Dryer and method for operating dryer

Abstract

The dryer is provided with: an outer tank; a drum which is provided in the outer tank and accommodates a program object; the heating unit is used for heating air in the outer tank; a circulation flow path connecting the heating unit and the outer tank; an air blowing unit provided in the circulation flow path; and a control unit capable of executing a water repellency recovery program for recovering the water repellency of the program object, the control unit operating the heating unit and the blowing unit in the water repellency recovery program so that the air temperature in the drum is 45 DEG C or more.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a dryer and an operation method of the dryer. Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a drum-type washing and drying machine that performs a drying operation with reduced mechanical output of the washing and drying machine to dry delicate clothes.

[0003] In the drying operation with reduced mechanical output described in Patent Document 1, the rotation angle of the drum is restricted so as not to tumble the clothes spread in the drum, and the drum is rotated forward and backward. By restricting the rotation angle of the drum in the normal drying operation, damage and shrinkage of delicate clothes can be suppressed.

[0004] Prior Art Documents

[0005] Patent Documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-60991 Summary of the Invention

[0007] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] However, in the washing and drying machine described in Patent Document 1, neither the restoration of the water repellency of clothes is disclosed nor suggested.

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to solve the above problems and provide a dryer capable of restoring the water repellency of a program object including clothes.

[0010] Solutions to the Problems

[0011] A dryer according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: an outer tub; a drum disposed in the outer tub for accommodating a program object; a heating unit that heats air in the outer tub; a circulation flow path that connects the heating unit and the outer tub; a blowing unit disposed in the circulation flow path; and a control unit. The control unit can execute a water repellency restoration program for restoring the water repellency of the program object. In the water repellency restoration program, the control unit operates the heating unit and the blowing unit so that the air temperature in the drum is 45°C or higher.

[0012] An operation method of a dryer according to one aspect of the present disclosure is for restoring the water repellency of a program object. The operation method of the dryer includes the following steps: operating the blowing unit to circulate air between the outer tub and the heating unit, and operating the heating unit to heat the air in the outer tub so that the target temperature in the drum is 45°C or higher.

[0013] Effects of the Invention

[0014] According to the present disclosure, a dryer capable of restoring the water repellency of a program object can be provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic front view of the dryer according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure.

[0016] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the dryer.

[0017] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the drum and the circulation path.

[0018] Figure 4A is a cross-sectional view showing the outer tub, the drum, and the circulation path.

[0019] Figure 4B is a schematic view of the outer tub, the drum, and the circulation path.

[0020] Figure 5 is a schematic front view of the dryer containing clothes.

[0021] Figure 6A is a schematic view showing the surface of the clothes having water repellency.

[0022] Figure 6B is a schematic view showing the surface of the clothes with reduced water repellency.

[0023] Figure 7A is a graph showing the relationship between the restoration of water repellency and the heating temperature of the clothes.

[0024] Figure 7B is a chart showing the relationship between the time of maintaining the target temperature and the difference in water repellency level.

[0025] Figure 8A is a chart showing the relationship between the initial temperature and the heating time until the target temperature is reached.

[0026] Figure 8B is a table showing the relationship between the initial temperature and the operating time of the heat pump device.

[0027] Figure 9 is a flowchart of the water repellency restoration program.

[0028] Figure 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the dryer according to Modification 1.

[0029] Figure 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the dryer according to Modification 2.

[0030] Figure 12It is a block diagram of the drying system according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. Detailed Embodiment

[0031] (Embodiment 1)

[0032] The dryer 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure will be described.

[0033] Figure 1 It is a schematic front view of the dryer 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. Figure 2 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the dryer 1.

[0034] The dryer 1 according to Embodiment 1 is a drum-type washing and drying machine having a washing function and a drying function. As Figure 1 shown, the dryer 1 includes a housing 2, an outer tub 3, a drum 4, a drive unit 5 ( Figure 2 ), a heat pump device 6, a circulation flow path 8, a fan 9, a water supply valve 10, a drain valve 11, a temperature detection unit 15, a control unit 16, and an operation unit 17.

[0035] The housing 2 is a member that forms the appearance of the dryer 1. As Figure 2 shown, an opening 20 is provided on the front surface of the housing 2, and a door 21 that can be opened and closed to cover the opening 20 is provided.

[0036] The outer tub 3 is a substantially cylindrical member provided inside the housing 2 and having a function of accumulating washing water. The outer tub 3 has a bottom 36 and a cylindrical portion 37. The outer tub 3 may also be referred to as a water tank or a tub. The outer tub 3 has an opening 31 at a position facing the opening 20 of the housing 2. The opening 31 is connected to the opening 20 through a bellows 32. In addition, the axis passing through the center of the bottom 36 of the outer tub 3 is set as the rotation axis V0. The outer tub 3 is inclined so that the rotation axis V0 has an angle with respect to the horizontal.

[0037] The drum 4 is a substantially cylindrical member provided inside the outer tub 3 so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis V0. The drum 4 has a bottom 42 and a cylindrical portion 44. Objects such as clothes to be processed by the program executed by the dryer 1 are accommodated inside the drum 4. The drum 4 may also be referred to as an inner tub or a storage tub. A plurality of through holes 40 are formed in the drum 4. The through holes 40 communicate the drum 4 with the outer tub 3. The drum 4 is provided with an opening 41 at a position facing the opening 20 of the housing 2 and the opening 31 of the outer tub 3. When the user opens the door 21, objects such as clothes for the program can be put into the drum 4 through the openings 20, 31, and 41.

[0038] The drive unit 5 is a member that drives the drum 4 to rotate about the rotation axis V0. The drive unit 5 has, for example, a motor that rotates the drum 4.

[0039] The heat pump device 6 is a device capable of dehumidifying and heating the air flowing in the circulation flow path 8. The heat pump device 6 is provided above the outer tank 3. The heat pump device 6 has, for example, a heat exchanger for heating, a heat exchanger for dehumidifying, a compressor, a throttling mechanism, and a refrigerant pipe.

[0040] The circulation flow path 8 is provided inside the housing 2, connects the outer tank 3 and the heat pump device 6, and circulates air between the outer tank 3 and the heat pump device 6. Specifically, the suction port 81 of the circulation flow path 8 is connected to the opening 33 of the cylindrical portion 37 provided in the outer tank 3, and the discharge port 82 of the circulation flow path 8 is connected to the opening 34 provided at the bottom 36 of the outer tank 3.

