JP3566575B2

JP3566575B2 - Clothes dryer

Info

Publication number: JP3566575B2
Application number: JP08342999A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 靖幸吉田; 一小林; 正行川本; 誠治森口
Original assignee: Rinnai Corp
Current assignee: Rinnai Corp
Priority date: 1999-03-26
Filing date: 1999-03-26
Publication date: 2004-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 2019-03-26
Also published as: JP2000271399A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術の分野】
本発明は、回転ドラム内に温風を供給して衣類の乾燥運転を行い、該乾燥運転の終了後に、回転ドラム内に冷風を供給して衣類の冷却運転を行う衣類乾燥機に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来より、回転ドラム内に衣類を収容し、該回転ドラム内に温風を送風して衣類を乾燥させる乾燥運転を行い、該乾燥運転の終了後に該回転ドラム内に冷風を送風して衣類をさます冷却運転を行う衣類乾燥機が知られている。
【０００３】
そして、冷却運転は、乾燥運転終了後に、一定時間冷風を送風することや、回転ドラムからの排気温度が所定温度まで低下するまで冷風を送風することによって行われていた。
【０００４】
しかし、冷却運転を一定時間行う場合は、回転ドラム内の衣類の量が多い場合や周囲温度が高い場合などに、衣類の冷却が不十分となるおそれがあった。また、衣類の冷却が不十分となることを防止するために、前記一定時間を長くしたときには、実際に必要な冷却時間以上に冷却運転が実行されて無駄なエネルギーを消費してしまうという不都合があった。
【０００５】
また、回転ドラムからの排気温度が所定温度まで低下するまで冷風を送風する場合には、回転ドラム内の衣類の量が少ないときに、冷風が衣類に当たらずに直接回転ドラムから排出される現象が生じるときがあり、かかる現象が生じたときには、実際には衣類の温度が下がっていないにも拘わらず、排気温度が低いために直ちに冷却運転が終了してしまい、衣類の冷却が不十分となるという不都合があった。
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
本発明は、上記背景を鑑みてなされたものであり、冷却運転の実行時間を適切に設定することができる衣類乾燥機を提供することを目的とする。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明は、上記背景を鑑みてなされたものであり、衣類を収容する回転ドラムと、該回転ドラム内に温風を供給する温風供給手段と、該回転ドラム内に冷風を供給する冷風供給手段と、前記温風供給手段により前記回転ドラム内に温風を供給して衣類を乾燥させる乾燥運転を行う乾燥制御手段と、該乾燥運転の終了後の所定の冷却時間の間、前記冷風供給手段により、前記回転ドラム内に冷風を供給して衣類をさます冷却運転を行う冷却制御手段とを備えた衣類乾燥機の改良に関する。
【０００８】
そして、本発明の第１の実施の態様は、前記回転ドラムからの排気温度を検出する排気温検出手段と、前記回転ドラム内の衣類の乾燥度合いを検出する乾燥度合い検出手段とを備え、前記乾燥制御手段は、前記乾燥運転の開始から該排気温検出手段の検出温度が所定温度に達するまで、前記温風供給手段により一定熱量の温風を前記回転ドラム内に供給し、前記冷却制御手段は、前記乾燥運転の開始から前記排気温検出手段の検出温度が前記所定温度に達するまでに要する時間と、前記乾燥運転の開始後、該乾燥度合い検出手段により検出される衣類の乾燥度合いが所定レベルに達した時の、前記排気温検出手段の検出温度又は該検出温度の上昇率とに基づいて、前記冷却時間を決定することを特徴とする。
【０００９】
本願発明者らは、上記目的を達成するために各種検討を重ねた結果、前記乾燥運転の開始から、前記温風供給手段により一定の熱量の温風を前記回転ドラム内に供給した場合、前記回転ドラムに収容された衣類の量が多い程前記所定温度に達するまでの時間が長くなることを知見した。そして、回転ドラム内の衣類の量が多い程、前記乾燥運転の終了時に衣類が保持する熱量も多くなるため、前記冷却運転により衣類をさますのに要する時間が長くなる。
【００１０】
そこで、前記冷却制御手段により、前記乾燥運転の開始から前記排気温検出手段の検出温度が前記所定温度に達するまでに要する時間に応じて前記冷却時間を決定することで、前記回転ドラム内の衣類の量に応じて前記冷却時間を適切な長さに設定することができる。これにより、必要以上に前記冷却運転が実行されて無駄なエネルギーが消費されたり、逆に冷却運転の実行時間が短すぎて衣類の冷却が不十分となることを防止することができる。
【００１２】
また、本願発明者らは、前記乾燥運転の開始後、前記乾燥度合い検出手段により前記回転ドラム内に収容された衣類の乾燥度合いが前記所定レベルに達した時（以下、半乾燥時という）の、前記排気温検出手段の検出温度が、衣類の種類に依存して変化することを知見した。即ち、化繊素材から成る衣類を乾燥させる場合は、綿素材から成る衣類を乾燥させる場合よりも、前記半乾燥時における前記排気温検出手段の検出温度が高くなることを知見した。また、化繊素材から成る衣類を乾燥させる場合は、綿素材から成る衣類を乾燥させる場合よりも、前記半乾燥時における前記排気温検出手段の検出温度の上昇率が高くなることを知見した。
【００１３】
そして、一般に、化繊素材から成る衣類は綿素材から成る衣類よりもさめ易い。そのため、前記半乾燥時における前記排気温検出手段の検出温度又は前記半乾燥時における前記排気温検出手段の検出温度の上昇率を考慮して前記冷却時間を決定することで、衣類の素材のさめ易さに応じて前記冷却時間を適切な時間に設定することができる。これにより、上述した冷却時間の不足や無駄な冷却が行われることを防止することができる。
【００１４】
また、本発明の第２の実施の態様は、前記回転ドラム内の衣類の温度を検出する衣類温検出手段と、前記回転ドラムからの排気温度を検出する排気温検出手段と、前記回転ドラム内の衣類の乾燥度合いを検出する乾燥度合い検出手段とを備え、前記乾燥制御手段は、前記乾燥運転の開始から該衣類温検出手段の検出温度が所定温度に達するまで、前記温風供給手段により一定熱量の温風を前記回転ドラム内に供給し、前記冷却制御手段は、前記乾燥運転の開始から前記衣類温検出手段の検出温度が前記所定温度に達するまでに要する時間と、前記乾燥運転の開始後、前記乾燥度合い検出手段により検出される衣類の乾燥度合いが所定レベルに達した時の、前記排気温検出手段の検出温度又は該検出温度の上昇率とに基づいて、前記冷却時間を決定することを特徴とする。
