KR20080076702A - Drum Laundry Dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

A frontload washer is provided to wet clothes thoroughly by sending mists from a contact unit to a circulation blowing path using an atomization unit to fall down into a water tub by self-weight. In a frontload washer, an atomization unit(30) generating a mist, aligned above a baffle port(18) supplying dry air from a circulation blowing path(14) to a water tub, assembled directly to the circulation blowing path by passing through a contact unit(31e), supplies mist from the contact unit to the circulation blowing path and to be fell on the water tub through the baffle port. The diameter of the wet mist is 10mum~50mum.

Description

Drum-type laundry dryer {DRUM TYPE WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drum type laundry dryer having a atomizing unit and supplying mist to laundry such as dried clothes, thereby reducing wrinkles in clothes.

Conventionally, in the drying step, a rotating drum containing laundry such as clothes is rotated at a high speed. In the drying step, the laundry is dried while being attached to the inner wall of the rotating drum for a long time, so that wrinkles can not be avoided in the dried clothes or the like. When the garment or the like, which has been subjected to such a drying step, is temporarily installed in a hanger or the like, it is necessary to apply labor to increase wrinkles or to iron afterwards.

In recent years, there has been provided a atomizing unit for generating mists made of fine liquid droplets, and introducing a mist into a rotating drum containing clothes and the like to reduce the static electricity and wrinkles in the clothes and the like during the drying step. BACKGROUND ART A clothes dryer for introducing mist into a drying chamber to be accommodated and drying and deodorizing clothes and the like has been developed. For example, those having the same configuration as that shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-311067 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-158585 are known.

The laundry dryer 40 disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-311067 is elastically provided inside the housing 41 as shown in FIG. 8, which is a cross-sectional view for explaining the structure of a laundry dryer having a conventional atomization unit. A supported outer jaw 42 and an inner jaw 43 rotatably disposed in the outer jaw 42 to accommodate laundry are provided. The laundry dryer 40 further includes a blower (circulating blower) 44 for blowing warm air into the inner tank 43, and a heater (heater) 45 for heating air blown by the blower 44. And a hot air circulation path (hot air supply path) 46 which has a heat exchanger and circulates the warm air by the blower 44. In addition, the spraying device 47 is provided in the vicinity of the warm air supply port 48 to the inner tank 43 through the heating device 45 of the warm air circulation path 46. And in the drying step, the spraying device 47 is configured to spray the mist into the warm air circulation path. This sprayed mist is said to remove static electricity generated when the clothes are stirred in the drying step, to relieve the discomfort to the human body by static electricity, and to reduce wrinkles of the clothes after the drying ends.

In addition, the clothes dryer 50 disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-158585 is configured from the following as shown in FIG. 9 which is a sectional view for explaining the structure of a clothes dryer provided with a conventional atomization unit. . Generates a drying chamber 51 for storing clothes, a blower 53 for generating warm air to be supplied into the drying chamber 51, a hot air generating mechanism comprising a heater 54, and an electrolytic mist for supplying to the drying chamber 51. An electrostatic mist generating mechanism comprising an air pump 55, an electrolytic mist generator 56, and a control unit 57 thereof. Electrolytic mist generated from the electrolytic mist generating mechanism is supplied to a rear end downstream of the heating device of the heater 54 of the warm air generating mechanism. Then, the electrolytic mist is heated to a drying chamber 51 by mixing the electrolytic mist with the hot air from the heater of the heater 54. According to such a clothes dryer 50, deodorization can be performed simultaneously with drying, space saving and cost reduction are possible, and deterioration of deodorization performance by long-term use does not become a problem.

Mist generated by the atomizing unit varies in characteristics such as floating property and surface tension (wetting property) by its particle size. That is, an ultrafine mist having a particle diameter of less than 10 mu m is also called a dry mist and is extremely fine, and thus has a feature of high surface tension and high floating property, but low wettability when attached to an object. Fine mists having a particle diameter of 10 µm to 50 µm are also referred to as wet mists, and have a feature of having a weak surface tension and high wettability when attached to an object because the particle diameter is relatively large compared to the dry mist. A relatively coarse mist having a particle diameter of 50 µm has a property close to that of water droplets.

