving as a washing and dewatering tub is rotatably supported by the outer tub 2 and has a large number of through holes 3d for water flow and ventilation on its outer peripheral wall 3e (see FIG. 3). In addition, the front end face has an opening 3a for putting clothes in and out. A fluid balancer 3c integrated with the rotary drum 3 is provided outside the opening 3a.

Here, the inside of the rotating drum 3 will be further described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the bottom wall surface 3f of the rotating drum 3 by longitudinally cutting the washing / drying machine (drum type washing / drying machine S) according to this embodiment at a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction.
A plurality of radial convex ribs 20 extending from the center to the outer edge portion are formed on the bottom wall 3 f of the rotary drum 3. A plurality of through holes 3g are provided on the inner peripheral side of the bottom wall 3f.
A plurality of lifters 3b extending in the axial direction are provided inside the outer peripheral wall 3e. When the rotating drum 3 is rotated during washing and drying, the clothes are lifted along the outer peripheral wall 3e by the lifter 3b and centrifugal force, and repeat the movement of dropping by gravity. The rotation center axis of the rotary drum 3 is inclined so that the horizontal or opening 3a (see FIG. 2) side becomes higher.

Returning to FIG. 2, the outer tub 2 will be described.
The cylindrical outer tub 2 encloses the rotating drum 3 on the same axis, and the front surface is open.
An outer tub cover 2 d is provided at the opening on the front surface of the outer tub 2 so that water can be stored in the outer tub 2. In the center of the front side of the outer tub cover 2d, there is an opening 2c for taking in and out clothing. The opening provided in the opening 2c and the front reinforcing material (not shown) is connected by a rubber bellows 10, and the outer tub 2 is sealed with water by closing the door 9.

  A drain outlet 2 b is provided at the bottom bottom of the outer tub 2 and is connected to the drain hose 19. A drainage valve 18 is provided between the drainage port 2b and the drainage hose 19, and the drainage valve 18 is closed and supplied with water to collect water in the outer tub 2, and the drainage valve 18 is opened to open the inside of the outer tub 2. Of water can be discharged out of the machine.

  The outer tub 2 is supported in a vibration-proof manner by a suspension 5 (consisting of a coil spring and a damper) whose lower side is fixed to the base 1h. Moreover, the upper side of the outer tank 2 is supported by an auxiliary spring (not shown) attached to the upper reinforcing member to prevent the outer tank 2 from falling in the front-rear direction.

FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the internal structure of the washing / drying machine (drum type washing / drying machine S) according to this embodiment with the back cover 1d removed.
The motor 4 is provided at the outer center of the rear end face of the outer tub 2. The rotating shaft of the motor 4 passes through the outer tub 2 and is coupled to the center of the bottom wall 3f (see FIG. 3) of the rotating drum 3.

Behind the detergent container 13 (see FIG. 5), components related to water supply such as a water supply electromagnetic valve 11, a bath water supply pump 12, and a water level sensor 69 (see FIG. 10) are provided. Further, the detergent container 13 (see FIG. 5) is connected to the outer tub 2.
The water supply electromagnetic valve 11 is a multiple valve, and the main water supply electromagnetic valve 11 b supplies water to the outer tub 2 via a detergent charging part (not shown) of the detergent container 13. The softening agent water supply electromagnetic valve 11 c supplies water to the outer tub 2 via a softener charging part (not shown) of the detergent container 13. The cooling water supply electromagnetic valve 11 d supplies water to a water cooling / dehumidifying mechanism (not shown) provided in the drying duct 21. The shower water supply electromagnetic valve 11 e sprays water directly on the clothes in the rotary drum 3 from the opening 3 a (see FIG. 2) of the rotary drum 3.

<Circulating air passage>
The drying duct 21 is installed vertically inside the back surface of the housing 1, and the lower portion of the drying duct 21 is formed in a rubber bellows tube B (21 a) (see FIG. 2) in an intake port 2 a provided below the back surface of the outer tub 2. Connected with.
One end of an overflow hose 29 is connected to the upper side of the connection portion between the drying duct 21 and the bellows tube B (21 a), and the other end is connected to the drain hose 19 on the downstream side of the drain valve 18.
A water-cooled dehumidifying mechanism (not shown) is built in the drying duct 21, and cooling water is supplied from the cooling water supply electromagnetic valve 11d to the water-cooled dehumidifying mechanism. The cooling water flows down along the wall surface of the drying duct 21, enters the outer tub 2 from the intake port 2 a, and is discharged from the drainage port 2 b to the outside through the drainage hose 19.

