U.S. patent application number 11/568618 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-04 for washer dryer.
This patent application is currently assigned to SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Kazutoshi Nakiri.
Application Number | 20080209954 11/568618 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36927218 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080209954 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nakiri; Kazutoshi |
September 4, 2008 |
Washer Dryer
Abstract
The washer dryer is capable of suppressing discomfort or uneasy
feeling for the user without causing increases in manufacturing
cost and moreover enhancing the drying efficiency for laundry. A
water tank 3 is placed in a housing 1. Within the water tank 3, a
drum 4 for accommodating laundry is rotatably placed. Part of a
drying system 6 for drying the laundry in the drum 4 is provided
between the water tank 3 and the drum 4. As a result of this,
without using any heat insulating material, it becomes possible to
prevent an upper portion outer wall of the housing 1 from elevating
in temperature and to confine at least part of radiation heat of
the drying system 6 to within the water tank 3.
Inventors: |
Nakiri; Kazutoshi; (Osaka,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARK D. SARALINO (GENERAL);RENNER, OTTO, BOISSELLE & SKLAR, LLP
1621 EUCLID AVENUE, NINETEENTH FLOOR
CLEVELAND
OH
44115-2191
US
|
Assignee: |
SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
OSAKA-SHI, OSAKA
JP
|
Family ID: |
36927218 |
Appl. No.: |
11/568618 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
February 7, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2006/302033 |
371 Date: |
November 3, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/12.15 ; 68/19;
68/20 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 58/26 20130101;
D06F 39/006 20130101; D06F 25/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
68/12.15 ; 68/19;
68/20 |
International
Class: |
D06F 25/00 20060101
D06F025/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 24, 2005 |
JP |
2005-048550 |
Claims
1. A washer dryer comprising: a housing; a water tank placed within
the housing; a washing and dewatering tank which is rotatably
placed within the water tank and which accommodates laundry; and a
drying system for drying the laundry within the washing and
dewatering tank, wherein at least part of the drying system is
provided between the water tank and the drum.
2. The washer dryer as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drying
system has: a blower mechanism part; a heating mechanism part for
heating air blown by the blower mechanism part; and a hot air
blower part for guiding air heated by the heating mechanism part
into the washing and dewatering tank, wherein the heating mechanism
part and the hot air blower part are provided between the water
tank and the washing and dewatering tank.
3. The washer dryer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the heating
mechanism part has: a heater; a metallic heater casing which is
provided with a support part for supporting the heater and which
surrounds a heat generation part of the heater; and a
heat-resistant resin component which is fixed to the water tank and
which supports the heater casing in the water tank.
4. The washer dryer as claimed in claim 3, wherein part of the
heater casing faces an outer circumferential surface of the washing
and dewatering tank.
5. The washer dryer as claimed in claim 3, wherein part of the
resin component is positioned between the heater casing and the
washing and dewatering tank.
6. The washer dryer as claimed in claim 5, wherein the resin
component has a first hole provided at a portion facing the water
tank, the water tank has a second hole provided at a portion facing
the first hole, a temperature control component for controlling
temperature of the heater casing is inserted into the second hole,
and the temperature control component and the heater casing are in
contact with each other via the first hole.
7. The washer dryer as claimed in claim 6, wherein in the heater
casing, a protruding portion protruding toward the water tank is
provided at a portion facing the first hole, the protruding portion
is in contact with the temperature control component, and a side
face of the protruding portion is a sloped surface for keeping
water from accumulating in the protruding portion.
8. The washer dryer as claimed in claim 3, wherein a cushioning
material is placed between the heater casing and the resin
component.
9. The washer dryer as claimed in claim 2, wherein the water tank
is composed of a front portion positioned forward of the washing
and dewatering tank in its rotational axis direction, and a rear
portion which is combined with the front portion and which is
positioned rearward of the washing and dewatering tank in its
rotational axis direction, the hot air blower part is fixed only to
the front portion of the water tank, and the heating mechanism part
is fixed only to the rear portion of the water tank.
10. The washer dryer as claimed in claim 3, wherein the water tank
or the blower mechanism part are provided with a third hole that
communicates with inside of the heater casing, the heater is
inserted into the third hole so that the heat generation part of
the heater is positioned inside the heater casing, and at a fitting
portion of the heater for the third hole, a metallic flange is
provided integrally with the heater and moreover a packing for
sealing the third hole is provided.
11. The washer dryer as claimed in claim 3, wherein the support
part guides the heat generation part of the heater to a specified
position within the heater casing.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a washer dryer.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, there has been provided a washer dryer
disclosed in JP 2000-342880 A. This washer dryer includes a
housing, a water tank placed in this housing, a drum which is
placed in this water tank and which accommodates laundry, and a
drying system placed between a top face of the housing and an outer
upper portion of the water tank.