Among these, the wet mist excellent in wettability is adhered to clothes or the like which are laundry, and can effectively reduce the wrinkles of clothes such as drying process while wetting the laundry efficiently, so that the mist containing a large amount of this wet mist is rotated. Filling in the inside is important for obtaining the effect of reducing wrinkles such as clothing. In addition, when the mist generated in the atomizing unit is introduced to the place where the clothes are placed, the clothes can be efficiently fed with a large amount of mist without colliding as much as possible with the pipe wall of the inlet pipe, that is, without being lost due to condensation on the pipe wall or the like. It is important to let it flow into the place where it is placed.

In the laundry dryers and the clothes dryers disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2003-311067 and 2006-158585, such a view is lacking. As a result, wrinkles such as clothing cannot be effectively reduced or dried deodorized.

In addition, in the laundry dryer 40 disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-311067, the blower 44 is disposed on the upstream side of the heater 45 so as to face the sprayer 47, and the blower ( The warm air generated by 44 is configured to directly contact the spraying apparatus 47. Therefore, a part of the mist sprayed from the spraying device 47 reaches the clothes in the inner tank 43 as it is, but most of the others collide with the inner wall surface 46a of the warm air circulation path 46, and most of the mist is sprayed on the inner wall surface. It condenses at 46a, becomes water droplets, and then reaches the inner tank 43. In the laundry dryer 40, negative ions are generated by the crushing effect when the mist collides with the inner wall surface 46a, so that the static elimination effect of the static electricity can be enhanced, but most of the mist sprayed from the spraying device 47 There was a problem that it was difficult to wet the garments and effectively reduce the wrinkles without disappearing and not reaching the garments in the inner tank 43.

Further, in the clothes dryer 50 disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-158585, an electrolytic mist generator 56 is disposed in the machine room 52 provided below the drying chamber 51. The electrolytic mist generated from the electrolytic mist generator 56 is supplied downstream to the heater 54 and mixed with hot air from the heater 54 to heat the electrolytic mist, and then discharged upward from the duct chamber 58. Doing. Electrolytic mist is blown out through the extraction part (bottom plate of the drying chamber 51) in which the some slit and the hole were formed, and are supplied to the drying chamber 51 here. In the clothes dryer 50 having such a configuration, although a plurality of slits and holes are formed in the ejection portion, most of the mist collides with the bottom surface of the bottom plate where the slits or holes are not formed, and condenses to form water droplets. . Therefore, in the clothes dryer 50, most of the mist generated from the electrolytic mist generator 56 disappears on the way and does not reach the clothes in the drying chamber 51, so that it is impossible to wet the clothes and reduce the wrinkles. There was a problem. In addition, since water droplets are formed and hot air is supplied to the duct chamber 58 with high moisture, hot air with high moisture is also introduced into the drying chamber 51, so that the clothes can be sufficiently dried even if some deodorizing effect can be expected. Could not.

The drum type laundry dryer of the present invention has a permeation hole formed therein, and a rotating drum for storing and driving laundry is provided in the tank, and the washing, rinsing, and dehydration are controlled by controlling the water supply, drainage, and rotation of the rotating drum into the tank. The atomizing unit which generates mist in the drum type washing dryer which performs a drying step of a laundry by performing each step and circulating the air in a tank by a blower through the circulation ventilation path provided with a dehumidifier and a heating apparatus. Is provided at an upper position close to the tuyeres for sending dry air from the circulation tuyeres to the water tank, and the atomization unit is directly connected to the circulation tuyeres through a tuyerer located above the tuyeres, Wet miss with a particle diameter of 10 µm to 50 µm by sending it to the circulation ventilation path and dropping it into a water tank through a wind hole. The configuration is being introduced into the rotary drum a mist to a subject.

With the drum-type laundry dryer having such a configuration, the mist generated by the atomizing unit is sent from the atomization unit located above the guiding opening and the circulating ventilation path to the circulation ventilation path so as to fall by its own weight and be positioned below it. It flows down to the storm hole. In addition, the mist is dropped into the water tank from the guide port and introduced into the rotating drum. In this way, since the movement path from the atomizing unit to the guiding opening is short, and it is configured to flow down to the guiding opening due to its own weight, the phenomenon of colliding with the pipe wall or the like in the middle of the moving route and falling off is suppressed, and the condensation is performed. The phenomenon is suppressed. As a result, it is excellent in wettability, and a mist mainly composed of a wet mist having a particle diameter of 10 µm to 50 µm can be introduced into the drum to be filled, so that the surface of the clothing can be effectively wetted and the clothing in such a state can be dried. By doing so, the wrinkles in the garment can be effectively reduced.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention The best embodiment of the drum type laundry dryer according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the Example disclosed below is an illustration in all the points, Comprising: It should be considered that it is not restrictive. It is to be understood that the technical scope of the present invention is indicated by the description of the claims rather than the contents disclosed in the embodiments, and it is to be understood that the scope of the claims and the equivalents and all modifications within the scope are included.

