JPH10225599A - Garment dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a garment dryer in which hot air is circulated in a rotary drum adapted to be rotated by a motor so as to dry garments, and which can enhance the sterilizing effect when incomplete dried garments stuck thereto with germs are dried. SOLUTION: Hot air is circulated through the inside of a rotary drum for drying garments, by a heat-exchange type two blade fan, a PCT heater 3 is provided in an air ventilating passage led to the inside of the rotary drum 1, the rotary drum and the two blade fan are rotated by a motor 5. A temperature detecting means 6 for detecting a temperature of exhaust gas from the rotary drum 1 delivers its output by which the temperature of the exhaust gas is controlled so that a set value of the temperature thereof sets higher in the second half period of the drying operation than in the first half thereof.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a clothes dryer for drying clothes by circulating warm air through a rotating drum driven by a motor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, household clothes dryers have become widespread. However, as the trend toward hygiene has increased, germs and socks attached to clothes after washing have been eliminated. Clothes dryers with high sterilization effects have been proposed.

Conventionally, this type of clothes dryer sets an upper limit of the temperature inside the rotating drum for each operation course, and controls the rotating drum at a substantially constant number of revolutions, so that the cloth drying machine has a high temperature that does not damage the cloth. It is common to circulate warm air to end the drying operation in as short a time as possible after a preheating drying period, a constant rate drying period, and a decreasing rate drying period.

[0004]

In such a conventional clothes dryer, if there is a constant rate drying time in which a moist heat state at a predetermined temperature (a state in which the air in the rotating drum is moist) can be maintained for a predetermined time. In addition, it is possible to remove bacteria and the like adhering to clothing. Here, it is known that the higher the constant rate drying temperature and the longer the constant rate drying time, the better the sterilization effect. However, since the air circulation in the rotating drum is performed at the highest possible temperature to improve the drying efficiency, the constant-rate drying time depends on the amount of clothes to be dried, the degree of wetness of the clothes, and the room temperature of the place where the clothes are used. In some cases, the effect of removing bacteria and the like adhering to clothing may be reduced.

[0005] On the other hand, the use of clothes dryers shows that the rate of drying clothes and then performing finish drying with the clothes dryer is high. Nevertheless, even if such freshly dried garments are disinfected by the method of maintaining the moist heat condition as described above, there is almost no constant rate drying time and a predetermined disinfection effect cannot be obtained. was there.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a predetermined germicidal effect even for dry clothes.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention circulates hot air to a rotating drum for rotating and stirring clothes by means of a blowing means, and outputs the temperature by means of temperature detecting means for detecting the exhaust temperature of the rotating drum. The exhaust gas temperature is controlled so that the set exhaust gas temperature in the latter half of the drying operation is higher than that in the first half of the drying operation.

Thus, by drying the clothes in the first half of the drying operation and then increasing the set exhaust temperature, the clothes can be sterilized in the latter half of the drying operation. Even a garment that has a good sterilization effect can be obtained.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A rotating drum that dries clothes, a blowing unit that circulates warm air into the rotating drum, a heating unit provided in a blowing path to the inside of the rotating drum, and a motor that rotationally drives the blowing unit and the rotating drum. A temperature detecting means for detecting an exhaust temperature of the rotary drum, and a control means for controlling the motor and the heating means, wherein the control means controls an exhaust temperature by an output of the temperature detecting means, and performs a drying operation. The exhaust temperature set value in the latter half is set higher than that in the first half of the drying operation, and it is possible to sterilize freshly dried clothing in addition to wet clothing after dehydration by a thermal method.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the control means causes the exhaust temperature to reach a predetermined temperature at least once in the latter half of the drying operation. To ensure drying operation in
A predetermined sterilization effect can be obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the control means controls the amount of heat of the heating means and maximizes the amount of heat generated by the heating means in the latter half of the drying operation. Therefore, a predetermined sterilization effect can be obtained quickly and reliably.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the control means adds a high-temperature step with a high set exhaust gas temperature to the drying step of the normal operation course, The drying performance can be satisfied in the drying step of the normal operation course, and the disinfection effect can be improved.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the exhaust temperature does not reach the predetermined temperature within a certain time during the drying step of the normal operation course, A process in which the set exhaust temperature is increased is not added, and if the increase in the exhaust temperature is slow, it can be determined that the clothing is in a wet state after dehydration. Since the fungus effect can be obtained, it is possible to prevent the drying operation from becoming uselessly long.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation display means connected to the control means for operating and displaying a plurality of types of driving courses and the like. The display means allows the user to select the addition of a process in which the set exhaust gas temperature is increased to the drying process of each operation course, and the sterilization finish can be easily added to the drying operation course selected by the user. be able to.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the control means sets the exhaust temperature set value in the latter half of the drying operation higher than that in the first half of the drying operation, and sets the exhaust temperature setting value in the first half of the drying operation. The value is set to be higher than that of the normal operation course, and by setting the exhaust temperature set value in the first half to be higher, a higher sterilization effect can be obtained faster.

