TWI585266B - Clothes dryer - Google Patents

Description

Clothes dryer Field of invention

The present invention is a dehumidifier having a function of automatically stopping clothes by drying them.

Background of the invention

Heretofore, a method of indirectly detecting the dryness of the laundry and ending the drying operation of the dehumidifier is known as Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-42512.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2003-42512 discloses a method of detecting the dryness of laundry by using the difference between the absolute humidity of the air in the vicinity of the laundry and the absolute humidity of the surrounding air, and the moving speed of the moisture in the laundry to the surrounding air. The bigger the phenomenon.

Therefore, the conventional dehumidifier has a sensor that can detect the temperature and relative humidity of the surrounding air. Further, the dehumidifier processes the signal of the sensor in a control unit equipped with a microcomputer, and detects that the drying is completed.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing the detailed description of the dry end detection of the conventional dehumidifier. As shown in FIG. 3, in step S101 after the start of the laundry drying operation, the temperature Tr of the surrounding air and the relative humidity Hr are measured. Then, according to For this information, the drying completion dryness Dx is set in S102. This Dx value is a value specified by the temperature and relative humidity of the surrounding air. The Dx value is obtained experimentally and stored as a table in a microcomputer.

Next, in S103, the measurement interval (1 minute) between the temperature Tr of the ambient air and the relative humidity Hr is set, and the next process is performed at each measurement interval.

First, in S106, the total heat Ir and the absolute humidity Xr of the surrounding air are obtained. Next, in S107, the relative humidity of the air in the vicinity of the laundry is taken as 100%, and the absolute humidity Xc of the air in the vicinity of the laundry is estimated from the total heat Ir.

Next, in S108, the coefficient α is multiplied by the difference between the obtained absolute humidity Xc of the air in the vicinity of the laundry and the absolute humidity Xr of the surrounding air, and the drying speed Tt (= α (Xc - Xr)) is calculated.

This drying speed Tt is added at a certain time interval (1 minute) in S109. The cumulative value ∫ Tt is the dryness of the clothes and is stored in the microcomputer. When the added cumulative value ∫ Tt has reached the dry completion dryness Dx value set in S102, it is determined that the drying of the laundry has ended (S110).

The above is briefly described as follows: From the measured temperature Tr of the ambient air and the relative humidity Hr, the total heat Ir and the absolute humidity Xr of the surrounding air are obtained. The absolute humidity Xc of the air in the vicinity of the laundry is estimated from the total heat Ir obtained, and the difference Xc-Xr between the ambient air and the absolute humidity of the air in the vicinity of the laundry is calculated as the drying speed Tt. Moreover, the drying speed Tt is added and accumulated according to a certain period, and when the added cumulative value ∫Tt has reached a predetermined value, It is judged that the drying of the laundry has ended.

In this manner, regardless of the environmental conditions, the breadth, and the amount of laundry in the room, the drying of the laundry can be accurately detected, and the waste of power consumption can be suppressed.

Summary of invention

A dehumidifier that estimates the dryness of the laundry to end the drying operation is generally not used in a room such as a living room that is frequently used, and is often used in a room that is less frequently used. That is, after the clothes are dried, since the room is not used immediately, the humidity of the room at the time of ending the drying operation is less likely to be considered.

However, in a house with a small number of rooms, the clothes are usually dried in a living room or the like that is frequently used. At this time, there is a problem that the laundry is dried, but the humidity of the room is still high, and the dehumidifier is stopped.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a dehumidifier that can maintain a comfortable room temperature after a laundry drying operation.

Therefore, the dehumidifier of the present invention has a dehumidifying portion and a blowing portion provided in the body, a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity of the surrounding air of the body, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the surrounding air of the body, and a control portion. The dehumidification unit and the air supply unit are controlled by the detected values of either or both of the humidity sensor and the temperature sensor, thereby performing the laundry drying operation or the dehumidification automatic operation. The drying operation of the clothes is at the beginning of the drying operation of the clothes. The predetermined value of the drying completion of the laundry drying operation is set from the temperature and relative humidity of the surrounding air. Further, the clothes drying operation calculates the drying speed of the laundry based on the temperature and relative humidity of the surrounding air obtained for each predetermined period of time. Further, in the clothes drying operation, the drying speed is added and accumulated for a predetermined period of time, and when the accumulated drying speed reaches a predetermined value, it is determined that the drying of the clothes has ended and the dehumidifier is automatically stopped. Moreover, the dehumidification automatic operation is: when the detected value of the humidity sensor is higher than the predetermined humidity, the dehumidifier is automatically operated, and when the detected value of the humidity sensor becomes a predetermined humidity, the dehumidifier is automatically stopped. . After the drying operation of the clothes is completed, the dehumidification automatic operation is continued.

