JP2013244171A - Clothes dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to effectively sterilize germs adhering to clothing.
SOLUTION: Air passages 12 and 13 for introducing drying air blown by blowing means 9 and 15 into the drum, heating means 5 and 16 for heating the drying air, and the degree of drying of clothes put into the drum 1 A drying detection means 18 for detecting the temperature, an infrared temperature detection means 21 for detecting the temperature of the clothes in the drum 1, and a control means 22 for controlling the drying operation. The heating means 5 and 16 are set during the drying operation. When the drying means 18 detects a predetermined dryness by the drying detection means 18, the infrared temperature detection means 21 causes the drying temperature to be higher than the drying temperature set during the sterilization operation. When the temperature of the clothes is detected and the detected temperature of the clothes is lower than the temperature for sterilization, warm air heated to the temperature for sterilization by the heating means 16 is blown.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a clothes dryer for drying clothes and the like.

  In recent years, those using heat pumps for drying clothes can be dried at a lower temperature than those that generate warm air with a heater, so there is less thermal damage to clothes and energy saving. Attention has been paid.

  In a heat pump type clothes dryer, the air in the drying room containing the clothes is circulated through the air passage in which the evaporator and condenser of the heat pump are circulated, and the moisture in the air is cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator. The clothes are dried by repeatedly heating the air and feeding it into the drying chamber.

  However, in the drying method using a heat pump, since the temperature of the drying air is low, it is difficult to remove from the clothes depending on the kind of bacteria attached to the clothes in daily life. May cause an unpleasant odor due to the metabolites of the attached bacteria.

  In order to remove such germs adhering to clothing, when the drying rate of the clothing being dried reaches a certain value, circulating air is circulated in which an evaporator and a condenser are arranged. A method has been proposed in which the air is once discharged from the air passage, and the air temperature is increased through the heating member, and then introduced into the circulation air passage again (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 6 shows a configuration of a conventional clothes dryer described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the main configuration of the clothes dryer includes a housing 51, a water tank 52, a drum 53 rotatably provided in the water tank 52, a motor 54 that rotationally drives the drum 53, and air in the drum 53. Suction port 55, circulation air passage 56, hot air outlet 57, evaporator 58 of the heat pump device, condenser 59, blower fan 60 that blows air to circulation air passage 56, and air passing through circulation air passage 56 are released. They are a discharge port 61, a damper device 62 for controlling the amount of air discharged from the discharge port 61, and a PTC heater 63.

  FIG. 7 is a time chart during the drying operation of the conventional clothes dryer described in Patent Document 1, and states of the compressor of the heat pump device, the PTC heater 63, the blower fan 60, the damper device 62, the air temperature, and the drying rate. Is shown. In FIG. 7, the time when the drying operation starts is T0, the time when the clothes drying rate reaches 90% is T1, and the time when the drying operation is finished is T2. When the drying operation is started, the compressor and the blower fan 60 are energized and turned on.

  Here, when the damper device 62 is fully opened, the humid air in the drum 53 is guided from the suction port 55 into the circulation air passage 56, and a part of the air is circulated from the discharge port 61 that is opened. Although most of the sucked air is dehumidified by the evaporator 58 and then heated by the condenser 59 to become dry hot air, the water tank 52 is again discharged from the outlet 57. And blown into the drum 53.

As the drying process proceeds, the temperature on the inlet side of the hot air blown into the drum 53 rises, and the temperature of the hot air outlet led from the drum 53 to the circulation air passage 56 also rises while taking in moisture contained in the clothes. To go. The drying rate determined from the temperature difference between the hot air inlet and outlet increases with the progress of the process, and when the drying rate reaches 90% (T1), the compressor is turned off and the damper device 62 is fully closed.

  At this time, since the blower fan 60 is in the ON state, the dry air flows into the circulation air passage 56 and further flows into the circulation air passage 56 from the opening where the PTC heater 63 is installed.

  Here, the PTC heater 63 is turned on slightly later than T1, and further heating of the circulating hot air is performed. After the hot air outlet temperature reaches 60 ° C., the PTC heater 63 is turned on and off for 30 minutes, and the drying is finished when the drying rate reaches 100% (T2).

