JPH10118394A - Dry cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce noise excepting during cleaning and save electricity consumption. SOLUTION: On cleaning operation, a number of revolution of pump 19 is raised to increase the flow amount of a solvent a valve 28 is opened to supply the solvent to a washing tank 10 through a bypath 27. While, during non- washing, the number of revolution of the pump 19 is slowed down to reduce the flow amount of the cleaning solvent and valve 28 is closed to flow the solvent to a chiller 25 and then return to a solvent tank 16. The refore, on washing a large amount of cleaning solvent is circulated, a high washing efficacy is obtained, and during the non-washing time, the solvent effectively purified by the filter 20 is assuredly cooled with a chiller 25.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dry cleaner for washing using a petroleum solvent or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a piping system of a conventional dry cleaner. A drain pipe 11 connected to the bottom of a washing tub 10 containing a drum (not shown) is provided with a drain valve 1.
2 is connected to the button trap 13. An overflow pipe 14 is connected to the side wall of the washing tub 10 and reaches the button trap 13. In addition, washing tub 1
A liquid level sensor 15 for detecting the liquid level in the washing tub 10 is connected to the vicinity of the bottom. The button trap 13 is a type of filter for removing solid matter such as buttons of clothes mixed in the discharged solvent.
The bottom of 3 is connected to the solvent tank 16. A suction line 17 for the solvent in the solvent tank 16 is connected to a suction port side of a pump 50 via a check valve 18, and a discharge port side of the pump 50 is connected to a filter 20 and a filter drain valve 21. To the button trap 13. Air vent line 22 provided above filter 20
Is connected to the button trap 13 via a filter air vent valve 23.

[0003] The filter 20 contains filter paper and activated carbon, and removes fine dust and impurities mixed in the solvent. The outlet side of the filter 20 is connected to the cooling line 2 connected to the chiller 25.
4 and bypass line 2 provided with bypass valve 51
7 is connected. Cooling line 24 and bypass line 2
7 joins at the outlet side of the chiller 25 and the tank circulation valve 2
9 and connected to the solvent tank 16 via a liquid supply valve 30. A soap concentration sensor 31 is provided between the tank circulation valve 29 and the liquid supply valve 30, and a flow rate sensor 3 is provided in a liquid supply line 33 connecting the liquid supply valve 30 and the washing tub 10.
Two are provided. A soap supply pipe 34 is also connected to the upper part of the washing tub 10 in addition to the liquid supply pipe 33, and the soap supply pipe 34 reaches a soap container 36 containing the soap via a soap thrower 35. Of the plurality of valves in the above configuration, the filter air vent valve 23, the filter drain valve 21, and the bypass valve 51 are all manual valves, and an operator performs opening and closing operations as needed. The other valves are adjustment valves that automatically open and close under the control of a control unit (not shown). The filter drain valve 21 is normally closed, and the bypass valve 51 is previously adjusted to an appropriate opening amount so that a predetermined flow rate of the solvent flows into the bypass pipe 27.

When the power of the dry cleaner is turned on, the pump 50 starts operating, and the operation continues until the power is shut off. During the washing process, the supply valve 30
Is opened and the tank circulation valve 29 is closed. Therefore, the solvent sucked from the solvent tank 16 by the pump 50 is supplied into the washing tub 10 through the filter 20, the cooling line 24, the bypass line 27, and the liquid supply line 33. When washing is performed with the drain valve 12 closed, if the liquid level rises above the connection point of the overflow pipe 14, the solvent discharged from the overflow pipe 14 is collected in the solvent tank 16. A predetermined level of solvent is maintained in the tank 10. Also, a drain valve 1 as appropriate
In some cases, the cleaning is performed while opening 2 and discharging a larger amount of solvent.

At times other than the washing process, such as during the liquid removal process or when the operation is stopped (the power is on), the liquid supply valve 30 is closed and the tank circulation valve 29 is opened. Therefore, the solvent sucked from the solvent tank 16 by the pump 50 circulates to the solvent tank 16 through the filter 20, the cooling pipe 24, the bypass pipe 27, and the tank circulation valve 29. That is, at times other than the cleaning step, the solvent is circulated in order to perform purification by the filter 20.

