WO2008115030A1

WO2008115030A1 - Near-infrared ray heat generation system structure washing a drying machine

Info

Publication number: WO2008115030A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/001615
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seok-Hoon Jang
Original assignee: Seok-Hoon Jang
Priority date: 2007-03-21
Filing date: 2008-03-21
Publication date: 2008-09-25

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry drying machine equipped with a near-infarared-ray heating system. The present invention provides a near-infarared-ray heating system which enables to save significant amounts of energy and cost compared to conventional laundry driers using such fuels as natural gas and oil to generate heat. Furthermore, the new heating system installed in the laundry dryer deodorizes the laundry; softens the fabric to prevent static electricity; and sterilizes and disinfects the laundry by emitting near infrared rays, ensuring the hygiene and safety of the laundry to be used by a greater public in public places and businesses. In other words, the new heating system facilitates the process of drying laundry while saving energy and cost.

Description

NEAR-INFRARED RAY HEAT GENERATION SYSTEM STRUCTURE WASHING A DRYING MACHINE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a laundry drying machine equipped with a near- infrared-ray heat generation system that saves a significant amount of energy and cost required to dry laundry, in addition to providing such additional benefits as the de- odorization of the laundry; softening of the fabric to prevent the build-up of static electricity; and the sterilization and disinfection of the laundry by emitting near- infrared rays and heat. Background Art

[2] Conventional laundry drying machines generate heat by using natural gas and/or oil in order to dry laundry in a speedy manner. These drying machines are commonly used in households, businesses, and public organizations, such as hotels, public baths, and hospitals.

[3] Laundry drying machines used in large-scale businesses and organizations typically have a boiler- like heating apparatus that generates heat by using natural gas or oil. This heating apparatus is usually installed in the upper part of the drying machine so that the heat generated in the upper part of the drying machine moves downward, gravitated by the ventilator often installed in the lower part of the drying machine. While heat travels downward as such, the laundry placed in the drum in the middle part of the drying machine rotates. The laundry is dried by heat generated in the upper part of the machine and heat then is discharged out of the machine via a heat filter and an exterior duct connected to the drying machine.

[4] This boiler-styled heating apparatus of the drying machine using natural gas or oil for heating, however, has a number of disadvantages. First, it increases the overall price of the drying machine, since the consumer who purchases such a system is required an additional source of heat, such as a boiler, in addition to the drying machine. Second, such an apparatus also requires big amounts of fuels to generate heat. Third, such an apparatus does not provide other additional benefits, such as the deodorization, sterilization, and disinfection of the laundry or the softening of the fabric. Hence, additional measures are required to ensure the hygiene and safety of the laundry that has been dried in these conventional drying machines used at public organizations and businesses that deal with large clienteles. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem [5] It is an object of the present invention to provide a drying machine which enables to save a significant amount of energy and cost required to dry laundry, in addition to providing such additional benefits as the deodorization of the laundry; softening of the fabric to prevent the build-up of static electricity; and the sterilization and disinfection of the laundry by emitting near- infrared rays and heat.

Technical Solution [6] To achieve the objectives, the present invention provides a laundry drying machine equipped with a near-infrared-ray heat generation system that includes: [7] a rectangular body with at least one opening hole and one inserting hole in both the top and bottom surfaces as well as ventilating holes in the front and sides; [8] a rectangular base plate, which is inserted through the inserting hole in the body; which has a through hole in the center of its upper surface; and which has fixing holes in sides so that the plate can be fixed on the bottom of the body by screws; [9] a rectangular support plate, with support bars fixed in the fixing holes by screws and a step-like foot; [10] a U-shaped terminal support device to be fixed on the upper exterior surface of the foot; [11] a reflection plate, which is inserted through the opening hole in the body; which is fixed on the upper interior surface of the support plate by screws; which is curved into an arc form in side view with a heating part in its interior; and which includes a U- shaped fixing part at both ends of the curved part; [12] a near-infarared-ray lamp, the terminal ends of which are inserted into the terminal support; and which is installed together with the heating part; and, [13] a heating system, which is inserted through the opening hole in the body and fixed to both sides of the reflection plate; which includes U-shaped anchoring part on its top; which has side plates with receiving grooves in the lower half of its side designed to help the device avoid the interference from the near-infrared-ray lamp; and which is installed in the adjoining part of the drum of the dryer.

