JP2005034224A - Washing and drying machine, and drying method for washing and drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problems that the end predicted time of a time-consuming drying operation can not be recognized until the drying operation is started and is substantially changed later, or the like, and a user is made to feel uneasy and irritated, or the like, since the weight of objects to be dried is obtained from rotary blade inertia rotation by a small number of times of rotary blade intermittent operations during drying in a conventional washing and drying machine. <P>SOLUTION: The washing and drying machine is provided with a controller for intermittently rotating dehydrated laundry for two or more times by a rotary blade before drying, counting the pulse output of a rotation sensor for the attenuation of the rotary blade inertia rotation at each rotation interruption and computing the weight of the objects to be dried, and a drying time prediction means for computing the time required for drying from the weight of the objects to be dried calculated by statistically processing the pulse output for two or more times and predicting end time. Thus, highly accurate information is reported when needed and the washing and drying machine is convenient and excellently handleable for the user. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
この発明は，洗濯乾燥機に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来の洗濯乾燥機は，乾燥運転中に回転翼の慣性回転パルス数を計測、例えば回転翼を６回反転させその時の１２回分の慣性パルス数を測定する。このパルス数の中心値から負荷量を算出して乾燥運転時間を設定する。この衣類の量の検出動作を５回以下繰り返して時間の修正を加え表示する。（例えば，特許文献１参照）又、濡れた衣類の重量検出に回転翼を数回断続運転し，回転翼惰性回転の角速度から今回と前回の差分、即ち減衰時間の長さから被乾燥物の重量を求め，乾燥に要する温風量を制御していた。（例えば，特許文献２参照）又洗濯乾燥前に衣類を内包したドラムを回転させ、駆動電動機の入力から洗濯物の重量を計測し、乾燥中同様に重量を検出しながら初期値に到達する時を乾燥工程予測しながら表示していた。（例えば，特許文献３参照）
【０００３】
【特許文献１】
特開２００１−２７６４６６号公報（請求項１、００２４欄、図３他）
【特許文献２】
特開平１１−１２８５９５号公報（００１７欄、００３７欄他）
【特許文献３】
特開平１１−１４６９９９号公報（０００８欄、００１９欄、００２０欄他）
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
従来の洗濯乾燥機は、被乾燥物の重量を乾燥中の少ない回数の回転翼断続運転による回転翼惰性回転から求めていたため，時間がかかる乾燥運転の終了予測時間が乾燥運転に入らないとわからないし、又後から大幅に変更されるなど使用者に不安感やいらいら感を与えるなどの問題があった。又、断続運転の回数が少なく計測データにばらつきが大きいこと、電源変動や周囲温度などの環境要因の影響などから、被乾燥物の重量を精度よく求められないことがあり，終了予測時間を正確に判定できないという問題点があった。
【０００５】
この発明は、上記のような課題を解決するためになされたもので、必要な時に精度の高い情報を伝えることが出来、使用者に便利で使い勝手の良い洗濯乾燥機を提供することを目的とする。又本発明は、乾燥終了時間を的確に予測することができる洗濯乾燥機を得るものである。又本発明は、乾燥運転終了時には確実に乾燥され使用者に安心感を与える洗濯乾燥機を提供することを目的とする。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
この発明に係る洗濯乾燥機は、被洗濯物を回転させる回転翼が内部に設けられ、回転翼の回転とは異なる回転により被洗濯物の脱水が可能で、内部に送風機により温風を吹き込み被洗濯物を乾燥させる乾燥運転を行う脱水槽と、回転翼近傍もしくは回転翼を駆動する駆動装置に設けられ回転翼の回転を計数するパルス出力を発生する回転センサと、脱水を終了した被洗濯物を乾燥前に回転翼で断続回転させ、回転断毎の回転翼惰性回転の減衰を回転センサのパルス出力で計数して被乾燥物の重量を演算する制御装置と、複数回のパルス出力を統計処理し算出された被乾燥物の重量から乾燥に要する時間を演算し、終了時間を予測する乾燥時間予測手段と、を備えたものである。
【０００７】
この発明に係る洗濯乾燥機の乾燥方法は、脱水を終了した被洗濯物を乾燥させる前に洗濯乾燥機にて断続回転を行い、この回転断毎のパルス出力を統計処理し演算された被乾燥物の重量から乾燥に要する時間を演算し乾燥終了予測時間とするステップと、乾燥途中にて乾燥予測終了時間に関連する所定時間以降に達したかどうかを判断する時間判断ステップと、乾燥途中にて被乾燥物が乾燥したかどうかの乾燥を判断するステップと、とを備え、乾燥を判断して乾燥運転を停止させる際に所定時間以降の場合に乾燥運転を停止させるものである。
【０００８】
この発明に係る洗濯乾燥機の乾燥方法は、脱水を終了した被洗濯物を乾燥させる前に洗濯乾燥機にて複数回の断続回転を行い、この回転断毎に計数されるパルス数を統計処理し演算された被乾燥物の重量を演算するステップと、乾燥途中に被洗濯物を収納する脱水槽に設けた回転翼の断続回転を行い、この回転断後に計数されたパルス数と乾燥終了予測時間を演算する際に計数されたパルス数の差分から被乾燥物の乾燥度を演算するステップと、被乾燥物の演算された重量及び演算された乾燥度から乾燥に要する時間を演算し乾燥終了予測時間とするステップと、とを備えたものである。
【０００９】
【発明の実施の形態】
実施の形態１．
図１はこの発明の実施の形態における洗濯乾燥機の断面図を示すものである。図１において，受水槽１の内底部には回転自在に軸支された洗濯兼脱水槽２が設けられ，この洗濯兼脱水槽２の内底部には洗濯物（図示せず）と洗濯液（図示せず）を攪拌する回転翼３が回転自在に軸支される。受水槽１の下部には前記洗濯兼脱水槽２と回転翼３を回転駆動する駆動装置４が設けられ，駆動装置４には回転翼３の回転を検出する回転センサ５が設けられる。洗濯兼脱水槽の上部にはヒータユニット６ａと送風装置６ｂからなる加熱装置６が設けられている。駆動装置４や加熱装置６を駆動する制御装置７が外箱８に設けられ，制御装置７は，制御プログラムを格納したマイコン（図示せず）によって駆動装置の電源をＯＮ／ＯＦＦする制御素子（図示せず）等で構成される。
【００１０】
駆動装置４はモーター４ａと変速装置４ｂで構成されモーターの回転を変速装置で洗濯、脱水、乾燥に利用する。モーターが駆動して変速装置が直接回転させる回転翼３の回転に対応したパルスを、変速装置の内部にある回転センサ５が発生する。回転センサは例えば回転翼と連動して回転する円盤の周囲に磁石を複数個設け、ホール素子或いはリードスイッチで磁石を検知し、この検知に対応したパルスを発生させる。複数のスリットを設けた円盤とフォトセンサの組合せ等でも良い。パルス数は精度良く測定できる様に例えば１２０パルス／回転翼１回転程度のものとする。
【００１１】
なお外箱８上部には受水槽１や洗濯兼脱水槽２を洗濯物など投入後に閉める蓋があり、更に手前角部には操作パネルが設けられ、制御装置７との間で信号の送信受信を行っている。制御装置７では、回転断毎の回転翼惰性回転の減衰を回転センサのパルス出力を計数して被乾燥物の重量を演算するとともに、複数回のパルス出力を統計処理し算出された被乾燥物の重量から乾燥に要する時間を演算し、終了時間を予測する乾燥時間予測手段、乾燥開始前に計数された回転翼の回転断後のパルス数と乾燥途中に計数された回転翼の回転断後のパルス数の差分から演算する乾燥度演算手段、乾燥途中に演算される被乾燥物の乾燥度、及び、乾燥途中の複数の断続回転の回転断毎に計数される今回と前回のパルス数差分、及び、乾燥を行う温風温度の乾燥前との変化幅、の少なくともいずれかにより乾燥運転の停止を判断する停止判断手段等が設けられ、この予測された時間、乾燥度、停止条件に達したことなどの信号が操作パネルへ送信されて、このパネル上にて必要に応じて表示される。
【００１２】
次に動作について説明する。図１の洗濯乾燥機を洗濯と乾燥を一貫して行うおよその手順の例を工程を分けて説明する。第１に洗濯物である衣類などを洗濯兼脱水槽２に投入し乾いた衣類の重量を回転翼３を回転させて回転センサのパルス出力で測定し、衣類の重量に応じた給水量、洗濯時間、使用者が投入すべき洗剤量などを決定し操作パネルに表示する。第２に給水・洗濯を決められた予定、すなわちあらかじめ操作パネルを設定したり計測した結果から判断した予定で行う。第３に洗い運転を制御装置７に設けたタイマーなどの時間経過に基づき所定時間行った後、排水弁を開き排水を行う。第４に給水して濯ぎ運転を洗い運転と同様に所定時間行う。第５に濯ぎ運転の後予定の手順で排水する。第６に効率的に濯ぎ運転を行うために中間脱水運転を行う。第７に設定に応じて第４−第６工程を繰り返す。第８に最後の濯ぎ運転後洗濯兼脱水槽２を回転させて水を吸収した洗濯物から遠心力により水を脱水させる脱水運転を行う。中間脱水運転と脱水運転の違いは、脱水運転では洗濯兼脱水槽２の回転速度がやや高く、運転時間の長さが長いことである。以上が洗濯及び脱水の工程である。
【００１３】
第９の脱水運転で洗濯兼脱水槽２を回転させるので洗濯兼脱水槽２の内周壁面に貼りついた衣類を撹拌翼を洗濯時より大きく回転させて掻き落とす。第１０に回転翼を複数回断続回転させ、回転センサのパルスで脱水後の濡れた衣類の重量を測定し、同時に惰性回転のパルスの基準値を測定して、乾燥終了時間を予測する。なお洗濯と乾燥を一貫して連続して行う場合は、洗濯前の乾いた衣類の状態で上記第１の工程で衣類の重量に応じて予測された乾燥終了時間をそのまま操作パネルに表示しても良い。あるいは洗濯乾燥一貫運転であろうと分離運転であろうと、この第１０工程で計測した濡れた衣類の重量から乾燥終了時間を予測して表示してもかまわない。第１１に制御装置のマイコンに記憶された撹拌乾燥モードによる乾燥運転を開始する。同時に撹拌回転を利用してパルスを測定する。このパルスと基準パルスとの差分を求める。差分値から乾燥度を推測する。第１２に乾燥度と衣類の重量から水分量を求め乾燥終了時間を予測する。第１３に槽回転モードによる乾燥運転を所定時間行う。第１４に第１２と第１３工程を繰り返す。第１５にパルスの差分値が所定値以下になったら乾燥終了と判定する。第１６に乾燥運転を終了し全ての運転が停止する。