First, the structure and operation of the drum type laundry dryer with the atomizing unit according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 1 is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the structure of a drum type laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view seen from the housing back side for explaining the arrangement of the circulation blowing path and the atomization unit of the drum type laundry dryer. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cut away part of the housing back side for explaining the structure of the circulation blowing path and the atomizing unit of the drum type laundry dryer. 4 is a side sectional view for explaining a connection structure between the atomization unit and the water tank of the drum type laundry dryer.

The drum type laundry dryer 1 is arranged in the state in which the water tank 3 is suspended in the air by the suspension structure not shown in the laundry dryer housing 2. In the water tank 3, the rotating drum 4 formed in the cylindrical shape with a bottom is inclined downward from the front side toward the back side. On the front side of the water tank 3, a clothing entrance and exit through the opening end of the rotating drum 4 is formed. Then, the laundry can be put into and out of the rotating drum 4 through the clothes entrance and exit by opening the door 5 which is formed on the front side of the laundry dryer housing 2 and which is an opening provided on the upward inclined surface. Since the door 5 is provided on the upward inclined surface, the operation of taking out and taking out the laundry can be performed without bending the waist. Generally, the poor workability of the drum type washing machine which takes out the laundry from the side opening is improved. have.

The rotary drum 4 is formed with a plurality of through holes 4c through the water tank 3 in the peripheral wall 4a and the bottom wall 4b. 4 d of bottom surface openings are formed in the bottom wall 4b in multiple positions along the circumferential direction which opposes the guiding opening 18 formed in the water tank 3. Moreover, the stirring protrusion 4e is provided in the several position of the inner surface of the peripheral wall 4a. The rotary drum 4 is driven to rotate in the forward rotation and reverse rotation directions by the motor 6 attached to the rear surface side of the water tank 3. In addition, the water supply pipe 7 and the drainage pipe 8 are connected to the water tank 3, and the water supply into the water tank 3 and the inside of the water tank 3 by control of the water supply valve and the drain valve which are not shown in figure are shown. Drainage takes place.

When the door 5 is opened, laundry and detergent are introduced into the rotating drum 4 from the opening, and the drum type dryer 1 starts to operate, the water tank 3 has a predetermined amount of water from the water supply line 7. Injection is made, and the rotating drum 4 is rotationally driven by the motor 6 to start the washing step. The laundry contained in the rotating drum 4 is lifted in the rotational direction by the stirring projection 4e at the same time as the rotating drum 4 is rotated, and the stirring operation falling from the appropriate height position is repeated, and the laundry is repeated. There is a washing action of tapping laundry is done.

After the required washing time has elapsed, the dirty laundry liquid is discharged from the drain conduit 8. Then, by the dehydration operation of rotating the rotating drum 4 at high speed, the washing liquid contained in the laundry is dewatered, and then water is rinsed and dewatered from the water supply line 7 in the water tank 3. Also in this rinsing and dehydrating step, the laundry accommodated in the rotary drum 4 is repeatedly stirred by the lifting and falling of the stirring projection 4e at the same time as the rotation of the rotary drum 4, thereby performing rinsing and washing. Then, after the rinsing and washing, the water contained in the laundry is dehydrated by a dehydration operation of rotating the rotating drum 4 again at high speed, thereby completing the rinsing and dehydrating steps.

The drum laundry dryer 1 has a function of drying the laundry contained in the rotary drum 4, exhausts and dehumidifies the air in the water tank 3, and blows the heated dry air back into the water tank 3. A circulation blow path 9 is provided. In the middle of the circulation blower path 9, a blower such as a dehumidifier such as the evaporator 10, a heater such as the condenser 11, and a blower fan 12 are located at a lower position in the laundry dryer housing 2. The device is provided. The circulation blower path 9 is a circulation air inlet pipe 13 between the water tank 3 and the blower fan 12 and a dry air blower pipe between the blower fan 12 and the water tank 3. It consists of (14). And the atomization unit 30 is connected to the upper part which adjoins the guiding opening 18 formed in the bottom face of the water tank 3 of the dry air blower pipe 14.

