KR100751783B1 - Dryer of washing machine and drying method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A dryer of a washing machine and a drying method thereof are provided to dry clothes uniformly and reduce a time of a dry process by discharging heated air from a front and rear part of a tub. A dryer of a washing machine includes a main duct(30), a tub(24), a plurality of drying ducts(60), a heater, a blowing member(70), and a direction conversion unit. The plurality of drying ducts is connected to a side of the main duct and supplies the tub with air which is transferred through the main duct. The plurality of drying ducts consists of first and second drying ducts(40,50). The first drying duct is connected to a front part of the tub and has a front outlet(42). The second drying duct is connected to a rear part of the tub and has a rear outlet having a gap from the front outlet. The heater is installed between the main duct and the drying ducts and heats the air transferred through the main duct. The blowing member is installed between the main duct and the drying ducts and supplies heated air to the tub. The direction conversion unit is installed on a divergence(100) in which the drying duct is diverged into the first and second drying ducts, and is selectively blocking the first and second drying ducts.

Description

Dryer of washing machine and drying method

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a conventional drum washing machine.

Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a conventional drum washing machine.

3 is a view showing a drying apparatus of the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a side cross-sectional view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the direction switching device in FIG. 3.

6 is a view showing a drying apparatus of a washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a view showing a conversion unit in the drying apparatus of the washing machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

20: cabinet 22: door

24: Tub 26: Drum

28: rear side 29: vent

30, 31: main duct 40: first drying duct

42: front exit 44: rear exit

50: second drying duct 60: drying duct

70: blowing member 72: heater

74: temperature sensor 80: motor

82: drive shaft 90: direction change device

92: blocking plate 94: driving source

96: rotating shaft 98: buffer member

100,110: switching unit

The present invention relates to a drying apparatus and a drying method of a washing machine, and more particularly, a drying apparatus of a washing machine to supply uniformly dried laundry by supplying air heated by a heater to a tub through a plurality of drying ducts; It relates to a drying method.

Recently, a washing machine has been introduced with a drying function in addition to a washing function. In general, a drying function is mainly installed in a drum washing machine.

Hereinafter, a drying function of a conventional washing machine will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a conventional washing machine, Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a conventional washing machine.

1 and 2, a general washing machine is provided with a cabinet 1 forming an exterior and a tub 7 installed so as to be suspended by a spring in the cabinet 1 and supported by a damper. do.

The drum (9) is rotatably installed inside the tub (7) to become a space in which washing water and laundry are contained, and the lift (11) protrudes at regular intervals on the inner wall surface of the drum (9). Is installed.

The lift 11 raises the laundry as the drum 9 is rotated and then falls off, thereby improving the washing force.

The drum 9 has a plurality of dehydration holes are formed on the inner wall surface to allow the washing water to flow freely to the drum 9 and the tub 7 side, and to allow the washing water to escape from the laundry by centrifugal force during dehydration.

On the other hand, the front of the drum (9) is opened and closed by a door (3) hinged to the cabinet (1).

A transparent glass 4 protrudes toward the drum 9 inside the door 3, and a rubber gasket 5 is installed between the door 3 and the tub 7 so that the tub ( The water stored in 7) is prevented from leaking into the space between the tub 7 and the drum 9.

At the rear of the tub (7) is connected to the drum (9) is installed a drive motor for rotating the drum (9).

The lower end of the tub 7 is connected to the lower end of the condensation duct 13, and the upper end of the condensation duct 13 is connected to the blower member 17.

In addition, a drying duct 15 having a heater 19 therein is connected to the blower member 17, and the drying duct 15 is connected to the front surface of the tub 7.

Looking at the operation of the conventional washing machine configured as described above are as follows.

In the state in which laundry is put into the drum 9, an appropriate amount of washing water is supplied into the tub 7 according to the quantity of laundry.

Then, as the driving source is operated to rotate the drum 9, the lift 11 lifts the laundry to a certain height, and then falls to wash the laundry.

When the washing stroke is completed as described above, the drain pump connected to the drain pipe is opened to drain the wash water, and then the motor is operated at high speed to wash the drum 9 by centrifugal force by rotating the drum 9 at high speed. Intermittent dehydration proceeds by allowing the water to escape, and the water supply valve is opened again to supply the wash water and at the same time the drum 9 rotates to rinse.

As such, rinsing and intermittent dehydration are repeatedly operated, followed by a dewatering stroke.

Then, when the drying stroke is entered, the blower member 17 is operated to suck the air containing the moisture inside the tub 7 through the condensation duct 13 to remove moisture from the air and send it to the drying duct 15. .

The air passing through the drying duct 15 flows into the front of the tub 7 while being heated by the heater 19 to dry the laundry inside the drum 9.