[0041] The fan 9 is a fan that generates the flow of air in the circulation flow path 8. The fan 9 generates the flow of air circulating along the circulation direction A. The dryer 1 may also have other air supply parts that generate the flow of air instead of the fan 9.

[0042] The heat pump device 6, the circulation flow path 8, and the fan 9 together constitute a drying mechanism. The drying mechanism is used in a normal drying process for drying the clothes accommodated in the drum 4. The drying mechanism is also used in a water repellency restoration process, which is an example of a heating process for heating the clothes accommodated in the drum 4 to a specified target temperature th.

[0043] The heating process is a process of heating the clothes accommodated in the drum 4 to a temperature above the specified target temperature th. The water repellency restoration process is a process of heating the clothes accommodated in the drum 4 to a temperature above the specified target temperature th to restore the water repellency of the clothes. By executing the water repellency restoration process with the target temperature th set to 45°C, the water repellency of the clothes can be restored. In addition, since the water repellency restoration process of the present embodiment targets dry clothes, the air temperature in the drum can be regarded as being substantially the same as the surface temperature of the clothes. The water repellency restoration process of the present embodiment determines the time until the clothes reach a temperature above the specified target temperature th based on the initial temperature t0 of the air in the drum 4. In addition, the water repellency of the clothes can be restored by heating the clothes to a temperature above 45°C, regardless of the heating time for maintaining the temperature above 45°C. Restoring the water repellency of the clothes means making the surface tension of the clothes less than the surface tension of water, for example, making the contact angle of water with the clothes 90° or more.

[0044] Examples of the clothes that are the objects of the water repellency restoration process include outdoor series clothes such as nylon and polyester down jackets, mountain parkas, and shell jackets that have been subjected to water repellency treatment, as well as overcoats. In addition, the clothes that are the objects of the water repellency restoration process also include clothes sprayed with a water repellent spray.

[0045] Return to Figure 1 The water supply valve 10 is an openable and closable valve connected to a faucet via an external hose. When the water supply valve 10 is opened, water is supplied to the outer tank 3.

[0046] The drain valve 11 is an openable and closable valve. When the drain valve 11 is opened, the water accumulated in the outer tank 3 is discharged to the outside of the outer tank 3. The drain valve 11 is provided below the outer tank 3.

[0047] The temperature detection unit 15 has a sensor provided in the drum 4 to measure the temperature of the air in the drum 4. Specifically, the temperature detection unit 15 measures the initial temperature t0 of the air in the drum 4 before the execution of the water repellency recovery program.

[0048] The control unit 16 is a controller responsible for controlling the dryer 1. The control unit 16 controls components of the dryer 1 such as the drive unit 5, the heat pump device 6, the fan 9, the water supply valve 10, the drain valve 11, and the operation unit 17. The control unit 16 includes general-purpose processors such as a CPU, MPU, FPGA, DSP, and ASIC that implement specified functions by executing programs. The control unit 16 can implement various controls in the dryer 1 by calling and executing the control programs stored in the memory 16a. The control unit 16 is not limited to a structure that realizes specified functions through the cooperation of hardware and software, and can also be a specially designed hardware circuit that realizes specified functions.

[0049] The memory 16a is a recording medium that records various information and control programs, and can also be a memory that functions as a work area of the control unit 16. The memory 16a is realized, for example, by a flash memory, an SSD (Solid State Device), a hard disk, a RAM, other storage devices, or a suitable combination thereof.

[0050] The memory 16a stores in advance information related to the operation time of the water repellency recovery program. Specifically, the memory 16a stores in advance the operating time of the heat pump device 6 in the water repellency recovery program corresponding to the initial temperature t0 before the execution of the water repellency recovery program. The operating time will be described later.

[0051] The operation unit 17 is a part of the dryer 1 for the user to operate. The user inputs the programs to be executed by the dryer 1 and the conditions of the programs via the operation unit 17. The control unit 16 controls the dryer 1 based on the input to the operation unit 17. The operation unit 17 can be composed of a liquid crystal touch panel or one or more buttons.

[0052] Here, with reference to Figures 3 to 4B to describe the connection between the circulation flow path 8 and the drum 4 in more detail. Figure 3It is a perspective view showing the drum 4 and a part of the circulation flow path 8 as viewed from the back side with the outer groove 3 omitted. Figure 4A It is a cross-sectional view showing the outer groove 3, the drum 4, and a part of the circulation flow path 8. Figure 4B It is a view showing the flow of air flowing into the drum 4 from the circulation flow path 8, and is a schematic view of a part of the outer groove 3, the drum 4, and the circulation flow path 8.

[0053] As Figure 3 and Figure 4A shown, the bottom 42 of the drum 4 has a plurality of mesh portions 54 provided with a lot of through holes 40. The mesh portion 54 is a member that deflects the direction of air flowing into the drum 4 from the circulation flow path 8. As Figure 4A shown, when the air passes through the mesh portion 54, it deflects outwardly to the K2 side (from the rotation axis V0 toward the cylindrical portion 44) as shown by the flow direction A0.

[0054] As Figure 4B shown, the mesh portion 54 has, in a position facing the opening 34, a flat portion 54B along the width direction K orthogonal to the rotation axis V0 and an inclined portion 54C inclined toward the front side M1 in order toward the outside K2.

[0055] The air passing through the opening 34 flows into the drum 4 through the through holes 40 of the flat portion 54B and the inclined portion 54C. By passing through the through holes 40, the speed of the air increases. After passing through the through holes 40, if the air further moves away from the through holes 40, the speed of the air gradually decreases corresponding to the distance it flows. Here, focus on the air along the VI-VI line extending in the width direction K downstream of the inclined portion 54C. Due to the inclination of the inclined portion 54C, the distance from each through hole 40 to the VI-VI line becomes smaller as it goes toward the outside K2, and the distance the air flows after passing through the through holes 40 becomes smaller. Therefore, on the VI-VI line, the air maintains a high speed after passing through the through holes 40 as it goes toward the outside K2, in other words, the speed of the air becomes larger as it goes toward the outside K2. Therefore, a negative pressure is generated toward the outside K2. The air is pulled toward the outside K2 due to the negative pressure, and thus deflects toward the cylindrical portion 44 of the drum 4.