The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that: a rotating drum for drying clothes; blowing means for circulating warm air into the rotating drum; heating means provided on a blowing path to the rotating drum; A motor for rotating the blower and the rotary drum; a temperature detector for detecting an exhaust temperature of the rotary drum; and a controller for controlling the motor and the heater. The exhaust gas temperature is controlled by the output of the means so that the set value of the exhaust gas temperature is made higher than that of the normal operation course, and a higher sterilization effect than that of the normal course can be obtained.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a rotary drum 1 is used to store and dry an object to be dried (clothing), and is rotated by a heat exchange type double-wing fan (blowing means) 2. The hot air is circulated in the drum 1. The heat exchange type double-wing fan 2 circulates warm air in the rotating drum 1 and simultaneously takes in air from the outside to cool the fan and dehumidifies the circulating air in the rotating drum 1. PTC heater (heating means)
Numeral 3 is disposed in a blowing path to the rotary drum 1, that is, in a circulating air intake, to heat circulating air. The filter 4 is provided in a ventilation path of the heat exchange type two-blade fan 2, that is, an exhaust port of the air in the rotary drum 1, and collects lint and the like in the circulating air.

The motor 5 drives the rotary drum 1 and the heat exchange type double-blade fan 2 to rotate. By controlling the rotational speed of the motor 5, the rotational speed of the rotary drum 1 and the heat exchange type double-blade fan 2 can be controlled. , The amount of heat generated by the PTC heater 3 can be controlled, and current control can be performed. The first thermistor 6a and the second thermistor 6b detect the air temperature before and after the heat is exchanged by the heat exchange type double-blade fan 2, respectively.
These constitute the temperature detecting means 6.

The magnet 7 attached to the rotating drum 1 and the magnetic sensor 8 fixed to the main body are used to rotate the rotating drum 1.
A pulse signal corresponding to the number of rotations is generated, and the rotation number detecting means 9 inputs the pulse signal and detects the number of rotations of the rotating drum 1 from the cycle of the pulse.

The control means 10 determines the rotational speed of the motor 5 and the PT
The C heater 3 is controlled, and the rotation number detecting means 9 is provided.
A rotation speed setting unit 11 for setting the rotation speed of the drum 1, a rotation speed comparison unit 12 for comparing the output of the rotation speed detection unit 9 with the output of the rotation speed setting unit 11, and a motor 5 based on the output of the rotation speed comparison unit 12. Conduction time control means 14 for controlling the conduction angle of a bidirectional thyristor 13 connected in series to a current comparator, and current comparison setting means 16 for inputting the output of a current detection means 15
And a drying state detecting means 17 for detecting a drying state of the clothes in the rotating drum 1 based on an output of the temperature detecting means 6, and a temperature control means 18 for inputting an output of the temperature detecting means 6.

Then, the difference between the rotation speed of the rotary drum 1 detected by the rotation speed detecting means 9 and the set rotation speed from the rotation speed setting means 11 is compared by the rotation speed comparing means 12, and the conduction time control means 14 controls both of them. The directional thyristor 13 is controlled to control the rotation speed of the motor 5. Phase control is considered as the simplest conduction time control method. In the case of an inverter, not only the conduction time but also the frequency can be controlled.

The drying state detecting means 17 inputs the output of the first thermistor 6a and the output of the second thermistor 6b for detecting the temperature of the circulating air to the rotary drum 1, and outputs the output of the first thermistor 6a and the output of the first thermistor 6a. Based on the difference between the outputs of the second thermistors 6b and the elapsed time from the start of operation, it is detected whether the clothes in the rotating drum 1 are in the preheating drying period, the constant-rate drying period, or the reduced-rate drying period.

The temperature control means 18 receives the output of the temperature detection means 6 for detecting the circulating air to the rotary drum 1 and calculates the input value and a predetermined upper limit temperature (temperature control temperature) in the rotary drum 1. , The relay contacts 19a and 19b connected to the PTC heaters 3a and 3b, respectively, to control the PTC heaters 3a and 3b on and off to control the temperature of the circulating air. Further, when the drying state of the clothes in the rotating drum 1 is changed to the constant rate drying state by the output of the temperature detecting means 6,
The upper limit temperature (temperature control temperature) in the rotating drum 1 is made variable.

The current detecting means 15 comprises a current transformer 2
0 and a current-voltage conversion circuit 21 for detecting an input current of the PTC heater 3 and outputting the output to a current comparison and setting unit 1.
Enter 6 The current comparison and setting unit 16 compares the set current value of the PTC heater 3 with the output of the current detection unit 15 and inputs the output to the rotation speed setting unit 11 to control the set rotation speed. Here, the set number of revolutions set by the number of revolutions setting means 11 is set such that the current of the PTC heater 3 does not exceed or fall below a predetermined current value.

