JPH07132200A - Clothes drier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the sterilizing effect at the time of drying clothes to which bacteria such as saprophytes adhere, in the clothes direr for drying the clothes by allowing hot air to circulate in a rotary drum driven to rotate by a motor. CONSTITUTION:Hot air is allowed to circulate by a heat exchange type two- wing fan to the inside of a rotary drum 1 for drying clothes, a PTC heater 3 is provided in a ventilation route directed to the inside of the rotary drum 1, and the rotary drum 1 and the heat exchange type two-wing fan are driven to rotate by a motor 5. A temperature in the rotary drum 1 is detected at a prescribed timing by a temperature detecting means 6, and based on the detected temperature, the upper limit value of the temperature in the rotary drum 1 is reset by a control means 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a clothes dryer which circulates warm air in a rotary drum which is driven by a motor to dry clothes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, household clothes dryers have become widespread, but as hygiene-consciousness has increased, various bacteria, dani, etc. adhering to clothes after washing have been eradicated. A clothes dryer having a high sterilizing effect has been proposed.

Conventionally, in this type of clothes dryer, the upper limit of the temperature in the rotating drum is set for each operation course, and the rotating drum is controlled at a substantially constant number of rotations, so that the temperature of the cloth is high enough not to damage the cloth. It is common to circulate warm air and finish the drying operation in the shortest possible time after a preheat drying period, a constant rate drying period, and a decreasing rate drying period.

[0004]

In such a conventional clothes dryer, when there is a constant rate drying time capable of maintaining a moist heat condition of a predetermined temperature (a condition in which the air in the rotary drum is moist) for a predetermined time. , It is possible to remove bacteria such as bacteria attached to clothes. Here, it is known that the higher the constant rate drying temperature and the longer the constant rate drying time, the higher the sterilization effect. However, in order to improve the drying efficiency, the air in the rotary drum is circulated at the highest temperature possible, so depending on the amount of clothes to be dried, the degree of wetness of the clothes, and the room temperature of the place where it is used, the constant rate drying time is almost constant. In some cases, there is a problem in that the effect of removing bacteria such as various bacteria adhering to clothing is reduced.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and makes it possible to maintain a predetermined sterilizing effect even when the amount of clothes to be dried, the degree of wetness of clothes, and the room temperature of the place of use are different. The purpose is to further improve the sterilization effect when drying hygiene-oriented clothes such as diapers.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a rotating drum for drying clothes, an air blowing means for circulating warm air into the rotating drum, and an air blowing path into the rotating drum. A heating means provided on the motor, a motor for rotationally driving the blower means and the rotating drum, a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature inside the rotating drum, and a control means for controlling the rotation speed of the motor or the heating means. The first problem solving means is that the control means changes the upper limit temperature in the rotary drum by the output of the temperature detection means at a predetermined timing.

In addition to the first means for solving the above problems,
The operation display means is connected to the control means for operating and displaying a plurality of types of driving courses, and the control means has a predetermined timing when the operating course is set to a driving course having a lower rotational speed than the normal course. The second problem solving means is that the upper limit temperature in the rotary drum is changed by the output of the temperature detecting means.

Further, the control means of the first or second problem solving means detects the dry state of the clothes in the rotary drum by the output of the temperature detecting means, and a predetermined timing when the dry state is detected as a constant rate dry state. That is the third solution.

Further, the control means of the first to third problem solving means uses the output of the temperature detecting means at a predetermined timing as a reference temperature, and adds a constant value to the reference temperature to obtain a temperature inside the rotary drum. The upper limit of is the fourth solution.

Further, the control means of the first to third problem solving means provides a lower limit set temperature to the output of the temperature detection means at a predetermined timing, and when the output of the temperature detection means is below the lower limit set temperature. The fifth solution is to use a value obtained by adding a fixed value to the lower limit set temperature as the upper limit of the temperature in the rotary drum.