[0056] Since the air deflects toward the cylindrical portion 44, the air easily contacts the clothing arranged along the cylindrical portion 44. In addition, if the deflected air is heated air, it is easy to heat the clothing.

[0057] Next, refer to Figures 6A to 8B to explain the restoration of water repellency by heating. Figure 6A It is a schematic view showing the surface of clothing having water repellency. Figure 6B It is a schematic view showing the surface of clothing with reduced water repellency. Figure 7AShows the relationship between the recovery of water repellency and the heating temperature tc of the clothing. Figure 7B Is a graph showing the relationship between the time for maintaining the target temperature th and the difference in water repellency level. Figure 8A Is a graph showing the relationship between the initial temperature t0 in the drum 4 and the heating time Q taken by the heat pump device 6 until the target temperature th is achieved. Figure 8B Is a table showing the relationship between the initial temperature t0 of the air in the drum 4 and the operating time P1 of the heat pump device 6 in the water repellency recovery program.

[0058] As Figure 6A shown, the surface of the clothing 19 having water repellency is covered with the water repellent group B1. Since the neatly arranged water repellent groups B1 repel the water droplets W1, the water droplets W1 are not easily penetrated into the clothing 19. Thus, the clothing 19 has water repellency. As an example of the water repellent group B1, for example, fluorine-based and hydrocarbon-based are cited. The fluorine-based water repellent group is, for example, made from a compound having a perfluoroalkyl group. The hydrocarbon-based water repellent group is, for example, made from a compound having stearylamine, hexadecylamine, tetradecylamine, or dodecylamine. On the other hand, a water repellent group other than those exemplified above may also be provided on the surface of the clothing 19.

[0059] As Figure 6B shown, due to the use of the clothing 19, the water repellent groups B1 become disordered from the neatly arranged state. If the water repellent groups B1 fall down, it becomes difficult to repel the water droplets W1, and the water droplets W1 are easily penetrated into the clothing 19. Thus, the water repellency of the clothing 19 decreases.

[0060] By heating the clothing 19, it is possible to Figure 6B restore from the state shown in Figure 6A to the state shown in

[0061] Therefore, the inventors studied the heating conditions in order to restore the water repellency of clothing. First, in order to study the influence of the heating temperature tc, the inventors carried out heating tests in which the dried clothing was heated to different temperatures. The heating temperature tc refers to the highest clothing temperature during the program operation when working under this condition. Specifically, using the dryer 1, with the ambient temperature being 5°C to 10°C, the drum 4 was stopped or rotated forward, the output of the heat pump device 6 was operated under the same conditions as in normal drying operation, and the rotational speed of the fan 9 was reduced compared to that during normal drying operation, and an operation of 2 to 3 hours was carried out. The difference between the water repellency grade before heating and the water repellency grade after heating, that is, the water repellency grade difference (0, 1, 2, 3), was measured. Figure 7A The results are shown in

[0062] The inventors found that: as Figure 7A shown, the restoration of the water repellency of clothing depends on the heating temperature tc. In addition, the maximum heating temperature tc at which the water repellency grade does not change is 42.5°C. In other words, if the clothing is heated to a temperature higher than 42.5°C, the difference in the water repellency grade becomes more than one grade. However, for example, there are cases where the surface temperature of the clothing is difficult to rise due to the state of the dryer such as clogging of the dryer filter or the thickness of the clothing in the drum 4 or the state of the clothing. Therefore, if the clothing is heated to 45°C or more considering the error, the water repellency grade can be increased, thereby restoring the water repellency of the clothing. Therefore, the target temperature th of the clothing in the water repellency restoration program is set to 45°C.

[0063] In addition, the inventors also studied the influence of the heating time and compared it with the influence of the heating temperature tc. Therefore, the inventors accommodated the clothing in environments of 40°C and 45°C respectively, and heated the clothing while maintaining each temperature. As Figure 7B shown, compared with heating the clothing at 40°C for a long time, when the clothing is heated at 45°C, the difference in the water repellency grade becomes larger. Therefore, in the restoration of the water repellency of clothing, the heating temperature tc has a greater influence than the heating time. On the other hand, by maintaining a temperature of 45°C or more for a certain period of time, the water repellency of the clothing can be further improved.

[0064] In the water repellency restoration program carried out by the dryer 1, when the heating temperature tc reaches 45°C or more, the water repellency of the clothing can be improved regardless of the time of maintaining 45°C.

[0065] The target temperature th can also be 45°C or higher. In this case, the water repellency of clothing and the like can be further improved. On the other hand, by setting the target temperature th to be 45°C or higher and 60°C or lower, damage to the clothing due to heating can be suppressed. For example, by setting the target temperature th to be less than 60°C, the surface temperature of the clothing can be suppressed from reaching 60°C, which is the glass transition point of nylon. For example, by setting the target temperature th to be 60°C or lower, damage such as softening and deformation of plastic parts such as zippers on the clothing can be suppressed, shrinkage of chemical fibers that are not heat-resistant and not resistant to mechanical force can be suppressed, and printing and fabric peeling that are heat-pressed can be suppressed.

[0066] In the present embodiment, since the heat pump device 6 is used as the heating device, due to the characteristics of the heat pump device, the target temperature th is 60°C or lower. In addition, in the case of a device capable of heating at 60°C or higher, it is preferable to control the temperature of the heating device to be 60°C or lower.

[0067] In the dryer 1, the heat pump device 6 is operated to heat the clothing accommodated in the drum 4 to the target temperature th.

[0068] On the other hand, as Figure 8A shown, according to the temperature information related to the installation environment of the dryer 1 before heating, the heating time Q taken by the heat pump device 6 until it heats to a temperature above the target temperature th is different. Specifically, if the initial temperature t0 of the air in the drum 4 measured by the temperature detection unit 15 before heating is low, the heating time Q taken by the heat pump device 6 until the target temperature th is achieved becomes longer.

[0069] To achieve the target temperature th, the control unit 16 controls the operating time P1 of the heat pump device 6 in the water repellency restoration program. As Figure 8B shown, the memory 16a of the control unit 16 stores the operating time P1 corresponding to the initial temperature t0 in advance, and the control unit 16 determines the operating time P1 based on the initial temperature t0. Therefore, regardless of the initial temperature t0, it is easy to make the clothing reach the target temperature th through the water repellency restoration program, and the water repellency of the clothing is restored.

