JPH0584378A - Washing/drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an improved washing/drying machine which can use a PTC heater not resistant to vibration, easy to control temperature, and having high safety against a fire and minimizes the cause of troubles of the washing/ drying machine. CONSTITUTION:A drying unit 50 is fitted to an outer frame 1 separately from a washing/drying machine main body section 5, and the drying unit 50 and the main body section 5 are connected with flexible ducts 64, 67 to form a hot-air circulation path.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washer / dryer, and more particularly to a structure for mounting a drying unit in a washer / dryer which automatically performs washing and drying.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a washer / dryer (hereinafter, simply referred to as a washer / dryer) that automatically performs washing and drying, an outer tub that is vibration-proofed in an outer frame and a rotatably rotatable outer tub. A washing / drying machine main body that is axially supported and includes an inner tank having a stirring blade at the bottom, a rotating device that tilts the main body in a horizontal direction, and a drying unit that is mounted on the main body and that includes a heater and a fan. A one-tank type washer / dryer provided with this has been previously proposed.

That is, the main body is placed in a vertical posture to perform washing and dehydration, and then the main body is placed in a substantially horizontal posture, and hot air is sent from the drying unit to perform drying. The clothes are dried in the same manner as the machine.

[0004]

In the conventionally proposed washer / dryer, since the main body of the washer / dryer copes with a large position change from a vertical posture to a horizontal posture, a heater, a fan, and a fan A drying unit including a drive motor is integrally placed on the outer tub of the main body, and the drying unit and the main body are connected by a fixed duct to form a warm air circulation path.

However, in the conventionally proposed washer / dryer, (1) during the dehydration operation in which the inner tank rotates at a high speed, the drying unit is exposed to severe vibration, so that the temperature control is easy and the fire safety is high. The semiconductor heater (PTC heater) is
On the other hand, it was weak against vibration, and there was a risk of contact failure between the element and the contactor, so it could not be used.

For this reason, a sheathed heater is used. However, unless the sheathed heater has a large number of temperature thermostats and is not properly controlled, the temperature rises up to around 700 ° C., and lint adhering to the sheathed heater ignites. , Is disadvantageous for fire safety.

Further, during dehydration operation in which the inner tank rotates at a high speed, the drying unit vibrates violently and the connection between the heater and the lead wire is loosened, which causes the washer / dryer to fail early. Will also be.

(2) When washing and dehydration are performed with the main body in a vertical position, if the water level sensor or the water supply valve fails, tap water may be left out. If the water overflows, the drying unit will be splashed with water, which may cause electric leakage.

(3) When the drying unit is placed on the main body, the drying unit has an unbalanced mass with respect to the rotating shaft of the inner tank, so that vibration during dehydration becomes large.

Particularly, when the drying unit is placed on the upper lid of the outer tank, the weight of the drying unit is unbalanced at a position farthest from the center of gravity of the main body, which is extremely disadvantageous in terms of vibration isolation.

(4) The space for inclining the main body from the vertical posture to the horizontal direction needs to be large enough for the drying unit mounted thereon, and the outer dimensions of the outer frame become large.

(5) When the drying unit is placed on the upper lid of the outer tub, there are many problems such that the cloth insertion port becomes small and the operation of taking in and out the cloth is inconvenient.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art all at once, and (1) during the dehydration operation in which the inner tank rotates at high speed, the drying unit is not exposed to severe vibration,
Therefore, it is possible to use a PTC heater that is weak against vibration but easy to control temperature and highly safe against fire. Also, the cause of the washer / dryer failure is minimized, and (2) the main body is in a vertical posture. Even if the water overflows from the top of the main unit due to poor water supply control, such as when the water level sensor or the water supply valve fails and tap water is left running during washing and dehydration. It does not cause electric leakage, and (3) the drying unit does not have an unbalanced mass with respect to the rotation axis of the inner tank, which improves vibration isolation performance during dehydration, and (4) the main body is in a vertical posture. The space for inclining to the horizontal position is smaller than before, and the outer dimensions of the outer frame can be reduced to make the product more compact. (5) The cloth inlet of the outer tank top lid can be increased. Putting in and out of cloth Can easily perform work, it is to provide a washing drying machine with improved.