【００１５】
本願発明者は、前記乾燥運転の開始から、前記温風供給手段により一定の熱量の温風を前記回転ドラム内に供給した場合に、前記回転ドラムに収容された衣類の量が多い程、前記衣類温検出手段の検出温度が前記所定温度に達するまでの時間が長くなることを知見した。そして、上述したように、回転ドラム内の衣類の量が多い程、前記冷却運転により衣類をさますのに要する時間が長くなる。
【００１６】
そこで、前記冷却制御手段により、前記乾燥運転の開始から前記衣類温検出手段の検出温度が前記所定温度に達するまでに要する時間に応じて、前記冷却時間を決定することで、上述した第１の実施の態様と同様に、前記回転ドラム内の衣類の量に応じて前記冷却時間を適切な長さに設定することができる。
【００１８】
また、かかる本発明によれば、上述した第１の実施の態様と同様、前記半乾燥時における前記排気温検出手段の検出温度又は該検出温度の上昇率を考慮して、前記冷却時間を決定することで、衣類の素材のさめ易さに応じて適切な冷却時間を設定することができる。
【００１９】
【発明の実施の形態】
本発明の実施の形態の一例について、図１〜図６を参照して説明する。図１は本発明の衣類乾燥機の全体構成図、図２は図１に示した衣類乾燥機の制御ブロック図、図３，図４は図２に示したコントローラの作動フローチャート、図５，図６は冷却時間の決定方法の説明図である。
【００２０】
図１を参照して、本実施の形態の衣類乾燥機１は、ＣＰＵ，ＲＯＭ，ＲＡＭ等から構成されるコントローラ２により全体の作動が制御され、被乾燥物である衣類Ｍが収納される回転ドラム３と、回転ドラム３に供給される空気を加熱するバーナ４と、吸気フィルタ５を介して吸気口６から吸引した空気を燃焼用空気としてバーナ４に供給すると共に、バーナ４で加熱された空気を回転ドラム３に吸引し、且つ、回転ドラム３内の衣類Ｍから放出される湿潤空気を排気フィルタ７を介して排気口８から排出する吸排気ファン９と、吸排気ファン９と回転ドラム３とを回転作動させるモータ１０と、回転ドラム３のドア１１の開閉状態を検知するドアスイッチ１２と、回転ドラム３内の衣類Ｍの温度を検出する衣類温サーミスタ１３（本発明の衣類温検出手段に相当する）と、電極ａ，ｂ間に接触した衣類Ｍの湿り具合に応じてＯＮ／ＯＦＦする電極センサ１４（本発明の乾燥度合い検出手段に相当する）と、排気口８から排出される湿潤空気の温度を検出する排気温サーミスタ１５（本発明の排気温検出手段に相当する）と、使用者により操作されるスイッチ等を備えた操作パネル１６とを備える。
【００２１】
また、バーナ４はガス供給管１７と接続され、ガス接続口１８から供給される燃料ガスがガス供給管１７を介してノズル１９から噴出される。ガス供給管１７には上流側から、ガス供給管１７を開閉する第１電磁弁２０，第２電磁弁２１，及びガス供給管１７の開度を調節する比例弁２２が設けられている。
【００２２】
さらに、バーナ４には、バーナ４の点火を行うための点火電極２３と、バーナ４の燃焼状態を検出する第１サーモカップル２４及び第２サーモカップル２５とが備えられている。また、排気口８の閉塞や吸排気ファン９の故障を検出するための第１オーバーヒートスイッチ２６（作動温度１５０℃）と、排気温度の異常を検出するための第２オーバーヒートスイッチ２７（作動温度８５℃）と、排気フィルタ７の閉塞を検出するための吹出温サーミスタ２８とが備えられている。
【００２３】
そして、図２を参照して、コントローラ２には、ドアスイッチ１２から出力されるドア１１の開閉検出信号と、衣類温サーミスタ１３，排気温サーミスタ１５，及び吹出温サーミスタ２８から出力される温度検出信号と、電極センサ１４から出力される乾燥度合検出信号と、第１サーモカップル２４及び第２サーモカップル２５から出力されるバーナ４の燃焼状態検出信号と、第１オーバーヒートスイッチ２６及び第２オーバーヒートスイッチ２７から出力される過熱検出信号とが入力される。
【００２４】
これらの検出信号により、図１を参照して、コントローラ２は、ドア１１の開閉状態、回転ドラム３内の衣類Ｍの温度、排気口８からの排気温度、回転ドラム３への温風の吹き出し温度、衣類Ｍの乾燥度合い、バーナ４の燃焼状態、バーナ４の過熱の有無、及び排気管２９の過熱の有無を認識する。尚、電極センサ１４は、電極ａ，ｂ間の抵抗値（接触する衣類が乾燥している程大きくなる）が所定レベル（数ＭΩ程度）以上となったときにＯＮするものである。
【００２５】
また、図２を参照して、コントローラ２から出力される制御信号により、モータドライバー４０を介してモータ１０の作動／停止と、回転数の制御が行われる。モータドライバー４０は、コントローラー２から出力される目標回転数と、回転数センサ４１により検出される実際のモータ１０の回転数とが一致するように、モータ１０に供給する電力を調節する。
【００２６】
さらに、コントローラ２はモータ１０を作動させて吸排気ファン９によりバーナ４に燃焼用空気を供給し、点火電極２３に高電圧を印加して火花放電を生じさせた状態で、第１電磁弁２０及び第２電磁弁２１を開弁することでバーナ４の点火処理を行う。そして、コントローラ２は比例弁２２の開度を調節してバーナ４への燃料ガスの供給量を制御し、また、モータ１０の回転数を調節して吸排気ファン９によるバーナ４への燃焼用空気の供給量を制御することで回転ドラム３に供給する温風の熱量を変化させる。尚、本実施の形態の衣類乾燥機１においては、コントローラ２は８速（最大熱量）〜１速（最小熱量）という８段階で、回転ドラム３に供給する温風の熱量を制御する。
【００２７】
また、図２を参照して、操作パネル１６には、衣類乾燥機１への電源供給の開始と停止を指示する電源スイッチ５０、乾燥運転の開始と一時停止を指示するスタートスイッチ５１、乾燥運転の残時間を表示する表示ユニット５２、及び衣類の乾燥運転のコース（標準，厚物，デリケート等）を選択するコース切替スイッチ５３が備えられている。
【００２８】
次に、図１，図２を参照しつつ、図３，図４に示したフローチャートに従って、コントローラ２による衣類の乾燥運転、及び乾燥運転終了後の衣類の冷却運転について説明する。
【００２９】
使用者が操作パネル１６（図２参照）の電源スイッチ５０をＯＮ操作すると、衣類乾燥機１に電源が供給されてコントローラ２が作動を開始する。そして、使用者が操作パネル１６のコース切替スイッチ５３を操作して前記乾燥運転のコースを選択し、スタートスイッチ５１を操作すると、コントローラ２に備えられた乾燥制御手段６０と冷却制御手段６１による、図３のＳＴＥＰ１以下の処理が開始される。
【００３０】
