JP7232988B2 - clothes dryer - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a clothes dryer capable of disinfecting and deodorizing clothes by supplying charged fine particle water to the clothes in a rotating drum.

Conventionally, this type of clothes dryer or a washer/dryer with a clothes drying function uses charged fine particles generated by an electrostatic atomization unit in order to kill germs adhering to clothes and deodorize clothes. A configuration has been proposed in which water is discharged into a rotating drum (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the washing/drying machine described in Patent Document 1. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, a washing/drying tub 3 is accommodated in an outer frame 2 forming the outer shell of the washing/drying machine 1, and the washing/drying tub 3 is composed of a water tub 5 in which a rotating drum 4 is arranged.

A rotating drum 4 has a large number of small holes (not shown) and is rotated by a motor 6 . A water supply channel 7 and a drainage channel 8 are connected to the water tank 5 . The washing/drying tub 3 is provided with an opening 9, and the opening 9 is provided with a lid 10 that can be freely opened and closed.

An electrostatic atomization generation unit 11 is provided inside the outer frame 2 and outside the washing/drying tub 3 (that is, the water tub 5). is provided with a fan 13 . One end of an air supply hose 14a forming an air supply path 14 is connected to the case 12, and the other end of the air supply hose 14a opens to the outer frame 2 and communicates with the outside. One end of a discharge hose 15a constituting a discharge path 15 is connected to the case 12, and the other end of the discharge hose 15a is piped to the end of the opening 9 of the washing/drying tub 3. The interior of the

The nanometer-sized charged fine water particles generated by the electrostatic atomization generating unit 11 are discharged into the washing/drying tub 3 via the discharge path 15 by external air supplied through the air supply path 14 by the operation of the fan 13. to sterilize and deodorize the clothes inside the rotary drum 4.

In addition, although not shown in Patent Document 1, the washing/drying tub 3 is provided with an outlet for blowing out hot or cold air, and the hot or cold air is blown into the washing/drying tub 3 to generate a rotating drum. Dry the clothes in 4.

JP-A-2008-237441

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, there is a problem that the charged fine particle water hits the side wall of the discharge path and adheres to the clothes before contacting the clothes, and the amount of the charged fine water particles discharged to the clothes is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a clothes dryer that suppresses a decrease in the amount of charged fine water particles generated by an electrostatic atomization unit and improves the effect of disinfecting and deodorizing clothes.

The clothes dryer of the present invention comprises an outer frame, a rotating drum formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape and rotatably contained in the outer frame, a motor for rotating the rotating drum by rotationally driving the rotating drum, and the an opening formed in the front surface of the outer frame, a lid that can open and close the opening, a drum support plate that rotatably supports the opening end of the rotating drum from inside the opening end , and an electrostatic fog. an electrostatic atomization generation unit that generates charged fine particle water by atomization. The electrostatic atomization generating unit is disposed above the opening and below the upper end of the opening end at a position where the inside of the rotating drum can be viewed from above on the drum support plate. to discharge the charged fine particle water.

The clothes dryer of the present invention can suppress a decrease in the amount of charged fine particle water generated by the electrostatic atomization unit, so that the clothes can be disinfected and deodorized in a short time.

Schematic longitudinal sectional view of a clothes dryer according to a first embodiment of the present invention Schematic cross-sectional view from the lateral direction of the electrostatic atomization generation unit of the clothes dryer Schematic cross-sectional view from the lateral direction of an electrostatic atomization generation unit of a clothes dryer according to a second embodiment of the present invention Schematic cross-sectional view from the lateral direction of an electrostatic atomization generation unit of a clothes dryer according to a third embodiment of the present invention Schematic longitudinal sectional view of a conventional washing and drying machine

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited by this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a clothes dryer according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrostatic atomization generating unit of the clothes dryer according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a substantially cylindrical rotating drum 74 for storing clothes is arranged in an outer frame 72 so that the central axis of rotation is substantially horizontal. One end of the rotating drum 74 is supported by a shaft 87 via a metal 86 , and the shaft 87 is fixed to the rear portion of the outer frame 72 by a fixing plate 88 .