FIG. 5 is a top view showing an internal structure by cutting a part of the housing 1 of the washing / drying machine (drum type washing / drying machine S) according to the present embodiment.
The upper part of the drying duct 21 is connected to a filter duct 22 installed in the front-rear direction on the upper right side in the housing 1. In addition, an intake valve 30 is provided in the vicinity of the connection portion between the drying duct 21 and the filter duct 22. Details of the intake valve 30 will be described later with reference to FIG.
The front surface of the filter duct 22 has an opening, and a drawer-type drying filter 8 is inserted into the opening. The dry filter 8 has a mesh filter 8a, and the air that has entered the filter duct 22 from the dry duct 21 flows into the mesh filter 8a of the dry filter 8, and lint is removed.
The drying filter 8 is cleaned by pulling out the drying filter 8 and taking out the mesh filter 8a.
Further, an opening is provided in the lower surface of the insertion portion of the dry filter 8 of the filter duct 22, and the filter duct 22 and the intake duct 23 (see FIG. 4) are connected by this opening.
Further, the other end of the intake duct 23 is connected to the intake port of the blower unit 24.

  The blower unit 24 includes a driving fan motor 24a, a fan impeller (not shown), and a fan case 24b. The fan case 24b has a built-in heater 25 (see FIG. 2) that heats air sent from the fan impeller.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an internal structure by cutting a part of the housing 1 of the washing / drying machine (drum type washing / drying machine S) according to the present embodiment.
The discharge port of the blower unit 24 is connected to the warm air duct 26. The hot air duct 26 is connected to a blowout port 28 provided in the outer tub cover 2d via a rubber bellows tube A (27a) and a bellows tube joint 27b. Since the blower unit 24 is provided on the upper right side in the housing 1, the air outlet 28 is provided at a position on the upper right side of the outer tub cover 2 d so as to shorten the distance to the air outlet 28 as much as possible.
In the washing / drying machine (drum-type washing / drying machine S) according to the present embodiment, the wind speed of the warm air coming out from the outlet 28 is set to about 90 m / s. For this reason, as for the ventilation unit 24, the thing of a high-speed and high pressure type is used compared with the ventilation unit currently used with the general washing-drying machine. Specifically, the rotational speed is 13500 r / min, and the outlet pressure of the blower unit 24 is about 6000 Pa. This is because high-speed warm air is blown directly on the clothes to dry the wrinkles generated in the clothes.

<Intake valve>
The intake valve 30 provided near the connection portion with the filter duct 22 at the top of the drying duct 21 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 4 of the intake valve 30 provided in the washing / drying machine (drum type washing / drying machine S) according to the present embodiment.
The intake valve 30 includes an intake valve motor 30a, a valve body 30b, and a valve seat 30c. The valve body 30b is rotated by rotating the rotary shaft 30d provided at the end of the valve body 30b by the intake valve motor 30a.
As shown in FIG. 7, when the valve body 30b is in contact with the valve seat 30c and the drying duct 21 and the filter duct 22 communicate with each other (arrow 46), the intake valve 30 is referred to as “closed”. And
Further, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7, a valve body 30 b closes the space between the drying duct 21 and the filter duct 22, and an intake port 31 communicating with the filter duct 22 so as to allow ventilation (arrow 48) is formed. It is assumed that the intake valve 30 is “open”.

≪Air flow during dehydration operation≫
When the rotating drum 3 rotates at a high speed during the dehydrating operation, the convex rib 20 (see FIG. 3) formed on the bottom wall 3f (see FIG. 3) functions as a centrifugal fan, and an air flow is generated.
The flow of air during the dehydration operation will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the flow of air by cutting vertically at a substantially central portion in the left-right direction of the washing / drying machine (drum-type washing / drying machine S) according to the present embodiment.
The flow of air will be described with arrows.
In addition to the air flow shown in FIG. 8, since the rotating drum 3 rotates at a high speed, an air flow in the rotating direction of the rotating drum 3 (see FIG. 3) is generated. The description of the air flow in the direction is omitted.
Further, the clothes during the dehydrating operation are arranged in a donut shape in which the clothes are stuck to the outer peripheral wall 3e of the rotating drum 3 by centrifugal force and no clothes are present on the inner peripheral side (near the rotation center axis) of the rotating drum 3. For this reason, since the through-hole 3d (refer FIG. 2) in the outer peripheral wall 3e is closed with clothing, there is almost no flow of air passing through the through-hole 3d from the inside of the rotating drum 3 to the outside. Description is omitted.

