JP7407866B1 - clothing processing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To achieve both drying efficiency and suppression of dew condensation in drying operation. [Solution] The clothing processing device includes a main body, a storage tank provided inside the main body and in which clothes are stored, a circulation air path for returning at least a portion of air flowing out from the storage tank to the storage tank, and a circulation air path. A heating device that heats the air flowing through the body to generate warm air, an outside air introduction path that communicates the circulation air path with the outside of the main body, and introduces air from outside the main body into the circulation air path; The control device includes an opening/closing device that opens and closes, a temperature detection section that detects the temperature inside the main body, and a control device that can execute a drying operation that drives the heating device to dry the clothes in the storage tank. Based on the detection result of the detection unit, the operation of the opening/closing device is controlled during the drying operation. [Selection diagram] Figure 5

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to garment processing devices.

Conventionally, in a washer/dryer, which is an example of clothes processing equipment, in the drying process, a heater and a drying blower connected to the outside of the machine are energized to convert the air taken into the machine from outside into warm air and internalize it. Techniques for feeding into tanks are known.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2003-305293

In the conventional configuration, by lengthening the period during which outside air is taken into the machine during drying operation, it is possible to minimize the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the machine and suppress the occurrence of dew condensation in the room where the washer/dryer is installed, for example. On the other hand, if the period of time when outside air is taken into the cabin is lengthened, the heating efficiency of the hot air decreases, and the drying efficiency of clothes decreases, resulting in a longer drying time.

Therefore, a clothing processing device is provided that achieves both drying efficiency and suppression of dew condensation during drying operation.

The clothing processing device according to the embodiment includes: a main body; a storage tank provided inside the main body in which clothes are stored; a circulation air path that returns at least a part of the air flowing out from the storage tank to the storage tank; A heating device that heats the air flowing through the circulation air path to generate warm air; and an outside air introduction that communicates the circulation air path with the outside of the main body and introduces air outside the main body into the circulation air path. a switching device that opens and closes the outside air introduction channel; a temperature detection unit that detects the ambient temperature in which the main body is installed; and a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the atmosphere in which the main body is installed. and a dehumidification mechanism that cools and dehumidifies the air in the circulating air path by supplying water into the circulating air path, and the control device is configured to Based on the detection result of the temperature detection unit before driving the apparatus, the operation of the opening/closing device is controlled during the drying operation, and the outside air introduction path is switched between open and closed , and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is controlled. The period during which the outside air introduction path is opened when the ambient temperature is less than a first threshold value is longer than the period during which the outside air introduction path is opened when the ambient temperature is equal to or higher than the first threshold value,
When the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detector is less than a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold, the dehumidifying mechanism does not dehumidify, and the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detector is set to a second threshold. In the above case, dehumidification is performed by the dehumidification mechanism.

This figure shows an example of a schematic configuration of the washer/dryer according to the first embodiment, and shows a state in which the opening/closing device is not operating. This figure shows an example of the schematic configuration of the washer/dryer according to the first embodiment, and shows a state in which the opening/closing device is in operation. A block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the washer/dryer according to the first embodiment Flowchart showing an example of control contents when the temperature detected by the room temperature sensor according to the first embodiment is equal to or higher than the first threshold value Flowchart showing an example of control contents when the temperature detected by the room temperature sensor according to the first embodiment is less than the first threshold value Flowchart showing an example of control contents when the temperature detected by the room temperature sensor according to the second embodiment is less than the first threshold value

Hereinafter, clothing processing apparatuses according to a plurality of embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in each embodiment, substantially the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In addition, in the following embodiments, the words "first, second, etc." attached to the constituent elements are simply to distinguish similar constituent elements, and are used to indicate the superiority and inferiority of the constituent elements, and the terms such as "first, second, etc." It does not mean any element.

(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.
A washer/dryer 10 shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a clothing processing device that can perform processing such as washing, rinsing, dehydration, and drying on clothing. Further, the washer/dryer 10 is a so-called vertical axis type washer/dryer in which the central axis of rotation of the rotating tub is oriented in the vertical direction. Although details are not shown, the clothing processing apparatus of this embodiment can also be applied to, for example, a drum-type washer/dryer with a horizontal axis or an oblique axis. Moreover, the clothes processing apparatus of this embodiment can also be applied to a dryer only for drying without a washing function.