During the circulation of the solvent as described above, the temperature of the solvent rises due to heat conduction from the pump 50, heat conduction from the surrounding environment, frictional heat when passing through each pipe, and the like. Petroleum solvents and the like used in dry cleaners are flammable, and thus are dangerous when the temperature rises. Therefore, an air-cooled or water-cooled chiller 25 is provided in the solvent circulation path as described above, and the temperature of the solvent is detected by the solvent temperature sensor 26 so that the solvent is maintained at a predetermined temperature (about 25 ° C.) or lower. The operation of the chiller 25 is controlled.

In the above configuration, the flow rate sensor 32
Detects the flow rate of the solvent supplied to the washing tub 10, and
The soap concentration sensor 31 is provided to detect the concentration of soap contained in the solvent. In controlling the soap concentration, the amount of the solvent stored in the washing tub 10 is calculated based on the detection signal of the flow rate sensor 32, and the insufficient amount of the soap is calculated based on the amount of the solvent and the detection signal of the soap concentration sensor 31. Then, the insufficient soap is supplied to the washing tub 10 from the soap supply pipe 34 by the soap supply device 35.

[0008]

In the above-described dry cleaner, generally, the higher the flow rate of the circulating solvent, the higher the cleaning performance. For this reason, the pump 50 having a high suction performance
It is preferable to circulate a large flow rate of the solvent. However, in the case of using a direct cooling type chiller 25 in which a solvent is directly introduced into the inside to perform cooling, the diameter of the tube must be reduced to increase the cooling efficiency (φ8 to φ10 mm).
degree). For this reason, it is difficult to introduce all of the solvent at a large flow rate into the chiller 25. If this is done, the solvent will pass through the cooling pipe 24 at a very high speed, and the passing sound will be extremely loud. The generation of heat due to friction increases, and the cooling efficiency deteriorates. For such a reason, as described above, a large amount of solvent is caused to flow through the bypass line 27, and a part of the solvent is guided from the cooling line 24 to the chiller 25 for cooling.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional dry cleaner, a pump 50 is used to suck and discharge a large amount of solvent.
The operation sound of becomes considerably loud. This operation noise is not so noticeable during the washing process and the draining process because the drum is rotating, but is noticeable when the operation of the drum is stopped, and becomes a major factor of noise. Further, in the above-mentioned conventional dry cleaner, since a large flow rate of the solvent is circulated even during a period other than the cleaning process, there is also a problem that a large amount of power is consumed by the pump 50 and the running cost is high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem. It is an object of the present invention to reduce noise caused by pump noise during other than the washing process while maintaining high washing performance during the washing process. An object of the present invention is to provide a dry cleaner capable of securing sufficient solvent cooling performance while eliminating wasteful power consumption.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first dry cleaner for cleaning a solvent which is circulated and supplied to a washing tub during a cleaning process. In a dry cleaner that circulates through the solvent tank after purifying the solvent with a filter except during the process, a) a pump that can switch the flow rate to circulate the solvent, and b) the flow rate during the cleaning process is smaller than during the cleaning process Control means for controlling the pump to perform the control.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the dry cleaner, the dry cleaner further includes a bypass flow path provided in parallel with a flow path passing through the cooling means, and a flow path opening / closing means provided in the bypass flow path. The control means is configured to open the flow path opening / closing means to flow the solvent into the bypass flow path during the cleaning process, and to close the flow path opening / closing means and flow the solvent only to the cooling means except during the cleaning step. Can be.

A third dry cleaner according to the present invention is characterized in that the cooling operation of the cooling means is stopped during the cleaning process in the second dry cleaner.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As a pump in a first dry cleaner according to the present invention, for example, a pump capable of varying suction and discharge flow rates by changing the number of revolutions with a frequency inverter can be used. During the cleaning process, the control means drives the pump to rotate at a relatively high speed, thereby causing a large flow rate of the solvent to flow through the circulation path. The solvent is supplied to the washing tub after being purified in the filter, and the solvent discharged from the washing tub by overflow or drain returns to the solvent tank. Therefore, high cleaning performance can be obtained. At times other than the cleaning step, the control means drives the pump to rotate at a relatively low speed, thereby causing a small flow rate of the solvent to flow through the circulation path. After the solvent is purified in the filter, it is cooled by the cooling means and thereafter collected in the solvent tank. At this time, the solvent is purified and its temperature is kept constant.