【００１４】
以上の洗濯乾燥一貫運転の途中、第８工程までの洗濯脱水までで、一旦中断して連続させない場合がある。例えば、洗濯が終わった後、熱を加えたくないなどで乾燥させない衣類を取り出し残りの衣類を乾燥させる場合や、外に干した洗濯物を雨で取りこんだり急用などでまだ乾いていない衣類を乾燥させる場合などである。又天候によっては洗濯脱水まで終わらせこの報知音を聞いてから日が出てきたからと外で干すか、あるいは、雨が降りそうと言うことで乾燥機をスタートさせるなどの選択を行う場合がある。このような時乾燥運転をスタートさせる場合は上記の第９工程より開始し、濡れた衣類の重量を計測して乾燥終了時間を予測する。
【００１５】
なお運転毎の回転翼の回転角度はつぎのとおりである。先ず洗濯時の回転角度は洗濯物の量により変化するが例えば１−２回転程度で、第８工程の掻き落とし時の回転角度よりは小さく、乾燥時の回転角度よりは大きい。第１０、１１工程時の断続運転時には、モーターをＯＮしおよそ１／２程度の所定回転角度を回転したらモーターをＯＦＦし、例えば２秒程度の惰性回転時のパルス数を計数する。乾燥運転時に回転角度を最も小さくするのは洗濯物同士が絡んでしまうことを防止しながら、かつ洗濯兼脱水槽２内の洗濯物に万遍なく温風があたる様に、入れ替えが行われる適正な角度を選択している。また、洗濯兼脱水槽２の回転は脱水時のみならず、乾燥時に衣類を分離させたりする際にもその回転の速度を小さくして行われる。
【００１６】
このように構成された洗濯乾燥機の脱水工程終了後において，即ち第９工程にて回転翼３を通常の洗濯工程の回転角度より大きく複数回往復回転させ，脱水槽２の周壁面に張り付いた洗濯物をかき落とす。次に，回転翼３を通常の洗濯工程の回転角度より小な角度で断続運転させ，駆動装置４をＯＦＦした後の回転翼３の惰性回転の減衰を回転センサ６のパルス出力として制御装置８のマイコンで計数する。図２は，回転翼３の断続運転と惰性回転の減衰を回転センサ６のパルス出力としてマイコンで計数する状態を示す説明図である。図の様に駆動装置ＯＦＦ後のパルス数を計数するもので負荷量大、即ち濡れた衣類が多い場合はパルス数の減衰が大きく、急速にパルス数は減衰し、パルス数は少ない。負荷量が小さければパルス数の減衰は小さくパルス数が多くなる。これにより負荷である濡れた衣類の重量などが求められる。
【００１７】
脱水槽２の内底部に溜まった洗濯物は一般に偏在しているため，回転翼３の惰性回転の減衰にもばらつきが生じる。図８のばらつきのレベルが示すように回転翼３の断続運転回数は，例えば１０回程度行い平均化処理を行えば，数回行った結果よりばらつきを１／３以下に小さくできることが分かっている。そこで，制御装置８のマイコンで計数したパルス数を平均化処理し，マイコンのメモリに記憶する。図８は断続運転回数とばらつきの大きさ、すなわち推定した重量と真の値からのばらつき量を示した結果を示す図である。この図８が示す様に、例えば濡れた衣類の重量が４ｋｇあるとばらつき２０パーセントで±８００ｇだけ間違える可能性がある。３回程度或いはこれより多くとも５、６回程度の断続運転回数でその都度パルス数を計数したとしても重量予測値の十数％のばらつきを含むことになる。これでは予測時間が的確であるとはとても言えないばらつきであり、せめてこのばらつきを１０％以下程度に押さえる場合は８回を超える断続運転回数が必要である。但し、１０回以上行ったとしてもこのばらつきを更に小さくすることはほとんど出来ない。これは、洗濯物の動き、布の種類による洗濯物の偏りや残留水分の影響、温度などの機構への影響、電源変動など多くの影響が考えられ、９回、１０回程度が望ましく、もし１２％まで許容するなら８回程度断続運転回数を行うと良い。このように断続運転回数を増やすことで乾燥運転開始前の重量を精度良く予測でき、このデータを基にすれば水分量や乾燥終了までの時間も精度がよくなる。又平均化処理以外の統計処理、例えば最大値と最小値を除いた偏差を求めるなど他の方法でも良いことは当然である。
【００１８】
図３は，パルス計数値と濡れた洗濯物（衣類＋水分）の重量の関係を示すグラフの説明図である。図の縦軸がｙ、横軸がｘで、相関係数はピアソンの積率相関係数Ｒを使用し、２組のデータ間での線形相関の程度を−１から１の範囲の数値で示している。この結果、パルス計数値と洗濯物の重量の相関係数は，Ｒ^２＝０．９８と高い。脱水後の洗濯物の衣類に対する水分の重量比は，実用衣類においておよそ６５％であることが分かっているので，洗濯物の重量から水分量が重量＊０．６５で推測算出できる。また，洗濯乾燥機の乾燥速度、すなわち水分の蒸発速度と等価で、単位はｇ／ｍｉｎ、も洗濯物の重量毎に予め分かっている。このあらかじめマイコンに記憶させた乾燥速度を使用すれば、乾燥に要する時間Ｔは，洗濯物の重量をＷ，乾燥速度をＳとすると，Ｔ＝Ｗ／Ｓで演算される。
【００１９】
以上のように，脱水工程終了後に回転翼の惰性回転のパルスを計数し，パルス数から洗濯物の重量と水分量を算出でき，更に水分量と乾燥速度から乾燥に要する時間を演算できるようにしているので，乾燥終了時間を的確に予測することができる。
【００２０】
以上の説明では，脱水工程終了後に洗濯物の重量と水分量を算出し，乾燥終了時間を予測するようにしたものであるが，次に乾燥運転中においても回転翼の惰性回転のパルスを計数し，パルス数から洗濯物の乾燥度を算出し，すなわちあらかじめマイコンに記憶された乾燥速度を使用せずにパルス係数により乾燥終了時間を的確に予測することも可能である。乾燥運転中にも回転翼３を運転して攪拌動作を行うが、これは乾燥中の衣類に万遍なく温風を当てることが目的であり、この断続運転を連続して行う攪拌動作を利用してパルスを計測し乾燥運転の終了時間を予測しようと言うものである。基本的な構成は図１と同様である。
【００２１】
次に動作について説明する。脱水工程終了後のかき落とし，洗濯物の重量と水分量の算出ならびに乾燥終了予測は，上述の説明と同様であるので省略する。次に，乾燥運転工程について説明する。回転翼３を断続運転し洗濯物である被乾燥物を攪拌させながら，加熱装置６を運転し洗濯物に温風を吹きつけることにより，衣類に含まれている水分を蒸発させ，乾燥させる。また，攪拌により衣類は引き込まれ上方の衣類が下方に移動し、同時に押し出された衣類は上方に移動して、衣類は上下にも移動することになり，万遍なく衣類に温風を当てることができる。乾燥運転において，この回転翼３を断続運転させる最中，駆動装置４のＯＦＦ後、回転翼３の惰性回転の減衰を回転センサ６のパルス出力として制御装置７のマイコンで計数する。脱水槽２の内底部に溜まった洗濯物は一般に偏在しているため，回転翼３の惰性回転の減衰にもばらつきが生じる。パルスの計数値は，例えばブロック平均あるいは移動平均などの平均化処理を行い，ばらつきを除去する。
【００２２】
次に，この平均化処理したパルス数とメモリに記憶された脱水工程終了後のパルス数との差分を求める（以下，パルス差分値と表記する）。図４は，乾燥工程における洗濯物の乾燥度とパルス差分値の関係を表したグラフを示す説明図で縦軸の計数したパルス数の差分値を演算すれば横軸の乾燥度が読み取れる。乾燥度は洗濯物に含まれる水分と洗濯物との関係を表したもので、乾いた洗濯物の重量を水分を含む洗濯物の重量で除したものといえる。図４は実験結果より求めたデータを示す説明図であるが、洗濯物の量の大小、すなわち重量の違いに関わらず，基準パルス数に対する計測時のパルス数のパルス差分値が分かれば計測したときの平均値としての乾燥度が求められる。乾いた洗濯物の重量は既知である。乾いた洗濯物の重量と今求めた乾燥度から，今現在の洗濯物に含まれる水分量がリアルタイムに算出できる。この水分量を基に，乾燥に要する時間Ｔは，洗濯物に含まれる水分量をＷ，乾燥速度をＳとすると，Ｔ＝Ｗ／Ｓで演算される。この乾燥時間Ｔを用いて乾燥終了時間を修正し，乾燥終了を的確に予測できる。
【００２３】
次に，衣類に含まれる水分が蒸発し，乾燥が乾燥終了に近づくとパルス差分値の変化が徐々に小さくなり，乾燥が終了するとこの差分値は一定のばらつき範囲内の値となる。この一定の範囲内の値となったことを検出して，乾燥が終了したことを判定できる。乾燥終了を判定した後，回転翼３や加熱装置６等の運転を停止する。差分値の変化が小さくなると言うことはパルス数の絶対値そのものがほぼ一定値に収束すると言うことで、洗濯物の重量の変化が小さくなりほぼ乾燥が終了したことになる。乾燥運転中のパルス数を計測し乾燥運転開始前に測定したパルス数である基準値との差分値を求めることにより計測している現在の乾燥度が図４のように得られる。図４における乾燥度６０パーセントは一般に知られている脱水後の乾燥度である。洗濯物の重量と乾燥度が分かると乾燥度１００パーセントまでどのくらいの時間が必要かが容易に予測できる。
【００２４】
以上のように，乾燥工程中に回転翼の惰性回転のパルスを計数し，このパルス数と脱水工程終了後のパルス数のとの差分を求め，パルス差分値から洗濯物の乾燥度を算出でき，洗濯物の重量と乾燥度から今現在の洗濯物に含まれる水分量を求め，乾燥速度から乾燥に要する時間を演算できるようにし，この最新の乾燥終了時間を修正することにより，乾燥終了時間を的確に予測することができると同時に，パルス差分値の変化が小さくなったことを検出することにより，乾燥終了を判定できる。
【００２５】
以上の説明では，乾燥工程中の回転翼のパルス差分値から乾燥度を求め，乾燥終了を予測し修正すると同時に，パルス差分値の変化が小さくなったことを検出することにより，乾燥終了を判定できるものであるが，次に洗濯開始時に回転翼の惰性回転のパルスを計数し，パルス数から洗濯物の量を求め，乾燥運転中の回転翼の惰性回転のパルスを計数し，パルス数から洗濯物の乾燥度を算出し，乾燥終了を的確に予測する考えを示す。基本的な構成は図１と同様である。この場合洗濯から乾燥まで一貫して運転されることが前提で、洗濯から開始した場合、図５のように乾いた洗濯物の重量を先ず計測し、必要な給水量を決定し、洗濯時間などを予測してパネルに表示し運転を開始する。このとき洗濯物の重量測定とともに給水量や投入すべき洗剤量、洗濯時の攪拌翼回転角度、洗濯時間など各パラメータも一緒に制御装置により決められることが多い。洗濯と乾燥を一貫して運転する場合、乾いた洗濯物の重量を直接測定するので精度がよく、乾燥終了時間予測も精度良く行える。ただし乾燥度を求めて乾燥運転終了を判断するためには図５のデータだけでなく乾燥運転開始に先立つ基準パルス数を求める運転も必要である。
【００２６】
次に動作について説明する。洗濯物が投入され運転が開始されると，給水前に回転翼３を通常の洗濯工程の回転角度より小な角度で断続運転させ，駆動装置４をＯＦＦした後の回転翼３の惰性回転の減衰を回転センサ６のパルス出力として制御装置８のマイコンで計数する。この断続運転を複数回行い，パルスの計数値を平均化処理する。図５は，図３と同様な説明図で、乾いた洗濯物の重量とパルス計数値との関係を表した説明図である。図５から，パルス計数値から乾いた状態の洗濯物の重量が的確に算出できることが分かる。このようにして算出した洗濯物の重量を制御装置８のマイコンのメモリに記憶する。乾いた状態の衣類であり、洗濯物の偏りなども少なく上述の断続運転の回数は濡れた衣類のときの断続運転回数よりもはるかに少なくて済む。
【００２７】
衣類がぬれていないような場合は偏芯によるばらつきが小さく９回や１０回と言う多くの断続運転は必要とせず数回でよい。洗濯物の重量に応じて必要な水量を決定し，適正な洗剤量等を操作パネルに表示し，給水して洗い工程を実行する。洗い工程が終了した後すすぎ工程，脱水工程を実行する。
【００２８】
脱水工程以降の動作は，洗濯物の重量として洗濯運転開始時に算出した値を使用すること以外は，上述と同様であるので詳細な動作は省略する。
【００２９】