A clothing loading opening 79 provided in the front portion of the outer frame 72 includes a lid 80 that covers the opening 79 in an openable and closable manner, a holding portion 89 that holds the lid 80, and a drum support plate 90. A portion 91 is provided. The other end of the rotary drum 74 is rotatably supported by a drum support plate 90 and is therefore open.

A fan case 93 is provided in the inner rear portion of the outer frame 72 to accommodate a heat exchange type fan 92 as an intake means for sucking air from inside the rotating drum 74 .

A motor 76 is arranged on the inner rear lower side of the outer frame 72 , and the motor 76 rotates the rotating drum 74 and the heat exchange fan 92 .

Rotation of the motor 76 is transmitted to the heat exchange fan 92 by the belt 94 and to the rotating drum 74 by the belt 95 . When the heat exchange fan 92 rotates, the air inside the rotary drum 74 is sucked toward the heat exchange fan 92 from behind the rotary drum 74 .

A wind drum 96 provided on the rotating drum 74 returns the air sucked by the heat exchange fan 92 into the rotating drum 74, and a heat source 97 heats the blown air.

At a position of the drum support plate 90 provided in the opening 79 facing the inside of the rotating drum 74 from above, an electrostatic fog for diffusing the charged fine water particles generated by the electrostatic atomization inside the rotating drum 74 (arrow) is provided. A chemical generation unit 81 is provided.

Further, a control means 70 for controlling the operation of the motor 76 and the electrostatic atomization generating unit 81 and for controlling each process is disposed in the lower front portion of the outer frame 72 .

In FIG. 2, the electrostatic atomization generating unit 81 is fixed in a resin case 103 surrounding the outer periphery, and supplies water to the discharge electrode 98 and the counter electrode 99 arranged opposite the discharge electrode 98 and to the discharge electrode 98. Water supply means 100 and voltage application means (not shown) for applying a high voltage between the discharge electrode 98 and the counter electrode 99 are provided.

Then, a voltage applying means (not shown) applies a high voltage between the discharge electrode 98 and the counter electrode 99 to electrostatically atomize the water supplied to the discharge electrode 98 to generate charged water particles. It is a thing.

Here, a negative voltage of 5.5 kV is applied to cause electrostatic atomization, and feedback control is performed so that the discharge current value at that time becomes 6 μA.

In electrostatic atomization, when a high voltage is applied, the discharge electrode 98 side becomes a negative electrode, and electric charges are concentrated. Electric charges are concentrated at the tip of the tip and become dense, and the repulsive force of this high-density electric charge causes water to split and scatter, repeating Rayleigh splitting.

At this time, the formation of the Taylor cone is affected by the wettability of the surface of the discharge electrode 98. If the wettability is small, a predetermined Taylor cone is not formed and the amount of electrostatic atomization cannot be secured. It is necessary to ensure a predetermined amount of wettability of the surface of 98 .

The water supply means 100 has a cooling means comprising a Peltier element 101, and the discharge electrode 98 is cooled by this cooling means, and moisture (humidity) in the air is condensed on the surface of the tip of the discharge electrode 98. water is supplied by

Here, the amount of water required for electrostatic atomization is about 0.5 ml/h. The end of the Peltier element 101 on the side of the discharge electrode 98 is a cooling portion 101a, and the opposite end thereof is a heat radiation portion 101b. 101b is thermally connected to heat radiation fin 102 which is a heat generating portion.

The resin case 103 is composed of a first accommodating portion 111 and a second accommodating portion 112 which are divided. The water supply means 100 is positioned across from the first accommodating portion 111 to the second accommodating portion 112 , and the radiating fin 102 is positioned in the second accommodating portion 112 .

Air ports 104 , 105 , and 106 through which air enters and exits are provided on the upper surface of the first housing portion 111 , and an air port 107 is provided on the upper surface of the second housing portion 112 . That is, the air ports 104 , 105 and 106 are provided above the discharge electrode 98 , and the air port 107 is provided at a position communicating with the radiation fins 102 . Arrows A1, B1, C1, and D1 indicate the flow of air entering and exiting the first accommodation portion 111 and the second accommodation portion 112 of the resin case 103 from each air port.