[0003] The drying system has a blower mechanism part, a heating
mechanism part for heating air blown by the blower mechanism part,
and a hot air blower part for guiding air heated by the heating
mechanism part into the drum.
[0004] At a central portion of the frontage of the housing is
provided an opening portion for allowing laundry to be put in and
out therethrough. The opening portion of the housing is to be
opened and closed by a door which is pivotably fitted to the
housing.
[0005] At the frontage of the drum is provided an opening portion
which faces the opening portion of the housing. Also, the frontage
of the drum is inclined to an agree of 5.degree. to 20.degree. with
respect to a vertical plane.
[0006] According to the washer dryer of this construction, after
laundry are thrown into the drum through the opening portion of the
housing by a user, at least one of washing operation, rinsing
operation, dewatering operation and drying operation according to
operation contents set by the user.
[0007] In the drying operation, while laundry that have completely
been dewatered are in the drum, the drying system operates with the
drum rotating both leftward and rightward, alternately. As a result
of this, air heated by the heating mechanism part is fed into the
drum via a hot air blower part to blow against the laundry that is
being stirred, so that moisture with which the laundry are
impregnated can be evaporated.
[0008] In the prior-art washer dryer described above, however,
since the drying system is located between the top face of the
housing and the outer upper portion of the water tank, the
temperature of an upper external wall of the housing, in
particular, is elevated by radiation heat of the exterior wall of
the drying system during the drying operation. In such a case, the
user, when touching the upper exterior wall of the housing, would
feel discomfort or uneasy. Therefore, it is necessary to add a heat
insulating material to the exterior wall of the drying system or
add a heat insulating material to lower portion of the top face of
the housing. However, the addition of the heat insulating material
would cause a problem of an increase in manufacturing cost.
[0009] Also, since the drying system is placed outside the water
tank, radiation heat of the exterior wall of the drying system is
hardly transferred to the laundry in the drum. That is, the
radiation heat of the exterior wall of the drying system does not
contribute to the drying of the laundry, wastefully. This leads to
a problem of low efficiency of drying of laundry relative to the
energy applied to the drying system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide a washer dryer which is capable of suppressing discomfort
or uneasy feeling for the user without causing increases in
manufacturing cost and moreover enhancing the drying efficiency for
laundry.
[0011] In order to achieve the above object, according to the
present invention, there is provided a washer dryer comprising:
[0012] a housing; [0013] a water tank placed within the housing;
[0014] a washing and dewatering tank which is rotatably placed
within the water tank and which accommodates laundry; and [0015] a
drying system for drying the laundry within the washing and
dewatering tank, wherein [0016] at least part of the drying system
is provided between the water tank and the drum.
[0017] In this washer dryer, by virtue of the provision of at least
part of the drying system between the water tank and the washing
and dewatering tank, radiation heat directed from at least part of
the drying system toward the housing is intercepted by the water
tank. Thus, without placement of any heat insulating material on
the outer wall of the drying system or the housing, temperature
elevations of the upper portion outer wall of the housing can be
prevented even if no heat insulating material is added to the upper
portion of the housing. Therefore, user's discomfort or uneasy
feeling can be suppressed without causing increases in
manufacturing cost.
[0018] Further, heat radiated from at least part of the outer wall
of the drying system provided within the water tank can be confined
within the water tank. That is, heat radiated from at least of the
outer wall of the drying system can be utilized as the heat that
contributes to the drying of laundry in the washing and dewatering
tank. Accordingly, heat radiation loss of the drying system can be
suppressed to a minimum, so that efficient drying of laundry can be
achieved.
[0019] In the washer dryer of one embodiment, the drying system
has: [0020] a blower mechanism part; [0021] a heating mechanism
part for heating air blown by the blower mechanism part; and [0022]
a hot air blower part for guiding air heated by the heating
mechanism part into the washing and dewatering tank, wherein [0023]
the heating mechanism part and the hot air blower part are provided
between the water tank and the washing and dewatering tank.
[0024] In this case, by virtue of the provision of the heating
mechanism part and the hot air blower part between the water tank
and the washing and dewatering tank, component parts of the drying
system that are subject to particularly high outer wall
temperature, the heat radiated from the outer walls of the
mechanism parts can be utilized as heat for use of drying of the
laundry in the washing and dewatering tank. Therefore, heat
radiation loss of the drying system can be suppressed to a
minimum.
[0025] Further, in a case where the blower mechanism part is placed
outside the water tank, installation and maintenance of the blower
mechanism part can be achieved more simply.
[0026] In the washer dryer of one embodiment, the heating mechanism
part has: [0027] a heater; [0028] a metallic heater casing which is
provided with a support part for supporting the heater and which
surrounds a heat generation part of the heater; and [0029] a
heat-resistant resin component which is fixed to the water tank and
which supports the heater casing in the water tank.