以上のように，洗濯開始時に回転翼の惰性回転のパルスを計数し，乾いた状態の洗濯物の重量を的確に算出し，以後この重量を洗濯物の重量として用い，乾燥工程中に回転翼の惰性回転のパルスを計数し，このパルス数と脱水工程終了後のパルス数のとの差分を求め，パルス差分値から洗濯物の乾燥度を算出でき，洗濯物の重量と乾燥度から今現在の洗濯物に含まれる水分量を求め，乾燥速度から乾燥に要する時間を演算できるようにし，この最新の乾燥終了時間を修正することにより，乾燥終了時間を的確に予測することができると同時に，パルス差分値の変化が小さくなったことを検出することにより，乾燥終了を判定できる。なお脱水後のパルス数基準値計測方法と乾燥工程中の回転翼のパルス数計測方法は例えば回転翼の回転角度を合わせるなど同一にすることで差分値を得る計測精度を上げている。
【００３０】
また，脱水後のパルス数基準値と乾燥工程中の回転翼のパルス差分値から乾燥度を求め，乾燥終了を予測し修正すると同時に，パルス差分値の変化が小さくなったことを検出することにより，乾燥終了を判定するものは既に説明したが，次に乾燥度から乾燥終了を判定する考えを示す。基本的な構成は図１と同様であるので省略する。
【００３１】
次に，動作について説明する。脱水工程終了後のかき落とし，洗濯物の重量と水分量の算出ならびに乾燥工程の動作、乾燥終了予測の動作、方法は，先の説明と同様であるので詳細な説明は省略する。乾燥が進行し衣類に含まれる水分が蒸発し，乾燥工程が乾燥終了に近づくと初期値基準値と比較するパルス数は所定値に近づき，乾燥が終了すると所定値に収束する。この所定値に差分値が収束したことを検出することにより，乾燥終了を判定できる。
【００３２】
以上のように，乾燥工程中にパルス差分値を求め，パルス差分値から洗濯物の乾燥度を算出し，乾燥速度から乾燥終了時間を的確に予測すると同時に，パルス差分値が所定値に収束したことを検出することにより，乾燥終了を的確に判定できる。
【００３３】
図６はこの発明の別の洗濯乾燥機の断面図を示すものである。この図６が，図１と異なるのは，加熱装置６の吸気口付近に室内の温度を検出する吸気温度センサ９を設け，受水槽１の上部近傍に洗濯物からの排気温度を検出する排気温度センサ１０を具備している点である。その他の構成については図１と同一又は同等であるので，同一又は同等な構成部分については同一符号を付し、その説明は省略する。
【００３４】
次に，図６の動作について説明する。脱水工程終了後のかき落とし，洗濯物の重量と水分量の算出ならびに乾燥終了予測の動作は，前の説明と同様であるので詳細な説明は省略する。また乾燥工程の動作および乾燥終了予測の方法も同様であるので詳細な説明は省略する。
【００３５】
図７は，乾燥工程における吸気温度センサ９ならびに排気温度センサ１０の出力と洗濯物の乾燥度との関係をプロットしたグラフの説明図である。一般に洗濯乾燥機は洗面脱衣所に設置されることから，洗濯乾燥機からの排気熱により洗面脱衣所の室内温度は，徐々に上昇する。図７の吸気温度センサ９の出力もそれを示している。一方，排気温度センサ１０の出力は，乾燥運転直後は徐々に温度が上昇する予熱期の後，入力したエネルギの大部分が水分の蒸発に伴う気化潜熱で奪われ，吸気温度上昇に伴う緩やかな上昇傾向を示す恒率乾燥期に移行する。更に乾燥工程が進行し乾燥終了に近づくと，水分の蒸発に伴う気化潜熱が小さくなるため排気温度センサ１０の出力は上昇する。乾燥度が１００％に達し乾燥が終了すると，排気温度センサ１０の出力は急激に上昇する。この排気温度センサ１０と吸気温度センサの９との差を求め，この値が所定値に達した時点を検出することで乾燥終了を的確に判定することができる。
【００３６】
吸気センサ９の温度は，排気熱により徐々に上昇し，その上昇の程度は洗濯乾燥機の置かれた洗面脱衣所の部屋の大きさに影響し，狭い部屋では上昇が大きく，広い部屋では緩やかであとなる。排気温度センサ１０は，この吸気温度の上昇の影響を受ける。そこで，排気温度センサ１０と吸気温度センサ９との温度差を求めることで，置かれた室内の広さによる影響を排除でき，的確に終了を判定できる。
【００３７】
しかしながら，洗面脱衣所の窓を開けられ室内の温度が急激に低下するなどの外乱があった場合，排気温度センサ１０と吸気温度センサ９との温度差では，外乱により温度差が発生したのか，乾燥終了によって温度差が発生したか区別がつかない。吸気温度センサ９の急激な温度低下から外乱が発生したことは分かるが，その後の終了を温度差から判定することは，外乱後の安定した温度上昇を求めることが困難で，アルゴリズムが複雑になり過ぎて実用的ではない。
【００３８】
そこで，乾燥工程中におけるパルス差分値から算出した終了予測時間より以前に，排気温度センサ１０と吸気温度センサ９との温度差から検出した値によって終了を判定した場合，何らかの外乱が発生したものと判断し，これ以降の終了の判定は，パルス差分値による判定に移行する。パルス差分値が分かれば乾燥度が求められる。洗濯物の重量は既知である。洗濯物の重量と今求めた乾燥度から，今現在の洗濯物に含まれる水分量がリアルタイムに算出できる。この水分量を基に，乾燥に要する時間Ｔは，洗濯物に含まれる水分量をＷ，乾燥速度をＳとすると，Ｔ＝Ｗ／Ｓで演算される。この乾燥時間Ｔを用いて乾燥終了時間を修正し，乾燥終了を的確に予測できる。なおここでは終了予測時間をより重要視する判断を示すが、これは乾燥工程途中でも水分量をリアルタイムに計測している例のためであり、脱水後に終了時間を予測するだけであれば、重量から求めた水分量を基にしたもので必ずしも予測どおりに乾燥するとは限らず、この終了時間の精度がラフなことを考慮し、例えば予測終了時間帯として設けた予測された終了時間±１０パーセントの範囲以降と終了判定を組み合わせても良い。すなわち終了予測時間帯以前であれば終了判定が出力されても無視され、終了予測時間帯に終了判定が行われれば運転は終了される。更に終了予測時間帯以降になっても終了判定が終了を表示していなければ運転は継続されるが、この旨がパネルに表示されるとともに、更に一定時間の乾燥運転を継続するか、停止するかの手動による選択が可能になるとともに、この一定時間が経過した後は自動的に停止する。
【００３９】
あるいは、終了判定の条件として，衣類に含まれる水分が蒸発し，乾燥が乾燥終了に近づくとパルス差分値の変化が徐々に小さくなり，乾燥が終了すると一定のばらつき範囲内の値となる。この一定の範囲内の値となったことを検出して，乾燥が終了したことを判定できる。乾燥終了を判定した後，回転翼３や加熱装置６等の運転を停止する。
【００４０】
以上のように，乾燥工程中にパルス差分値を求め，パルス差分値から洗濯物の乾燥度を算出し，乾燥速度から乾燥終了時間を的確に予測すると同時に，温度センサにより乾燥終了時の急激な温度上昇を検出して乾燥終了を的確に判定するとともに，パルス差分からの終了予測時間より以前に温度センサによる終了を判定した場合，外乱があったと判断し，それ以降パルス差分値に終了判定を移行する。パルス差分値の変化が一定の範囲以内になったこと検出することにより，乾燥終了を的確に判定できる。
【００４１】
以上のように、本発明に係る洗濯乾燥機は、脱水工程終了後に回転翼の惰性回転のパルスを計数し，パルス数から洗濯物の重量と水分量を算出でき，更に水分量と乾燥速度から乾燥に要する時間を演算できるようにしているので，乾燥終了時間を的確に予測することができる。
【００４２】
本発明の洗濯乾燥機は以下のように構成されているので、脱水運転終了後に乾燥終了時間を的確に予測することができる洗濯乾燥機を得るものである。
▲１▼受水槽，脱水槽，回転翼，駆動装置，回転センサ，ヒータユニット，送風装置，制御装置から構成された洗濯乾燥機。
▲２▼脱水工程終了後に回転翼を断続運転。
▲３▼運転断後の回転翼惰性回転の減衰を駆動装置に設けた回転センサのパルス出力を計数する。
▲４▼十分な回数断続運転し平均化処理することにより被乾燥物の重量を算出する。
▲５▼被乾燥物の重量から乾燥に要する時間を演算し，終了時間を予測する。
【００４３】
本発明の洗濯乾燥機は以下のように構成されているので、乾燥運転中に乾燥に要する時間を演算し，乾燥終了時間を逐次予測し，更新された的確な乾燥終了時間を表示できる洗濯乾燥機を得るものである。
▲１▼受水槽，脱水槽，回転翼，駆動装置，回転センサ，ヒータユニット，送風装置，制御装置から構成された洗濯乾燥機。
▲２▼脱水工程終了後に回転翼を断続運転。
▲３▼運転断後の回転翼惰性回転の減衰を駆動装置に設けた回転センサのパルス出力を計数する。
▲４▼十分な回数断続運転し平均化処理したパルス数を基準パルス数とする。
▲５▼基準パルス数から被乾燥物の重量を算出する。
▲６▼乾燥運転中に前記平均化処理したパルス数を計数する。
▲７▼乾燥運転中のパルス数と基準パルス数との差分から乾燥度を算出する。
▲８▼乾燥度と被乾燥物の重量から乾燥に要する時間を演算し，終了時間を逐次予測する。
▲９▼パルス数の変化が所定値以下になったら乾燥終了と判定する。
【００４４】
又本発明は以下の構成により、洗濯開始時の洗濯物の重量を用い，乾燥運転中に乾燥に要する時間を演算し，乾燥終了時間を逐次予測し，更新された精度の高いより的確な乾燥終了時間を表示できる洗濯乾燥機を得るものである。
▲１▼受水槽，脱水槽，回転翼，駆動装置，回転センサ，ヒータユニット，送風装置，制御装置から構成された洗濯乾燥機。
▲２▼洗濯開始時に回転翼を断続運転し，運転断後の回転翼惰性回転の減衰を駆動装置に設けた回転センサのパルス出力を計数する。
▲３▼十分な回数断続運転し平均化処理したパルス数から洗濯物の重量を算出する。
▲４▼脱水工程終了後に回転翼を断続運転し，運転断後の回転翼惰性回転の減衰を駆動装置に設けた回転センサのパルス出力を計数する。
▲５▼十分な回数断続運転し平均化処理したパルス数を基準パルス数とする。
▲６▼乾燥運転中においても前記平均化処理したパルス数を計数する。
▲７▼乾燥運転中のパルス数と基準パルス数との差分から乾燥度を算出する。
▲８▼乾燥度と洗濯物の重量とから乾燥に要する時間を演算し，終了時間を逐次予測する。
▲９▼パルス数の変化が所定値以下になったら乾燥終了と判定する。
【００４５】
又本発明は以下の構成により、乾燥運転中に被乾燥物の乾燥度を逐次算出し，乾燥度が１００％に達したら乾燥を終了する。
▲１▼受水槽，脱水槽，回転翼，駆動装置，回転センサ，ヒータユニット，送風装置，制御装置から構成された洗濯乾燥機。
▲２▼脱水工程終了後に回転翼を断続運転し，運転断後の回転翼惰性回転の減衰を駆動装置に設けた回転センサのパルス出力を計数する。
▲３▼十分な回数断続運転し平均化処理したパルス数を基準パルス数とするとともに被乾燥物の重量を算出する。
▲４▼乾燥運転中においても前記平均化処理したパルス数を計数する。
▲５▼乾燥運転中のパルス数と基準パルス数との差分から乾燥度を逐次算出し，乾燥度が１００％に達した時点を乾燥終了とする。
【００４６】
又本発明は以下の構成により、乾燥運転中に乾燥に要する時間を演算し，乾燥終了時間を逐次予測し，温度情報に基づいて乾燥終了を判定するとともに，外乱による誤終了判定を予測時間から防止できる洗濯乾燥機を得るものである。
▲１▼受水槽，脱水槽，回転翼，駆動装置，回転センサ，ヒータユニット，送風装置，温度センサ，制御装置から構成された洗濯乾燥機。
▲２▼脱水工程終了後に回転翼を断続運転し，運転断後の回転翼惰性回転の減衰を駆動装置に設けた回転センサのパルス出力を計数する。
▲３▼十分な回数断続運転し平均化処理したパルス数を基準パルス数とするとともに被乾燥物の重量を算出する。
▲４▼乾燥運転中においても前記平均化処理したパルス数を計数する。
▲５▼乾燥運転中のパルス数と基準パルス数との差分から乾燥度を逐次算出する。
▲６▼乾燥度と被乾燥物の重量とから乾燥に要する時間を演算し，終了時間を逐次予測する。
▲７▼温度センサの検出温度が所定温度に達したら乾燥終了とする。
▲８▼パルスからの予測時間以前に所定温度に達したら外乱があったと判定し，乾燥運転を継続する。
▲９▼パルス数の変化が所定値以下になったら乾燥終了と判定する。
【００４７】
【発明の効果】
この発明に係る洗濯乾燥機は、被洗濯物を回転させる回転翼が内部に設けられ、回転翼の回転とは異なる回転により被洗濯物から脱水可能で、内部に送風機により温風を吹き込み被洗濯物を乾燥させる乾燥運転を行う脱水槽と、回転翼近傍もしくは回転翼を駆動する駆動装置に設けられ回転翼の回転を計数するパルス出力を発生する回転センサと、脱水を終了した被洗濯物を乾燥前に回転翼で断続回転させ、回転断毎の回転翼惰性回転の減衰を回転センサのパルス出力を計数して被乾燥物の重量を演算する制御装置と、複数回のパルス出力を統計処理し算出された被乾燥物の重量から乾燥に要する時間を演算し、終了時間を予測する乾燥時間予測手段と、を備えたので、必要な時に精度の高い情報を伝えることが出来、使用者に便利で使い勝手の良い洗濯乾燥機を得るものであり、乾燥終了時間を的確に予測することができる洗濯乾燥機を得るものである。