[0014]

Means for Solving the Problems The above-mentioned object is to include a washing / drying apparatus including an outer tank which is vibration-proofed and supported in an outer frame, and an inner tank which is rotatably supported in the outer tank and has a stirring blade at the bottom. In a washer / dryer including a main body of a machine, a rotating device for inclining the main body in a horizontal direction, and a drying unit including a heater and a fan, the drying unit is detached from the main body and attached to an outer frame, The two flexible ducts are connected between the main body and the main body to form a warm air circulation path, and the two flexible ducts can follow the displacement when the main body is inclined in the horizontal direction. This is achieved by connecting the main body in a U-shaped state when the main body is in a vertical posture.

[0015]

The present invention is as described above. In the present invention, the drying unit is detached from the main body part and attached to the outer frame, and the drying unit and the main body part are connected by two flexible ducts to warm air. While forming a circulation path, the two flexible ducts are connected in a U-shaped hanging state when the main body is in a vertical posture so that the two flexible ducts can follow the displacement when the main body is tilted in the horizontal direction. According to the present invention, (1) during the dehydration operation in which the inner tank rotates at high speed, the vibration of the inner tank is not transmitted to the drying unit, and therefore the drying unit is not exposed to the severe vibration. Absent.

When the main body is tilted in the horizontal direction, the two flexible ducts smoothly follow the operation of the main body due to the flexibility and the margin of length.

On the other hand, if a flexible bellows tube is used for the two flexible ducts, and there is no U-shaped hanging length when the main body is in a vertical posture, there is no room in the main body. There is a concern that the bellows tube expands and contracts each time it is rotated, and the repetition of this procedure causes fatigue of the uneven boundary of the bellows tube, causing damage in the early stages and necessitating replacement.

(2) When washing and dehydration are performed with the main body in a vertical position, if the water level sensor or the water supply valve should fail, tap water may be left out. The drying unit is not flooded, even if it overflows.

(3) The drying unit does not have an unbalanced mass with respect to the rotating shaft of the inner tank.

(4) The space for inclining the main body from the vertical posture to the horizontal direction can be made smaller than before.

(5) The cloth can be easily taken in and out by enlarging the cloth charging port of the upper lid of the outer tank.

[0022]

The present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the entire internal structure of the washer / dryer.

In FIG. 2, the outer frame 1 has four
The main body support frame 4 by the book suspension rod 2 and the vibration-proof spring 3.
Is suspended, and a main body 5 of the washer / dryer is rotatably supported on the main body support frame 4. Reference numeral 6 indicates the rotation axis.

The main body 5 is composed of an inner tub 11 having a function as a washing tub and a dehydrating tub, and an outer tub 12 surrounding the inner tub 11. The inner tub 11 has a stirring blade 7 at the bottom thereof. Has a large number of dehydration holes 8 and a plurality of lifters on its inner peripheral surface, and has a fluid balancer at its mouth.

A clutch mechanism 15 rotatably bearing-supports the inner tank 11 and the stirring blades 7 on the lower bottom of the outer tank 12, and selectively drives them by a washing / dewatering motor 13 or a drying motor 14, respectively. It is provided.

The upper surface of the outer tub 12 is closed by an upper lid 16.

The upper lid 16 is provided with a cloth feeding port, which is opened and closed by an inner lid 17.

A drain valve device 18 is provided at the bottom of the outer tub 12, and the wash water has a flexible drain hose 1.
The water is discharged to the outside of the machine via the relay section 21 of the outer frame base 20 via the relay unit 9. The drainage hose 19 is provided with a sufficient length so as not to hinder the rotation of the main body 5.

The top cover 25, which covers the entire upper surface of the outer frame 1, has a water supply valve 2 composed of two independent solenoid valves.
6 is provided, and the water supply device 2 is connected from one solenoid valve.
2, the water inlet 2 provided on the upper lid 16 of the main body 5
Water is supplied to the inside of the main body 5 from No. 8, and from the other solenoid valve, through a condensed water hose 40 for dehumidification, a nozzle (see FIG.
And reference numeral 61 in FIG. 3), mist-like water is discharged into the duct 62.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a rotary motor of the main body 5, reference numeral 31 denotes a crank attached to the output shaft of the rotary motor 30, and reference numeral 32 denotes a rotary shaft to which the crank 31 is attached.
The rotating device is composed of the rotating shaft 32 and the rotating shaft 3 on the outer tub 12.
It is constituted by a rotation lever 34 connecting with 3.

