JPH0615097A - Drum type clothes dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To let a user perform forcibly cleaning of a filter and to prevent the user from forgetting the operation and filter fixing. CONSTITUTION:At an evacuating hole 24 of a rotating drum 1, a filter cover 18 and a filter 19 are fixed on a drum bearing 54. An electrode 52 is fixed on the inner face of a boss part on the fixing side of the filter cover 18 of the drum bearing 54. A sliding electrode 55 is provided on another side face. The electrode 52 and the sliding electrode 55 are connected with a lead wire 56 passing through the drum bearing 54. A reset switch 23 is fixed on a drum AG 57. A sliding terminal 50 is provided from the reset switch 23 in such a way that it is brought into contact with the sliding electrode 55.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drum type clothes dryer, and more specifically, it exhausts the air in a rotary drum to a circulating air duct through a removable filter provided at an exhaust port of the rotary drum. The present invention relates to a drum-type clothes dryer which dries the clothes in the rotating drum by returning the air dehumidified and heated in the circulation air passage to the rotating drum.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional drum type clothes dryer will be described with reference to a schematic sectional view shown in FIG. That is, the rotating drum 1 and the double-blade fan 13 that store wet clothes and rotate.
Are rotationally driven by a motor 2 via a drum belt 4 and a fan belt 3, respectively.

The double-blade fan 13 has blower blades on both sides, and is constructed so that the inner blades discharge the air in the rotary drum 1 and the outer blades suck the outside air into the machine body 6. A filter 19 is attached to the exhaust port 24 of the rotary drum 1 so as to be removable and protected by the filter cover 18.

When the operation is started, the rotary drum 1 rotates to tumble the stored clothes. Double-winged fan 1
3 exhausts the air in the rotary drum 1 from the exhaust port 24. The circulating air exhausted from the rotary drum 1 is sent to the circulating air passage 8 in contact with the inner blades of the double-blade fan 13. At this time, the outer blades of the double-blade fan 13 are cooled by coming into contact with the outside air, and the circulating air exhausted from the rotary drum 1 is cooled by coming into contact with the inner blades of the cooled double-blade fan 13. It Then, the moisture contained in the circulating air is condensed and sent to the circulating air passage 8 together with the circulating air, and the condensed water is discharged from the clothes outlet 10 to the outside of the clothes dryer.

The dehumidified air is heated by the heater 9 and fed into the rotary drum 1 through the intake port 15. The air in the rotary drum 1 is dehumidified and heated while the circulation is repeated to dry the clothes contained in the rotary drum 1.

In FIG. 6, hatched arrows indicate the flow of circulating air, and white arrows indicate the flow of outside air. While the air in the rotary drum 1 is circulated as described above, the dust and dirt of clothes are accumulated in the filter 19 provided in the exhaust port 24, so it is necessary to regularly clean the accumulated dust. . When the accumulation of dust progresses, the amount of air flowing through the circulating blower 8 decreases and the drying performance deteriorates. In addition, since the pressure inside the rotary drum 1 rises, there are problems such as dust leaking out of the machine body 6 through a small gap between the sliding portions 12 of the double-blade fan 13 and dust collecting on the circulation air passage 8.

In order to prevent such an adverse effect, the structure is such that the indicator lamp urging for cleaning upon detection of dust accumulation on the filter 19 is turned on, and the reset switch 23 cannot be pressed unless the filter 19 is removed. , There are also things that force the filter cleaning.

[0008]

However, the display prompting the user to clean the filter as described above merely prompts the user to clean the filter, and does not necessarily force the cleaning. Therefore, the operation of the device may be continued without cleaning the filter, and the above-mentioned harmful effects may occur.

In addition, even if the reset switch is forcibly forced to clean, it is necessary to press the reset switch after cleaning the filter, and if the switch is not pressed, the device will not operate, which may cause a service call or a complaint. was there.

Further, in the conventional reset structure, when the filter is cleaned after pressing the reset switch, the filter may be inadvertently forgotten to be attached. If the drying operation is performed in such a state, the clothes may be damaged by the mounting boss and the like, and moreover, dust may enter the both-wing fans and the circulation path, which may cause a failure.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to force the user to clean the filter and prevent the user from forgetting to operate the reset switch and forgetting to attach the filter.

[0012]

In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, while rotating a rotary drum containing clothes to be dried, the air in the rotary drum is provided at the exhaust port of the rotary drum. In a drum type clothes dryer that exhausts air to a circulating air duct through a removable filter, dehumidifies and heats the heated air to the rotating drum, and dries clothes in the rotating drum. And a reset switch structure and an operating means for operating a reset switch by removing the filter, and a start for preventing the clothes dryer from being started based on a signal from the clogging detection means. Blocking means and reset means for releasing the operation of the starting blocking means by operating the reset switch. It constructed as a drum-type clothes dryer according to symptoms.