Advantageous Effects

[14] The near-infarared-ray heating system applied to the laundry dryer as such helps to save significant amounts of energy and cost compared to conventional laundry driers using such fuels as natural gas and oil to generate heat. Furthermore, the new heating system installed in the laundry dryer deodorizes the laundry; softens the fabric to prevent static electricity; and sterilizes and disinfects the laundry by emitting near infrared rays, ensuring the hygiene and safety of the laundry to be used by a greater public in public places and businesses. In other words, the new heating system facilitates the process of drying laundry while saving energy and cost. Brief Description of the Drawings

[15] Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the near- infrared-ray heating system according to the present invention.

[16] Figure 2 is a plane veiw of the embodiment in figure 1.

[17] Figure 3 is a partial cross section view of the embodiment in figure 1.

[18] Figure 4 is a separate perspective view of the embodiment in figure 1.

[19] Figure 5 is is a perspective view of another embodiment of the near-infrared-ray heating system according to the present invention. [20] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the laundry drying machine equipped with the near-infrared-ray heating system according to the present invention. [21] Figure 7 is a perspective view of another laundry drying machine equipped with the near-infrared-ray heating system according to the present invention. [22] Figure 8 is a table comparing the present invention to the conventional heating systems.

Mode for the Invention [23] The laundry drying machine equipped with a near-infrared-ray heat generation system as introduced by this invention functions with the following components, which are further illustrated and explained by the diagrams and figures attached herein: [24] a rectangular body with at least one opening hole (11) and one inserting hole (15) in both the top and bottom surfaces as well as ventilating holes (12) in the front and sides; [25] a rectangular base plate (20), which is inserted through the inserting hole (15) in the body; which has a through hole (21) in the center of its upper surface; and which has fixing holes (22) in sides so that the plate can be fixed on the bottom of the body (10) by screws; [26] a rectangular support plate (30), with support bars (32) fixed in the fixing holes (22) by screws and a step-like foot (31); [27] a U-shaped terminal support device (40) to be fixed on the upper exterior surface of the foot (31); [28] a reflection plate (50), which is inserted through the opening hole (11) in the body; which is fixed on the upper interior surface of the support plate (30) by screws; which is curved into an arc form in side view with the heating part (51) in its interior; and which includes a U-shaped fixing part (52) at both ends of the curved part; [29] a near-infarared-ray lamp (70), the terminal ends (71) of which are inserted into the terminal support (40); and which is installed together with the heating part; and, [30] a heating system (A), which is inserted through the opening hole (11) in the body

(10) and fixed to both sides of the reflection plate (40); which includes the U-shaped anchoring part (62) on its top; which has side plates (60) with receiving grooves (61) in the lower half of its side designed to help the device avoid the interference from the near-infrared-ray lamp (70); and which is installed in the adjoining part of the drum of the dryer.

[31] Furthermore, a mounting frame (14) is installed around the opening hole (11) in the body (10) to give additional support to the side plate (60) and the reflection plate (50). Extended tips (13) are formed in all corners around the opening hole (11) in order to prevent the side plate (60) from slipping from its original position due to the vibration of the drum.

[32] In addition, a protruding fixing part (63) has been designed to be inserted into the fixing part (52) of the reflection plate (50) to connect the reflection plate (50) to the side plate (60). This additional feature ensures that the two plates stay put together, external impact and shock notwithstanding.

[33] The present invention may share in common with the conventional laundry drying machine such features as the housing structure (1) with the frontal door; the rotating drum (2) to be placed within the housing (1); and the control panel (3) installed in the front of the housing (1).