  In addition, it is considered to detect the temperature distribution of clothes in a rotating drum with an infrared imaging device (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2008-301940 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-200194

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, only by detecting the surface temperature of the clothing, the portion where the clothing is entangled or overlapped during the drying operation and is wrapped in the interior of the clothing is not easily hit by high-temperature drying air. In particular, when drying air heated to a high temperature is sprayed in order to sterilize germs adhering to clothing, the temperature of the clothing cannot be heated to a temperature necessary for sterilization. Therefore, there was a problem that the entire clothing could not be sterilized. In addition, when the detected temperature of the clothing is lower than the set value, a large range is heated to a high temperature with respect to the clothing in the drum, so that a large amount of energy is required and high temperature hot air is blown to the entire clothing. For this reason, there has been a problem that the portion that has already reached the set value is further heated and easily contracts.

  This invention solves the said conventional subject, and it aims at providing the clothes dryer which can disinfect the germs adhering to clothing effectively.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a clothes dryer of the present invention includes a drum that is rotatably provided, a motor that rotationally drives the drum, a blower that blows drying air to the drum, and the blower An air path for introducing the drying air blown by the means into the drum, a heating means for heating the drying air, a drying detection means for detecting the degree of drying of the clothes put in the drum, and the clothes in the drum An infrared temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the water and a control means for controlling the drying operation, wherein the heating means is set at least during the drying operation and set during the sterilization operation, When the drying air is heated at a temperature for sterilization higher than the temperature, and the control means detects a predetermined dryness by the dryness detection means, the infrared temperature detection means detects the temperature of the clothes and detects it. And when the temperature of the clothes is lower than the temperature for the disinfectant was is obtained so as to blow warm air heated to a temperature for sterilization by the heating means.

  As a result, it becomes possible to detect and heat the part where the surface temperature of the garment does not rise to the temperature required for sterilization, and to effectively sterilize the entire garment without overheating the garment. can do.

  The clothes dryer of the present invention can be sterilized effectively at a high temperature at which the entire garment can be sterilized with energy saving without overheating the garment.

System schematic diagram of clothes dryer in embodiment 1 of the present invention Control block diagram of the clothes dryer Operation diagram showing the state of hot air blowing and temperature detection for sterilization of the clothes dryer Flow chart showing the operation of the clothes dryer Schematic block diagram of a clothes dryer in Embodiment 2 of the present invention Schematic configuration diagram of a conventional clothes dryer Time chart showing the operation of the clothes dryer

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clothes dryer, comprising: a drum rotatably provided; a motor that rotationally drives the drum; a blowing unit that blows drying air to the drum; and a drying air that is blown by the blowing unit. An air passage to be introduced into the drum, a heating means for heating the drying air, a drying detection means for detecting the degree of drying of the clothes put in the drum, and an infrared temperature detection for detecting the temperature of the clothes in the drum And a control means for controlling the drying operation, wherein the heating means is at least a drying temperature set during the drying operation and a sterilization temperature higher than the drying temperature set during the sterilization operation. When the drying means detects the predetermined dryness by the drying detection means, the infrared temperature detection means detects the temperature of the clothes, and the detected temperature of the clothes is the sterilization temperature. When the temperature is lower, the hot air heated to the temperature for sterilization by the heating means is blown to detect and heat the portion where the surface temperature of the clothing does not rise to the temperature necessary for sterilization. Thus, the entire garment can be effectively sterilized with energy saving without overheating the garment.

  In the second invention, in particular, the control means of the first invention changes the state of the garment during the sterilization operation, and detects the temperature of the garment a plurality of times by the infrared temperature detection means. The temperature can be detected with high accuracy, and the portion that has not risen to the temperature required for sterilization can be effectively heated.

  In the third aspect of the invention, in particular, when the infrared temperature detecting means of the first or second aspect of the invention detects the temperature of clothing positioned below the rotation center in the drum, the drum is stopped. The surface temperature of the clothes can be detected in a wide range, and the sterilization operation can be performed effectively while accurately detecting the temperature distribution of the clothes.

