Washer dryer

Abstract

To improve the long-term reliability of detecting the degree of dryness of clothes during the drying cycle. [Solution] The washing and drying machine of the embodiment includes a storage tub capable of accommodating clothes, a control device capable of performing an operation including a washing process for washing the clothes stored in the storage tub, and an operation including a drying process for drying the clothes stored in the storage tub, and a humidity sensor 4 capable of detecting the humidity inside the storage tub or the space connected to the tub. The control device can perform a modification process to change the control content in the drying process or the control content in a process after the drying process, based on at least one of a humidity detection value which is the value detected by the humidity sensor during washing when the washing process is being performed, and a predetermined determination value related to the humidity.

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , ,

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a washing and drying machine.

Background Art

[0002] In conventional washing and drying machines, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the circulation air passage and a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity in the circulation air passage are provided, and the sensor values of these sensors are used to detect the degree of dryness of clothes during the drying operation.

[0003] <​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The washing and drying machine of the embodiment includes a storage tub capable of accommodating clothes, a control device capable of performing an operation including a washing process for washing the clothes stored in the storage tub, and an operation including a drying process for drying the clothes stored in the storage tub, and a humidity sensor capable of detecting the humidity inside the storage tub or the space connected to the tub. The control device can perform a modification process to change the control content in the drying process or the control content in a process after the drying process, based on at least one of a humidity detection value which is the value detected by the humidity sensor during washing when the washing process is being performed, and a predetermined determination value related to the humidity. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] A schematic cross-sectional side view showing the configuration of a washing machine and dryer according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] A schematic rear view showing the configuration of a washing machine and dryer according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] A diagram showing part of the electrical configuration of a washing machine and dryer according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of the change in humidity detection value when a drying operation is performed after repeating the washing and drying operation according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of the change in humidity detection value during a washing and drying operation according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of the change in humidity detection value during the washing process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] A flowchart showing an example of the specific details of the drying correction process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] A flowchart showing an example of the specific details of the maximum value acquisition process during washing according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] A flowchart showing an example of the specific details of the maximum value acquisition process during drying according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] A flowchart showing an example of the specific details of the drying degree detection process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11]Flowchart showing an example of the specific content of the humidification correction process according to the first embodiment [Figure 12] Flowchart showing an example of the specific content of the humidification control process according to the first embodiment [Figure 13] Figure showing a specific first display example of the screen displayed on the display device when the display control according to the first embodiment is executed [Figure 14] Figure showing a specific second display example of the screen displayed on the display device when the display control according to the first embodiment is executed [Figure 15] Flowchart showing an example of the specific content of the drying correction process according to the second embodiment [Figure 16] Flowchart showing an example of the specific content of the dryness detection process according to the second embodiment [Figure 17] Flowchart showing an example of the specific content of the humidification correction process according to the second embodiment [Figure 18] Flowchart showing an example of the specific content of the humidification control process according to the second embodiment [Figure 19] Flowchart showing an example of the specific content of the drying correction process according to the third embodiment [Figure 20] Flowchart showing an example of the specific content of the dryness detection process according to the third embodiment [Figure 21] Flowchart showing an example of the specific content of the humidification control process according to the third embodiment [Figure 22] Flowchart showing an example of the specific content of the drying correction process according to the fourth embodiment [Figure 23] Flowchart showing an example of the specific content of the dryness detection process according to the fourth embodiment [Figure 24] Flowchart showing an example of the specific content of the humidification control process according to the fourth embodiment [Figure 25] Figure showing an example of the transition of the humidity detection value in the washing process when using warm water according to the fourth embodiment

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, substantially the same configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14.

[0009] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washing and drying machine 1 of the present embodiment is a so-called drum type equipped with a clothing washing function and a drying function. The washing and drying machine 1 can execute a washing operation and a washing and drying operation as operations including a washing process for washing clothes, and can execute a drying operation and a washing and drying operation including a drying process for drying clothes. In the washing and drying operation, the processes from the washing process to the drying process are automatically performed. The washing process includes a washing process for washing clothes, a rinsing process for rinsing clothes, and a dehydration process for dehydrating clothes.

[0010] The outer box 2 constituting the outer shell of the washing and drying machine 1 has a rectangular box shape. A door 3 for opening and closing a laundry inlet / outlet (not shown) is provided on the front surface portion 2a of the outer box 2. In this case, the front surface portion 2a is formed in a slightly downwardly inclined shape.

[0011] Inside the outer box 2, a water tub 7 is disposed in a state of being elastically supported by a suspension (not shown). The water tub 7 has a cylindrical shape, and the rear surface is closed by a water tub end plate. The water tub 7 is arranged horizontally with its central axis facing the front-rear direction and in a slightly upwardly inclined state, and the front opening is connected to the laundry inlet / outlet via a bellows 8. The washing and drying machine 1 is provided with a water supply mechanism (not shown) for supplying water into the water tub 7. The water supply mechanism is connected to a faucet of a water supply via a water supply hose (not shown).

[0012] A drain port 11 is provided at the bottom of the rear of the water tank 7, and a drain pipe 13 is connected to the drain port 11 via a drain valve 12. When water is supplied to the water tank 7 from the water supply mechanism while the drain valve 12 is closed, the water is stored in the water tank 7. When the drain valve 12 is opened, the water stored in the water tank 7 is discharged outside the machine through the drain pipe 13.

[0013] A rotating tub 14 is rotatably disposed inside the tank 7. Like the tank 7, the rotating tub 14 is cylindrical with its rear end closed by a rotating tub end plate, and is positioned horizontally with its central axis facing the front-to-back direction and slightly tilted upwards at the front. The front opening of the rotating tub 14 communicates with the front opening of the tank 7 and the laundry entrance / exit. By opening the door 3, clothes can be loaded into and unloaded from the rotating tub 14 through the laundry entrance / exit, the front opening of the tank 7, and the front opening of the rotating tub 14.

[0014] Therefore, the rotating tub 14 is designed to accommodate clothes to be washed and dried in a way that allows them to be easily loaded and unloaded. In this way, the water tank 7 and the rotating tub 14 accommodate laundry in a way that allows it to be easily loaded and unloaded, and function as storage tanks capable of holding laundry. Since laundry mainly consists of clothing, in this specification, laundry may be referred to as clothing. Multiple holes 15 are provided in the peripheral wall and rear end plate of the rotating tub 14. The holes 15 function as water passages during the washing process, as dewatering passages during the dewatering process, and as ventilation holes during the drying process.

