JPH105497A - Clothes dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] In a clothes dryer capable of detecting a clogged state of a lint collecting filter in a rotary drum, poorly breathable clothes stick to the lint collecting filter and become clogged. Make sure that it can be detected. SOLUTION: Hot air heated by a burner 7 is supplied by a blower fan into a rotating drum 4 for storing and drying clothes, and temperature data of a hot air temperature detecting means 11 for detecting a temperature of the hot air is input to a control means 23. When the change amount of the temperature data of the hot air temperature detecting means 11 per predetermined time is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the control means 23 attaches the clothes to the lint collecting filter provided in the hot air path on the back of the rotary drum 4. Thus, the clogging state is determined.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a clothes dryer capable of detecting a clogged state of a filter for collecting lint in a rotary drum.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In household clothes dryers, a large amount of high-temperature hot air passes through a rotating drum in order to dry clothes in a short period of time. When clothes with poor air permeability, such as thick sheets or mats made of nylon, are dried, the hot air that passes through the filter to the lint collection filter provided in the hot air path on the back of the rotating drum that dries the clothes. The insufficiency of the clothing with poor ventilation makes it difficult to separate, the amount of air near the heating means decreases, and the temperature of the hot air rises, so that the temperature of the hot air reaches a predetermined value by the hot air temperature detecting means for detecting the hot air temperature. Then, the abnormality was notified and the operation was stopped. Also, when the filter is considerably clogged with lint or when the blower fan breaks down, the hot air temperature becomes high similarly, so that the abnormality is notified.

[0003]

In such a conventional clothes dryer, when the temperature of the hot air detected by the hot air temperature detecting means reaches a predetermined value, poorly breathable clothes are attached to a filter for collecting lint. Since it is judged as clogged due to attachment, detection variation is large, and poorly breathable clothing is not stuck to the filter for collecting lint, but an error is reported and operation is stopped in the dry state The temperature of the hot air rises and the clothes are damaged by the hot air, and the abnormality is reported even though the poorly breathable clothes are stuck on the lint collection filter without detecting it. However, since it dries normally when it is operated again, there is a problem that the cause of the abnormality cannot be understood.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is an object of the present invention to reliably detect that a poorly breathable garment sticks to a filter for collecting lint and is clogged.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a clothes dryer according to the present invention, hot air heated by a heating means is supplied by a blower fan into a rotating drum for storing and drying the clothes, and a hot air temperature detecting device detects the temperature of the hot air. The temperature data of the means is input to the control means, and the control means collects the lint from the clothes provided in the hot air path on the back of the rotating drum when the amount of change in the temperature data of the hot air temperature detecting means per predetermined time is equal to or more than a predetermined value. It is determined that a clogged state is caused by sticking to a filter for use.

Thus, it is possible to reliably detect that the poorly breathable clothing is stuck to the filter for collecting lint and is clogged.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides a blower fan for supplying hot air to a rotating drum for storing and drying clothes, a heating means serving as a heat source of hot air, and a temperature of hot air. Hot air temperature detection means for detecting, and control means for inputting temperature data of the hot air temperature detection means, wherein the control means is such that a change amount of the temperature data of the hot air temperature detection means per predetermined time is equal to or more than a predetermined value. Sometimes clothes are judged to be clogged due to sticking to the lint collecting filter provided in the hot air path on the back of the rotating drum, and the lint collecting filter has poor air permeability. If stuck, the temperature of the hot air rises sharply, so the amount of temperature change of the hot air can reliably detect the clogging state caused by the poorly breathable clothing stuck to the lint collection filter. It is possible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rotation speed changing means for the blower fan, and the control means determines the rotation speed of the blower fan when it is determined that the clogging state is detected. When clothes are stuck to the lint collecting filter and become clogged, the speed of the blower fan is reduced to reduce the amount of hot air, thereby reducing the amount of hot air. Can be naturally separated from the filter, and the drying operation can be continued as it is.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the control means reduces the amount of heating of the heating means when it is determined that the clogging state has occurred. When the clogging occurs due to the clothing stuck to the lint collecting filter, the heating amount of the heating means can be reduced to prevent a rise in the hot air temperature, and the clothes can be removed by the hot air having a high temperature. Can be prevented from being damaged. In addition, a rise in the temperature of the dryer body can be prevented.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or third aspect of the present invention, the control means stops or intermittently operates the blower fan for a predetermined time when it is determined that the blower is clogged. When the clothes are stuck to the lint collection filter and become clogged, the clothes are naturally peeled off from the filter by stopping the rotation of the blower fan or intermittently driving the hot air blow. The drying operation can be continued as it is.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a notifying means is provided, and when the control means determines that the clogging state is detected, the notifying means notifies. When the clothes are stuck on the lint collection filter and become clogged, the user can be notified by the notification means, so the user should know what caused the notification. Can be.