  In particular, in a fourth aspect of the invention, in any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, the warm air blowing range at the time of the sterilization operation is set narrower than the detection range by the infrared temperature detection means, By blowing the warm air of the temperature for bacteria within the detection range, it is possible to prevent overheating of the clothing due to the air blowing to the part where the surface temperature of the clothing reaches the sterilization temperature, and energy saving The sterilization operation can be performed effectively.

  In particular, the fifth aspect of the invention relates to any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, wherein the hot air blowing range during the sterilization operation is set narrower than the hot air blowing range during the drying operation, and the sterilization operation is performed. Since the air is blown into the air blowing range of the warm air during the drying operation, the air can be blown efficiently over the wide range in the drum during the drying operation, and the clothes can be efficiently dried. During sterilization operation, clothing can be prevented from overheating due to air blowing to the part where the surface temperature of the garment has reached the sterilization temperature, and drying operation and sterilization operation can be effectively executed with energy saving. it can.

  The sixth invention is the water tank elastically supported in the casing, the drum rotatably provided in the water tank, and the washing water supplied to the water tank, in particular, in any one of the first to fifth inventions. Water supply means for draining, draining means for draining the washing water in the water tank, and control means for controlling the washing and drying operation, provided with a washing function, without changing clothes, in the same tank Thus, it is possible to carry out from washing to drying, and it is possible to eliminate germs remaining in the clothes after washing in the drying step.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a system schematic diagram of a clothes dryer according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the clothes dryer, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing hot air for sterilization of the clothes dryer. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the clothes dryer.

  1 to 4, a substantially cylindrical drum 1 for receiving and drying a textile product such as clothing to be dried is rotatably provided in a housing of the clothing dryer and is driven to rotate by a motor 2. . The heat pump device 3 includes a compressor 4 that compresses the refrigerant, a condenser (heating means) 5 that radiates heat of the compressed high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant, and a restriction such as a capillary tube that reduces the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant. The pipe 6 is connected to the means 6 and the evaporator 7 from which the refrigerant whose pressure has been reduced to a low pressure takes heat from the surroundings so that the refrigerant circulates.

  The drying air is blown by the first blower fan (blower unit) 9 and is supplied into the drum 1 from the first outlet 10 to evaporate moisture from the clothes in the drum 1. The drying air in a state where moisture has been removed from the clothing and contains a lot of moisture is guided from the suction port 11 through the first air passage (air passage) 12 to the evaporator 7 and the condenser 5 of the heat pump device 3.

  The drying air that has flowed into the first air passage 12 from the suction port 11 is cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator 7, then heated by the condenser 5, and then from the first blowing port 10 into the drum 1 by the first blower fan 9. Introduced and circulated through the drum 1 and the first air passage 12 in the direction of arrow A, the drying of the clothing proceeds.

  The first air passage 12 is provided with a switching valve 14 that branches off from the second air passage (air passage) 13 and is disposed on the windward side of the evaporator 7 so as to communicate with the inlet side of the second air passage 13. doing. The second air passage 13 is provided with a second blower fan (air blowing means) 15 for blowing air to the second air passage 13 and a heater (heating means) 16 for heating the drying air passing through the second air passage 13. It has been. A second air outlet 17 is provided at the outlet of the second air passage 13 to introduce the hot air heated by the heater 16 into the drum 1 from the front side of the drum 1.

  The switching valve 14 causes the drying air flowing in from the suction port 11 to flow to the first air path 12, and to flow to the first state passing through the evaporator 7 and the condenser 5 of the heat pump device 3 and to the second air path 13. , Switching to one of the second states passing through the heater 16.

  The amount of clothes put into the drum 1 is detected by a cloth amount detecting means (not shown). The cloth amount detection means is detected by a general technique such as a means for detecting a change in weight in the drum 1 to determine the input amount, or a method for rotating the drum 1 and a current value or torque amount of the motor 2.