[0070] [Operation]

[0071] In the structure as described above, an example of the water repellency restoration program of the dryer 1 will be described with reference to Figure 9 . Figure 9 is a flowchart of the water repellency restoration program.

[0072] In the water repellency restoration program, the washing program including the washing process and the rinsing process is not executed, and the dried clothing is heated. Specifically, in the water repellency restoration program, the target temperature th of the clothing is set to be 45°C or higher and 60°C or lower, and the clothing is heated.

[0073] If the laundry is dry, compared with wet laundry, it has less water content, so the heat capacity of the laundry is small, and the energy required to heat it to the target temperature th is less. Therefore, it is easier for the dry laundry to reach the target temperature th.

[0074] When the user selects the "water repellency restoration program" through the operation unit 17, the water repellency restoration program starts. The user can also put the laundry into the drum 4 and input information related to the laundry together with the selection of the program.

[0075] As Figure 9 shown, first, the control unit 16 acquires the initial temperature t0 inside the drum 4 (S10). Specifically, the control unit 16 acquires the initial temperature t0 inside the drum 4 measured by the temperature detection unit 15.

[0076] Next, the control unit 16 acquires information related to the laundry accommodated in the drum 4 (S11). The control unit 16 acquires the desired laundry treatment information input by the user at the operation unit 17 as the information related to the laundry accommodated in the drum 4. For example, when the user wants to significantly improve the water repellency of the laundry, the user selects "strong" as the laundry treatment information on the operation unit 17, and when the user wants to slightly improve the water repellency of the laundry, the user selects "weak" as the laundry treatment information on the operation unit 17.

[0077] Next, the control unit 16 determines the operating time P1 of the heat pump device 6 in the water repellency restoration program based on the initial temperature t0 and the laundry treatment information in step S11 (S12). Specifically, the control unit 16 refers to the memory 16a and determines the value corresponding to the initial temperature t0 as the operating time P1.

[0078] When the laundry treatment information is acquired in step S11, when the laundry treatment information is "strong", the control unit 16 may also extend the operating time P1. When the laundry treatment information is "weak", the control unit 16 may also shorten the operating time P1.

[0079] Next, the control unit 16 turns on the fan 9 to rotate the fan 9 (S13), and turns on the heat pump device 6 (S14). Through such operations, the heated air circulates in the circulation path 8 and the drum 4.

[0080] In a normal drying process, dried air is sent into the drum 4 to evaporate the moisture of the laundry, and the air containing moisture is discharged from the drum 4 to circulate the air. Therefore, a certain rotational speed of the fan is required. On the other hand, in the water-repellent recovery process, it is preferable to suppress the circulation of the air in the drum 4 as much as possible to promote the temperature rise of the air. Thus, the rotational speed of the fan 9 in the water-repellent recovery process of the present embodiment (for example, 4100 r / min) is significantly lower than the rotational speed of the fan 9 in the normal drying process for drying the laundry (for example, 6000 r / min), and is also lower than the rotational speed of the fan 9 in the drying process with the air volume for drying the laundry reduced (for example, 4300 r / min). The rotational speed of the fan 9 in the water-repellent recovery process of the present embodiment can also be, for example, the lowest rotational speed (for example, 4100 r / min) in the drying processes mounted on the dryer. The process with the lowest rotational speed in the drying process can also be, for example, a night-time process in which the rotational speed of the fan 9 is suppressed to reduce the noise during late-night operation, or an energy-saving process for suppressing the power consumption. When the rotational speed of the fan 9 changes in the normal drying process, the rotational speed of the fan 9 in the water-repellent recovery process is lower than the lowest rotational speed of the fan 9 in the normal drying process. Thereby, the laundry can be heated to a temperature above the specified target temperature th faster, and the power consumption of the water-repellent recovery process can be reduced. On the other hand, the rotational speed of the fan 9 in the water-repellent recovery process can also be the same as the rotational speed of the fan 9 in the normal drying process. In addition, in a dryer equipped with a heater, by suppressing the circulation of the air in the drum, it is easier for the temperature of the air to rise. Thus, the structure in which the rotational speed of the fan in the water-repellent recovery process is lower than the rotational speed of the fan in the normal rotation process is more suitable for a dryer equipped with a heater.

[0081] In addition, in the heating by the heat pump device 6, it is easy to maintain the temperature of the air at, for example, 60°C or lower. The heat pump device 6 uses the heat released when the refrigerant discharged from the compressor condenses in the condenser to heat the air. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the temperature of the air from becoming too high and suppress the damage to the laundry caused by the overheated air.

[0082] In Embodiment 1, in the water-repellent recovery process, the control unit 16 closes the drive unit 5, causing the drum 4 to stop. On the other hand, the control unit 16 may also turn on the drive unit 5 to rotate the drum 4. In this case, the drive unit 5 is turned on in such a way that the stop time of the drum 4 in the water-repellent recovery process is longer than the rotation time of the drum 4. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the application of mechanical force to the clothes inside the drum 4 due to the rotation of the drum 4, and it is possible to suppress an adverse effect on the water-repellent performance due to the falling of the water-repellent base on the surface of the clothes inside the drum 4. Additionally, for example, the drum 4 may perform a swinging motion of rotating intermittently at regular time intervals. Through such an operation, the air inside the tub and the clothes provided are heated more uniformly by the rotation of the drum 4. Due to the rotation of the drum 4, the air inside the tub does not stagnate and becomes uniform. Also, since the direction of the clothes is changed by the rotation of the drum 4, the air comes into uniform contact with the clothes, and the clothes are also heated evenly.

[0083] Next, the control unit 16 determines whether the working time P1 has elapsed since the heat pump device 6 was turned on (S15).

[0084] If the working time P1 has not elapsed since the heat pump device 6 was turned on (in S15, "no"), the process returns to before step S15.

[0085] If the working time P1 has elapsed since the heat pump device 6 was turned on (in S15, "yes"), the heat pump device 6 is turned off (S16).