[0012]

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

(Embodiment 1) As shown in FIG. 2, a dryer 1 is provided with a motor 2 serving as a drive source at a lower portion thereof, and a blower fan provided on the rear side of the motor 2 and the dryer 1. 3 and a rotary drum 4 provided in front of the blower fan 3
The belts 5 and 6 are stretched between the fan 2 and the fan 2 so that the blower fan 3 and the rotating drum 4 are rotated by driving the motor 2. A burner (heating means) 7 serving as a heat source is provided at a lower front portion of the dryer main body 1.
Is provided with a proportional control valve 8 for controlling the combustion amount.

By the rotation of the blower fan 3, the hot air heated by the burner 7 is introduced into the rotary drum 4 through the hot air outlet 9, and the object to be dried (clothes) stored in the rotary drum 4 is heated and dried. . Arrow A indicates the flow of hot air. The electrode 10 is disposed at a position where the electrode 10 comes into contact with clothing in the rotating drum 4 during operation. The electrode 10 is composed of a pair of conductive members and an insulating member between them (both not shown), and detects a dry state in the rotary drum 4 by detecting a resistance value of the conductive members.

The hot air temperature detecting means 11 is composed of a thermocouple or the like, and is disposed near a hot air outlet of the burner 7 to detect the temperature of the hot air heated by the burner 7.
The filter 12 for collecting lint is provided in the hot air path on the back of the rotating drum 4 to collect lint from running clothes. The hot air heated by the burner 7 warms the clothes in the rotary drum 4, passes through the filter 12, and is discharged out of the dryer main body 1 as indicated by an arrow A.

At this time, since the amount of hot air is large, thick sheets or the like with poor air permeability adhere to the filter (B
Part), the flow of the air indicated by the arrow A suddenly weakens, and the amount of air passing through the burner 7 decreases.
The temperature detected at the time rises sharply, and the hot air passing through the clothing becomes hot. When the filter is clogged due to the usual increase in lint, the air volume gradually decreases and the hot air temperature also gradually increases. The exhaust temperature detecting means 13 includes the rotating drum 4
It detects the temperature of the air discharged from.

As shown in FIG. 1, a magnet 14 is attached to the rotating drum 4, a magnetic sensor 15 is fixed at a position of the dryer main body 1 where the magnetic flux of the magnet 14 can be sensed, and the output of the magnetic sensor 15 is rotated. Input to the detecting means 16 and the rotating drum 4
The rotation cycle or the number of rotations is detected. Rotation speed setting means 1
Numeral 7 designates the number of revolutions of the rotary drum 4. The output of the number of revolutions setting means 17 and the output of the revolution detecting means 16 are inputted to the number of revolutions comparing means 18 and compared.

The conduction angle control means 19 includes a rotational speed comparing means 1
The output of 8 controls the conduction angle of the bidirectional thyristor 20 connected in series to the motor 2. Drying detection means 21
The drying state of the clothes in the rotating drum 4 is detected based on the resistance value of the electrode 10 and the exhaust temperature detected by the exhaust temperature detecting means 13. The notification means 22 includes a display lamp, a buzzer, and the like, and notifies the user that the clothing has been stuck due to sticking of clothing.

The control means 23 controls the operation of the burner 7 and the proportional control valve 8 via the driving means 24 based on the drying state of the clothes from the drying detection means 21 and the temperature data from the exhaust temperature detection means 13, The ignition of the burner 7 is detected by the ignition detection means 25, and the conduction angle of the motor 2 is varied through the conduction angle control means 20 to vary the rotation speed of the blower fan 3 simultaneously with the rotation of the drum 4. Or stop the rotation.

The rotation detecting means 1 is controlled by the rotation speed comparing means 18.
The rotation angle of the rotating drum 4 detected by the rotation number 6 is compared with the rotation number set by the rotation number setting means 17, and the conduction angle control means 1
9 controls the bidirectional thyristor 20 to control the rotation speed of the motor 2. 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 is controlled. In this way, stable rotation control of the motor 2, the rotary drum 4, and the blower fan 12 can be performed.