That is, by rotating the rotating motor 30 and by extension the crank 31, the rotating shaft 33 on the outer tub 12 rotates about the rotating shaft 6 on the main body supporting frame 4 via the rotating lever 34. It receives torque and rotates.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the main part when the main body part 5 is in the vertical position for washing and dehydration, and FIG. 3 is the main part when the main body part 5 of FIG. 1 is in the horizontal position for drying. FIG.

Now, the drying unit 50 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The main body 5 of the drying unit 50 has a rotating shaft 6
It is mounted on the outer frame 1 at a position opposite to the direction in which it pivots around and falls.

The drying unit 50 includes the fan 5
3, that is, a fan 53 driven by a fan motor 51 that is vibration-isolated and supported on the outer frame base 20, and a fan casing 54 that encloses the fan 53.
And P connected to the discharge port 55 of the fan casing 54.
The heater case 57 has a built-in TC heater 56, and a detachable lint filter 59 provided on the front surface of the suction port 58 of the fan casing 54.

FIG. 1 shows a state in which the lint filter 59 is removed.

A hot air outlet 60 provided at the bottom of the outer tub 12 is provided with a duct 62 having a condensed water nozzle 61 mounted between the upper outlet and the suction port 63 of the fan casing 54. Are connected by a flexible duct 64.

The upper lid 16 of the outer tub 12 is provided with a warm air inlet 65, and the warm air inlet 65 and the heater case 57.
The flexible duct 67 is connected to the hot air outlet 66.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, when the main body 5 is placed in a vertical posture for washing and dehydration, the flexible ducts 64 and 67 mean that the main body 5 is inclined in the horizontal direction. To follow that displacement,
It is hanging in a letter shape.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when the main body 5 is tilted in the horizontal direction, the two flexible ducts 64 and 67 have a smoothness due to their flexibility and length allowance. When the main body portion 5 reaches a horizontal posture following the above movement, the water accumulated in the flexible ducts 64 and 67 up to that time flows out into the main body portion 5, and accordingly, the flexible duct 64, The problem of spoilage and freezing of residual water in 67 can be solved.

The two flexible ducts 6
4 and 67 are expandable and contractible bellows tubes, and when the main body part 5 is in a vertical posture and there is no sufficient length to hang down in a U-shape, the bellows pipes are rewound each time the main body part 5 is rotated. Expand and contract,
As described above, the repetition of this process causes the uneven boundary of the bellows tube to be fatigued and may be damaged at an early stage.

FIG. 4 is a partially longitudinal side view of the flexible ducts 64 and 67.

The flexible ducts 64 and 67 are shown in FIG.
As shown in, a steel having an inner diameter φD of φ40 to φ70 mm and a heat-resistant resin coating 71 on the outer circumference of a thin hose 70 made of heat-resistant resin such as silicone rubber or polyimide reinforced with a nylon fiber sheet, or heat-resistant resin such as polyimide. A structure in which the wire 72 is spirally wound by means such as adhesion or welding is adopted.

Here, the inner diameter φD must be set appropriately for the flow rate of warm air, but according to experiments,
For the flow rate of 1 to ³ m ³ / min, the inner diameter φ40 mm is the lower limit, and if it is made smaller than this, the flow velocity of warm air increases and the loss of flow increases rapidly, greatly improving the capacity of the clothes drying fan. Therefore, there is a disadvantage in terms of increase in fan noise, increase in external dimensions, and cost.

On the other hand, if the inner diameters φD of the flexible ducts 64 and 67 are increased, the flow velocity of the warm air is reduced and the flow loss is reduced, which is very advantageous in this respect. Flexible ducts 64 and 67
Of the product, which affects the installation dimensions of the product,
Further, the cost of the flexible ducts 64 and 67 themselves is increased, and according to the prototype example, the inner diameter of the flexible ducts 64 and 67 is preferably φ40 to φ70 mm.