[0015] A motor 16 is provided at the rear of the water tank 7. In this case, the motor 16 is an outer rotor type DC brushless motor, and its rotating shaft passes through the end plate of the water tank and is connected to the end plate of the rotating tank 14. The rotating tank 14 is directly driven to rotate by the motor 16. Inside the outer casing 2, a circulating air passage 18 is provided on the outside of the water tank 7. The water tank 7 is provided with an inlet 19 and an outlet 20 for connection to the circulating air passage 18. As shown in Figure 2, the inlet 19 is provided at the part of the water tank end plate that is the rear of the water tank 7, above the motor 16, and as shown in Figure 1, the outlet 20 is provided at the upper right part of the front of the peripheral wall of the water tank 7.

[0016] In this case, the circulating air passage 18 includes an exhaust duct 21, a filter duct 22, an intermediate duct 23, a heat exchanger duct 24, and a supply air duct 25. One end of the exhaust duct 21, which constitutes one end of the circulating air passage 18, is connected to the outlet 20 of the water tank 7. The rear end of the exhaust duct 21 is connected to the filter duct 22 from the front. A drying filter device 27 is provided at the front of the filter duct 22.

[0017] The filter device 27 includes filters 40 and 41. Filters 40 and 41 are double-layered and are designed to capture lint, i.e., threads and other debris that come off clothing during drying, preventing them from flowing downstream. The mesh of filter 41 is finer than that of filter 40, so that lint that passes through filter 40 can also be captured by filter 41. Filters 40 and 41 are detachably attached to the filter housing 42 of the filter duct 22. The filter duct 22 slopes downward toward the rear, and its rear lower end is connected to the upper end of the intermediate duct 23.

[0018] As shown in Figure 2, the intermediate duct 23 extends downward, and its lower end is connected to one end of the heat exchanger duct 24 located in the lower part of the outer casing 2. The heat exchanger duct 24 extends horizontally in the lower part of the outer casing 2, and its other end is connected to the intake port 29a of the fan casing 29 of the blower 28. The blower 28 comprises the fan casing 29, a fan 30 located inside the fan casing 29, and a fan motor 31 that rotates the fan 30. The discharge port 29b of the fan casing 29 is directed upward and is connected to the lower end of the supply air duct 25. The supply air duct 25 extends vertically, and its upper end is connected to the inlet 19 at the rear of the water tank 7.

[0019] As shown in Figure 2, a condenser 33 and an evaporator 34 of a heat pump 32 are arranged inside the heat exchanger duct 24. As is well known, the heat pump 32 is composed of a compressor 35 that compresses and discharges a refrigerant, a condenser 33 that dissipates heat from the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 35 to condense and liquefy it, a throttle device 36 that adjusts the flow rate of the refrigerant liquefied in the condenser 33, and an evaporator 34 that evaporates the refrigerant that has passed through the throttle device 36, all connected in a refrigerant flow path 37 to form a refrigeration cycle. The condenser 33 heats the air flowing inside the heat exchanger duct 24 to produce warm air. The evaporator 34 cools and dehumidifies the air flowing inside the heat exchanger duct 24. In the heat exchanger duct 24, the evaporator 34 is positioned closer to the connection point with the intermediate duct 23, and the condenser 33 is positioned closer to the blower 28.

[0020] When the fan motor 31 of the blower 28 is driven, the air blown by the fan 30 is discharged from the outlet 29b of the fan casing 29, as shown by the arrows in Figures 1 and 2, through the supply air duct 25 and supplied from the inlet 19 into the water tank 7 and, consequently, into the rotating tank 14. The air in the rotating tank 14 and, consequently, the water tank 7, is then drawn in from the outlet 20 through the exhaust duct 21, filter duct 22, intermediate duct 23, and heat exchanger duct 24 in that order, and into the fan casing 29 through the intake port 29a of the fan casing 29. In this way, the air in the water tank 7 is circulated through the circulation air passage 18.

[0021] In this case, the blower 28 functions as a blower capable of blowing air toward the storage tank, and the heat pump 32 functions as a heating device capable of heating the air blown by the blower to produce warm air. In this case, the blower 28 and the heat pump 32 constitute a warm air supply device 17 that supplies warm air to the storage tank through the circulating air passage 18. Note that the heating method of the heating device is not limited to the method using the heat pump 32; a method using a heater can also be adopted.

[0022] On the top plate portion 2b of the outer casing 2, a filter cover 43 is provided in the area corresponding to the filter device 27. The filter cover 43 is rotatable vertically with a shaft portion at its rear end as a pivot point. The filter cover 43 also has a handle opening (not shown) and a handle cover for opening and closing this handle opening. The handle cover is rotatable vertically with a shaft portion a at its rear end as a pivot point and is biased in the closing direction by a biasing means such as a spring.

[0023] In this case, the user can open the filter cover 43 by pushing the front of the closed handle cover from top to bottom with their fingers, thereby rotating the handle cover downwards, inserting their fingers into the handle opening, and then pulling up the filter cover 43 by hooking their fingers onto the front edge of the handle opening. Opening the filter cover 43 makes it possible to remove the filters 40 and 41 from the filter housing 42 for cleaning.

[0024] In the filter duct 22, the rear side of the filter housing 42 slopes downward toward the rear, as described above, and a nearly horizontal section 47 is provided at the upper part of this slope. An exhaust port 48 is provided in the horizontal section 47. The exhaust port 48 is formed by multiple slits and connects the inside of the filter duct 22 and, consequently, the inside of the circulating air passage 18 to the outside of the circulating air passage 18. An exhaust damper 49 for opening and closing the exhaust port 48 is provided on the upper side of the horizontal section 47. The exhaust damper 49 is rotatable around a shaft at one end and is rotated by a motor (not shown).

[0025] The top panel 2b of the outer box 2 is provided with an inclined section 50 that slopes downward toward the rear, located near the top of the horizontal section 47, and an outer exhaust port 51 is provided in the inclined section 50. The outer exhaust port 51 is also formed by multiple slits, similar to the exhaust port 48, and connects the inside of the outer box 2 to the outside of the outer box 2. In this case, the opening area of ​​the outer exhaust port 51 is set to be larger than the opening area of ​​the exhaust port 48.