In this way, since the dehumidification automatic operation is continued after the laundry drying operation is completed, the room after the laundry drying operation is completed is maintained at a comfortable humidity.

1‧‧‧ Ontology

2‧‧‧Dehumidification Department

3‧‧‧Air Supply Department

4‧‧‧Regeneration heater

5‧‧‧Control Department

6‧‧‧temperature sensor

7‧‧‧Humidity sensor

8‧‧‧ human sensor

9‧‧‧Operation display department

21‧‧‧Regeneration fan

22‧‧‧Rotating dehumidification runner

23‧‧‧ heat exchanger

24‧‧‧Sink

Dx‧‧‧drying to dryness

Hr‧‧‧ Relative humidity of the surrounding air

Ir‧‧‧ total heat of the surrounding air

Tr‧‧‧ ambient air temperature

Drying speed of Tt‧‧‧ clothes

Xc‧‧‧Absolute humidity of air near clothing

Absolute humidity of the surrounding air of Xr‧‧

Α‧‧ coefficient

∫ Tt‧‧‧ added cumulative value

Fig. 1 is a view showing the structure of a dehumidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a flow chart showing the detailed operation of the same dehumidifier.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing the detailed description of the dry end detection of the conventional dehumidifier.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(embodiment)

Fig. 1 is a view showing the structure of a dehumidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the dehumidifier has a dehumidifying unit 2 disposed in the body 1 and a blower. The unit 3, the regenerative heater 4, the control unit 5, the temperature sensor 6, the humidity sensor 7, the human sensor 8, and the operation display unit 9. The temperature sensor 6, the humidity sensor 7, and the human sensor 8 are connected to the control unit 5.

The dehumidifying unit 2 includes a regenerative fan 21, a swirling dehumidifying rotor 22, a heat exchanger 23, and a water tank 24.

By the driving of the blower unit 3, the air sucked in from the room is cooled by the heat exchanger 23, and then dehumidified in the dehumidification rotor 22, and the dehumidified air is again discharged into the room to dehumidify the air in the room.

The moisture that is absorbed by one of the dehumidification runners 22 is evaporated by the warm air heated by the regeneration heater 4 on the other side of the dehumidification rotor 22, cooled in the heat exchanger 23, condensed, and stored in the water tank. twenty four.

The humidity sensor 7 detects the relative humidity Hr of the ambient air of the body 1. The temperature sensor 6 detects the temperature Tr of the ambient air of the body 1.

The control unit 5 controls the dehumidifying unit 2, the air blowing unit 3, and the regenerative heater 4 by the detected values of either or both of the humidity sensor 7 and the temperature sensor 6. Further, the control unit 5 controls the dehumidifying unit 2 and the air blowing unit 3 to perform the laundry drying operation or the dehumidification automatic operation.

The laundry drying operation is to set a predetermined value of drying completion of the laundry drying operation from the ambient temperature Tr and the relative humidity Hr at the start of the laundry drying operation. Then, the drying speed Tt of the laundry is calculated based on the temperature Tr of the surrounding air obtained by the predetermined time and the relative humidity Hr. Further, the drying speed Tt is added and accumulated for each certain period of time. When the accumulated drying speed has reached the predetermined value of the completion of drying, it is determined that the drying of the laundry has ended, and the dehumidification machine is automatically stopped. In addition, the dry completed pre The fixed value is 5200 [-] at the start of the laundry drying operation, for example, when the temperature of the surrounding air is 20 ° C and the relative humidity is 70%.

The dehumidification automatic operation is such that when the detected value of the humidity sensor 7 is higher than the predetermined humidity, the dehumidifier automatically operates, and when the detected value of the humidity sensor 7 becomes a predetermined humidity, the dehumidifier automatically stops. Moreover, the dehumidifier will continue the dehumidification automatic operation after the laundry drying operation is completed. In addition, the predetermined humidity refers to, for example, 50% to 60%.