The dry air blowing pipe 14 is a lower pipe 15, a flexible duct 16, and an upper pipe in order from the upstream side in the space of the rear side (back side of the water tank 3) in the laundry dryer housing 2. It is comprised with 17. A communication port 17a is provided below the downstream end of the upper pipe line 17, and the communication port 17a is connected to the guiding port 18 provided on the rear surface of the water tank 3. The upper pipe 17 is inclined near the center of the housing 2 at its lower portion. In addition, the middle of the upper pipe 17 is bent about 90 degrees, and the upper portion thereof is inclined downward toward the guiding port 18 of the water tank 3. The flexible duct 16 is constructed using a flexible pipe member, and prevents the vibration of the lower pipe 15 from being transmitted to the blower fan 12 by rotating, starting, or stopping the rotating drum 4. have. The dry air dehumidified by the evaporator 10 and heated by the condenser 11 is located in the water tank 3 and the interior of the water inlet 18 via the dry air blowing pipe 14. It is sent to the drum 4.

By driving the blower fan 12 at a high speed rotation, a flow of air is generated in the circulating blower path 9, and high humidity air in the rotating drum 4 containing the laundry permeates the periphery wall 4a. Through the hole 4c, it is exhausted from the water tank 3 to the circulating air inlet pipe 13 to the blowing fan 12 side. The air of the circulating blow path 9 is condensed by moisture by the evaporator 10 located upstream of the blower fan 12, dehumidified, and heated by heat exchange with the condenser 11, thereby providing high temperature. It becomes a drying hole.

This heated dry air is sent out from the blowing fan 12 to the drying air blowing pipe path 14 to the water tank 3, and is supplied into the water tank 3 via the duct 18 provided in the water tank 3. As shown in FIG. The high temperature dry air fed into the water tank 3 is introduced into the rotary drum 4 through the bottom opening 4d and the through hole 4c provided in the bottom wall 4b of the rotary drum 4, and the like. While flowing through the laundry and drying, it becomes moist air, falls out of the through-hole 4c provided in the peripheral wall 4a, into the water tank 3, and is introduced into the circulating air introduction pipe 13 again. The drying step is performed by the circulation of the air in such a circulating blow path 9 (the circulating air introduction pipe 13, the dry air blow pipe 14).

Here, in the drum type washing machine 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the "wrinkles course" aimed at reducing wrinkles of dry clothes while rotating the atomizing unit 30 and the rotating drum 4, which will be described later. Is prepared. In this "wrinkles course", the evaporator 10 and the condenser 11 are stopped, and the rotational speeds of the rotating drum 4 and the blowing fan 12 are rotated at a lower speed than in the normal drying step. Then, the atomizing unit 30 is started to generate a mist 20 made of fine droplets, and the mist 20 is dropped into the dry air stream circulating through the dry air blowing pipe 14. As a result, fine wet mist and dry mist are sent to the rotating drum 4 in the water tank 3.

In this way, a step is performed in which the mist 20 is filled to the corners of the rotating drum 4 so as to effectively wet the surface of the clothes and to reduce the wrinkles of the clothes in the dry state to have a wrinkle reduction effect. Further, the atomizing unit 30 is then stopped to raise the rotational speed of the rotating drum 4 and the blowing fan 12 to the same speed as in the normal drying step, and at the same time, the evaporator 10 and the condenser 11. ), The normal drying operation is performed, and the clothing can be wrinkled while the clothing is dried. In addition, in the said "wrinkles course", the rotating drum 4 may not necessarily rotate.

In addition, in the said "wrinkles course", as mentioned above, the wrinkles by the mist 20 can be reduced, and the deodorizing effect can also be expected by the following principle. Usually, odors attach odor components to the clothing surface as these molecules. For example, the smell of cigarettes, bulgogi, and the like, but when the mist 20 collides with these odor molecules, the odor molecules are dissolved in the molecules of water themselves and are removed from the clothes. The drying operation is carried out after such mist treatment, and the water in which the odor component is dissolved is evaporated by high temperature and low humidity air, thereby preventing the odor molecules from reattaching to the clothes and deodorizing.

Next, the structure of the atomizing unit 30 which concerns on this invention, and a "wrinkles course" is demonstrated in detail based on FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and the drawing mentioned above. 5 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the atomizing unit of the drum type laundry dryer according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a rear cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of the atomizing unit of the drum type laundry dryer.