The operation display means 22 is connected to the control means 10 to display a plurality of types of operation courses and the like, and can select whether to perform the sterilization finish.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows an example of the operation display means 22, in which "sterilization finishing" for setting the exhaust temperature set value in the latter half of the drying operation higher than that in the first half of the drying operation can be selected as a series of courses from drying to finishing. It is a flowchart.

The process starts at step 30 and is initialized at step 31. Then, at step 32, an input key of the operation display means 22 is received. When the start switch is turned on in step 33, the process proceeds to step 34, where it is determined whether the “sterilization finishing course” is set by the course switch,
If a course other than the “sterilization finishing course” is set, the process proceeds to step 35, where the upper limit temperature of the ordinary PTC heater 3 (hereinafter, a temperature adjustment temperature, for example, 70 ° C.) is set.
If the “Bactericidal finishing course” is set, step 3
6 and a temperature control temperature higher than normal (for example, 71
° C).

The temperature adjustment temperature set here is generally a stop temperature for avoiding an abnormal rise in the temperature of the rotary drum 1. In each of the courses, the process proceeds to step 37, in which the motor 5 and the PTC heater 3 are turned on to perform a drying process. In step 37, in the case of the "sterilization finishing course",
The same drying process is performed except for the “standard course” (general drying course) and the temperature adjustment temperature.

When the drying process is completed, the process proceeds to step 38. In the case of a course other than the "sterilization finishing course", the process proceeds to step 40, in which the PTC heater 3 is turned off to perform the air blowing process. In the case of the “sterilization finishing course”, the process proceeds to step 39, and a higher temperature control temperature (for example, 74 ° C.) is set than the normal drying step and the drying step of the “sterilization finishing course”.
Then, the process proceeds to a step 41, wherein the heat amount of the PTC heater 3 is maximized while the motor 5 is turned on, and the high temperature process is performed. When the operation is performed at a temperature higher than normal and the exhaust gas temperature reaches the temperature control temperature in step 42, or when a predetermined time elapses in the high temperature process in step 43, the process proceeds to step 39 and the PTC
The heater 3 is turned off to perform a blowing process. When the blowing process is completed, the operation is terminated in step 44.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a change in exhaust gas temperature when the “sterilized finishing course” and the “standard course” are operated with freshly dried clothes according to the operation flowchart of FIG. Since the temperature of the drying process is higher in the “sterilization finishing course”, even if the same sequence is performed, the drying process is completed slightly earlier, and the sterilization effect is higher. In the high-temperature step in which only the “sterilization finishing course” is performed, the garment after drying is sterilized by heat, and a sterilization effect can be obtained mainly in this step. Since the blowing process is performed until the exhaust temperature reaches the predetermined temperature, the “sterilization finishing course” is longer.

(Embodiment 2) Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is another example of the operation display means 22,
According to the selection of each course, the first half of the drying operation is operated, and then the presence or absence of finishing for the purpose of sterilization (the latter half of the drying operation) can be selected by the sterilization finishing switch. After completion of the drying step, a high-temperature step is performed, and in the case of "no sterilization finish", the process proceeds to the blowing step after the drying step of each course. The control means 10 in the case of the operation display means 22 replaces the condition in the case where the “sterilization finish course” is set in the operation flowchart of FIG. 4 with the case where “sterilization finish is set”. Control.

Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the case of freshly dried clothes, a predetermined sterilization effect cannot be achieved unless a high-temperature step is added after the drying step. However, in the case of dehydrated clothes, the predetermined sterilization effect can be achieved without adding the high-temperature step. The drying time is prolonged as a result of the addition. The control means 10 does not add a high-temperature step when the clothes are dehydrated clothes during the drying step.

The operation will be described with reference to FIG. 7. After completion of the drying process, even if the sterilization finishing course is performed in step 38, the exhaust temperature reaches the predetermined temperature within a predetermined time in the drying process in step 45. If not, it is determined that the moisture content of the clothes is equal to or greater than a certain amount, and the process proceeds to step 39, where the process proceeds to a blowing process.

In the above embodiment, the case where the rotary drum 1 and the heat exchange type double-blade fan 2 are driven by one motor 5 has been described. However, the effect is the same when two motors are provided respectively.

[0036]

As is apparent from the above embodiments, according to the present invention, a rotating drum for drying clothes, a blowing means for circulating warm air into the rotating drum, and a blowing path to the rotating drum Heating means, a motor for rotating the blowing means and the rotating drum, a temperature detecting means for detecting an exhaust temperature of the rotating drum, and a control means for controlling the motor and the heating means, The control means controls the exhaust temperature by the output of the temperature detection means, so that the exhaust temperature set value in the latter half of the drying operation is higher than that in the first half of the drying operation, so that the heating method, in addition to the clothes after dehydration, It is also possible to remove bacteria from freshly dried clothes, and a predetermined bacteria removal effect can be obtained regardless of the degree of wetness.