Further, the control means 23 determines that when the amount of change in the temperature data of the hot air temperature detecting means 11 per predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) is equal to or more than a predetermined value (for example, 100 k), The clogging state due to sticking to the lint collecting filter 12 provided in the path is determined.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. When the drying operation is started in step 40 of FIG. 3, the motor 2 is turned on in step 41.
In step 42, the control means 23 sets the rotation speed of the rotation speed setting means 17 to 46 r / min.
Is controlled by the conduction angle control means 19 so as to be 46 r / m after startup. At the same time, the blower fan 3 is
The rotation is performed at a rotation speed proportional to the rotation speed of the fan, and the air is blown.
In step 43, the ignition of the burner 7 is started. Whether or not the burner 7 is ignited is detected by the ignition detecting means 25.

In step 44, a counter used to detect the attachment of the clothes to the filter is set to 0 (COUNT = 0). At step 45, the control means 23
Inputs the temperature detected by the exhaust gas temperature detecting means 13 every one second, and this temperature is defined as Ta. In step 46, the control means 23 inputs the temperature of the hot air detected by the hot air temperature detecting means 11 every 5 seconds, and sets this temperature as Tb. In step 47, the change amount of the temperature data Tb input every 5 seconds per fixed time (30 seconds) is set as ΔTb. In steps 48 to 50, ΔTb is continuously set to a predetermined value (100
k) At step 51, it is determined in step 51 that the clothes are clogged due to sticking to the filter.

In FIG. 4, the amount of change ΔTb of the hot air temperature data Tb every 5 seconds by the hot air temperature detecting means 11 is
Tb0 = Tb6-Tb0, △ Tb1 = Tb7-Tb1, △ Tb2 = Tb8
−Tb2, ΔTb3 = Tb9−Tb3, ΔTb4 = Tb10−Tb4,
ΔTb5 = Tb11−Tb5... △ Tb0, △ Tb1
Is almost zero, and the change ΔTb is usually small,
Since the amount of hot air decreases when the clothes adhere to the filter 12 (point B) and the temperature of the hot air discharged from the burner 7 increases, the change amount ΔTb is ΔTb2 = 15 k, ΔTb3
= 60k, △ Tb4 = 107k, △ Tb5 = 110k, ...
・ It becomes. Therefore, ΔTb becomes a predetermined value (10
0k) or more, it can be determined that the clogging is caused by the complete attachment of the clothing to the filter 12.

Conventionally, when clothes adhere to the filter 12, the state becomes the same as when the filter 12 is clogged. When the hot air temperature becomes higher than a predetermined temperature, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred, and the drying operation is performed during the operation. Although the system stopped and reported an abnormality, it was not clear that the cause was an increase in hot air temperature due to the attachment of clothing, and it was difficult to reproduce the problem.

Therefore, when the clogging of the filter 12 due to the sticking of the clothes can be detected, the user is notified and the clothes can be re-inserted to continue the operation. In addition, thick, poorly breathable clothes that adhere to the filter 12, such as baby sheets, can be notified so as not to be dried by the dryer.

When the clogging state is released in step 52 in this way, the drying operation is resumed. If the drying detection is completed by the drying detecting means 21 in step 53 and it is determined that the clothes are sufficiently dried,
In step 54, the air blowing operation is performed, and in step 55, the end notification is performed. At step 56, the drying operation ends.

In the above embodiment, the hot air temperature detecting means 11 is constituted by a thermocouple or the like, and is disposed near the hot air outlet of the burner 7. However, the arrangement position is limited to the vicinity of the hot air outlet. Instead, any position may be used as long as the temperature of the hot air heated by the burner (heating means) 7 is detected.

(Embodiment 2) Control means 23 in FIG.
When the filter 12 for collecting lint is determined to be in a clogged state, the number of rotations of the motor 2 is reduced, and the number of rotations of the blower fan 3 is reduced to reduce the air volume. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. It should be noted that the clothing filter 12
Before clogging detection due to sticking to the surface (steps 40 to 49) and after drying detection (steps 53 to 5).
6) is the same as the operation of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

If the clogging state is detected by the attachment of the clothes to the filter 12 in step 50, the control means 23 controls the rotation speed setting means 17 to control the rotation speed of the rotating drum 4 to 30 r / min in step 61. Set to. As a result, the difference between the current rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 and the current rotation speed is compared by the rotation speed comparison unit 18, and the conduction angle is changed by the conduction angle control unit 20 so that the rotation speed of the rotary drum 4 becomes 30 r / min. .