[0030] In this case, by the arrangement that the metallic heater
casing is provided so as to surround the heat generation part of
the heater, even if waste threads have adhered to the heat
generation part of the heater and caught fire, spreading of the
fire of the waste threads to the resin component or the water tank
can be prevented by the heater casing. Therefore, the safety of the
washer dryer can be enhanced.
[0031] Further, by the arrangement that the heater casing is
supported in the water tank by the heat-resistant resin component
fixed to the water tank, influences of the heat applied from the
heater casing to the water tank can be relaxed. That is, the amount
of heat applied from the heater casing to the water tank can be
reduced. Therefore, thermal deformation of the water tank can be
prevented, so that safety of the washer dryer can be further
enhanced.
[0032] In the washer dryer of one embodiment, part of the heater
casing faces an outer circumferential surface of the washing and
dewatering tank.
[0033] In this case, by the arrangement that part of the heater
casing is set to face the outer circumferential surface of the
washing and dewatering tank, the radiation heat of the outer wall
of the heater casing can be transferred to the washing and
dewatering tank with high efficiency.
[0034] In the washer dryer of one embodiment, part of the resin
component is positioned between the heater casing and the washing
and dewatering tank.
[0035] In this case, by the arrangement that part of the resin
component is positioned between the heater casing and the washing
and dewatering tank, the amount of heat applied from the heater
casing to part of the water tank to which influences of radiation
heat due to the outer wall of the heater casing should be avoided
can be further reduced.
[0036] In the washer dryer of one embodiment, [0037] the resin
component has a first hole provided at a portion facing the water
tank, [0038] the water tank has a second hole provided at a portion
facing the first hole, [0039] a temperature control component for
controlling temperature of the heater casing is inserted into the
second hole, and [0040] the temperature control component and the
heater casing are in contact with each other via the first
hole.
[0041] In this case, by the arrangement that the temperature
control component for controlling temperature of the heater casing
is kept in contact with the heater casing, temperature elevation of
the heater casing can be detected by the temperature control
component with high sensitivity. Therefore, any abnormal
temperature elevation of the heater casing can be detected promptly
by the temperature control component, so that heat influences from
the heater casing to peripheral components can be suppressed to a
minimum.
[0042] In the washer dryer of one embodiment, [0043] in the heater
casing, a protruding portion protruding toward the water tank is
provided at a portion facing the first hole, [0044] the protruding
portion is in contact with the temperature control component, and
[0045] a side face of the protruding portion is a sloped surface
for keeping water from accumulating in the protruding portion.
[0046] In this case, by the arrangement that in the heater casing,
the protruding portion protruding toward the water tank is provided
at the portion facing the first hole, the temperature control
component can be brought into contact with the heater casing with
ease.
[0047] Further, by the arrangement that a side face of the
protruding portion is given as a sloped surface for keeping water
from accumulating in the protruding portion, for example, even if
water has entered into the heater casing during the dewatering of
laundry, it never occurs that water stays in the protruding portion
in the drying of the laundry. Therefore, any abnormal temperature
elevation of the heater casing can be detected correctly and
promptly by the temperature control component.
[0048] In the washer dryer of one embodiment, a cushioning material
is placed between the heater casing and the resin component.
[0049] In this case, by the arrangement that the cushioning
material is placed between the heater casing and the resin
component, heat of the heater casing can be prevented from being
directly transferred to the resin component. Therefore, materials
of heat-resistant temperatures may be used as the material of the
resin component, so that a reduction of the manufacturing cost can
be achieved.
[0050] Further, by the arrangement that the cushioning material is
placed between the heater casing and the resin component, rattling
of the heater casing and the resin component due to vibrations in
the dewatering of the laundry can be suppressed. Therefore,
occurrence of unusual noise due to the heater casing and the resin
component can be prevented.
[0051] In the washer dryer of one embodiment, [0052] the water tank
is composed of a front portion positioned forward of the washing
and dewatering tank in its rotational axis direction, and a rear
portion which is combined with the front portion and which is
positioned rearward of the washing and dewatering tank in its
rotational axis direction, [0053] the hot air blower part is fixed
only to the front portion of the water tank, and [0054] the heating
mechanism part is fixed only to the rear portion of the water
tank.
[0055] In this case, by the arrangement that the hot air blower
part is fixed only to the front portion of the water tank while the
heating mechanism part is fixed only to the rear portion of the
water tank, the hot air blower part and the heating mechanism part
can be combined together in combination of the front portion of the
water tank and the rear portion of the water tank. Therefore,
assembly of the water tank and the drying system becomes easier to
achieve, so that the assemblability of the washer dryer can be
enhanced.