The washer/dryer 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a main body 11, an outer tank 12, a rotating tank 13, a motor 14, a drainage mechanism 15, and a circulation air path 20. In FIG. 1, the installation surface side of the washer/dryer 10, ie, the vertically lower side, is the lower side of the washer/dryer 10, and the opposite side to the installation surface, ie, the vertically upper side, is the upper side of the washer/dryer 10. The main body 11 is formed into a hollow box shape by a combination of metal such as a stainless steel plate, resin material, etc., and constitutes the outer shell of the washer/dryer 10 . The main body 11 houses therein an outer tank 12, a rotating tank 13, a motor 14, a drainage mechanism 15, a room temperature sensor 61, an outer tank temperature sensor 62, and a circulation air passage 20.

The outer tank 12 and the rotating tank 13 are formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open upper side. The outer tank 12 can store water therein. In this case, the outer tank 12 functions as a water tank. The outer tank 12 has an exhaust port 121 and an air supply port 122, as shown in FIG. The exhaust port 121 and the air supply port 122 communicate the inside and outside of the outer tank 12. The exhaust port 121 is provided, for example, at a position near the bottom of the peripheral wall that constitutes the cylindrical portion of the outer tank 12. The air supply port 122 is provided, for example, at the top of the outer tank 12.

The rotating tank 13 is rotatably arranged inside the outer tank 12 and is rotationally driven by a motor 14 . The rotating tub 13 can accommodate clothing therein. The outer tank 12 and the rotating tank 13 function as storage tanks that can store clothes. In this case, the outer tub 12 and the rotating tub 13 that constitute the storage tank function as a washing tub during a washing operation in which clothes are washed, and function as a drying chamber during a drying operation in which clothes are dried. The motor 14 is provided, for example, on the outside of the bottom of the outer tank 12. The motor 14 is composed of, for example, an outer rotor type DC brushless motor. The motor 14 is connected to the rotating tank 13 and has a function of rotating the rotating tank 13 relative to the outer tank 12.

Further, the rotating tank 13 has a plurality of holes 131 and stirring blades 132, as shown in FIG. The hole 131 communicates the inside and outside of the rotating tank 13. The holes mainly function as water holes through which water enters and exits during washing operations, and function primarily as ventilation holes through which air enters and exits during drying operations. The stirring blade 132 is provided at the inner bottom of the rotating tank 13 so as to be rotatable around a vertical axis. The stirring blade 132 is connected to the motor 14 and rotationally driven by the motor 14 . Further, the stirring blade 132 has a blade member on the back side that stirs up water, and has a function of circulating water in the outer tank 12 through a circulation waterway (not shown) provided between the rotating tank 13 and the outer tank 12. has.

The drainage mechanism 15 has a function of discharging water stored in the outer tank 12 to the outside of the washer/dryer 10. The drain mechanism 15 has a drain valve 151 and a drain pipe 152, as shown in FIG. The drain valve 151 is a liquid opening/closing valve that can be opened and closed electromagnetically. The drain pipe 152 is made of, for example, a flexible hose, one end of which is connected to the drain valve 151, and the other end of which is drawn out of the washer/dryer 10. When the drain valve 151 is opened, the water stored in the outer tank 12 is discharged to the outside of the washer/dryer 10 through the drain pipe 152. Further, the washer/dryer 10 includes a water supply mechanism, although details are not shown. The water supply mechanism has a function of being connected to an external water source such as a tap, and supplying water from the external water source into the outer tank 12 . As shown in FIG. 3, the water supply mechanism includes, for example, a water supply valve 16, a water injection case (not shown), and the like.

The circulation air passage 20 is provided outside the outer tank 12 and the rotating tank 13, which are storage tanks, and is configured to be able to circulate at least a portion of the air that has flowed out from the outer tank 12 and the rotating tank 13. The circulation air passage 20 connects the exhaust port 121 and the air supply port 122, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like. In the following description, the exhaust port 121 of the circulation air path 20 is assumed to be the most upstream part of the circulation air path 20, and the air supply port 122 of the circulation air path 20 is assumed to be the most downstream part of the circulation air path 20. In this case, the exhaust port 121 means the inlet of the circulating air path 20, and the air supply port 122 means the outlet of the circulating air path 20.