However, the laundry on the front of the drum 9 is well dried because the drying duct 15 that supplies the hot air to the tub 7 is dried only on the front of the tub 7, whereas the laundry on the rear of the drum 9 Located laundry will not dry properly.

The present invention has been made to improve the above problems, the laundry in the front of the laundry contained in the drum is dry and the laundry apparatus for solving the problem that the laundry located in the rear is not dry and Its purpose is to provide a drying method.

Drying apparatus of the washing machine according to the present invention; One side is provided in the main duct communicating with the tub, a plurality of drying ducts in communication with the other side of the main duct to supply the air transferred through the main duct to the tub, so that the air in the tub, And a blower member provided between the main duct and the drying duct to supply the air transferred through the main duct and supplying air heated by the heater to the tub.

Preferably, the heater unit is provided at a portion where the main duct and the drying duct are connected.

The plurality of drying ducts may include a first dry duct having an outlet at one side of the tub, and a second dry duct having an outlet at the other side of the tub to be spaced apart from an outlet of the first dry duct. .

The first drying duct has an outlet at the front of the tub, and the second drying duct has an outlet at the rear of the tub.

The switching unit branching from the main duct to the first drying duct and the second drying duct is provided with a redirection device for selectively shielding the first drying duct and the second drying duct.

In addition, the redirection device includes a driving source and a blocking plate which is operated by receiving power from the driving source.

The buffer member is installed at the stop position of the blocking plate.

In addition, a temperature sensor is mounted to the first drying duct and the second drying duct, and the temperature sensor includes a thermistor.

And, the lower end of the main duct is connected to the lower central portion of the tub, or is connected to the rear lower side of the tub.

In addition, a vent is formed at one side of the drum adjacent to the second drying duct.

The vent is formed on the rear side of the drum.

Drying method of the washing machine according to the present invention; Transferring air in the tub through the main duct, heating the transferred air using a heater unit, and supplying the heated air to the inside of the tub through a plurality of drying ducts to dry the laundry; do.

In the drying of the laundry, air is supplied using a blower member disposed between the main duct and the drying duct.

In the drying of the laundry, the direction change device is operated according to the temperature measured by the temperature sensor to shield the drying duct having a high temperature.

According to the present invention as described above, by uniformly drying the laundry by supplying the air heated by the heater to the front and rear of the tub through a plurality of drying ducts to provide improved drying performance.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this process, the thickness of the lines or the size of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of description. In addition, terms to be described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary according to the intention or convention of a user or an operator. Therefore, definitions of these terms should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

3 is a view showing a drying apparatus of the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view of Figure 3, Figure 5 is an enlarged view showing the direction changer in Figure 3, Figure 6 FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a drying apparatus of the washing machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a conversion unit in the drying apparatus of the washing machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, a drum washing machine is described as an example, but the present invention can be applied to other types of washing machines.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention forms an outer appearance by the cabinet 20, and a door 22 is installed at the front of the cabinet 20.

The inside of the cabinet 20 is provided with a tub 24 in which washing water, etc. are contained, and a drum 26 rotatably installed inside the tub 24.

The drum 26 is connected to the motor 80 and the drive shaft 82 providing the rotational power is to receive the rotational power.

The lower end of the main duct 30 in which one side is in communication with the tub 24 so that the air in the tub 24 is transferred is installed in the lower center portion of the tub 24.

A plurality of drying ducts 60 are provided in communication with the other side of the main duct 30 to supply the air transferred through the main duct 30 to the tub 24.

Two or more drying ducts 60 are provided so that the parts connected to the tub 24 are different. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the front outlet 42 is connected to the front surface of the tub 24. It is connected to the formed first drying duct 40 and the rear of the tub 24 is divided into a second drying duct 50 having a rear outlet 44 to be spaced apart from the front outlet 42.

A vent hole 29 is formed in the rear side 28 of the drum 26 adjacent to the rear outlet 44 so that hot air discharged through the rear outlet 44 flows into the drum 26. To facilitate.

However, when the drying duct 60 is connected to the side of the drum 26, a corresponding hole is formed in the side of the drum 26.

Between the main duct 30 and the drying duct 60, the heater unit 72 for heating the air transferred through the main duct 30, and the air heated by the heater unit 72 to the tub A blowing member 70 for supplying to 24 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first drying duct 40 and the second drying duct 50 are provided in the switching unit 100 branched into the first drying duct 40 and the second drying duct 50. ) Is provided with a redirection device (90) to selectively shield.

The direction switching device 90 is connected to the drive source 94 for generating rotational power using the motor 80, and the rotation shaft 96 of the drive source 94, the blocking plate 92 is rotated by receiving power It is configured to include).