The dryness detection means 18 for detecting the dry state of the clothes being stirred in the drum 1 includes a temperature detection means 19 provided in the vicinity of the first air outlet 10 of the first air passage 12 (on the hot air inlet side), The temperature detection means 20 provided in the vicinity of the suction port 11 (on the warm air outlet side) allows the temperature of the drying air introduced into the drum 1 and the temperature of the drying air discharged from the drum 1 to be measured with a thermistor or the like. I try to detect it.

  An infrared temperature detecting means 21 is provided outside the front side of the drum 1 so as to detect the surface temperature of the clothes in the drum 1. The infrared temperature detection means 21 can detect the distribution state of the surface temperature of clothing.

  The control means 22 controls the motor 2, the compressor 4 of the heat pump device 3, the first blower fan 9, the second blower fan 15, the heater 16, and the like, and controls the drying operation.

  About the clothes dryer comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below. First, when clothes for drying are put into the drum 1, the amount of clothes put in is determined by the cloth amount detecting means, a drying time is temporarily set, and a drying operation is started.

  When the drying operation is started, the drum 1 is rotated by the motor 2 at a predetermined speed (for example, 45 rpm). In addition, the first blower fan 9 is driven simultaneously with the start of operation, and the drying air introduced into the drum 1 from the first blow-out port 10 comes into contact with the clothes in the drum 1 and then the first air flows from the suction port 11. It flows into the path 12.

  At the start of the drying operation, the switching valve 14 is switched to the first state so that the drying air blown by the first blower fan 9 flows in the direction of the arrow B through the first air passage 12, and the first through the suction port 11. The drying air that has flowed into the one air passage 12 passes through the evaporator 7 and the condenser 5 and circulates through the drum 1 and the first air passage 12.

  The drying air whose humidity has been increased due to contact with the clothes in the drum 1 is cooled by the evaporator 7, and the water vapor contained in the air is condensed into a liquid to become low-temperature dry air, and then the downstream air is condensed. It flows to vessel 5.

  The low-temperature wet drying air is heated by the condenser 5 to become high-temperature dry hot air, passes through the first air passage 12, and is again introduced into the drum 1 from the first outlet 10. Moisture is removed from the clothes that are being agitated in step S11 and flows into the first air passage 12 through the suction port 11, and drying of the clothes proceeds.

  The drying detector 18 includes a temperature detector 19 disposed in the vicinity of the first outlet 10 of the first air passage 12 through which the drying air flows and a temperature disposed in the vicinity of the inlet 11 during the drying operation. From the output of the detection means 20, the progress of drying of the clothes, that is, the dry state of the clothes is detected.

  Drying detection is performed by, for example, a difference between the temperature or / and humidity of the drying air discharged from the suction port 11 and the temperature or / and humidity of the drying air introduced into the drum 1 from the first blowing port 10. The dry state of the clothes in the drum 1 is estimated.

  The dryness detection unit 18 executes the sterilization operation when the drying rate indicating the dry state of the clothing is detected as 90%, for example, by the progress of the drying operation.

  In the sterilization operation, the switching valve 14 is switched so that the drying air flows into the second state flowing through the second air passage 13, and at the same time, the heater 16 is energized to further supply the drying air flowing through the second air passage 13. Heated and introduced into the drum 1 from the second outlet 17 by the second blower fan 15. The dry air during the sterilization operation flows through the drum 1 and the second air passage 13 in the direction of arrow B and circulates.

The heater 16 as a heating means may be a PTC heater or the like in addition to a heater by resistance heating, and can heat the drying air flowing through the second air passage 13 to a temperature capable of sterilizing, for example, 80 ° C. or more. I just need it.

  During the sterilization operation, high-temperature drying air heated to a sterilization temperature (for example, 80 ° C.) higher than the drying temperature (for example, 60 ° C.) during the drying operation is maintained for a certain period of time while rotating the drum 1. 2 After blowing air from the outlet 17 toward the clothing in the drum 1, the drum 1 is stopped, and the temperature of the clothing in the drum 1 is measured by the infrared temperature detection means 21. If the measured temperature of the garment does not reach the temperature for sterilization, the high temperature dry air heated to the temperature for sterilization is continuously applied to the garment while the drum 1 is stopped.