[0056] In the washer dryer of one embodiment, [0057] the water tank
or the blower mechanism part are provided with a third hole that
communicates with inside of the heater casing, [0058] the heater is
inserted into the third hole so that the heat generation part of
the heater is positioned inside the heater casing, and [0059] at a
fitting portion of the heater for the third hole, a metallic flange
is provided integrally with the heater and moreover a packing for
sealing the third hole is provided.
[0060] In this case, by virtue of the structure that the heater is
inserted into the third hole provided in the water tank or the
blower mechanism part, even if the heater has malfunctioned, the
malfunctioning heater can simply be replaced with another.
Therefore, the washer dryer can be enhanced in serviceability.
[0061] In the washer dryer of one embodiment, the support part
guides the heat generation part of the heater to a specified
position within the heater casing.
[0062] In this case, since the support part guides the heat
generation part of the heater to a specified position within the
heater casing, installation of the heater can be simplified.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0063] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not intended to limit the present invention, and wherein:
[0064] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a drum type washing
machine which is an embodiment of the washer dryer of the present
invention;
[0065] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the water tank of the
washer dryer;
[0066] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the water tank of
the washer dryer;
[0067] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of main part of FIG. 3.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0068] 1 housing
[0069] 2 door
[0070] 3 water tank
[0071] 4 drum
[0072] 5 drum-driving motor
[0073] 6 drying system
[0074] 7 damper
[0075] 8 damper support metal fitting
[0076] 12 front panel
[0077] 13 bottom base
[0078] 14 detergent casing
[0079] 15 operation part
[0080] 16 step portion
[0081] 17 operation circuit
[0082] 18 water tank opening portion
[0083] 19 door packing
[0084] 20 water feed duct
[0085] 21 drain duct
[0086] 22 filter
[0087] 23 drain hose
[0088] 24 drain motor
[0089] 25 drain valve
[0090] 26 drum opening portion
[0091] 29 liquid balancer
[0092] 41 tap water feed port
[0093] 42 bath water feed port
[0094] 43 water feed valve
[0095] 44 bath water pump
[0096] 100 dehumidification heat exchanger
[0097] 200 blower mechanism part
[0098] 201 fan casing
[0099] 202 fan
[0100] 203 fan motor
[0101] 300 heating mechanism part
[0102] 301 sheath heater
[0103] 302 metallic heater casing
[0104] 303 heater casing support component
[0105] 311 heat generation part
[0106] 313 metallic heater flange
[0107] 314 heater packing
[0108] 321 heater supporter
[0109] 400 hot air blower part
[0110] 500 temperature excessive-elevation prevention device
[0111] 600 heat-resistant cushioning material
[0112] C1 water tank opening portion center
[0113] C2 drum opening portion center
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0114] Hereinbelow, the washer dryer of the present invention will
be described in detail by an embodiment illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
[0115] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a drum type
washing machine which is an embodiment of the washer dryer of the
invention.
[0116] The drum type washing machine includes a housing 1, a
bottomed cylindrical-shaped water tank 3 set within the housing 1,
a bottomed cylindrical-shaped drum 4 which is rotatably set within
the water tank 3 and which accommodates laundry, a drum-driving
motor 5 which is mounted in the rear of the water tank 3 and which
drives the drum 4 into rotation, a drying system 6 part of which is
provided between the water tank 3 and the drum 4 and which serves
for drying laundry in the drum 4, and two dampers 7 for elastically
supporting rear portions of the water tank 3. The drum 4 is an
example of the washing and dewatering tank.
[0117] Most of the frontage of the housing 1 is formed of a front
panel 12, and bottom portion of the housing 1 is formed of a bottom
base 13. Also, a housing opening portion 11 is provided at the
frontage of the housing 1, and the housing opening portion 11 is
opened and closed by a door 2 pivotably fitted to the housing 1
with hinges. On top of the housing 1 are provided a detergent
casing 14 for housing therein detergent, bleach and softener, and
an operation part 15 having operation keys and a display part. On
the back side of the operation part 15 (on the interior side of the
housing 1) is placed an operation circuit 17 for controlling the
operation of the drum type washing machine. Further, a rear portion
of the top face of the housing 1 is formed into a step portion 16
lower than a front portion of the top face. In this step portion 16
are provided a tap water feed port 41 for feeding tap water to the
water tank 3 and a bath water feed port 42 for feeding bath water
to the water tank 3. A water feed channel from the tap water feed
port 41 to the detergent casing 14 has a water feed valve 43, while
a water feed channel from the bath water feed port 42 to the
detergent casing 14 has a bath water pump 44.
[0118] The water tank 3, which is combined with the frontage of the
housing portion located on the front side of the drum 4 in its
rotational axis direction, is composed of a front portion 31, and a
rear portion 32 fixed by screw in combination with the front
portion 31 and located on the rear side of the drum 4 in its
rotational axis direction, where the center axis is inclined with
respect to the horizontal plane so that the rear portion 32 becomes
lower than the front portion 31. A water tank opening portion 18 is
provided at the front portion 31 of the water tank 3, and a door
packing 19 formed of an elastic member such as rubber or soft resin
is fitted to an opening edge of the water tank opening portion 18.