乾燥制御手段６０は、バーナ４を燃焼させた状態で吸排気ファン９を作動させることで、温風を回転ドラム３に供給する乾燥運転を行う（この場合、バーナ４と吸排気ファン９により本発明の温風供給手段が構成される）。また、冷却制御手段６１は、バーナ４の燃焼を停止した状態で吸排気ファン９を作動させることで、冷風を回転ドラム３に供給する冷却運転を行う（この場合、吸排気ファン９により本発明の冷風供給手段が構成される）。
【００３１】
図３のＳＴＥＰ１〜ＳＴＥＰ３は乾燥制御手段６０による処理であり、乾燥制御手段６０はＳＴＥＰ１で先ずモータ１０を作動させる。このモータ１０の作動により回転ドラム３と吸排気ファン９の回転作動が開始される。そして、吸排気ファン９の回転により吸気口６から吸気フィルタ５を介して、燃焼用空気がバーナ４に供給される。
【００３２】
続くＳＴＥＰ２で、乾燥制御手段６０は点火電極２３に高電圧を印加して火花放電を生じさせた状態で、第１電磁弁２０と第２電磁弁２１とを開弁してバーナ４への燃料ガスの供給を開始する。これによりバーナ４に点火されて、回転ドラム３への温風の供給が開始される。次のＳＴＥＰ３で、乾燥制御手段６０は、回転ドラム３に供給する温風の熱量が８速（最大）となるように、吸排気ファン９の回転数を調節してバーナ４への燃焼用空気の供給量を制御し、また、比例弁２２の開度を調節してバーナ４への燃料ガスの供給量を制御する。
【００３３】
続くＳＴＥＰ４〜ＳＴＥＰ６及びＳＴＥＰ５から分岐したＳＴＥＰ２０〜ＳＴＥＰ２１は、冷却制御手段６１による処理である。冷却制御手段６１は、ＳＴＥＰ４でタイマをスタートし、ＳＴＥＰ５で衣類温サーミスタ１３の検出温度Ｔ_Ｃが１０１℃（本発明の所定温度に相当する）以上となるか、ＳＴＥＰ２０で排気温サーミスタ１５の検出温度Ｔ_Ｅが５９℃（本発明の所定温度に相当する）以上となるまで、ＳＴＥＰ５とＳＴＥＰ２０からなるループを繰り返し実行し、この間は８速に対応した一定の熱量（本発明の一定熱量に相当する）の温風が回転ドラム３に継続して供給される。
【００３４】
そして、冷却制御手段６１は、ＳＴＥＰ５で衣類温サーミスタ１３の検出温度Ｔ_Ｃが１０１℃以上となったときは、ＳＴＥＰ６でその時点までのタイマの計測時間を記憶変数ｔ_ｉに保持する（ｔ_ｉは本発明の乾燥運転の開始から衣類温検出手段の検出温度が所定温度に達するまでに要する時間に相当する）。また、ＳＴＥＰ２０で排気温サーミスタ１５の検出温度が５９℃以上となったときには、冷却制御手段６１はＳＴＥＰ２１で、その時点までのタイマの計測時間を記憶変数ｔ_ｈに保持する（ｔ_ｈは本発明の乾燥運転の開始から排気温検出手段の検出温度が所定温度に達するまでに要する時間に相当する）。
【００３５】
続くＳＴＥＰ７〜ＳＴＥＰ９は乾燥制御手段６０による処理である。乾燥制御手段６０は、ＳＴＥＰ９で、回転ドラム３内の衣類の乾燥度合いが、所定の測定回数あたりの電極センサ１４の電極ａ，ｂ間が導通した回数の割合が９５％以上となるレベル（本発明の所定レベルに相当する）に達したと判断されるまで、図５（ａ）に示したデータテーブルに従って回転ドラム３に供給する温風の熱量を制御する。
【００３６】
即ち、乾燥制御手段６０は、衣類温サーミスタ１３の検出温度Ｔ_Ｃが１０１℃（過熱に対する回転ドラム３の保護の観点から決定される）以上とならないように、また、排気温サーミスタ１５の検出温度Ｔ_Ｅが６６℃（過熱に対する排気管２９の保護の観点から決定される）以上とならないように、回転ドラム３に供給する温風の熱量を段階的に減少させる（８速→７速→６速・・・）。
【００３７】
次のＳＴＥＰ１０は、冷却制御手段６１による処理であり、冷却制御手段６１は、ＳＴＥＰ９で回転ドラム３内の衣類の乾燥度合いが、所定の測定回数あたりの電極センサ１４の電極ａ，ｂ間が導通した回数の割合が９５％以上となるレベル（本発明の所定レベルに相当する）に達したと判断された時点ｔ_ｍ（以下、半乾燥時という）における排気温サーミスタ１５の検出温度Ｔ_Ｅを記憶変数Ｔ_ＥＨに保持する。
【００３８】
続くＳＴＥＰ１１で、乾燥制御手段６０は回転ドラム３内の衣類Ｍを完全に乾燥させるのに必要な乾燥運転の残り時間（乾燥残時間）ｔ_ｄを決定する。また、冷却制御手段６１は、ＳＴＥＰ１２で、乾燥運転終了後に回転ドラム３に冷風を供給して衣類Ｍをさます前記冷却運転の実行時間（冷却時間）ｔ_Ｃを決定する。
【００３９】
以下、図５（ｂ），図６（ａ），及び図６（ｂ）を参照して、冷却制御手段６１による冷却時間ｔ_ｃの決定方法について説明する。
【００４０】
図５（ｂ）は、時刻ｔ_０で乾燥運転を開始したときの、回転ドラム３に供給する温風の熱量の推移を示したグラフであり、図中▲１▼は回転ドラム３に収容された衣類Ｍの量が多い場合を示し、また、図中▲２▼は回転ドラム３に収容された衣類Ｍの量が少ない場合を示している。そして、図５（ｂ）から明らかなように、乾燥運転開始から一定の熱量（８速）で乾燥運転を継続した場合に、排気温サーミスタ１５の検出温度Ｔ_Ｅが５９℃に達するまでの時間は、衣類Ｍの量が多いとき（図中▲１▼のｔ_０〜ｔ_２）の方が衣類Ｍの量が少ないとき（図中▲２▼のｔ_０〜ｔ_１）よりも長くなる。
【００４１】
また、同様に、乾燥運転開始から一定の熱量（８速）で乾燥運転を継続した場合に、衣類温サーミスタ１３の検出温度がＳＴＥＰ５で１０１℃以上となるまでの時間も、衣類Ｍの量が多いときの方が衣類Ｍの量が少ないときよりも長くなる。そのため、冷却制御手段６１は、ＳＴＥＰ６で保持したｔ_ｉ（乾燥運転開始から衣類温サーミスタ１３の検出温度Ｔ_Ｃが１０１℃に達するまでの時間）又はＳＴＥＰ２１で保持したｔ_ｈ（乾燥運転開始から排気温サーミスタ１５の検出温度Ｔ_Ｅが５９℃に達するまでの時間）から、乾燥ドラム３に収容された衣類Ｍの量を認識することができる。
【００４２】
次に、図６（ａ）は、時刻ｔ_０で乾燥運転を開始してから、前記半乾燥時ｔ_ｍに至るまでの排気温サーミスタ１５の検出温度（排気温度）の推移を示したグラフであり、図中▲３▼は衣類Ｍの素材が化繊を主とする場合を示し、また、図中▲４▼は衣類Ｍの素材が綿を主とする場合を示している。
【００４３】
図６（ａ）から明らかなように、前記半乾燥時ｔ_ｍにおける排気温サーミスタ１５の検出温度Ｔ_Ｅは、衣類Ｍの素材が化繊を主とする場合（図中Ｔ_Ｅ１）のほうが、衣類Ｍの素材が綿を主とする場合（図中Ｔ_Ｅ２）よりも高くなる。そのため、冷却制御手段６１は、ＳＴＥＰ１０でＴ_ＥＨに保持した前記半乾燥時ｔ_ｍにおける排気温サーミスタの検出温度Ｔ_Ｅから、衣類Ｍの素材の種類を認識することができる。
【００４４】
そして、回転ドラム３に収容された衣類Ｍの量が多い程、衣類Ｍが保持する熱量も多くなるため、前記冷却運転により衣類Ｍの温度を所定レベルまで低下させるのに要する時間が長くなる。また、綿は化繊よりもさめ難いため、衣類Ｍに綿素材が含まれる割合が大きい程、前記冷却運転により衣類Ｍの温度を所定レベルまで低下させるのに要する時間が長くなる。
【００４５】