  If the clothing temperature measured by the infrared temperature detection means 21 has already been heated to the temperature for sterilization, the drum 1 is rotated to stir the clothing, the state is changed, the drum 1 is stopped, and again The temperature of clothing is measured by the infrared temperature detection means 21.

  The temperature detection of the clothing by the infrared temperature detection means 21 and the blowing of high-temperature dry air, or the rotation and stop operation of the drum 1 are repeatedly executed a plurality of times during the sterilization process, and the clothing is heated to the temperature for sterilization. It is desirable to do this until it is detected.

  During the sterilization process, that is, while the drying air is flowing through the second air passage 13, the measurement of the drying air temperature by the drying detection means 18 continues. The drying detection means 18 is disposed in the vicinity of the second outlet 17 provided at the outlet of the second air passage 13 during the sterilization process, that is, when the drying air flows through the second air passage 13. The temperature detection means 19a and the output of the temperature detection means 20 disposed in the vicinity of the suction port 11 detect the drying of the clothes.

  Even when the drying air is flowing through the second air passage 13 provided with the heater 16, the measurement of the drying air by the temperature detection means 19a and 20 continues, and the drying rate is determined to be 103%. The sterilization process is finished, and the drying operation is finished.

  After the drying operation by the heater 16 is performed for a predetermined time, the switching valve 14 is switched to the first state, the drying operation by the heat pump device 3 is performed again, and the drying operation is performed when the drying rate is determined to be 103%. May be terminated.

  In FIG. 2, an output signal from the drying detection means 18 and an output signal from the infrared temperature detection means 21 are input to the control means 22. A motor 2 that rotates the drum 1, a first blower fan 9 that blows air to the first air passage 12 during the drying operation, a second blower fan 15 that blows air to the second air passage 13 during the sterilization operation, and driving during the drying operation Heat pump device 3 for heating, heater 16 for heating the drying air flowing through the second air passage 13 during the sterilization operation, switching valve 14 for switching the first air passage 12 and the second air passage 13 during the drying operation and the sterilization operation, etc. To control the operation.

  In FIG. 3, the drum 1 reverses forward in the direction of the arrow C with the rotation axis as the rotation center 1a, and stirs the clothes. A second blowout port 17 for blowing out hot air for high temperature sterilization is arranged at one upper part on the front side of the drum 1, and an infrared temperature detecting means 21 is arranged at the other upper part on the front side of the drum 1. .

  The infrared temperature detection means 21 measures the surface temperature of the clothing that overlaps below the rotation center 1a while the rotation of the drum 1 is temporarily stopped during the sterilization operation. The measurement range of the clothing surface temperature by the infrared temperature detection means 21 is A, and the blowing range of the sterilizing warm air heated to a high temperature by the heater 16 is B.

When it is determined that there is clothing that does not reach the temperature required for sterilization within the measurement range A of the surface temperature of the garment, the high temperature heated to the sterilization temperature with the drum 1 stopped Warm air is blown from the second outlet 17 to the clothes in the blowing range B for a certain period of time.

  When the control means 22 detects that the clothes in the air blowing range B are heated to the sterilization temperature by the infrared temperature detection means 21, the control means 22 rotates the drum 1 again to change the condition of the clothes, and the temperature of the clothes is changed a plurality of times. Repeat to detect.

  Next, the operation of the drying operation will be described in detail. In FIG. 4, when the drying operation is started, warm air set at a drying temperature (for example, 60 ° C.) is blown into the drum 1 from the first outlet 10, and the first air passage 12 and the drum 1 are blown. Drying air circulates, allowing the clothes to dry. When the dryness detected by the dryness detection means 18 is less than a set value X (for example, a drying rate of 90%), the drying operation is continued, and the drying air is blown and circulated through the first air passage 12.

  When the dryness is determined to be a set value X (for example, a drying rate of 90%), the process proceeds to the sterilization operation, and is set higher than the hot air temperature for drying (for example, 60 ° C.) while rotating the drum 1. Warm air heated to a sterilization temperature (for example, 80 ° C.) is blown to the second air passage 13 and blown from the second blowout port 17 to the clothes in the drum 1.