As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, in this embodiment, the circulation air passage 20 is opened into the main body 11 midway. In this case, the circulation air passage 20 includes an exhaust duct 21, a storage chamber 22, and an air supply duct 23. The exhaust duct 21 is provided, for example, on the outer peripheral surface of the outer tank 12 and extends in the vertical direction. The exhaust duct 21 has one end, that is, the upstream side, connected to the exhaust port 121 of the outer tank 12, and the other end, that is, the downstream side, is open into the main body 11.

The storage chamber 22 is formed in a shape that has a space inside. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the storage chamber 22 has a plurality of inlets 221, 222, 223 and an outlet 224, three in this case. The inlet portions 221, 222, 223 and the outlet portion 224 are formed, for example, to penetrate the storage chamber 22 in the thickness direction, and communicate the inside and outside of the storage chamber 22. The inlets 221, 222, and 223 serve as an inlet for air from outside the accommodation chamber 22 to the inside of the accommodation chamber 22, while the outlet part 224 serves as an outlet for air from the inside of the accommodation chamber 22 to the outside of the accommodation chamber 22.

In this case, at least some of the plurality of inlets 221 , 222 , and 223 located on the upstream side of the storage chamber 22 are located near the other end of the exhaust duct 21 . That is, the exhaust duct 21 and the storage chamber 22 are not physically connected and are separated from each other. Further, an outlet portion 224 located on the downstream side of the storage chamber 22 is connected to the air supply duct 23. The air supply duct 23 has one end, that is, the upstream side, connected to the outlet part 224 of the storage chamber 22, and the other end, that is, the downstream side, is connected to the outer tank 12. That is, the air supply duct 23 connects the storage chamber 22 and the outer tank 12. In the following description, the inlet portion 221 may be referred to as a first inlet portion 221, the inlet portion 222 may be referred to as a second inlet portion 222, and the inlet portion 223 may be referred to as a third inlet portion 223.

The washer/dryer 10 includes a filter device 31, a blower device 32, a heating device 33, an outside air introduction path 40, and an opening/closing device 41. The filter device 31 , the blower device 32 , and the heating device 33 are provided within the circulation air path 20 . The filter device 31 collects foreign substances such as dust and dirt contained in the air flowing in the circulation air path 20 . The filter device 31 includes, for example, a first filter member 311 and a second filter member 312. As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the first filter member 311 is provided, for example, inside the exhaust duct 21 and near the downstream end of the exhaust duct 21. The second filter member 312 is provided, for example, inside the storage chamber 22 and on the downstream side of each inlet portion 221 , 222 , 223 . The first filter member 311 collects foreign matter contained in the air discharged from the outer tank 12. The second filter member 312 collects foreign matter contained in the air that has entered the storage chamber 22 .

The blower device 32 and the heating device 33 are provided inside the storage chamber 22 . The air blower 32 is configured by, for example, a sirocco fan, a turbo fan, or the like. The blower device 32 sucks air into the storage chamber 22 through each inlet portion 221 , 222 , 223 and sends the sucked air to the air supply duct 23 side. The heating device 33 is located downstream of the blower device 32 and has a function of heating the air flowing through the circulation air path 20 to turn it into warm air. The heating device 33 is configured by, for example, a PTC heater, which is an example of an electric heater.

The outside air introduction passage 40 is provided in the middle of the circulation air passage 20 and communicates the circulation air passage 20 with the outside of the main body 11 . The outside air introduction path 40 is connected to the third inlet portion 223 of the storage chamber 22 . The outside air introduction path 40 is for guiding air outside the main body 11, that is, outside air, into the circulation air path 20. That is, outside air is supplied into the circulation air path 20 from the outside air introduction path 40.

The opening/closing device 41 is configured to be able to open and close the outside air introduction path 40. The opening/closing device 41 includes, for example, an opening/closing member 411 and a drive section 412. The opening/closing member 411 is composed of, for example, a damper. The opening/closing member 411 is rotated by a drive section 412. The drive unit 412 is composed of, for example, a motor or a solenoid that is an example of an electric actuator. As shown in FIG. 1, when the opening/closing member 411 is closed, the outside air introduction path 40 is closed. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, when the opening/closing member 411 is open, the outside air introduction path 40 is opened. That is, when the opening/closing member 411 is open, outside air is introduced into the circulation air path 20.

