JP7320774B2 - Washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a washer/dryer.

A washing and drying machine described in Patent Document 1 below includes an outer tub in which water is stored, a drum arranged in the outer tub to accommodate laundry, and a circulation air passage. The circulation air passage includes an air inlet and an air outlet connected to the outer bath, and a blower unit having a blower and a heater. When the blower operates, the air in the outer tub is circulated so that it is sucked into the circulation air passage through the air suction port and flows into the outer tub through the air discharge port. The circulating air is heated by a heater in the circulation air passage. The heated air dries the laundry in the drum. A dry filter is placed in the blower unit to trap foreign matter such as lint contained in the circulating air. The dry filter can be removed from the blower unit for cleaning.

JP 2011-244984 A

In the washing/drying machine described in Patent Document 1, the user needs to remove the drying filter periodically to clean it, so maintenance of the drying filter is troublesome. In particular, in current washer/dryers, the drying filter needs to be cleaned every time the drying process is finished, so the number of times of removal of the drying filter increases. The more often the dry filter is removed, the more likely it is that the user will destroy the dry filter when removing or installing the dry filter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a washing and drying machine capable of improving the maintainability of the drying filter.

The present invention comprises a housing, an outer tub supported by the housing for storing water, a washing tub accommodated in the outer tub for storing laundry, an outlet connected to the outer tub, and a circulation path having a return port; an air blowing unit for circulating the air in the outer tank by extracting the air from the outlet into the circulation path and returning it to the outer tank from the return port; a heating unit for heating the air in the circulation path; and a dry filter disposed closer to the outlet than the heating unit in the circulation path, wherein the return air is returned from the outlet in the circulation path. a dry filter having a vertical surface for capturing foreign matter from air directed toward the mouth; a water supply unit for supplying water to the vertical surface from above; a wiper movable along the vertical surface; and an actuator for moving the wiper. , is a washer and dryer.

Further, according to the present invention, the washing and drying machine further includes a control unit that controls the water supply unit and the actuator, and the control unit causes the actuator to move the wiper to a lower portion of the vertical surface portion as maintenance processing. and water is supplied to the vertical surface portion from above by the water supply portion.

Further, the present invention provides a duct in which the washing and drying machine houses the drying filter as a part of the circulation path, the duct having an escape hole formed below the vertical surface portion, and the outer tub. It is characterized by further comprising a drainage channel for discharging the water inside, and a channel connecting the relief hole and the drainage channel.

According to the present invention, the air in the outer tub of the washing/drying machine is circulated so as to be taken out from the outlet into the circulation path and returned to the outer tub from the return port. The circulating air is heated by the heating unit in the circulation path to become hot air, which dries the laundry in the washing tub. A dry filter provided on the outlet side of the heating section in the circulation path captures foreign matter contained in the air flowing from the outlet to the return port in the circulation path for circulation. Therefore, foreign substances in the air can be prevented from adhering to the heating unit.
When the water supply unit supplies water to the vertical surface portion of the dry filter from above, the captured foreign matter adhering to the vertical surface portion is peeled off from the vertical surface portion by the water flowing down the vertical surface portion. The foreign matter adhering to the vertical surface portion is also removed from the vertical surface portion by being wiped off by the wiper that moves along the vertical surface portion. The foreign matter peeled off from the vertical surface falls, for example, in the circulation path, reaches the inside of the outer tank through the outlet, and is removed from the inside of the outer tank when the outer tank is drained. Since the washing/drying machine has the function of automatically cleaning the drying filter with water or a wiper, the user does not have to remove the drying filter for maintenance. Therefore, maintenance of the dry filter can be improved.

Further, according to the present invention, it is assumed that foreign matter adheres to the wiper when the wiper wipes off the foreign matter from the vertical surface portion of the dry filter. Water is supplied from the upper side to the vertical surface portion in the state of moving to. As a result, foreign matter adhering to the wiper can be removed from the wiper by the water running down the vertical surface portion. Therefore, the user does not need to maintain the wiper as well as the dry filter. Therefore, it is possible to improve maintainability.

In addition, according to the present invention, the water supplied from the water supply unit and the foreign matter removed from the vertical surface of the dry filter are allowed to flow through the escape hole of the duct and the channel to the drainage channel without passing through the outer tank. be able to. As a result, it is possible to prevent water and foreign substances from adhering to the laundry in the washing tub housed in the outer tub.

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional left side view of a washing/drying machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an outer tub and a drying unit arranged in the washing/drying machine. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the outer tub and drying unit. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a duct and a filter member that constitute the drying unit. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the duct, filter member and wiper mechanism; Figure 6 is a rear view of the duct, filter member and wiper mechanism;

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional left side view of a washing/drying machine 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1 is called the horizontal direction X of the washing/drying machine 1, the horizontal direction in FIG. called Z. In the horizontal direction X, the far side on the paper surface of FIG. 1 is called the right side X1, and the front side on the paper surface of FIG. 1 is called the left side X2. In the longitudinal direction Y, the left side in FIG. 1 is called the front side Y1, and the right side in FIG. 1 is called the rear side Y2. In the vertical direction Z, the upper side is called an upper side Z1, and the lower side is called a lower side Z2.

The washer/dryer 1 is a so-called drum-type washer/dryer. The washer/dryer 1 includes a housing 2, an outer tub 3 disposed within the housing 2, a water supply channel 4 and a drainage channel 5 connected to the outer tub 3, and a water supply from the outer tub 3 through the drainage channel 5. and a drain filter 6 for capturing foreign matter from the draining water. The washing/drying machine 1 includes a washing tub 7 that is housed in an outer tub 3 and stores laundry L, a motor 8 that rotates the washing tub 7, and a drying unit 9 that dries the laundry L in the washing tub 7. Including further.

The housing 2 is formed in a box shape. The front surface 2A of the housing 2 is, for example, a vertical surface. An opening 2B that communicates the inside and outside of the housing 2 is formed in the front surface 2A. A door 10 for opening and closing the opening 2B is provided on the front surface 2A.