In the second dry cleaner, the opening and closing of the flow path opening and closing means is controlled substantially in synchronization with the flow rate control of the pump. That is, when the flow rate of the solvent during the washing process is high, the flow path opening / closing means is opened, and the solvent flows through both the bypass flow path and the cooling means. If the pipe diameter of the bypass flow path is made larger than the pipe diameter of the cooling means, most of the solvent flows to the bypass flow path side,
A sufficient flow rate can be secured. On the other hand, when the flow rate of the solvent during the cleaning process is small, the flow path opening / closing means is closed,
Flow the solvent only through the cooling means. Therefore, the solvent is cooled to a predetermined temperature while slowly passing through the cooling means.

As described above, when the flow path opening / closing means is opened and the solvent flows through the bypass flow path having a large pipe diameter, the solvent flowing to the cooling means side may be excessively reduced, resulting in overcooling. For example, in a cooling means using a compressor, if it is overcooled, a load is applied to the compressor, which is likely to cause a failure. Therefore, in the third dry cleaner, the cooling operation of the cooling means is stopped during the cleaning process, that is, when the flow path opening / closing means is opened. At this time, the solvent is not cooled, and the temperature of the solvent gradually increases, but since the cleaning time is shorter than the other times, the temperature of the solvent does not become extremely high, and there is no safety problem.

[0017]

According to the first dry cleaner of the present invention, a large amount of solvent is supplied to the circulation path including the washing tub during the cleaning process, while the suction force of the pump is reduced except during the cleaning process. You. Therefore, high cleaning performance can be obtained during cleaning, and the operation noise of the pump is reduced during times other than the cleaning process, and power consumption is reduced.

According to the second dry cleaner, the bypass flow path is opened during the cleaning process, so that a large flow rate of the solvent flows smoothly. Solvent flows through the filter to the chiller. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently purify and cool the solvent except during the cleaning process while ensuring high cleaning performance during cleaning.

Further, according to the third dry cleaner, the operation of the chiller is stopped at the time of cleaning. Therefore, even if a very small amount or almost no solvent flows into the chiller, there is no possibility that the chiller will break down due to supercooling.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a dry cleaner according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a piping system of the dry cleaner of the present embodiment. The basic configuration is the same as the conventional configuration, except that the pump 19 is changed from the conventional one at a constant speed to a variable one at the rotation speed by inverter control, and is provided in the bypass line 27. The difference is that the bypass valve 28 is replaced by a conventional manual valve as an adjustment valve for automatic opening and closing control.

FIG. 2 is an electrical configuration diagram of the dry cleaner of the present embodiment. The control unit 40 includes a microcomputer and the like, and includes a ROM and the like in which an operation program is stored. A key input signal is input from the operation unit 41 to the control unit 40. Further, detection signals are input from the liquid level sensor 15, the solvent temperature sensor 26, the soap concentration sensor 31, and the flow rate sensor 32, respectively. Further, the control unit 40 outputs a signal to the display unit 42 for performing a display or the like for monitoring the progress of the operation. The control unit 40 outputs control signals to the valve driving circuit 43, the drum driving circuit 44, and the inverter control circuit 45 in accordance with the operation program stored in the ROM, and outputs the control signals to the liquid supply valve 30, the drain valve 1
2. It drives the respective adjustment valves of the tank circulation valve 29 and the bypass valve 28, the drum motor 46, and the pump 19, and controls the cooling operation of the chiller 25.

The processing operation of the control unit 40 in the dry cleaner having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. (1) During Cleaning Step FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the control unit 40 during the cleaning step. During the washing process, the control unit 40 controls the drum motor 46 to drive the drum in the washing tub 10 to rotate forward (reverse) at a low speed (30 to 50 rpm) (step S10). Further, the control unit 40 gives an instruction to the inverter control circuit 45 so that the rotation frequency of the pump 19 becomes 62 Hz (step S11).
Then, the tank circulation valve 29 is closed, and the bypass valve 28 and the liquid supply valve 30 are opened (steps S12 and S13). Further, the cooling operation of the chiller 25 is stopped (Step S14).