<Wind flow with intake valve closed>
First, the case where the intake valve 30 is closed will be described.
When the rotating drum 3 (convex rib 20) rotates at a high speed, the air in the rotating drum 3 is sucked from the central portion of the bottom wall 3f of the rotating drum 3 and flows to the outer edge side along the bottom wall 3f. Then, the flow hits the clothes attached to the outer peripheral wall 3e, changes the flow direction, and flows toward the opening 3a of the rotary drum 3 along the clothes surface (arrow 41).
The air reaching the front side of the rotating drum 3 flows along the door 9 toward the center of the rotating drum 3 and circulates so as to be sucked again into the center of the bottom wall 3f (arrow 42).

  A part of the air (arrow 41) sucked into the center of the bottom wall 3f passes through a through hole 3g provided near the center of the bottom wall 3f, and is formed between the bottom of the outer tub 2 and the bottom of the rotary drum 3. It flows out between the gaps and flows to the outer edge side of the outer tub 2 (arrow 43). A part of the air (arrow 42) reaching the front side of the rotating drum 3 flows from the gap between the outer tank cover 2d and the fluid balancer 3c to the gap between the rotating drum 3 and the outer tank 2 (arrow 44).

Here, the air inlet 2 a and the air outlet 28 of the outer tub 2 are arranged so that the air inlet 2 a is provided farther from the rotation center axis of the rotary drum 3 in the radial direction. In other words, the air inlet 2a is provided on the outer peripheral side, and the air outlet 28 is provided on the inner peripheral side.
For this reason, the pressure of the inlet 2a provided in the vicinity of the outer edge of the outer tub 2 becomes higher than the pressure of the outlet 28 located on the inner peripheral side of the inlet 2a.
For this reason, the air of arrows 43 and 44 enters the drying duct 21 from the intake port 2a (arrow 45), passes through the filter duct 22 (arrow 46), the blower unit 24, and flows into the rotary drum 3 from the outlet port 28 ( Arrow 47) circulates again so as to be sucked from the central portion of the bottom wall 3f of the rotating drum 3.

<Wind flow with intake valve open>
Next, the case where the intake valve 30 is open will be described.
The flow (arrow 41, arrow 42) in the rotary drum 3 is the same as when the intake valve 30 is closed. Due to the fan action of the rotating drum 3, the pressure near the rotation center of the rotating drum 3 is lowered from the atmospheric pressure, so that the air in the upper part of the housing 1 is sucked into the filter duct 22 from the intake port 31 (arrow 48). 24 enters the rotary drum 3 from the outlet 28 (arrow 47). A part of the flow of the arrow 41 flows through the through hole 3g of the bottom wall 3f, flows out into the gap between the bottom of the outer tub 2 and the bottom surface of the rotating drum 3, and flows to the outer edge side of the outer tub 2 (arrow 43). . A part of the flow of the arrow 42 flows from the gap between the outer tank cover 2d and the fluid balancer 3c to the gap between the rotating drum 3 and the outer tank 2 (arrow 44). The air indicated by the arrows 43 and 44 flowing through the gap between the rotating drum 3 and the outer tub 2 enters the drying duct 21 from the intake port 2a and passes through the overflow hose 29 (arrow 49) or passes through the drain port 2b (arrow). 50) enters the drain hose 19 (arrow 51) and discharges to the drain pipe.

<Reduction of clothing moisture content>
The humidity in the rotating drum 3 in the dehydration operation is almost saturated, and a reduction in water content due to evaporation of moisture from the clothing surface cannot be expected. Therefore, as described above, the intake valve 30 is opened, and the fan action of the rotating drum 3 sucks the low-humidity air in the housing 1 into the rotating drum 3 during the dehydration operation, thereby eliminating the high-humidity air. Thus, the evaporation of moisture from the clothing is promoted.
As a result, the moisture content of the clothes can be reduced without increasing the power consumption such as an increase in the dehydration rotation speed or a longer dehydration time.