The outer tub 3 is elastically supported by the housing 2 via hanging rods (not shown). The outer tank 3 has a cylindrical circumferential wall 3A centered on an axis J extending in the front-rear direction Y along the horizontal direction H, and a disk-shaped rear wall 3B closing the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A from the rear side Y2. , and a ring-shaped front wall 3C connected to the front edge of the peripheral wall 3A. The rear wall 3B is arranged vertically and has an outer peripheral portion 3D and a central portion 3E that protrudes from the outer peripheral portion 3D to the rear side Y2 by one step. A through hole 3F is formed in the center of the central portion 3E along the axis J and penetrating the central portion 3E in the front-rear direction Y. As shown in FIG. The front wall 3C has an annular first portion 3G projecting from the front edge of the circumferential wall 3A toward the axis J, a cylindrical second portion 3H projecting from the inner peripheral edge of the first portion 3G toward the front side Y1, and a second portion 3H. It has an annular third portion 3I projecting from the front edge of the second portion 3H toward the axis J side. Inside the third portion 3I, a doorway 3J is formed that communicates with the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A from the front side Y1. The doorway 3J communicates with the opening 2B of the housing 2 facing from the rear side Y2.

The water supply channel 4 has one end (not shown) connected to a faucet (not shown) and the other end 4A connected to, for example, the central portion 3E of the rear wall 3B of the outer tub 3 . At the time of water supply, water from the faucet is supplied into the outer tub 3 from the water supply channel 4. - 特許庁Water such as tap water or detergent water in which detergent is dissolved in tap water is stored in the outer tank 3. - 特許庁A water supply valve 11 that is opened and closed to start and stop water supply is provided in the middle of the water supply path 4 .

The drainage channel 5 is connected to the lower end of the outer tub 3, for example, the lower end of the first portion 3G of the front wall 3C. The water in the outer tank 3 is discharged to the outside of the machine through a drainage channel 5. - 特許庁A drain valve 12 that is opened and closed to start and stop draining is provided in the middle of the drain channel 5 .

The drainage filter 6 is provided upstream of the drainage channel 5 and closer to the outer tank 3 than the drainage valve 12 is. Since the front end of the drainage filter 6 is exposed on the front surface 2A of the housing 2 , the user can hold the front end of the drainage filter 6 to attach and detach the drainage filter 6 to the housing 2 . A known configuration can be used as the configuration of the drainage filter 6 .

The washing tub 7 is slightly smaller than the outer tub 3. The washing tub 7 includes a cylindrical circumferential wall 7A arranged coaxially with the circumferential wall 3A of the outer tub 3, a disk-shaped rear wall 7B blocking the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 7A from the rear side Y2, and a circumferential wall. and an annular wall 7C projecting from the front edge of 7A toward the axis J side. A plurality of through holes 7D are formed in at least the circumferential wall 7A of the washing tub 7, and water in the outer tub 3 flows back and forth between the outer tub 3 and the washing tub 7 via the through holes 7D. Therefore, the water level in the outer tub 3 and the water level in the washing tub 7 match. A support shaft 13 extending along the axis J to the rear side Y2 is provided at the center of the back wall 7B of the washing tub 7. As shown in FIG. The rear end portion of the support shaft 13 passes through the through hole 3F of the rear wall 3B of the outer tub 3 and is arranged on the rear side Y2 of the rear wall 3B.

Inside the annular wall 7C, a doorway 7E communicating with the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 7A from the front side Y1 is formed. The inlet/outlet 7E communicates with the inlet/outlet 3J of the outer tub 3 and the opening 2B of the housing 2 from the rear side Y2. The doorway 3J and the doorway 7E are collectively opened and closed by the door 10 together with the opening 2B. A user of the washing/drying machine 1 takes the laundry L into and out of the washing tub 7 through the open opening 2B, the doorway 3J and the doorway 7E.

The motor 8 is arranged inside the housing 2 on the rear side Y2 of the rear wall 3B of the outer tub 3 . The motor 8 is connected to a support shaft 13 provided in the washing tub 7 . The driving force generated by the motor 8 is transmitted to the support shaft 13 , and the washing tub 7 rotates around the axis J with the support shaft 13 . A clutch mechanism (not shown) may be provided between the motor 8 and the support shaft 13 to transmit or block the driving force of the motor 8 to the support shaft 13 .

Drying unit 9 includes circulation path 20 , blower section 21 , and heating section 22 . The circulation path 20 is a flow path arranged on the upper side Z1 of the outer tank 3 inside the housing 2 . The circulation path 20 has a midway portion 20A extending in the front-rear direction Y, a rear portion 20B extending from the rear end of the midway portion 20A to the lower side Z2, and a front portion 20C extending from the front end of the midway portion 20A to the lower side Z2. An outlet 20D is formed at the front end of the lower end portion of the rear portion 20B. The outlet 20D is connected to a portion of the outer peripheral portion 3D of the back wall 3B of the outer tub 3 that is higher than the upper limit water level, and communicates with the inside of the outer tub 3 from the rear side Y2. A return port 20E is formed at the lower end of the front portion 20C. The return port 20E is connected to the upper end of the second portion 3H of the front wall 3C of the outer tub 3 and communicates with the inside of the outer tub 3 from the upper side Z1.

Blower unit 21 is a so-called blower, and includes rotary blades 23 arranged in an upstream region near outlet 20D in circulation path 20 and a motor (not shown) that rotates rotary blades 23 . When the rotating vane 23 rotates, the air in the outer tub 3, that is, the air in the outer tub 3 and the washing tub 7 is taken out from the outlet 20D into the circulation path 20 as indicated by the thick dashed arrows. It is returned into the outer tub 3 through the return port 20E. As a result, the air in the outer tub 3 circulates through the outer tub 3 and the circulation path 20 in order.

The heating unit 22 is a heat exchanger in a heat pump, a general heater, or the like, and at least part of it is provided inside the circulation path 20 . A portion of the heating portion 22 provided in the circulation path 20 has a plurality of fin-shaped heat radiation portions 22A. When the heating part 22 operates, the heat radiation part 22A becomes hot, so that the air flowing through the circulation path 20 is heated to become hot air when passing around the heat radiation part 22A.