In addition, a shock absorbing member 98 made of a material having elasticity is installed at the stop position of the blocking plate 92 so as to attenuate an impact when the blocking plate 92 stops after rotation.

In addition, a temperature sensor 74 is mounted inside or adjacent to the first drying duct 40 and the second drying duct 50, and the temperature sensor 74 uses a thermistor having excellent price / performance ratio. .

The temperature sensor 74 measures the temperature of the air passing through the first drying duct 40 and the second drying duct 50 and sends it to the controller.

As shown in FIG. 6, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the lower end of the main duct 31 is installed at the rear lower side of the tub 24.

To this end, the main duct 31 has a bent state, and an upper end of the main duct 31 is connected to a blowing member 70 located at the center of the tub 24.

And, as shown in Figure 7, according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the heater 110 by the separate flow path blocking device is not installed in the switching unit 110 where the main duct 30 and the drying duct 60 meets The heated air is simultaneously supplied to the first drying duct 40 and the second drying duct 50.

Hereinafter, a drying method of the washing machine having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, and a detailed description of the operation of the same components as in the prior art will be referred to.

When the washing machine is operated in a drying mode, power is supplied to the blower member 70 and the heater 72 to operate.

By the operation of the blower member 70, the air in the tub 24 is transferred to the heater unit 72 through the main duct 30.

Then, the air transferred to the heater unit 72 is heated by the heater unit 72 and the tub (through the drying duct 60 consisting of the first drying duct 40 and the second drying duct 50) It is supplied to the inside of 24 to have a step of drying the laundry.

In the step of drying the laundry by the temperature sensor 74 installed in the first drying duct 40 and the second drying duct 50 inside the first drying duct 40 or inside the second drying duct 50. If it is determined that the temperature is higher than the set temperature, the redirection device 90 is operated.

As the drive source 94 of the redirection device 90 is operated, the blocking plate 92 connected thereto is rotated to block the drying duct 60 of the higher temperature side, and the hot air into the drying duct 60 having a relatively low temperature. This flows so that the front and rear drying temperatures inside the tub 24 are uniform.

In the drying method of the washing machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention, the hot air heated by the heater unit 72 is heated by the first drying duct due to the absence of a separate turning device 90 in the drying of the laundry. 40) and the second drying duct 50 is naturally introduced to dry the laundry inside the tub (24).

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art to which the art belongs can make various modifications and other equivalent embodiments therefrom. Will understand. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the claims below.

As described above, according to the drying apparatus and drying method of the washing machine according to the present invention, the drying duct is connected to the front and rear of the tub, respectively, to provide hot air, so that the laundry is uniformly dried and the drying time of the laundry is shortened. To provide the effect.

Claims (16)

delete delete delete delete A main duct whose one side is in communication with the tub so that air in the tub is transferred; A plurality of drying ducts communicating with the other side of the main duct and supplying air transferred through the main duct to the tub; A heater unit provided in the drying duct to heat air transferred through the main duct; And A blowing member provided between the main duct and the drying duct to supply air heated by the heater to the tub, The plurality of drying ducts include a first drying duct having an outlet at one side of the tub, and a second drying duct having an outlet at the other side of the tub to be spaced apart from the outlet of the first drying duct. The switching unit branching from the main duct to the first drying duct and the second drying duct, the switching device for selectively shielding the first drying duct and the second drying duct is provided Drying equipment. The method of claim 5, The redirection device includes a drive source; Drying apparatus of the washing machine, characterized in that it comprises a blocking plate which is operated by receiving power from the drive source. The method of claim 6, Drying apparatus of the washing machine, characterized in that the buffer member is installed in the stop position of the blocking plate. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, Drying apparatus of the washing machine, characterized in that the temperature sensor is mounted to the first drying duct and the second drying duct. The method of claim 8, The temperature sensor is a drying device of a washing machine, characterized in that it comprises a thermistor. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, The lower end of the main duct is a drying device of the washing machine, characterized in that connected to the lower central portion of the tub. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, The lower end of the main duct is a drying device of the washing machine, characterized in that connected to the rear lower side of the tub. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, Drying apparatus of the washing machine, characterized in that the ventilation hole is formed on one side of the drum adjacent to the second drying duct. The method of claim 12, The vent is a drying device of the washing machine, characterized in that formed on the rear side of the drum. Transferring air in the tub through the main duct; Heating the conveyed air using a heater unit; And Drying the laundry by supplying the heated air into the tub through a plurality of drying ducts; Drying method of a washing machine comprising a. The method of claim 14, The drying method of the washing machine, characterized in that for supplying air using a blowing member disposed between the main duct and the drying duct in the drying of the laundry. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the drying of the laundry comprises operating a redirection device according to a temperature measured by a temperature sensor to shield a drying duct having a high temperature.

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