In this embodiment, the opening/closing member 411 is provided between the second entrance section 222 and the third entrance section 223. As shown in FIG. 1, when the opening/closing member 411 is in a closed state, that is, when the rotation angle is approximately 0°, the second inlet portion 222 is opened and the third inlet portion 223 is closed. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, when the opening/closing member 411 is in the open state, that is, the rotation angle is approximately 90 degrees, the second inlet portion 222 is closed and the third inlet portion 223 is opened. The amount of air introduced from the second inlet section 222 and the third inlet section 223 can be arbitrarily set by adjusting the rotation angle of the opening/closing member 411. In this way, the amount of air introduced from the second inlet section 222 and the third inlet section 223 changes according to the opening and closing of the opening/closing member 411, but the first inlet section 221 is always open, and the first inlet section 221 is always open. Air can always be introduced from the inlet portion 221.

In such a configuration, the washer/dryer 10 can perform a drying operation by driving the blower device 32 and the heating device 33. When the blower device 32 and the heating device 33 are driven, the air supplied from the blower device 32 to the heating device 33 side is heated as it passes through the heating device 33, becomes warm air, and passes through the air supply duct 23 to the outer tank. 12 and into the rotating tank 13. When the pressure inside the outer tank 12 increases due to the supply of hot air, part of the air inside the outer tank 12 flows out into the exhaust duct 21 from the exhaust port 121. The air flowing through the exhaust duct 21 is discharged into the main body 11 from the downstream end of the exhaust duct 21.

A part of the air discharged from the exhaust duct 21 is sucked into the storage chamber 22 from the first inlet portion 221 of the storage chamber 22 by the blower 32 . Therefore, the air sucked in from the first inlet portion 221 is mainly air discharged from the outer tank 12. Since the first inlet portion 221 is always open as described above, a portion of the air discharged from the exhaust duct 21 is always sucked into the storage chamber 22 from the first inlet portion 221. Furthermore, when the second inlet section 222 is open, air is sucked into the accommodation chamber 22 from the second inlet section 222 of the accommodation chamber 22 due to the blowing action of the air blower 32 . The air sucked in from the second inlet portion 222 is mainly air outside the outer tank 12 and inside the main body 11, that is, inside the machine. Then, the air sucked into the storage chamber 22 from the first inlet part 221 and the second inlet part 222 passes through the heating device 33 again to become warm air and is supplied into the outer tank 12 and the rotating tank 13.

When the opening/closing device 41 is driven to open the outside air introduction path 40, air outside the main body 11 is sucked into the storage chamber 22 from the third inlet portion 223 of the storage chamber 22. In this way, the drying operation is performed using the air flowing out from the outer tank 12, the air outside the outer tank 12 and inside the main body 11, and the air outside the main body 11. Moreover, in the drying operation, by taking in outside air from the third inlet portion 223, the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the washer/dryer 10 can be suppressed.

The washer/dryer 10 includes a dehumidifying mechanism 50. The dehumidifying mechanism 50 has a function of cooling and dehumidifying the air in the circulating air passage 20 by supplying water into the circulating air passage 20. In this case, the dehumidification mechanism 50 cools and dehumidifies the air in the exhaust duct 21 that comes into contact with the water by flowing water into the exhaust duct 21 .

The dehumidification mechanism 50 can be configured to include, for example, a water supply section 51 and an on-off valve 52. The water supply section 51 is provided, for example, at a position closer to the downstream side of the exhaust duct 21. The on-off valve 52 is a liquid on-off valve that can be opened and closed electromagnetically. The inflow side of the on-off valve 52 is connected to an external water source via a water supply hose (not shown), and the discharge side is connected to the water supply section 51. When the on-off valve 52 is opened, water from an external water source is supplied from the water supply section 51 into the exhaust duct 21 . In the drying operation, warm air containing water vapor from the clothes in the rotating tub 13 comes into contact with water supplied from the water supply section 51 in the exhaust duct 21, and is cooled and dehumidified. The water flowing through the exhaust duct 21 is then discharged to the outside of the machine via the drainage mechanism 15.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the washer/dryer 10 includes a room temperature sensor 61 as a temperature detection section, an outer tub temperature sensor 62, and a control device 70. Room temperature sensor 61 is provided in a space inside main body 11 . The room temperature sensor 61 is capable of detecting room temperature, which is the ambient temperature inside the main body 11 . The outer tank temperature sensor 62 is provided, for example, on the outer surface of the outer tank 12. The outer tank temperature sensor 62 detects the temperature of the outer surface of the outer tank 12. In this case, the temperature of the outer surface of the outer tank 12 detected by the outer tank temperature sensor 62 correlates with the temperature inside the outer tank 12.