As a result, the door 2, when closed, comes into close contact with
the door packing 19, so that the liquid within the water tank 3 can
be prevented from leaking out of the water tank 3. The water tank 3
is transversely positioned so that the water tank opening portion
18 faces the housing opening portion 11. More specifically, the
center axis of the water tank 3 is inclined to form an angle of
5.degree. to 30.degree. with respect to the horizontal direction. A
water feed duct 20 for feeding water, washing liquid or the like
into the water tank 3 is connected to an upper portion of the water
tank 3. Meanwhile, a drain duct 21 for draining water or washing
liquid or the like within the water tank 3 to the outside is
connected to a lower portion of the water tank 3. The drain duct 21
is further connected to a drain hose 23 via a filter 22. The filter
22 removes waste threads in the liquid that has flowed down from
within the water tank 3. The drain hose 23 is provided with a drain
valve 25 which is opened and closed by a drain motor 24.
[0119] The drum 4 is so positioned that its center axis is
decentered toward the top face of the housing 1 with respect to the
center axis of the water tank 3. That is, the center axis of the
drum 4 is positioned on an upper portion side of the water tank 3
with respect to the center axis of the water tank 3. In other
words, within the vertical plane containing the rotational axis of
the drum 4, a distance between the lower peripheral wall of the
drum 4 and the lower peripheral wall of the water tank 3 is larger
than a distance between the upper peripheral wall of the drum 4 and
the upper peripheral wall of the water tank 3. In short, the drum 4
is placed so as to be located on the upper portion side of the
water tank 3. Also, the rotational axis of the drum 4 is inclined
to form an angle of 5.degree. to 30.degree. with respect to the
horizontal direction, so that the drum 4 has its rear portion
positioned lower than its front portion. In the front portion of
the drum 4 is provided a drum opening portion 26 which faces the
housing opening portion 11 and the water tank opening portion
18.
[0120] The dampers 7 are fitted to a damper fitting surface 30 of a
damper support metal fitting 8 by their end portions of one side
other than the water tank 3 side.
[0121] FIG. 2 shows a schematic front view of the water tank 3.
[0122] The water tank opening portion 18 is smaller in diameter
than the drum opening portion 26. Then, a water tank opening
portion center C1 is positioned on one side of the housing 1 closer
to the top face of the housing 1 than a drum opening portion center
C2. That is, the water tank opening portion 18 is decentered from
the drum opening portion 26 toward the top face of the housing
1.
[0123] The drying system 6, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is
positioned lower than a plane including the center axis of the
water tank 3 and containing a horizontal axis perpendicular to the
center axis. That is, the drying system 6 is installed at a lower
portion of the space within the housing 1. Then, the drying system
6 has a dehumidification heat exchanger 100 for dehumidifying the
air in the water tank 3, a blower mechanism part 200 for directly
sucking the air dehumidified by the dehumidification heat exchanger
100, a heating mechanism part 300 for heating the air blown out by
the blower mechanism part 200, and a hot air blower part 400 for
guiding the air heated by the heating mechanism part 300 into the
drum 4.
[0124] The dehumidification heat exchanger 100 is positioned at a
lower portion of the space in the water tank 3. More specifically,
the dehumidification heat exchanger 100 is positioned in a region
which is immersed with the washing liquid between the inner
circumferential surface of the water tank 3 and the outer
circumferential surface of the drum 4.
[0125] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of the water tank
3.
[0126] A plurality of small holes 27 are provided all over the
peripheral wall of the drum 4 (in FIGS. 1 and 3, only six small
holes 27 are shown and the others are not). These small holes 27
are purposed to circulate washing water, dry air or the like
between a space, which is defined by the water tank 3 and the drum
4, and the space inside the drum 4. Also, radially inwardly
protruding baffles 28 are provided on the inner wall surface of the
drum 4. This baffles 28 are positioned at three points
circumferentially at, for example, 120.degree. intervals. The
baffles 28 serve for iteratively lifting and dropping laundry along
with the rotation of the drum 4. Also, a liquid balancer 29
surrounding the drum opening portion 26 of the drum 4 from outside
is provided in order that any imbalance that tends to occur due to
offsets of the laundry, washing liquid and the like is canceled by
move of sealed liquid inside the liquid balancer 29 during the
rotation of the drum 4.
[0127] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of main part of FIG. 3.
[0128] The blower mechanism part 200 is fitted to a rear face lower
portion of the water tank 3. The blower mechanism part 200 is
composed of a fan casing 201, a fan 202 housed in the fan casing
201, and a fan motor 203 which drives the fan 202 into
rotation.