The clogging detection means is configured to count the number of times or the operating time of the clothes dryer and determine that the filter is clogged when the number of times or the operating time exceeds a predetermined value. be able to. Further, the clogging detection means detects the air flow rate of the circulation air passage from the current value of the heater provided in the circulation air passage, and when the current value becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the filter is said to be clogged. It can also be configured as a judgment.

[0014]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, when the detected value of the clogging state of the filter reaches a predetermined value set in advance, it is determined that the filter is in the clogging state and needs cleaning. To do.

When the filter clogging detecting means detects a predetermined value, the start preventing means for preventing the clothes dryer from starting is operated based on the signal output. The activation of the start blocking means blocks the start of the clothes dryer.

In order to cancel this, it is necessary to operate the reset switch to cancel the start prevention. In order to operate the reset switch, it is necessary to remove the filter because the structure requires that the filter be removed. Thus, a condition is created that forces cleaning of the filter.

Further, the reset switch is controlled so that the reset is not completed unless the filter is attached again. Therefore, it is possible to create a state in which it is necessary to attach the filter after cleaning the filter.

The filter clogging state detecting means counts the number of times or the operating time of the clothes dryer, sets the average value of the number of times or the operating time when the filter is in the clogging state to a predetermined value, and When the count number reaches the predetermined value, it can be determined that the filter is clogged.

Further, since the amount of air blown through the circulation air passage changes depending on the clogging of the filter, clogging of the filter can be detected from the decrease in the amount of blown air. The amount of air blown is detected by measuring the current value of the heater provided in the circulation air passage, and the reduction of the air flow is the reduction of the current value. It can be judged that it is clogging.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Two embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to these.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is an overall schematic sectional view showing a drum type clothes dryer according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view showing a main part of a filter attachment portion of the clothes dryer. Is.

The overall construction and operation of the drum type clothes dryer will be described with reference to the overall schematic sectional view of the drum type clothes dryer shown in FIG. The rotary drum 1 and the double-sided fan 13 that store wet clothes and rotate are driven to rotate by a motor 2 via a drum belt 4 and a fan belt 3, respectively. The double-blade fan 13 has blower blades on both sides, and is configured to exhaust the air inside the rotary drum 1 by the inner blades and suck the outside air into the machine body 6 by the outer blades.

A filter 19 is removably attached to the exhaust port 24 of the rotary drum 1 while being protected by a filter cover 18.

When the operation is started, the rotary drum 1 rotates to tumbl the stored clothes. Double-winged fan 13
Exhausts the air in the rotary drum 1 from the exhaust port 24.
Since the outer peripheral portion of the double-blade fan 13 is substantially closed by the sliding portion 12 and rotates, the exhausted air is sent to the circulation air passage 8 and cooled by the outside air sucked by the double-blade fan 13 to be condensed. The moisture in the exhaust air condenses, and the moisture is discharged from the drain port 10 to the outside of the clothes dryer.

The dehumidified air is heated by the heater 9 and sent into the rotary drum 1 through the intake port 15. The air in the rotary drum 1 is dehumidified during repeated circulation.
The clothes heated and stored in the rotating drum 1 are dried. In FIG. 1, hatched arrows indicate the flow of circulating air, and white arrows indicate the flow of outside air.

Next, the filter mounting structure of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. At the exhaust port 24 of the rotary drum 1 shown in FIG. 1, the filter cover 18 and the filter 19 are provided by being attached to the drum bearing 54. The electrode 52 is attached to the inner surface of the boss portion on the attachment side of the drum bearing 54 to which the filter cover 18 is attached. A sliding electrode 55 is provided on the other side surface. The electrode 52 and the sliding electrode 55 are connected by a lead wire 56 passing through the drum bearing 54.

A reset switch 23 is attached to the drum AG57. This reset switch 2
The sliding terminal 50 is provided so as to contact the sliding electrode 55 from 3. The filter cover 18 includes a drum bearing 5
A metal piece 51 is provided so as to contact the electrode 52 provided on the inner surface of the boss portion of No. 4.

Next, the operation will be described. The drying operation step causes yarn dust and the like to be generated from the clothes. The generated dust is discharged together with the hot and humid air during the drying operation process, but only the dust is captured and accumulated by the filter 19 provided at the exhaust port. The amount of air blown through the circulation air passage 8 changes depending on the amount of dust accumulated in the filter 19, and this amount of air blow is detected by the current value of the heater 9 provided in the circulation air passage 8. Then, the clogging state of the filter 19 is determined.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control device. Here, the current sensor 31 detects the current value of the heater 9. Since the current value of the heater 9 changes depending on the amount of air blown through the circulation air passage 8, the clogging of the filter 19 can be detected by this current value.