【００４８】
この発明に係る洗濯乾燥機の乾燥方法は、脱水を終了した被洗濯物を乾燥させる前に洗濯乾燥機にて断続回転を行い、この回転断毎のパルス出力を統計処理し演算された被乾燥物の重量から乾燥に要する時間を演算し乾燥終了予測時間とするステップと、乾燥途中にて乾燥予測終了時間に関連する所定時間以降に達したかどうかを判断する時間判断ステップと、乾燥途中にて被乾燥物が乾燥したかどうかの乾燥を判断するステップと、とを備え、乾燥を判断して乾燥運転を停止させる際に所定時間以降の場合に乾燥運転を停止させるので、乾燥終了時間を的確に予測することができ、乾燥運転終了時には確実に乾燥され使用者に安心感を与える洗濯乾燥機の乾燥方法を得るものである。
【００４９】
この発明に係る洗濯乾燥機の乾燥方法は、脱水を終了した被洗濯物を乾燥させる前に洗濯乾燥機にて複数回の断続回転を行い、この回転断毎に計数されるパルス数を統計処理し演算された被乾燥物の重量を演算するステップと、乾燥途中に被洗濯物を収納する脱水槽に設けた回転翼の断続回転を行い、この回転断後に計数されたパルス数と乾燥終了予測時間を演算する際に計数されたパルス数の差分から被乾燥物の乾燥度を演算するステップと、被乾燥物の演算された重量及び演算された乾燥度から乾燥に要する時間を演算し乾燥終了予測時間とするステップと、とを備えたので、乾燥終了時間を的確に予測することができる洗濯乾燥機の乾燥方法を得るものである。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】この発明の実施の形態を示す洗濯乾燥機の断面図である。
【図２】この発明の実施の形態を示す回転翼惰性回転と回転センサのパルス出力の状態を示す説明図である。
【図３】この発明の実施の形態を示すパルス計数値と濡れた洗濯物（衣類＋水分）の重量の関係を示す説明図である。
【図４】この発明の実施の形態を示す乾燥工程における洗濯物の乾燥度とパルス差分値の関係を示す説明図である。
【図５】この発明の実施の形態を示す乾いた洗濯物の重量とパルス計数値との関係を表した説明図である。
【図６】この発明の実施の形態を示す別の洗濯乾燥機の断面図である。
【図７】この発明の実施の形態を示す吸気温度センサ９と排気温度センサ１０の出力と洗濯物の乾燥度との関係をプロットした説明図である。
【図８】この発明の実施の形態を示す断続運転回数と重量予測値との関係を示す図である。
【符号の説明】
１ 受水槽、 ２ 洗濯兼脱水槽、 ３ 回転翼、 ４ 駆動装置、 ５ 回転センサ、 ６ 加熱装置、 ６ａ ヒータユニット、 ６ｂ 送風装置、 ７制御装置、 ８ 外箱、 ９ 吸気温度センサ、 １０ 排気温度センサ。[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a washing / drying machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The conventional washing dryer measures the number of inertial rotation pulses of the rotor blade during the drying operation. For example, the rotor blade is inverted six times, and the number of inertia pulses for 12 times at that time is measured. The load amount is calculated from the center value of the number of pulses, and the drying operation time is set. This clothing amount detection operation is repeated 5 times or less to correct the time and display. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1) In addition, the rotor blade is intermittently operated several times to detect the weight of wet clothing, and the difference between this time and the previous time from the angular velocity of the rotor blade inertia rotation, that is, the length of the decay time, The amount of warm air required for drying was controlled. (For example, see Patent Document 2) When the drum containing clothes is rotated before washing and drying, the weight of the laundry is measured from the input of the drive motor, and the initial value is reached while detecting the weight in the same manner as during drying. Was displayed while predicting the drying process. (For example, see Patent Document 3)
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-276466 (claim 1, column 0024, FIG. 3, etc.)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-11-128595 (columns 0017, 0037, etc.)
[Patent Document 3]
JP-A-11-146999 (columns 0008, 0019, 0020, etc.)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional washing and drying machine calculates the weight of the object to be dried from the rotating blade inertia rotation due to a small number of intermittent rotating blade operations during drying. However, there have been problems such as giving the user a sense of anxiety and frustration, such as a significant change later. In addition, the weight of the object to be dried may not be obtained accurately due to the fact that the number of intermittent operations is small and the measurement data varies widely, and due to the influence of environmental factors such as power fluctuations and ambient temperature. There was a problem that could not be judged.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has an object to provide a washing and drying machine that can convey highly accurate information when necessary, and is convenient and convenient for the user. To do. The present invention also provides a washing / drying machine that can accurately predict the drying completion time. It is another object of the present invention to provide a washing / drying machine that is surely dried at the end of the drying operation and gives the user a sense of security.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The washing / drying machine according to the present invention is provided with a rotary blade for rotating the laundry, and the laundry can be dehydrated by rotation different from the rotation of the rotary blade, and warm air is blown into the inside by a blower. A dehydration tank that performs a drying operation for drying the laundry, a rotation sensor that is provided in the vicinity of the rotor blades or in a drive device that drives the rotor blades and generates a pulse output that counts the rotation of the rotor blades, and the laundry that has been dehydrated Before drying, the rotating blade is rotated intermittently by the rotor blade, and the controller that calculates the weight of the object to be dried by counting the attenuation of the rotor blade inertia rotation at each rotation break by the pulse output of the rotation sensor, and the statistics of the pulse output of multiple times Drying time predicting means for calculating the time required for drying from the weight of the material to be dried that has been processed and calculated, and predicting the end time.