The control device 70 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having, for example, a CPU 701, a storage area 702 such as a ROM, a RAM, and a rewritable flash memory, and a timer 703 capable of measuring time. The control device 70 controls the operation of the washer/dryer 10 and executes various processes. The motor 14, drain valve 151, water supply valve 16, blower device 32, heating device 33, drive unit 412, on-off valve 52, room temperature sensor 61, and outer tank temperature sensor 62 are electrically connected to the control device 70. , these operate based on control from the control device 70.

The control device 70 is capable of executing drying operation. The drying operation is an operation in which the blower device 32 and the heating device 33 are driven to dry the clothes in the outer tub 12 and the rotating tub 13. Further, the control device 70 can control the operation of the opening/closing device 41 during the drying operation based on the detection result of the room temperature sensor 61. In this case, the control device 70 can selectively introduce outside air into the circulation air path 20 based on the measured value of the room temperature sensor 61 during the drying operation. When introducing outside air into the circulation air path 20, the control device 70 operates the opening/closing device 41 to open the outside air introduction path.

Here, by lengthening the period during which outside air is taken into the machine during the drying operation, the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the machine can be minimized and the occurrence of dew condensation in the room where the washer/dryer 10 is installed can be suppressed. On the other hand, if the period of time when outside air is taken into the cabin is lengthened, the heating efficiency of the hot air decreases, and the drying efficiency of clothes decreases, resulting in a longer drying time.

Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, the control device 70 changes the period in which the opening/closing device 41 is opened when the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 is less than the first threshold T1 to the period in which the opening/closing device 41 is opened when the temperature t is equal to or higher than the first threshold T1. This can be made longer than the period during which the opening/closing device 41 is opened in the case where the opening/closing device 41 is opened. The first threshold T1 can be set, for example, to 17°C. As a result, in a low-temperature environment, for example, below 17° C., where dew condensation is likely to occur, by actively taking outside air into the cabin, the temperature difference between inside and outside the cabin can be minimized. On the other hand, in normal or high-temperature environments where the room temperature is, for example, 17°C or higher, it is possible to suppress condensation and improve drying efficiency by, for example, not letting outside air into the cabin and improving the heating efficiency of hot air. .

Further, the control device 70 can prevent the dehumidification mechanism 50 from dehumidifying when the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 is less than the second threshold T2, which is lower than the first threshold T1. That is, the control device 70 can control the operation of the dehumidification mechanism 50 based on the detection result of the room temperature sensor 61 during the drying operation. The second threshold T2 can be set, for example, to 12°C. Furthermore, when the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 is less than the first threshold T1, the control device 70 can make the input to the blower device 32 smaller than when the temperature t is equal to or higher than the first threshold T1. .

Next, with reference also to FIGS. 4 and 5, an example of the control content executed by the control device 70 when drying operation is executed will be described. When the drying operation is started (start in FIG. 4), the control device 70 acquires the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 in step S11. Next, in step S12, the control device 70 determines whether the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 is equal to or higher than a first threshold T1, for example, 17°C. When the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 is equal to or higher than the first threshold T1 (YES in step S12), the control device 70 moves the process to step S13. Then, the control device 70 drives the blower device 32 and the heating device 33 in step S13.

Next, in step S14, the control device 70 rotates the blower device 32 at a rotation speed S1 of, for example, 4300 rpm. Then, in step S15, the control device 70 determines whether or not the first period P1 has elapsed, based on the result detected by the outer tank temperature sensor 62, for example. The first period P1 is a so-called heating period, and is a period during which the temperature of the outer tank 12 tends to increase after the drying operation is started and the blower device 32 and the heating device 33 are driven.

When the first period P1 has elapsed (YES in step S15), the control device 70 moves the process to step S16, opens the on-off valve 52, and supplies water from the water supply section 51 into the exhaust duct 21. In this way, by supplying water into the exhaust duct 21 during the middle stage of the drying process, that is, when the inside of the outer tub 12 and the rotating tub 13 have warmed up, the moisture-rich air removed from the clothes can be efficiently cooled. can be dehumidified.

Next, in step S17, the control device 70 determines whether or not the second period P2 has elapsed, based on the result detected by the outer tank temperature sensor 62, for example. The second period P2 is a so-called constant rate period, in which the temperature of the outer tub 12 changes in a constant trend and the moisture content of the clothing decreases linearly over time. If the second period P2 has elapsed (YES in step S17), the control device 70 moves the process to step S18, closes the on-off valve 52, and stops the supply of water from the water supply unit 51 into the exhaust duct 21. Stop.