[0026] Here, when the blower 28 is in operation, the exhaust damper 49 opens and the exhaust port 48 is opened, and a portion of the air flowing through the circulating air passage 18 is discharged from the exhaust port 48 through the outer exhaust port 51 to the outside of the outer casing 2, as shown by arrow A1 in Figure 1.

[0027] As shown in Figure 2, an air intake port 53 is provided at the top of the heat exchanger duct 24 in the circulating air passage 18, positioned between the evaporator 34 and the condenser 33. The air intake port 53 connects the inside of the circulating air passage 18 with the outside of the circulating air passage 18. The air intake port 53 is always open, and when the blower 28 is in operation, the exhaust damper 49 opens the exhaust port 48, and a portion of the circulating air is exhausted, causing air from outside the circulating air passage 18, that is, air from inside the outer casing 2, to be drawn into the circulating air passage 18.

[0028] As shown in Figure 2, the supply air duct 25 in the circulating air passage 18 is equipped with a first temperature sensor 55 that detects the temperature of the circulating air flowing through the circulating air passage 18. The first temperature sensor 55 is located in the circulating air passage 18, between the condenser 33 and the inlet 19, and is positioned near the inlet 19. The first temperature sensor 55 detects the temperature of the circulating air flowing through the circulating air passage 18 that is heated in the condenser 33 and supplied to the water tank 7.

[0029] As shown in Figure 1, a second temperature sensor 56 and a humidity sensor 4 are provided on the outlet 20 side of the circulating air passage 18, in this case the filter duct 22, located downstream of the exhaust port 48. The second temperature sensor 56 detects the temperature of the circulating air flowing through the circulating air passage 18 on the outlet 20 side. The humidity sensor 4 is located downstream of the second temperature sensor 56 and detects the humidity of the circulating air flowing through the circulating air passage 18 on the outlet 20 side. With the above configuration, the humidity sensor 4 can detect the temperature inside the tank 7 or the space connected to the tank.

[0030] As shown in Figure 2, the heat pump 32 is equipped with multiple refrigerant temperature sensors that detect the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant passage 37. Specifically, it is equipped with a first refrigerant temperature sensor 57 that detects the temperature near the discharge port 35a of the compressor 35, a second refrigerant temperature sensor 58 that detects the temperature of the condenser 33, a third refrigerant temperature sensor 59 that detects the temperature on the inlet side of the evaporator 34, and a fourth refrigerant temperature sensor 60 that detects the temperature near the suction port 35b of the compressor 35.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, a control device 70 is provided in the front lower part of the outer casing 2. As shown in Figure 3, the control device 70 is electrically connected to a motor 16, a drain valve 12, a heater 38, a water supply valve 39 included in the water supply mechanism, an operation panel 5, an exhaust damper 49, a hot air supply device 17, and various sensors including a humidity sensor 4. Although not shown in Figure 1, the heater 38 is located at the bottom of the water tank 7. The heater 38 has the function of heating the water supplied to the water tank 7 to make it hot water. As a result, the washing machine 1 is configured to be able to use hot water, which is heated water, during the washing process, specifically the washing or rinsing process.

[0032] Although not shown in Figure 1, the control panel 5 is located at the front of the top panel 2b of the outer casing 2 and includes a rectangular display unit, for example, a liquid crystal display. The display unit shows various screens containing various information related to the operation of the washing machine 1. In other words, the control panel 5 functions as a display device that shows various information. The display surface of the display unit also functions as a touch panel that can be operated by the user. The display unit shows various screens containing operation keys for receiving various operations related to the operation of the washing machine 1. The user can perform various operations related to the operation of the washing machine 1 by touching the operation keys.

[0033] The control device 70 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a CPU (not shown), ROM, RAM, and rewritable flash memory, and controls the overall operation of the washing machine 1. In this case, the control device 70 controls the display on the display unit of the operation panel 5 by executing a program for display control. The control device 70 also performs various controls in response to operations on the operation keys displayed on the display unit, such as selecting the type of operation, selecting a course, setting the contents of the course, and executing various operations.

[0034] The control device 70 includes functional blocks such as an operation control unit 71, a change processing unit 72, and a display control unit 73. These functional blocks are implemented by the CPU of the control device 70 executing computer programs stored in ROM or the like to perform processing corresponding to those computer programs; in other words, they are implemented by software. However, at least a portion of each functional block may be implemented by hardware such as integrated circuits.

[0035] The control device 70 includes a storage unit 74 for storing various settings and information. The storage unit 74 may be composed of a storage area such as flash memory provided by the microcomputer constituting the control device 70, or it may be composed of various non-volatile memories provided outside the microcomputer.

[0036] The operation control unit 71 can perform a washing operation to wash the clothes contained in the water tank 7 and the rotating tub 14, a drying operation to dry the clothes, and a wash-and-dry operation to wash and dry the clothes. In the drying operation and the wash-and-dry operation, the operation control unit 71 can perform a humidification operation to humidify the clothes after the drying operation. In this case, each operation is provided with multiple courses.

[0037] The operation control unit 71 detects the degree of dryness of the clothes using the humidity detection value, which is the value detected by the humidity sensor 4 during the drying process. In addition, the operation control unit 71 can perform humidification control during the humidification process, adjusting the amount of humidification using the humidity detection value during the humidification process. In this case, the washer-dryer 1 is equipped with a steam function that can humidify the inside of the rotating drum 14, and the operation control unit 71 can use this function to humidify the clothes.

[0038] In this embodiment, the humidity sensor 4 is, for example, a polymer capacitive humidity sensor, and since it has features such as high accuracy and a wide measurement range, it can be expected to improve the accuracy of detecting the degree of dryness. However, the humidity sensor 4 has the problem of drift and deviation in the humidity detection value due to long-term use. The way the deviation occurs varies depending on conditions such as how the humidity sensor 4 is used and the type of humidity sensor 4, but generally, as shown in Figure 4, the deviation tends to increase with the number of uses.

[0039] Figure 4 shows an example of the change in humidity detection value when a drying cycle is performed after repeated wash-and-dry cycles. In Figure 4, the vertical axis represents relative humidity [%RH], and the horizontal axis represents the operating time [minutes]. In Figure 4, the humidity detection value when the number of cycle repetitions is zero, i.e., when humidity sensor 4 is not used, is defined as B0, when the number of cycle repetitions is 600, as are B1 and B2, when the number of cycle repetitions is 1200, as is B3, and when the number of cycle repetitions is 2100, as are B4 and B5.

