JPH09313798A - Clothing drier - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clothing drier having a function to detect and inform clogging of a filter collecting waste threads in a rotating drum, in which slight clogging is informed before a warning of excessive clogging. SOLUTION: Hot air is supplied into a rotating drum, a hot air temperature detecting means 14 detects the temperature of the hot air, a control means 24 judges the clogging conditions of a filter to collect waste threads in the drum, judged results of the filter's clogging conditions are stored in a memory means 21, and a display means 23 informs the clogging conditions. When the control means 24 judges that the filter is clogged during drying, it compares the number of continuous operations stored in the memory means 21 as a history of judgment of filter clogging, including the result of this time, with the first predetermined value, and when the number of operations is below the first value, it informs the first clogging, and when it is above the first value, it informs the second clogging.

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 detecting and notifying a clogging state of a filter for collecting thread waste of clothes in a rotating rotating drum.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in a clothes dryer for home use, a filter for collecting thread waste is provided in a rotating drum for drying clothes, and when the thread waste of the filter increases and clogging becomes severe. In addition, the user is informed of such a state by means of an indicator light or the like. If the filter is heavily clogged, the wind inside the rotating drum becomes weak and the temperature in the vicinity of the heater rises abnormally. Therefore, a sensor for detecting the temperature is provided in the vicinity of the heater for detection.

In a conventional clothes dryer, two sensors, a thermocouple and a thermistor, are provided, and during the process of clogging, the thermocouple detects if clogging is slight and the indicator lamp is turned on after the operation. A clogging alarm that lights up is urged to clean the user, and when the clogging becomes excessive, the thermistor detects it, and after the operation is complete, the anomaly content is displayed and a buzzer sounds to alert the user. Forced to check.

[0004]

In a clothes dryer which is intended to detect a clogging state by such two independent sensors, a thermocouple is used to detect a lower temperature, that is, a slight clogging state is detected. If the combination of variations is such that it is difficult and the temperature is detected by the thermistor at a high temperature, that is, it is easy to detect an excessive clogging state, an excessive clogging is notified before the clogging notification for reporting a slight clogging state. Occasionally, a clogging abnormality is notified to inform the user of a clogging state, and there is a possibility that the abnormality is notified before the user is prompted to perform cleaning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to perform a clogging notification that always notifies a slight clogging state before a clogging abnormality notification that notifies an excessive clogging state. I am trying.

[0006]

In the clothes dryer of the present invention, hot air is supplied into a rotary drum for containing and drying clothes, the temperature of the hot air is detected by hot air temperature detecting means, and the rotating means is rotated by the control means. The clogging state of the filter for collecting the thread waste inside is determined, the determination result of the clogging state of the filter is stored in the storage unit, and the clogging state of the filter is notified by the notifying unit. If the control means determines that the operation is clogged during the dry operation, the continuous operation including the current operation is included in the history of the judgment result of the clogging state stored in the storage means. The number of times is compared with the first predetermined value, and when the value is less than the first predetermined value, the first clogging notification is given, and when it is equal to or more than the first predetermined value, the second clogging notification is given. It is a thing.