Thereafter, in step S19, the control device 70 operates the opening/closing device 41 to open the outside air introduction path 40 and introduce outside air into the circulation air path 20. In this manner, by introducing outside air into the circulating air path 20 during the middle or final stage of the drying operation, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the outer tub 12 and the rotating tub 13 from rising too much, thereby suppressing damage to the clothes. Then, in step S20, the control device 70 determines whether a predetermined period of time has elapsed. The predetermined period includes, for example, a so-called lapse rate period and a cooling period, and includes a period in which the temperature of the outer tank 12 tends to decrease. If the predetermined period has elapsed (YES in step S20), the control device 70 stops the blower device 32 and the heating device 33, and ends the series of controls (END).

On the other hand, if the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 is less than the first threshold T1 (NO in step S12), the control device 70 causes the process to proceed to step A11 shown in FIG. 5. In step A11, the control device 70 determines whether the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 is equal to or higher than a second threshold T2, for example, 12°C. When the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 is equal to or higher than the second threshold T2 (YES in step A11), the control device 70 moves the process to step A12. Then, the control device 70 drives the blower device 32 and the heating device 33 in step A12.

In step A13, the control device 70 rotates the blower device 32 at a rotation speed S2 of, for example, 4000 rpm. The rotation speed S2 of the blower device 32 is set to be smaller than the rotation speed S1. That is, when the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 is less than the first threshold T1, the control device 70 lowers the input to the blower 32 than when the temperature t is equal to or higher than the first threshold T1.

Next, in step A14, the control device 70 operates the opening/closing device 41 to open the outside air introduction path 40 and introduce outside air into the circulation air path 20. In step A15, the control device 70 determines whether the first period P1 has elapsed. If the first period P1 has elapsed (YES in step A15), the control device 70 moves the process to step A16. That is, when the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 is less than the first threshold T1, the control device 70 starts introducing outside air into the circulation air path 20 before the first period P1, which is the initial stage of the drying operation, has elapsed. have it introduced. In this case, the control device 70 always operates the opening/closing device 41 to keep the outside air introduction path 40 open during the period from before the first period P1 has elapsed since the start of the drying operation until the end of the drying operation. can be maintained.

In step A16, the control device 70 opens the on-off valve 52 to supply water from the water supply section 51 into the exhaust duct 21. That is, if the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 is less than the first threshold T1 and greater than or equal to the second threshold, the control device 70 cools and dehumidifies the air in the exhaust duct 21 after the first period P1 has elapsed. let Next, in step A17, the control device 70 determines whether the second period P2 has elapsed. If the second period P2 has elapsed (YES in step A17), the control device 70 moves the process to step A18, closes the on-off valve 52, and stops the supply of water from the water supply section 51 into the exhaust duct 21. Stop. After that, the control device 70 shifts the process to step S20.

On the other hand, if the temperature t is less than the second threshold T2 (NO in step A11), the control device 70 drives the blower device 32 and the heating device 33 in step A19. Next, the control device 70 rotates the blower device 32 at the rotation speed S2 in step A20. Next, in step A21, the control device 70 operates the opening/closing device 41 to open the outside air introduction path 40 and introduce outside air into the circulation air path 20. In step A22, the control device 70 determines whether the first period P1 has elapsed. If the first period P1 has elapsed (YES in step A22), the control device 70 shifts the process to step A23.

In step A23, the control device 70 determines whether the second period P2 has elapsed. When the control device 70 determines that the second period P2 has elapsed (YES in step A23), the control device 70 moves the process to step S20. Therefore, when the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 is less than the second threshold T2, water is not supplied into the exhaust duct 21 during the drying operation.

According to the embodiment described above, the washer/dryer 10, which is an example of a clothes processing device, includes the main body 11, the outer tank 12, the rotating tank 13, the circulation air path 20, the heating device 33, and the outside air introduction path 40. , an opening/closing device 41 , a room temperature sensor 61 , and a control device 70 . The outer tank 12 and the rotating tank 13 are provided inside the main body 11 and store clothes therein. The circulation air passage 20 returns at least a portion of the air flowing out from the outer tank 12 and the rotating tank 13 to the outer tank 12 and the rotating tank. The heating device 33 heats the air flowing through the circulation air path 20 to generate warm air. The outside air introduction passage 40 communicates the circulation air passage 20 with the outside of the main body 11 and introduces the air outside the main body 11 into the circulation air passage 20. The opening/closing device 41 opens and closes the outside air introduction path 40 . Room temperature sensor 61 detects the temperature inside main body 11 . The control device 70 can execute a drying operation in which the heating device 33 is driven to dry the clothes in the outer tub 12 and the rotating tub 13. Then, the control device 70 controls the operation of the opening/closing device 41 during the drying operation based on the detection result of the room temperature sensor 61.

