JP2014030467A - Clothes dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

A clothes dryer in which a decrease in detection accuracy due to the influence of lint is suppressed is provided.
A clothes dryer according to the present invention includes a drying detection unit 30 for detecting a degree of drying of clothes on a front peripheral portion 29 facing an opening of a rotary drum. The electrode 33 is made of a rod-shaped metal inserted into the formed hole 36, and one end 37 of the electrode 33 has a hemispherical shape and is exposed toward the opening of the rotating drum, and the one end 37 and the other end 38 of the electrode 33 are exposed. Between the hole 36 and the electrode 33 in the vicinity of the other end 38 of the electrode 33. With this configuration, the electrode 33 and its exposed portion are small, and the cost is low. Moreover, since the tip of the electrode 33 has a hemispherical shape, the clothes are restrained from being caught. Since there is the seal member 39, lint does not collect at the connection portion between the electrode 33 and the electric wire.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a clothes dryer provided with a drying detector that detects the degree of drying of clothes.

  Conventionally, this kind of clothes dryer has a dryness detection part which detects the dryness degree of clothes. The dryness detection unit includes an electrode that is a conductive member and an insulating member that surrounds the electrode. The dryness detection unit is disposed so as to face the opening of the rotating drum that stores the clothes. When clothing comes into contact with the dryness detection unit, the resistance value between the electrodes is measured, and the dryness level of the clothing is detected based on the measured value. In order to increase the contact frequency between clothing and the electrode, the electrode has a relatively large rectangular shape (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2010-240007 A

  However, in the above conventional configuration, since the electrodes are large, a wide space for disposing the dryness detection unit is required. Moreover, since the electrode is large, the cost becomes high. Moreover, since the whole drying detection part protrudes large, clothing may be caught.

  Furthermore, since the gap length between the electrode and the insulating member in the dryness detection unit is long, lint or the like that comes out of the clothes easily enters this gap. Since the electrode is connected to the electric wire, if lint accumulates at the connection portion between the electrode and the electric wire, poor conduction or the like may occur, and the detection accuracy of the degree of drying of the clothes may be reduced.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and provides a clothes dryer that has a drying detection unit that is small in installation space and low in cost, and further suppresses a decrease in detection accuracy due to the influence of lint. The purpose is to do.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a clothes dryer according to the present invention includes a housing having an opening through which clothes are put in and out, a rotating drum that houses clothing, a periphery of the opening of the housing, A front perimeter facing the opening; a drying detector provided on the front perimeter for detecting the degree of drying of the clothes in the rotating drum; and a controller for controlling the drying operation. It has an electrode made of a rod-like metal inserted in a hole formed in the peripheral portion, and one end of the electrode has a hemispherical shape and is exposed toward the opening of the rotating drum, and the other end of the electrode is an electric wire. Is connected to the control unit via the electrode, and the gap between one end and the other end of the electrode is shielded by the front circumference, and in the vicinity of the other end of the electrode, a seal is formed between the hole in the front circumference and the electrode. It has a member.

  With this configuration, the electrode of the dryness detection unit and the exposed portion thereof are small, and the cost is low. Since the exposed portion of the electrode is small and has a hemispherical shape, the clothes are restrained from being caught. Since there is a seal member between the electrode and the hole in the front periphery that is the insulating member of the dryness detection unit, lint does not collect at the connection between the electrode and the electric wire.

  The clothes dryer of the present invention has a small installation location and cost for the dryness detection unit, and further suppresses a decrease in detection accuracy due to the influence of lint.

The block diagram of the clothes dryer in embodiment of this invention Schematic view of the clothes dryer from the back of the rotating drum Explanatory drawing explaining the detection of the drying degree of the clothes dryer The top view which looked at the vicinity of the dryness detection part of the clothes dryer from the back of the rotating drum Sectional drawing in the 5-5 line of the dryness detection part in FIG. The top view which looked at the dryness detection part in FIG. 4 from the back side

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

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a clothes dryer 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the block diagram which looked at the inside of the clothes dryer 10 from the side especially. The clothes dryer 10 includes a rotating drum 12, a heat pump device 14, and a fan 15 inside a housing 11. The rotating drum 12 is rotated by a motor 16 via a pulley 17 and a belt 18.

