JPH0288097A - Washing drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent entrance of foam and water splash, generated in a room where washing is effected, to a hot air feed device part during washing operation and to eliminate a fear of an electric shock occurring by providing an actuating body which positions a valve body in a closed position during washing operation, and is actuated by means of the heat of hot air fed from the hot air feed device, and formed with a heat responding member positioned in an opening position. CONSTITUTION:An actuating body 26 disposed between a valve body 25 and the upper wall of a duct 21 located thereabove is formed with a heat responding member, especially a coil spring made of a shape memory material storing a contract state. The coil spring is changed to the memory shape when the heat of hot air fed during dry operation is imparted, and at a time except the above, it is in an expansion state, a closing force is exerted on the valve body 25. During washing operation, a hot air feed device 14 is not actuated, and thus the actuation body 26 is also prevented from imparting the heat of hot air and in an expanded state. This constitution holds the valve body 25 in a closed state and continues closing of a hot air outlet 20.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention provides a washer/dryer improved to prevent bubbles and water from entering the drying hot air supply device during washing operation. Regarding.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, this type of washing/drying machine has a chamber for washing and drying, and is equipped with a hot air supply device for supplying hot air to the chamber during drying operation.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) In the above-mentioned device, during the washing operation, bubbles and water splashes generated in the washing chamber may enter the hot air supply device, and these may become the heat source of the hot air supply device. If you come into contact with the heater, there is a risk of electric shock, which is dangerous.

For this reason, the heat source heater of the hot air supply device is a sheathed heater that does not pose the risk of electric shock even if bubbles or water splashes come into contact with it. However, this sheathed heater has poor heating efficiency against wind compared to a so-called PTC heater made of a thermistor with a positive characteristic, and therefore has not been able to sufficiently improve overall operating efficiency. On the other hand, although PTC heaters have good heating efficiency against wind, their electrodes are exposed, so if bubbles or water droplets come into contact with them, there is a risk of electric shock, which is dangerous.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to prevent bubbles and water spray generated in the washing chamber from entering the hot air supply device during washing operation, thereby preventing electric shock. To provide an excellent washing/drying machine that can be used safely without any risks and can also improve operating efficiency.

[Configuration of the Invention (Means for Solving the Problems) The washing/drying machine of the present invention includes a hot air outlet portion of a hot air supply device for supplying hot air to a washing and drying chamber during drying operation. , a valve body capable of opening and closing the valve body is provided, and the valve body is placed in a closed position during a washing operation and is activated by the heat of the hot air supplied by the hot air supply device and placed in an open position during a drying operation. This device is characterized by the provision of an actuating body made of a thermally responsive member.

(Function) According to the above means, the hot air outlet portion of the hot air supply device is closed during the washing operation and opened during the drying operation. Therefore, not only can hot air be supplied to the drying chamber during drying operation, but especially during washing operation, bubbles and water can be prevented from entering the hot air supply device from the washing chamber, and the heat source heater of the hot air supply device can be prevented from entering the hot air supply device. These bubbles and water droplets will no longer come into contact with each other. Moreover, from this, a highly efficient PTC heater can be used as desired as the heat source heater of the hot air supply device.

(Example) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an elastically supported tab located inside an outer box (not shown), and the inside of this tab serves as a chamber 2 for washing and drying. Reference numeral 3 denotes a drum which is disposed in the chamber 2 and is rotatably supported by the shaft 4 and the tub 1 via a bearing 5, and the peripheral wall of this drum is provided with a large number of water passage holes and ventilation holes 6 over the entire area. A required number of ventilation holes 7 are formed in the center of the end wall on the side opposite to the shaft 4, and a filter 8 is mounted inside the ventilation holes 7. Reference numeral 9 denotes a first motor disposed below the tab 1, and its rotational power is transmitted to the shaft 4 and the drum 3 via a first belt transmission mechanism 10.
I am trying to communicate this to the public.

On the other hand, a second motor 11 is disposed below the tab 1 like the first motor 9, and its rotational power is transmitted to the fan shaft via a second belt transmission 12. I am trying to communicate this to 13.

Here, 14 is a hot air supply device, which is connected to a casing 16 attached to the tub 1 facing a group of ventilation holes 15 formed in the end wall of the tub 1 on the side opposite to the shaft 4, and a casing 16 inside the casing 16. A fan 19 that also serves as a heat exchanger is arranged to partition this area into a chamber 17 on the side of the drum 3 and a chamber 18 on the side opposite to the drum 3. It consists of a duct 21 disposed over a hot air outlet 20 formed in the center, and a heater, particularly a PTC heater 22, disposed within the duct 21. In this hot air supply device 14, reference numeral 23 refers to the central portion of the chamber 18 on the side opposite to the drum 3 of the casing 16 (the fan shaft 1
24 is an air intake hole formed around the same area.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, 25 is a valve body provided inside the hot air outlet 20 portion of the hot air supply device 14, and has a size that can block the entire hot air outlet 20. , and can be moved up and down, thereby opening the hot air outlet 2.
It is designed to open and close 0. On the other hand, 26 is an actuating body disposed between the valve body 25 and the upper wall of the duct 21 above the valve body, and is a thermally responsive member, particularly in the case of this embodiment, a third actuator.
It consists of a coil spring made of a shape memory material that memorizes the contracted state shown in the figure, and changes to the memorized shape when it receives heat from hot air supplied during drying operation as described later. The remaining portions are in the extended state shown in FIG. 2, applying a closing force to the valve body 25.