According to this, by controlling the operation of the opening/closing device 41 based on the detection result of the room temperature sensor 61 during drying operation, the outside air, which is the air outside the main body 11, is circulated into the circulation air path 20 according to the temperature environment. can be selectively incorporated into Thereby, for example, in a room temperature environment or a high temperature environment where dew condensation is difficult to occur, the opening/closing device 41 is closed to prevent outside air from being taken in from the outside air introduction path 40 to the circulation air path 20, thereby increasing drying efficiency. On the other hand, in a low-temperature environment where dew condensation is likely to occur, for example, by operating the opening/closing device 41 to take in outside air from the outside air introduction path 40 to the circulation air path 20, the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the washer/dryer 10 is minimized, and the indoor It is possible to suppress the occurrence of dew condensation and dew condensation inside the washer/dryer 10, for example, surface condensation on the inner wall of the main body 11, the ducts 21, 23, and the like. In this way, it is possible to achieve both drying efficiency and suppression of dew condensation in the drying operation.

Further, the control device 70 sets a period in which the switching device 41 is opened when the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 is less than the first threshold T1, and a period in which the switching device 41 is opened when the temperature t is equal to or higher than the first threshold T1. It can be made longer than the opening period. According to this, for example, by lengthening the period during which the opening/closing device 41 is opened in a low temperature environment, the period during which outside air is taken into the circulation air path 20 can be lengthened. Thereby, it is possible to efficiently suppress the occurrence of dew condensation in a low-temperature environment.

The washer/dryer 10 further includes a dehumidification mechanism 50. The dehumidification mechanism 50 cools and dehumidifies the air within the circulation air passage 20 by supplying water into the circulation air passage 20 . Then, the control device 70 does not perform dehumidification by the dehumidification mechanism 50 when the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 is less than the second threshold T2 which is lower than the first threshold T1.

According to this, when the temperature t is less than the second threshold T2 which is lower than the first threshold T1, that is, in a temperature environment where dew condensation is more likely to occur, water is not supplied into the circulation air passage 20, and the circulation air passage 20 is, for example, It is possible to suppress surface condensation from occurring on the outer surface of the constituent members. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the problem that the condensed water generated by the surface condensation comes into contact with the installation surface of the washer/dryer 10.

Further, the washer/dryer 10 further includes a blower device 32. The blower device 32 blows warm air generated by the heating device 33 to the outer tank 12 and the rotating tank 13 . Then, when the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 is less than the first threshold T1, the control device 70 makes the input to the blower 32 smaller than when the temperature t is equal to or higher than the first threshold T1. According to this, for example, in the case of a low-temperature environment, by reducing the output of the air blower 32 to reduce the amount of air blown from the air blower 32, it is possible to suppress the amount of water evaporation from the clothing. Thereby, the amount of water vapor contained in the air flowing out from the outer tank 12 and the rotating tank 13 can be reduced, and the occurrence of dew condensation can be suppressed.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6. In this second embodiment, the control device 70 executes the control details shown in FIG. 6 in place of the control details shown in FIG. 5 during the drying operation. Specifically, in the case of this embodiment, the content of control performed by the control device 70 when the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 is less than the first threshold T1 is different from the first embodiment. The control content shown in FIG. 6 includes steps B11 and B12 added in place of steps A13 and A20 shown in FIG. 5, respectively. In this case, the control device 70 makes the input to the heating device 33 smaller when the temperature t detected by the room temperature sensor 61 is less than the first threshold T1 than when the temperature t is equal to or higher than the first threshold T1. The input value of the heating device 33 is not particularly limited, but it can usually be set to a low value, for example, about half of 1000W, for example, 500W.

