KR100465726B1 - A dryer and control method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dryer and a method of controlling the same, by which exhausted air can be circulated to a heater to increase energy efficiency and shorten drying time.

The present invention includes a drum rotatably disposed inside the case; A blowing fan for generating a blowing force to blow air into the drum; Driving means for rotating the drum and the blowing fan; A heater installed inside the case to heat air; Suction guide means for guiding the air passing through the heater to be sucked into the drum; Including the exhaust and circulation means for guiding the air inside the drum to be exhausted to the outside of the case and circulated to the heater to increase the energy efficiency as well as shorten the drying time, When the air to be exhausted is circulated to the heater at high temperature or low humidity, it is possible to prevent overload and damage of the heater, increase energy efficiency, and shorten drying time.

Description

A dryer and control method of the same

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dryer for drying clothes and the like, and more particularly, to a dryer for circulating some of the air exhausted to the outside by a heater and a control method thereof.

In general, a clothes drying apparatus is a device for drying clothes by blowing dry hot air heated by a heater into an accommodation space in which clothes and the like are accommodated, and are divided into a dryer having only a drying function and a dry washing machine having a washing function.

The dryer lifts the clothes and the like while the drum rotates and drops them, and supplies the drying hot air passing through the heater to the inside of the drum to dry the clothes and the like.

Figure 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the air flow inside the dryer according to the prior art, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the dryer according to the prior art, Figure 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the dryer according to the prior art.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a conventional dryer is configured to form an exterior of a dryer and to have a case 2 having an entry hole 2a formed on a front surface thereof, and a case 2 rotatably disposed inside the case 2. And a drum (12) opened in the front-rear direction so that the dry matter is received therein and air passes therethrough, a heater (18) disposed inside the case (2) for heating air, and the heater (18). The hot air guide duct 20 for guiding the air to the rear of the drum 12 so that the air passing through it is discharged from the rear side of the drum 12 to the front, and the turbid air while drying the dry object A motor for generating a driving force for discharging the exhaust means 22 to be discharged to the outside of the case 2, the blowing fan 30 provided in the exhaust means 22, and the blowing fan 30 and the drum 12. 32 and the motor 32 to rotate the drum 12 And a root (40).

The drum 12 is disposed on the inner circumferential surface is a lift 11 for lifting the object to drop.

The exhaust means 22 has a lint duct 25 through which air in the drum 12 is sucked and a filter 24 is mounted to filter foreign matter, and the lint duct 25 communicates with the blower fan 30. It consists of a fan housing 26 enclosing the exhaust housing and an exhaust duct 27 having one end communicating with the fan housing 26 and the other end disposed outside the case 2.

On the other hand, the dryer is supported by the rear end of the drum 12 and the rear supporter 14 having a discharge network 15 so that the hot air guided by the hot air guide duct 20 can be discharged to the drum; The front supporter 16 further includes a front supporter 16 rotatably supporting the tip of the drum 12 and having an entry and exit hole 16a formed at a rear portion of the entry and exit hole 2a.

On the other hand, the case (2) is coupled to the cabinet (3) and the front end of the cabinet (3) forming a side of the dryer and the dry entry hole (2a) is formed in the center and the dry entry hole (2a) A cabinet cover 4 having a door 9 for rotatable opening and closing, and an air intake hole 5a coupled to a rear end of the cabinet 3 and into which outside air is sucked, and the exhaust duct ( A back panel 5 having a duct through hole 5b through which 22 is penetrated, a top cover 6 coupled to an upper surface of the cabinet 3 to form an upper surface of a dryer, and a top cover 6 above the top cover 6. It is composed of a combined control panel 7 and a base 8 coupled to the bottom of the cabinet 3 to form the bottom of the dryer and to which the heater 18 and the motor 32 are mounted.

Looking at the operation of the prior art configured as described above are as follows.