As a result, before the clogging abnormality notification (second clogging notification) that notifies the excessive clogging state, the clogging notification (first clogging notification) that surely notifies the slight clogging state. Therefore, if the clogging is notified and the filter is still not cleaned, it is possible to always keep the consistency of the both notifications such that the clogging abnormality is notified.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a blowing means for supplying hot air into a rotary drum for accommodating and drying clothes, a heating means as a heat source for the hot air, and a temperature of the hot air. A hot air temperature detecting means for detecting, a filter for collecting thread waste in the rotary drum, an informing means for informing a clogged state of the filter, and a clogging state of the filter is determined by an output of the hot air temperature detecting means. And a storage unit that stores the determination result of the clogging state of the filter, the control unit stores the result in the storage unit when it is determined that the filter is clogged during the drying operation. The first predetermined value is compared with the number of consecutive operations determined to be clogged, including the current operation, in the history of the judgment result of the clogging state, and when the value is less than the first predetermined value, the first Clog notification When the value is equal to or more than the first predetermined value, the second clogging notification is performed, and the user is notified of the clogging notification (first clogging notification) that notifies a slight clogging state. No clogging is notified and the filter is urged to be cleaned, and then a clogging abnormality notification (second clogging notification) is issued to notify the user of excessive clogging, and the user is forced to perform an inspection. be able to.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned first aspect of the invention, the control means compares the number of consecutive operations determined to be clogged with a second predetermined value to obtain a second value.
The timing of notifying the clogging of the clothes is changed, and the abnormality notification when the value is less than the second predetermined value is performed after the drying operation of the clothes is ended, and therefore the clothes are stopped without being dried. Can be prevented and the user's convenience can be improved, and when the abnormality is detected when the second predetermined value or more is detected, the excessive temperature rise of the aircraft due to clogging should be prevented. Therefore, the safety of the product can be secured.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned first or second aspect of the present invention, an input setting means for setting a driving course or the like is provided, and the control means is operated by a special operation of the input setting means. The history of the judgment results of the clogging condition stored in the storage means can be initialized so that the judgment of the clogging condition can be made even if there is a service in the market where the repair inspector replaces the filter or burner. Since the history of the results can be initialized, it is unlikely that clogging and abnormality will occur from the operation immediately after that.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the storage means stores the first predetermined value, and the control means performs the special operation of the input setting means to store the storage means. It is possible to change the first predetermined value stored in, and it is possible to adjust the deviation in the frequency of clogging abnormality notification due to sensor variations.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned second aspect, the storage means stores the second predetermined value, and the control means performs the special operation of the input setting means to store the storage means. The second predetermined value stored in the table can be changed, and the deviation in the frequency of undrying of clothes due to anomaly notification and the frequency of excessive temperature rise of the machine due to sensor variations can be adjusted. You can

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) As shown in FIG. 2, a dryer main body 1 is provided with a motor 2 serving as a drive source at a lower part thereof, and a fan 3 provided on the back side of the motor 2 and the dryer main body 1. Belts 5 and 6 are stretched between the fan 3 and the rotary drum 4 provided in front of the fan 3, and the fan (blower means) 3 and the rotary drum 4 are rotated by driving the motor 2. Further, a burner (heating means) 7 serving as a heat source is arranged in the lower front portion of the dryer main body 1, and a proportional control valve 8 is provided for controlling the combustion amount thereof.

The drum front plate 9 rotatably supports the rotary drum 4 on the front surface thereof.
0 is provided, and hot air generated by the combustion of the burner 7 is guided to the hot air hole 10 by the combustion tube 11 and flows into the rotary drum 4 to heat and dry the object to be dried (clothing). The hot air in the rotating drum 4 is sent out to the exhaust guide 12 by the fan 3 and discharged out of the dryer main body 1.

The electrode 13 is disposed at a position in contact with clothing in the rotating drum 4 during operation. The electrode 13 is composed of a pair of conductive members and an insulating member between them (neither is shown).
The dry state of the clothes in the rotating drum 4 is detected by detecting the resistance value between the conductive members.

The hot air temperature detecting means 14 is connected to a thermistor 15 arranged near the burner 7 to detect the temperature of the hot air heated by the burner 7. The filter 16 collects the thread waste of the clothes in the rotating drum 4 during operation. When the user repeatedly performs the operation without cleaning the filter 16, the thread waste accumulates on the filter 16, the flow of the hot air indicated by the arrow A becomes weak, and the air volume passing through the burner 7 becomes small, so that the hot air temperature detection is performed. The temperature detected by the means 14 becomes high.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the drying detecting means 17 detects the dry state of the clothes in the rotary drum 4 by the electrode 13 and the exhaust temperature detecting means 18 which detects the exhaust temperature. The power-on means 19 is a return coil (not shown)
It is configured by a mechanical power switch 19a having, and can be manually turned on and off to the dryer main body 1, and can be turned on and off by energizing the return coil. .

The input setting means 20 is used to input and set a driving course and the like, and as shown in FIG. 3, is composed of a fluffy changeover switch 20a, a timer switch 20b, a course switch 20c, and a start temporary stop switch 20d. The storage means 21 stores information such as the determination result of the clogging state of the filter 16, and normally uses a non-volatile memory or the like.

The drive means 22 controls the motor 2, the burner 7, the proportional control valve 8, the power-on means 19, and the like. The display means (notifying means) 23, as shown in FIG. 3, is a filter clogging notifying lamp 23 for displaying set contents and the like.
a, a fluffy keep display lamp 23b, a remaining time display lamp 23c, course display lamps 23d to 23g, a combustion display lamp 23h, and the like.