[34] In the present invention, the near-infrared-ray heat generation system (A) is inserted near the drum inside the machine so that the near infrared rays and heat subsequently generated will deodorize, sterilize, and disinfect the laundry and soften its fabric (to prevent the build-up of static electricity) while also thoroughly drying the laundry.

[35] The assembly of the heat generation system (A) begins with inserting the base plate

(20) through the inserting hole (15) in the body (10) and fixing it (20) to the floor of the body (10) with screws.

[36] Once the base plate is fixed as mentioned, the terminal support (40) is fixed on the exterior of the step-like foot (31) that is formed around the rectangular support plate (30) using screws. The reflection plate (50) is installed inside the foot (31) of the support plate (30) and fixed with screws drilled into both sides of it (50).

[37] Once the reflection plate (50) is installed, the near-infrared-ray lamp (70) is placed into the heating part (51) of the reflection plate (40). The terminals (71) of the near- infrared-ray lamp (70) are then installed inside the terminal support (40), which, while retaining some elasticity, is fixed to the foot (41) of the support plate (30).

[38] Once the near-infrared-ray lamp (70) is installed inside the heating part (51) of the reflection plate (50), side plates (60) are attached to both sides of the reflection plate (50). These side plates (60), while attached to the reflection plate (50), are pulled downward a bit so that the near-infrared-ray lamp (70) is safely placed inside the grooves (61) of the side plates (60), while the lower parts of the side plates (60) are fixed to the step-like foot (31). This way, the fixing part (52) of the reflection plate (50) and the fixing parts (62) of the side plates (60) are positioned perpendicular to each other. The protruding fixing parts (63) formed on the fixing parts (62) of the side plates (60) are inserted into the fixing part (52) of the reflection plate (50).

[39] Once the side plates are set on both sides of the reflection plate (50), the lower parts of the side plates (60) are fixed on the sides of the step-like foot (31), while their upper parts, containing the protruding fixing parts (63), are inserted into the fixing part (52) of the reflection plate (50) so that the reflection plate (50) and the side plates (60) will stay put together even under external shock or impact.

[40] Once the heating system is fully assembled, it is combined with the body (10). This is done first by fixing the base plate (20) to the floor of the body (10) with screws. With the heating system closed by the side plates (60), the reflection plate (50, which contains the near-infrared-ray lamp (70) in its heating part (51) is inserted into the body (10) through the opening hole (11) along with the support plate (30) designed to support the reflection plate structure (40). Then, the reflection plate (50) and the fixing parts (62) of the side plates (60) are inserted into the mounting frame (14) installed around the opening hole (11) inside the body. Afterward, the fixing parts (62) of the side plates (60) are further secured by means of the extended tips (13) around the edge of the opening hole (11) in the body (10). Finally, the cable of the near-infrared-ray lamp (70) is pulled through the through hole (21) in the base plate (20). The support bars (32) of the support plate (30) are fixed to the fixing holes (22) in the base plate (20) and the support plate (30) is further secured to the exterior of the base plate (20) using screws.

[41] The laundry drying machine equipped with a near- infrared-ray heating system assembled as discussed so far work on the basis of the following mechanism:

[42] Infrared rays are found at the very end of a spectrum, outside the red part, that disperses light emitted by the sun or other light-emitting objects. Near-infrared rays are infrared rays with the shortest wavelengths.

[43] Near-infrared rays provide heating, photographic effects, photoelectric effects, and fluorescence that are used for a variety of medical and industrial purposes, such as sterilization, disinfection, and the treatment of various muscle- and joint-related conditions.

[44] The invention discussed herein seeks to apply these beneficial effects of near- infrared rays to the process of laundry drying. The heating system (A) installed in the laundry drying machine emits near-infrared rays that naturally deodorize, disinfect, and sterilize the laundry and soften its fabric.

[45] The laundry, from which excessive amounts of water have been removed, is placed within the drum of the drying machine. With the near- infrared-ray lamp (70) inside the heating system (A) connected to power, the drying machine is activated and the drum containing the laundry starts rotating. Near- infrared rays and heat generated by the lamp (70) then travels through the pores in the wall of the drum and reach the laundry, thereby drying it.