At this time, the number of rotations of the blower fan 3 also decreases at the same time substantially in proportion to the number of rotations of the rotary drum 4, and the amount of hot air also decreases. By controlling the rotating drum 4 to 30 r / min for a predetermined time (30 seconds) in step 62, the clothes stuck to the filter 12 during this time are peeled off from the filter 12 due to a decrease in the air volume. In step 63, the rotating drum 4 is returned to the normal operation of 46 r / min, and the drying operation is performed.

In this way, even when the clothes are stuck to the filter 12, it is automatically detected and the stuck is eliminated, so that the user's hand is not bothered. Even thick clothes with poor air permeability, such as clothes that are not suitable for drying with a dryer, such as baby sheets (quilting mats), can be properly dried without any inconvenience.

In the above embodiment, the rotary drum 4 and the blower fan 3 are driven by one motor 2. However, they are driven by different motors, and only the blower fan drive motor is controlled to reduce the amount of hot air. The same effect can be obtained.

(Embodiment 3) Control means 23 in FIG.
When the filter for collecting lint is determined to be in a clogged state, the heating amount of the burner 7 is reduced. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. It should be noted that the clothing filter 12
Before clogging detection due to sticking to the surface (steps 40 to 49) and after drying detection (steps 53 to 5).
6) is the same as the operation of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

At step 50, when the clogging state is detected due to the attachment of the clothes to the filter 12, at step 71 the control means 23 causes the drive means 24 to drive the proportional control valve 8
Is closed and the burner 7 is extinguished. By stopping the heating for a predetermined time (30 seconds) in step 72, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the hot air from rising rapidly due to clogging and to prevent the clothes from being damaged. At step 73, the burner 7 is ignited again, and the drying operation is continued.

As described above, when the clothes are stuck to the filter 12 for collecting lint and clogging occurs,
By reducing the heating amount of the burner 7, it is possible to prevent an increase in the temperature of the hot air, and to prevent the clothing from being damaged by the hot air that has become hot. Further, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the dryer main body 1 from rising.

In the above embodiment, when the clogging state is detected by the attachment of the clothes to the filter 12,
Although the burner 7 is extinguished to lower the hot air temperature, the same effect can be obtained by reducing the gas flow rate by the proportional control valve 8 to reduce the heating amount.

(Embodiment 4) Control means 23 in FIG.
Is configured to stop the blower fan 3 for a predetermined time when it is determined that the filter 12 for collecting thread waste is clogged. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 7. Note that the operation from the start of the operation to the detection of clogging caused by sticking of clothes to the filter (step 40)
To 49) and operations after the detection of drying (steps 53 to 56).
Is the same as the operation of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

When the clogging state is detected in step 50 due to the attachment of the clothes to the filter 12, the control means 23 causes the driving means 24 to control the proportional control valve 8 in step 81.
Is closed and the burner 7 is extinguished. In step 82, the motor 2
When the power supply to is stopped, after a coasting rotation of about 2 to 3 seconds,
The rotating drum 4 and the blowing fan 3 stop.

Therefore, the clothes stuck to the filter 12 are separated from the filter 12 and fall off when the wind disappears. In step 83, after a lapse of a predetermined time (10 seconds), the motor 4 is energized again, the burner 7 is ignited, and the drying operation is continued.

In this way, even if the clothes are stuck to the filter 12 for collecting lint, it is automatically detected and the stuck of the clothes is eliminated, so that the user's hand is not bothered. At the same time, the burner 7 is also digested, so that the temperature of the hot air drops and the clothes are not damaged.

In the above-described embodiment, the motor 4 is stopped when the clogging state is detected due to the attachment of the clothes to the filter 12, but the same effect can be obtained by intermittent operation. Further, the clothing may be peeled off from the filter 12 by stopping the motor 4 and lowering the rotation speed as in the second embodiment. By lowering the rotation speed, vibration and noise of the dryer main body 1 during operation can be reduced as compared with intermittent operation.