The control means 24 causes the display means 23 to display the contents based on the switch input data from the input setting means 20. Further, the control means 24 controls the motor 2, the burner 7, the proportional control valve 8, the power-on means 19, etc. via the drive means 22 based on the drying data by the drying detection means 17 and the temperature data by the exhaust gas temperature detection means 18. To do.

If the filter 16 is clogged with lint, the control means 24 will have poor drying performance. Therefore, in order to inform the user that the filter 16 is clogged, the hot air temperature detection with the thermistor 15 is connected. The clogging state of the filter 16 is determined by the output of the means 14, and when it is determined that the filter 16 is clogged, the display means 23 notifies the user of that fact.

That is, the control means 24 controls the thermistor 1 within a fixed time (for example, 2 minutes) after starting the drying operation.
When the temperature of 5 is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, it is determined that the filter 16 is clogged, and the history of the clogging state determination result stored in the storage unit 21 includes the current operation. The number of continuous operations determined to be equal to the first predetermined value (for example, 4 times) is compared, and when the value is less than the first predetermined value, a clogging notification (first clogging notification) is given and a first predetermined value is given. When the value is equal to or more than the value, a clogging abnormality notification (second clogging notification) is given. The notification of clogging and the abnormality notification of clogging are notified when the drying operation is completed.

Further, the control means 24 determines the number of continuous operations determined to be clogged and a second predetermined value (for example, 5).
The number of times is compared, and when it is equal to or larger than the second predetermined value, a clogging abnormality is notified when it is determined that clogging has occurred.

In the above structure, the operation will be described with reference to FIG. 4. When the power switch 19a is turned on at step 26, at step 27 the result of the judgment of the clogging state by the thermistor 15 from the storage means 21 is carried out for each operation. The history records n1, n2, ... Nk are read. Here, nk represents the clogging determination result k times before, and k is the number of operations for storing the clogging determination result. In step 28, the start suspension switch 20d is turned on, and in step 29, normal operation starts.

In step 30, the input value of the thermistor 15 is compared with a predetermined value in step 31 for a certain period of time after the start of operation. Then, the clogging determination flag n0 = 1 of the current operation is set. If less than the predetermined value, step 30
Return to and continue the comparison.

If it is determined in step 32 that the nozzle is clogged, it is determined in step 33 from the previous time (second predetermined value -1).
If the result of clogging up to the previous time is clogged, that is, if the operation continues to be clogged for the second predetermined value including this time, the clogging abnormality notification is issued in step 34 to notify the excessive clogging state. (Second clogging notification) is performed, the load of the motor 2, the proportional control valve 8 and the like is stopped, the buzzer sounds, and the remaining time display lamp 23c blinks a display indicating that the content of the filter clogging is abnormal. Let FIG. 5 shows an example of the display in which (a) and (b) are alternately blinked. If not, continue dry operation.

When the fixed time has passed in step 30, the clogging determination flag n0 = 0 for the current operation is set in step 35. When the dryness detection means 17 finishes the dryness detection in step 36 and it is determined that the clothes are sufficiently dried, the drying operation is ended and the process proceeds to step 37.

In step 37, from this time (first predetermined value-
1) If the operation that the clogging result up to the previous time is clogged, that is, the clogging of the first predetermined value including the present time continues, in step 38, an excessive clogging state is notified. The flag for issuing the clogging abnormality notification (second clogging notification) is set to 1, and the routine proceeds to step 42. If not, the process proceeds to step 39, and if it is determined that the vehicle is clogged in the present operation, in step 40, a clogging notification (first clogging notification) for notifying a slight clogging state is given. The flag is set to 1, and the process proceeds to step 42. If not in both cases, step 41
Then, the flag for notifying the first and second clogging is set to 0, and the routine proceeds to step 42.

In step 42, in order to store the clogging result, the result of this time is one time before, the result of the previous time is two times before, and the result of (k-1) times before is k times before. And the history of the clogging determination result is stored.

Then, in step 43, a blowing operation is performed,
In step 44, a buzzer notifies the end. If the second clogging notification flag is 1 in step 45, a clogging abnormality notification (second clogging notification) is performed in step 34. If the first clogging notification flag is 1 in step 46, the clogging notification (first clogging notification) is performed by blinking the filter clogging notification lamp 23a for a certain period of time in step 47. If both flags are not 1, the operation ends in step 48.