[0007]
The drying method of the laundry dryer according to the present invention performs intermittent rotation in the laundry dryer before drying the laundry that has been dehydrated, and statistically processes the pulse output for each rotation interruption and calculates the drying target. A step of calculating the time required for drying from the weight of the object to obtain a predicted drying end time, a time determining step for determining whether or not a predetermined time related to the predicted drying end time has been reached during the drying, and during the drying And a step of determining whether or not the object to be dried has been dried, and when the drying operation is stopped by stopping the drying operation after determining the drying.
[0008]
The drying method of the laundry dryer according to the present invention performs a plurality of intermittent rotations in the laundry dryer before drying the laundry that has been dehydrated, and statistically processes the number of pulses counted at each rotation interruption. The step of calculating the calculated weight of the object to be dried and the intermittent rotation of the rotary blade provided in the dewatering tank for storing the object to be washed in the middle of drying are performed. The step of calculating the dryness of the object to be dried from the difference in the number of pulses counted when calculating the time, the time required for drying is calculated from the calculated weight of the object to be dried and the calculated dryness, and the drying is completed. And a step of setting a prediction time.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a washing / drying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a washing and dewatering tub 2 rotatably supported is provided at the inner bottom of the water receiving tub 1, and a laundry (not shown) and a washing liquid (not shown) are provided at the inner bottom of the washing and dehydrating tub 2. A rotating blade 3 for agitating (not shown) is rotatably supported. A driving device 4 that rotationally drives the washing / dehydrating tub 2 and the rotating blade 3 is provided below the water receiving tank 1, and a rotation sensor 5 that detects the rotation of the rotating blade 3 is provided in the driving device 4. A heating device 6 including a heater unit 6a and a blower 6b is provided on the upper part of the washing and dewatering tub. A control device 7 for driving the drive device 4 and the heating device 6 is provided in the outer box 8, and the control device 7 is a control element (ON / OFF) for turning on / off the power of the drive device by a microcomputer (not shown) storing a control program. (Not shown).
[0010]
The driving device 4 includes a motor 4a and a transmission device 4b, and the rotation of the motor is used for washing, dehydration, and drying by the transmission device. A rotation sensor 5 inside the transmission generates a pulse corresponding to the rotation of the rotor 3 that is driven by the motor and directly rotated by the transmission. The rotation sensor, for example, is provided with a plurality of magnets around a disk that rotates in conjunction with a rotating blade, detects the magnet with a Hall element or a reed switch, and generates a pulse corresponding to this detection. A combination of a disk provided with a plurality of slits and a photosensor may be used. The number of pulses is, for example, about 120 pulses / rotor blade rotation so that it can be measured accurately.
[0011]
The upper box 8 has a lid for closing the water receiving tub 1 and the washing / dehydrating tub 2 after the laundry is put in, and an operation panel is provided at the front corner to transmit and receive signals to and from the control device 7. It is carried out. The control device 7 calculates the weight of the object to be dried by counting the pulse output of the rotation sensor, and calculating the weight of the object to be dried, and calculating the weight of the object to be dried at each rotation break, and calculating the object to be dried by statistically processing a plurality of pulse outputs. Drying time prediction means that calculates the time required for drying from the weight of the product and predicts the end time, the number of pulses after the rotation of the rotor blades counted before the start of drying and the rotation of the rotor blades counted during the drying The dryness calculation means for calculating from the difference in the number of pulses of the current, the dryness of the material to be dried calculated during the drying, and the difference between the current and the previous number of pulses counted for each rotation of a plurality of intermittent rotations during the drying And a stop judgment means for judging the stop of the drying operation based on at least one of the change width of the warm air temperature before drying and before the drying, and the predicted time, dryness, and stop conditions are reached. Signal such as Be sent to Le, it is displayed as required by this panel.
[0012]
Next, the operation will be described. An example of an approximate procedure for consistently washing and drying the washing and drying machine of FIG. 1 will be described by dividing the process. First, clothes such as laundry are put into the washing and dewatering tub 2 and the weight of the dried clothes is measured by rotating the rotating blades 3 with the pulse output of the rotation sensor. The time and the amount of detergent to be added by the user are determined and displayed on the operation panel. Second, water supply / washing is scheduled, that is, based on a schedule determined from the result of setting or measuring the operation panel in advance. Third, the washing operation is performed for a predetermined time based on the passage of time such as a timer provided in the control device 7, and then the drain valve is opened to drain the water. Fourth, water is supplied and the rinsing operation is performed for a predetermined time in the same manner as the washing operation. Fifth, drain the water according to the planned procedure after the rinsing operation. Sixth, an intermediate dehydration operation is performed to efficiently perform the rinsing operation. Seventh, the fourth to sixth steps are repeated according to the setting. Eighth, after the last rinsing operation, the washing and dewatering tub 2 is rotated to perform dehydration operation in which water is dehydrated by centrifugal force from the laundry that has absorbed water. The difference between the intermediate dehydration operation and the dehydration operation is that in the dehydration operation, the rotational speed of the washing and dehydration tank 2 is slightly high and the operation time is long. The above is the washing and dehydration process.
[0013]
Since the washing / dehydrating tub 2 is rotated in the ninth dehydrating operation, the clothes attached to the inner peripheral wall surface of the washing / dehydrating tub 2 are scraped off by rotating the agitation blade more than when washing. Tenth, the rotor blades are intermittently rotated a plurality of times, the weight of wet clothing after dehydration is measured with a pulse of the rotation sensor, and the reference value of the inertial rotation pulse is measured at the same time to predict the drying end time. When washing and drying are performed consistently and continuously, the drying end time predicted according to the weight of the clothing in the first step is displayed on the operation panel as it is in the dry clothing state before washing. Also good. Alternatively, whether it is a washing-drying integrated operation or a separation operation, the drying end time may be predicted and displayed from the weight of wet clothing measured in the tenth step. 11thly, the drying operation by the stirring drying mode memorize | stored in the microcomputer of the control apparatus is started. At the same time, the pulse is measured using the stirring rotation. The difference between this pulse and the reference pulse is obtained. The dryness is estimated from the difference value. Twelfth, the moisture content is obtained from the dryness and the weight of the clothing to predict the drying end time. 13thly, the drying operation in the tank rotation mode is performed for a predetermined time. 14th and 12th and 13th steps are repeated. Fifteenth, it is determined that the drying is finished when the difference value of the pulse becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value. Sixteenth, the drying operation is terminated and all operations are stopped.
[0014]
During the above-described consistent washing and drying operation, there is a case where the operation is temporarily interrupted and not continued until the dehydration up to the eighth step. For example, after washing is finished, if you do not want to apply heat, take clothes that will not be dried and dry the remaining clothes, or dry clothes that have not yet been dried by rain or emergency For example. Depending on the weather, there may be a choice to finish washing and dehydration, to dry outside after hearing this notification sound, or to start the dryer when it is about to rain. . In such a case, when the drying operation is started, the process starts from the ninth step, and the drying end time is predicted by measuring the weight of the wet clothing.
[0015]
The rotation angle of the rotor blades for each operation is as follows. First, the rotation angle at the time of washing varies depending on the amount of laundry, but is about 1-2 rotations, for example, smaller than the rotation angle at the time of scraping in the eighth step and larger than the rotation angle at the time of drying. At the intermittent operation in the tenth and eleventh steps, the motor is turned on and the motor is turned off when a predetermined rotation angle of about ½ is rotated. For example, the number of pulses during inertial rotation of about 2 seconds is counted. The minimum rotation angle during the drying operation is to replace the laundry so that the laundry in the washing / dehydrating tub 2 is uniformly heated while preventing the laundry from getting tangled. Choose the right angle. The rotation of the washing and dewatering tub 2 is performed not only at the time of dehydration but also at a lower rotation speed when separating clothes during drying.
[0016]
After the dehydration process of the washing / drying machine configured in this way, that is, in the ninth process, the rotary blade 3 is reciprocated a plurality of times larger than the rotation angle of the normal washing process and stuck to the peripheral wall surface of the dehydration tank 2 Scrap off the laundry. Next, the rotary blade 3 is intermittently operated at an angle smaller than the rotation angle of the normal washing process, and the inertial rotation attenuation of the rotary blade 3 after turning off the drive device 4 is used as the pulse output of the rotation sensor 6 as a control device 8. Count with the microcomputer. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the intermittent operation of the rotor blades 3 and the attenuation of inertial rotation are counted by the microcomputer as the pulse output of the rotation sensor 6. As shown in the figure, the number of pulses after the drive device is turned off is counted. When the load is large, that is, when there are many wet clothes, the pulse number is greatly attenuated, the pulse number is rapidly attenuated, and the pulse number is small. If the load amount is small, the attenuation of the pulse number is small and the pulse number is large. As a result, the weight of wet clothing as a load is obtained.
[0017]
Since the laundry stored in the inner bottom portion of the dewatering tub 2 is generally unevenly distributed, the variation of the inertial rotation of the rotary blade 3 also varies. As shown by the level of variation in FIG. 8, it is known that the number of intermittent operations of the rotor blades 3 can be reduced to 1/3 or less from the result of performing several times, for example, by performing the averaging process about 10 times. . Therefore, the number of pulses counted by the microcomputer of the control device 8 is averaged and stored in the memory of the microcomputer. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the results of the number of intermittent operations and the magnitude of variation, that is, the estimated weight and the amount of variation from the true value. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, if the weight of wet clothing is 4 kg, there is a possibility that the variation is 20% and the error is ± 800 g. Even if the number of pulses is counted every three times or more than about five or six times of intermittent operation, it will include a variation of more than 10% of the predicted weight value. This is a variation that cannot be said to be accurate in the predicted time. In order to suppress this variation to about 10% or less, the number of intermittent operations exceeding 8 times is required. However, even if it is performed 10 times or more, this variation can hardly be further reduced. There are many effects such as the movement of the laundry, the bias of the laundry due to the type of cloth, the influence of residual moisture, the influence on the mechanism such as temperature, and the fluctuation of the power supply. If it is allowed up to 12%, the number of intermittent operations should be performed about 8 times. By increasing the number of intermittent operations in this way, the weight before the start of the drying operation can be accurately predicted. Based on this data, the amount of water and the time until the end of the drying are also improved. Of course, other methods such as statistical processing other than averaging processing, for example, obtaining a deviation excluding the maximum value and the minimum value may be used.