  After the hot air heated to the sterilization temperature is blown toward the clothing for a certain period of time, the drum 1 is stopped and the temperature of the clothing is detected by the infrared temperature detection means 21. When the temperature of the clothes has not reached the set value Y (for example, 80 ° C.) that is the temperature necessary for sterilization, the hot air heated to the sterilization temperature with the drum 1 stopped After the air is blown to the clothing for a certain time, the temperature of the clothing is detected again.

  Here, if it is determined that the clothing temperature is 80 ° C. or higher necessary for sterilization, the drum 1 is rotated to change the state of the clothing, and then the drum 1 is stopped to detect the clothing temperature. Blowing warm air for bacteria or rotating the drum 1 detects the clothing temperature at another location.

  While performing the above steps a plurality of times (n times), the sterilization operation is continued, and the drying operation is terminated when the drying rate of the clothes reaches 103%. Prior to the end of the drying operation, the hot air blowing path is switched from the second air path 13 to the first air path 12, and the high temperature hot air set at the temperature for sterilization is set to a low temperature for drying. The drying operation may be terminated by changing the air path so as to blow the warm air on the clothes.

  It should be noted that the hot air blowing range during the sterilization operation is set to be narrower than the hot air blowing range during the drying operation, and the sterilization operation is performed within the warm air blowing range during the drying operation. Good. In the present embodiment, the warm air is blown from the first air outlet 10 to the drum 1 during the drying operation, but the front side of the drum 1 is the same as the second air outlet 17. To the wide range in the drum 1.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the drum 1 that is rotatably provided, the motor 2 that rotationally drives the drum 1, the blowing units 9 and 15 that blow the drying air to the drum 1, and the blowing unit 9 , 15 for introducing air for drying to the drum 1, air passages 12 and 13, heating means 5 and 16 for heating the air for drying, and dryness detecting means for detecting the degree of drying of the clothes put into the drum 1. 18, an infrared temperature detection means 21 for detecting the temperature of the clothes in the drum 1, and a control means 22 for controlling the drying operation, and the heating means 5 and 16 include a drying temperature set during the drying operation, The temperature of the sterilization is higher than the temperature for drying set at the time of the sterilization operation. When the control means 22 detects the predetermined dryness by the dryness detection means 18, the infrared temperature detection means 21 detects the temperature of the clothes. , Detected clothing When the temperature is lower than the temperature for sterilization, warm air heated to the temperature for sterilization by the heating means 16 is blown, and the surface temperature of the clothing does not rise to the temperature necessary for sterilization. The part can be detected and heated, and the entire garment can be effectively sterilized with energy saving without overheating the garment.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a clothes dryer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. A feature of the present embodiment is a washing / drying machine having a washing function. When the temperature of the clothes is detected by the infrared temperature detection means 21 and the detected temperature of the clothes is lower than the temperature for sterilization, a heater (heating) Means) The warm air heated to the temperature for sterilization by 16 is blown. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations, and the detailed description of the first embodiment is used.

  In FIG. 5, a water tank 24 in which a drum 1 is rotatably included is supported in a housing 23 in an elastic manner. Washing water is supplied from a water inlet 28 into a water tank 24 through a detergent case 27 from a water supply pipe 26 provided with a water stop valve 25. One end of the second air passage 13 is connected to the switching valve 14, and a heater (heating means) 16 and a second blower fan 15 are provided in the second air passage 13. On the outlet side of the drying air at the other end of the second air passage 13, a second blowout port 17 that blows air into the drum 1 from an opening 29 provided on the front surface of the drum 1 is provided.

  The drum 1 is provided in a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape, and its rotary shaft 1b is disposed so as to be inclined upward. A drainage port 30 is provided at the bottom of the water tank 24 located below the rear part of the drum 1, and the washing water in the water tank 24 is discharged out of the machine from a drainage channel 32 provided with a drainage valve (drainage means) 31. A number of through holes 33 are provided in the peripheral side wall surface of the drum 1 and communicate with the inside of the water tank 24. Washing water supplied from the water injection port 28 into the water tank 24 flows into the drum 1 through the through holes 33 and is stored.