Here, the second predetermined value is greater than or equal to the first predetermined value as described above. In addition, the clogging notification (first clogging notification) that notifies a slight clogging state is to prompt the user to clean the filter clogging, and the clogging abnormality notification (first clogging notification) that notifies the excessive clogging state. The clogging notification of 2) forces the user to inspect.

As a result, it is possible to achieve consistency in that the clogging notification is given before the clogging abnormality notification.
In addition, as long as there is no problem with the safety of the product, it will be notified after the operation is finished in order to dry clothes as much as possible, and if there is a possibility that the safety may be impaired, it will be notified at the time of detection, so that it is convenient for the user and the product. Can be kept safe.

(Embodiment 2) Control means 24 in FIG.
Allows the history of the judgment result of the clogging state stored in the storage means 21 to be initialized by a special operation of the input setting means 20. Further, the storage means 21 stores the first and second predetermined values, and the control means 24 stores the first and second predetermined values stored in the storage means 21 by the special operation of the input setting means 20. I am trying to change it. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The operation of the above structure will be described with reference to FIG. 6. In step 49, the power switch 19a is turned on, and in step 50, the fluffy changeover switch 2 is simultaneously turned on.
Only when 0a and the course switch 20c are pressed at the same time, the routine proceeds to step 52 and onward, and otherwise the normal driving stroke is performed at step 51.

In step 52, the standard lamp 23d is blinked, and the history of the clogging determination result is displayed in hexadecimal on the remaining time display lamp 23c. When the start pause switch 20d is pressed in step 53, step 54
The history of the clogging determination result is cleared by, the history is stored in the storage means 21, and the operation is ended in step 55.

In step 56, the soft changeover switch 20
When a is pressed, the process proceeds to step 57, and the operation in another step, that is, the operation of changing the first predetermined value stored in the storage unit 21 is switched. Soft changeover switch 2
The operation in this step is performed unless 0a is pressed. In step 57, the thick lamp 23e is blinked, and the remaining time display lamp 23c is caused to display the first predetermined value in hexadecimal.

When the timer switch 20b is pressed in step 58, if the first predetermined value is 1 or more in step 59, the first predetermined value -1 is executed in step 60. When the course switch 20c is pressed in step 61, step 6
At 2, the first predetermined value +1 is performed. When the start temporary stop switch 20d is pressed in step 63, the first predetermined value is stored in the storage means 21 in step 64, and the operation is ended in step 55.

In step 65, the soft changeover switch 20
When a is pressed, the routine proceeds to step 66, where the operation is switched to another operation, that is, an operation of changing the second predetermined value stored in the storage means 21. Soft changeover switch 2
The operation in this step is performed unless 0a is pressed. In step 66, the standard lamp 23d and the thick lamp 23e are blinked, and the remaining time display lamp 23c is caused to display the second predetermined value in hexadecimal.

When the timer switch 20b is pressed in step 67, if the second predetermined value is (first predetermined value + 1) or more in step 68, the second predetermined value -1 is executed in step 69. When the course switch 20c is pressed in step 70, the second predetermined value +1 is set in step 71. When the start temporary stop switch 20d is pressed in step 72, the second predetermined value is stored in the storage means 21 in step 73, and the operation is ended in step 55.

In step 74, the soft changeover switch 20
When a is pressed, the process returns to step 52 and the operation is switched to another process. Unless the fluffy changeover switch 20a is pressed, the operation in this step is performed.

As a result, it is possible to eliminate the clogging abnormality notification immediately after the replacement of the filter 16 and the burner 7. Further, when there is a deviation in the clogging degree of the clogging notification and clogging abnormality notification due to the variation of the thermistor 15, it becomes possible to adjust.

In each of the embodiments described above, the gas clothes dryer in which the hot air produced by the combustion of the burner 7 is introduced into the rotary drum 4 to heat and dry the article to be dried (clothes) has been described. The electric clothes dryer, which heats and dries the material to be dried (clothes) by flowing it into the rotary drum 4, can similarly notify the clogging of the filter 16 and the clogging abnormality.