  The housing 11 has an opening 19 on the front surface (left side in FIG. 1). Through the opening 19 of the housing 11 and the opening 20 of the rotating drum 12, clothing can be accommodated in the rotating drum 12. The opening 19 of the housing 11 is closed by closing the door 21.

  The heat pump device 14 disposed below the housing 11 includes a compressor 22, a condenser 23, an evaporator 24, and the like, and a refrigerant circulates therein. When the fan 15 operates, an air flow as indicated by an arrow is generated. The air is dehumidified by the evaporator 24, heated by the condenser 23, and becomes dry hot air. This warm air enters the inside of the rotating drum 12 through the fan 15 and the duct 25. When the warm air is applied to the clothes that are agitated by the rotation of the rotary drum 12, the clothes are dried. The warm air that has dried the clothes passes through the filter 26 provided in the door 21 and enters the heat pump device 14 again. In this way, air circulates. The fan 15 is rotated by a motor 16 via a pulley 27 and a belt 28. The heat pump device 14 is an example of a device that dehumidifies and heats air. As an apparatus for dehumidifying and heating the air, an apparatus using an electric heater or gas combustion can be used.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the clothes dryer 10 as viewed from the back of the rotary drum 12. Specifically, it is a diagram showing a direction in which the opening 19 of the housing 11 faces from the bottom of the rotating drum 12.

  The opening 20 of the rotating drum 12 is larger than the opening 19 of the housing 11. A drying detection unit 30 is provided around the opening 19 of the housing 11 and on the front peripheral portion 29 facing the opening 20 of the rotary drum 12. The rotating drum 12 is provided with a protrusion 31. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 2, when the rotary drum 12 rotates, the garment 32 is pushed by the protrusion 31 and moves. When the garment 32 is pushed by the protrusion 31 and moves to the vicinity of the upper part of the rotating drum 12, the garment 32 falls to the lower part of the rotating drum 12 by its own weight. In this way, the clothes 32 are agitated. As the clothes 32 are agitated, the dried warm air hits the clothes 32, and the clothes 32 are dried.

  The dryness detection unit 30 has an electrode 33. As the garment 32 moves, the garment 32 contacts the electrode 33. The electrode 33 is connected to the control unit 35 via the electric wire 34. The control unit 35 has a resistance detection unit (not shown) made of a comparison resistor or the like. When the clothing 32 comes into contact with the electrode 33 of the dryness detection unit 30, the resistance at that time is detected. Specifically, the resistance when the garment 32 is in contact with the resistance of the comparison resistor is compared. That is, the resistance value of the comparison resistor is used as a threshold value, and it is detected whether the resistance when the garment 32 is in contact is greater than or equal to the threshold value (or less than the threshold value).

  When the garment 32 is moist, the resistance at the time of contact is low. Conversely, when the garment 32 is dry, the resistance at the time of contact is high. That is, the more the resistance at the time of contact of the garment 32 is greater than or equal to the threshold value, the more dry the garment 32 is. For example, when detecting 10 times per second, the number of times that the resistance when the clothing 32 is in contact is equal to or greater than the threshold is 100 times in 10 seconds. Based on this value, the degree of dryness of the clothes can be detected.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining detection of the degree of drying. Specifically, the relationship between the elapsed time from the start of drying and the number of times per 10 seconds that the resistance when the garment 32 is in contact is equal to or greater than a threshold value is shown. In an actual device, an inverter (that is, the reciprocal number) is used when comparing with a comparison resistor. Therefore, in FIG. 3, the horizontal axis indicates the elapsed time from the start of drying, and the vertical axis indicates the number of times per 10 seconds that the resistance when the garment 32 is in contact is less than the threshold value.

  The explanatory diagram of FIG. 3 shows the results when 8 kg of cotton clothes (specifically, towels, sheets, etc.) are dried. In addition, since it is the number of times per 10 seconds, the maximum value is 100 times. In the initial stage of drying, for example, when the elapsed time is less than 40 minutes, the number of times is 90 to 100, and it can be seen that the clothes 32 are still wet. Thereafter, the number of times decreased and it was found that the drying proceeded. When the elapsed time exceeds 100 minutes, the number of times approaches almost zero, and it can be seen that the drying is completed. In this state, the control unit 35 ends the drying operation of the clothes dryer 10.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view of the vicinity of the drying detection unit 30 of the clothes dryer 10 as viewed from the back of the rotary drum 12. Specifically, FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the dryness detection unit 30 similar to FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of the dryness detection unit 30 in FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the dryness detection unit 30 in FIG. 4 as viewed from the back side. Specifically, the front panel of the housing 11 of the clothes dryer 10 is removed, and the state seen from the front of the clothes dryer 10 is shown.