Further, a rotating drum for drying clothes,
An air blowing means for circulating warm air into the rotating drum, a heating means provided on an air blowing path into the rotating drum, and a motor for rotationally driving the air blowing means and the rotating drum.
The temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the rotary drum and the control means for controlling the rotation speed or the heating means of the motor are provided, and the control means outputs the temperature detecting means to dry the clothes in the rotary drum. When the state is detected and the constant rate dry state cannot be detected, the sixth solution means is to set the upper limit of the temperature in the rotary drum to a predetermined value.

[0012]

According to the first means for solving the above problems, the present invention provides:
The upper limit temperature in the rotating drum can be set by the temperature in the rotating drum at a predetermined timing from the start of operation, and by setting this upper limit temperature lower than the upper limit temperature in the conventional drying operation, the constant rate drying time can be set. Since it can be lengthened, the predetermined sterilization effect can be maintained and its performance can be further improved regardless of the amount and quality of the clothes to be dried and the difference in the place of use.

Further, the second problem solving means makes it possible to set the operation course of the rotation speed of the blower means or the rotary drum lower than the normal rotation speed, and when the operation course is set, the blower means is set. Alternatively, by lowering the number of rotations of the rotating means, the heat exchange rate, that is, the drying efficiency can be reduced, and the constant rate drying time can be lengthened, so that a further sterilization effect can be obtained. .

Further, by the third means for solving the problems, the temperature upper limit value in the rotary drum is matched with the dry state of the clothes in the rotary drum with reference to the temperature in the rotary drum at the timing when the constant rate dry state is detected. Can be set, so that the drying time does not become longer than necessary without turning off the heating means in the constant rate drying state.

Further, according to the fourth problem solving means, after the constant rate drying period ends, the heating means is controlled to suppress the temperature rise in the rotary drum, so that the transient period from the constant rate drying to the reduced rate drying is performed. Can be lengthened and the sterilization effect can be improved.

Further, by the fifth means for solving the problem, the temperature in the rotary drum which is the minimum necessary for the sterilization can be secured, so that the sterilization effect can be maintained even when the place of use is low.

Furthermore, by the sixth means for solving problems, even when the constant rate dry state cannot be detected, the upper limit value of the temperature in the rotary drum is regulated to a predetermined value, whereby an abnormal temperature rise in the rotary drum is caused. It can be avoided.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in the figure, the rotary drum 1 is for accommodating and drying an article to be dried (clothes), and a hot air is circulated in the rotary drum 1 by a heat exchange type double-blade fan (blowing means) 2. . The heat exchange type double-blade fan 2 circulates warm air in the rotary drum 1 and at the same time takes in air from the outside to cool the fan and dehumidify the circulating air in the rotary drum 1.
The PTC heater (heating means) 3 is arranged in the air blowing path to the rotary drum 1, that is, in the circulating air intake, and heats the circulating air. The filter 4 is provided in the air blowing path of the heat exchange type double-blade fan 2, that is, in the air exhaust port of the rotary drum 1 so as to collect the thread waste in the circulating air.

The motor 5 rotationally drives the rotary drum 1 and the heat exchange type double-blade fan 2. By controlling the rotation number of the motor 5, the rotation numbers of the rotary drum 1 and the heat exchange type double-blade fan 2 can be controlled. , The heat generation amount of the PTC heater 3 can be controlled, and the current can be controlled. The first thermistor 6a and the second thermistor 6b are for detecting air temperatures before and after heat exchange by the heat exchange type double-blade fan 2, respectively.
These constitute the temperature detecting means 6.

The rotating drum 1 is composed of a magnet 7 attached to the rotating drum 1 and a magnetic sensor 8 fixed to the main body.
A pulse signal corresponding to the number of revolutions is generated, the number-of-revolutions detecting means 9 inputs the pulse signal, and detects the number of revolutions of the rotary drum 1 from the period of the pulse.