In the above embodiment, the hot air in the rotary drum 4 is discharged to the outside of the dryer main body 1 by the fan 3. However, the hot air is circulated and the clothes are dried by heat exchange to dry the clothes. With respect to the machine, the clogging of the filter 16 and the clogging abnormality can be similarly notified.

[0045]

As described above, according to the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention, a blowing means for supplying hot air into the rotary drum for accommodating and drying clothes, and a heating means as a heat source for the hot air, Hot air temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of hot air, a filter for collecting thread waste in the rotating drum, an informing means for informing a clogging state of the filter, and an output of the hot air temperature detecting means Control means for determining a clogging state, and a storage means for storing the determination result of the clogging state of the filter, the control means, if it is determined to be clogged during the drying operation, in the storage means If the number of consecutive operations including the current operation is judged to be stored in the history of the stored determination result of the clogging state and the first predetermined value, and if the value is less than the first predetermined value, First eye Since the clogging notification is made and the second clogging notification is made when the value is equal to or larger than the first predetermined value, the user is notified by the clogging notification (first clogging notification) that notifies a slight clogging state. To inform the user of clogging of the filter, prompt the user to clean the filter, and then inform of an excessive clogging condition (second clogging notification)
Therefore, it is possible to always maintain consistency by forcing the user to inspect.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the control means compares the number of consecutive operations determined to be clogged with the second predetermined value to notify the second clogged timing. Therefore, since the abnormality notification when the value is less than the second predetermined value is performed after the drying operation of the clothes is finished, it is possible to prevent the clothes from being stopped without being dried, and It is possible to improve the usability, and when the abnormality is detected when the abnormality exceeds the second predetermined value, it is possible to prevent excessive temperature rise of the machine due to clogging. Can be secured.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, an input setting means for setting a driving course and the like is provided, and the control means is stored in the storage means by a special operation of the input setting means. Since the history of the judgment result of the clogging condition can be initialized, the history of the judgment result of the clogging condition can be initialized even if a service to replace a filter or a burner occurs in the market. Immediately after the operation, no clogging and abnormalities can occur.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the storage means stores the first predetermined value, and the control means stores the first predetermined value in the storage means by a special operation of the input setting means. Since the predetermined value of 1 can be changed, it is possible to adjust the deviation of the frequency of the clogging abnormality notification due to the variation of the sensor.

According to the invention of claim 5, the storage means stores the second predetermined value, and the control means stores the second predetermined value in the storage means by a special operation of the input setting means. Since the predetermined value of 2 can be changed, it is possible to adjust the bias of the frequency of undrying of clothes due to abnormality notification due to the variation of the sensor and the frequency of excessive temperature rise of the machine body.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

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

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of an operation display unit of the clothes dryer.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the clothes dryer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display of the clothes dryer.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the clothes dryer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Fan (Blower) 4 Rotating Drum 7 Burner (Heating Means) 14 Hot Air Temperature Detecting Means 16 Filter 21 Storage Means 23 Display Means (Informing Means) 24 Control Means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A blowing means for supplying hot air into a rotating drum for containing and drying clothes, a heating means as a heat source of the hot air, a hot air temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the hot air, and a thread in the rotating drum. A filter that collects waste, an informing unit that informs the clogging state of the filter, a control unit that determines the clogging state of the filter by the output of the hot air temperature detection unit, and a determination result of the clogging state of the filter When the controller determines that the nozzle is clogged during the dry operation, the controller includes the current operation in the history of the determination result of the clogging state stored in the memory. The number of consecutive operations determined to be clogged is compared with the first predetermined value, and when the value is less than the first predetermined value, the first clogging notification is given, and when the value is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value. Second clogging A clothes dryer designed to give notifications. 2. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the control means compares the number of consecutive operations determined to be clogged with a second predetermined value to change the timing at which the second clogging is notified. Dryer. 3. The input setting means for setting a driving course or the like is provided, and the control means can initialize the history of the determination result of the clogging state stored in the storage means by a special operation of the input setting means. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the clothes dryer is provided. 4. The storage means stores a first predetermined value, and the control means can change the first predetermined value stored in the storage means by a special operation of the input setting means. Item 1. The clothes dryer. 5. The storage means stores a second predetermined value, and the control means can change the second predetermined value stored in the storage means by a special operation of the input setting means. Item 2. A clothes dryer.