[0040] As can be seen from Figure 4, the humidity deviation increases as the number of operation cycles, or in other words, the number of times the humidity sensor 4 is used, increases. In this case, the difference between the humidity detection values ​​of B1 to B5 and the humidity detection value of B0 corresponds to the humidity deviation. In this case, the humidity deviation is particularly noticeable in high humidity regions where the humidity exceeds 60%. Therefore, the control device 70 of this embodiment has a function to detect the humidity deviation in such high humidity regions and correct the control. This function can be realized by the change processing unit 72 as follows.

[0041] The modification processing unit 72 performs modification processing to change the control content in the drying process or the control content in a process after the drying process, based on the humidity detection value during the washing process and the maximum humidity value that is assumed in advance. Specifically, the humidity detection value during the washing process used here is the humidity detection value during the spin-drying process, which is performed when the spin-drying process is executed. The maximum humidity value used here is an example of a predetermined judgment value related to humidity. Specifically, the maximum humidity value is a value like the following, and is assumed to be stored in the storage unit 74 in advance. Figure 5 shows an example of the change in the humidity detection value during a washing and drying operation. As can be seen from Figure 5, during the washing process, the humidity is high because the laundry is wet and there is plenty of water inside the rotating tub 14, resulting in a relatively high humidity.

[0042] In this case, after a certain amount of time has passed since the start of operation, the humidity detection value stabilizes and reaches its maximum value. Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, in the washing process, the humidity detection value rises towards its maximum value from the time t1 when the spin-drying process starts, and thereafter the humidity detection value stabilizes and reaches its maximum value. Note that in Figure 6 and other figures, the rotation speed of the rotating tub 14 is referred to as the drum rotation speed. The stabilization of the humidity detection value in the spin-drying process is thought to be due to the motor 16, and consequently the rotating tub 14, rotating at a constant high speed to remove water. Conversely, in the washing process, the humidity detection value is thought to be unstable due to splashing of water inside the rotating tub 14.

[0043] The maximum humidity during the washing process, more specifically during the spin-drying process, varies depending on various conditions such as operating variability, environmental conditions, amount of laundry, and amount of water, but is typically around 80-95%RH. Therefore, in this embodiment, the maximum humidity expected during the washing process is calculated in advance, taking various conditions into consideration, and this calculated value is stored in the storage unit 74. In the following explanation, it is assumed that the maximum value is set to 95%RH.

[0044] If the humidity detection value of the humidity sensor 4 deviates by a certain amount or more, it is expected that the humidity detection value will exceed the maximum value. Therefore, the modification processing unit 72 executes a modification process if the humidity detection value during washing is greater than the maximum value. The modification process is a process for correcting the humidity detection value. In this embodiment, the maximum humidity value that is assumed in advance is used as a predetermined judgment value when executing the modification process, but other values ​​such as the average value of the humidity detection value when humidity above a predetermined value is detected, or the time during which humidity above a predetermined value is detected, can also be used as the predetermined judgment value. This is because, as shown in Figure 4, it is clear that not only the maximum humidity value but also these values ​​are affected by repeatedly performing the washing and drying operation.

[0045] In this embodiment, the modification process includes a drying correction process, which modifies the criteria for detecting the degree of dryness according to the humidity detection value during washing. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the modification process also includes a humidification correction process, which modifies the humidification control according to the humidity detection value during washing. Below, we will describe an example of the specific processing content of the drying correction process and the humidification correction process included in the modification process.

[0046] [1]Specific example of drying correction process A concrete example of drying correction processing is when the detected humidity value during washing is 98%RH, and it is assumed that this value is 3% higher than the actual humidity, and a correction of 3%RH is applied. Specific examples of such drying correction processing will be explained with reference to the flowcharts in Figures 7 to 10. While this example illustrates the process when a wash-and-dry cycle is performed, the same processing can be applied when a drying cycle is performed immediately after a wash cycle.

[0047] When the washing process begins, the control device 70 starts executing a series of processes as shown in Figure 7. First, in step S101, humidity detection using the humidity sensor 4 is started. After the execution of step S101, the process proceeds to step S102, where the maximum value acquisition process during washing is executed, which is the process for obtaining the maximum humidity value HW_MAX, which is the maximum value of the humidity detection value HW during washing. The specific contents of the maximum value acquisition process during washing can be as shown in Figure 8.

[0048] First, in step S201, it is determined whether the washing process is complete or not. If the washing process is not complete, the result in step S201 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step S202. In step S202, the humidity detection value at that point is obtained as the humidity detection value HW during washing. After step S202 is executed, the process proceeds to step S203, where it is determined whether the humidity detection value HW obtained in step S202 is greater than the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX during washing. Note that the initial value of the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX is set to, for example, 0.

[0049] Here, if the detected humidity value HW is less than or equal to the maximum detected humidity value HW_MAX, the result in step S203 is "NO", and the process returns to step S201. On the other hand, if the detected humidity value HW is greater than the maximum detected humidity value HW_MAX, the result in step S203 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step S204. In step S204, the maximum detected humidity value HW_MAX is replaced with the detected humidity value HW obtained in step S202. After the execution of step S204, the process returns to step S201.

[0050] The processes in steps S202 to S204 are executed repeatedly from the start to the end of the washing cycle. Therefore, when the washing cycle is finished, step S201 is answered with "YES", and the process proceeds to step S205. In step S205, the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX is determined to be the value at that point in time. After the execution of step S205, the process of obtaining the maximum value during washing is completed.

[0051] After step S102 is executed, the process proceeds to step S103, where it is determined whether or not the drying process has started. If the drying process has not started, the result in step S103 is "NO", and step S103 is executed again. On the other hand, if the drying process has started, the result in step S103 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step S104. In step S104, the process for obtaining the maximum value during drying, which is the maximum value of the humidity detection value HD1 during drying, is executed.

[0052] In the process of obtaining the maximum value during drying, the algorithm is based on the premise that humidity decreases monotonically after reaching a peak during drying. Therefore, if the humidity continues to decrease for a predetermined period, for example 3 minutes, the value immediately preceding that point is taken as the maximum value. In this case, the 3-minute period is measured using a count value `cnt`. The initial value of the count value `cnt` is 0.