The control means 10 controls the number of revolutions of the motor 5 and PT.
The C heater 3 is controlled, and the rotation speed detection means 9 and
The rotation speed setting means 11 for setting the rotation speed of the drum 1, the rotation speed comparing means 12 for comparing the output of the rotation speed detecting means 9 and the output of the rotation speed setting means 11, and the output of the rotation speed comparing means 12 for the motor 5 Conduction time control means 14 for controlling the conduction angle of the bidirectional thyristor 13 connected in series with the current comparison setting means 16 for inputting the output of the current detection means 15.
And a dry state detecting means 17 for detecting the dry state of the clothes in the rotary drum 1 by the output of the temperature detecting means 6, and a temperature control means 18 for inputting the output of the temperature detecting means 6.

Then, the difference between the rotational speed of the rotary drum 1 detected by the rotational speed detection means 9 and the rotational speed set by the rotational speed setting means 11 is compared by the rotational speed comparison means 12, and both are conducted by the conduction time control means 14. The directional thyristor 13 is controlled to control the rotation speed of the motor 5. Phase control can be considered as the simplest conduction time control method. In the case of an inverter, not only the conduction time but also the frequency can be controlled.

The dry state detecting means 17 inputs the output of the first thermistor 6a and the output of the second thermistor 6b for detecting the temperature of the circulating air to the rotary drum 1, and outputs the output of the first thermistor 6a and the output of the first thermistor 6a. Whether the clothes in the rotary drum 1 are in the preheat drying period, the constant rate drying period, or the decreasing rate drying period is detected based on the difference between the outputs of the thermistors 6b and 2 and the elapsed time from the start of the operation.

The temperature control means 18 inputs the output of the temperature detection means 6 for detecting the circulating air to the rotary drum 1, and determines the input value and a predetermined upper limit temperature (temperature adjustment temperature) in the rotary drum 1. , PTC heaters 3a and 3b are respectively connected to control relay contacts 19a and 19b, and PTC heaters 3a and 3b are turned on and off to control the temperature of the circulating air. Further, when the dry state of the clothes in the rotary drum 1 becomes the constant rate dry state by the output of the temperature detecting means 6,
The upper limit temperature (temperature adjustment temperature) in the rotary drum 1 is made variable.

The current detecting means 15 is the current transformer 2
0 and the current-voltage conversion circuit 21, detects the input current of the PTC heater 3, and outputs the output from the current comparison setting means 1.
Enter in 6. The current comparison setting means 16 compares the set current value of the PTC heater 3 with the output of the current detection means 15 and inputs the output to the rotation speed setting means 11 to control the set rotation speed. Here, the set rotation speed set by the rotation speed setting means 11 is set so that the current of the PTC heater 3 does not exceed or fall below a predetermined current value.

The operation display means 22 is connected to the control means 10 and displays a plurality of types of driving courses and the like.
The rotation speed of the rotary drum 1 is input to the temperature control means 18 so that the upper limit temperature in the rotary drum 1 can be set for each course, and the rotation speed of the rotary drum 1 is input to the rotation speed setting means 11 to be lower than the normal rotation speed. The driving course (diaper course) of can be set.

The operation of the above structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention. The operation is started at step 30, initialized at step 31, and then step 32. Operation display means 2
Accept the 2 input key. When the start key is turned on in step 33, the process proceeds to step 34, it is determined whether the "diaper course" is set, and the "diaper course" is selected.
If is set, the routine proceeds to step 35, where the rotational speed (for example, 30 rpm) lower than the normal rotational speed (for example, 44 rpm) is set.
rpm). In the courses other than the "diaper course", the normal rotation speed (44 rpm) is set in step 36 and the process proceeds to step 37.

In step 37, the upper limit temperature (temperature adjustment temperature) TO1 of the PTC heater 3 is set. The temperature adjustment temperature TO1 set here is generally a stopping temperature for avoiding an abnormal temperature rise in the rotary drum 1. Then, in step 38, the motor 5 is turned on, and in step 39, the PTC heater 3 is turned on. Next, in step 40, the current of the PTC heater 3 is detected to control the set rotation speed of the motor 5,
In step 41, the rotation speed of the motor 5 is controlled by the set rotation speed.