[0018]
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a graph showing the relationship between the pulse count value and the weight of wet laundry (clothing + water). The vertical axis of the figure is y, the horizontal axis is x, the correlation coefficient is Pearson's product moment correlation coefficient R, and the degree of linear correlation between the two sets of data is a numerical value in the range of -1 to 1. Show. As a result, the correlation coefficient between the pulse count value and the weight of the laundry is R ² = 0.98, which is high. Since it is known that the weight ratio of water to clothes of laundry after dehydration is about 65% in practical clothes, the amount of water can be estimated from the weight of the laundry by weight * 0.65. Further, it is equivalent to the drying speed of the washing dryer, that is, the evaporation rate of water, and the unit is g / min, and is known in advance for each weight of the laundry. If the drying speed stored in the microcomputer in advance is used, the time T required for drying is calculated as T = W / S, where W is the weight of the laundry and S is the drying speed.
[0019]
As described above, after completion of the dehydration process, the number of inertial rotation pulses of the rotor blades can be counted, the laundry weight and moisture content can be calculated from the number of pulses, and the time required for drying can be calculated from the moisture content and drying speed. Therefore, the drying end time can be accurately predicted.
[0020]
In the above description, the weight and moisture content of the laundry are calculated after the dehydration process, and the drying completion time is predicted. Next, the inertial rotation pulses of the rotor blades are counted even during the drying operation. It is also possible to calculate the drying degree of the laundry from the number of pulses, that is, to accurately predict the drying end time by the pulse coefficient without using the drying speed stored in the microcomputer in advance. During the drying operation, the rotating blades 3 are operated to perform the stirring operation. This is for the purpose of applying warm air uniformly to the clothes being dried. The pulse is measured to predict the end time of the drying operation. The basic configuration is the same as in FIG.
[0021]
Next, the operation will be described. Scraping after the completion of the dehydration process, calculation of the weight and moisture content of the laundry, and prediction of the completion of drying are the same as described above, and will be omitted. Next, the drying operation process will be described. While the rotating blades 3 are intermittently operated to stir the object to be dried, the heating device 6 is operated to blow warm air on the laundry, thereby evaporating and drying the moisture contained in the clothes. In addition, the clothes are pulled in by stirring and the upper clothes move downward, and the pushed clothes move upward, and the clothes also move up and down, so that warm air is uniformly applied to the clothes. Can do. During the drying operation, during the intermittent operation of the rotor blade 3, after the drive device 4 is turned off, the inertial rotation attenuation of the rotor blade 3 is counted as a pulse output of the rotation sensor 6 by the microcomputer of the control device 7. Since the laundry stored in the inner bottom portion of the dewatering tub 2 is generally unevenly distributed, the variation of the inertial rotation of the rotary blade 3 also varies. The pulse count value is averaged by, for example, block averaging or moving average to remove variation.
[0022]
Next, the difference between the averaged number of pulses and the number of pulses after completion of the dehydration process stored in the memory is obtained (hereinafter referred to as a pulse difference value). FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a graph showing the relationship between the dryness of the laundry and the pulse difference value in the drying process. If the difference value of the counted number of pulses on the vertical axis is calculated, the dryness on the horizontal axis can be read. The degree of dryness represents the relationship between the moisture contained in the laundry and the laundry, and can be said to be obtained by dividing the weight of the dry laundry by the weight of the laundry containing moisture. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the data obtained from the experimental results. The measurement was performed if the pulse difference value of the pulse number at the time of measurement with respect to the reference pulse number was known regardless of the amount of laundry, that is, the difference in weight. The dryness as the average value is obtained. The weight of the dry laundry is known. Based on the weight of the dry laundry and the dryness just found, the amount of water contained in the current laundry can be calculated in real time. Based on this amount of water, the time T required for drying is calculated as T = W / S, where W is the amount of water contained in the laundry and S is the drying speed. By using this drying time T, the drying end time can be corrected to accurately predict the end of drying.
[0023]
Next, when the moisture contained in the clothing evaporates and the drying approaches the end of drying, the change in the pulse difference value gradually decreases, and when the drying ends, the difference value becomes a value within a certain variation range. It can be determined that the drying is completed by detecting that the value is within the certain range. After determining the end of drying, the operation of the rotary blade 3 and the heating device 6 is stopped. The fact that the change in the difference value is small means that the absolute value of the pulse number itself converges to a substantially constant value, and thus the change in the weight of the laundry is small and the drying is almost completed. The current dryness measured is obtained as shown in FIG. 4 by measuring the number of pulses during the drying operation and obtaining a difference value from the reference value, which is the number of pulses measured before the start of the drying operation. The 60% dryness in FIG. 4 is a generally known dryness after dehydration. Knowing the weight and dryness of the laundry, you can easily predict how much time is required to 100% dryness.
[0024]
As described above, the inertial rotation pulses of the rotor blades are counted during the drying process, the difference between the number of pulses and the number of pulses after the dehydration process is completed, and the dryness of the laundry can be calculated from the pulse difference value. The amount of moisture contained in the current laundry is obtained from the weight and dryness of the laundry, the time required for drying can be calculated from the drying speed, and the latest drying end time is corrected, thereby correcting the drying end time. Can be accurately predicted, and at the same time, the end of drying can be determined by detecting that the change in the pulse difference value has decreased.
[0025]
In the above description, the dryness is determined from the pulse difference value of the rotor blades during the drying process, and the end of drying is determined by predicting and correcting the end of drying, and at the same time detecting that the change in pulse difference value has become small. Next, the number of pulses of inertial rotation of the rotor blades is counted at the start of washing, the amount of laundry is obtained from the number of pulses, the number of inertial rotation pulses of the rotor blades during the drying operation is counted, and the number of pulses is calculated. The idea of calculating the dryness of the laundry and accurately predicting the end of drying is shown. The basic configuration is the same as in FIG. In this case, it is assumed that the machine is operated consistently from washing to drying. When starting from washing, the weight of the dried laundry is first measured as shown in FIG. 5, the necessary water supply amount is determined, the washing time, etc. Is displayed on the panel and the operation is started. At this time, in addition to the measurement of the weight of the laundry, parameters such as the amount of water to be supplied, the amount of detergent to be added, the rotation angle of the stirring blade during washing, and the washing time are often determined by the control device. When washing and drying are operated consistently, the weight of the dry laundry is directly measured, so the accuracy is high and the drying end time can be predicted with high accuracy. However, in order to determine the dryness and determine the end of the drying operation, not only the data of FIG. 5 but also an operation to determine the reference pulse number prior to the start of the drying operation is required.
[0026]
Next, the operation will be described. When the laundry is put in and the operation is started, the rotating blade 3 is intermittently operated at an angle smaller than the rotation angle of the normal washing process before water supply, and the inertial rotation of the rotating blade 3 after the drive device 4 is turned off. The attenuation is counted by the microcomputer of the control device 8 as the pulse output of the rotation sensor 6. This intermittent operation is performed a plurality of times, and the pulse count value is averaged. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the relationship between the weight of dry laundry and the pulse count value. FIG. 5 shows that the weight of the laundry in a dry state can be accurately calculated from the pulse count value. The laundry weight thus calculated is stored in the microcomputer memory of the control device 8. The clothes are in a dry state, and there is little bias in the laundry, and the number of intermittent operations described above is much less than the number of intermittent operations in wet clothes.
[0027]
When the clothes are not wet, the variation due to eccentricity is small, and many intermittent operations such as 9 times or 10 times are not necessary and may be several times. The amount of water required is determined according to the weight of the laundry, the appropriate amount of detergent is displayed on the operation panel, water is supplied, and the washing process is executed. After the washing process is completed, a rinsing process and a dehydrating process are performed.
[0028]
Since the operation after the dehydration process is the same as that described above except that the value calculated at the start of the washing operation is used as the weight of the laundry, the detailed operation is omitted.
[0029]
As described above, the inertial rotation pulse of the rotor blade is counted at the start of washing, and the weight of the dry laundry is accurately calculated. Thereafter, this weight is used as the weight of the laundry, and the rotor blade is used during the drying process. The number of inertial rotation pulses is counted, the difference between the number of pulses and the number of pulses after completion of the dehydration process is obtained, and the dryness of the laundry can be calculated from the pulse difference value. The amount of water contained in the laundry can be calculated, the time required for drying can be calculated from the drying speed, and by correcting this latest drying end time, the drying end time can be accurately predicted, The end of drying can be determined by detecting that the change in the pulse difference value has become small. Note that the pulse number reference value measurement method after dehydration and the pulse number measurement method of the rotor blade during the drying process are made the same, for example, by matching the rotation angle of the rotor blade, thereby increasing the measurement accuracy for obtaining the difference value.
[0030]
In addition, by obtaining the dryness from the pulse number reference value after dehydration and the pulse difference value of the rotor blades during the drying process, predicting and correcting the end of drying, and simultaneously detecting that the change in the pulse difference value has become smaller As described above, what determines the end of drying has already been described. The basic configuration is the same as in FIG.
[0031]
Next, the operation will be described. Since the scraping after completion of the dehydration process, the calculation of the weight and moisture content of the laundry, the operation of the drying process, and the operation and method of predicting the completion of drying are the same as described above, detailed description will be omitted. As drying progresses and moisture contained in the clothes evaporates, the number of pulses to be compared with the initial value reference value approaches a predetermined value when the drying process approaches the end of drying, and converges to a predetermined value when drying ends. The end of drying can be determined by detecting that the difference value has converged to the predetermined value.
[0032]
As described above, the pulse difference value is obtained during the drying process, the dryness of the laundry is calculated from the pulse difference value, and the drying end time is accurately predicted from the drying speed, and at the same time, the pulse difference value converges to the predetermined value. By detecting this, the end of drying can be accurately determined.
[0033]
FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of another washing / drying machine of the present invention. FIG. 6 differs from FIG. 1 in that an intake air temperature sensor 9 for detecting the indoor temperature is provided near the intake port of the heating device 6, and an exhaust gas for detecting the exhaust temperature from the laundry in the vicinity of the upper part of the water receiving tank 1. The temperature sensor 10 is provided. Since other configurations are the same as or equivalent to those in FIG. 1, the same or equivalent components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
[0034]
Next, the operation of FIG. 6 will be described. The operations for scraping off after the dehydration process, calculating the weight and moisture content of the laundry, and predicting the completion of drying are the same as in the previous description, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Further, since the operation of the drying process and the method of predicting the completion of drying are the same, detailed description is omitted.