First, after inserting a dry object into the drum 12, closing the door 9 and operating the dryer, the motor 32 is driven to rotate the drum 12 and the blowing fan 30. The heater 18 heats the air therein.

At this time, the dry matter in the drum 12 is lifted by the lift 11 and then dropped.

In addition, the air outside the case 2 is sucked into the air intake hole 5a by the blowing force generated when the blowing fan 30 is rotated, and passes through the inside of the heater 18 as high temperature and low humidity air. Heated and discharged into the drum 12 through the hot air guide duct 20 and the discharge network 15.

After the high temperature and low humidity air supplied into the drum 12 is in direct contact with the object to be dropped, the air is dried and moved to the front end side of the drum 12 while being converted into air of low temperature and high humidity. It is discharged out of the dryer through the exhaust duct 27.

On the other hand, if the drying and cooling are repeated by turning on / off the heater 18 in order to prevent damage to the dry items as described above, there is a problem that the drying time of the dry items is long.

However, in the dryer according to the prior art, after the dry items are sufficiently dried, the air exhausted from the drum 12 is in a relatively high temperature and low humidity state as compared with the initial operation of the dryer, and the air of the high temperature and low humidity is the exhaust duct Since it is exhausted to the outside of the dryer through the 27, there is a problem of low energy efficiency.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dryer that can circulate the exhaust air to the heater to increase the energy efficiency and shorten the drying time.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a control method of a dryer that allows only low humidity air to be circulated to the heater to prevent overload and damage of the heater, and to increase energy efficiency and shorten drying time.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a control method of a dryer that allows only hot air to be circulated to a heater to increase energy efficiency and shorten drying time.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the air flow inside the dryer according to the prior art,

2 is an exploded perspective view of a dryer according to the prior art,

3 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a dryer according to the prior art,

Figure 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the air flow inside the dryer according to the present invention,

5 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a dryer according to the present invention;

6 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an embodiment of the dryer according to the present invention;

7 is a control block diagram of a dryer according to the present invention;

8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control method of a dryer according to the present invention;

9 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a control method of a dryer according to the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

52: case 60: drum

61: lift 64: blowing fan

67: biaxial motor 67a: pulley

68: belt 80: heater

86: hot air guide means 100: exhaust and circulation means

102: lint duct 104: fan housing

106: exhaust duct 106a: communication hole

109: circulation duct 110: rear supporter

111: discharge hole 120: front supporter

130: filter 140: on-off valve

150: control unit 152: humidity sensor

156: temperature sensor

Dryer according to the present invention for solving the above problems is a drum disposed inside the case rotatably; A blowing fan for generating a blowing force to blow air into the drum; Driving means for rotating the drum and the blowing fan; A heater installed inside the case to heat air; Suction guide means for guiding the air passing through the heater to be sucked into the drum; And an exhaust and circulation means for guiding the air in the drum to be exhausted to the outside of the case and circulating to the heater.

In addition, the control method of the dryer according to the present invention comprises a first step of sensing the humidity of the air exhausted from the drum; A second step of comparing the humidity sensed in the first step with a predetermined value; And a third step in which the exhausted air is circulated to the heater when the detected humidity is less than or equal to a predetermined value as a result of the comparison of the second step.

In addition, the control method of the dryer according to the present invention comprises a first step of sensing the temperature of the air exhausted from the drum; A second step of comparing the temperature sensed in the first step with a predetermined value; And a third step of circulating the exhausted air to the heater when the detected temperature is greater than or equal to a predetermined value as a result of the comparison of the second step.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the air flow inside the dryer according to the invention, Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the dryer according to the invention, Figure 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view of one embodiment of the dryer according to the present invention 7 is a control block diagram of a dryer according to the present invention.