In step 42, the first thermistor 6a
And the temperature of the hot air circulating in the rotary drum 1 is detected every few minutes by the second thermistor 6b. Then, in step 43, based on the temperature detected in step 42, the dry state detecting means 17 detects whether the clothes in the rotary drum 1 are in the constant rate drying period. That is, constant rate dryness detection is performed. As shown in FIG. 4, the constant rate drying period is defined by the amount of heat generated by the PTC heater 3 for vaporizing the moisture of the material to be dried in the rotary drum 1 and the amount of heat released from the rotary drum 1 to the outside. This is a period in which there is almost no change in the temperature in the rotary drum 1 substantially in balance with the sum, and for example, the change in the temperature of the first thermistor 6a or the second thermistor 6b or the change in the temperature of the first thermistor 6a and the second thermistor 6a. This is a period during which there is almost no change in the temperature difference with the thermistor 6b.

If the constant rate drying period can be detected, the temperature control temperature TO is detected based on the temperature Tset detected by the first thermistor 6a when the constant rate drying period is reached in step 44.
Reset 2 At this time, the temperature control temperature TO2 is set to TO2 = Tset + α (constant value). However, when the temperature Tset is equal to or lower than the lower limit set temperature Tmin, TO2 = Tmin + β (constant value).

Explaining in detail with reference to FIG. 4, the temperature Tset when the preheat drying period changes to the constant rate drying period
Thus, the temperature control temperature TO2 thereafter is set. When the temperature Tset is higher than the lower limit set temperature Tmin, TO2 = T
set + α, and when the temperature is lower than the lower limit set temperature Tmin, T
O2 = Tmin + β. After that, at this temperature control temperature TO2,
Continue dry operation.

If the constant rate drying period cannot be detected in step 43, the process proceeds to step 45 without changing the temperature control temperature TO1 set for avoiding the abnormal temperature rise in the rotary drum 1 in step 37. . In step 45,
The temperature control means 18 compares the temperature T1 detected by the first thermistor 6a with the temperature adjustment temperature TO2, and controls the relay contact 19 connected to the PTC heater 3 based on the comparison result to turn on the PTC heater 3. ON / OFF control.
As a result, the temperature inside the rotary drum 1 is controlled. In step 46, it is determined whether or not the drying operation should be ended. If the drying operation is to be continued, the process returns to step 40, and steps 40 to 45 are repeated until the drying operation is ended.

In the above embodiment, the case where the rotary drum 1 and the heat exchanging type double-blade fan 2 are driven by one motor 5 is shown, but the effect is the same even if two motors are provided.

[0035]

As is apparent from the above embodiments, according to the present invention, a rotating drum for drying clothes, a blowing means for circulating warm air into the rotating drum, and a blowing path into the rotating drum. A heating means provided on the motor, a motor for rotationally driving the blower means and the rotating drum, a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature inside the rotating drum, and a control means for controlling the rotation speed of the motor or the heating means. Since the control means changes the upper limit temperature in the rotary drum by the output of the temperature detection means at a predetermined timing, the inside of the rotary drum is controlled by the temperature in the rotary drum at a predetermined timing from the start of operation. The upper limit temperature can be set, and by setting the upper limit temperature lower than the upper limit temperature in the conventional drying operation, the constant rate drying time can be lengthened, so the clothes to be dried Quantity and quality, and regardless the difference in locations used, certain sterilizing effect can be maintained, it is possible to further improve its performance.

Further, it is provided with an operation display means connected to the control means for operating and displaying a plurality of types of driving courses and the like, and the control means is set to a driving course having a lower rotational speed than the normal course by the operation display stage. At this time, since the upper limit temperature in the rotating drum is changed by the output of the temperature detecting means at a predetermined timing, the operation course of the rotating speed of the blower means or the rotating drum is set lower than the normal rotating speed. At this time, the heat exchange rate, that is, the drying efficiency can be reduced by lowering the rotation speed of the blowing means or the rotating means, and the constant rate drying time can be further lengthened, so that a further sterilization effect is obtained. be able to.