そこで、冷却制御手段６１は、図６（ｂ）に示したように、８速での乾燥運転の実行時間（８速運転時間）であるｔ_ｉ又はｔ_ｈに応じて、そして、半乾燥時ｔ_ｍにおける排気温サーミスタ１５の検出温度であるＴ_ＥＨを考慮して冷却時間ｔ_ｃを決定する。
【００４６】
即ち、冷却制御手段６１は、８速での乾燥運転の実行時間（８速運転時間）であるｔ_ｉ又はｔ_ｈが短い程、衣類Ｍの量が少ないと判断して冷却時間ｔ_ｃを短く設定し、また、半乾燥時ｔ_ｍにおける排気温サーミスタ１５の検出温度であるＴ_ＥＨが高い程、衣類Ｍの素材中の化繊の含有率が高いと判断して、冷却運転の実行時間ｔ_ｃを短く設定する。
【００４７】
これにより、回転ドラム３に収容された衣類Ｍの量と素材に応じて、冷却時間ｔ_ｃが適切な長さに決定される。そのため、必要以上に冷却運転が実行されて燃料ガスや電力が無駄に消費されたり、冷却運転の実行時間が短すぎて衣類Ｍの冷却が不十分となることが防止される。
【００４８】
尚、図６（ａ）から明らかなように、前記半乾燥時ｔ_ｍにおける排気温サーミスタ１５の検出温度Ｔ_Ｅの上昇率（図中▲３▼と▲４▼のｔ_ｍにおける傾き）は、衣類Ｍの素材が化繊を主とする場合（図中▲３▼）のほうが、衣類Ｍの素材が綿を主とする場合（図中▲４▼）よりも大きくなる。そのため、冷却制御手段６１は、前記半乾燥時ｔ_ｍにおける排気温サーミスタの検出温度Ｔ_Ｅの上昇率から、衣類Ｍの素材の種類を認識することもできる。そして、半乾燥時ｔ_ｍにおける排気温サーミスタ１５の検出温度Ｔ_Ｅの上昇率を考慮して、該上昇率が大きい程、衣類Ｍの素材中の化繊の含有率が高いと判断して、冷却運転の実行時間ｔ_ｃを短く設定するようにしてもよい。
【００４９】
そして、乾燥制御手段６０は、ＳＴＥＰ１２で残乾燥時間ｔ_ｄが経過するのを待ってＳＴＥＰ１４に進み、ＳＴＥＰ１４で第１電磁弁２０と第２電磁弁２１を閉弁してバーナ４の燃焼を停止する。
【００５０】
続くＳＴＥＰ１５とＳＴＥＰ１６は冷却制御手段６１による処理であり、冷却制御手段６１は、ＳＴＥＰ１５で冷却時間ｔ_ｃが経過するまで、バーナ４の燃焼が停止した状態で吸排気ファン９を継続して作動させる。これにより乾燥ドラム３内に冷風が供給されて衣類Ｍが冷却される。そして、冷却制御手段６１は、冷却時間ｔ_ｃが経過した時にＳＴＥＰ１６に進んでモータ１０の作動を停止して（これにより吸排気ファン９と回転ドラム３の回転が停止する）、冷却運転を終了する。
【００５１】
尚、本実施の形態の衣類乾燥機においては、衣類温サーミスタ１３の検出温度Ｔ_Ｃと排気温サーミスタ１５の検出温度Ｔ_Ｅの両方を用いて、回転ドラム３に供給する温風の熱量を低下させたが、いすれか一方を用いて該熱量を低下させるようにしてもよい。そして、本実施の形態では、回転ドラム３内の衣類の量を判断するための、前記乾燥運転開始からの排気温サーミスタ１５の検出温度Ｔ_Ｅ及び衣類温サーミスタ１３の検出温度Ｔ_Ｃの上限温度（本発明の所定温度に相当する）を、過熱からの回転ドラム３及び排気管２９の保護の観点から決定したが、他の観点（例えば衣類Ｍの保護等）から決定するようにしてもよい。
【００５２】
また、本実施の形態では、乾燥運転開始から温風の熱量を８速に保ってバーナ４と吸排気ファン９とを作動させたときに、衣類温サーミスタ１３の検出温度Ｔ_Ｃ又は排気温サーミスタ１５の検出温度Ｔ_Ｅが所定の上限温度に達する時間ｔ_ｈ，ｔ_ｉから、回転ドラム３内の衣類Ｍの量を認識したが、この場合の温風の熱量は特に８速に限られず、温風の熱量が一定に保たれさえすれば他の速数で乾燥運転を開始してもよい。この場合にあっても、排気温サーミスタ１５又は衣類温サーミスタ１３の検出温度が所定の上限温度に達するまでの時間から、衣類Ｍの量を認識することができる。
【００５３】
また、本実施の形態では、回転ドラム３に供給する温風の熱量を１速〜８速の８段階に可変したが、７速以下或いは９速以上の段階で熱量を可変するようにしてもよく、さらに温風の熱量を可変せずに一定に保って前記乾燥運転を行う場合であっても本発明の適用が可能である。
【００５４】
また、本実施の形態では、バーナ４により空気を加熱して温風を生成する衣類乾燥機１を示したが、電気ヒータや温水式の熱交換器により空気を加熱する衣類乾燥機であってもよく、さらに、外部から直接温風や冷風が供給される衣類乾燥機に対しても本発明の適用が可能である。
【００５５】
また、本実施の形態では、回転ドラム３内の衣類Ｍの乾燥度合いを電極センサ１４によって検出したが、湿度センサによって検出するようにしてもよい。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】衣類乾燥機の全体構成図。
【図２】衣類乾燥機の制御ブロック図。
【図３】コントローラの作動フローチャート。
【図４】コントローラの作動フローチャート。
【図５】冷却時間の決定方法の説明図。
【図６】冷却時間の決定方法の説明図。
【符号の説明】
１…衣類乾燥機、２…コントローラ、３…回転ドラム、４…バーナ、５…吸気フィルタ、６…吸気口、７…排気フィルタ、８…排気口、９…吸排気ファン、１０…モータ、１１…ドア、１２…ドアスイッチ、１３…衣類温サーミスタ、１４…電極センサ、１５…排気温サーミスタ、１６…操作パネル、１７…ガス供給管、１８…ガス接続口、１９…吹出口、２０…第１電磁弁、２１…第２電磁弁、２２…比例弁、２３…点火電極、２４…第１サーモカップル、２５…第２サーミカップル、２６…第１オーバーヒートスイッチ、２７…第２オーバーヒートスイッチ、２８…吹出温サーミスタ、４０…モータドライバ、６０…乾燥制御手段、６１…冷却制御手段[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a clothes dryer that performs a drying operation of clothes by supplying warm air to a rotating drum, and cools the clothes by supplying cool air to the rotating drum after the drying operation is completed.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, clothes are stored in a rotating drum, a drying operation is performed in which the clothes are dried by blowing warm air into the rotating drum, and cool air is blown into the rotating drum after the drying operation is completed to remove the clothes. Clothes dryers that perform a cooling operation are known.