During the dehydration operation, part of the heat generated by the motor 4 passes through the rotating shaft of the motor 4 and is transferred to the rotating drum 3 fastened to the rotating shaft, so that the temperature of clothing and air in the rotating drum 3 rises. A part of the heat generated by the motor 4 is transmitted from the motor 4 to the surrounding air, and the temperature of the air rises. The warmed air accumulates in the upper part of the housing 1.
Dehydration is an operation of removing moisture from clothing by centrifugal force due to high-speed rotation. During dehydration, the clothes are stuck to the outer peripheral wall 3e of the rotary drum 3, and the water contained in the clothes flows from the inner side of the clothes toward the outer peripheral wall 3e, and from the through hole 3d provided in the outer peripheral wall 3e, the outer tub 2 Discharged inside. On the other hand, fine gaps are formed in the fibers and between the fibers in the garment, and moisture is retained in the garments by the capillary action of the water that has entered the garments.
As dehydration proceeds, the capillary force and centrifugal force balance and water cannot be removed any more. For this reason, the local moisture content of clothing increases as it approaches the outer peripheral wall 3e of the rotating drum 3.
Here, the capillary force is proportional to the interfacial tension of water, but the interfacial tension decreases as the water temperature rises. Therefore, the moisture content can be reduced by increasing the temperature of the clothing.
Thus, since the temperature of the clothes in the rotating drum 3 rises due to the heat generated by the motor 4, there is an effect that the moisture content of the clothes can be reduced.

  The washing / drying machine (drum-type washing / drying machine S) according to the present embodiment introduces the low-humidity air in the housing 1 and excludes the high-humidity air in the rotating drum 3 to reduce the moisture content of the clothing. However, if the temperature of the air to be introduced is low, the temperature of clothing is hindered and the water content does not decrease as expected. In the washing / drying machine (drum type washing / drying machine S) according to the present embodiment, the air inlet 31 is provided above the inside of the housing 1, so that the air warmed by the heat generated by the motor 4 enters the rotating drum 3. Inhalation does not reduce the temperature of clothing.

≪Drain trap≫
However, even if the intake valve 30 is opened, if air cannot be discharged to the drain pipe, no air flows to the drain hose 19. Usually, a drain trap 35 is provided at the outlet of the drain hose 19. This is to prevent odor from the drain pipe (sewage pipe) from entering the outer tub 2 via the drain hose 19 and the overflow hose 29.

The structure of the drain trap 35 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the drain trap 35.
The drain trap 35 is for a waterproof pan in which the drum type washing and drying machine S is installed. The drain trap 35 includes an inner cylinder 35b arranged on the same axis, an outer cylinder 35c whose bottom is closed, a case 35a, and an upper lid 35d.
A joint 35g for connecting the drainage hose 19 is inserted into the inner cylinder 35b. The lower end of the inner cylinder 35b has a gap with the bottom surface of the outer cylinder 35c, a water inlet 35f is provided on the upper side of the outer cylinder 35c, and a drain outlet 35e is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the case 35a, which is connected to the drain pipe. . Due to such a configuration, water is held in the outer cylinder 35c below the lower surface of the water passage 35f, and the drain pipe and the drain hose 19 do not vent. In addition, the head H of the water in the outer cylinder 35c is about 50 mm.

  In order to eliminate the water in the outer cylinder 35c, a pressure of about 600 to 700 Pa is required, but the pressure generated by the fan action of the rotating drum 3 is about 400 Pa, and this pressure causes the water in the outer cylinder 35c to be removed. It is difficult to eliminate.

  Therefore, with the intake valve 30 opened, the blower unit 24 is operated at an appropriate rotational speed, and the air in the housing 1 is forcibly fed into the rotary drum 3 (inside the outer tub 2), and a pressure of 700 Pa or more is obtained. By doing so, the water in the drain trap 35 is discharged to the drain pipe. When the blower unit 24 is stopped after the discharge is completed, the air in the rotary drum 3 can be exhausted by the air flow described above.