Further, although not shown in the figure, the operation display unit 9 has a switch that allows the user to select an operation mode--"Keep Dry" that continues the dehumidification automatic operation after the laundry drying operation is completed.

The embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the dehumidification automatic operation is continued after the laundry drying operation is completed.

Hereinafter, a detailed flow chart showing the operation of the dehumidifier according to the embodiment of the present invention, that is, FIG. 2 will be specifically described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation from when the user presses the laundry drying operation start switch of the operation display unit 9 of FIG. 1 to when the laundry drying operation is automatically completed.

In S101, the temperature sensor 6 and the humidity sensor 7 of Fig. 1 respectively detect the temperature Tr of the surrounding air and the relative humidity Hr. Next, in S102, a Dx table of the drying completion dryness Dx defined by the temperature Tr of the surrounding air and the relative humidity Hr is set. The control unit 5 of FIG. 1 , that is, a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as a microcomputer), is set from the Dx table by the drying completion degree Dx corresponding to the temperature Tr of the detected surrounding air and the relative humidity Hr. Here, the Dx value is obtained by the experiment and stored as a table in the microcomputer.

Subsequent to S103, the ambient temperature Tr and the relative humidity Hr are detected every predetermined interval, for example, every minute. Based on this data, the microcomputer performs the process of S104 or lower.

That is, in S106, the total heat Ir and the absolute humidity Xr of the surrounding air are obtained from the temperature Tr of the surrounding air and the relative humidity Hr. Next, in S107, the relative humidity of the air in the vicinity of the laundry is taken as 100%, and the absolute humidity Xc of the air in the vicinity of the laundry is estimated from the total heat Ir of the surrounding air and the absolute humidity Xr.

Next, in S108, the control unit 5 of Fig. 1 multiplies the difference between the absolute humidity Xc of the air in the vicinity of the laundry and the absolute humidity Xr of the surrounding air by the coefficient α to calculate the drying speed Tt (= α (Xc - Xr)) .

The drying speed Tt is added and accumulated in S109, and is stored in the memory in the microcomputer as the added cumulative value ∫Tt.

In S110, the accumulated cumulative value ∫ Tt added in S109 and the dry completed dryness Dx set in S102 are compared. For "∫ Tt≧Dx?", if "NO", it is confirmed whether or not the measurement interval t is 1 minute or longer (S111), and the process proceeds to S105. Then, the temperature Tr of the ambient air and the relative humidity Hr are detected, and the microcomputer performs processing according to the temperature Tr of the surrounding air and the relative humidity Hr. If YES, the clothes drying operation is ended (S112).

Then, in the next S11, it is checked whether or not the operation display unit 9 of Fig. 1 is set to "Keep Dry" in which the operation mode of the dehumidification automatic operation is continued after the laundry drying operation is completed. If it is "No" here, the dehumidifier will be completely stopped. If YES, the dehumidifier starts the dehumidification automatic operation (S12).

By starting the dehumidification automatic operation, even if the humidity of the room is high and unpleasant after the end of the drying operation, the dehumidification can be automatically operated to eliminate such an uncomfortable state, and the room can be made. The humidity is kept in a comfortable state.

Here, when the dehumidifier starts the dehumidification automatic operation, the dehumidifying unit 2, the air blowing unit 3, and the regenerative heater 4 are not stopped, and the relative humidity Hr of the surrounding air is detected by the humidity sensor 7. When the detected value of the humidity sensor 7 is higher than the predetermined humidity, since the dehumidification machine continues to operate by the operation mode in response to the detected value of the humidity sensor 7, the switching to the dehumidification automatic operation becomes faster. Further, since the dehumidifying unit 2, the air blowing unit 3, and the regenerative heater 4 are not stopped, the power consumption required for restarting can be reduced as compared with the case where the dehumidifying unit 2, the air blowing unit 3, and the regenerative heater 4 are stopped.