[0086] Next, the control unit 16 waits for the standby time P2 to elapse (S17). During the standby time P2, the fan 9 operates. By operating the fan 9 during the standby time P2 after the heat pump device 6 is turned off (S16), the heated clothes can be cooled. Therefore, the user can take out the clothes immediately after the water-repellent recovery process ends.

[0087] Next, the control unit 16 turns off the fan 9 after a predetermined time has elapsed (S18), stops the circulation of air, and ends the water-repellent recovery process.

[0088] Summarize the above description and describe the features of the present disclosure.

[0089] In the dryer 1 according to Embodiment 1, the control unit 16 controls the working time P1 of the heat pump device 6 based on the initial temperature t0 so that the temperature of the clothes reaches the target temperature th. Therefore, the clothes are heated to 45°C or higher, and the water-repellency of the clothes is improved.

[0090] In order to effectively heat the laundry, during the water-repellent restoration program, the control unit 16 reduces the rotational speed of the fan 9 compared to the rotational speed in the normal drying program and stops the drum 4. This is different from the normal drying program in which moist air is actively sent out from the drum 4 and dry air is introduced.

[0091] [Effect]

[0092] According to the dryer 1 according to Embodiment 1, the following effects can be achieved.

[0093] As described above, the dryer 1 of Embodiment 1 includes an outer tub 3 and a drum 4, where the drum 4 is disposed inside the outer tub 3 and is used to accommodate the object of the program. The dryer 1 further includes: a heat pump device 6 (heating unit) that heats the air in the outer tub 3; a circulation flow path 8 that connects the heat pump device 6 and the outer tub 3; a fan 9 (air supply unit) that is disposed in the circulation flow path 8; and a control unit 16. The control unit 16 can execute a water-repellent restoration program for restoring the water repellency of the object of the program. In the water-repellent restoration program, the control unit 16 operates the heat pump device 6 and the fan 9 so that the air temperature inside the drum 4 is 45°C or higher.

[0094] According to such a configuration, by heating the dryer 1 to the target temperature th, the water-repellent groups can be restored to an orderly arrangement state, and the water repellency of the laundry can be restored.

[0095] In the dryer 1 of Embodiment 1, the control unit 16 determines the operating time P1 of the heat pump device 6 in the water-repellent restoration program based on the temperature information related to the installation environment.

[0096] According to such a configuration, regardless of the temperature information related to the installation environment, it is easy to heat to the target temperature th more reliably.

[0097] In the dryer 1 of Embodiment 1, a temperature detection unit 15 is further provided. The temperature detection unit 15 detects the initial temperature t0 inside the drum as the temperature information related to the installation environment of the dryer 1, and the control unit 16 determines the operating time of the heat pump device 6 in the water-repellent restoration program based on the initial temperature t0.

[0098] According to such a configuration, regardless of the initial temperature t0 inside the drum, it is easy to heat to the target temperature th more reliably.

[0099] In the dryer 1 of Embodiment 1, in the water-repellent restoration program, the control unit 16 controls the drum 4 so that the time for the drum 4 to stop is longer than the time for the drum 4 to rotate.

[0100] According to such a configuration, agitation of the air and laundry inside the drum 4 can be suppressed. Therefore, the heated air is not easily mixed with the cold air, and it is easy to maintain a high temperature inside the drum 4.

[0101] In the dryer 1 of Embodiment 1, the control unit 16 stops the drum 4 during the water-repellent restoration program.

[0102] With such a configuration, agitation of the air and the laundry inside the drum 4 can be further suppressed.

[0103] The dryer 1 of Embodiment 1 includes a fan 9. The control unit 16 executes a normal drying program in which the heat pump device 6 and the fan 9 operate, and the rotational speed of the fan 9 during the water-repellent restoration program is less than or equal to the rotational speed of the fan 9 during the normal drying program.

[0104] With such a configuration, agitation of the air and the laundry inside the drum 4 can be further suppressed.

[0105] In the dryer 1 of Embodiment 1, the fan 9 rotates at different rotational speeds during the normal drying program, and the rotational speed of the fan 9 during the water-repellent restoration program is less than or equal to the lowest rotational speed of the fan 9 during the normal drying program.

[0106] With such a configuration, agitation of the air and the laundry inside the drum 4 can be further suppressed.

[0107] In the dryer 1 of Embodiment 1, the discharge port 82 (outlet) of the circulation flow path is connected to the bottom of the outer tub 3, and the outer tub 3 has a mesh portion 54 (guide unit) that deflects the air flowing into the outer tub 3 from the discharge port 82 in a direction away from the rotation axis V0 of the drum.

[0108] With such a configuration, the air flowing into the drum 4 can be deflected toward the circumferential surface of the drum 4. Therefore, more air can contact the laundry disposed along the circumferential surface of the drum 4 more evenly.

[0109] The dryer 1 of Embodiment 1 includes a heat pump device 6.

[0110] With such a configuration, damage to the laundry caused by excessive heating can be suppressed compared to the case where other heating units are used.

[0111] The operation method of the dryer 1 of Embodiment 1 is an operation method of the dryer 1 for restoring the water repellency of the program object. The operation method includes the following steps: operating the fan 9 to circulate air between the outer tub 3 and the heat pump device 6, and operating the heat pump device 6 to heat the air in the outer tub 3 so that the target temperature th inside the drum 4 is 45°C or higher.

[0112] With such a configuration, by heating the dryer 1 to the target temperature th, the water-repellent groups can be restored to an orderly arrangement state, and the water repellency of the laundry can be restored.

[0113] In addition, the present disclosure is not limited to Embodiment 1 and can be implemented in various other ways.

[0114] In addition, in Embodiment 1, the case where the dryer 1 has a washing function has been described, but the dryer 1 may not have a washing function. Further, an example in which the dryer 1 has a drum 4 that functions as a rotating tank has been described, but the dryer 1 may not have a rotating tank. For example, a laundry processing device that contains laundry may be provided instead of the dryer 1.

[0115] In addition, in Embodiment 1, as an example of a heating program, a water-repellent restoration program has been described, but it is not limited thereto. The dryer 1 may also execute a water-repellent restoration program that improves the water repellency of the program object as a heating program. Further, in Embodiment 1, an example in which the user selects the "water-repellent restoration program" has been described, but the name is not limited to the "water-repellent restoration program", and since it includes other programs that restore the water repellency of laundry, it may be, for example, a "water-repellent improvement program" or the like.