[0129] The fan casing 201 is fitted to a rear face lower portion of
the water tank 3, and the space in the fan casing 201 is
communicated with the space in the water tank 3. Then, the fan
casing 201 is provided with a hole 204 through which a sheath
heater 301 is to be inserted. The hole 204 is an example of the
third hole.
[0130] The fan 202 is coupled directly with the rotating shaft of
the fan motor 203. With the fan 202 rotated by the fan motor 203,
air inside the water tank 3 can be sucked directly into the fan
casing 201.
[0131] The heating mechanism part 300 is positioned between a lower
portion of the water tank 3 and a lower portion of the drum 4.
Then, the heating mechanism part 300 has the sheath heater 301, a
metallic heater casing 302 surrounding a heat generation part 311
of the sheath heater 301, and a heater casing support component 303
for supporting the heater casing 302 in the water tank 3. It is
noted that the sheath heater 301 is an example of the heater and
the heater casing support component 303 is an example of the resin
component.
[0132] The sheath heater 301 is capable of heating the air in the
water tank 3 as well as water, washing water or the like in the
water tank 3. Also, the heat generation part 311 of the sheath
heater 301 is placed inside the heater casing 302 by the insertion
of the sheath heater 301 into the hole 204 of the fan casing 201.
In a portion 312 of the sheath heater 301 on its terminal side (the
side opposite to the heat generation part 311), a metallic heater
flange 313 is provided integrally with the sheath heater 301, and
moreover a heater packing 314 for sealing the hole 204 of the fan
casing 201 is provided. It is noted that the portion 312 is an
example of the fitting portion, the heater packing 314 is an
example of the packing, and the heater flange 313 is an example of
the flange.
[0133] Most of upper portion (a drum 4 side portion) of the heater
casing 302 is not covered with the heater casing support component
303 but exposed from the heater casing support component 303. That
is, most of upper portion (a drum 4 side portion) of the heater
casing 302 faces the outer peripheral surface of the drum 4. On the
other hand, most of lower portion of the heater casing 302 is
covered with the heater casing support component 303. Also, in a
lower portion of the heater casing 302 is provided a protruding
portion 322 protruding toward the water tank 3. This protruding
portion 322 has a sloped surface 323 for keeping water from
accumulating inside the protruding portion 322. More specifically,
the sloped surface 323 is so formed as to be inclined with respect
to the horizontal plane during the use so that its rear portion
becomes lower than the front portion. Also, on the inner wall of
the heater casing 302 is provided a heater supporter 321 which is
located near the protruding portion 322 to support the sheath
heater 301. This heater supporter 321, during the insertion of the
sheath heater 301 into the hole 204, guides the heat generation
part 311 of the sheath heater 301 to a specified position within
the heater casing 302. Needless to say, it is in a completed state
of the drum type washing machine that the sloped surface 323 is
inclined with respect to the horizontal plane as described above.
It is noted that the heater supporter 321 is an example of the
support part.
[0134] The heater casing support component 303 is fixed only to the
rear portion 32 of the water tank 3. Also, the heater casing
support component 303 is formed of heat-resistant resin. Then, in a
lower portion of the heater casing support component 303 is
provided a hole 331 that allows the protruding portion 322 of the
heater casing 302 to be exposed. It is noted that the hole 331 is
an example of the first hole.
[0135] The hot air blower part 400 is fixed only to the front
portion 31 of the water tank 3. Also, a rear-side end portion of
the hot air blower part 400 is coupled to a front-side end portion
of the heater casing 302. Meanwhile, a front-side end portion of
the hot air blower part 400 is positioned between the front lower
portion of the water tank 3 and the front lower portion of the drum
4. Then, a blower hole 40 provided at the front-side end portion of
the hot air blower part 400 is positioned between a lower edge of
the water tank opening portion 18 and a lower edge of the drum
opening portion 26, thus facing the drum opening portion 26 (see
FIG. 2).
[0136] Between the heater casing 302 and the heater casing support
component 303, and between the heater casing 302 and the hot air
blower part 400, is placed a heat-resistant cushioning material
600. It is noted that the heat-resistant cushioning material 600 is
an example of the cushioning material.
[0137] Further, a hole 33 that confronts the hole 331 is provided
in a lower portion of the water tank 3. A temperature
excessive-elevation prevention device 500 for controlling the
temperature of the heater casing 302 is inserted into the hole 33.
An end portion of the temperature excessive-elevation prevention
device 500 on the heater casing 302 side is in contact with the
protruding portion 322 of the heater casing 302. It is noted that
the hole 33 is an example of the second hole, and the temperature
excessive-elevation prevention device 500 is an example of the
temperature control component.