  Further, the drying air blown into the drum 1 from the second blowout port 17 flows into the water tank 24 through the through hole 33 and flows into the first air passage 12 from the suction port 11. The suction port 11 through which drying air flows from the water tank 24 to the first air passage 12 is provided at the upper front of the water tank 24, and the first air outlet 10 introduced from the first air passage 12 to the water tank 24 is a water tank. 24 is provided above the rear part.

  A plurality of baffles 34 are provided on the peripheral side wall surface of the drum 1. The baffle 34 is provided so as to protrude into the drum 1, and the clothes in the drum 1 are lifted in the rotating direction by the forward / reverse rotation operation of the drum 1, and the clothes are dropped from the upper part in the drum 1. In the washing process, the clothes are washed by the action of tapping by dropping, and in the drying process, the clothes are agitated in the drum 1 to make good contact with the drying air blown.

  The present embodiment is a laundry dryer that can perform a drying operation following a normal washing operation. A description of a normal washing (washing, rinsing, dehydration) process is omitted. In the present embodiment, a first blower fan 9 for blowing drying air to the first air passage 12, an evaporator 7 and a condenser (heating means) 5 of the heat pump device 3 are provided, and the second air passage 13 has a second 2 A blower fan 15 and a heater (heating means) 16 are provided.

  The warm air heated by the condenser (heating means) 5 of the heat pump device 3 passes through the first air passage 12 and is blown into the drum 1 from the first air inlet 10 provided above the rear part of the water tank 24, and is heated by the heater 16. The hot air heated to a high temperature is blown into the drum 1 from the opening 29 provided on the front surface side of the drum 1 from the second blowout port 17 of the second air passage 13.

The warm air heated by the heat pump device 3 can increase the temperature of the drum 1 and the entire clothing in the drum 1, and the hot warm air heated by the heater 16 is directly directed toward the clothing in the drum 1. I am trying to be sprayed. Thereby, the temperature of clothing can be raised to the temperature necessary for sterilization without waste without using the heat energy of the high-temperature drying air for heating the drum 1 and the like.

  When the drying process is started following the washing, rinsing, and dewatering washing steps, the compressor 4 is driven, and the refrigerant circulates in the refrigeration cycle, whereby the temperature of the evaporator 7 of the heat pump device 3 is decreased. The temperature of the condenser 5 rises. At this time, the heater (heating means) 16 in the second air passage 13 is in an OFF state.

  In addition, the switching valve 14 is in a first state in which drying air passes from the evaporator 7 through the condenser 5 and is blown to the first air passage 12. The first blower fan 9 is in an ON state except when the sterilization operation is being performed, and guides the air in the drum 1 into the first air passage 12 and sends it out into the drum 1 again. The 2nd ventilation fan 15 is an OFF state.

  In the initial stage of the drying operation, the temperature on the side of the air outlet 10 for drying air, which is a hot air inlet, is lowered into the drum 1, but the temperature is increased by heating with the condenser 5 with the passage of time. It becomes a constant value. The temperature on the suction air inlet 11 side of the drying air that is the hot air outlet from the drum 1 gradually increases with a slight delay from the air outlet 10 side because the clothing contains moisture.

  As the temperature on the side of the air outlet 10 that is the inlet of the hot air into the drum 1 and the temperature of the inlet 11 that is the outlet of the hot air gradually approach, the drying rate of the clothes also increases with time. When the drying rate reaches 90%, the switching valve 14 is switched to the second state so that the drying air flows into the second air passage 13, the compressor 4 is stopped, and the second air passage 13 enters the second air passage 13. The heater 16 and the second blower fan 15 arranged are turned on.

  Here, by switching the heating means of the drying air from the heat pump device 3 to the heater 16, hot air having a high temperature of, for example, 80 ° C., which is a temperature for sterilization, is applied to the clothes in the drum 1 from the second outlet 17. You can blow.