≪Control device≫
The control device 60 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the washing / drying machine (drum type washing / drying machine S) according to the present embodiment.
The control device 60 is constituted by a microcomputer.
The control device 60 is connected to an operation button input circuit 67 connected to each switch 62, 63, 63a, a water level sensor 69, and a temperature sensor 70, and various information signals in the user's button operation, washing process, and drying process. Receive.
The control device 60 is connected to the drive circuit 68 and connected to the water supply electromagnetic valve 11, the drain valve 18, the motor 4, the fan motor 24a, the heater 25, the intake valve motor 30a, etc., and opens / closes, rotates, and energizes them. Control.
Further, it is connected to a display 64, a light emitting diode 65, and a buzzer 66 for notifying the user of the operation state of the drum type washing and drying machine S.

<Operation of drum type washer / dryer>
Next, the operation of the washing / drying machine (drum-type washing / drying machine S) according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 and FIGS. 11 and 12 as appropriate.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the control of the washing / drying machine (drum type washing / drying machine S) according to the present embodiment.
The control device 60 is activated when the user presses the power switch 61 to turn on the power, and checks the state of the drum type washing and drying machine S and performs initial setting (step S101).
The control device 60 turns on the indicator 64 of the operation / display panel 6 and sets a washing / drying course according to the switch 63 operated by the user (step S102). If there is no setting, the standard washing / drying course or the previously executed washing / drying course is automatically set. For example, when the switch 63a is operated by the user, “washing and drying course” is set.
The control device 60 determines whether or not the start switch 62 of the operation / display panel 6 has been pressed (step S103).
The control device 60 repeats Step S103 until the start switch 62 is pressed (No in Step S103). If the start switch 62 is pressed (Yes in Step S103), the control device 60 proceeds to Step S104.

First, the control device 60 performs cloth amount sensing. In the cloth amount sensing, for example, the rotating drum 3 is rotated at a low speed or accelerated to a specified rotating speed, and the current value of the motor 4 at that time is measured. Then, the display unit 64 displays the time until drying is completed.
And the control apparatus 60 performs washing (step S104).
In addition, washing is performed in the order of washing, intermediate dehydration, rinsing, and final dehydration. However, since it is the same as a normal drum-type washing and drying machine, a detailed description is omitted.

The control device 60 determines whether or not the course set in step S102 is a washing / drying course (step S105).
If the “laundry course” is set in step S102 (No in step S105), the process ends.

When “washing and drying course” is set in step S102 (Yes in step S105), high-speed dewatering is executed (step S106).
Here, the high-speed dehydration in step S106 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing details of the high-speed dehydration in the flowchart of FIG.

The control device 60 opens the drain valve 18, drives the motor 4 to rotate the rotating drum 3 at a high speed, and performs high-speed centrifugal dehydration of the clothes in the rotating drum 3 (step S <b> 201).
Then, the control device 60 determines whether or not the specified time has elapsed since the start of dehydration (step S202), continues high-speed dehydration until the specified time elapses (No in step S202), and sets the specified time. If it has elapsed (Yes in step S202), the process proceeds to step S203.
Note that the intake valve 30 is in a closed state from the start of dehydration until the specified time (see step S202). Due to the heat generated by the motor 4 that rotates at a high speed as the dehydration time elapses, the temperature of the clothes, the air in the rotating drum 3 and the air in the housing 1 rise. For example, under conditions of a room temperature of 20 ° C. and a water temperature of 20 ° C., if the dehydration rotation speed is 1730 rotations per minute, the air in the rotary drum 3 and the case is about 9 ° C. and the clothes are about 7 ° C. in 20 minutes from the start of dehydration. To rise.
Moreover, the humidity of the air in the rotating drum 3 rises with time due to moisture evaporated from the clothing during dehydration, and becomes saturated in a short time from the start of dehydration. However, since the temperature of air rises as described above, the amount of moisture (absolute humidity) contained in the air increases.

When the specified time has elapsed from the start of dehydration (Yes in step S202), the control device 60 opens the intake valve 30, drives the fan motor 24a of the blower unit 24, eliminates the water in the drain trap 35, and drains the water. The water seal of the trap 35 is broken (step S203).
The rotational speed of the blower unit 24 is increased until the pressure in the rotary drum 3 (outer tub 2) reaches a pressure of about 700 Pa required to break the water seal of the drain trap 35, and the rotational speed is maintained.