The atomization unit 30 is arrange | positioned in the upper position close to the guiding opening 18, the water storage container 31 which stores the water 21 as a mist generation source, and the water 21 stored in the water storage container 31. An ultrasonic vibrator 32 for applying ultrasonic vibration to the water, a water supply device 33 for injecting water 21 into the water storage container 31, and a water temperature sensor 35 for measuring the water temperature in the water storage container 31. It is composed. And the water storage container 31 of the atomizing unit 30 is arrange | positioned in the upper position adjacent to the guiding opening 18 of the back surface of the water tank 3, and is directly via the connection opening 31e of the upper guiding opening 18. It is connected to the upper conduit 17 of the dry air blowing conduit 14 (circulation blowing conduit 9).

The water storage container 31 is fixed adjacent to the back outer side of the water tank 3. Further, the side wall 31b on the front side of the water storage container 31 that faces the water tank 3 is formed to be inclined with respect to the vertical direction along the rear surface of the water tank 3. The side wall 31b on the rear side of the water storage container 31 is formed in the vertical direction along the rear panel of the laundry dryer housing 2, and the bottom wall 31a side of the water storage container 31 has a wide width. .

In this water storage container 31, water 21 as a mist generation source is stored. In the upper part of the water storage container 31, the pouring hole 31c which injects water 21 from the water pouring device 33 is provided. An opening weir 31d is provided on the side wall 31b on the side opposite to the upper pipe line 17. Moreover, the connection port 31e is provided in the part connected to the upper pipe 17 of the upper part of the guiding opening 18. As shown in FIG.

The water 21 injected into the water storage container 31 from the water filling port 31c overflows the upper duct 17 above the guiding opening 18 via the connection opening 31e from the opening weir 31d. In this manner, the water 21 in the water storage container 31 is kept at a constant water level by a simple configuration.

Moreover, the water 21 which overflowed from this opening bank 31d is sent to the water tank 3 through the connection port 31e, the upper pipe line 17, and the guiding hole 18, and the drain pipe line 8 The drum is discharged out of the drum laundry dryer (1).

The ultrasonic vibrator 32 is arranged to bring the vibration surface 32a of the piezoelectric element that generates ultrasonic vibrations into close contact with the bottom wall 31a of the water storage container 31. By operating the piezoelectric element, ultrasonic vibration is transmitted to the ultrasonic transmission direction (direction perpendicular to the vibration surface 32a) 32b, so that the liquid column 22 is formed in the water storage container 31.

6, since the ultrasonic vibrator 32 is inclined and attached so that the vibration surface 32a may face to the opposite side to the connection port 31e, the liquid column 22 will be opposite to the connection port 31e. Is formed toward the inner surface direction of the side wall 31b. As the liquid column 22 is formed, the water 21 rises along the liquid column 22 and descends and rises along the inner surface of the side wall 31b, as shown by the arrow. And convection of air occurs. At the same time, the ultrasonic vibration transmitted through the liquid column 22 vibrates the surface of the water 21 slightly, thereby weakening the surface tension near the tip of the liquid column 22, 22) generates a mist (fog) 20, which is a fine droplet in response to the minute vibration. This mist 20 is extruded by the convective motion of water 21, and is discharged toward the ultrasonic transmission direction 32b. The mist 20 descends and rises along the inner surface of the side wall 31b in accordance with the convection of the water 21 and the air, and thereafter, the mist 20 is connected to the surface of the stored water 21 and the inner surface of the side wall 31b. It is discharged to the upper conduit 17 above the guiding opening 18 via 31e). The mist 20 discharged to the upper conduit 17 is immediately sent to the water tank 3 from the lower guiding opening 18, and is further rotated through the bottom opening 4d of the rotating drum 4 Is introduced.