Further, the control means detects the dry state of the clothes in the rotary drum by the output of the temperature detecting means, and when the constant rate dry state is detected, the predetermined timing is set. Therefore, the constant rate dry state is detected. With the temperature inside the rotating drum at the timing as a reference, you can set the upper temperature limit inside the rotating drum according to the dry condition of the clothes inside the rotating drum. It is possible to prevent the drying time from becoming long.

Further, the control means uses the output of the temperature detecting means at a predetermined timing as the reference temperature and sets a value obtained by adding a constant value to the reference temperature as the upper limit value of the temperature in the rotary drum. After that, the heating means is controlled to suppress the temperature rise in the rotary drum, so that the transient period from the constant rate drying to the rate reduction drying can be lengthened and the sterilization effect can be improved.

Further, the control means provides a lower limit set temperature to the output of the temperature detection means at a predetermined timing, and when the output of the temperature detection means is less than or equal to the lower limit set temperature, a fixed value is added to the lower limit set temperature. Since the value is set to the upper limit of the temperature in the rotary drum, the minimum temperature in the rotary drum required for sterilization can be ensured, so that the sterilization effect can be maintained even when the place of use is low.

Further, a rotating drum for drying clothes,
An air blowing means for circulating warm air into the rotating drum, a heating means provided on an air blowing path into the rotating drum, and a motor for rotationally driving the air blowing means and the rotating drum.
The temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature in the rotary drum and the control means for controlling the rotation speed or the heating means of the motor are provided, and the control means outputs the temperature detecting means to dry the clothes in the rotary drum. When the constant rate dry state cannot be detected, the upper limit of the temperature inside the rotating drum is set to a predetermined value, so that even if the constant rate dry state cannot be detected, By setting the upper limit of the temperature of the above to a predetermined value, it is possible to avoid an abnormal temperature rise in the rotary drum.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the clothes dryer.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the clothes dryer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a temperature change and a temperature difference change in a rotary drum of the clothes dryer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 rotating drum 2 heat exchange type double-blade fan (blowing means) 3 PTC heater (heating means) 5 motor 6 temperature detection means 10 control means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Michibata 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Toshio Yoshida, 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A rotary drum for drying clothes, an air blower for circulating warm air into the rotary drum, a heating means provided in an air blow path into the rotary drum, the air blower and the rotary drum. A motor that rotates, a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature inside the rotating drum, and a control unit that controls the rotation speed or heating unit of the motor,
The clothes drier in which the control means is configured to change the upper limit temperature in the rotary drum by the output of the temperature detection means at a predetermined timing. 2. An operation display means for operating and displaying a plurality of types of driving courses and the like, which is connected to the control means, wherein the control means is set to a driving course having a lower rotational speed than the normal course by the operation display stage. At this time, the clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the upper limit temperature in the rotating drum is changed by the output of the temperature detecting means at a predetermined timing. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control means detects the dry state of the clothes in the rotary drum based on the output of the temperature detecting means, and sets the predetermined timing when the constant dry state is detected. Clothes dryer. 4. The control means uses the output of the temperature detection means at a predetermined timing as a reference temperature, and sets a value obtained by adding a constant value to the reference temperature as an upper limit value of the temperature in the rotary drum. The clothes dryer according to claim 1. 5. The control means sets a lower limit set temperature for the output of the temperature detection means at a predetermined timing, and when the output of the temperature detection means is less than or equal to the lower limit set temperature, adds a fixed value to the lower limit set temperature. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the value is an upper limit value of the temperature in the rotating drum. 6. A rotary drum for drying clothes, an air blowing means for circulating warm air into the rotary drum, a heating means provided on an air blowing path into the rotary drum, the air blowing means and the rotary drum. A motor that rotates, a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature inside the rotating drum, and a control unit that controls the rotation speed or heating unit of the motor,
The control means detects the dry state of the clothes in the rotary drum by the output of the temperature detecting means, and when the constant dry state cannot be detected, the upper limit value of the temperature in the rotary drum is predetermined. A clothes dryer that has a specified value.