[0116] In addition, in Embodiment 1, the case where the object of the water-repellent restoration program is laundry has been described, but other water-repellent fabrics may also be used as the program object. For example, the water-repellent restoration program may be executed on shoes, hats, or the fabric parts of tents or umbrellas.

[0117] In addition, in Embodiment 1, an example in which the dryer 1 has a heat pump device 6 has been described, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the dryer 1 may have a heater such as a PTC heater instead of the heat pump device 6. In the case where the dryer 1 is a PTC heater including two heaters, the heating amount of the PTC heater may also be changed according to the initial temperature t0. For example, it may be that when the initial temperature t0 is low, both heaters are driven, and when the initial temperature t0 is high, one heater is driven.

[0118] In addition, in Embodiment 1, an example in which the target temperature th is 45°C or higher has been described, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the target temperature th may also be 40°C or higher and less than 45°C. In this case, the control unit 16 executes the water-repellent restoration program so as to maintain the target temperature th for 30 minutes. Therefore, when the target temperature th is 45°C or higher, the water repellency of the laundry is restored in a short time, so that the water repellency of the laundry can be restored more reliably.

[0119] In addition, an example is described in which the dryer 1 has a temperature detection unit 15 and the temperature information related to the installation environment is the initial temperature t0 in the drum 4 measured by the temperature detection unit 15, but it is not limited thereto. The dryer 1 may also be provided with other temperature detection units instead of the temperature detection unit 15. The other temperature detection units are arranged outside the dryer 1 and are used to detect the ambient temperature information as the temperature information related to the installation environment of the dryer 1. The ambient temperature information may be the temperature of the air around the dryer 1 or may include the room temperature of the room where the dryer 1 is installed. The control unit 16 determines the operating time P1 of the heat pump device 6 in the water-repellent restoration program based on the ambient temperature information.

[0120] In addition, the control unit 16 of the dryer 1 may also have a communication unit capable of communicating with external devices such as air conditioners. In this case, the communication unit receives the temperature information related to the installation environment of the dryer 1 measured or obtained by the external device, and the control unit 16 determines the operating time P1 of the heat pump device 6 based on the temperature information received by the communication unit.

[0121] In addition, in the first embodiment, an example in which the dryer 1 has the mesh eye portion 54 as the guiding unit is described, but it is not limited thereto. The dryer 1 may also have other guiding units that deflect the air flow by changing the pressure and speed of the air passing through, instead of the mesh eye portion 54.

[0122] In addition, in the first embodiment, an example in which the water-repellent restoration program is executed independently of the washing program is described, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the water-repellent restoration program may also be executed after the washing program, that is, after the cleaning process, the rinsing process, and the dehydration process. However, by executing the water-repellent restoration program independently of the washing program as in the first embodiment, even water-repellent objects that cannot be washed can be the objects of the water-repellent restoration program. In addition, for example, by executing the water-repellent restoration program after the dehydration process, it is possible to suppress the drying of the clothes in a wrinkled state, which may prevent the standing up of the water-repellent base on the surface of the clothes. In addition, by entering the dehydration process in a state where the water in the clothes has not been sufficiently drained, it is possible to suppress the imbalance in the washing tub during dehydration rotation and suppress the vibration of the washing machine caused by the imbalance.

[0123] Moreover, the water-repellent restoration program may also be executed as one process of the deodorizing and sanitizing program using functional particles. The functional particles are particles that exhibit deodorizing and antibacterial effects. In this case, the water-repellent restoration program may also be executed after the process of applying the functional particles to the clothes. The water-repellent restoration program may also be executed as one process of the steam program that generates high-temperature steam and uses the steam to process the object. In this case, the water-repellent restoration program may also be executed after the steam process that generates high-temperature steam.

[0124] In addition, in Embodiment 1, an example of obtaining information related to the clothes accommodated in the drum 4 in step S11 has been described, but it is not limited thereto. Step S11 may also be omitted, and the working time P1 may be determined only based on the initial temperature t0.

[0125] In addition, in Embodiment 1, an example of stopping the drum 4 to execute the water repellency recovery program has been described, but it is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in Modification Example 1 described later, in order to detect the weight of the clothes or the like accommodated in the drum 4, the drive unit 5 may be operated to rotate the drum 4.

[0126] In addition, in Embodiment 1, an example in which the user puts clothes into the drum 4 before the heating (S14) of the heat pump device 6 has been described, but it is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in Modification Example 2 described later, the heating (S14) of the heat pump device 6 may be executed in a state where the inside of the drum 4 is empty.

[0127] In addition, in Embodiment 1, a structure in which the working time is set based on the detected initial temperature and the air is heated has been described, but it is not limited thereto. For example, it may be a structure in which the air temperature is detected and the operation ends after reaching the target temperature.

[0128] (Modification Example 1)

[0129] Figure 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the dryer 101 according to Modification Example 1. As Figure 10 shown, the dryer 101 is different from the dryer 1 according to Embodiment 1 in that it further includes a weight detection unit 14.

[0130] The weight detection unit 14 has a sensor for measuring the weight of the clothes accommodated in the drum 4. Specifically, the weight of the clothes is calculated based on the torque applied to the drive unit 5 when the drive unit 5 rotates.

[0131] The operation of the dryer 101 in Modification Example 1 is the same as the operation of the dryer 1 in Embodiment 1 unless otherwise specified. Hereinafter, the differences from Embodiment 1 will be described.

[0132] In step S11, the control unit 16 causes the weight detection unit 14 to measure the weight of the clothes accommodated in the drum 4 and obtains a weight level ("light", "standard", or "heavy") corresponding to the weight of the clothes. The number of weight levels may also be set to three or more. The number of weight levels may also be set to two or four or more.

[0133] In step S12, the control unit 16 determines the operating time P1 of the heat pump device 6 in the water repellency recovery program based on the initial temperature t0 and the weight level of the laundry. Specifically, in the case where the weight level is "standard", the control unit 16 refers to the memory 16a and determines the value corresponding to the initial temperature t0 as the operating time P1. In the case where the weight level is "heavy", the control unit 16 extends the operating time P1 compared to the "standard" case. For example, the maximum value stored in the memory 16a is determined as the operating time P1. In the case where the weight level is "light", the control unit 16 shortens the operating time P1 compared to the "standard" case. For example, the minimum value stored in the memory 16a is determined as the operating time P1.