[0035]
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a graph plotting the relationship between the outputs of the intake air temperature sensor 9 and the exhaust gas temperature sensor 10 and the dryness of the laundry in the drying process. In general, since the washing and drying machine is installed in the bathroom and dressing room, the indoor temperature of the bathroom and dressing room gradually rises due to the exhaust heat from the washing and drying machine. The output of the intake air temperature sensor 9 in FIG. On the other hand, the output of the exhaust temperature sensor 10 is gradually reduced as the intake air temperature rises after the preheating period in which the temperature gradually increases immediately after the drying operation, and most of the input energy is taken away by the latent heat of vaporization accompanying the evaporation of moisture. It shifts to the constant rate drying period showing an upward trend. As the drying process further proceeds and the drying process is approaching, the latent heat of vaporization due to the evaporation of moisture decreases, so the output of the exhaust temperature sensor 10 increases. When the dryness reaches 100% and the drying is finished, the output of the exhaust temperature sensor 10 rapidly increases. The difference between the exhaust temperature sensor 10 and the intake air temperature sensor 9 is obtained, and the end of drying can be accurately determined by detecting the time when this value reaches a predetermined value.
[0036]
The temperature of the intake sensor 9 gradually rises due to exhaust heat, and the degree of the rise affects the size of the bathroom in the bathroom where the washing / drying machine is placed. It becomes. The exhaust temperature sensor 10 is affected by the rise in the intake air temperature. Therefore, by obtaining the temperature difference between the exhaust temperature sensor 10 and the intake air temperature sensor 9, the influence due to the size of the placed room can be eliminated, and the end can be accurately determined.
[0037]
However, if there is a disturbance such as opening the window of the washroom and the temperature in the room suddenly drops, is the temperature difference between the exhaust temperature sensor 10 and the intake air temperature sensor 9 caused by the disturbance? It is indistinguishable whether a temperature difference occurred due to the end of drying. Although it can be seen that a disturbance has occurred due to the sudden temperature drop of the intake air temperature sensor 9, it is difficult to determine a stable temperature rise after the disturbance because it is difficult to determine the subsequent end from the temperature difference, and the algorithm becomes complicated. Too impractical.
[0038]
Therefore, if the end is determined by the value detected from the temperature difference between the exhaust temperature sensor 10 and the intake air temperature sensor 9 before the predicted end time calculated from the pulse difference value during the drying process, it is assumed that some disturbance has occurred. Judgment and subsequent end determination shifts to determination by pulse difference value. If the pulse difference value is known, the dryness can be obtained. The weight of the laundry is known. From the weight of the laundry and the dryness that has just been determined, the amount of moisture contained in the current laundry can be calculated in real time. Based on this amount of water, the time T required for drying is calculated as T = W / S, where W is the amount of water contained in the laundry and S is the drying speed. By using this drying time T, the drying end time can be corrected to accurately predict the end of drying. In addition, although the judgment which attaches more importance to the estimated end time is shown here, this is for an example in which the amount of moisture is measured in real time even during the drying process. Based on the amount of water obtained from the above, it does not necessarily dry as predicted, considering that the accuracy of this end time is rough, for example, predicted end time ± 10% provided as a predicted end time zone You may combine the end of the range and the end determination. That is, if it is before the predicted end time period, the end determination is ignored even if it is output, and if the end determination is performed during the predicted end time period, the operation is terminated. Furthermore, even if it is after the predicted end time period, if the end determination does not indicate the end, the operation is continued, but this is displayed on the panel, and the drying operation for a certain time is continued or stopped. This manual selection becomes possible and automatically stops after a certain period of time.
[0039]
Alternatively, as the condition for determining the end, the moisture contained in the clothes evaporates, and when the drying approaches the end of drying, the change in the pulse difference value gradually decreases, and when the drying ends, the value becomes within a certain variation range. It can be determined that the drying is completed by detecting that the value is within the certain range. After determining the end of drying, the operation of the rotary blade 3 and the heating device 6 is stopped.
[0040]
As described above, the pulse difference value is obtained during the drying process, the dryness of the laundry is calculated from the pulse difference value, and the drying end time is accurately predicted from the drying speed, and at the same time, the temperature sensor makes a rapid When the temperature rise is detected and the end of drying is accurately determined, and when the end by the temperature sensor is determined before the predicted end time from the pulse difference, it is determined that there has been a disturbance, and thereafter the end determination is made on the pulse difference value. Transition. By detecting that the change in the pulse difference value is within a certain range, it is possible to accurately determine the end of drying.
[0041]
As described above, the washing and drying machine according to the present invention can count the number of inertial rotation pulses of the rotor blades after the dehydration process, and can calculate the weight and moisture content of the laundry from the number of pulses, and further from the moisture content and the drying speed. Since the time required for drying can be calculated, the drying end time can be accurately predicted.
[0042]
Since the washing / drying machine of the present invention is configured as described below, a washing / drying machine capable of accurately predicting the drying completion time after completion of the dehydration operation is obtained.
(1) A washing and drying machine comprising a water receiving tank, a dewatering tank, a rotating blade, a driving device, a rotation sensor, a heater unit, a blower, and a control device.
(2) Intermittent operation of rotor blades after dehydration process.
(3) Counting the pulse output of the rotation sensor provided in the driving device for the damping of the rotor blade inertia rotation after the operation interruption.
(4) The weight of the material to be dried is calculated by performing intermittent operation a sufficient number of times and performing an averaging process.
(5) Calculate the time required for drying from the weight of the material to be dried and predict the end time.
[0043]
Since the laundry dryer of the present invention is configured as follows, it calculates the time required for drying during the drying operation, sequentially predicts the drying end time, and can display the updated accurate drying end time. You will get a chance.
(1) A washing and drying machine comprising a water receiving tank, a dewatering tank, a rotating blade, a driving device, a rotation sensor, a heater unit, a blower, and a control device.
(2) Intermittent operation of rotor blades after dehydration process.
(3) Counting the pulse output of the rotation sensor provided in the driving device for the damping of the rotor blade inertia rotation after the operation interruption.
(4) The number of pulses that are averaged and processed intermittently a sufficient number of times is set as the reference pulse number.
(5) Calculate the weight of the material to be dried from the reference pulse number.
(6) Count the number of averaged pulses during the drying operation.
(7) The dryness is calculated from the difference between the pulse number during the drying operation and the reference pulse number.
(8) The time required for drying is calculated from the degree of drying and the weight of the material to be dried, and the end time is sequentially predicted.
(9) When the change in the number of pulses is equal to or less than a predetermined value, it is determined that the drying is finished.
[0044]
Further, according to the present invention, the weight of the laundry at the start of washing is used, the time required for drying is calculated during the drying operation, the drying end time is sequentially predicted, and updated more accurate and more accurate drying is performed. A washing and drying machine capable of displaying the end time is obtained.
(1) A washing and drying machine comprising a water receiving tank, a dewatering tank, a rotating blade, a driving device, a rotation sensor, a heater unit, a blower, and a control device.
(2) The rotor blades are intermittently operated at the start of washing, and the pulse output of the rotation sensor provided in the drive device is counted for the attenuation of the rotor blade inertia rotation after the operation is stopped.
(3) The weight of the laundry is calculated from the number of pulses that have been intermittently operated a sufficient number of times and averaged.
(4) The rotor blades are intermittently operated after the dehydration process is completed, and the pulse output of the rotation sensor provided in the driving device is counted for the attenuation of the rotor blade inertia rotation after the operation interruption.
(5) The number of pulses that are averaged and processed intermittently a sufficient number of times is set as the reference pulse number.
(6) The number of pulses subjected to the averaging process is counted even during the drying operation.
(7) The dryness is calculated from the difference between the pulse number during the drying operation and the reference pulse number.
(8) The time required for drying is calculated from the degree of drying and the weight of the laundry, and the end time is sequentially predicted.
(9) When the change in the number of pulses is equal to or less than a predetermined value, it is determined that the drying is finished.
[0045]
Further, according to the present invention, the dryness of the material to be dried is sequentially calculated during the drying operation with the following configuration, and the drying is finished when the dryness reaches 100%.
(1) A washing and drying machine comprising a water receiving tank, a dewatering tank, a rotating blade, a driving device, a rotation sensor, a heater unit, a blower, and a control device.
(2) The rotor blades are intermittently operated after completion of the dehydration process, and the pulse output of the rotation sensor provided in the drive device is counted for the attenuation of the rotor blade inertia rotation after the operation is stopped.
(3) The number of pulses that have been intermittently operated a sufficient number of times and averaged is used as the reference pulse number, and the weight of the material to be dried is calculated.
(4) Count the averaged number of pulses even during the drying operation.
(5) The dryness is sequentially calculated from the difference between the pulse number during the drying operation and the reference pulse number, and the drying is completed when the dryness reaches 100%.
[0046]
In addition, the present invention calculates the time required for drying during the drying operation by the following configuration, sequentially predicts the drying end time, determines the drying end based on the temperature information, and determines the erroneous end determination due to disturbance from the predicted time. A laundry dryer that can be prevented is obtained.
(1) A washing and drying machine comprising a water receiving tank, a dewatering tank, a rotor blade, a driving device, a rotation sensor, a heater unit, a blower, a temperature sensor, and a control device.
(2) The rotor blades are intermittently operated after completion of the dehydration process, and the pulse output of the rotation sensor provided in the drive device is counted for the attenuation of the rotor blade inertia rotation after the operation is stopped.
(3) The number of pulses that have been intermittently operated a sufficient number of times and averaged is used as the reference pulse number, and the weight of the material to be dried is calculated.
(4) Count the averaged number of pulses even during the drying operation.
(5) The dryness is sequentially calculated from the difference between the pulse number during the drying operation and the reference pulse number.
(6) The time required for drying is calculated from the degree of drying and the weight of the material to be dried, and the end time is sequentially predicted.
(7) When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor reaches a predetermined temperature, the drying is finished.
(8) If a predetermined temperature is reached before the predicted time from the pulse, it is determined that there is a disturbance, and the drying operation is continued.
(9) When the change in the number of pulses is equal to or less than a predetermined value, it is determined that the drying is finished.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
The washing / drying machine according to the present invention includes a rotary blade for rotating the laundry to be washed, and can be dehydrated from the laundry by a rotation different from the rotation of the rotary blade, and warm air is blown into the laundry by a blower. A dehydration tank that performs a drying operation to dry the article, a rotation sensor that is provided in the vicinity of the rotor blades or in a drive device that drives the rotor blades and generates a pulse output that counts the rotation of the rotor blades, and the laundry that has been dewatered A controller that intermittently rotates the rotor blades before drying, counts the rotation of the rotor blades at each rotation break, counts the pulse output of the rotation sensor, and calculates the weight of the object to be dried. It is equipped with a drying time predicting means that calculates the time required for drying from the calculated weight of the material to be dried and predicts the end time, so that it can convey highly accurate information when necessary, to the user Convenient and easy to use It is intended to obtain a good washing and drying machine, thereby obtaining a washing and drying machine that can predict accurately the end of drying time.