The washer/dryer 1 further includes a controller 24 configured as a microcomputer. The control unit 24 performs the washing/drying operation by controlling the operations of the motor 8, the water supply valve 11, the drain valve 12, the blower unit 21, and the heating unit 22. The washing/drying operation includes a washing process, a rinsing process, a spin-drying process, and a drying process.

Detergent is put into the washing tub 7 prior to the start of the washing process. In the washing process, the control unit 24 opens the water supply valve 11 for a predetermined time while the drain valve 12 is closed to supply water to the outer tub 3 and the washing tub 7 , and then causes the motor 8 to rotate the washing tub 7 . As a result, the laundry L in the washing tub 7 is beat-washed. In beating washing, tumbling is repeated in which the laundry L is lifted to some extent and then naturally falls to the surface of the water. Dirt is removed from the laundry L by the impact caused by tumbling and the detergent components contained in the detergent water accumulated in the washing tub 7 . When the controller 24 opens the drain valve 12 to drain the water after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of tumbling, the washing process ends.

In the rinsing process, the control unit 24 opens the water supply valve 11 for a predetermined time while the drain valve 12 is closed to supply water to the outer tub 3 and the washing tub 7 , and then causes the motor 8 to rotate the washing tub 7 . Then, since the tumbling described above is repeated, the laundry L is rinsed with the tap water in the washing tub 7 . When the controller 24 drains the water after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of tumbling, the rinsing process ends. The rinsing step may be repeated multiple times. In the dehydration process, the control unit 24 rotates the washing tub 7 while the drain valve 12 is open. The laundry L in the washing tub 7 is dehydrated by the centrifugal force generated by the dehydrating rotation of the washing tub 7 . The water seeped out of the laundry L due to dehydration is discharged out of the machine through the drainage channel 5. - 特許庁The dehydration step may be performed not only after the rinsing step but also after the washing step.

In the drying process, the control unit 24 generates hot air by the air blowing unit 21 and the heating unit 22, circulates it between the washing tub 7 and the circulation path 20, and supplies the laundry L in the washing tub 7 with the hot air. Thereby, the laundry L is dried. In the washing operation, foreign matter such as lint is generated, and this foreign matter is carried by the hot air during the drying process. If foreign matter adheres to and accumulates on the heat radiating portion 22A of the heating portion 22, there is a risk that the heating efficiency of the heating portion 22 will decrease and the performance of the circulation path 20 will deteriorate due to deterioration of the air flow. There is a need to. Therefore, the drying unit 9 further includes a filter member 25 , a branch passage 26 and a water injection valve 27 .

Below, the filter member 25, the branch path 26, and the water injection valve 27 will be described after the air blower 21 and the circulation path 20 are described in detail. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outer tub 3 and the drying unit 9 viewed from the rear side Y2. The air blower 21 includes a hollow disk-shaped casing 29 that accommodates the rotary blades 23 . A casing 29 is part of the circulation path 20 and is fixed to the housing 2 . The internal space of casing 29 constitutes a connecting portion between intermediate portion 20A and rear portion 20B in circulation path 20 .

3 is an exploded perspective view of the outer tub 3 and the drying unit 9. FIG. The circuit 20 includes a duct 30 that occupies most of the rear portion 20B and a connection hose 31 that connects the casing 29 and the duct 30. As shown in FIG. Duct 30 includes a body 32 and a cover 33 (see FIG. 2).

The main body 32 includes a curved wall 32A that curves downward to the lower left along the upper left portion of the peripheral wall 3A of the outer tub 3, and a curved wall 32A that is substantially semicircular and protrudes forward Y1. and a ceiling wall 32B extending from the right end to the left side X2. Between the curved wall 32A and the ceiling wall 32B, a downstream space 32C narrowing in the vertical direction Z toward the right side X1 is defined. The ceiling wall 32B extends obliquely with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend toward the left side X2. The top wall 32B is provided with a cylindrical upper connecting portion 32D projecting upward Z1. The internal space of the upper connecting portion 32D is in communication with the downstream space 32C from the upper side Z1. The inner space of the downstream space 32C and the upper connecting portion 32D constitutes part of the inner space of the rear portion 20B of the circulation path 20 . The main body 32 has a side wall 32E extending between the edges of the curved wall 32A and the top wall 32B so as to block the downstream space 32C from the front side Y1 and the left side X2.

The main body 32 has a first vertical wall 32F extending downward Z2 from the rear end of the curved wall 32A, and a horizontal wall 32G projecting rearward Y2 from the lower end of the first vertical wall 32F. The upper end of the first vertical wall 32F is curved in an arc along the curved wall 32A, and the lower end of the first vertical wall 32F is linear while being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend toward the left side X2. extends to The lateral wall 32G is strip-shaped and extends while being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H along the lower end of the first vertical wall 32F. The rear end of the side wall 32E is arranged on the rear side Y2 of the downstream space 32C, and the lower portion of the rear end of the side wall 32E is connected to the left ends of the first vertical wall 32F and the horizontal wall 32G.

The main body 32 has an L-shaped second vertical wall 32H bordering the rear end portion of the side wall 32E and the horizontal wall 32G. A single or a plurality of outlets 20D are formed at the lower end of the second vertical wall 32H. In this embodiment, one elongated outlet 20D is formed in the up-down direction Z and penetrates in the front-rear direction Y through the second vertical wall 32H. The second vertical wall 32H is provided with a cylindrical lower connecting portion 32I that borders the outlet 20D and protrudes toward the front side Y1. A through hole 3K having the same shape as the outlet 20D is formed in the outer peripheral portion 3D of the rear wall 3B of the outer tub 3. As shown in FIG. The lower connecting portion 32I is inserted into the through hole 3K from the rear side Y2. Thereby, the outlet 20</b>D is connected to the back wall 3</b>B and communicates with the inside of the outer tank 3 .