[0003]
The cooling operation has been performed by blowing cool air for a certain period of time after the end of the drying operation, or by blowing cool air until the temperature of exhaust air from the rotating drum drops to a predetermined temperature.
[0004]
However, when the cooling operation is performed for a certain period of time, there is a possibility that the cooling of the clothes may be insufficient when the amount of clothes in the rotating drum is large or when the ambient temperature is high. Further, in order to prevent insufficient cooling of the clothes, when the predetermined time is extended, there is a disadvantage that the cooling operation is performed for a time longer than the actually required cooling time and wasteful energy is consumed. there were.
[0005]
Also, when the cool air is blown until the exhaust temperature from the rotating drum drops to a predetermined temperature, when the amount of clothes in the rotating drum is small, the cool air is directly discharged from the rotating drum without hitting the clothes. When such a phenomenon occurs, the cooling operation ends immediately because the exhaust temperature is low, even though the temperature of the clothing has not actually dropped, and it is considered that the cooling of the clothing is insufficient. There was an inconvenience.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and has as its object to provide a clothes dryer capable of appropriately setting the execution time of the cooling operation.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and has a rotating drum for accommodating clothing, hot air supply means for supplying warm air to the rotating drum, and cool air supply for supplying cool air to the rotating drum. Means, drying control means for performing a drying operation for drying the clothes by supplying warm air into the rotary drum by the hot air supply means, and supplying the cold air for a predetermined cooling time after the end of the drying operation. Means for supplying cooling air to the inside of the rotary drum to perform cooling operation for cooling clothes.
[0008]
The first embodiment of the present invention provides an exhaust temperature detecting means for detecting an exhaust temperature from the rotating drum. And a drying degree detecting means for detecting a drying degree of the clothes in the rotating drum. The drying control means supplies a constant amount of hot air into the rotary drum by the hot air supply means from the start of the drying operation until the temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature detecting means reaches a predetermined temperature; The control means controls a time required from the start of the drying operation until the temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature detecting means reaches the predetermined temperature. And when the drying degree of the clothes detected by the drying degree detecting means reaches a predetermined level after the start of the drying operation, based on the temperature detected by the exhaust temperature detecting means or the rate of increase of the detected temperature. And said The cooling time is determined.
[0009]
The inventors of the present application have conducted various studies in order to achieve the above object, and as a result, from the start of the drying operation, when hot air having a constant calorific value is supplied into the rotary drum by the hot air supply means, It has been found that the longer the amount of clothes stored in the rotating drum, the longer it takes to reach the predetermined temperature. And, as the amount of clothes in the rotating drum increases, the amount of heat held by the clothes at the end of the drying operation increases, so that the time required to wear the clothes by the cooling operation becomes longer.
[0010]
Therefore, the cooling control means determines the cooling time in accordance with the time required from the start of the drying operation to the time when the temperature detected by the exhaust temperature detecting means reaches the predetermined temperature. The cooling time can be set to an appropriate length depending on the amount of the cooling water. Thus, it is possible to prevent the cooling operation from being performed more than necessary and wasteful energy being consumed, and conversely, the execution time of the cooling operation being too short to insufficiently cooling the clothing.
[0012]
Also, After the start of the drying operation, the inventors of the present application determine that when the degree of drying of the clothes stored in the rotating drum reaches the predetermined level by the degree of drying detecting means (hereinafter, referred to as semi-drying), It has been found that the temperature detected by the exhaust temperature detecting means changes depending on the type of clothing. That is, it has been found that the temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature detecting means at the time of the semi-drying is higher when the clothing made of the synthetic material is dried than when the clothing made of the cotton material is dried. Further, it has been found that the rate of increase in the temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature detecting means during the semi-drying is higher when the clothes made of the synthetic material are dried than when the clothes made of the cotton material are dried.
[0013]
In general, clothing made of synthetic material is easier to wear than clothing made of cotton material. Therefore, the cooling time is determined in consideration of the temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature detecting means during the semi-drying or the rate of increase in the temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature detecting means during the semi-drying, so that the clothing material is compacted. The cooling time can be set to an appropriate time according to the ease. Thus, it is possible to prevent the above-mentioned shortage of the cooling time and the unnecessary cooling.
[0014]
Also, a second embodiment of the present invention is a clothing temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of clothing in the rotating drum. Exhaust temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of exhaust air from the rotating drum, and drying degree detecting means for detecting the degree of drying of clothes in the rotating drum. The drying control means supplies a constant amount of hot air into the rotating drum by the hot air supply means from the start of the drying operation until the temperature detected by the clothing temperature detecting means reaches a predetermined temperature, and The control means controls a time required from the start of the drying operation to a time when the temperature detected by the clothing temperature detecting means reaches the predetermined temperature. And when the drying degree of the clothing detected by the drying degree detecting means reaches a predetermined level after the start of the drying operation, based on the detected temperature of the exhaust gas temperature detecting means or the rate of increase of the detected temperature. And said The cooling time is determined.
[0015]
From the start of the drying operation, the present inventor, when a hot air of a certain amount of heat is supplied into the rotary drum by the hot air supply means, the larger the amount of clothes stored in the rotary drum, the more the It has been found that the time required for the temperature detected by the clothing temperature detecting means to reach the predetermined temperature becomes longer. As described above, as the amount of clothes in the rotating drum increases, the time required for putting the clothes in the cooling operation increases.
[0016]
Therefore, the cooling control means determines the cooling time according to the time required from the start of the drying operation to the time when the temperature detected by the clothing temperature detecting means reaches the predetermined temperature. As in the embodiment, the cooling time can be set to an appropriate length according to the amount of clothing in the rotating drum.
[0018]
Also, According to the present invention, as in the first embodiment, the cooling time is determined in consideration of the temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature detecting means or the rate of increase in the temperature detected during the semi-drying. Thus, an appropriate cooling time can be set according to the ease with which the material of the garment is set.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the clothes dryer of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the clothes dryer shown in FIG. 1, FIGS. 3 and 4 are operation flowcharts of the controller shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a method for determining a cooling time.