[0138] According to the drum type washing machine of the
above-described construction, since the heating mechanism part 300
and the hot air blower part 400 is located between the lower
portion of the water tank 3 and the drum 4, radiation heat of the
heating mechanism part 300 and the hot air blower part 400 is
intercepted by the water tank 3 so as not to directly reach the
housing 1. Therefore, the housing 1 can be prevented from getting
high temperature without any heat insulating material, thus making
it possible to suppress user's discomfort and uneasy feeling
without involving any increase in manufacturing cost.
[0139] For drying of the laundry in the drum 4, the drying system 6
is operated. Upon operation of the drying system 6, as indicated by
the arrow of FIG. 1, air circulates in the water tank 3. More
specifically, when the drying system 6 is operated, the fan 202 of
the blower mechanism part 200 is rotated, so that hot air generated
by the sheath heater 301 blows off from the blower hole 40 toward
lower portion of the space in the drum 4. As a result of this,
moisture of the laundry in the drum 4 evaporates. Air containing
the moisture, i.e., moist air goes from the small holes 27 out of
the drum 4, being cooled by the dehumidification heat exchanger 100
located at a lower portion of the space in the water tank 3. Thus,
the moisture contained in the moist air is condensed. That is, the
moist air is dehumidified by the dehumidification heat exchanger
100 so as to become dry air. This dry air is fed into the heater
casing 302 by the blower mechanism part 200, reheated by the sheath
heater 301, and then blown out from the blower hole 40 toward the
lower portion in the drum 4. That is, the hot air generated by the
sheath heater 301 blows out from the blower hole 40 toward the
lower portion of the space in the drum 4.
[0140] In the drying of laundry described above, by virtue of the
arrangement that the heating mechanism part 300 and the hot air
blower part 400 are located between the water tank 3 and the drum
4, heat radiated from the heating mechanism part 300 and the hot
air blower part 400 can be confined in the water tank 3. That is,
heat radiated from the outer walls of the heating mechanism part
300 and the hot air blower part 400 can be utilized as heat that
contributes to the drying of laundry in the drum 4. Accordingly,
heat radiation loss of the drying system 6 can be suppressed to a
minimum, so that the drying efficiency for laundry can be
enhanced.
[0141] Further, since the blower mechanism part 200 is located
outside the water tank 3, installation and maintenance of the
blower mechanism part 200 can be easily achieved.
[0142] By the arrangement that the metallic heater casing 302 is
provided so as to surround the heat generation part 311 of the
sheath heater 301, even if waste threads have adhered to the heat
generation part 311 of the sheath heater 301 and caught fire,
spreading of the fire of the waste threads to the heater casing
support component 303 or the water tank 3 can be prevented by the
heater casing 302. Therefore, the safety of the drum type washing
machine can be enhanced.
[0143] Since the heater casing 302 does not make contact with the
water tank 3, influences of the heat applied from the heater casing
302 to the water tank 3 can be relaxed. That is, the amount of heat
applied from the heater casing 302 to the water tank 3 can be
reduced. Therefore, thermal deformation of the water tank 3 can be
prevented, so that safety of the drum type washing machine can be
further enhanced.
[0144] Since most of the upper portion of the heater casing 302
that is not covered with the heater casing support component 303
faces the outer circumferential surface of the drum 4, the
radiation heat of the outer wall of the heater casing 302 can be
transferred to the drum 4 with high efficiency.
[0145] Since most of the lower portion of the heater casing 302 is
covered with the heater casing support component 303, radiant heat
directed from the lower portion of the heater casing 302 toward the
water tank 3 can be intercepted by the heater casing support
component 303. That is, the lower portion of the heater casing 302
and the water tank 3 can be heat-insulated by the heater casing
support component 303. Therefore, the amount of heat applied from
the heater casing 302 to the water tank 3 can be further
reduced.
[0146] Since the temperature excessive-elevation prevention device
500 for controlling the temperature of the heater casing 302 is
kept in contact with the heater casing 302, temperature elevations
of the heater casing 302 can be detected with high sensitivity by
the temperature excessive-elevation prevention device 500.
Therefore, any abnormal temperature elevation of the heater casing
302 can be detected promptly by the temperature excessive-elevation
prevention device 500, so that heat influences from the heater
casing 302 to peripheral components can be suppressed to a
minimum.
[0147] Since the protruding portion 322 of the heater casing 302 is
protruding from the hole 331 of the heater casing support component
303, it is easy to make the temperature excessive-elevation
prevention device 500 brought into contact with the heater casing
302.
[0148] By the arrangement that the sloped surface 323 of the
protruding portion 322 is so formed as to be inclined with respect
to the horizontal plane so that its rear portion becomes lower than
its front portion, for example, even if water has entered into the
heater casing 302 during the dewatering of laundry, it never occurs
that water stays in the protruding portion 322 in the drying of the
laundry. Therefore, any abnormal temperature elevation of the
heater casing 302 can be detected correctly and promptly by the
temperature excessive-elevation prevention device 500.