The air of arrow A1 sucked from air ports 104 and 105 is discharged from air port 106 as arrow B1 together with charged water particles. The radiating fins 102 are cooled by the air indicated by the arrow C1 flowing from the air port 107, and the warmed air is discharged from the air port 107 in the direction of the arrow D1.

With the above configuration, the charged water particles discharged into the rotating drum 74 from the electrostatic atomization generating unit 81 are diffused within the rotating drum 74 by natural convection in the rotating drum 74. Convection in the rotating drum 74 by the air warmed by 102 can further diffuse a large amount of charged particle water.

Also, by rotating the rotary drum 74 to mix the clothes, the charged water particles can be attached to the clothes evenly. As a result, the clothes in the rotating drum 74 can be disinfected and deodorized in a short time.

In Embodiment 1, the electrostatic atomization generation unit 81 is arranged on the drum support plate 90 provided in the opening 79, but the same effect can be obtained by arranging it on the lid 80 of the opening 79. It is what you get.

Also, although the heat exchange fan 92 and the rotating drum 74 are driven by the single motor 76, they may be driven by separate motors. Thereby, the rotating drum 74 can also be rotated intermittently.

Further, although the electrostatic atomization generating unit 81 is arranged on the drum support plate 90 , it may be arranged on the holding portion 89 of the lid 80 .

As described above, the clothes dryer according to the first embodiment includes the outer frame 72, the rotating drum 74 which is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape and is rotatably included in the outer frame 72, and the front surface of the outer frame 72. The formed opening 79, a cover 80 that can open and close the opening 79, a drum support plate 90 that rotatably supports the opening end of the rotating drum 74, and an electrostatic atomizer that generates charged fine particle water by electrostatic atomization. and an electro-atomization generating unit 81 . The electrostatic atomization generation unit 81 is arranged inside the drum support plate 90 or the lid 80 and emits charged fine particle water toward the inside of the rotating drum 74 .

As a result, the charged fine water particles can be directly emitted toward the inside of the rotating drum 74 without providing a complicated path between the electrostatic atomization generating unit 81 and the rotating drum 74 .

Therefore, the charged fine particle water can be brought into contact with the clothes without reducing the charged fine particle water, so that the clothes can be disinfected and deodorized in a short time.

Further, as in the present embodiment, the electrostatic atomization generating unit 81 has the divided first housing portion 111 and the second housing portion 112, and the first housing portion 111 is provided with electrostatic atomization. A water supply means 100 for supplying water to the discharge electrode 98 is positioned across the discharge electrode 98 of the unit 81 from the first housing portion 111 to the second housing portion 112 , and the heat radiation fins 102 are positioned in the second housing portion 112 . In addition, a plurality of air ports 104 , 105 , 106 and 107 through which air enters and exits may be provided on the counter electrode 99 side facing the discharge electrode 98 .

As a result, the charged fine particle water can be evenly brought into contact with the entire clothes, and the clothes can be disinfected and deodorized in a short time.

Further, as in the present embodiment, the rotating drum 74 may be rotated when the charged fine particle water is discharged into the rotating drum 74 .

As a result, the charged fine particle water can be evenly brought into contact with the entire clothes, and the clothes can be disinfected and deodorized in a short time.

In addition, as in the present embodiment, the heat exchange type fan 92 is provided for sucking the air in the rotating drum 74 and making the inside of the rotating drum 74 into a negative pressure state, and the electrostatic atomization generating unit 81 sprays the charged fine particle water. When discharging, the inside of the rotary drum 74 may be brought into a negative pressure state by operating the heat exchange type fan 92 .

As a result, the charged fine water particles flow into the rotating drum 74 which is in a negative pressure state. Therefore, the charged fine particle water can be evenly brought into contact with the entire clothes, and the clothes can be disinfected and deodorized in a short time.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electrostatic atomization generating unit of the clothes dryer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Except for the configuration of the electrostatic atomization unit, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, so the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

The electrostatic atomization generation unit 181 has the air ports 104, 105, 106, and 107 in the resin case 113 surrounding the outer periphery. An air port 115 is provided on the lateral surface of the. That is, the air port 114 is provided on the lateral side of the discharge electrode 98 and the air port 115 is provided on the lateral side of the radiation fin 102 .