The solvent tank 16 is controlled by the pump 19.
The solvent sucked from is supplied to the washing tub 10 from the liquid supply line 33 through the bypass line 27 and the cooling line 24 via the filter 20. The solvent overflowing in the washing tub 10 returns to the solvent tank 16 via the overflow pipe 14. The pipe diameter of the bypass pipe 27 is the cooling pipe 24
Larger than the pipe diameter. Thereby, only a part of the large flow rate solvent purified by the filter 20 flows to the chiller 25 side, and most of the solvent flows to the bypass pipe 27. Since the operation of the chiller 25 is stopped, the solvent flowing through the chiller 25 merges with the solvent that has passed through the bypass pipe 27 without cooling, and flows into the washing tub 10.

A solvent of a predetermined level or higher is always stored in the washing tub 10, and the laundry in the drum is beat-washed. Until a predetermined cleaning time (usually about 8 to 10 minutes) elapses, the circulation of the solvent as described above is continued (step S1).
5) When the cleaning time has elapsed, the drum is stopped, and the process proceeds to a process other than the cleaning process (step S16).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing operation of the control unit 40 other than during the cleaning process. "Other than during the cleaning process" means all the states except the cleaning process during the period from when the power switch of the operation unit 41 of the dry cleaner is turned on to when it is turned off. including.

At this time, the control unit 40 controls the inverter control circuit 4 so that the rotation frequency of the pump 19 is set to 50 Hz.
5 is given an instruction (step S20). Then, the tank circulation valve 29 is opened, and the liquid supply valve 30 and the bypass valve 28 are closed (steps S21 and S2).
2). The rotation frequency of the pump 19 is set to 20
%, The suction capacity of the pump 19 decreases, and the flow rate of the solvent sucked from the solvent tank 16 decreases. The small flow rate solvent sucked and discharged by the pump 19 is purified by the filter 20, passes through the chiller 25, and returns to the solvent tank 16 via the tank circulation valve 29.

The control unit 40 monitors the temperature detected by the solvent temperature sensor 26 and determines that the detected temperature is a predetermined temperature (for example, 25 degrees).
C.) or less, the chiller 25 is not operated (step S23). When the temperature of the solvent rises and the detected temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the chiller 25 is operated to cool the passing solvent (step S24). Then, cooling is continued until the detected temperature becomes lower than the predetermined temperature (Step S).
25) When the temperature falls below the predetermined temperature, the cooling of the chiller 25 is stopped (step S26). Step S23 above
By repeating the processes from S26 to S26, the temperature of the solvent is prevented from greatly exceeding the predetermined temperature.

As described above, in the dry cleaner according to the present embodiment, the solvent is not cooled during the cleaning process, but is cooled only during the cleaning process. However, the solvent is cooled immediately before the cleaning is performed and immediately after the cleaning is completed, and the time during which the cooling is not performed is relatively short. There is no danger such as temperature.

The above embodiment is merely an example, and it is apparent that changes and modifications can be made within the spirit of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a piping system of a dry cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an electric configuration diagram of the dry cleaner according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a processing flowchart during a cleaning process of the dry cleaner according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart at the time other than the cleaning process of the dry cleaner according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a piping system of a conventional dry cleaner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Washing tank 16 ... Solvent tank 19 ... Pump 20 ... Filter 24 ... Cooling line 25 ... Chiller 26 ... Solvent temperature sensor 27 ... Bypass line 28 ... Bypass valve 29 ... Tank circulation valve 30 ... Supply valve 40 ... Control unit 43: Valve drive circuit 45: Inverter control circuit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A dry cleaner which circulates and supplies a solvent to a washing tub after purifying a solvent with a filter during a washing process, and circulates a solvent in a solvent tank after purifying the solvent with a filter except during the washing process. And b) control means for controlling the pump so as to reduce the flow rate during the cleaning process other than during the cleaning process. 2. A washing machine comprising: a bypass flow passage arranged in parallel with a flow passage passing through a cooling device; and a flow passage opening / closing device provided in the bypass flow passage. 2. The dry cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the solvent is made to flow through the bypass flow path by being opened, and the flow path opening / closing means is closed and the solvent is flowed only into the cooling means except during the cleaning process. 3. The dry cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the cooling operation of the cooling means is stopped during the cleaning process.