[0053] The specific details of the process for obtaining the maximum value during drying can be as shown in Figure 9. First, in step S301, it is determined whether the count value cnt is less than 3. If the count value cnt is less than 3, the result in step S301 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step S302. In step S302, the humidity detection value at that point is obtained as the humidity detection value HD1 during drying.

[0054] After step S302 is executed, the process proceeds to step S303, where it is determined whether the humidity detection value HD1 obtained in step S302 is greater than the maximum humidity detection value HD1_MAX in dry conditions. The initial value of the maximum humidity detection value HD1_MAX is set to, for example, 0. If the humidity detection value HD1 is less than or equal to the maximum humidity detection value HD1_MAX, the result in step S303 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step S304. In step S304, the count value cnt is incremented, that is, by 1.

[0055] After step S304 is executed, the process returns to step S301. On the other hand, if the detected humidity value HD1 is greater than the maximum detected humidity value HD1_MAX, the result in step S303 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step S305. In step S305, the maximum detected humidity value HD1_MAX is replaced with the detected humidity value HD1 obtained in step S302. After step S305 is executed, the process proceeds to step S306, where the count value cnt is reset to 0. After step S306 is executed, the process returns to step S301.

[0056] The processes in steps S301 to S306 are repeated for 3 minutes until the humidity continues to decrease. After 3 minutes of continuously decreasing humidity, the count value becomes 3, resulting in "NO" in step S301, and the process proceeds to step S307. In step S307, the maximum humidity detection value HD1_MAX is determined to be the value at that point in time. After the execution of step S307, the process of obtaining the maximum value during dry conditions is completed.

[0057] After step S104 is executed, the process proceeds to step S105, where the drying degree detection process is performed. In the drying degree detection process, it is determined whether drying is complete or not based on whether the difference between the maximum humidity detection value HD1_MAX and the humidity detection value HD2 at the time of drying is greater than a judgment threshold. The specific details of the drying degree detection process can be as shown in Figure 10.

[0058] First, in step S401, the humidity detection value at that time is obtained as the humidity detection value HD2 when dry. After step S401 is executed, the process proceeds to step S402, where it is determined whether the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX during washing is less than the pre-predicted maximum humidity value of "95[%RH]". If the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX during washing is less than 95[%RH], the result in step S402 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step S403.

[0059] In step S403, it is determined whether the difference between the maximum humidity detection value HD1_MAX and the humidity detection value HD2 during dry conditions is greater than the judgment threshold. Specifically, in step S403, it is determined whether the following equation (1) is true. In this case, the judgment threshold is the pre-set threshold HTH. HD2 <HD1_MAX-HTH …(1)

[0060] Here, if the difference between the maximum humidity detection value HD1_MAX and the humidity detection value HD2 when dry is less than or equal to the judgment threshold, that is, if equation (1) does not hold, then step S403 is "NO" and the process returns to step S401. On the other hand, if the difference between the maximum humidity detection value HD1_MAX and the humidity detection value HD2 when dry is greater than the judgment threshold, that is, if equation (1) holds, then step S403 is "YES" and the process proceeds to step S405.

[0061] On the other hand, if the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX during washing is 95[%RH] or higher, the result in step S402 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step S404. In step S404, it is determined whether the difference between the maximum humidity detection value HD1_MAX and the humidity detection value HD2 during drying is greater than the judgment threshold. Specifically, in step S404, it is determined whether the following equation (2) is true. In this case, the judgment threshold is the value obtained by adding "3" to the pre-set threshold HTH. "3" corresponds to the difference between the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX and the pre-assumed maximum humidity value of "95[%RH]". HD2 <HD1_MAX-(HTH+3) …(2)

[0062] Here, if the difference between the maximum humidity detection value HD1_MAX and the humidity detection value HD2 during drying is less than or equal to the judgment threshold, that is, if equation (2) does not hold, then step S404 is "NO" and the process returns to step S401. On the other hand, if the difference between the maximum humidity detection value HD1_MAX and the humidity detection value HD2 during drying is greater than the judgment threshold, that is, if equation (2) holds, then step S404 is "YES" and the process proceeds to step S405. In step S405, it is determined that drying is complete. After the execution of step S405, the drying degree detection process, and consequently the series of processes shown in Figure 7, are completed.

[0063] [2]Specific example of humidification correction processing A specific example of humidification correction processing is when the detected humidity value during washing is 98%RH, and the target humidity during the humidification process is being executed is corrected by increasing it by 3%RH. Specific examples of such humidification correction processing will be explained with reference to the flowcharts in Figures 11 and 12. Here, we illustrate the case when a wash-and-dry cycle is performed, but the same processing can be applied when a drying cycle is performed immediately after a wash cycle.

[0064] When the washing process begins, the control device 70 starts executing a series of processes as shown in Figure 11. First, in step S501, humidity detection using the humidity sensor 4 is started, similar to step S101 shown in Figure 7. After the execution of step S501, the process proceeds to step S502, where the maximum value acquisition process during washing is executed, which is the process for obtaining the maximum humidity value HW_MAX, which is the maximum value of the humidity detection value HW during washing. The specific contents of the maximum value acquisition process during washing can be as shown in Figure 8.

[0065] After step S502 is executed, the process proceeds to step S503, where it is determined whether or not the humidification process has started. If the humidification process has not started, the result in step S503 is "NO", and step S503 is executed again. On the other hand, if the humidification process has started, the result in step S503 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step S504. In step S504, a humidification control process is executed to humidify the clothes.

[0066] In the humidification control process, humidification is performed on the clothing so that the detected humidity value Hs during humidification becomes the target humidity HS_TH. The specific details of the humidification control process can be as shown in Figure 12. In this case, the initial value of the target humidity HS_TH is set to a predetermined desired humidity target value. First, in step S601, it is determined whether the maximum detected humidity value HW_MAX during washing is greater than or equal to the predetermined maximum humidity value of "95[%RH]".

[0067] Here, if the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX during washing is less than 95[%RH], the result in step S601 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step S603 without executing step S602. On the other hand, if the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX during washing is 95[%RH] or greater, the result in step S601 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step S602. In step S602, the target humidity HS_TH becomes a value obtained by adding "3" to the initial value. "3" corresponds to the difference between the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX and the pre-assumed maximum humidity value of "95[%RH]". After executing step S602, the process proceeds to step S603.