[0020]
Referring to FIG. 1, the overall operation of a clothes dryer 1 of the present embodiment is controlled by a controller 2 including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and the rotation of the clothes dryer 1 in which clothes M to be dried are stored. The drum 3, a burner 4 for heating air supplied to the rotating drum 3, and air sucked from an intake port 6 through an intake filter 5 are supplied to the burner 4 as combustion air and heated by the burner 4. A suction / exhaust fan 9 for sucking air into the rotating drum 3 and discharging humid air released from the clothes M in the rotating drum 3 from an exhaust port 8 through an exhaust filter 7; 3, a door switch 12 for detecting the open / closed state of the door 11 of the rotating drum 3, and a clothing temperature thermistor 13 for detecting the temperature of the clothing M in the rotating drum 3 (the clothing of the present invention). An electrode sensor 14 (corresponding to the dryness detecting means of the present invention) which is turned ON / OFF in accordance with the degree of wetness of the clothes M in contact between the electrodes a and b, and an exhaust port 8. An exhaust temperature thermistor 15 (corresponding to exhaust temperature detecting means of the present invention) for detecting the temperature of the discharged wet air, and an operation panel 16 provided with a switch or the like operated by a user are provided.
[0021]
The burner 4 is connected to a gas supply pipe 17, and fuel gas supplied from a gas connection port 18 is jetted from a nozzle 19 through the gas supply pipe 17. The gas supply pipe 17 is provided with, from the upstream side, a first solenoid valve 20 for opening and closing the gas supply pipe 17, a second solenoid valve 21, and a proportional valve 22 for adjusting the opening of the gas supply pipe 17.
[0022]
Further, the burner 4 is provided with an ignition electrode 23 for igniting the burner 4, and a first thermocouple 24 and a second thermocouple 25 for detecting the combustion state of the burner 4. Further, a first overheat switch 26 (operating temperature 150 ° C.) for detecting a blockage of the exhaust port 8 and a failure of the intake / exhaust fan 9, and a second overheat switch 27 (operating temperature 85) for detecting an abnormal exhaust temperature. ° C) and an outlet temperature thermistor 28 for detecting blockage of the exhaust filter 7.
[0023]
Then, referring to FIG. 2, the controller 2 provides the door open / close detection signal output from the door switch 12 and the temperature detection output from the clothing temperature thermistor 13, the exhaust temperature thermistor 15, and the blowout temperature thermistor 28. Signal, a dryness detection signal output from the electrode sensor 14, a combustion state detection signal of the burner 4 output from the first thermocouple 24 and the second thermocouple 25, a first overheat switch 26 and a second overheat switch 27 and the overheat detection signal.
[0024]
Based on these detection signals, referring to FIG. 1, the controller 2 determines whether the door 11 is open or closed, the temperature of the clothes M in the rotating drum 3, the exhaust temperature from the exhaust port 8, and the blowing of warm air to the rotating drum 3. The temperature, the degree of drying of the clothes M, the burning state of the burner 4, the presence or absence of overheating of the burner 4, and the presence or absence of overheating of the exhaust pipe 29 are recognized. The electrode sensor 14 is turned on when the resistance value between the electrodes a and b (which increases as the contacting clothing is dried) becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined level (about several MΩ).
[0025]
Referring to FIG. 2, operation / stop of motor 10 and control of the number of rotations are performed via motor driver 40 by a control signal output from controller 2. The motor driver 40 adjusts the power supplied to the motor 10 so that the target rotation speed output from the controller 2 matches the actual rotation speed of the motor 10 detected by the rotation speed sensor 41.
[0026]
Further, the controller 2 operates the motor 10 to supply combustion air to the burner 4 by the intake / exhaust fan 9, applies a high voltage to the ignition electrode 23, and causes the first solenoid valve 20 to generate a spark discharge. The ignition process of the burner 4 is performed by opening the second solenoid valve 21. The controller 2 controls the amount of fuel gas supplied to the burner 4 by adjusting the opening of the proportional valve 22, and adjusts the number of revolutions of the motor 10 so that the intake / exhaust fan 9 burns the burner 4. By controlling the supply amount of air, the amount of heat of the warm air supplied to the rotating drum 3 is changed. In the clothes dryer 1 according to the present embodiment, the controller 2 controls the amount of hot air supplied to the rotary drum 3 in eight stages from the eighth speed (maximum heat amount) to the first speed (minimum heat amount).
[0027]
Referring to FIG. 2, on operation panel 16, power switch 50 for instructing start and stop of power supply to clothes dryer 1, start switch 51 for instructing start and pause of drying operation, drying operation And a course changeover switch 53 for selecting a course (standard, thick, delicate, etc.) of the drying operation of the clothes.
[0028]
Next, the drying operation of the clothes by the controller 2 and the cooling operation of the clothes after the drying operation by the controller 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 while referring to FIGS.
[0029]
When the user turns on the power switch 50 of the operation panel 16 (see FIG. 2), power is supplied to the clothes dryer 1 and the controller 2 starts operating. Then, when the user operates the course changeover switch 53 of the operation panel 16 to select the drying operation course and operates the start switch 51, the drying control means 60 and the cooling control means 61 provided in the controller 2 The processing after STEP 1 in FIG. 3 is started.
[0030]
The drying control means 60 performs a drying operation for supplying warm air to the rotary drum 3 by operating the intake and exhaust fans 9 in a state where the burners 4 are burned (in this case, the burner 4 and the intake and exhaust fans 9 perform the drying operation). The hot air supply means of the invention is configured). In addition, the cooling control unit 61 performs a cooling operation of supplying the cool air to the rotating drum 3 by operating the intake and exhaust fan 9 in a state where the combustion of the burner 4 is stopped. Is formed.
[0031]
Steps 1 to 3 in FIG. 3 are processing by the drying control means 60, and the drying control means 60 first activates the motor 10 in STEP1. The rotation of the rotary drum 3 and the intake / exhaust fan 9 is started by the operation of the motor 10. Then, combustion air is supplied to the burner 4 from the intake port 6 through the intake filter 5 by the rotation of the intake / exhaust fan 9.
[0032]
In the following STEP2, the drying control means 60 opens the first solenoid valve 20 and the second solenoid valve 21 in a state where a high voltage is applied to the ignition electrode 23 to generate a spark discharge, and the fuel is supplied to the burner 4. Start gas supply. Thereby, the burner 4 is ignited and the supply of the warm air to the rotating drum 3 is started. In the next STEP3, the drying control means 60 adjusts the rotation speed of the intake / exhaust fan 9 so that the amount of heat of the hot air supplied to the rotary drum 3 becomes the eighth speed (maximum), and the combustion air to the burner 4 is adjusted. The amount of fuel gas supplied to the burner 4 is controlled by controlling the supply amount of fuel gas and adjusting the opening of the proportional valve 22.