  A dryness detection unit 30 is provided in the front periphery 29. The dryness detection unit 30 includes an electrode 33 inserted into a hole 36 formed in the front peripheral portion 29. The electrode 33 is made of a metal having a rod shape, particularly a cylindrical shape and a length of about 50 mm. One end 37 of the electrode 33 has a hemispherical shape and is exposed toward the opening 20 of the rotary drum 12. The other end 38 of the electrode 33 is connected to the control unit 35 via the electric wire 34 (see FIG. 1). A gap between one end 37 and the other end 38 of the electrode 33 is shielded by the front peripheral portion 29.

  The electrode 33 is configured to be small because only the tip which is one end 37 is exposed toward the opening 20 of the rotary drum 12. That is, the place where the electrode 33 is installed is small. Moreover, since the metal which comprises the electrode 33 is also small, cost is also small. Since the tip of the electrode 33 has a hemispherical shape, the protruding portion into the rotating drum 12 is smooth and the protruding amount is small. Thereby, the catch of clothes is suppressed. Even if the tip of the electrode 33 is not a strict hemispherical shape, the same effect can be obtained as long as it is substantially hemispherical. For example, even if it is the shape which chamfered with respect to the edge | corner of the front-end | tip of the metal bar which forms the electrode 33, since there exists the same effect, it is the category of invention of this application.

  The dryness detection unit 30 further includes a seal member 39 between the hole 36 and the electrode 33 in the vicinity of the other end 38 of the electrode 33. As the seal member 39, an O-ring, a flat packing, or the like is used. The sealing performance of the sealing member 39 is improved by forming the flange 40 at the other end 38 of the electrode 33.

  As the garment is agitated in the rotating drum 12, lint is generated from the garment. The lint is so small that it can enter even a small gap. Since a slight gap is also formed between the electrode 33 and the hole 36, lint enters the gap. However, in the configuration of the present invention, since the seal member 39 is provided between the hole 36 and the electrode 33 in the vicinity of the other end 38 of the electrode 33, the lint does not enter any further. That is, the lint does not enter the connection portion between the electrode 33 and the electric wire 34, for example, a connector or the like (not shown), and the lint does not accumulate. Since poor conduction due to the influence of lint is prevented, a decrease in the accuracy of detection of the degree of drying is suppressed.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the dryness detection unit 30 includes a plurality of electrodes 33. When performing resistance detection, a plurality of electrodes are usually required. Therefore, the resistance between the two closest electrodes 33 shown in the figure can be detected. On the other hand, when it has the structure where the other end 38 side of the plurality of adjacent electrodes 33 is electrically connected to each other, these plurality of electrodes 33 act as one large electrode. Thereby, the contact range to the electrode 33 of clothing is wide. That is, the clothing contact frequency increases as in the case of using a large electrode. With this configuration, even when the small electrode 33 is used, it is possible to detect the degree of dryness with high accuracy. In addition, it is good to use the conduction | electrical_connection board 41 which consists of a metal etc. as a structure which the other end 38 side of the some electrode 33 which adjoins mutually conducts. Further, in this case, as a set of the electrodes 33, another dryness detection unit 30 is placed adjacent to detect resistance.

  When the other end 38 side of the plurality of electrodes 33 is electrically connected to each other, the electrodes 33 (for example, the electrode 33A and the electrode 33B in FIG. 2) adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the front peripheral portion 29 can be electrically connected to each other. Thereby, the some electrode 33 along the movement direction (namely, rotation direction) of clothing acts as one electrode, and can detect the dry degree with a sufficient precision. Further, this configuration suppresses the movement of clothes.