[46] While drying the laundry, near- infrared rays also spontaneously deodorize, sterilize, and disinfect the laundry and soften its fabric to prevent the build-up of static electricity, further ensuring the hygiene and safety of the laundry to be used by a greater public at public places and businesses without requiring additional processing or treatment of the laundry.

[47] As illustrated in Figure 8, this invention uses only 1/3 of the cost required by the conventional laundry drying machine using gas-generated steam. The invention also has a simpler structure than the conventional drying machine using gas-generated steam, which significantly reduces the risks of malfunctioning. The invention does not require much maintenance expenses, exce[t in cases when the near-infrared-ray lamp (70) has to be replaced after it has been used fully.

[48] The heating system (A) introduced by this invention can be installed in a number of ways. It can be installed in the upper part of the drying machine as shown in Figure 6. Multiple heating systems can be installed not only in the upper part, but also in the sides of the drying machine, as shown in Figure 7. Depending on the amount of near- infrared rays emitted by the lamp (70), the consumer, as shown in Figure 5, can choose how many opening holes (11) through which the lamps (70) will be inserted into the body (10) should be made. The consumer further can choose whether to install the near-infrared-ray lamps (70) vertically, or horizontally, or both.

[49] The near-infrared-ray heating system (A) of this invention can be simply installed to the existing, conventional laundry drying machines as well. The heating system is easy and inexpensive to install and maintain, and can be applied to a variety of systems that require heating.

[50] The discussion of the invention herein focuses on perhaps the easiest and most common way of applying the invention, i.e. to the laundry drying machine. The invention, however, is quite versatile in that it can be modified and applied to fit a variety of purposes. Anyone who possesses enough knowledge and expertise in the technical area to which this invention belongs can modify and apply this invention to purposes not discussed herein. Such acts of modification and application will also fall under the scope of claims presented herein.

Claims

[1] A laundry drying machine equipped with a near- infrared-ray heating system that includes the following components and features: a rectangular body with at least one opening hole (11) and one inserting hole (15) in both the top and bottom surfaces as well as ventilating holes (12) in the front and sides; a rectangular base plate (20), which is inserted through the inserting hole (15) in the body; which has a through hole (21) in the center of its upper surface; and which has fixing holes (22) in sides so that the plate can be fixed on the bottom of the body (10) by screws; a rectangular support plate (30), with support bars (32) fixed in the fixing holes (22) by screws and a step-like foot (31); a U-shaped terminal support device (40) to be fixed on the upper exterior surface of the foot (31); a reflection plate (50), which is inserted through the opening hole (11) in the body; which is fixed on the upper interior surface of the support plate (30) by screws; which is curved into an arc form in side view with the heating part (51) in its interior; and which includes a U-shaped fixing part (52) at both ends of the curved part; a near-infarared-ray lamp (70), the terminal ends (71) of which are inserted into the terminal support (40); and which is installed together with the heating part; and, a heating system (A), which is inserted through the opening hole (11) in the body (10) and fixed to both sides of the reflection plate (40); which includes the U- shaped anchoring part (62) on its top; which has side plates (60) with receiving grooves (61) in the lower half of its side designed to help the device avoid the interference from the near- infrared-ray lamp (70); and which is installed in the adjoining part of the drum of the dryer.

[2] The laundry drying machine equipped with a near-infrared-ray heating system according to Claim 1, wherein the laundry drying machine further includes: a mounting frame (14), installed around the opening hole (11) in the body (10) to give additional support to the side plate (60) and the reflection plate (50); and extended tips (13) formed in all corners around the opening hole (11) in order to prevent the side plate (60) from slipping from its original position due to the vibration of the drum.

[3] The laundry drying machine equipped with a near-infrared-ray heating system according to Claim 1, wherein the laundry drying machine further includes: a protruding fixing part (63) to be inserted into the fixing part (52) of the reflection plate (50) to connect the reflection plate (50) to the side plates (60).