Further, the detection value of the current sensor 31 is input to the reference value comparison unit 32 which stores the current value of the heater 9 in the clogging state where the filter 19 needs to be cleaned. Then, when the current value of the heater 9 reaches a predetermined value, the controller 33 turns on the filter cleaning lamp 34 and activates the operation prevention controller 35.

When the operation prevention control unit 35 operates, the clothes dryer is controlled so as not to operate even if the operation start switch 44 is turned on when the clothes dryer is operated next time. In order to reset this operation prevention, it is necessary to operate the reset switch 23 shown in FIG.

The reset switch 23 is connected to the sliding terminal 50, the sliding electrode 55, the lead wire 56, the electrode 52 and the metal piece 51 by attaching the filter cover 18 and the filter 19. Reset switch 23
Since it is confirmed that the filter 18 is attached and removed by the electric signal of, the reset switch 23 is actuated by removing the filter cover 18 and the filter 19 and then attaching the filter cover 18 and the filter 19 again. The control unit 35 is reset to a state where the operation can be restarted.

As described above, in order to operate the reset switch 23, the filter 19 has to be removed, so that the user is forced to clean the filter 19. FIG. 4 shows the above control procedure as a flowchart.

Even if the operation start switch 44 is operated to operate the filter 19 without cleaning it while the filter cleaning lamp 34 is lit, the operation is not started. That is, the fact that the cleaning of the filter 19 and the reset operation by the removal and installation of the filter 19 have not been completed is informed by means of a warning buzzer or the like for prompting the cleaning of the filter 19.

The current value of the heater 9 is influenced not only by the amount of air blown through the circulation air passage 8 but also by the temperature of the blown air. Therefore, the detection value of the temperature sensor 36 that detects the temperature of the circulation air passage 8 is input to the control unit 33 to correct the reference value that prevents the operation.

As a means to prevent driving,
Although the change in the current value of the heater 9 is used, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to perform the operation inhibition control by the provisional control depending on the number of times and the operation time of the clothes dryer.

Embodiment 2 The reset structure is based on the presence / absence of conduction of electrodes when the filter 19 is detached and attached. As shown in FIG. 5, the reset switch 23 is operated by the protrusion 58 provided on the filter cover 18. It becomes possible by means. That is, it is reset by removing and attaching the filter 19. As a result, it is possible to save the effort of separately pressing the reset switch 23.

[0038]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, the filter can be forcibly cleaned, the drying ability is deteriorated due to the clogging of the filter, and the accumulated dust is discharged outside the machine. It is possible to eliminate harmful effects such as leakage and accumulation in the circulation air passage. Further, unlike the conventional case, it is not necessary to remove the filter and separately operate the reset switch, and the filter can be reset only by removing it, re-installing it after cleaning. Therefore, there is no misunderstanding due to forgetting the operation, and since the structure is such that the filter is not reset unless the filter is attached, forgetting to attach the filter can be prevented. As described above, the drum-type clothes dryer can be operated in a normal state at all times, and the efficient operation and the effect of suppressing the failure can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic cross-sectional view of a drum type clothes dryer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a filter mounting portion in the clothes dryer.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control device in the clothes dryer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control procedure in the clothes dryer.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a filter mounting portion of a drum type clothes dryer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an overall schematic sectional view of a conventional drum type clothes dryer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Rotating Drum 8 Circulating Blower 9 Heater 17 Exhaust Port 18 Filter Cover 19 Filter 23 Reset Switch 31 Current Sensor 35 Operation Blocking Control Unit 50 Sliding Terminal 51 Metal Piece 52 Electrode 54 Drum Bearing 55 Sliding Electrode 56 Lead Wire 57 Drum AG

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Noriaki Miyoshi 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Within Sharp Co., Ltd. Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazutoshi Hyakki 22-22 Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture Sharp Co., Ltd. (72) Minor Tatano 22-22, Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. While rotating a rotary drum containing clothes to be dried, air in the rotary drum is exhausted to a circulation air passage through a removable filter provided at an exhaust port of the rotation drum, and the circulation air is blown. In a drum-type clothes dryer that dehumidifies and returns heated air to a rotating drum to dry clothes in the rotating drum, a clogging detecting unit that detects a clogging state of the filter, and detach the filter. A reset switch structure and operating means for operating the reset switch by means of the above, a start preventing means for preventing the clothes dryer from being started based on a signal from the clogging detecting means, and an operation of the reset switch, A drum-type clothes dryer, comprising: resetting means for releasing the operation.