According to the second embodiment, for example, in a low-temperature environment, the input to the heating device 33 is reduced to lower the temperature of the warm air generated by the heating device 33, thereby reducing the evaporation of moisture in clothing. The amount can be reduced. Thereby, the amount of water vapor contained in the air flowing out from the outer tank 12 and the rotating tank 13 can be reduced, and the occurrence of dew condensation can be suppressed.

In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, the temperature detected by the room temperature sensor, the rotation speed of the blower, the input value of the heating device, etc. have been explained using specific numerical values, but these specific numerical values are only examples. It goes without saying that this is only a simple example, and that changes can be made as appropriate. Furthermore, the above embodiments can be combined with each other.
Although multiple embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. This embodiment and its modifications are included within the scope and gist of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

10...Washing dryer (clothing processing device), 12...Outer tank (housing tank), 13...Rotating tank (accommodating tank), 20...Circulating air path, 33...Heating device, 40...Outside air introduction path, 41...Switching device , 61... Room temperature sensor (temperature detection section), 70... Control device

Claims (3)

The main body and
a storage tank provided inside the main body and containing clothing;
a circulation air path that returns at least a portion of the air flowing out of the storage tank to the storage tank;
a heating device that heats the air flowing through the circulation air path to generate warm air;
an outside air introduction path that communicates the circulation air path with the outside of the main body and introduces air outside the main body into the circulation air path;
a switching device that opens and closes the outside air introduction path;
a temperature detection unit that detects the ambient temperature in which the main body is installed;
a control device capable of executing a drying operation for drying clothes in the storage tank by driving the heating device and the opening/closing device ;
a dehumidifying mechanism that cools and dehumidifies the air in the circulating air path by supplying water into the circulating air path,
The control device includes:
Based on the detection result of the temperature detection unit before driving the heating device, controlling the operation of the opening/closing device during the drying operation and switching the outside air introduction path between open and closed ;
A period during which the outside air introduction path is opened when the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is less than a first threshold, and a period during which the outside air introduction path is opened when the ambient temperature is equal to or higher than the first threshold. Make it longer than
When the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detector is less than a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold, the dehumidifying mechanism does not dehumidify, and the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detector is set to a second threshold. or more, performing dehumidification by the dehumidification mechanism;
Garment processing equipment. The main body and
a storage tank provided inside the main body and containing clothing;
a circulation air path that returns at least a portion of the air flowing out of the storage tank to the storage tank;
a heating device that heats the air flowing through the circulation air path to generate warm air;
an outside air introduction path that communicates the circulation air path with the outside of the main body and introduces air outside the main body into the circulation air path;
a switching device that opens and closes the outside air introduction path;
a temperature detection unit that detects the ambient temperature in which the main body is installed;
a control device capable of executing a drying operation for drying clothes in the storage tank by driving the heating device and the opening/closing device;
a blower device that blows warm air generated by the heating device to the storage tank;
The control device includes:
Based on the detection result of the temperature detection unit before driving the heating device, controlling the operation of the opening/closing device during the drying operation and switching the outside air introduction path between open and closed;
A period during which the outside air introduction path is opened when the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is less than a first threshold, and a period during which the outside air introduction path is opened when the ambient temperature is equal to or higher than the first threshold. Make it longer than
When the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is less than a first threshold, the input of the air blower is made smaller than when the ambient temperature is equal to or higher than the first threshold, and the amount of air blown from the air blower is lower the
Garment processing equipment. The main body and
a storage tank provided inside the main body and containing clothing;
a circulation air path that returns at least a portion of the air flowing out of the storage tank to the storage tank;
a heating device that heats the air flowing through the circulation air path to generate warm air;
an outside air introduction path that communicates the circulation air path with the outside of the main body and introduces air outside the main body into the circulation air path;
A switching device that opens and closes the outside air introduction path;
a temperature detection unit that detects the ambient temperature in which the main body is installed;
a control device capable of executing a drying operation for drying clothes in the storage tank by driving the heating device and the opening/closing device;
The control device includes:
Based on the detection result of the temperature detection unit before driving the heating device, controlling the operation of the opening/closing device during the drying operation and switching the outside air introduction path between open and closed;
A period during which the outside air introduction path is opened when the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is less than a first threshold, and a period during which the outside air introduction path is opened when the ambient temperature is equal to or higher than the first threshold. Make it longer than
When the ambient temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is less than a first threshold, the heating device generates the heating device with a smaller input to the heating device than when the ambient temperature is equal to or higher than the first threshold. reducing the temperature of the hot air;
Garment processing equipment.

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