The main body 32 has an outer wall 32J that continuously borders the right edge of the first vertical wall 32F and the left, lower and right edges of the second vertical wall 32H and protrudes to the rear side Y2. The outer wall 32J is formed in a substantially U shape when viewed from the rear, and two upper end portions of the outer wall 32J are connected to the left end and right end of the rear end portion of the top wall 32B, respectively. A notch 32JA recessed toward the front side Y1 is formed in the upper end portion of the outer wall 32J connected to the right end of the ceiling wall 32B. A plurality of first locking portions 32JB protruding from the outer peripheral surface are provided in a region closer to the front on the outer peripheral surface of the outer wall 32J. A bolt B1 (see FIG. 2) is inserted through an insertion hole formed in each first locking portion 32JB and assembled into a screw hole 3L provided at a corresponding position in the rear wall 3B of the outer tank 3. Thereby, the entire duct 30 including the main body 32 is fixed to the outer tub 3 . A midway space 32K is formed in the main body 32 by the rear end portion of the side wall 32E, the lateral wall 32G, the top wall 32B, and the right portion of the outer wall 32J. The midway space 32K is substantially rectangular in rear view, is thin in the front-rear direction Y, adjoins the first vertical wall 32F from the rear side Y2, and communicates with the downstream space 32C from the rear side Y2.

The main body 32 has a vertical partition plate 32L and a horizontal partition plate 32M projecting from the second vertical wall 32H to the rear side Y2. The vertical partition plate 32L is arranged adjacent to the middle space 32K from the left side X2, extends from the rear end of the top wall 32B to the lower side Z2, and connects to the edge of the upper side Z1 of the outlet 20D. The horizontal partition plate 32M is arranged below the midway space 32K Z2 and above the outlet 20D Z1, and spans between the midway portion of the vertical partition plate 32L and the right portion of the outer wall 32J. The horizontal partition plate 32M extends substantially parallel to the top wall 32B and the horizontal wall 32G while being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend toward the left side X2. A slit 32P that bisects the horizontal partition plate 32M in the left-right direction X is formed in the middle of the horizontal partition plate 32M. A screw hole 32Q is formed in the rear surface portion of the second vertical wall 32H inside the slit 32P.

In the main body 32, an arrangement space 32R is defined by a vertical partition plate 32L, a horizontal partition plate 32M, a ceiling wall 32B, and the right portion of the outer wall 32J. The arrangement space 32R has a substantially rectangular shape in a rear view, is thin in the front-rear direction Y, and communicates with the middle space 32K from the rear side Y2. A portion Z1 above the horizontal wall 32G in the arrangement space 32R overlaps with the entire middle space 32K in a rear view. A filter member 25 is arranged in the arrangement space 32R. In the main body 32, an upstream space 32S is defined by a portion of the vertical partition plate 32L on the lower side Z2 than the horizontal partition plate 32M, the horizontal partition plate 32M, and the right and lower portions of the outer wall 32J. The upstream space 32S is a substantially semicircular space that bulges downward Z2 when viewed from the rear, is positioned below Z2 of the arrangement space 32R across the horizontal partition plate 32M, and is located behind the outlet 20D. Communicate from Y2.

A vertical space 32T elongated in the vertical direction Z is formed in the main body 32 by being sandwiched from both sides in the horizontal direction X by the left portion of the outer wall 32J and the vertical partition plate 32L. The vertical space 32T is blocked from the front side Y1 by the left end of the second vertical wall 32H, and is blocked from the upper side Z1 by the left end of the top wall 32B. The lower end of the vertical space 32T communicates with the upstream space 32S from the left side X2.

The cover 33 (see FIG. 2) has a profile that substantially matches the outer wall 32J and the top wall 32B of the main body 32 when viewed from the rear, and is formed in a plate shape that narrows toward the lower side Z2. The cover 33 is provided with a plurality of locking portions 33A (see FIG. 2) projecting from the outer edge thereof. A plurality of second locking portions 32JC protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the outer wall 32J of the main body 32 are provided in a rear region corresponding to the locking portions 33A. A bolt (not shown) is inserted through an insertion hole formed in each locking portion 33A and assembled into a screw hole 32JD provided in the rear end surface of the corresponding second locking portion 32JC. Thereby, the cover 33 is fixed to the main body 32 from the rear side Y2, and the duct 30 is completed (see FIG. 2).

In the completed duct 30, the arrangement space 32R, the upstream space 32S, and the vertical space 32T provided on the rear surface side of the main body 32 are closed from the rear side Y2 by the cover 33. As shown in FIG. The rear end of the vertical partition plate 32L contacts the front portion of the cover 33. As shown in FIG. Therefore, the arrangement space 32R and the vertical space 32T, which are arranged with the vertical partition plate 32L interposed therebetween, are cut off. Since there is a gap Q (see FIG. 4) between the rear end of the lateral partition plate 32M and the front part of the cover 33, the arrangement space 32R and the upstream space 32S communicate through this gap Q.

The connection hose 31 is, for example, a cylinder made of rubber, and its internal space is open to the upper side Z1 and the lower side Z2. A bellows portion 31A is provided between the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the connection hose 31 . A lower end portion of the connection hose 31 is fitted onto the upper connection portion 32D of the duct 30 . The upper end of the connection hose 31 is connected to the casing 29 of the air blower 21 . The internal space of the connection hose 31 constitutes part of the internal space of the rear portion 20B of the circulation path 20 . The elastic deformation of the bellows portion 31A suppresses the vibration of the outer tub 3 from being transmitted to the blower portion 21 during the washing and drying operation.

The filter member 25 is formed in a thin plate shape in the front-rear direction Y. As shown in FIG. The overall shape of the filter member 25 when viewed from the rear is a rectangle having two sides inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend toward the left side X2 and another two sides extending substantially vertically along the vertical direction Z. It is formed in a shape, in particular a parallelogram.