Further, it is preferable that the inner peripheral surfaces of the flexible ducts 64 and 67 have as little unevenness as possible to reduce fluid loss.

According to the experiment, when a flow rate of 2 m ³ / min is applied with a duct inner diameter of φ50 mm, the average flow velocity in the duct is a high-speed flow of about 17 m / sec.
In consideration of reducing the fluid loss, it is preferable that the inner peripheral surfaces of the flexible ducts 64 and 67 have as little unevenness as possible.

By the way, the flexible duct 64 connecting the suction port 63 of the fan casing 54 and the hot air outlet 60 of the outer tub 12 in the drying unit 50 portion has a low damp temperature when the laundry is dried. Since the hot air is cooled by the condensed water sprayed from the nozzle 61, the temperature is relatively low at 70 to 80 ° C.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the low temperature side flexible duct 64 may be a hose made of blow molding of heat resistant polypropylene or polyolefin heat resistant soft resin, whereby the flexible duct 64 is produced. It is possible to improve the property and significantly reduce the cost.

In order to improve the productivity and cost of the flexible ducts 64 and 67, and further to improve the fan efficiency by reducing the fluid loss, the bent portions of the flexible ducts 64 and 67 are U-shaped. It is also effective to limit to the valley portion and the fixed portion at both ends, and to make the other straight cylindrical.

Next, the operation of the washer / dryer having the above construction will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 5 is placed in a vertical posture for washing and dehydration.

First, the inner lid 17 is opened, clothes are put into the inner tub 11, the inner lid 17 is closed, and then the water supply valve 26 is opened to supply tap water from the water inlet 28 through the water supply device 27. Tank 11
Supply water to.

When the water supply level of the inner tub 11 reaches the specified water level, the stirring blade 7 is rotated by the washing / dewatering motor 13 and the clutch mechanism 15 for washing and rinsing.

Next, the drain valve device 18 is opened, and the washing water (or rinsing water) in the inner tub 11 is passed through the drain hose 19 and
Discharge outside the machine.

Then, the operation of the clutch mechanism 15 is switched and the inner tank 11 is rotated at a high speed for dehydration.

When the dehydration is completed, the rotary motor 30 is driven and the main body 5 is tilted through the rotary crank 31 and the rotary lever 34 until the main body portion 5 assumes the horizontal posture shown in FIG.

At this time, the flexible duct 6
4, 67 are deformed into a shape in which the U-shaped hanging portions are stretched, and flexible ducts 64,
The flexibility of 67 smoothly follows the operation of the main body 5.

Then, the inner tank 11 and the stirring blade 7 were set to 5 minutes per minute.
By slowly rotating at a speed of 0 to 70 times, while operating the fan motor 51 and rotating the fan 53,
The moist warm air in the main body 5 is heated by the hot air outlet 60 and the duct 6.
2. After passing through the flexible duct 64 and being sucked into the fan casing suction port 63 and having lint removed by the lint filter 59, the fan 5 is passed through the suction port 58.
Sucked into 3.

In the meantime, the moist warm air was discharged from the outer tank 12
When passing near the hot air outlet 60, the water is cooled by the water sprayed by the nozzle 61 through the water supply valve 26 and the condensed water hose 40, condensed, and dehumidified.

The hot air whose pressure has been increased by the fan 53 flows into the heater case 57 and is heated by the PTC heater 56 to become dry hot air having a low relative humidity, and the hot air outlet 66 of the heater case 57, the flexible air. Through the duct 67, it reaches the warm air inlet 65 of the upper lid 16 provided on the upper surface of the outer tub 12 and flows into the outer tub 12.

In this way, clothes are dried in the same manner as a so-called drum dryer.