[0048]
The drying method of the laundry dryer according to the present invention performs intermittent rotation in the laundry dryer before drying the laundry that has been dehydrated, and statistically processes the pulse output for each rotation interruption and calculates the drying target. A step of calculating the time required for drying from the weight of the object to obtain a predicted drying end time, a time determining step for determining whether or not a predetermined time related to the predicted drying end time has been reached during the drying, and during the drying And determining whether or not the object to be dried has been dried, and when the drying operation is stopped by stopping the drying operation after determining the drying, the drying operation is stopped. It is possible to obtain a drying method of a washing dryer that can be accurately predicted and is surely dried at the end of the drying operation and gives the user a sense of security.
[0049]
The drying method of the laundry dryer according to the present invention performs a plurality of intermittent rotations in the laundry dryer before drying the laundry that has been dehydrated, and statistically processes the number of pulses counted at each rotation interruption. The step of calculating the calculated weight of the object to be dried and the intermittent rotation of the rotary blade provided in the dewatering tank for storing the object to be washed in the middle of drying are performed. The step of calculating the dryness of the object to be dried from the difference in the number of pulses counted when calculating the time, the time required for drying is calculated from the calculated weight of the object to be dried and the calculated dryness, and the drying is completed. And a step of setting the predicted time, and thus a drying method for a washing and drying machine capable of accurately predicting the drying end time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a washing / drying machine showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of inertia of rotating blades and a pulse output of a rotation sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the pulse count value and the weight of wet laundry (clothing + water) according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the dryness of the laundry and the pulse difference value in the drying process according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the weight of dry laundry and the pulse count value according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another washing / drying machine showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram plotting the relationship between the outputs of the intake air temperature sensor 9 and the exhaust gas temperature sensor 10 and the dryness of the laundry according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the number of intermittent operations and a weight predicted value according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Water receiving tank, 2 Washing and dewatering tank, 3 Rotary blade, 4 Drive apparatus, 5 Rotation sensor, 6 Heating apparatus, 6a Heater unit, 6b Blower, 7 Control apparatus, 8 Outer box, 9 Intake temperature sensor, 10 Exhaust temperature Sensor.

Claims (10)

被洗濯物を回転させる回転翼が内部に設けられ、前記回転翼の回転とは異なる回転により前記被洗濯物から脱水可能で、内部に送風機により温風を吹き込み前記被洗濯物を乾燥させる乾燥運転を行う脱水槽と、前記回転翼近傍もしくは前記回転翼を駆動する駆動装置に設けられ前記回転翼の回転を計数するパルス出力を発生する回転センサと、脱水を終了した被洗濯物を乾燥前に前記回転翼で断続回転させ、回転断毎の回転翼惰性回転の減衰を前記回転センサのパルス出力で計数して前記被乾燥物の重量を演算する制御装置と、前記複数回のパルス出力を統計処理し算出された前記被乾燥物の重量から乾燥に要する時間を演算し、終了時間を予測する乾燥時間予測手段と、を備えたことを特徴とする洗濯乾燥機。A drying operation in which a rotating blade for rotating the laundry is provided, and can be dehydrated from the laundry by a rotation different from the rotation of the rotating blade, and hot air is blown into the interior by a blower to dry the laundry. A dehydration tub that performs a rotation, a rotation sensor that is provided in the vicinity of the rotor blades or in a drive device that drives the rotor blades and generates a pulse output that counts the rotation of the rotor blades, and before the laundry to be washed is dried A controller that intermittently rotates the rotor blades, counts the attenuation of the rotor blade inertia rotation at each rotor breakage by the pulse output of the rotation sensor, and calculates the weight of the object to be dried; A washing and drying machine comprising: a drying time predicting unit that calculates a time required for drying from the weight of the object to be dried calculated by processing and predicts an end time. 脱水を終了した被洗濯物を乾燥させる前に少なくとも８回を超える断続回転を行い、この回転断毎のパルス出力を統計処理し演算された前記被乾燥物の重量から乾燥に要する時間を演算することを特徴とする請求項１記載の洗濯乾燥機。Before drying the laundry to be dehydrated, perform at least 8 intermittent rotations, statistically process the pulse output for each rotation interruption, and calculate the time required for drying from the calculated weight of the material to be dried. The washing / drying machine according to claim 1. 乾燥途中に被洗濯物を収納する脱水槽に設けた回転翼の断続回転を行い、この回転断後のパルス出力と乾燥開始前のパルス出力から前記被乾燥物の乾燥度を演算することを特徴とする請求項１又は２記載の洗濯乾燥機。In the middle of drying, the rotating blades provided in the dewatering tank for storing the laundry are intermittently rotated, and the dryness of the object to be dried is calculated from the pulse output after the rotation interruption and the pulse output before the start of drying. The washing / drying machine according to claim 1 or 2. 乾燥開始前に計数された回転翼の回転断後のパルス数と乾燥途中に計数された回転翼の回転断後のパルス数の差分から演算する乾燥度演算手段と、前記乾燥度演算手段で演算された乾燥度及び前記制御装置で演算された前記被乾燥物の重量とから終了時間を予測する乾燥時間予測手段と、を備えたことを特徴とする請求項３記載の洗濯乾燥機。The dryness calculating means for calculating from the difference between the number of pulses after the rotation of the rotor blade counted before the start of drying and the number of pulses after the rotation of the rotor blade counted during the drying, and the dryness calculating means 4. A washing and drying machine according to claim 3, further comprising drying time predicting means for predicting an end time from the dryness and the weight of the object to be dried calculated by the control device. 乾燥途中に演算される前記被乾燥物の乾燥度、及び、乾燥途中の複数の断続回転の回転断毎に計数される今回と前回のパルス数差分、及び、乾燥を行う温風温度の乾燥前との変化幅、の少なくともいずれかにより前記乾燥運転の停止を判断する停止判断手段と、を備えたことを特徴とする請求項１乃至４のいずれかに記載の洗濯乾燥機。Before drying the dryness of the material to be dried calculated during drying, the current and previous pulse number difference counted for each intermittent rotation of a plurality of intermittent rotations during drying, and the hot air temperature at which drying is performed The washing / drying machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: a stop determination unit that determines stop of the drying operation based on at least one of a change width of the drying operation. 前記乾燥運転の停止を判断する前記停止判断手段からの信号と、この乾燥運転の終了時間を予測する前記乾燥時間予測手段からの信号とを組合せて前記乾燥運転の停止を判断することを特徴とする請求項１乃至５のいずれかに記載の洗濯乾燥機。The stoppage of the drying operation is determined by combining a signal from the stop determination unit that determines the stop of the drying operation and a signal from the drying time prediction unit that predicts the end time of the drying operation. The washing and drying machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 洗濯を開始する前の乾燥した被洗濯物を前記脱水槽に収納し前記回転翼の断続回転を行い、回転断後のパルス出力から前記被乾燥物の重量を演算することを特徴とする請求項１乃至６のいずれかに記載の洗濯乾燥機。The dry laundry before starting washing is stored in the dewatering tank, the rotating blades are intermittently rotated, and the weight of the dried material is calculated from the pulse output after the rotation interruption. The washing dryer according to any one of 1 to 6. 脱水を終了した被洗濯物を乾燥させる前に洗濯乾燥機にて断続回転を行い、この回転断毎のパルス出力を統計処理し演算された前記被乾燥物の重量から乾燥に要する時間を演算し乾燥終了予測時間とするステップと、乾燥途中にて前記乾燥予測終了時間に関連する所定時間以降に達したかどうかを判断する時間判断ステップと、乾燥途中にて被乾燥物が乾燥したかどうかの乾燥を判断するステップと、とを備え、乾燥を判断して乾燥運転を停止させる際に所定時間以降の場合に前記乾燥運転を停止させることを特徴とする洗濯乾燥機の乾燥方法。Before drying the laundry to be dehydrated, it is intermittently rotated by a laundry dryer, and the pulse output for each rotation interruption is statistically processed to calculate the time required for drying from the calculated weight of the material to be dried. A step of assuming a drying end prediction time, a time determination step of determining whether or not a predetermined time related to the predicted drying end time has been reached in the middle of drying, and whether or not an object to be dried has dried in the middle of drying And a step of determining drying, wherein the drying operation is stopped after a predetermined time when the drying operation is determined and the drying operation is stopped. 脱水を終了した被洗濯物を乾燥させる前に洗濯乾燥機にて複数回の断続回転を行い、この回転断毎に計数されるパルス数を統計処理し演算された前記被乾燥物の重量を演算するステップと、乾燥途中に前記被洗濯物を収納する脱水槽に設けた回転翼の断続回転を行い、この回転断後に計数されたパルス数と前記乾燥終了予測時間を演算する際に計数されたパルス数の差分から前記被乾燥物の乾燥度を演算するステップと、前記被乾燥物の演算された重量及び演算された乾燥度から乾燥に要する時間を演算し乾燥終了予測時間とするステップと、とを備えたことを特徴とする洗濯乾燥機の乾燥方法。Before drying the laundry that has been dehydrated, the laundry dryer performs multiple intermittent rotations, and the number of pulses counted for each rotation interruption is statistically calculated to calculate the weight of the material to be dried. And the intermittent rotation of the rotary blade provided in the dewatering tank for storing the laundry in the middle of drying, and the number of pulses counted after the rotation interruption and the predicted drying completion time were counted. Calculating the degree of drying of the object to be dried from the difference in the number of pulses, calculating the time required for drying from the calculated weight of the object to be dried and the calculated degree of drying, And a drying method for the washing and drying machine. 乾燥途中に演算される前記被乾燥物の乾燥度、及び、乾燥途中の複数の断続回転の回転断毎に計数される今回と前回のパルス数差分、及び、乾燥を行う温風温度の乾燥前との変化幅、の少なくともいずれかにより前記乾燥運転の停止を判断する停止ステップと、を備え、前記停止ステップにて停止とする信号が出されても、前記乾燥終了予測時間に到達していない場合、前記停止ステップの停止とする信号を無視することを特徴とする請求項９記載の洗濯乾燥機の乾燥方法。Before drying the dryness of the material to be dried calculated during drying, the current and previous pulse number difference counted for each intermittent rotation of a plurality of intermittent rotations during drying, and the hot air temperature at which drying is performed And a stop step for determining the stop of the drying operation based on at least one of the change width and the predicted end of drying time has not been reached even if a signal to stop in the stop step is issued 10. The method of drying a washing dryer according to claim 9, wherein a signal for stopping the stop step is ignored.

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