[0068] In step S603, it is determined whether or not the humidification process is in progress. If the humidification process is in progress, the result in step S603 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step S604. In step S604, the humidity detection value at that point in time is obtained as the humidity detection value HS during humidification. After step S604 is completed, the process proceeds to step S605, where it is determined whether or not the humidity detection value HS obtained in step S604 during humidification is less than the target humidity HS_TH.

[0069] Here, if the detected humidity value HS during humidification is greater than or equal to the target humidity HS_TH, the result in step S605 is "NO", and the process returns to step S603. On the other hand, if the detected humidity value HS during humidification is less than the target humidity HS_TH, the result in step S605 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step S606. In step S606, humidification of the clothing is performed. After the execution of step S606, the process returns to step S603. The processes in steps S604 to S606 are repeatedly executed during the humidification process. Therefore, when the humidification process is completed, the result in step S603 is "NO", and the humidification control process, and consequently the series of processes shown in Figure 11, is completed.

[0070] The display control unit 73 is capable of performing display control to display humidity information, which is information corresponding to the detected humidity value, on the display unit of the operation panel 5. When the display control unit 73 performs display control during drying or humidification, it can display humidity information on the display unit of the operation panel 5 that corresponds to the corrected humidity value obtained by applying a predetermined correction to the detected humidity value during drying or humidification according to the detected humidity value during washing.

[0071] Specific examples of such display control include the first display example shown in Figure 13 and the second display example shown in Figure 14. These display examples all assume that the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX during washing is greater than or equal to the expected maximum humidity of 95[%RH], that is, that the humidity detection value of the humidity sensor 4 is shifted towards the higher side.

[0072] As shown in Figure 13, the first display example shows the current humidity inside the drum during drying, and the corresponding display is shown on the right side of the screen. As shown in the upper part of Figure 13, in the display example based on the uncorrected value, the words "Dampness of clothes," "Icons representing three water droplets," and the words "Soaked" are displayed on the right side of the screen in that order from top to bottom. In other words, the display example based on the uncorrected value shows a state where the humidity inside the drum is very high.

[0073] In contrast, as shown in the lower part of Figure 13, in the display example based on the corrected values, the words "Clothing Moisture," "Two water droplet icons," and "Wet" are displayed on the right side of the screen in that order from top to bottom. In other words, the display example based on the corrected values ​​shows a slightly higher humidity level inside the tub. That is, the display example based on the corrected values ​​corrects the display corresponding to the humidity inside the tub during drying to show a lower value.

[0074] As shown in Figure 14, the second display example shows the current humidity inside the tank during humidification, and the corresponding display is shown on the right side of the screen. As shown in the upper part of Figure 14, in the display example based on the uncorrected value, the words "Tank Humidity" and the words "85%" corresponding to the tank humidity value are displayed on the right side of the screen in that order from top to bottom. In other words, the display example based on the uncorrected value shows a state where the humidity inside the tank is very high.

[0075] In contrast, as shown in the lower part of Figure 14, in the display example based on the corrected value, the words "Tank Humidity" and the corresponding value of "80%" are displayed on the right side of the screen, in that order from top to bottom. In other words, the display example based on the corrected value shows a slightly higher level of tank humidity. That is, the display example based on the corrected value corrects the display corresponding to the tank humidity during drying to show a lower value.

[0076] According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained. The control device 70 can perform modification processing to change the control content during the drying process or the control content in a process after the drying process, based on the humidity detection value, which is the value detected by the humidity sensor 4 during washing, and the maximum value of humidity that is assumed in advance. The modification processing includes changing the criterion for detecting the degree of dryness according to the humidity detection value during washing. This corrects the deviation of the humidity sensor 4 on the high humidity side and improves the dryness detection performance. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the reliability of detecting the degree of dryness of clothes during drying operation is improved over the long term.

[0077] Such corrections can be implemented, for example, as follows: If the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX during washing is 98% or higher, it can be determined that the humidity detection value has shifted to the positive side on the high humidity side because it exceeds the pre-expected maximum humidity value of 95%. Then, when detecting dryness based on whether the difference between the maximum humidity detection value HD1_MAX and the humidity detection value HD2 is greater than the judgment threshold during drying, the deviation of the humidity sensor 4 can be corrected by increasing the judgment threshold, which is the criterion for detecting the degree of dryness. In this way, it is possible to prevent situations in which dryness is incorrectly detected earlier than the intended timing due to the deviation of the humidity sensor 4.

[0078] Furthermore, the modification process includes changing the humidification control according to the humidity detection value during washing. This allows for accurate humidification control by correcting the deviation of the humidity sensor 4 on the high humidity side. Such correction can be performed, for example, as follows: If the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX during washing is 98% or higher, it can be determined that the humidity detection value has shifted to the positive side on the high humidity side because it exceeds the pre-expected maximum humidity value of 95%. Similarly, during humidification, it is expected that the humidity detection value will shift to the positive side, and the deviation of the humidity sensor 4 can be corrected by increasing the target humidity HS_TH for humidification. In this way, it becomes possible to perform humidification control that takes into account the deviation of the humidity sensor 4.

[0079] When the control device 70 performs display control during drying or humidification, it can display humidity information corresponding to the corrected humidity detection value obtained by applying a predetermined correction to the humidity detection value during drying or humidification according to the humidity detection value during washing on the display unit of the operation panel 5. As a result, if the humidity detection value during washing is high due to a misalignment of the humidity sensor 4, the humidity can be corrected to be lower when displaying the humidity inside the tub during drying, thereby improving the accuracy of the displayed humidity information.

[0080] In this embodiment, the humidity detection value used in the change processing is the humidity detection value during the spin-drying process. During the spin-drying process, the humidity detection value stabilizes and reaches its maximum value. Therefore, this approach improves the accuracy of the change processing and, consequently, the accuracy of correcting the deviation of the humidity sensor 4.

[0081] (Second Embodiment) The second embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 15 to 18. This embodiment modifies the control performed by the control device 70 compared to the first embodiment. The control device 70 of this embodiment can perform modification processing based on the humidity detection value and maximum humidity value during the current wash, as well as the humidity detection value during past washes. Below, an example of the specific processing content of the drying correction processing and humidification correction processing included in the modification processing of this embodiment will be described.