(Embodiment 5) Control means 23 in FIG.
When the filter 12 for collecting lint is determined to be in a clogged state, the notification unit 22 notifies the user. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the operation before starting the operation and before detecting the clogging due to the attachment of the clothes to the filter (step 40)
To 49) and operations after the detection of drying (steps 53 to 56).
Is the same as the operation of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

When the clogging state is detected by the sticking of the clothes to the filter 12 in step 50, the control means 23 notifies the clogging by the notifying means 22 in step 91 and the control means 23 informs that the clothes are stuck to the filter 12. Can be notified to the user, so that the clothes can be immediately removed or the driving can be continued by sticking the clothes.

In each of the above embodiments, the burner 7 is used as a heat source, but a ceramic heater or a sheathed heater may be used.

[0050]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a blower fan for supplying hot air to a rotating drum for storing and drying clothes, a heating means serving as a heat source of hot air, A hot air temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the hot air, and a control means for inputting temperature data of the hot air temperature detecting means, the control means comprising: When the value exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that the clogging is caused by the clothes attached to the lint collecting filter provided in the hot air path on the back of the rotating drum. If bad clothes are stuck, the temperature of the hot air rises sharply, so the amount of temperature change of the hot air ensures that clogged condition due to poorly breathable clothes stuck to the lint collection filter. It can be known.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided means for varying the number of rotations of the blower fan, and the control means reduces the number of rotations of the blower fan to reduce the amount of air when the clogging state is determined. Therefore, when clothes are stuck to the lint collection filter and become clogged, it is automatically detected and the speed of the blower fan is reduced to reduce the amount of hot air, thereby filtering the clothes. , And the drying operation can be continued without any trouble of the user. Therefore, even thick clothes with poor air permeability, such as clothes that are not suitable for drying with a dryer such as baby sheets (quilting mats), can be properly dried without stopping halfway.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the control means reduces the amount of heating of the heating means when it is determined that the clogging state has occurred. When the clogging state occurs due to sticking, by reducing the amount of heating of the heating means, the operation can be continued until the end while preventing the clothing from being damaged due to a rapid rise in the temperature of the hot air. In addition, a rise in the temperature of the dryer body can be prevented.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, when the control means determines that the air conditioner is in the clogged state, the blower fan is stopped or intermittently operated for a predetermined time. When the filter sticks to the filter and becomes clogged, it automatically detects it and stops the blower fan rotation or intermittent operation to temporarily stop the hot air blow, allowing the clothes to be naturally separated from the filter. The drying operation can be continued as it is.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a notifying means is provided, and when the control means determines that the clogging state has occurred, the notifying means notifies the clogging state. When the filter is clogged due to sticking to the filter, the user can be notified by the notification means, so the user can know what is causing the notification and remove the clothing immediately. Or, you can continue driving by removing the sticking of clothing.

[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 operation flowchart of the clothes dryer when clogging is detected.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a time change of input data of a hot air temperature detecting means of the clothes dryer.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the clothes dryer according to the second embodiment of the present invention when clogging is detected.

FIG. 6 is an operation flowchart of the clothes dryer according to the third embodiment of the present invention when clogging is detected.

FIG. 7 is an operation flowchart of a clothes dryer according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention when clogging is detected.

FIG. 8 is an operation flowchart of a clothes dryer according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention when clogging is detected.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 blower fan 4 rotating drum 7 burner (heating means) 11 hot air temperature detecting means 12 filter 23 control means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masashi Kanetake 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A blower fan for supplying hot air to a rotating drum for storing and drying clothes, a heating means serving as a heat source of hot air, a hot air temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of hot air, and a hot air temperature detecting means. Control means for inputting temperature data, the control means comprising: a thread provided with clothing provided in a hot air path on the back surface of the rotating drum when a change amount of the temperature data of the hot air temperature detecting means per predetermined time is equal to or more than a predetermined value. A clothes dryer that determines a clogged state caused by sticking to a waste collection filter. 2. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, further comprising means for varying the number of revolutions of the blower fan, wherein the control means reduces the number of revolutions of the blower fan to reduce the amount of air when the clogging state is determined. . 3. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the control means reduces the amount of heating of the heating means when it is determined that the clogging state has occurred. 4. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the control means stops the blower fan for a predetermined time or performs an intermittent operation when it is determined that the air conditioner is clogged. 5. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit, wherein the control unit notifies the control unit when the clogging state is determined.