  Of the drying detectors 30 that constitute a set of electrodes 33 that are electrically connected to each other, the electrode 33 of the drying detector 30 that is far from the center of the rotating drum 12 (for example, the drying detector 30A in FIG. 4) is located at the center of the rotating drum 12. Compared with the electrode 33 of the near dryness detection part 30 (for example, the dryness detection part 30B in FIG. 4), it protrudes more inward of the rotary drum 12. For example, the vicinity of the front peripheral portion 29 where the dryness detection unit 30 (that is, the external dryness detection unit 30) far from the center of the rotary drum 12 is provided has an inclined surface inclined toward the rotary drum 12 side. Thereby, the clothes in the rotary drum 12 are more likely to come into contact with the electrode 33. That is, it is possible to detect the degree of drying with high accuracy.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the dryness detection unit 30 is provided at a lower portion in the circumferential direction of the front peripheral portion 29. Clothes that are drying (ie, the rotating drum 12 is rotating) always pass through the lower part of the rotating drum 12. Thereby, clothing contacts the electrode 33 reliably. That is, it is possible to detect the degree of drying with high accuracy.

  The clothes dryer 10 further includes a capacity detection unit 42. The capacity detection unit 42 has the same configuration as the dryness detection unit 30 described above. As shown in FIG. 2, the capacitance detection unit 42 is provided on a side portion in the circumferential direction of the front peripheral portion 29.

  Similar to the dryness detection unit 30, the capacitance detection unit 42 also detects resistance at the time of clothing contact. When the amount of clothing is large, the contact frequency is high, and when the amount of clothing is small, the contact frequency is low. For example, when 4 kg of synthetic garment (specifically, a shirt or shorts) is dried, the number of times in FIG. 3 is about 80 to 90. By storing the amount and type of clothing and the number of times corresponding to this in the control unit 35 in advance, the amount of clothing is detected based on the number of times information from the capacity detection unit 42. The drying operation can be performed optimally based on the detection result of the amount and type of clothing. Since the capacity detection unit 42 has the same configuration as the dryness detection unit 30, the same effects as the dryness detection unit 30 described above, such as electrode size, cost, clothing catch, lint influence, detection accuracy, etc. Play.

  Since the clothes dryer according to the present invention can reliably detect the degree of drying of clothes, it can be used for clothes dryers and washing dryers.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Clothes dryer 11 Case 12 Rotating drum 14 Heat pump apparatus 15 Fan 16 Motor 17 Pulley 18 Belt 19 Opening 20 Opening 21 Door 22 Compressor 23 Condenser 24 Evaporator 25 Duct 26 Filter 27 Pulley 28 Belt 29 Front peripheral part 30, 30A, 30B Drying detection part 31 Protrusion 32 Clothing 33, 33A, 33B Electrode 34 Electric wire 35 Control part 36 Hole 37 One end 38 Other end 39 Seal member 40 Flange 41 Conduction plate 42 Capacity detection part

Claims (6)

A housing having an opening through which clothes are taken in and out;
A rotating drum containing the clothing;
A front peripheral portion around the opening of the housing and facing the opening of the rotating drum;
A drying detector provided on the front periphery, for detecting the degree of drying of the clothes in the rotating drum;
A control unit for controlling the drying operation,
The dryness detection unit has an electrode made of a rod-shaped metal inserted into a hole formed in the front peripheral portion, and one end of the electrode has a hemispherical shape and faces the opening of the rotating drum. And the other end of the electrode is connected to the control unit via an electric wire, and the gap between the one end and the other end of the electrode is shielded by the front peripheral portion, and the electrode In the vicinity of the other end, a clothes dryer having a seal member between the hole in the front peripheral portion and the electrode. The dryness detection unit has a plurality of electrodes,
Each one end of the plurality of electrodes is exposed toward the opening of the rotating drum,
The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the other ends of the plurality of electrodes are electrically connected to each other.   The clothes dryer according to claim 2, wherein the other ends of the electrodes that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the front peripheral portion among the plurality of electrodes are electrically connected to each other. The dryness detection unit has a plurality of electrodes,
The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein an electrode far from the center of the rotating drum among the plurality of electrodes protrudes inward of the rotating drum as compared with an electrode near the center of the rotating drum. The other end of the electrode has a flange shape;
The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the seal member is an O-ring or a flat packing. A capacity detector for detecting the amount of clothing in the rotating drum;
The dryness detection unit is provided at a lower portion in the circumferential direction of the front periphery,
The clothes dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the capacity detection has the same electrode configuration as the dryness detection unit and is provided on a side portion in a circumferential direction of the front periphery.

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