  The temperature of the hot air blown from the second blowout port 17 of the drying air that is the hot air inlet is detected by a temperature detection means 19a provided in the vicinity of the second blowout port 17, and is detected by this temperature detection means 19a. After the reached temperature reaches 80 ° C., the air for drying is introduced into the second air passage 13 until the drying rate reaches 100% while repeating the power ON / OFF of the heater 16.

  When the temperature of the hot air blown from the second outlet 17 reaches the sterilization temperature of 80 ° C., the rotation of the drum 1 is stopped and the temperature of the clothing in the measurement range A is measured by the infrared temperature detection means 21. To do. As a result of the detection, if the temperature of the clothing does not reach the sterilization temperature of 80 degrees, the hot air heated to a high temperature by the heater 16 is kept constant in the clothing blowing range B with the rotation of the drum 1 stopped. Spray for hours and detect temperature again.

  When the clothing temperature reaches 80 ° C., the drum 1 is rotated to change the clothing state, and then the clothing temperature is measured again. If the temperature of the clothing when detected by changing the state of the clothing has reached 80 ° C., the drum 1 is further rotated to change the state of the clothing and the temperature of the clothing is detected. This step is performed a plurality of times in the sterilization operation step.

  In the sterilization operation, dry air is introduced into the second air passage 13 until the drying rate reaches 100% while repeating the above steps. When the drying rate reaches 100%, the switching valve 14 is switched again to the first air passage 12 side where the evaporator 7 and the condenser 5 of the heat pump device 3 are disposed, and the compressor 4 and the first blower fan 9 are switched. And the drying operation is terminated when the drying rate reaches 103%.

  The warm air blown during the drying operation is heated to, for example, 60 ° C. by the condenser 5 of the heat pump device 3, and the clothes in the drum 1 can be effectively dried with energy saving without overheating the clothes. Further, during the sterilization operation, for example, 80 ° C. warm air heated to a high temperature by the heater 16 can be effectively blown to a portion where sterilization is necessary while detecting the temperature of the garment. The bacteria can be sterilized without overheating.

  As described above, the clothes dryer according to the present invention is useful as a clothes dryer because it saves energy without overheating the clothes and can effectively disinfect the entire clothes at a high temperature capable of disinfecting the clothes. is there.

1 drum 2 motor 5 condenser (heating means)
9 First blower fan (blower means)
12 First wind path (wind path)
13 Second wind path (wind path)
15 Second blower fan (blower means)
16 Heater (heating means)
18 Drying detection means 21 Infrared temperature detection means 22 Control means

Claims (6)

A rotatable drum,
A motor for rotationally driving the drum;
A blowing means for blowing drying air to the drum;
An air path for introducing the drying air blown by the blowing means into the drum;
Heating means for heating the drying air;
A dryness detecting means for detecting the dryness of the clothes put on the drum;
Infrared temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the clothes in the drum;
Control means for controlling the drying operation,
The heating means heats the drying air at least at the drying temperature set during the drying operation and the sterilization temperature set during the sterilization operation and higher than the drying temperature,
When the control means detects a predetermined dryness by the dryness detection means, the infrared temperature detection means detects the temperature of the clothes, and when the detected temperature of the clothes is lower than the sterilization temperature, the heating means A clothes dryer which blows warm air heated to the temperature for sterilization by The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the control means changes the state of the clothes during the sterilization operation and detects the temperature of the clothes a plurality of times by the infrared temperature detecting means. The clothes dryer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the infrared temperature detection means detects the temperature of clothes positioned below the center of rotation in the drum. The hot air blowing range at the time of the sterilization operation is set narrower than the detection range by the infrared temperature detection means, and the warm air at the temperature for sterilization at the time of the sterilization operation is blown into the detection range. 4. The clothes dryer according to any one of 3 above. The warm air blowing range during the sterilization operation is set narrower than the warm air blowing range during the drying operation, and the sterilization operation is performed within the warm air blowing range during the drying operation. The clothes dryer of any one of -3. A water tank elastically supported in the housing, a drum rotatably provided in the water tank, a water supply means for supplying washing water to the water tank, a drain means for draining the washing water in the water tank, and washing and drying The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a control means for controlling operation and having a washing function.

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