[0064]

The present invention is configured as described above, and as is apparent from the description of the illustrated embodiment, the present invention separates the drying unit from the main body portion and attaches it to the outer frame, and the drying unit and the main body portion. The two main flexible ducts are connected to each other by two flexible ducts to form a hot air circulation path, and the two main flexible ducts can follow the displacement when the main body is tilted in the horizontal direction. According to the present invention, the U-shaped members are connected in a state of hanging in a U-shape in a vertical posture. (1) During the dehydration operation in which the inner tank rotates at high speed, the vibration of the inner tank is caused to the drying unit. Therefore, the drying unit is not exposed to violent vibration and is weak against vibration, but temperature control is easy and fire safety is high.
A TC heater can be used.

Also, during the dehydration operation in which the inner tank rotates at high speed, the drying unit vibrates violently and the connection between the heater and the lead wire is loosened, so that the washer / dryer will not fail early. ..

Further, when the main body is tilted in the horizontal direction, the two flexible ducts smoothly follow the operation of the main body due to its flexibility and length allowance.

On the other hand, if a flexible bellows tube is used for the two flexible ducts, and there is no U-shaped hanging length when the main body is in a vertical posture, there is no room in the main body. As described above, the bellows tube expands and contracts each time it is rotated, and the repetition of this procedure may cause fatigue in the uneven boundary of the bellows tube and damage it in an early stage.

(2) When washing and dehydration are performed with the main body in a vertical position, if the water level sensor or the water supply valve fails, tap water may be left out. Even if it overflows, the drying unit is not exposed to water and there is no risk of electrical leakage.

(3) The drying unit does not have an unbalanced mass with respect to the rotating shaft of the inner tank, and the vibration isolation performance during dehydration is improved.

(4) The space for inclining the main body from the vertical posture to the horizontal direction can be made smaller than in the conventional case, and the outer dimensions of the outer frame can be made smaller to make the product compact.

(5) It is possible to easily carry out the putting in and taking out of the cloth by enlarging the cloth feeding port of the upper lid of the outer tank.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a washing and drying machine (washing and drying machine) according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part in a case where the main body part 5 is vertically placed and washing and dehydration are performed.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the entire internal structure of a washer / dryer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part when the main body part 5 of FIG. 1 is laid down in a horizontal position to perform drying.

FIG. 4 is a partially longitudinal side view of the flexible duct shown by reference numerals 64 and 67 in FIGS. 1 and 3.

5 is a partially longitudinal side view showing a modified example of the flexible duct 64. FIG.

[Explanation of reference symbols] 1 ... Outer frame, 5 ... Washer / dryer main body, 11 ... Inner tank, 1
2 ... Outer tank, 50 ... Drying unit, 54 ... Fan casing, 57 ... Heater case, 61 ... Nozzle, 64 ... Flexible duct, 67 ... Flexible duct.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An outer tub that is vibration-proofed in an outer frame,
A washing / drying machine main body including an inner tub rotatably supported in the outer tub and having a stirring blade at the bottom, a rotating device for inclining the main body in a horizontal direction, and a drying unit including a heater and a fan. In the washer / dryer provided, the drying unit is separated from the main body portion and attached to the outer frame, and the drying unit and the main body portion are connected by two flexible ducts to form a warm air circulation path. The washing and drying machine is characterized in that the flexible ducts of the book are connected in a state of hanging in a U shape when the main body is in a vertical posture so that the flexible duct can follow the displacement when the main body is inclined in the horizontal direction. .. 2. The flexible duct according to claim 1, wherein when the main body is tilted in the horizontal direction, the two flexible ducts connecting the drying unit and the main body are accumulated in the U-shaped portion in the duct. A washer / dryer with a structure that allows the residual water to flow out to the main body. 3. The flexible duct according to claim 1, wherein the inner peripheral surface of the flexible duct is smooth and the inner diameter is φ40 to φ70.
Washer / dryer with mm flexible hose. 4. The washer / dryer according to claim 3, wherein the flexible duct is a rubber hose made of cloth or a resin hose in which a steel wire having a heat-resistant resin coating on its outer periphery is spirally wound. 5. The washer / dryer according to claim 3, wherein the flexible duct is a flexible hose formed by blow molding of heat resistant soft resin. 6. The washer / dryer according to claim 3, wherein the flexible duct has a bent portion limited to a U-shaped trough portion and both end fixing portions, and the other has a linear cylindrical shape. ..