Dryer according to the present invention, as shown in Figure 4 to 7, a case 52 for forming the appearance of the dryer; A drum (60) rotatably disposed in the case (52); A blowing fan (64) for generating a blowing force to blow air into the drum (60); Drive means for rotating the drum (60) and the blowing fan (64); A heater 80 installed inside the case 52 to heat air; Suction guide means (86) for guiding the air passing through the heater (80) to be sucked into the drum (60); It comprises an exhaust and circulation means 100 for guiding the air in the drum 60 to be exhausted to the outside of the case 52 and to be circulated to the heater 80.

The case 52 includes a cabinet 53 forming a side surface of the dryer, a cabinet cover 54 coupled to the front end of the cabinet 53 and having an entry hole 52a formed at the center thereof, and the cabinet 53. And a back panel 55 formed at a rear end of the rear panel 55 and having a through hole 55b through which a part of the exhaust and circulation means 100 penetrates. A top cover 56 coupled to an upper surface of the 53 to form an upper surface of the dryer, a control panel 57 coupled to the top cover 56 and arranged with an operation manipulation unit 57a, and the cabinet 53 It is coupled to the bottom of the dryer to form the bottom surface and comprises a base 58, the heater 80 is mounted.

The cabinet cover 54 is rotatably mounted to a door 59 for opening and closing the object entry hole 52a next to the object entry hole 52a.

The drum 60 is opened in the front-rear direction so that the dry matter is accommodated therein and air passes in the front-rear direction, and a lift 61 is disposed to lift and drop the dry matter on the inner circumferential surface.

The driving means is a two-axis motor 67, one shaft is connected to the rotational center of the blower fan 64, the pulley 67a is mounted on the other shaft, and a belt wound around the outer periphery of the pulley 67a and the drum 60 ( 68, the two-axis motor 67 is driven when the blowing fan 64 and the drum 60 is rotated together.

The heater 80 is composed of a heater case hollow in the front and rear direction, and a heating coil arranged inside the heater case, when power is supplied to the heating coil, the inner space of the heater case and the heater case is heated to the inside of the heater case The air passing through is heated with air of high temperature and low humidity.

Meanwhile, the dryer further includes a rear supporter 110 fixed to the case 52 to rotatably support the rear end of the drum 60 and having a discharge hole 111 and a discharge network 112 formed at one side thereof. .

The rear supporter 110 has a circular stepped portion 115 protruding protrudingly on the front surface of the rear supporter 110 to rotatably support the tip of the drum 57, and a guide roller 116 on which the drum 60 is placed is disposed. do.

One end of the suction guide means 86 is a hot air guide duct connected to the outlet 82 of the heater 80 and the other end of the suction guide means 86 to communicate with the discharge hole 111 of the rear supporter 100.

In addition, the dryer includes a front supporter 120 fixed to the case 52 to rotatably support the tip of the drum 60 and having a laundry access hole 120a formed at the center thereof.

The front supporter 120 has a ring-shaped guide protrusion (not shown) rotatably supporting the front end of the drum 60 on the rear surface thereof, and a guide roller (not shown) on which the drum 60 is raised is disposed. .

The exhaust and circulation means 100 is arranged so that the inlet is communicated with the drum 60 so that the air in the drum 60 can be exhausted, and the filter 130 can filter foreign substances such as seams in the exhausted air. ) Is mounted to the lint duct 102, the fan housing 104 in communication with the lint duct 102 and surrounding the blowing fan 64, one end is in communication with the fan housing 104, the other end is the case An exhaust duct 106 disposed outside the 52 and one end of the exhaust duct 106 communicate with each other, and the other end of the circulation duct 109 disposed in front of the inlet 81 of the heater 80. It is composed.

Here, the filter 130 is inserted into the inlet 103 of the lint duct 102 through an opening hole (not shown) formed in the front supporter 120.

In addition, the lint duct 102 is disposed below the front supporter 120 and has an outlet (not shown) communicating with the fan housing 104 on one side of the rear surface.

The fan housing 104 is disposed above the base 58 and has an outlet (not shown) through which one end of the exhaust duct 106 communicates with one side of the base 58.