[0082] [1]Specific example of drying correction process The series of processes in this embodiment shown in Figure 15 differs from the series of processes in the first embodiment shown in Figure 7 in that step S120 is added and step S125 is provided instead of step S105. In this case, after step S102 is executed, step S120 is executed and then the process proceeds to step S103. In step S120, the maximum temperature detection value HW_MAX determined in step S102 is stored in the storage unit 74.

[0083] As shown in Figure 16, step S125, which is the drying degree detection process in this embodiment, differs from step S105, which is the drying degree detection process in the first embodiment, in that step S422 is provided instead of step S402. In step S422, it is determined whether each of the maximum humidity detection values ​​HW_MAX for a predetermined number of washes, such as 10 washes, including not only the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX for the current wash but also the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX for past washes, is less than the pre-assumed maximum humidity value of "95 [%RH]".

[0084] Here, if the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX during washing exceeds a predetermined threshold number of washes, for example, 5 times, and is less than 95[%RH], the result in step S422 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step S403. On the other hand, if the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX during washing exceeds a predetermined threshold number of washes and is 95[%RH] or greater, the result in step S422 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step S405.

[0085] Furthermore, step S422 can be modified to include the following processing: In other words, step S422 can be modified to determine whether the average value of the maximum humidity detected HW_MAX for a predetermined number of washes, such as 10 washes, including not only the maximum humidity detected HW_MAX for the current wash but also the maximum humidity detected HW_MAX for past washes, is less than the pre-expected maximum humidity value of "95 [%RH]".

[0086] In this modified case, if the average value of the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX during a predetermined number of washes is less than 95[%RH], the result in step S422 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step S403. Also, in this modified case, if the average value of the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX during a predetermined number of washes is 95[%RH] or greater, the result in step S422 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step S405.

[0087] [2]Specific example of humidification correction processing The series of processes in this embodiment shown in Figure 17 differs from the series of processes in the first embodiment shown in Figure 11 in that step S520 is added and step S524 is provided instead of step S504. In this case, after executing step S502, step S520 is executed and then the process proceeds to step S503. In step S520, similar to step S120 shown in Figure 15, the maximum temperature detection value HW_MAX determined in step S502 is stored in the storage unit 74.

[0088] As shown in Figure 18, step S524, which is the humidification control process in this embodiment, differs from step S504, which is the humidification control process in the first embodiment, in that step S621 is provided instead of step S601. In step S621, it is determined whether each of the maximum humidity detection values ​​HW_MAX for a predetermined number of washes, such as 10 washes, including not only the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX for the current wash but also the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX for past washes, is equal to or greater than the pre-expected maximum humidity value of "95 [%RH]".

[0089] Here, if the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX during washing exceeds a predetermined threshold number of times, for example, 5 times, and is less than 95[%RH], the result in step S621 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step S603 without executing step S602. On the other hand, if the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX during washing exceeds a predetermined threshold number of times, and is 95[%RH] or greater, the result in step S621 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step S602.

[0090] Furthermore, step S621 can be modified to include the following processing steps. Specifically, step S621 can be modified to determine whether the average value of the maximum humidity detected HW_MAX for a predetermined number of washes, such as 10 washes, including not only the maximum humidity detected HW_MAX for the current wash but also past washes, is equal to or greater than the pre-expected maximum humidity value of "95 [%RH]".

[0091] In this modified case, if the average value of the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX during a predetermined number of washes is less than 95[%RH], the result in step S621 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step S603 without executing step S602. Also, in this modified case, if the average value of the maximum humidity detection value HW_MAX during a predetermined number of washes is 95[%RH] or greater, the result in step S621 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step S602.

[0092] The control device of this embodiment described above provides the following advantages. The control device 70 of this embodiment can perform modification processing based not only on the humidity detected value and the maximum humidity value during the current wash, but also on the humidity detected value during past washes. This makes it possible to perform modification processing using not only the humidity detected value from the current wash but also from past washes, meaning that modification processing can be performed using multiple data points instead of just one. As a result, the accuracy of the modification processing, and consequently the accuracy of correcting the deviation of the humidity sensor 4, can be further improved.

[0093] (Third embodiment) The third embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 19 to 21. This embodiment modifies the content of the control performed by the control device 70 compared to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the control device 70 does not perform the modification process if the humidity detection value is below a predetermined threshold. Below, an example of the specific processing content of the drying correction process and the humidification correction process included in the modification process of this embodiment will be described.

[0094] [1]Specific example of drying correction process The series of processes in this embodiment shown in Figure 19 differs from the series of processes in the first embodiment shown in Figure 7 in that step S135 is provided instead of step S105. As shown in Figure 20, step S135, which is the drying degree detection process in this embodiment, differs from step S105, which is the drying degree detection process in the first embodiment, in that step S430 is added.

[0095] In this case, after step S401 is executed, step S430 is executed. In step S430, it is determined whether the humidity detection value HD2 obtained in step S401 during dry conditions is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold, for example, 30 [%RH]. If the humidity detection value HD2 during dry conditions is 30 [%RH] or less, the result in step S430 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step S403 without executing step S402. On the other hand, if the humidity detection value HD2 during dry conditions exceeds 30 [%RH], the result in step S430 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step S402.

[0096] [2]Specific example of humidification correction processing The humidification correction process in this embodiment differs from the humidification correction process in the first embodiment in that the specific content of the humidification control process has been modified. As shown in Figure 21, the humidification control process in this embodiment differs from the humidification control process of the first embodiment shown in Figure 12 in that step S630 has been added, and the execution order of some processes has been changed. In this case, steps S603 and S604 are executed in that order first, and after the execution of step S604, the process proceeds to step S630.

[0097] In step S630, it is determined whether the humidity detection value HS obtained in step S604 during humidification is below a predetermined threshold, for example, 30 [%RH]. If the humidity detection value HS during humidification is 30 [%RH] or less, the result in step S630 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step S605 without executing steps S601 and S602. On the other hand, if the humidity detection value HS during humidification exceeds 30 [%RH], the result in step S630 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step S601.