Further, when the detected value of the humidity sensor 7 is lower than the predetermined humidity, the relative humidity Hr of the surrounding air is detected by the humidity sensor 7 at a certain interval, for example, every one minute, and the dehumidifying ability is the lowest. In the operation mode, the operation of the dehumidifying unit 2, the air blowing unit 3, and the regenerative heater 4 is continued. Here, when the detected value of the humidity sensor 7 is lower than the predetermined humidity after the predetermined time elapses, the dehumidifier also stops the dehumidification automatic operation.

On the other hand, when the detected value of the humidity sensor 7 is higher than the predetermined humidity after the predetermined time elapses, the dehumidifying unit 2 and the air blowing unit are caused by the operation mode in response to the detected value of the humidity sensor 7. 3. The regenerative heater 4 continues to operate, and the switching of the conventional dehumidification automatic operation becomes faster. Further, compared with the case where the dehumidifying unit 2, the air blowing unit 3, and the regenerative heater 4 are stopped, the power consumption required for restarting can be reduced.

Moreover, since the air volume of the clothes drying operation is larger than the air volume of the dehumidification automatic operation, the time of the clothes drying operation is shortened compared to the case where the air volume of the clothes drying operation and the air volume of the dehumidification automatic operation are the same. That is, since the time during which the laundry is wet becomes short, the growth of bacteria in the drying of the laundry can be suppressed. Further, since the time for generating moisture from the laundry is shortened, the high humidity state in the room is shortened, and generation of mold and the like can be suppressed.

Further, in the dehumidification automatic operation, if the target humidity setting value is about 40% or more and 70% or less of the relative humidity, the user's selection range will become wider.

Further, in the dehumidification automatic operation, by automatically setting the timing operation for a certain period of time, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to turn off.

Also, the dehumidifier has a human sensor 8 that can sense a person. When the human sensor 8 senses a person, the target humidity setting value of the dehumidification automatic operation is changed to a relative humidity of about 65%. In this way, the humidity in the room is not too dry, providing a mild environment that does not damage the skin.

Further, the dehumidifying unit 2 has been described using a desiccant method, but may be a compressor method or a mixing method.

As described above, the dehumidifier according to the embodiment of the present invention estimates the dryness of the laundry and ends the drying operation. Further, the dehumidifier of the present invention has a switch for continuing the dehumidification automatic operation after the laundry drying operation is completed, and the dehumidification automatic operation is performed after the laundry drying operation is completed, so that the humidity of the room can be maintained in a comfortable state.

S11, S12, S101~S112‧‧‧ steps

Claims (6)

A clothes dryer characterized by comprising: a dehumidifying portion and a blowing portion disposed in the body; a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity of the surrounding air of the body; and a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the surrounding air of the body; and The control unit controls the dehumidifying unit and the air blowing unit by using the detected values of the humidity sensor and the temperature sensor, thereby performing a clothes drying operation or a dehumidification automatic operation; In the laundry drying operation, at the start of the drying operation of the laundry, a predetermined value of the drying completion of the laundry drying operation is set from the temperature and the relative humidity of the surrounding air, and the temperature of the peripheral air obtained by the predetermined time is used. Calculating the drying speed of the laundry by the relative humidity, accumulating the drying speed for each predetermined period of time, and determining that the drying of the laundry is completed and automatically stops when the accumulated drying speed reaches the predetermined value; and the dehumidification is performed. The automatic operation is: when the detected value of the aforementioned humidity sensor is higher than a predetermined humidity, then in the foregoing Automatic operation continues after the end of drying was the current detected value of said humidity sensor becomes the predetermined humidity is automatically stopped, while the room is provided with a clothes dryer of the dehumidifying. The clothes dryer of claim 1, wherein the air volume of the laundry drying operation is larger than the air volume of the dehumidification automatic operation. A clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the aforementioned dehumidification is For the dynamic operation, the target humidity setting value is 40% or more and 70% or less of the relative humidity. The clothes dryer of claim 1, wherein the aforementioned dehumidification automatic operation is a timed operation that automatically sets a certain time. The clothes dryer of claim 1, further comprising a human sensor, wherein the human sensor senses a humidity setting of the target of the dehumidification automatic operation to a relative humidity of 65% when the person is sensed. The clothes dryer of claim 1, further comprising a switch for continuing the dehumidification automatic operation after the drying operation of the laundry is completed.