The circulation duct 109 is preferably formed bent upward or downward when there is a height difference between one side of the exhaust duct 106 and the inlet of the heater 80, the one side of the exhaust duct 106 and the heater 80 If there is a difference in distance between the inlet is preferably formed bent forward or backward.

On the other hand, the exhaust and circulation means 100 is further configured to include an opening and closing valve 140 for opening and closing the flow path of the exhaust and circulation means 100 to intermittent the air circulated to the heater (80).

Here, the opening and closing valve 140 is mounted inside the circulation duct 109, and is operated only when the air exhausted through the exhaust duct 106 is high temperature or low humidity so that high temperature air or low humidity air is circulated. It is circulated through the duct 109 to the heater 80.

On the other hand, the dryer is mounted on any one of the filter 130, the lint duct 102 and the exhaust duct 106, the humidity sensor 152 for sensing the humidity of the air exhausted from the drum 60, and A temperature sensor 156 mounted on one of the filter 130, the lint duct 102, and the exhaust duct 106 to sense the temperature of the air exhausted from the drum 60, the biaxial motor 67, and the heater; It further comprises a control unit 150 for controlling the 80 and the valve valve 140.

Reference numeral 106a is a communication hole formed near the inlet of the exhaust duct 106 so that one end of the circulation duct 109 may be connected in communication.

Looking at the operation of the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control method of a dryer according to the present invention.

First, after the object to be dried is inserted into the drum 60, the door 59 is closed, and the operation unit 57a is operated to operate the dryer, and the two-axis motor 67 is driven to drive the drum. 60 and the blower fan 64 are rotated, and power is supplied to the heater 80 so that the air inside the heater 80 is heated. (S1, S2)

At this time, the object to be dried in the drum 60 is repeatedly lifted by the lift 61 and the operation of falling.

In addition, the air outside the case 52 is sucked into the air suction hole 55a by the blowing force generated when the blowing fan 64 is rotated, and the sucked air passes through the inside of the heater 80. While being heated with air of high temperature and low humidity, it is discharged into the drum 60 through the hot air guide duct 86 and the discharge hole 111 of the rear supporter 110.

The hot air of the high temperature and low humidity discharged into the drum 60 is moved toward the front of the drum 60 to dry the dry matter, and the lint duct 102 is changed to low temperature and high humidity by moisture absorbed from the dry matter. Is exhausted.

The air exhausted into the lint duct 102 passes through the filter 130 and is cleaned by filtering foreign matter such as seams, and passes through the lint duct 102, the fan housing 104, and the exhaust duct 106 in order. To the outside of the dryer.

On the other hand, the amount of moisture absorbed from the dry by the operation of the dryer gradually decreases and the air exhausted through the lint duct 102 and the fan housing 104 and the exhaust duct 106 is relatively high temperature and low humidity than the initial Exhaust in one state.

In addition, the humidity sensor 152 detects the humidity of the air exhausted from the drum 60 while the operation of the dryer is in progress.

The controller 150 compares the exhaust humidity detected by the humidity sensor 152 with a predetermined value, and turns on / off the valve 140 when the detected humidity is less than or equal to the predetermined value (S4, S5). )

The on-off valve 140 turns on the circulation duct 109, and a part of the low humidity air exhausted through the exhaust duct 106 passes through the interior of the circulation duct 109. Circulated to

The low-humidity air circulated to the heater 80 is heated together with the air newly sucked into the heater 80 around the heater 80, and is re-introduced into the drum 60 through the hot air guide duct 86. Redry the dry matter.

That is, since the low humidity air circulated through the circulation duct 109 is relatively hotter than the newly sucked air around the heater 80, the heater 80 reduces the load and thus the energy efficiency is high. The dry matter in) is dried in a faster time, and the drying time is shortened.

Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited to controlling the open / close valve 140 by the detected humidity sensed by the humidity sensor 152 as described above, and the open / close valve is detected by the detected temperature detected by the temperature sensor 156. Of course, it is also possible to control the 140.