Further, the control means ensures that the exhaust temperature reaches the predetermined temperature at least once in the latter half of the drying operation, so that the drying operation at a high temperature is ensured, so that a predetermined sterilization effect can be obtained. .

Further, the control means controls the heat quantity of the heating means and maximizes the heat value of the heating means in the latter half of the drying operation, so that the drying operation at a higher temperature is performed.
A predetermined sterilization effect can be obtained quickly and reliably.

In addition, since the control means adds a high-temperature step in which the set exhaust gas temperature is increased to the drying step of the normal operation course, it satisfies the drying performance in the drying step of the normal operation course.
In addition, the bactericidal effect can be improved.

The control means does not add a step of increasing the set exhaust temperature if the exhaust temperature does not reach the predetermined temperature within a certain time during the drying step of the normal operation course. If the temperature rise is slow, it can be judged that the clothes are in a wet state after dehydration, and in this state, the prescribed sterilization effect can be achieved only with the normal operation course, so that it is unnecessary to prolong the dry operation Can be.

Further, there is provided an operation display means connected to the control means for operating and displaying a plurality of types of operation courses and the like, and the control means increases the set exhaust gas temperature in the drying step of each operation course by the operation display means. Since it is possible to select the addition of the step described above, the sterilization finish can be easily added to the drying operation course selected by the user.

The control means sets the exhaust temperature set value in the latter half of the drying operation to be higher than that in the first half of the drying operation, and sets the exhaust temperature set value in the first half of the drying operation to be higher than that in the normal operation course. By increasing the temperature setting,
A higher sterilization effect can be obtained faster.

Also, a rotating drum for drying clothes, a blowing means for circulating warm air into the rotating drum, a heating means provided in a blowing path to the rotating drum, the blowing means and the rotating drum. A motor that rotates, a temperature detecting unit that detects an exhaust temperature of the rotating drum, and a control unit that controls the motor and the heating unit;
The control means controls the exhaust gas temperature based on the output of the temperature detecting means so that the set exhaust gas temperature is higher than that of the normal operation course, so that a higher sterilization effect than that of the normal course can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a clothes dryer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the clothes dryer.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of an operation display unit of the clothes dryer.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the clothes dryer.

FIG. 5 is a time chart showing a change in exhaust gas temperature of a rotating drum of the clothes dryer.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged front view of an operation display unit of the clothes dryer according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of a clothes dryer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Rotary drum 2 Heat exchange type both-blade fan (blowing means) 3 PTC heater (heating means) 5 Motor 6 Temperature detection means 10 Control means

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A rotating drum for drying clothes, blowing means for circulating warm air into the rotating drum, heating means provided on a blowing path into the rotating drum, the blowing means and the rotating drum. A motor for rotating, a temperature detecting means for detecting an exhaust temperature of the rotating drum, and a control means for controlling the motor and the heating means, wherein the control means detects an exhaust temperature by an output of the temperature detecting means. A clothes dryer that controls and sets the exhaust temperature setting in the latter half of the drying operation higher than in the first half of the drying operation. 2. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the control means causes the exhaust temperature to reach the predetermined temperature at least once in the latter half of the drying operation. 3. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the amount of heat generated by the heating means, and maximizes the amount of heat of the heating means in the latter half of the drying operation. 4. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the control means adds a high-temperature step in which the set exhaust gas temperature is increased to the drying step in the normal operation course. 5. The clothing according to claim 4, wherein the control means does not add a step of increasing the set exhaust temperature when the exhaust temperature does not reach the predetermined temperature within a certain time during the drying step of the normal operation course. Dryer. 6. An operation display means connected to the control means for operating and displaying a plurality of types of operation courses and the like, wherein the control means increases the exhaust temperature set value in the drying step of each operation course by the operation display means. 5. The clothes dryer according to claim 4, wherein the additional step can be selected. 7. The control means sets the exhaust temperature set value in the latter half of the drying operation to be higher than that in the first half of the drying operation, and makes the exhaust temperature set value in the first half of the drying operation higher than that of the normal operation course.
The clothes dryer as described. 8. A rotating drum for drying clothes, blowing means for circulating warm air into the rotating drum, heating means provided in a blowing path into the rotating drum, the blowing means and the rotating drum. A motor for rotating, a temperature detecting means for detecting an exhaust temperature of the rotating drum, and a control means for controlling the motor and the heating means, wherein the control means detects an exhaust temperature by an output of the temperature detecting means. A clothes dryer that controls and sets the exhaust temperature higher than the normal operation course.