[0033]
The following STEP20 to STEP21 branched from STEP4 to STEP6 and STEP5 are processing by the cooling control unit 61. The cooling control means 61 starts a timer in STEP4, and detects the detected temperature T of the clothing temperature thermistor 13 in STEP5. _C Is equal to or higher than 101 ° C. (corresponding to the predetermined temperature of the present invention) or the detected temperature T of the exhaust gas temperature _E The loop consisting of STEP 5 and STEP 20 is repeatedly executed until the temperature becomes 59 ° C. or more (corresponding to the predetermined temperature of the present invention), and during this time, a constant heat amount corresponding to the eighth speed (corresponding to the constant heat amount of the present invention) Hot air is continuously supplied to the rotating drum 3.
[0034]
Then, the cooling control means 61 determines the detected temperature T of the clothing temperature thermistor 13 in STEP5. _C Is greater than or equal to 101 ° C., the measured time of the timer up to that point is stored in the storage variable t in step 6. _i (T _i Represents the time required from the start of the drying operation of the present invention until the temperature detected by the clothing temperature detecting means reaches a predetermined temperature). Further, when the detected temperature of the exhaust gas temperature thermistor 15 becomes 59 ° C. or more in STEP 20, the cooling control means 61 stores in STEP 21 the measured time of the timer up to that point in the storage variable t. _h (T _h Represents the time required from the start of the drying operation of the present invention until the temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature detecting means reaches a predetermined temperature.
[0035]
Subsequent STEP7 to STEP9 are processing by the drying control means 60. The drying control unit 60 determines in step 9 that the degree of drying of the clothes in the rotating drum 3 is such that the ratio of the number of times of conduction between the electrodes a and b of the electrode sensor 14 per predetermined number of measurements is 95% or more (this level). Until it is determined that the temperature reaches the predetermined level of the present invention), the amount of hot air supplied to the rotating drum 3 is controlled according to the data table shown in FIG.
[0036]
That is, the drying control means 60 detects the detected temperature T of the clothing temperature thermistor 13. _C Is not more than 101 ° C. (determined from the viewpoint of protection of the rotating drum 3 against overheating), and the detected temperature T of the exhaust temperature thermistor 15 is _E Is reduced stepwise so that the temperature does not exceed 66 ° C. (determined from the viewpoint of protection of the exhaust pipe 29 against overheating) (8th gear → 7th gear → 6th gear).・・).
[0037]
The next step 10 is processing by the cooling control means 61. The cooling control means 61 determines in step 9 that the degree of drying of the clothes in the rotating drum 3 is conductive between the electrodes a and b of the electrode sensor 14 per a predetermined number of measurements. The time t when it is determined that the ratio of the number of times has reached 95% or more (corresponding to the predetermined level of the present invention) _m (Hereinafter referred to as semi-dry), the detected temperature T of the exhaust gas temperature thermistor 15 _E Is a memory variable T _EH To hold.
[0038]
In the following STEP11, the drying control means 60 causes the remaining time (remaining drying time) t of the drying operation necessary for completely drying the clothes M in the rotating drum 3. _d To determine. Further, in STEP 12, the cooling control means 61 supplies the cool drum B to the rotating drum 3 after the drying operation and puts the clothes M on, and executes the cooling operation (cooling time) t. _C To determine.
[0039]
Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 5B, 6A, and 6B, the cooling time t by the cooling control unit 61 will be described. _c Will be described.
[0040]
FIG. 5B shows the time t ₀ Is a graph showing a change in the amount of heat of the hot air supplied to the rotating drum 3 when the drying operation is started in FIG. 1, where (1) in the figure indicates a case where the amount of the clothes M stored in the rotating drum 3 is large. Further, (2) in the figure indicates a case where the amount of the clothes M stored in the rotating drum 3 is small. Then, as is clear from FIG. 5B, when the drying operation is continued at a constant heat quantity (8th speed) from the start of the drying operation, the detected temperature T of the exhaust temperature thermistor 15 is increased. _E Until the temperature reaches 59 ° C. when the amount of clothing M is large (t in FIG. 1). ₀ ~ T ₂ ) Is when the amount of clothing M is smaller (t in (2) in the figure) ₀ ~ T ₁ ) Longer.
[0041]
Similarly, when the drying operation is continued at a constant calorific value (8th speed) from the start of the drying operation, the amount of the clothing M is not changed until the detected temperature of the clothing temperature thermistor 13 becomes 101 ° C. or more in STEP5. When the amount of clothing M is large, it is longer when the amount is large. For this reason, the cooling control means 61 sets the t held in STEP6. _i (Detection temperature T of clothing temperature thermistor 13 from the start of drying operation) _C Until the temperature reaches 101 ° C.) or t held in STEP 21 _h (Detection temperature T of exhaust temperature thermistor 15 from the start of drying operation) _E From the time until the temperature reaches 59 ° C.), the amount of the clothes M stored in the drying drum 3 can be recognized.
[0042]
Next, FIG. ₀ After the drying operation is started at _m Is a graph showing the transition of the detected temperature (exhaust temperature) of the exhaust temperature thermistor 15 up to the point (3), where (3) in the figure shows the case where the material of the clothes M is mainly synthetic fiber, and (4) in the figure. ▼ indicates the case where the material of the clothing M is mainly cotton.
[0043]
As is clear from FIG. _m Temperature T detected by the exhaust temperature thermistor 15 at _E Means that the material of the garment M is mainly synthetic fiber (T in the figure) _E 1) The case where the material of the clothing M is mainly cotton (T in the figure) _E 2) higher. For this reason, the cooling control means 61 _EH At the time of semi-drying held at _m Temperature T detected by the exhaust temperature thermistor at _E Thus, the type of the material of the clothing M can be recognized.
[0044]
The amount of heat held by the garment M increases as the amount of the garment M accommodated in the rotating drum 3 increases. Therefore, the time required for lowering the temperature of the garment M to a predetermined level by the cooling operation increases. Also, since cotton is harder to cool than synthetic fiber, the larger the percentage of the cotton material contained in the clothes M, the longer the time required for the cooling operation to lower the temperature of the clothes M to a predetermined level.
[0045]
Thus, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the cooling control unit 61 sets the execution time of the drying operation at the 8th speed (the 8th speed operation time) to t. _i Or t _h And when semi-dry t _m Is the detected temperature of the exhaust gas temperature thermistor 15 at T _EH Considering the cooling time t _c To determine.
[0046]
That is, the cooling control unit 61 determines that the execution time of the drying operation at the 8th speed (the 8th speed operation time) is t. _i Or t _h Is shorter, the amount of the clothes M is determined to be smaller, and the cooling time t is determined. _c Is set short, and when semi-dry _m Is the detected temperature of the exhaust gas temperature thermistor 15 at T _EH Is higher, the content of synthetic fibers in the material of the garment M is determined to be higher, and the execution time t of the cooling operation is determined. _c Set shorter.
[0047]
Thereby, depending on the amount and the material of the clothes M stored in the rotating drum 3, the cooling time t _c Is determined to be an appropriate length. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cooling operation from being performed more than necessary and wasteful consumption of the fuel gas and the electric power, and prevent the execution time of the cooling operation from being too short and insufficient cooling of the clothes M.