Arrows A2, B2, C2, and D2 indicate the flow of air entering and exiting the first accommodation portion 111 and the second accommodation portion 112 of the resin case 113 from each air port.

With the above configuration, outside air (arrow A2) that has flowed into first housing portion 111 through air port 114 is discharged from air ports 104, 105, and 106 in the direction of arrow B2 along with charged water particles. The outside air (arrow C2) that has flowed into the second housing portion 112 through the air port 115 cools the heat radiating fins 102 and is then discharged from the air port 107 in the direction of the arrow D2. Then, it spreads on the clothes in the rotating drum 74 .

The charged water particles released into the rotating drum 74 diffuse within the rotating drum 74 due to natural convection within the rotating drum 74 and convection within the rotating drum 74 due to the air warmed by the radiation fins 102, which are heat generating portions. However, by introducing air from the air ports 114 and 115, a larger amount of charged water particles can be diffused.

Further, by adjusting the sizes of the air ports 114 and 115 , the amount of charged water particles diffused can be varied, and a larger amount of charged water particles can be diffused onto the clothes in the rotating drum 74 .

As described above, in the present embodiment, the electrostatic atomization generating unit 181 has the first housing portion 111 on the side of the discharge electrode 98 and the second housing portion 112 on the side of the radiation fin 102 . are formed with air holes 114 and 115, respectively.

Accordingly, by introducing air from the air ports 114 and 115, a larger amount of charged water particles can be diffused.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrostatic atomization generating unit of a clothes dryer according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Except for a part of the electrostatic atomization unit configuration, it is the same as that of the second embodiment, so the same reference numerals are given and the description is omitted.

The electrostatic atomization generating unit 281 is provided with an on-off valve 116 for controlling air flow in and out of the air port 114 and the air port 115 in the resin case 113 . The control means 70 controls the on-off valve 116 to open and close the air ports 114 and 115 .

Arrows A3, B3, C3, and D3 indicate the flow of air entering and exiting the first accommodation portion 111 and the second accommodation portion 112 of the resin case 113 from each air port.

With the above configuration, in the drying operation of the clothes, from the start of the operation, the residual heat drying period, the efficient drying period in which the drying speed is constant, and the decreasing rate drying period in which the drying speed gradually decreases. finish driving.

Here, by opening the on-off valve 116 during the decreasing rate drying period and air blowing, the outside air (arrow A3) flowing into the first housing portion 111 from the air port 114 flows from the air ports 104, 105, and 106 in the direction of the arrow B3. is released with charged particles of water.

The outside air (arrow C3) that has flowed into the second housing portion 112 through the air port 115 cools the heat radiating fins 102 and is then discharged from the air port 107 in the direction of the arrow D3. Then, it spreads on the clothes in the rotating drum 74 .

During the constant-rate drying period, the humidity in the rotary drum 74 becomes close to 100%, and when the on-off valve 116 is opened and air is taken into the rotary drum 74 from the air ports 114 and 115, the humidity increases to 100% by the inflow. % of the air escapes from the clothes dryer through the gap between the heat exchange fan 92 and the fan case 93, resulting in an increase in ambient humidity. Therefore, the on-off valve 116 is closed to prevent the humidity from increasing.

Since the humidity of the air in the rotating drum 74 is low during the declining rate drying period or during air blowing, the surrounding humidity hardly increases even if the air leaks out. Conversely, since the surrounding dry air is taken into the rotating drum 74 and the slightly moist air inside the rotating drum 74 is discharged to the surroundings, there is an advantage that the decreasing rate drying period is shortened and the operating time is shortened.

The charged water particles released into the rotating drum 74 diffuse within the rotating drum 74 due to natural convection within the rotating drum 74 and convection within the rotating drum 74 due to the air warmed by the radiation fins 102, which are heat generating portions. However, by introducing air from the air ports 114 and 115, a larger amount of charged water particles can be diffused.

Further, by adjusting the sizes of the air ports 114 and 115 , the amount of charged water particles diffused can be varied, and a larger amount of charged water particles can be diffused onto the clothes in the rotating drum 74 .