In the embodiment of the present invention, when the mist 20 is introduced into the rotary drum 4, the blower fan 12 is rotated at a rotational speed of about 500 rpm. At this time, the air flow rate of the air flow in the circulation blow path 9 becomes O7 m 3 / min, and at the time of rated operation in the normal drying step (the blower fan 12 is rotated at a rotational speed of 5800 rpm). It is rotated and the dry air blower tube 14 is fed with dry air having a flow rate of 2.2 m 3 / min., Which corresponds to about 1/10 of the rotational speed of the rotating fan and 1/3 of the amount of air blown. . By circulating air in the dry air blowing pipe 14 at such a small amount of wind, the wind pressure for pushing the mist 20 from the guiding opening 18 into the rotary drum 4 acts, thereby appropriately rotating the drum 4. It can be introduced inside. At the same time as the wet mist, dry mist having high floating property can also be introduced into the rotary drum 4 from the tuyere 18. As a result, when the temperature of the clothes is close to room temperature, and the temperature of the mist 20 is high, water condenses on the surface of the clothes, so that the clothes can be wetted more efficiently.

As the amount of air blown in the air flow in the circulating blower path 9 for obtaining such an effect, from 0.5 m 3 / min to 1.0 m 3 / min is suitable. If the airflow amount is less than 0.5 m 3 / min, when the wet mist is introduced into the rotary drum 4, the clothing in the rotary drum 4 will be disturbed, and the wet mist cannot fully enter the rotary drum 4, A part of may flow down between the water tank 3 and the rotating drum 4. As shown in FIG. In addition, the amount introduced into the rotary drum 4 of the dry mist is reduced so that the above effect cannot be sufficiently obtained.

Further, when the air flow rate of the air flow in the circulation blow path 9 exceeds 1.OO m 3 / min, the wet mist collides with the pipe wall of the dry air blow pipe 14 (upper pipe 17) and is wetted. Reduces the percentage of mist present Dry mist also passes through the inside of the rotating drum 4 without being attached to clothes.

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, the rectifying pin (the stop value) near the upper portion of the connection port 31e connected to the dry air blower pipe 14 of the water storage container 31 ( 36). The rectifying pin 36 is comprised by the plate-shaped member which horizontally crosses the dry air blower pipe 14 in the position which entered the dry air blower pipe 14 from the connection port 31e.

As mentioned above, when the blowing fan 12 is rotationally driven in the "wrinkle shaping course", air flows in the dry air blowing pipe 14. When the rectifier pin 36 is not provided, the air that has flowed through the air blower pipe 14 enters the inside of the atomization unit 30 (water storage container 31) from the connection port 31e, but the rectifier pin ( By providing 36, a portion of the air is branched by passing through the upper portion of the rectifying pin 36, as shown by the broken arrow. Air is introduced into the atomization unit 30 from the upper portion of the connection port 31e, and then circulated in the atomization unit 30, and then returned to the dry air blower pipe 14 from the connection port 31e. It becomes. The mist 20 generated by the atomizing unit 30 flows into the dry air blower pipe 14 through the flow of air described above, and drops it toward the pit 18 by the weight of the air and the flow of air. And is introduced into the water tank 3 and the rotating drum 4.

In addition, since the liquid column 22 is formed to be inclined toward the side wall inner surface on the opposite side of the connection port as described above, the water column 22 directly passes through the connection port 31e by the liquid column 22 so that the upper pipe 17 ), It is possible to prevent the flow of water 21 in the water storage container 31 to be reduced.

The water pouring device 33 is for supplying the water 21 consumed by the generation of the mist 20 in the water storage container 31. The water supply port provided below the water supply device 33 and the water supply port 31c of the water storage container 31 are connected by a water supply hose 34, and an opening / closing valve (not shown) is provided at an appropriate position therebetween. Doing. The water pouring device 33 opens the on-off valve when the atomizing unit 30 is activated. And water 21 is sent through the water supply hose 34 from the water supply port 33a of the water supply apparatus 33 for the predetermined time sufficient to squeeze the water in the storage container 31. The excess water 21 overflows from the opening weir 31d of the side wall 31b, so that the water 21 in the water storage container 31 is maintained at a constant water level. This watering operation in the initial stage of start-up replenishes the water 21 in the water storage container 31 reduced by evaporation or the like during the stop of the water supply apparatus 33, and always operates the atomizing unit 30 under a constant water level. will be.

The water temperature sensor 35 is configured by using a thermistor or the like, and measures the water temperature in the water storage container 31. When the water temperature measured by the water temperature sensor 35 exceeds a predetermined temperature (set to an upper limit of use of the ultrasonic vibrator 32 or a temperature slightly lower than that), the water 21 is supplied from the water pouring device 33. The water temperature is lowered so that the water temperature in the water storage container 31 does not always exceed the predetermined temperature.