[0048]
Incidentally, as is clear from FIG. _m Temperature T detected by the exhaust temperature thermistor 15 at _E Rise rate (t in (3) and (4) in the figure) _m Is larger when the material of the garment M is mainly composed of synthetic fibers ([3] in the figure) than when the material of the garment M is mainly cotton ([4] in the figure). Therefore, the cooling control means 61 determines that the semi-dry time t _m Temperature T detected by the exhaust temperature thermistor at _E The type of the material of the garment M can be recognized from the rise rate of the garment M. And at the time of semi-drying _m Temperature T detected by the exhaust temperature thermistor 15 at _E In consideration of the rate of increase in the temperature, it is determined that the larger the rate of increase, the higher the content of the synthetic fiber in the material of the garment M, and the execution time t of the cooling operation is determined. _c May be set to be short.
[0049]
Then, the drying control means 60 determines the remaining drying time t in STEP12. _d After the elapse of the period, the process proceeds to STEP 14, in which the first solenoid valve 20 and the second solenoid valve 21 are closed to stop the combustion of the burner 4.
[0050]
Subsequent STEP 15 and STEP 16 are processing by the cooling control unit 61, and the cooling control unit 61 _c Until elapse, the intake / exhaust fan 9 is continuously operated in a state where the combustion of the burner 4 is stopped. Thereby, cool air is supplied into the drying drum 3 to cool the clothes M. Then, the cooling control unit 61 determines that the cooling time t _c When the time has elapsed, the operation proceeds to STEP 16 to stop the operation of the motor 10 (thereby stopping the rotation of the intake / exhaust fan 9 and the rotating drum 3), and terminates the cooling operation.
[0051]
In the clothes dryer of the present embodiment, the detected temperature T of the clothes temperature thermistor 13 is used. _C And the detected temperature T of the exhaust temperature thermistor 15 _E Although the amount of heat of the warm air supplied to the rotary drum 3 is reduced by using both of them, the amount of heat may be reduced by using any one of them. In the present embodiment, the temperature T detected by the exhaust temperature thermistor 15 from the start of the drying operation for determining the amount of clothes in the rotating drum 3 is determined. _E And the detected temperature T of the clothing temperature thermistor 13 _C The upper limit temperature (corresponding to the predetermined temperature of the present invention) is determined from the viewpoint of protection of the rotating drum 3 and the exhaust pipe 29 from overheating, but is determined from another viewpoint (for example, protection of the clothing M). You may.
[0052]
Further, in the present embodiment, when the burner 4 and the intake / exhaust fan 9 are operated while keeping the calorie of the warm air at the eighth speed from the start of the drying operation, the detected temperature T of the clothing temperature thermistor 13 is increased. _C Or, the detected temperature T of the exhaust gas temperature thermistor 15 _E T reaches the predetermined upper limit temperature _h , T _i From the above, the amount of the clothes M in the rotating drum 3 was recognized, but the amount of heat of the hot air in this case is not particularly limited to the eighth speed, and the drying operation is performed at another speed as long as the heat amount of the hot air is kept constant. May be started. Even in this case, the amount of the clothing M can be recognized from the time until the temperature detected by the exhaust temperature thermistor 15 or the clothing temperature thermistor 13 reaches a predetermined upper limit temperature.
[0053]
Further, in the present embodiment, the amount of heat of the warm air supplied to the rotary drum 3 is changed in eight stages from the first speed to the eighth speed. However, the heat amount may be changed in the seventh speed or lower or the ninth speed or higher. The present invention can be applied to a case where the drying operation is performed while the calorific value of the warm air is kept constant without being changed.
[0054]
Further, in the present embodiment, the clothes dryer 1 that generates warm air by heating the air with the burner 4 has been described. However, the clothes dryer that heats the air with an electric heater or a hot water heat exchanger is used. The present invention is also applicable to a clothes dryer to which hot or cold air is directly supplied from the outside.
[0055]
Further, in the present embodiment, the degree of drying of the clothes M in the rotating drum 3 is detected by the electrode sensor 14, but may be detected by the humidity sensor.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a clothes dryer.
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the clothes dryer.
FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of a controller.
FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of a controller.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a method for determining a cooling time.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a method for determining a cooling time.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Clothes dryer, 2 ... Controller, 3 ... Rotary drum, 4 ... Burner, 5 ... Intake filter, 6 ... Intake port, 7 ... Exhaust filter, 8 ... Exhaust port, 9 ... Intake / exhaust fan, 10 ... Motor, 11 ... door, 12 ... door switch, 13 ... cloth temperature thermistor, 14 ... electrode sensor, 15 ... exhaust temperature thermistor, 16 ... operation panel, 17 ... gas supply pipe, 18 ... gas connection port, 19 ... outlet, 20 ... 1 solenoid valve, 21 second solenoid valve, 22 proportional valve, 23 ignition electrode, 24 first thermocouple, 25 second thermocouple, 26 first overheat switch, 27 second overheat switch, 28 ... Blowout temperature thermistor, 40 ... Motor driver, 60 ... Drying control means, 61 ... Cooling control means

Claims

A rotating drum for accommodating clothes, hot air supply means for supplying warm air to the inside of the rotating drum, cold air supply means for supplying cool air to the inside of the rotating drum; Drying control means for performing a drying operation for drying the clothes by supplying air, and for a predetermined cooling time after the end of the drying operation, the cool air supply means supplies cool air into the rotary drum to supply clothes. In a clothes dryer having cooling control means for performing a cooling operation,
Exhaust temperature detecting means for detecting the exhaust temperature from the rotating drum, and drying degree detecting means for detecting the degree of drying of the clothes in the rotating drum ,
The drying control means, from the start of the drying operation, until the detected temperature of the exhaust gas temperature detection means reaches a predetermined temperature, to supply a constant amount of hot air into the rotary drum by the hot air supply means,
The cooling control unit includes a time period required from the start of the drying operation to a time when the temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature detection unit reaches the predetermined temperature , and a clothing amount detected by the drying degree detection unit after the start of the drying operation. A clothes dryer wherein the cooling time is determined based on a temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature detecting means or a rate of increase in the detected temperature when the degree of drying reaches a predetermined level .

A rotating drum for accommodating clothes, hot air supply means for supplying warm air to the inside of the rotating drum, cold air supply means for supplying cool air to the inside of the rotating drum; Drying control means for performing a drying operation for drying the clothes by supplying air, and for a predetermined cooling time after the end of the drying operation, the cool air supply means supplies cool air into the rotary drum to supply clothes. In a clothes dryer having cooling control means for performing a cooling operation,
Clothing temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the clothing in the rotating drum, exhaust temperature detecting means for detecting the exhaust temperature from the rotating drum, and drying degree detecting means for detecting the drying degree of the clothing in the rotating drum With
The drying control means, from the start of the drying operation until the temperature detected by the clothing temperature detecting means reaches a predetermined temperature, to supply a constant amount of hot air into the rotary drum by the hot air supply means,
The cooling control unit includes a time period required from when the drying operation is started to when the temperature detected by the clothing temperature detecting unit reaches the predetermined temperature, and a time period for the clothing detected by the drying degree detecting unit after the drying operation is started. A clothes dryer wherein the cooling time is determined based on a temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature detecting means or a rate of increase in the detected temperature when the degree of drying reaches a predetermined level .