The control device 60 determines whether or not the water seal is broken (step S204).
In step S203, by opening the intake valve 30 and driving the fan motor 24a of the blower unit 24, the air in the housing 1 is taken into the outer tub 2 and the pressure inside the outer tub 2 rises. Thereafter, when the water seal of the drain trap 35 is broken, air flows from the drain hose 19 to the drain pipe, and the pressure in the outer tub 2 decreases. The control device 60 can determine whether or not the water seal has been broken by monitoring the pressure in the outer tub 2. The pressure in the outer tub 2 can be detected by a water level sensor 69 that is a pressure sensor.
The process returns to step S203 until the water seal is broken (No in step S204), and if the water seal is broken (Yes in step S204), the process proceeds to step S205.

The control device 60 stops the fan motor 24a of the blower unit 24 (step S205).
Here, even if the fan motor 24a is stopped, the heated low-humidity air in the upper portion of the housing 1 is sucked into the rotary drum 3 from the intake valve 30 by the fan action due to the high-speed rotation of the rotary drum 3, and the rotary drum The warm and humid air in 3 can be discharged to the drain pipe.
Thereby, since the humidity in the rotating drum 3 is lowered, evaporation of moisture from the clothing is promoted without cooling the clothing, and the water content can be reduced.
The air blowing unit 24 may be operated, but the air in the rotating drum 3 can be replaced by the air flow by the fan action by the convex rib 20 (see FIG. 3) of the rotating drum 3 functioning as a centrifugal fan. It is preferable that the blower unit 24 is stopped so that it is sufficient and does not consume extra power.

The intake / exhaust process in step S205 is preferably performed at the end of the dehydration process so that the temperature of the intake air is as high as possible and the temperature of the clothes does not decrease due to the intake air.
When the intake / exhaust time is lengthened, the warmed air in the upper part of the housing 1 is consumed, and air having a temperature lower than that of the clothing is eventually sucked, so that the temperature of the clothing starts to decrease. At the same time, the temperature of the moisture contained in the clothing also decreases, so that the moisture evaporation rate decreases. Even if the moisture content is reduced by intake and exhaust, if clothing is cooled too much, the power consumption in the drying step after the dehydration step increases, and as a result, the power consumption cannot be reduced.
In addition, if air intake / exhaust is performed from an early stage of the dehydration process, there is a high possibility that the water seal of the drain trap 35 that has broken the water seal will be recovered again because a large amount of water is discharged from the clothing by centrifugal force. In this case, it is necessary to break the water seal of the drain trap 35 again, and extra power is consumed to operate the blower unit 24.

  When the washing / drying machine (drum-type washing / drying machine S) according to the present embodiment is compared with a conventional washing / drying machine that does not perform intake / exhaust, in the case of clothing in which the ratio of cotton and synthetic fiber is about 60%, 40% The dehydration rate (= dry clothes weight / dehydrated clothes weight × 100%) can be improved by 0.3 to 0.6% at the same rotational speed. The washing / drying machine (drum type washing / drying machine S) according to the present embodiment can reduce the power consumption in the drying operation by about 20 to 50 Wh due to the improved dewatering performance.

The control device 60 continues the dehydration by the intake / exhaust in step S205 until the specified time elapses. When the specified time has elapsed (Yes in step S206), the control device 60 proceeds to step S207.
In step S207, first, the cooling water supply electromagnetic valve 11d of the water supply electromagnetic valve 11 is opened, and water is allowed to flow through the water cooling and dehumidifying mechanism of the drying duct 21. The water that has flowed to the water-cooled dehumidifying mechanism passes through the bellows tube B (21 a), connects the wall surface of the outer tub 2 from the intake port 2 a, and flows to the drain port 2 b, the drain hose 19, and the drain trap 35. With the fan action of the rotating drum 3, since the water in the drain trap 35 cannot be sent to the drain pipe, the water seal of the drain trap 35 is regenerated.
The water seal is regenerated by detecting the pressure in the outer tub 2, and the pressure can be detected by the water level sensor 69.
When the water seal of the drain trap 35 is regenerated, the control device 60 closes the intake valve 30 (step S207), stops the motor 4, and ends the high-speed dewatering (step S106: see FIG. 11).

Returning to FIG. 11, the description is resumed.
When the high-speed dehydration (step S106: refer to FIG. 12) is completed, the control device 60 performs a drying operation (step S107). Specifically, the fan motor 24a of the blower unit 24 is driven, the heater 25 is energized, and the motor 4 is driven to repeat forward and reverse rotation of the rotary drum 3, while changing the position of the clothing in the rotary drum 3, Blow hot air on clothing. As a result, the temperature of the entire clothing rises and moisture evaporates from the clothing.