The mist 20 generated by the atomizing unit 30 has different characteristics, such as floating property and surface tension (wetting property), by the particle diameter. In other words, the ultrafine mist having a particle diameter of less than 10 mu m is also called a dry mist and is extremely fine, and thus has a feature of high surface tension and high floating property but low wettability when attached to an object. Fine mists having a particle diameter of 10 µm to 50 µm are also referred to as wet mists, and have a feature of relatively low surface tension and high wettability when adhered to an article because they have a relatively large particle diameter as compared to the dry mist. . A relatively coarse mist of more than 50 mu m in particle size has a property close to that of water droplets.

The mist 20 generated in the atomizing unit 30 collides with or coagulates with the side wall 31b of the water storage container 31 and the pipe wall of the upper conduit 17 while moving to the guiding opening 18. Increasingly, coarse mist is eliminated and fine wet mist increases its abundance. In the rotating drum 4, a wet mist is introduced into the main body. Here, the mist 20 of the state which mainly uses a wet mist is a state in which a wet mist exceeds 50% of the whole in a volume existence rate. In the particle size distribution of the mist 20 measured by the laser diffraction scattering method, the mean particle size (media diameter D ₅₀ ) is in a range of 10 μm to ₅₀ μm.

If the path between the mist 20 moves to the tuyere 18 is long, or if there is a bent portion in the middle of the path, even the fine wet mist aggregates and falls off. Therefore, the abundance ratio of the wet mist in the mist 20 decreases, and since it becomes the mist 20 which mainly uses dry mist, it is unpreferable.

However, according to the above-described configuration, the mist 20 generated by the atomization unit 30 causes the atomization unit 30 (storage vessel 31) and the dry air blower pipe 14 located above the guiding port 18 to be disposed. ) Is sent to the dry air blower pipe 14 from the connection port 31e of the upper pipe path 17. The mist 20 falls by its own weight, falls into the water tank 3 in a state mainly composed of a wet mist from the tuyere 18, and is introduced into the rotating drum 4. In addition, since the blowing fan 12 is disposed at a lower position in the washing dryer housing 2 and the drying air is sent from the blowing fan 12 to the drying air blowing conduit 14, the mist 20 is introduced. In the connection port 31e of the atomizing unit 30, the mist 20 is introduced into the dry air stream without being affected by the wind pressure from the blower fan 12.

Thus, since the movement path is short from the atomization unit 30 to the guiding opening 18, and it is comprised so that it may fall by self weight, aggregation of the wet mist in the middle of the movement path can be suppressed. Therefore, the mist 20 can be introduced into and filled with the rotating drum 4 with a wet mist having a particle diameter of 10 µm to 50 µm, which is excellent in wettability, and can effectively wet the clothing surface. In addition, by drying the clothes of the surface wetted effectively, wrinkles in the clothes can be effectively reduced.

In addition, in the "wrinkles course", the effect of reducing wrinkles of clothes can be obtained even if the rotating drum 4 is not necessarily rotated. However, in the embodiment of the present invention, the rotating drum 4 is rotated as described above. . While the clothes in the rotating drum 4 are in a dry state at room temperature, the temperature of the water in the storage container 31 rises due to the oscillation of the ultrasonic vibrator 32. Therefore, the mist 20 which generate | occur | produces becomes high temperature.

Therefore, the dry mist can also be introduced into the rotating drum 4 in a state of high temperature, so that not only the wet mist but also the dry mist is on the surface of the garment at a temperature lower than the temperature of the mist and the peripheral wall 4a of the rotating drum 4. ) And condensation easily. At this time, by rotating the rotary drum 4, the clothes are mixed, and the mist 20 including the dry mist is introduced into the rotary drum 4 without disturbing the clothes, so that the whole clothes can also be efficiently wetted.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the mist 20 is sent from the connection port 31e to the dry air blowing pipe 14, dropped by its own weight and loaded into the air stream, and the water tank 3 and the rotation from the guide port 18 are rotated. It is introduced into the drum 4. At the time of mist introduction (at the start of the atomizing unit), the rotary drum 4 is quietly rotated at a rotational speed of about 45 rpm in which clothes are mixed. In this way, by rotating the rotating drum 4 silently, the wet mist, which tends to remain near the bottom of the rotating drum 4, can be filled to the corner of the rotating drum 4 as it is, and the rotating drum 4 The clothing in) can be effectively wetted by wet mist with high wettability. And by drying the garment in such a state, the wrinkles which entered the garment can be reduced effectively.