[0098] The control device of this embodiment described above provides the following advantages. As shown in Figure 4, the deviation in the humidity detection value of the humidity sensor 4 is particularly noticeable in high humidity regions, but tends to be less noticeable in low humidity regions, such as when the humidity is 30%RH or less. If the same correction is applied to such low humidity regions as in high humidity regions, the deviation may actually increase, potentially degrading the control performance during dry or humidified conditions.

[0099] Therefore, the control device 70 of this embodiment is configured not to perform the change process if the humidity detection value is below a predetermined threshold. This allows for improved control performance by correcting the deviation of the humidity sensor 4 by performing the change process in the high humidity region, while preventing a decrease in control performance by not performing the change process in the low humidity region.

[0100] (Fourth Embodiment) The fourth embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 22 to 25. This embodiment modifies the control performed by the control device 70 compared to the first embodiment. The control device 70 in this embodiment does not perform the modification process when hot water is used during the washing process. Below, an example of the specific processing content of the drying correction process and the humidification correction process included in the modification process of this embodiment will be described.

[0101] [1]Specific example of drying correction process The series of processes in this embodiment shown in Figure 22 differs from the series of processes in the first embodiment shown in Figure 7 in that step S145 is provided instead of step S105. As shown in Figure 23, step S145, which is the drying degree detection process in this embodiment, differs from step S105, which is the drying degree detection process in the first embodiment, in that step S440 is added.

[0102] In this case, after step S401 is executed, step S440 is executed. In step S440, it is determined whether or not hot water was used in the washing process. If hot water was used in the washing process, the result in step S440 is "YES", and the process proceeds to step S403 without executing step S402. On the other hand, if hot water was not used in the washing process, the result in step S440 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step S402.

[0103] [2]Specific example of humidification correction processing The humidification correction process in this embodiment differs from the humidification correction process in the first embodiment in that the specific content of the humidification control process has been modified. As shown in Figure 24, the humidification control process in this embodiment differs from the humidification control process of the first embodiment shown in Figure 12 in that step S640 has been added, and the execution order of some processes has been changed. In this case, steps S603 and S604 are executed in that order first, and after the execution of step S604, the process proceeds to step S640.

[0104] In step S640, it is determined whether or not hot water was used during the washing process. If hot water was used during the washing process, the result in step S640 is "YES," and the process proceeds to step S605 without executing steps S601 and S602. On the other hand, if hot water was not used during the washing process, the result in step S630 is "NO," and the process proceeds to step S601.

[0105] The control device of this embodiment described above provides the following advantages. As shown in Figure 25, when hot water is used in the washing process, the humidity tends to become very high, for example, close to 100%RH, due to condensation in the circulating air passage 18. Therefore, when using hot water, the humidity sensor 4 may not be able to accurately detect humidity deviations, and if a change process is performed in such a state, the deviation may actually increase, potentially degrading the control performance during drying or humidification.

[0106] Therefore, the control device 70 of this embodiment is configured not to perform the change process when hot water is used during the washing process. This allows for improved control performance by correcting the deviation of the humidity sensor 4 by performing the change process when hot water is not used during the washing process, while preventing a decrease in control performance by not performing the change process when hot water is used during the washing process.

[0107] (Other embodiments) It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, and can be arbitrarily modified, combined, or expanded without departing from its essence. The numerical values ​​and other figures shown in each of the above embodiments are illustrative examples and are not limiting. The present invention is not limited to the drum-type washer-dryer 1, but can be applied to all washer-dryers that can perform operations including a washing process and a drying process, such as vertical-axis washer-dryers.

[0108] The modification processing unit 72 can perform modification processing based on at least one of the humidity detection value during washing and a predetermined determination value related to humidity. For example, the modification processing unit 72 can perform modification processing based solely on the predetermined determination value. In this case, the predetermined determination value can be, for example, the average value of the humidity detection value when a humidity of a predetermined value or higher is detected, or the duration for which a humidity of a predetermined value or higher is detected.

[0109] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0110] In the drawing, 1 is a washing machine / dryer, 4 is a humidity sensor, 5 is an operation panel, 7 is a water tank, 14 is a rotating drum, 70 is a control unit, 72 is a change processing unit, 73 is a display control unit, and 74 is a storage unit.

Claims

1. A storage tank capable of holding clothing, A control device capable of performing an operation including a washing process for washing the clothes stored in the storage tank, and an operation including a drying process for drying the clothes stored in the storage tank, A humidity sensor capable of detecting the humidity inside the storage tank or the space connected to the tank, Equipped with, A washing machine and dryer in which the control device can perform a modification process to modify the control content in the drying process or the control content in a process after the drying process, based on at least one of a humidity detection value which is a value detected by the humidity sensor during washing when the washing process is being executed, and a predetermined determination value related to the humidity.

2. The control device is The degree of dryness of the clothing is detected using the humidity detection value during the drying process, which occurs when the aforementioned drying process is being performed. The washing machine and dryer according to claim 1, wherein the modification process includes a process of changing the criterion for detecting the degree of dryness according to the humidity detection value during washing.

3. The control device is It is possible to perform an operation that includes a humidification step to humidify the clothes after the drying step has been completed. In the humidification process, humidification control can be performed to adjust the amount of humidification using the humidity detection value during humidification, which is when the humidification process is being executed. The washing machine and dryer according to claim 1, wherein the modification process includes a process to change the humidification control according to the humidity detection value during washing.

4. Furthermore, it is equipped with a display device that shows various types of information. The control device is It is possible to perform display control to display humidity information, which is information corresponding to the detected humidity value, on the display device. The washing and drying machine according to claim 1, wherein when the display control is executed during drying, the humidity information corresponding to the corrected humidity detected value obtained by performing a predetermined correction on the humidity detected value during drying according to the humidity detected value during washing is displayed on the display device.

5. The control device is A washing machine and dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which can perform the modification process based on the humidity detection value from past washings, in addition to at least one of the humidity detection value and the determination value from the current washing.

6. The washing machine and dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control device does not perform the modification process if the humidity detection value is below a predetermined threshold.

7. The washing process includes a washing process for washing the clothes contained in the storage tub, a rinsing process for rinsing the clothes, and a dehydration process for dehydrating the clothes. The washing and drying machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the humidity detection value during washing is the humidity detection value when the dewatering process is being performed.

8. The washing process is configured to allow the use of warm water, which is water that has been heated during the washing process. The washing and drying machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control device does not perform the modification process when hot water is used in the washing process.

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