9 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a control method of a dryer according to the present invention.

When both shaft motors 67 are driven by the driving operation of the driving operation unit 57a and power is supplied to the heater 80, the dry items in the drum 60 are dried by air heated in the heater, The temperature sensor 156 senses the temperature of the air exhausted from the drum 60. (S11, S12, S13)

The controller 150 compares the exhaust temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 156 with a predetermined value, and turns on / off the valve 140 when the detected temperature is greater than or equal to the predetermined value as a result of the temperature comparison (S14, S15). )

The on-off valve 140 turns on the circulation duct 109, and a part of the hot air exhausted through the exhaust duct 106 passes through the interior of the circulation duct 109. Circulated to

The hot air circulated to the heater 80 is dried and heated together with the air newly sucked into the heater 80 around the heater 80 and then reintroduced into the drum 60 through the hot air guide duct 86. To rebuild the building.

In the dryer of the present invention configured as described above, the air heated in the heater passes through the drum to dry the dry matter, and part of the air exhausted from the drum is circulated to the heater to redry the dry matter, thereby reducing the load of the heater. By reducing the energy efficiency can be increased, there is an advantage that can shorten the drying time.

The exhaust and circulation means may include a lint duct through which air in the drum is exhausted and a filter is installed to filter foreign matter, a fan housing in communication with the lint duct and surrounding the fan, and one end in communication with the other end of the fan housing. It consists of an exhaust duct disposed outside the case and a circulation duct whose one end is in communication with one side of the exhaust duct and the other end is disposed in front of the inlet of the heater. There is an advantage.

In addition, the exhaust and circulation means further comprises an opening and closing valve to control the air circulated to the heater there is an advantage that can easily adjust the circulation of the exhaust air.

In addition, the control method of the dryer according to the present invention after detecting the humidity of the air exhausted from the drum, and compared with the detected humidity and a predetermined value, if the detected humidity is less than the predetermined value so that the exhaust air is circulated to the heater Since the on-off valve installed in the circulation duct is turned on, only low-humidity air is circulated to the heater, thereby providing an advantage of preventing damage and overload of the heater.

In addition, the control method of the dryer according to the present invention after detecting the temperature of the air exhausted from the drum, and compared with the detected temperature and a predetermined value, if the detected temperature is more than the predetermined value so that the exhaust air can be circulated to the heater Since the on-off valve installed in the circulation duct is turned on, only hot air is circulated to the heater, which has the advantage of high energy efficiency.

Claims (5)

A drum rotatably disposed inside the case; A blowing fan for generating a blowing force to blow air into the drum; Driving means for rotating the drum and the blowing fan; A heater installed inside the case to heat air; Suction guide means for guiding the air passing through the heater to be sucked into the drum; And an exhaust and circulation means for guiding the air inside the drum to be exhausted to the outside of the case and to be circulated to the heater. The method of claim 1, The exhaust and circulation means includes a lint duct through which air in the drum is exhausted, a fan housing in communication with the lint duct, and enclosing the fan, and one end in communication with the fan housing and the other end disposed outside the case. Dryer comprising a duct and a circulation duct, one end of which is in communication with one side of the exhaust duct and the other end is disposed in front of the inlet of the heater. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The exhaust and circulation means is a dryer characterized in that it further comprises an opening and closing valve to control the air circulated to the heater. A first step of sensing humidity of air exhausted from the drum; A second step of comparing the humidity sensed in the first step with a predetermined value; And a third step in which the exhaust air is circulated to the heater when the detected humidity is less than a predetermined value as a result of the comparison of the second step. A first step of sensing a temperature of air exhausted from the drum; A second step of comparing the temperature sensed in the first step with a predetermined value; And a third step of circulating the exhausted air to the heater when the detected temperature is greater than or equal to a predetermined value as a result of the comparison of the second step.