As described above, in the present embodiment, the electrostatic atomization generating unit 181 has the first housing portion 111 on the side of the discharge electrode 98 and the second housing portion 112 on the side of the radiation fin 102 . are formed with air ports 114 and 115, respectively, and an on-off valve 116 for opening and closing the air ports 114 and 115 is provided.

As a result, by opening and closing the on-off valve 116, the air introduced from the air ports 114 and 115 can be controlled to prevent the surrounding humidity from becoming high and to optimally diffuse the charged particle water onto the clothes. can be made

(Other embodiments)
As described above, Embodiments 1 and 2 have been described as examples of the technology disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this.

Therefore, other embodiments will be exemplified below.

In Embodiments 1 and 2, the heat exchange fan (intake means) 92 and the rotating drum 74 are driven by one driving means (motor) 76, but they are driven by separate driving means (motor) 76. I don't mind. Thereby, the rotating drum 74 can also be rotated intermittently.

Further, in Embodiments 1 and 2, the electrostatic atomization generating unit 81 is arranged on the lid 80 or the drum support plate 90, but the same effect can be obtained by arranging it on the holding portion 89 of the lid 80. . That is, since high-concentration charged-particle water can be discharged directly to the rotating drum 74 from the electrostatic atomization generation unit 81 located in the opening 79, the clothes can be disinfected and deodorized in a short time.

Further, in Embodiment 3, the opening/closing valve 116 is arranged on the intake side of the electrostatic atomization generating unit 81, but it is arranged on the exhaust side, that is, on the counter electrode 99 side where the air ports 104, 105, 106, and 107 are located. The same effect can be obtained even if it is provided.

Further, in Embodiment 3, the on-off valve 116 is arranged in the electrostatic atomization generating unit 81, but the air flow can be controlled even if it is arranged in the drum support plate 90 or the holding portion 89 of the lid 80. Therefore, the same effect can be obtained.

The present disclosure is applicable to clothing treatment devices that include an electrostatic atomization generating unit. Specifically, it can be applied to a clothes dryer, a drum-type washing/drying machine having a drying function, and the like.

70 Control Means 72 Outer Frame 74 Rotating Drum 76 Motor 79 Opening 80 Lid 81 Electrostatic Atomization Generation Unit 89 Holding Part 90 Drum Support Plate 91 Outer Shell 92 Heat Exchange Fan 98 Discharge Electrode 99 Counter Electrode 100 Water Supply Means 102 Heat Dissipation Fins 104, 105, 106, 107 Air openings 114, 115 Air openings 111 First accommodating portion 112 Second accommodating portion 116 On-off valve 181 Electrostatic atomization unit 281 Electrostatic atomization unit

Claims (6)

an outer frame, a rotating drum formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom and rotatably included in the outer frame , a motor for rotating the rotating drum by rotationally driving it, and a motor formed on the front surface of the outer frame. an opening, a lid that can open and close the opening, a drum support plate that rotatably supports the opening end of the rotating drum from the inside of the opening end , and electrostatic atomization to generate charged fine particle water. and an electrostatic atomization generation unit,
The electrostatic atomization generating unit is disposed above the opening and below the upper end of the opening end at a position where the inside of the rotating drum can be viewed from above on the drum support plate. A clothes dryer that emits the charged particulate water toward the clothes dryer. The electrostatic atomization generation unit has a first storage portion and a second storage portion which are divided, and the discharge electrode of the electrostatic atomization generation unit is placed in the first storage portion. The water supply means for supplying water to the discharge electrode straddling the second storage portion from the second storage portion, the radiating fins are positioned in the second storage portion, and the charged fine particle water is supplied to the counter electrode side facing the discharge electrode. 2. A clothes dryer according to claim 1, further comprising a venting air port. 3. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein said electrostatic atomization generating unit has an air opening for sucking air provided on the counter electrode side or on the lateral surface. 4. The clothes dryer according to claim 3 , wherein said electrostatic atomization generating unit is provided with an on-off valve for controlling the inflow and outflow of air in said air inlet for sucking air. The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the motor rotates to rotate the rotating drum when the charged fine particle water is discharged into the rotating drum. An intake means is provided for sucking the air in the rotating drum and making the inside of the drum into a negative pressure state . The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the inside of the drum is kept in a negative pressure state.

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