  The control device 60 detects the drainage temperature of the cooling water of the water-cooled dehumidifying mechanism detected by the temperature sensor 70 provided at the drain port 2b, the air inlet and outlet of the blower unit 24, the temperature of the hot air, etc., and the drying is completed. It is determined whether or not (step S108). If the drying is not completed (No in step S108), the process returns to step S107 to continue the drying operation. If the drying is completed (Yes in step S108), the process proceeds to step S109.

In order to cool the clothes, the rotating drum 3, and the air in the rotating drum 3, the controller 60 performs a cooling operation (step S109).
The control device 60 stops energization of the heater 25, rotates the rotating drum 3 forward and backward, drives the fan motor 24a of the blower unit 24, and blows air. The control device 60 blows air for a predetermined period of time or until the circulating air falls below a predetermined temperature, cools the clothes, and ends the drying operation.

S Drum type washing and drying machine (washing and drying machine)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing | casing 2 Outer tank 2a Air inlet 2b Drain outlet 2c Opening part 2d Outer tank cover 3 Rotating drum 3a Opening part 3b Lifter 3c Fluid balancer 3d Through hole 3e Outer peripheral wall 3f Bottom wall 3g Through hole 4 Motor 5 Suspension 6 Operation / display Panel 7 Detergent tray 8 Dry filter 9 Door 9d Door open button 10 Bellows 11 Water supply solenoid valve 11a Water supply hose connection port 11b Main water supply solenoid valve 11c Soft finish agent water supply solenoid valve 11d Cooling water water supply solenoid valve 11e Shower water supply solenoid valve 12 Bath water Water supply pump 12a Water absorption hose connection port 13 Detergent container 18 Drain valve (drainage means)
19 Drain hose (drainage means)
20 Convex rib 21a Bellows tube B
21 Drying Duct 22 Filter Duct 23 Intake Duct 24 Blower Unit (Blower Unit)
24a fan motor 24b fan case 25 heater 26 warm air duct 27a bellows tube A
27b Bellows pipe joint 28 Outlet 29 Overflow hose 30 Intake valve 30a Intake valve motor 35 Drain trap 60 Controller 69 Water level sensor 70 Temperature sensor

Claims (3)

A housing,
Anti-vibration support in the housing, and an outer tub for storing washing water inside,
A rotating drum that is rotatably supported in the outer tub and has a convex rib extending from the center to the outer edge on the bottom wall ;
A motor for rotating the rotating drum;
Drainage means having a drainage valve and a drainage hose for draining the washing water stored in the outer tub,
An intake valve for intake of air in the upper part of the housing;
A controller for controlling the motor, the drain valve, and the intake valve ;
The controller is
The Open drain valve, the rotary drum is rotated at a high speed by the motor, the clothes in the rotary drum running dewatering operation you centrifugally dehydrated,
During the dehydration operation,
The intake valve is opened, and the rotating drum is rotated at a high speed by the motor so that the convex rib functions as a centrifugal fan, and the air in the upper part of the housing is sucked into the rotating drum from the intake valve , A washing / drying machine characterized by performing an intake / exhaust step of exhausting air in the rotating drum from the drainage hose. The washing / drying machine according to claim 1, wherein the intake / exhaust step is performed at the end of the dehydration operation. A blower fan disposed in an air flow path from the intake valve to the rotating drum;
A fan motor controlled by the control device to rotate the blower fan, and
The drain hose is
Connected to a drain pipe with a drain trap with a water seal,
The controller is
Open the drain valve, rotate the rotating drum at a high speed by the motor, and perform a dehydration operation to centrifugally dehydrate clothes in the rotating drum,
During the dehydration operation,
The intake valve is opened, the fan motor is driven by the fan motor, the air in the upper part of the housing is sucked into the rotary drum from the intake valve , the internal pressure on the drain hose side is increased, and the drain trap and water sealing breaking process that fracture the water seal,
The intake valve is opened, the fan motor is stopped, and the rotating drum is rotated at a high speed by the motor so that the convex rib functions as a centrifugal fan, and the upper part in the housing is moved from the intake valve into the rotating drum. the air intake, and washing and drying machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 air in the rotary within the drum and performs, and the intake and exhaust step of exhausting from the drain hose.

Images