[0134] In the dryer 101, there is also a weight detection unit 14 that detects the weight of the laundry housed in the drum. The control unit 16 determines the operating time P1 of the heat pump device 6 in the water repellency recovery program based on the temperature information related to the installation environment and the weight of the laundry detected by the weight detection unit 14.

[0135] With such a configuration, even heavy laundry can be heated to achieve the target temperature th.

[0136] In the dryer 101, there is also an operation unit 17 that can select a water repellency recovery program as the water repellency recovery program.

[0137] With such a configuration, the user can select the water repellency recovery program by operating the operation unit 17.

[0138] In the dryer 101, the operation unit 17 can input information related to the laundry housed in the drum 4. The control unit 16 determines the operating time P1 of the heat pump device 6 in the water repellency recovery program based on the temperature information related to the installation environment and the input to the operation unit 17.

[0139] With such a configuration, the water repellency recovery program can be adjusted by the user inputting information related to the laundry. For example, the degree of recovery of the water repellency of the laundry can be adjusted by inputting the laundry processing information desired by the user.

[0140] In addition, in step S11, the control unit 16 may obtain the volume or capacity of the laundry instead of the weight of the laundry. The volume or capacity of the laundry may also be measured by a sensor provided in the dryer 1 or input by the user to the operation unit 17.

[0141] (Modification Example 2)

[0142] Figure 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the dryer 111 according to Modification Example 2. As Figure 11As shown, the dryer 111 differs from the dryer 1 according to the first embodiment in that the temperature detection unit 18 is provided instead of the temperature detection unit 15.

[0143] In addition to measuring the initial temperature t0 of the air in the drum 4 before the execution of the water repellency recovery program, the temperature detection unit 18 also measures the temperature of the air in the drum 4 during the execution of the water repellency recovery program.

[0144] Unless otherwise specified, the operation of the dryer 111 in the second modification is the same as that of the dryer 1 in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the differences from the first embodiment will be described.

[0145] In a state where the drum 4 is empty, that is, in a state where no laundry is accommodated, step S10 is executed. In addition, a lock is implemented to prevent the door 21 from being opened. Steps S11 and S12 are omitted.

[0146] After steps S13 and S14 are executed, the following process is executed instead of step S15: The control unit 16 acquires the temperature in the drum 4 measured by the temperature detection unit 18 and determines whether the acquired temperature is equal to or higher than the target temperature th. The temperature detection unit 18 may measure the temperature in the drum 4 at regular intervals or continuously. When the acquired temperature is equal to or higher than the target temperature th, the control unit 16 releases the lock of the door 21 so that the door 21 can be opened. When the acquired temperature is lower than the target temperature th, the control unit 16 maintains the lock of the door 21 and continues heating.

[0147] When the door 21 can be opened, the user puts laundry into the drum 4 and closes the door 21. When a predetermined time has elapsed after the door 21 is closed, the control unit 16 executes steps S16 to S18. The predetermined time is, for example, 1 minute. Thereafter, the user takes out the laundry from the drum 4.

[0148] According to such a configuration, the time during which the laundry is restricted in the drum 4 can be shortened. For example, it is possible to perform a pre-operation for heating the air in the drum 4 to shorten the time during which the laundry is restricted in the drum 4. In addition, since the time for heating the laundry is shortened, damage to the laundry can be reduced.

[0149] (Second Embodiment)

[0150] The drying system 201 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In addition, in the second embodiment, mainly the differences from the first embodiment will be described, and the description overlapping with the first embodiment will be omitted. In the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same or equivalent structures as those in the first embodiment.

[0151] Figure 12It is a block diagram of the drying system 201 according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure.

[0152] As Figure 12 shown, the drying system 201 includes a dryer 202, a terminal device 222, and a processing device 212.

[0153] The dryer 202 also has a first communication unit 204. In Embodiment 2, unless otherwise specified, the dryer 202 is the same as the dryer 1 in Embodiment 1.

[0154] The first communication unit 204 receives the operating conditions of the dryer 202 sent by the terminal device 222 via the network. The first communication unit 204 receives the operating conditions of the dryer 202 in the water repellency recovery program via the network. For example, the first communication unit 204 includes a circuit for receiving from the terminal device 222 according to a specified communication standard (e.g., LAN, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark)).

[0155] The terminal device 222 is a device capable of communicating with the dryer 202 and the processing device 212. The terminal device 222 is, for example, a smart phone. In addition, the terminal device 222 can also function as the operation unit 17 in Embodiment 1.

[0156] The processing device 212 has a processing unit 213 and a second communication unit 214. The processing device 212 is, for example, a server or a cloud.

[0157] The processing unit 213 stores the operating conditions of the dryer 202. The processing unit 213 stores, for example, the operating conditions of the water repellency recovery program.

[0158] The second communication unit 214 sends the operating conditions of the dryer 202 stored in the processing unit 213 via the network. Specifically, the second communication unit 214 sends the operating conditions of the dryer 202 to the terminal device 222 via the network according to the operation of the terminal device 222. The second communication unit 214 includes, for example, a circuit for sending to the terminal device 222 according to a specified communication standard (e.g., LAN, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark)).

[0159] The user selects the desired program on the terminal device 222. According to the user's selection, the processing device 212 sends the operating conditions of the selected program to the terminal device 222 through the second communication unit 214. By operating the terminal device 222 by the user, the terminal device 222 then sends the operating conditions of the selected program to the first communication unit 204. The dryer 202 executes, for example, a water-repellent recovery program based on the operating conditions received by the first communication unit 204. Specifically, the dryer 202 executes an operating method including the following steps: operating the fan 9 and the heat pump device 6 to heat the air in the outer tank 3 with the target temperature th in the drum 4 being 45°C or higher.

[0160] The dryer of the first mode includes: an outer tank; a drum disposed in the outer tank for accommodating an object of the program; a heating unit for heating the air in the outer tank; a circulation flow path connecting the heating unit and the outer tank; a blower unit disposed in the circulation flow path; and a control unit. The control unit can execute a water-repellent recovery program for restoring the water repellency of the object of the program. In the water-repellent recovery program, the control unit operates the heating unit and the blower unit so that the air temperature in the drum is 45°C or higher.