Filter member 25 includes frame 41 , dry filter 42 , and water supply cover 43 . The frame 41 includes a main body portion 41A having a substantially rectangular outline in rear view, a pair of left and right vertical walls 41B projecting from the main body portion 41A toward the front side Y1, and a bottom wall 41C projecting from the lower end of the main body portion 41A toward the front side Y1. and is made of resin, for example. An upper edge and a lower edge of the body portion 41A are inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend toward the left side X2. A right edge and a left edge of the body portion 41A extend substantially vertically along the up-down direction Z. As shown in FIG. An opening 41D penetrating the body portion 41A in the front-rear direction Y is provided in substantially the entire area of the body portion 41A in the rear view. The body portion 41A has one or more longitudinal ribs 41E that extend across the opening 41D. In this embodiment, two vertical ribs 41E are provided side by side in the horizontal direction X, and the opening 41D is evenly divided into three small openings 41DA aligned in the horizontal direction X by these vertical ribs 41E. Each small opening 41DA is formed in a vertically long rectangular shape, strictly speaking, in a parallelogram shape having two sides parallel to the upper and lower edges of the main body portion 41A.

A bottom wall 41C of the main body portion 41A extends between the lower ends of the left and right vertical walls 41B, and is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to descend toward the left side X2 along the lower edge of the main body portion 41A. At a central portion of the bottom wall 41C in the left-right direction X, a locking portion 41CA protruding downward Z2 from the bottom wall 41C is provided. An insertion hole 41CB passing through the locking portion 41CA in the front-rear direction Y is formed in the locking portion 41CA.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the duct 30 and the filter member 25 viewed from the rear side Y2. In FIG. 4, illustration of the cover 33 of the duct 30 is omitted (the same applies to FIGS. 5 and 6 described later). The frame 41 further has a ceiling wall 41F that protrudes at least toward the rear side Y2 from the upper edge of the main body portion 41A. The ceiling wall 41F has a rectangular plate shape elongated in the left-right direction X and is arranged to be inclined to the lower left along the upper edge of the main body portion 41A, and a rectangular plate shape shorter than the main body portion 41FA. and an extending portion 41FB extending from the right end of the main body 41BA along the horizontal direction H to the right side X1. A plurality of water supply ports 41G having the same shape and the same size are formed in the body portion 41FA. In this embodiment, 12 water supply ports 41G are provided. Each water supply port 41G extends vertically, that is, linearly in the up-down direction Z and penetrates the main body portion 41FA. These water supply ports 41G are arranged in a row at regular intervals in the horizontal direction X along the upper end of the rear surface 41AB of the main body portion 41A.

The dry filter 42 is in a state of covering the entire area of each small opening 41DA of the main body 41A. Although the dry filter 42 is separated into three according to each small opening 41DA, the three separated dry filters 42 are regarded as one dry filter 42 in this embodiment. The dry filter 42 in this embodiment is a mesh sheet attached to the body portion 41A, but it may be a grid integrally formed with the body portion 41A. Moreover, although the dry filter 42 is made of metal in this embodiment, it may be made of the same resin as the main body 41A. A rear surface portion of the dry filter 42 extending vertically and horizontally is referred to as a vertical surface portion 42A. The vertical surface portion 42A of the dry filter 42 is arranged flush with the rear surface 41AB of the main body portion 41A. A plurality of water supply ports 41G provided in the top wall 41F of the frame 41 are arranged horizontally, that is, in the left-right direction X along the vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42, and face the vertical surface portion 42A from the upper side Z1.

The water supply cover 43 has a hollow main body portion 43A that is elongated in the left-right direction X, and a hollow connection portion 43B that is connected to the main body portion 43A from the right side X1. The internal space 43AA of the main body portion 43A and the internal space 43BA of the connecting portion 43B are in communication. The connecting portion 43B is provided with a pipe portion 43C projecting from the connecting portion 43B. Although FIG. 4 shows the pipe portion 43C protruding to the rear side Y2, the pipe portion 43C may protrude to the right side X1 (see FIG. 5). An internal space 43CA of the pipe portion 43C communicates with an internal space 43BA of the connecting portion 43B. An internal space 43AA of the main body portion 43A, an internal space 43BA of the connecting portion 43B, and an internal space 43CA of the pipe portion 43C form a flow path 43D in the water supply cover 43 together. Note that the pipe portion 43C may be provided, for example, at the extending portion 41FB of the top wall 41F of the frame 41 instead of the connecting portion 43B of the water supply cover 43 (see FIG. 5).

The water supply cover 43 covers the ceiling wall 41F of the frame 41 from the upper side Z1 and is combined with the frame 41. As shown in FIG. In the filter member 25 thus completed, the internal space 43AA of the body portion 43A of the water supply cover 43 is closed from the bottom side Z2 by the body portion 41FA of the top wall 41F, and the connection portion 43B of the water supply cover 43 is closed. The internal space 43BA is closed from the lower side Z2 by the extended portion 41FB of the top wall 41F. The flow path 43D in the water supply cover 43 is connected from the upper side Z1 to all the water supply ports 41G formed in the top wall 41F. The top wall 41</b>F and the water supply cover 43 covering the top wall 41</b>F from the upper side Z<b>1 constitute a water supply unit 50 .

As shown in FIG. 4, the filter member 25 is accommodated in the duct 30 by being fitted into the arrangement space 32R of the duct 30 from the rear side Y2. When the bottom wall 41C of the frame 41 of the filter member 25 rests on the horizontal partition plate 32M of the duct 30, the filter member 25 is positioned within the arrangement space 32R. The locking portion 41CA of the bottom wall 41C fits into the slit 32P of the horizontal partition plate 32M, and the bolt B2 passes through the insertion hole 41CB of the locking portion 41CA and is attached to the screw hole 32Q of the slit 32P (see also FIG. 3). Thereby, the filter member 25 in the arrangement space 32R is fixed to the duct 30. As shown in FIG. Note that the locking portion 41CA may be provided at a position other than the bottom wall 41C in the frame 41. As shown in FIG.

In the frame 41 of the filter member 25 fixed to the duct 30, the bottom wall 41C, the right vertical wall 41B and the left vertical wall 41B contact the horizontal partition plate 32M, the outer wall 32J and the vertical partition plate 32L of the duct 30, respectively. . Also, the main body portion 43A of the water supply cover 43 of the filter member 25 contacts the ceiling wall 32B of the duct 30 . Accordingly, the filter member 25 occupies substantially the entire arrangement space 32R of the duct 30, and is positioned within the duct 30 between the downstream space 32C and the intermediate space 32K, and the upstream space 32S. Looking at the circulation path 20 as a whole, the dry filter 42 in the filter member 25 is arranged closer to the outlet 20D than the heating unit 22 in the circulation path 20 (see FIG. 1). The extended portion 41FB of the top wall 41F of the frame 41 and the connection portion 43B of the water supply cover 43 are arranged on the right side X1 of the arrangement space 32R through the notch 32JA (see FIG. 3) of the outer wall 32J.

The branch path 26 branches off from an upstream portion closer to the faucet than the water supply valve 11 in the water supply path 4 and is connected to the pipe portion 43</b>C of the water supply cover 43 . A water injection valve 27 is provided in the branch passage 26 (see FIG. 1). The water injection valve 27 is opened and closed to supply water flowing from the water supply passage 4 to the branch passage 26 to the pipe portion 43C or to stop the supply. Opening and closing of the water injection valve 27 is controlled by the controller 24 (see FIG. 1). The water injection valve 27 is included in the water supply section 50 described above.

In the drying process, hot air is generated and circulated by the air blowing section 21 and the heating section 22 as described above. The hot air travels from the outlet 20D to the return port 20E in the circulation path 20, and rises at the rear portion 20B on the way toward the blowing section 21 (see the thick dashed arrow in FIG. 1). In the duct 30 forming the rear portion 20B, the hot air rises from the outlet 20D through the upstream space 32S and passes through the dry filter 42 of the filter member 25 to the front side Y1. The hot air then reaches the downstream space 32C via the midway space 32K, rises inside the connection hose 31, and flows into the casing 29 of the air blower 21 (see also FIG. 2).

The vertical surface portion 42A of the dry filter 42 is arranged to face the upstream side of the circulation path 20 and traps foreign matter T such as lint from the hot air in the circulation path 20. As shown in FIG. As the drying process progresses, a large amount of foreign matter T is captured and accumulated on the vertical surface portion 42A. As a result, it is possible to prevent foreign matter T from adhering to the heating unit 22 provided downstream of the outlet 20</b>D relative to the drying filter 42 in the circulation path 20 .

The control unit 24 opens the water injection valve 27 after the drying process, that is, after the washing/drying operation ends. It should be noted that the water supply valve 11 may be provided on the upstream side closer to the faucet than the branch position of the branch path 26 in the water supply path 4. open. Water from the faucet flows into the channel 43D from the pipe portion 43C of the water supply cover 43 via the water supply channel 4 and the branch channel 26 .

The water that has flowed into the flow path 43D flows out from the flow path 43D into each water supply port 41G and is jetted downward from each water supply port 41G. The water jetted from each water supply port 41G is sprayed from the upper side Z1 onto the upper end of the vertical surface portion 42A of the dry filter 42, and flows down along the vertical surface portion 42A, as indicated by the thick dashed arrow. The foreign matter T adhering to the vertical surface portion 42A is peeled off from the vertical surface portion 42A by the water flowing down the vertical surface portion 42A, and drops directly into the upstream space 32S of the duct 30 to reach the outlet 20D. Since the vertical ribs 41E extending in the direction in which water and foreign matter T fall are provided around the dry filter 42, the foreign matter T smoothly falls without being caught by the vertical ribs 41E. An outer wall 32J that defines an upstream space 32S in the duct 30 is provided with a guide portion 30A inclined toward the outlet 20D. In the duct 30, the guide portion 30A and the lower end portion of the vertical partition plate 32L of the main body 32 guide foreign matter T and water to the outlet 20D. The foreign matter T that has reached the outlet 20D drops into the outer tank 3 from the outlet 20D and accumulates in the outer tank 3. As shown in FIG. Water sprayed onto the vertical surface portion 42A from each water supply port 41G also drops into the outer tub 3 from the duct 30 and accumulates in the outer tub 3 in the same manner as the foreign matter T.

A vertical surface portion 42A of the dry filter 42 is directly exposed in the upstream space 32S that constitutes the circulation path 20. As shown in FIG. Therefore, when water is supplied to the vertical surface portion 42A from the water supply port 41G, the foreign matter T adhering to the vertical surface portion 42A is peeled off from the vertical surface portion 42A, and then quickly drops through the circulation path 20 and into the outer tank 3 from the outlet 20D. to reach

When a predetermined time has passed since the water injection valve 27 was opened, the control unit 24 closes the water injection valve 27 to stop the water supply to the water supply unit 50 and opens the drain valve 12 . Note that the drain valve 12 may be always opened while the water injection valve 27 is open. When the drain valve 12 is opened, the water accumulated in the outer tub 3 flows into the drain channel 5 with the foreign matter T placed thereon. That is, the foreign matter T is removed from the outer tub 3 when the outer tub 3 is drained. The foreign matter T that has flowed into the drainage channel 5 is captured by the drainage filter 6 (see FIG. 1). The foreign matter T captured by the drainage filter 6 is removed when the user removes the drainage filter 6 for maintenance at an appropriate timing.

As described above, in the washing/drying machine 1, the water supply unit 50 supplies water to the vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42 from the upper side Z1 at a predetermined timing. That is, the washing/drying machine 1 has a function of automatically cleaning the drying filter 42 with water. Furthermore, the washing/drying machine 1 also has a function of automatically cleaning the drying filter 42 by means of the wiper mechanism 60 which will now be described. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the duct 30, the filter member 25 and the wiper mechanism 60 as seen from the rear right side. Wiper mechanism 60 includes stay 61 fixed to duct 30 , and wiper 62 and actuator 63 attached to stay 61 .

The stay 61 has a plate shape, is fixed to, for example, the right portion of the outer wall 32J of the main body 32 of the duct 30, and is arranged to protrude from the main body 32 to the right side X1. The left end portion of the stay 61 is arranged to face the lower end portion of the right end portion of the vertical surface portion 42A of the dry filter 42 from the rear side Y2.

The wiper 62 is a straight rod and is arranged between the vertical surface portion 42A of the dry filter 42 and the left end portion of the stay 61 in the front-rear direction Y. As shown in FIG. A brush 64 is provided on the front surface of the wiper 62 over substantially the entire length thereof. The brush 64 is composed of a large number of bristles 64A planted on the wiper 62. As shown in FIG. Instead of the brush 64, the wiper 62 may be provided with a blade (not shown) made of rubber or the like. The wiper 62 shown in FIG. 5 is in a vertically elongated standby position. The wiper 62 in the standby position overlaps the right end portion of the vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42 when viewed from the rear, and the brush 64 is in contact with the right end portion of the vertical surface portion 42A from the rear side Y2. The dimension of the brush 64 in the vertical direction Z at this time is slightly smaller than the dimension of the vertical surface portion 42A in the vertical direction Z. As shown in FIG. The wiper 62 in the standby position may be arranged on the right side X1 of the right end portion of the vertical surface portion 42A so as not to overlap the vertical surface portion 42A when viewed from the rear. In any case, the wiper 62 in the standby position is in a position that does not hinder the trapping of the foreign matter T on the vertical surface portion 42A. A root portion forming a lower end portion of the wiper 62 at the standby position is connected to the stay 61 via a rotating shaft 65 that extends in the front-rear direction Y and penetrates the left end portion of the stay 61 . The wiper 62 is rotatable around the rotating shaft 65 with the rotating shaft 65 .

An example of the actuator 63 is an electric motor. The operation of the actuator 63 is controlled by the controller 24 (see FIG. 1). The actuator 63 is arranged on the right side X1 of the main body 32 of the duct 30, that is, outside the duct 30, and is fixed to the right end of the stay 61 from the front side Y1. The actuator 63 has an output shaft 66 passing through the right end of the stay 61 . The wiper mechanism 60 includes an input gear 67 fixed to the rear end of a rotating shaft 65 of the wiper 62 and an output gear 68 fixed to the rear end of the output shaft 66 . The input gear 67 and output gear 68 are spur gears and may mesh directly or may be coupled via one or more intermediate gears 69 as shown in FIG. When the actuator 63 operates, the output shaft 66 rotates together with the output gear 68 , and the rotation is transmitted to the input gear 67 via the relay gear 69 . , and rotates around the rotation shaft 65 .

6 is a rear view of the body 32 of the duct 30, the filter member 25 and the wiper mechanism 60. FIG. The wiper 62 is rotatable between a standby position indicated by a solid line and a wiping position indicated by a two-dot chain line. The wiping position is a position when the wiper 62 rotates counterclockwise, for example, 120 degrees from the standby position in a rear view. The wiper 62 at the wiping position overlaps the lower portion of the vertical surface portion 42A of the dry filter 42 when viewed from the rear. The wiper 62 in the wiping position may be arranged below the vertical surface portion 42A of the dry filter 42 Z2. When the wiper 62 receives the driving force of the actuator 63 and rotates between the standby position and the wiping position, the wiper 62 moves along the vertical surface portion 42A so as to wipe almost the entire vertical surface portion 42A of the dry filter 42 with the brush 64. Moving. In the wiper mechanism 60 , at least the wiper 62 is arranged in the installation space 32</b>R inside the duct 30 when the duct 30 is completed by combining the main body 32 and the cover 33 .

The controller 24 reciprocates the wiper 62 several times between the standby position and the wiping position during the drying process. Therefore, the foreign matter T caught by the drying filter 42 and accumulated on the vertical surface portion 42A during the drying process is also removed from the vertical surface portion 42A by being wiped off by the wiper 62 that reciprocates along the vertical surface portion 42A. The foreign matter T peeled off from the vertical surface portion 42A falls in the circulation path 20 as described above, reaches the outer tank 3 through the outlet 20D, and is removed from the outer tank 3 when the outer tank 3 is drained. The bristles 64A of the brush 64 of the wiper 62 are set thicker than the mesh of the dry filter 42 so that the bristles 64A of the brush 64 of the wiper 62 are not caught in the mesh of the dry filter 42. - 特許庁

When the drying process is completed, as described above, the control unit 24 causes the water supply unit 50 to supply water to the vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42 from the upper side Z1. This water supply continues for, for example, one minute. Foreign matter T adhering to the vertical surface portion 42A is removed from the vertical surface portion 42A by this water supply.

It is assumed that the wiper 62 reciprocates during the drying process and wipes off the foreign matter T from the vertical surface portion 42A, so that the foreign matter T adheres to the wiper 62, that is, the wiper 62 itself becomes dirty. Therefore, as a maintenance process for the wiper 62, the controller 24 causes the actuator 63 to move the wiper 62 to the wiping position in a state in which the water supply unit 50 continues to supply water to the vertical surface portion 42A after the drying process. Stop at the take position. Due to the rotation of the wiper 62 here, the foreign matter T remaining on the vertical surface portion 42A is wiped off. By supplying water from the water supply unit 50, the foreign matter T adhering to the wiper 62 can be removed from the wiper 62 by the momentum of the water flowing down the vertical surface portion 42A (see the thick two-dot chain line arrow in FIG. 6). Therefore, the user does not have to perform maintenance not only on the dry filter 42 but also on the wiper 62 . Therefore, it is possible to improve maintainability. When the water supply unit 50 finishes supplying water for one minute, the control unit 24 rotates the wiper 62 to return it to the standby position. This completes the maintenance process. It takes about 6 seconds for the wiper 62 to rotate from the standby position to the wiping position and return to the standby position.

Since the washing/drying machine 1 has the function of automatically cleaning the drying filter 42 with water or the wiper 62, the user does not have to remove the drying filter 42 for maintenance. Therefore, maintenance of the dry filter 42 can be improved. Since the dry filter 42 does not have to be detachable, the structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced as compared with a detachable dry filter. In the case of a detachable dry filter, if the user forgets to perform maintenance, the above-mentioned performance degradation may occur. In addition, since the installation space required for a detachable dry filter can be used for other purposes, for example, the heating unit 22 and the rotating blades 23 can be made larger to improve performance.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

For example, the actuator 63 that moves the wiper 62 is not limited to the electric motor described above, and a solenoid or the like may be used. As a mechanism for transmitting the driving force generated by the actuator 63 to the wiper 62, there is a configuration other than the gear transmission mechanism using the input gear 67, the output gear 68 and the intermediate gear 69 described above. As an example of the configuration, a pulley is attached to each of the rotating shaft 65 of the wiper 62 and the output shaft 66 of the actuator 63, and these pulleys are connected with a wire. This wire is wound around the pulley of the rotating shaft 65 of the wiper 62, for example, about a half turn, and then pulled out and connected to an urging member such as a spring. The drive force generated by the actuator 63 is transmitted to the wiper 62 via the wire, thereby rotating the wiper 62 from the standby position to the wiping position. The wiper 62 rotates from the wiping position to the standby position by the biasing force of the biasing member extended at this time to contract.

For example, the wiper 62 is rotatable between the standby position and the wiping position in the above-described embodiment. Foreign matter T on the vertical surface portion 42A of the filter 42 may be wiped off. When the wiper 62 linearly moves in the vertical direction Z, the wiper 62 assumes a horizontally long posture, the standby position is set at the upper end side of the vertical surface portion 42A, and the wiping position is set at the lower end side of the vertical surface portion 42A. set. When the wiper 62 linearly moves in the left-right direction X, the wiper 62 takes a vertically long posture, the standby position is set to one of the left end side and the right end side of the vertical surface portion 42A, and the wiping position is set to the vertical surface portion. 42A at the other of the left end side and the right end side.

In the above-described embodiment, the vertical surface portion 42A of the dry filter 42 is arranged vertically so as to face the outlet 20D side of the circulation path 20, that is, the upstream side, but the vertical surface portion 42A may be arranged along the vertical direction. Alternatively, they may be arranged obliquely with respect to the vertical direction.

In the above-described embodiment, the foreign matter T removed from the vertical surface portion 42A of the drying filter 42 and the water splashed on the vertical surface portion 42A are discharged from the outlet 20D of the circulation path 20 to the drainage path 5 via the outer tank 3. Head. Instead of this, an escape hole 32U (see FIG. 5) is provided in the outer wall 32J of the main body 32 of the duct 30 at the lower end portion Z2 below the vertical surface portion 42A, and the drain hole 32U (see FIG. 5) is provided on the upstream side of the drainage filter 6 in the drainage channel 5. , and the relief hole 32U may be connected by the flow path 100. FIG. As a result, the foreign matter T and water in the duct 30 can reach the drainage channel 5 through the escape hole 32U and the flow channel 100 without passing through the outer tank 3 . As a result, it is possible to prevent foreign substances T and water from adhering to the laundry L in the washing tub 7 .

In the washing/drying machine 1, the drainage filter 6 may be omitted. In this case, the foreign matter T captured by each dry filter 42 and flowed into the outer tub 3 is discharged outside the machine through the drainage channel 5 (see FIG. 1) when the outer tub 3 is drained.

As part of the maintenance process described above, the control unit 24 may cause the air in the outer tub 3 to circulate with the blower unit 21 after stopping the water supply from the water supply unit 50 to the dry filter 42 . As a result, the dry filter 42, which has been wetted by water spraying to remove the foreign matter T, is dried by being showered with the air flowing from the outer tank 3 into the circulation path 20. - 特許庁It should be noted that hot air may be circulated by operating the heating unit 22 as well, thereby promoting the drying of the drying filter 42 . Since the user does not have to dry the dry filter 42 in this way, the maintainability of the dry filter 42 can be further improved.

In the drum-type washing/drying machine 1 in the above-described embodiment, the washing tub 7 may be arranged such that the axis J is inclined in the horizontal direction H. Further, the washing/drying machine 1 may be a vertical washing/drying machine in which the axis J extends vertically.

Reference Signs List 1 washing/drying machine 2 housing 3 outer tub 5 drainage channel 7 washing tub 20 circulation channel 20D outlet 20E return port 21 blower section 22 heating section 24 control section 30 duct 32U escape hole 42 drying filter 42A vertical surface section 50 water supply section 62 wiper 63 actuator 100 channel L laundry T foreign matter Z1 upper side Z2 lower side

Claims (3)

a housing;
an outer tank supported by the housing and in which water is stored;
a washing tub that is housed in the outer tub and houses laundry;
a circulation path having an outlet and a return port connected to the outer tank;
an air blower that circulates the air in the outer tank by taking it out from the outlet into the circulation path and returning it to the outer tank from the return port;
a heating unit provided in the circulation path for heating the air in the circulation path;
A dry filter disposed closer to the outlet than the heating unit in the circulation path, the dry filter having a vertical surface portion for capturing foreign matter from air flowing from the outlet to the return port in the circulation path. and,
a water supply unit that supplies water to the vertical surface portion from above;
a wiper movable along the longitudinal surface;
an actuator that moves the wiper ;
A control unit that controls the water supply unit and the actuator ,
As maintenance processing, the control unit causes the actuator to move the wiper to a lower portion of the vertical surface portion and temporarily stop the wiper, and the water supply unit supplies water to the vertical surface portion from above.
Washing and drying machine. The dry filter has a flat plate shape and has an upper side, a lower side, one side and the other side,
The upper side and the lower side of the dry filter are inclined so as to descend from the one side toward the other side,
The wiper is arranged on the one side of the drying filter and is rotatable from the one side toward the bottom side,
In the maintenance process, the control unit rotates the wiper to a lower portion of the vertical surface portion and temporarily stops the wiper.
The washing and drying machine according to claim 1. a duct that accommodates the dry filter as part of the circulation path, the duct having an escape hole below the vertical surface portion;
a drainage channel for discharging water in the outer tank;
further comprising a channel connecting the relief hole and the drainage channel;
The washing and drying machine according to claim 2.

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