Now, in the case of the structure as described above, during the washing operation, the first motor 9 is started and rotates with the laundry (not shown) and necessary washing water, detergent, etc. stored in the drum 3. The drum 3 is rotated by transmitting power to the drum 3 via the first belt transmission mechanism 10. Therefore, the laundry is also washed by stirring the washing water, detergent, etc. by the rotation of the drum 3.

During this washing operation, the hot air supply device 14 does not operate, and therefore the operating body 26 remains extended without receiving heat from the hot air, thereby keeping the valve body 25 closed and the hot air outlet 20 continues to be blocked. For this reason,
Bubbles and water splashes generated during the washing operation due to the rotation of the drum 3 in the chamber 2 are also prevented from passing through the hot air outlet 20,
Since the hot air supply device 14 does not reach the PTC heater 22 in particular, the risk of electric shock can be eliminated.

On the other hand, during drying operation, the first motor 9 is started and the second motor 11 is started. Therefore, while the drum 3 is rotated in the same manner as described above, the second motor is started. 11 is transmitted to the fan shaft 13 and eventually to the fan 19 via the second belt transmission mechanism 12, so that the fan 19 is rotated. Therefore, based on the rotation of the fan 19, the air in the drum 3 is sucked into the chamber 17 of the casing 16 on the side of the drum 3 from the filter 8 through the ventilation holes 7 and 15 in order, and is then discharged into the duct 21. On the other hand, air from outside the machine is sucked into the chamber 18 of the casing 16 on the side opposite to the drum 3 from the intake port 23, and is then discharged to the outside of the machine from the exhaust hole 24. The air outside the machine comes into contact with the air sucked out from inside the drum 3 and the fan 19 (heat exchanger), which allows for heat exchange between them, and eventually the drum 3.
The air sucked out from inside is dehumidified. For this reason,
Dry air will be sent into the duct 21,
This dry air then comes into contact with the PTC heater 22 and turns into hot air, which then comes into contact with the operating body 26 .

Therefore, here, the actuating body 26 contracts due to the heat of the hot air, thereby causing the valve body 20 to contract as shown in FIG.
, the valve body 20 moves away from the hot air outlet 20 to open it. Therefore, in this case, the hot air sent as described above passes through the hot air outlet 20 as shown by arrow A into the chamber 2, and further passes through the ventilation hole 6 of the drum 3 into the drum 3. Dry the laundry in 3.

According to this embodiment, the hot air outlet 20 of the hot air supply device 14 can be closed by the valve body 25 during the washing operation and opened during the drying operation, so that hot air can be supplied to the chamber 2 during the drying operation. Not only can laundry be dried, but also bubbles and water droplets can be prevented from entering the hot air supply device 14 from the chamber 2, especially during washing operations, and they come into contact with the PTC heater 22, which is the heat source heater of the hot air supply device 14. You can eliminate things. Therefore, the risk of electric shock can be eliminated and the device can be used safely.Moreover, the PTC heater 22 can be used safely instead of the conventional sheathed heater as the heat source heater. It is possible to improve heating efficiency and improve operating efficiency.

Note that the actuating body 26 may be made of a thermally responsive member other than the shape memory member, such as a bimetal.

However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but in particular the specific hXt of each part.
The structure, shape, etc. may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, the washer/dryer of the present invention has a hot air outlet portion for the chamber of the hot air supply device that supplies hot air to the chamber for washing and drying during drying operation. , a valve body capable of opening and closing the valve body is provided, and the valve body is placed in the closed position during the washing operation, and is activated by the heat of the hot air (the hot air supplied by the military supply device) during the drying operation to the open position. The feature is that it is equipped with an actuating body made of a thermally responsive member that can be positioned, which not only allows the drying operation to be carried out without any problems, but also prevents bubbles and water splashes that occur in the washing chamber, especially during the washing operation. This has the excellent effect of preventing hot air from entering the hot air supply device, allowing safe use without the risk of electric shock, and further improving operational efficiency.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, so Fig. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the entire interior (1), Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the main part in the washing operation state, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the same part in a drying operation state. In the drawing, 2 is a chamber, 14 is a hot air supply device, 20 is a hot air outlet, 25 is a valve body, and 26 is an operating body.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. It has a chamber for washing and drying, and is equipped with a hot air supply device that supplies hot air to the chamber during drying operation, and this is installed at the hot air outlet portion of the hot air supply device for the chamber. A thermally responsive member that is provided with a valve body that can be opened and closed, and that is operated by the heat of the hot air supplied by the hot air supply device to position the valve body in a closed position during a washing operation and in an open position during a drying operation. A washing/drying machine characterized by being provided with an operating body consisting of.