[0149] Since the heat-resistant cushioning material 600 is placed
between the heater casing 302 and the heater casing support
component 303 as well as between the heater casing 302 and the hot
air blower part 400, heat of the heater casing 302 is not
transferred directly to the heater casing support component 303 and
the hot air blower part 400. Therefore, heat applied to the heater
casing support component 303 and the hot air blower part 400 from
the heater casing 302 is of small amount, so that thermal
deformation of the heater casing support component 303 and the hot
air blower part 400 can be prevented.
[0150] Also, by the arrangement that the heat-resistant cushioning
material 600 is placed between the heater casing 302 and the heater
casing support component 303 as well as between the heater casing
302 and the hot air blower part 400, it becomes possible to
suppress rattling of the heater casing 302, the heater casing
support component 303 and the hot air blower part 400, for example,
due to vibrations in the dewatering of the laundry. Therefore,
occurrence of unusual noise due to the heater casing 302, the
heater casing support component 303 and the hot air blower part 400
can be prevented.
[0151] The hot air blower part 400 is fixed only to the front
portion 31 of the water tank 3, and the heater casing support
component 303 is fixed only to the rear portion 32 of the water
tank 3. Therefore, by setting a combination of the front portion of
the water tank 3 and the rear portion of the water tank 3, it
becomes possible to combine the heater casing 302 supported by the
heater casing support component 303 and the hot air blower part 400
together. Thus, assembly of the water tank 3 and the drying system
6 becomes easier to achieve, so that the drum type washing machine
of this embodiment becomes higher in assemblability.
[0152] Further, by virtue of the structure that the sheath heater
301 is inserted into the hole 204 provided in the blower mechanism
part 200, even if the sheath heater 301 has malfunctioned, the
malfunctioning sheath heater 301 can simply be replaced with
another. Therefore, the washer dryer of this embodiment is enhanced
in serviceability.
[0153] In the above-described embodiment, part of the drying system
6 is placed on one side between the water tank 3 and the drum 4,
the side being lower than a plane which contains a center axis of
the water tank 3 and which contains a horizontal axis perpendicular
to the center axis. However, it is also possible, for example, to
place part of the drying system 6 on one side between the water
tank 3 and the drum 4, the side being upper than a plane which
contains a center axis of the water tank 3 and which contains a
horizontal axis perpendicular to the center axis. Otherwise, part
of the drying system 6 may also be placed on one side between the
water tank 3 and the drum 4, the side being the left side of a
plane which contains a center axis of the water tank 3 and which
contains a vertical axis perpendicular to the center axis. Of
course, part of the drying system 6 may also be placed on one side
between the water tank 3 and the drum 4, the side being the right
side of a plane which contains a center axis of the water tank 3
and which contains a vertical axis perpendicular to the center
axis. In short, the place where at least part of the drying system
6 is placed may be anywhere between the water tank 3 and the drum
4.
[0154] Although at least part of the drying system 6 is placed
between the water tank 3 and the drum 4 in the above-described
embodiment, yet the entirety of the drying system 6 may be placed
between the water tank 3 and the drum 4. That is, all of the
dehumidification heat exchanger 100, the blower mechanism part 200,
the heating mechanism part 300 and the hot air blower part 400 may
be placed between the water tank 3 and the drum 4.
[0155] The dehumidification heat exchanger 100, although placed
between the water tank 3 and the drum 4 in the above-described
embodiment, yet may also be placed between the housing 1 and the
water tank 3.
[0156] Although the protruding portion 322 is provided at a lower
portion of the heater casing 302 in the above-described embodiment,
yet the protruding portion 322 may also be provided at a lower
portion of the water tank 3. More specifically, it is also possible
that the heater casing support component 303 has a first hole
provided at a portion facing the water tank 3 while the water tank
3 has a protruding portion provided at a portion facing the first
hole, the protruding portion protruding toward the heater casing
302 and having a second hole. In this case, the temperature
excessive-elevation prevention device 500 is inserted into the
second hole so that the temperature excessive-elevation prevention
device 500 is brought into contact with a lower portion of the
heater casing 302.
[0157] Although the hole 204 for insertion of the sheath heater 301
is provided in the blower mechanism part 200 in the above-described
embodiment, yet the hole 204 for insertion of the sheath heater 301
may also be provided in the water tank 3. In this case, the place
where the hole 204 for insertion of the sheath heater 301 may be
either in a front face lower portion of the water tank 3 or in a
rear face lower portion of the water tank 3.
[0158] Further, in the washer dryer of the present invention, the
axis of the washing and dewatering tank may be horizontal, diagonal
or vertical. That is, the axis of the washing and dewatering tank
may be set parallel to the horizontal plane, or diagonal to the
horizontal plane, or vertical to the horizontal plane.
[0159] Embodiments of the invention being thus described, it will
be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such
variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit
and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be
obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included
within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *