JPH08257294A - Clothes drier - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a clothes drier for inhibiting waterdrops remaining on a door inner surface side from dropping to the outside of a device and being stuck to dried clothes at the time of taking the clothes cut of a drying room. CONSTITUTION: When an air blowing path is switched to a first air blowing path 13 by a switching plate 12, air heated by a sheathed heater 9 is ventilated to the first air blowing path 13 by an indoor cross flow fan 8 and the heated air is blown from a blow-off port 14 to the clothes. Also, when the air blowing path is switched to a second air blowing path provided around a bottom part inside the drying room 4 by the switching plate 12, the heated air is ventilated to the second air blowing path, the heated air is blown from a wall blow-off port 16 to the inner wall of the drying room 4 and drying is performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a clothes dryer for drying clothes while dehumidifying them in a drying chamber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional clothes dryer, the laundry is hung on a hanger or the like, placed in a drying room, and hot air is blown onto the laundry to evaporate the moisture in the laundry and exchange the heat with the heat. It was to be removed using a member.

[0003]

However, in the clothes dryer as described above, a certain amount of dew condensation occurs even on the inner surface of the door for loading and unloading clothes, the wall surface of the drying chamber and the like other than the heat exchanger. Therefore, even if the clothes are substantially dried, water drops may remain on the inner surface of the door. Therefore, when the clothes are taken out from the drying chamber, there are problems that water droplets remaining on the inner surface of the door drop outside the device or adhere to the dried clothes.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and when the clothes are taken out from the drying chamber, the water drops remaining on the inner surface of the door drop outside the device or the clothes are dried. It is an object of the present invention to provide a clothes dryer that does not adhere.

[0005]

To achieve this object, in the clothes dryer of the present invention, the clothes are dried while dehumidifying in the drying chamber, and the air in the drying chamber is heated. A dry heat source, a blowing means for forcibly convection the air warmed by the dry heat source in the drying chamber, and a first blowing path capable of directly blowing the warm air generated by the blowing means to the clothes. A second air passage provided around the bottom of the drying chamber and capable of blowing the warm air to the inner wall of the drying chamber, and a hot air blowing passage, the first air passage, or the And a switching means for selectively switching to the second air passage.

Further, the switching means may be constituted by an electric valve which opens the other air passage when either one of the first air passage and the second air passage is closed.

Further, the input means for inputting the time for operating the drying heat source, and the hot air is ventilated through the first air passage until the time input by the input means elapses, and A control unit that controls the switching unit so that the hot air is ventilated to the second air passage after the input time has elapsed may be provided.

[0008]

In the clothes dryer of the present invention having the above structure,
When the air heated by the dry heat source is switched to the first air passage by the switching unit, the air is forcedly convected in the drying chamber by the air blowing unit to dry the clothes. Further, when the switching unit switches to the second air passage provided around the bottom of the drying chamber, the air blowing unit causes warm air to flow to the second air passage,
Dry the inner wall of the drying chamber.

In addition, when one of the first air passage and the second air passage is closed by an electrically operated valve, the other air passage is opened.

Further, the time for operating the dry heat source is input by the input means, hot air is ventilated through the first air passage until the time elapses, and after the input time elapses, the temperature is increased. The control means controls the switching means so that the wind is ventilated through the second air passage.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a clothes dryer embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show a clothes dryer 1 of this embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of FIG. 3, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing its configuration.

In the clothes dryer 1 of this embodiment, a housing 30 made of waterproof, heat-insulating plate-shaped synthetic metal or the like has a front door 3 which can be opened and closed, a top door 2, and a heat exchange member 19 which will be described later. Together with this, the drying chamber 4 is configured. A control panel 31 as an input means is provided on the upper surface of the clothes dryer 1.
Is provided. Each of the plurality of clothes 5 is hung on the hanger 6.

In the lower rear part of the drying chamber 4, an indoor cross-flow fan 8 serving as a slender cylindrical blower, and a sheathing as a spiral slender drying heat source for discharging a large amount of heat at a relatively low temperature of red heat or less. -And 9 are arranged. The indoor cross-flow fan 8 is driven by a motor (not shown) so as to suck in the air in the upper space of the drying chamber 4 through an air passage 11 to be described later and forcefully send it to the sheath heater 9 side. The air sent out by the indoor cross-flow fan 8 is heated by the sheath heater 9 and passes through the first air passage 13 provided in the drying chamber bottom portion 33 which is installed substantially parallel to the bottom surface 32 with a predetermined distance. The clothing 5 hung on the hanger 6 is directly sprayed from the outlet 14 to evaporate the water content of the clothing 5. In this way, the air that contains water vapor and becomes high in humidity rises, and the air that has risen in the opening 1 above the drying chamber 4
7 is taken in, passes through the air passage 11, and is sucked into the indoor cross flow fan 8.

Further, the outlet 14 is a motor-operated valve as a switching means for selectively switching the hot air blowing passage to the first blowing passage 13 or a second blowing passage to be described later. The plate 12 is rotatably supported.
The switching plate 12 is configured so that the outlet 14 can be closed or opened by an electromagnetic actuator (not shown).

On the other hand, when the blow-out port 14 is closed by the switching plate 12, a wall blow-out port 16 for blowing the warm air against the inner wall of the drying chamber 4 is dried with the housing 30 near the front door 3. With the chamber bottom 33,
Is formed. This hot air passage serves as the second air passage 15 provided around the bottom of the drying chamber 4.

In the vicinity of the opening 17 above the drying chamber 4, a temperature sensor 18 having a thermistor element for measuring the temperature in the drying chamber 4 housed in a package is installed. A heat exchange member 19 made of a thin aluminum plate is arranged on the left side of the air passage 11. The heat exchange member 19 separates the inside of the drying chamber 4 and the outside of the drying chamber 4 into a sealed state, and
The indoor heat exchange surface forms part of the air passage 11.
Further, in FIG. 3, an outdoor crossflow fan 21 similar to the indoor crossflow fan 8 is arranged on the upper left side of the clothes dryer 1 and is driven by a motor (not shown) to drive the clothes dryer 1. The outside air suction port 24 provided on the lower left side sucks the outside air through the outdoor air passage 23, and discharges the outside air to the outside from the outside air blowing port 22 provided at the upper portion of the outdoor cross flow fan 21. Further, below the heat exchange member 19, there is provided a water receiving portion 20 that is slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, and receives water droplets that have grown due to dew condensation on the indoor heat exchange surface. It is configured to be installed in the lower part of the surface and to be collected in a drainage tank 26 connected to the lowermost end of the water receiving part 20.

Next, regarding the configuration of the control system of this embodiment,
This will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.

The control unit 57 has a ROM 51 in which a program for controlling the entire clothes dryer 1 is stored, a RAM 52 for storing the data input by the control panel 31, a control panel 31, a temperature sensor 18, and the like. A fan drive circuit 53 for driving and stopping both the indoor and outdoor cross fans 8 and 21, and a sheath heater 9.
A heater drive circuit 54 for driving and stopping the switch and a drive valve circuit 55 for rotating the switching plate 12 are connected to a CPU 50 for controlling each of these components.

Next, the clothes dryer 1 thus constructed
The operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

The clothes 5 to be dried are hung on a hanger 6, hung on a clothes rod 7, the power is turned on, and the time for operating the clothes dryer and the internal temperature for drying are set from the control panel 31 (step 100, hereinafter). , Step is represented by S), and the CPU 50 outputs a signal to the heater drive circuit 54 and the fan drive circuit 53 to drive the sheathed heater 9, the indoor cloche flow fan 8, and the outdoor cross flow fan 21, and the drying time. The internal timer for measuring is driven (S102). Furthermore, CPU50
Blows the air warmed by the sheath heater 9 onto the clothing 5, so that the blowing port 14 is opened. To do so, as shown in FIG. 3, a signal is output to the valve drive circuit 55 so as to rotate the switching plate 12 (S10).
4). Then, the first air passage 13 is formed as shown in FIG. 3, and the air heated by the sheath heater 9 is blown into the drying chamber 4 from the air outlet 14 through the first air passage 13. The clothes 5 to be dried are vigorously blown. In the drying chamber 4, a large amount of air heated by the sheath heater 9 circulates, the temperature of the clothes 5 rises, and evaporation of water begins.

At least a part of the air circulating in the drying chamber 4 is taken in from the opening 17 and passes through the air passage 11, but the outside of the heat exchange member 19 forming a part of the air passage 11. Since the heat exchange surface is forcibly cooled by the outside air by the outdoor cross flow fan 21, dew condensation occurs on the inner surface of the heat exchange surface while flowing along the heat exchange surface on the indoor side to be dehumidified.
The dehumidified air is sucked into the indoor crossflow fan 8 and circulates in the drying chamber 4. The water droplets that grow due to dew condensation travel down the heat exchange surface on the indoor side, flow into the water receiving portion 20 arranged below, and are collected in the drain tank 26.

On the other hand, the temperature in the drying chamber 4 is controlled by the temperature sensor 18
Is measured (S106), and it is determined whether the measured temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature (S10).
8). When it is determined that the measured temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature (Yes in S108), a signal is output to the heater drive circuit 54 to stop the sheath heater 9 so that the temperature inside the drying chamber 4 reaches the set temperature ( S112). Also,
When the temperature in the drying chamber 4 drops and falls below the set temperature, the sheath heater 9 is driven again, so the heater drive circuit 54
The signal is output to (S110). By repeating this,
The inside of the drying chamber 4 is maintained at a substantially constant temperature.

It is determined whether or not the clothes 5 have been dried and the inputted drying time has elapsed (S114). When it is determined that the input time has elapsed (Yes in S114
s), in order to blow warm air from the clothes 5 to the inner wall of the drying chamber 4, a signal is output to the fan drive circuit 53 to rotate the switching plate 12 to the position shown in FIG. 4 (S116).
Then, the switching plate 12 closes the outlet 14 and forms the second air passage 15. Then, the air heated by the sheath heater 9 is blown out from the wall outlet 16 through the second air passage 15, and is blown vigorously along the inner wall surface of the front door 3. Therefore, the water droplets that are slightly left on the inner wall surface of the front door 3 due to dew condensation are completely evaporated.
On the other hand, if it is determined that the input time has not elapsed (No in S114), the process proceeds to S106 in order to maintain the condition of blowing warm air into the drying chamber 4.

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time previously stored in the ROM 51 has elapsed (S118), and when it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed (Yes in S118),
The sheathed heater 9, the indoor cross flow fan 8, and the outdoor cross flow fan 21 are stopped (S12).
0), the operation is ended. Further, when it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed (No in S118), in order to dry the inner wall of the drying chamber 4, the process is further shifted to S106 so as to maintain the current state.

In the processing steps of S114 and S116, warm air is ventilated through the first air passage 13 until the time input by the control panel 31 elapses, and after the input time elapses, It functions as a control means for controlling the switching plate 12 so that the hot air is passed through the second air passage 15.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the clothes dryer of the present embodiment, the air heated by the sheath heater 9 is changed by the switching plate 12 to the first air passage 1.
Indoor cross flow fan 8 when switched to 3
Blows warm air from the outlet 14 onto the clothes,
Further, when the switching plate 12 switches to the second air passage 15 provided around the bottom of the drying chamber 4,
Since warm air is ventilated through the second air passage 15 and the inner wall of the drying chamber 4 is dried, water droplets that have been left on the side wall surface of the drying chamber 4 and slightly remaining can be completely evaporated. It is possible to prevent water droplets remaining on the inner surface of the door from dripping outside the device or adhering to dried clothes when taking out the clothes.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in this embodiment, the wall outlet 16 is designed to dry the inner wall of the front door 3,
The wall outlet 16 is provided near the front door 3 so as to dry the inner walls of the three sides of the drying chamber 4 excluding the back surface.
May be provided.

In the present embodiment, the drying time is set, and when the time elapses, the switching plate 12 is rotated so that the inner wall of the drying chamber 4 is dried. After a certain time has passed, in order to complete the drying of not only the clothes but also the inner wall of the drying chamber 4, a predetermined time before the input time, the switching plate 12 is configured to blow warm air to the inner wall. Good.

Further, in this embodiment, one switching plate 12 is used.
Although the hot air blowing path is switched to the first air blowing path 13 and the second air blowing path 15 by rotating, the air blowing path can be switched by other appropriate means. For example, instead of the switching plate 12, each of the outlet 14 and the wall outlet 16 is provided with a lid, one end of which is rotatably supported near the outlet and the other end of which opens and closes the outlet. It may be configured. In this case, when one lid is opened, both lids are controlled by the electromagnetic actuator or the like so that the other lid is closed.

Further, in this embodiment, the switching plate 12 is automatically rotated by the motor-operated valve.
2 may be configured to be manually switchable from outside the clothes dryer 1.

Further, in the present embodiment, although the first blower duct 13 and the second blower duct 15 are partially used in common, they may be constituted by independent blower ducts. For example, the bottom air passage has a two-layer structure, the upper layer is directly connected to the outlet 14, and the lower layer is directly connected to the wall outlet 16. Then, as a switching means, the opening on the sheath heater side can be selectively switched to the upper layer or the lower layer, and is configured with a lid that completely covers one opening, and the lid covers the upper and lower layers. To be able to move to.

[0033]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the clothes dryer of the present invention, when the air passage is switched to the first air passage by the switching means, it is heated by the drying heat source. The air is blown to the first air passage by the air blowing means, the warmed air is blown to the clothes, and the air blowing passage is switched to the second air blowing passage provided around the bottom of the drying chamber by the switching means. When heated, the warmed air is ventilated through the second air passage, and the warmed air is blown against the inner wall of the drying chamber to dry it. Water droplets can also be completely evaporated, and it is possible to prevent water droplets remaining on the inner surface of the door from dripping outside the device or adhering to dried clothes when the clothes are taken out from the drying chamber. .

Further, in the first air passage and the second air passage, when one of the air passages is closed by an electrically operated valve, the other air passage is opened, so that warm air is always opened. In addition, the clothes and the inner wall of the drying chamber can be efficiently dried by vigorously flowing only to the ventilation passage.

Further, the time for operating the dry heat source is input by the input means, hot air is ventilated through the first air passage until the time elapses, and after the input time elapses, the temperature is increased. Since the control means controls the switching means so that the wind is ventilated to the second air passage, the user can automatically dry the clothes and the drying chamber inner wall only by inputting the drying time. And so on.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a clothes dryer seen from diagonally above the front right.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the clothes dryer as viewed from diagonally above and to the right of the rear surface.

FIG. 3 is a central cross-sectional view of the clothes dryer when the first air passage is formed.

FIG. 4 is a central cross-sectional view of the clothes dryer when the second air passage is formed.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit configuration of the clothes dryer.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the clothes dryer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Clothes dryer 3 Front door 4 Drying room 5 Clothes 8 Indoor cross-flow fan 9 Sheath heater 12 Switching plate 13 First air passage 14 Air outlet 15 Second air passage 16 Wall air outlet 17 Temperature sensor 31 Control panel 50 CPU

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. In a clothes dryer for drying clothes while dehumidifying in a drying chamber, a drying heat source for heating air in the drying chamber, and air heated by the drying heat source is forced in the drying chamber. For blowing air into the clothes, a first air passage for blowing the warm air generated by the air blowing means directly onto the clothes, and a hot air provided around the bottom of the drying chamber for supplying the warm air. A second air blow passage that can be blown to the inner wall of the, and a switching means for selectively switching the hot air blow passage to the first air blow passage or the second air blow passage. A clothes dryer characterized in that. 2. The switching means, when either one of the first air passage and the second air passage is closed,
The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the clothes dryer is configured by an electric valve that opens the other air passage. 3. An input unit for inputting a time for operating the drying heat source; and, until the time input by the input unit elapses, the warm air is ventilated through the first air passage, and The clothes drying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a control unit that controls the switching unit so that the warm air is ventilated to the second air passage after the input time has elapsed. Machine.