In order to fill this wet mist to the corner of the rotating drum 4, the rotational speed when the rotating drum 4 is quietly rotated is preferably 15 rpm to 80 rpm. If the rotational speed is less than 15 rpm, a part of the mist 20 introduced from the guiding hole stays near the bottom of the rotary drum 4, and if the rotational speed exceeds 80 rpm, the part of the mist 20 Is pushed by the centrifugal force to the side wall of the rotating drum 4, and impinges on the side wall or the like to reduce the abundance ratio of the wet mist.

(Modifications in Examples of the Present Invention)

In the embodiment of the present invention, an opening weir 31d is provided on the side wall 31b of the water storage container 31, and when the atomizing unit 30 is activated, water is supplied from the water supply device 33 to the water storage container 31. It was configured to automatically execute the operation of injecting (21) and overflowing from the opening weir 31d. However, as shown in FIG. 7 which is a side sectional view for demonstrating the structure of the atomizing unit of the drum type laundry dryer of the modification in the Example of this invention, in addition to this opening bank 31d, the water level of a pressure detection type etc. is shown. The sensor 37 may be provided in the bottom wall 31a of the water storage container 31 or the peripheral part thereof. And when the water level measured by the water level sensor 37 became less than predetermined water level (for example, 10 mm) from the bottom wall 31a of the water storage container 31, it will be carried out from the water supply apparatus 33 to the water storage container 31. The water 21 may be configured to be injected. As a result, when the atomizing unit 30 is activated, the water-repelling operation is executed only when the water level is excessively lowered without performing an operation of automatically watering the water storage container 31 from the water-feeding device 33, By maintaining the water level in the water storage container 31 above the predetermined water level, it is possible to prevent the ultrasonic vibrator 32 from easily deteriorating.

In the above embodiment of the present invention, an example in which water 21 is used as a mist generating source in the atomization unit 30 has been described. However, depending on the application, an Ag ion electrolyte solution, a detergent solution, a deodorant solution, a bacteria removal solution, and the like are The effect corresponding to each liquid agent (mist generation source) can be acquired.

1 is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the structure of a drum type laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view seen from the rear side of the housing for explaining the arrangement of the circulation air flow path and the atomization unit of the drum laundry dryer; FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cutaway view of a part seen from the back side of the housing for explaining the structure of the circulation blowing path and the atomizing unit of the drum type laundry dryer;

Figure 4 is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the connection structure of the atomizing unit and the water tank of the drum washing machine;

Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the structure of the atomizing unit of the drum laundry dryer;

6 is a rear cross-sectional view for explaining the structure of the atomizing unit of the drum laundry dryer;

7 is a side cross-sectional view for explaining the structure of the atomizing unit of the drum type laundry dryer according to the modification of the embodiment of the present invention;

8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a structure of a laundry dryer having a conventional atomization unit;

9 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the structure of the clothes dryer having the atomization unit.

Claims (4)

A permeation hole is formed, and a rotating drum for storing and driving the laundry is provided in the tank, and the washing, rinsing, and dehydration are performed by controlling water supply, drainage, and rotation of the rotating drum. In the drum-type laundry dryer for performing the drying step of the laundry by circulating the air in the tank by a blower through a circulation blower path having a dehumidifier and a heating device, The atomization unit which generates mist is located in the upper position close to the tuyere which sends dry air from the said circulation blow path to the said tank, The atomizing unit is directly connected to the circulation ventilation path via a connection port located above the trench, and sends the mist from the connection port to the circulation ventilation path, and drops the mist into the water tank through the ventilation port. Thereby, the mist mainly composed of a wet mist having a particle diameter of 10 µm to 50 µm is introduced into the rotating drum. Drum laundry dryer. The method of claim 1, At the time of introduction of the mist into the rotary drum, the blowing amount of the air flow in the circulation blowing path is set to 0.05 m 3 / min to 1.00 m 3 / min. Drum laundry dryer. The method of claim 1, The atomizing unit is provided with a stop in the vicinity of the connection port, the stop value is characterized in that for branching the air flow in the circulation ventilation path, and introduced into the atomization unit from the upper portion of the connection port Drum laundry dryer. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, When the mist is introduced into the rotating drum, the rotating drum is rotated at a rotational speed of 15 rpm to 80 rpm. Drum laundry dryer.

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