[0161] As the dryer of the second mode, in the dryer of the first mode, the control unit determines the operating time of the heating unit in the water-repellent recovery program based on the temperature information related to the installation environment.

[0162] As the dryer of the third mode, in the dryer of the second mode, it further includes a temperature detection unit. The temperature detection unit detects the initial temperature in the drum as the temperature information related to the installation environment of the dryer. The control unit determines the operating time of the heating unit in the water-repellent recovery program based on the initial temperature.

[0163] As the dryer of the fourth mode, in the dryer of the second or third mode, it further includes a temperature detection unit. The temperature detection unit detects the ambient temperature information as the temperature information related to the installation environment of the dryer. The control unit determines the operating time of the heating unit in the water-repellent recovery program based on the ambient temperature information.

[0164] As the dryer of the fifth mode, in the dryer of any one of the second to fourth modes, the control unit has a communication unit capable of communicating with an external device. The control unit determines the operating time of the heating unit in the water-repellent recovery program based on the temperature information related to the installation environment of the dryer received by the communication unit.

[0165] As the dryer of the sixth mode, in the dryer of any one of the second to fifth modes, in the water-repellent recovery program, the control unit controls the drum in such a way that the time for the drum to stop is longer than the time for the drum to rotate.

[0166] As the dryer of the seventh mode, in the dryer of any one of the second to sixth modes, the control unit stops the drum in the water repellency recovery program.

[0167] As the dryer of the eighth mode, in the dryer of any one of the first to seventh modes, the air supply unit has a fan, and the control unit executes a drying program in which the heating unit and the fan operate, and the rotation speed of the fan in the water repellency recovery program is equal to or lower than the rotation speed of the fan in the drying program.

[0168] As the dryer of the ninth mode, in the dryer of the eighth mode, the fan rotates at different rotation speeds in the drying program, and the rotation speed of the fan in the water repellency recovery program is equal to or lower than the lowest rotation speed of the fan in the drying program.

[0169] As the dryer of the tenth mode, in the dryer of any one of the first to ninth modes, the outlet of the circulation flow path is connected to the bottom of the outer tank, and the outer tank has a guiding unit that deflects the air flowing into the outer tank from the outlet in a direction away from the rotation axis of the drum.

[0170] As the dryer of the eleventh mode, in the dryer of any one of the first to tenth modes, the heating unit has a heat pump device.

[0171] The operation method of the dryer of the twelfth mode is used to restore the water repellency of the program object. The operation method of the dryer includes the following steps: operating the air supply unit to circulate air between the outer tank and the heating unit, and operating the heating unit to heat the air in the outer tank so that the target temperature in the drum is 45°C or higher.

[0172] The present disclosure is fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in connection with preferred embodiments, but various modifications and changes will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It should be understood that such modifications and changes are included in the present invention as long as they do not depart from the scope of the invention obtained from the appended claims.

[0173] Industrial applicability

[0174] The dryer of the present disclosure can restore the water repellency of clothes and the like, and is therefore useful as a household dryer, a commercial dryer, or any type of clothing treatment device (for example, a household drum-type washing dryer or a vertical washing machine).

[0175] Explanation of reference numerals

[0176] 1: Dryer; 2: Housing; 3: Outer tank; 4: Drum; 5: Driving unit; 6: Heat pump device; 8: Circulation flow path; 9: Fan; 10: Water supply valve; 11: Drain valve; 15: Temperature detection unit; 16: Control unit; 17: Operation unit; th: Target temperature; P1: Working time.

Claims

1. A dryer, comprising: An outer tank; A drum, which is arranged inside the outer tank and is used to accommodate the object to be processed; A heating unit, which heats the air in the outer tank; A circulation flow path, which connects the heating unit and the outer tank; A blowing unit, which is arranged in the circulation flow path; And A control unit, wherein the control unit can execute a water-repellent recovery program to restore the water repellency of the object to be processed, and the control unit operates the heating unit and the blowing unit in the water-repellent recovery program to make the air temperature in the drum 45°C or higher.

2. The dryer according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines the operating time of the heating unit in the water-repellent recovery program based on temperature information related to the installation environment.

3. The dryer according to claim 2, wherein it further comprises a temperature detection unit, and the temperature detection unit detects the initial temperature in the drum as the temperature information related to the installation environment of the dryer, and the control unit determines the operating time of the heating unit in the water-repellent recovery program based on the initial temperature.

4. The dryer according to claim 2, wherein it further comprises a temperature detection unit, and the temperature detection unit detects ambient temperature information as the temperature information related to the installation environment of the dryer, and the control unit determines the operating time of the heating unit in the water-repellent recovery program based on the ambient temperature information.

5. The dryer according to claim 2, wherein the control unit has a communication unit capable of communicating with an external device, and the control unit determines the operating time of the heating unit in the water-repellent recovery program based on the temperature information related to the installation environment of the dryer received by the communication unit.

6. The dryer according to claim 2, wherein the control unit controls the drum in the water-repellent recovery program such that the time when the drum stops is longer than the time when the drum rotates.

7. The dryer according to claim 2, wherein the control unit stops the drum in the water-repellent recovery program.

8. The dryer according to claim 1, wherein the blowing unit has a fan, the control unit executes a drying program that operates the heating unit and the fan, and the rotational speed of the fan in the water-repellent recovery program is equal to or lower than the rotational speed of the fan in the drying program.

9. The dryer according to claim 8, wherein the fan rotates at different rotational speeds in the drying program, and the rotational speed of the fan in the water-repellent recovery program is equal to or lower than the lowest rotational speed of the fan in the drying program.

10. The dryer according to claim 1, wherein the outlet of the circulation flow path is connected to the bottom of the outer tank, and the outer tank has a guiding unit, and the guiding unit deflects the air flowing into the outer tank from the outlet in a direction away from the rotation axis of the drum.

11. The dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the heating unit has a heat pump device.

12. A method for operating a dryer to restore the water repellency of a program object, the method for operating the dryer comprising the following steps: Operating the air supply unit to circulate air between the outer tank and the heating unit, and operating the heating unit to heat the air in the outer tank with a target temperature in the drum of 45 °C or higher.

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