Clothes dryer

Abstract

This disclosure provides a clothes dryer that improves drying efficiency. [Solution] The clothes dryer according to the present disclosure comprises a rotating drum having a peripheral wall and a bottom wall provided with ventilation holes, rotating around a rotation axis connected to the bottom wall, a plate-shaped drum support member that supports the rotation axis of the rotating drum and has an outlet at a position opposite to the bottom wall of the rotating drum, a circulating air passage that circulates drying air through the ventilation holes and the outlet, an annular first sealing member that contacts the bottom wall to seal the space between the bottom wall of the rotating drum and the drum support member, and a sealing support member having a fixing portion fixed to the drum support member and a support portion that supports the first sealing member, wherein the support portion is located outside the fixing portion in the radial direction of the rotating drum.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a clothes dryer.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a washing and drying machine including a drum for accommodating clothes and an air outlet disposed near the center of the rear surface of the drum. In the washing and drying machine described in Patent Document 1, warm air is supplied into the drum from the air outlet disposed near the center of the rear surface of the drum. Thereby, the clothes in the drum can be dried.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure provides a clothes dryer that improves drying efficiency.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A clothes dryer according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a peripheral wall and a bottom wall provided with ventilation holes, a rotary drum that rotates about a rotation axis connected to the bottom wall, a plate-shaped drum support member that supports the rotation axis of the rotary drum and has an air outlet at a position facing the bottom wall of the rotary drum, a circulation air passage that circulates drying air through the ventilation holes and the air outlet, an annular first seal member that contacts the bottom wall so as to seal between the bottom wall of the rotary drum and the drum support member, a fixing portion fixed to the drum support member, and a seal support member having a support portion that supports the first seal member, and the support portion is located outside the fixing portion in the radial direction of the rotary drum.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a clothes dryer that improves drying efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Perspective view of a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Rear view of a clothes dryer according to the embodiment of this disclosure [Figure 3] Exploded perspective view of the rear of a clothes dryer according to the embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 4] End view of section AA in Figure 2 [Figure 5] Plan view of a rotating drum [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view of BB cross-section, Figure 5. [Figure 7] Plan view of drum support member [Figure 8] Exploded perspective view of a seal assembly. [Figure 9] Enlarged view of section R in Figure 4 [Figure 10] Plan view of the first sealing member [Figure 11] Cross-sectional view showing the CC section in Figure 10. [Figure 12] Plan view of the seal support member [Figure 13] Cross-sectional view showing the DD section in Figure 12. [Figure 14] Plan view of the retaining plate [Figure 15] Cross-sectional view showing the EE section in Figure 14. [Figure 16] Plan view of the second sealing member [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] (Knowledge and other information that formed the basis of this disclosure) When the inventors arrived at the present disclosure, there was a washing and drying machine in which warm air was supplied into the drum from an air outlet disposed near the center of the rear surface of the drum. In order to improve the drying efficiency, the inventors considered a means of disposing an air outlet for supplying drying air into the rotating drum at a position radially outward from the rotation axis of the rotating drum and below the rotation axis. On the other hand, in order to dispose the air outlet at a position radially outward, it is necessary to dispose a seal for suppressing leakage of drying air at a position radially outward on the bottom wall of the rotating drum.

[0009] Therefore, the present disclosure provides a clothing dryer that improves the drying efficiency by positioning the air outlet at a position radially outward of the rotating drum by bringing a seal into contact with the bottom wall at a position radially outward of the rotating drum.

[0010] (Embodiment) A clothing dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0011] [Overall Configuration] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a clothing dryer 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. For the sake of explanation, the X-axis is defined as the width direction, the Y-axis is defined as the depth direction, and the Z-axis is defined as the height direction. In order to illustrate the internal structure of the clothing dryer 10, the door 12 is moved in the -Y direction.

[0012] The clothing dryer 10 according to the present embodiment is a drum-type clothing dryer having a drying function. The clothing dryer 10 includes a door 12, an operation unit 14, and a rotating drum 20. The door 12 opens and closes an opening of the rotating drum 20 described later. The user opens the door 12 and inserts clothes into the rotating drum 20 through the opening of the rotating drum 20. When the user operates the operation unit 14, the rotating drum 20 is rotated by a driving means (for example, driving by a motor and a belt) and drying air is blown into the rotating drum 20 by a blowing means. As a result, the clothes in the rotating drum 20 can be dried.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back of the clothes dryer 10. To check the internal structure, the plate material of the back portion of the housing of the clothes dryer 10 has been removed. On the back of the clothes dryer 10, a drum support member 40, an air duct cover 46, and a control unit 48 are attached.

[0014] The drum support member 40 is a member that rotatably supports the rotary drum 20 by a rotary bearing 42. The drum support member 40 is provided with a recess 44 for reinforcing the strength. The recess 44 is recessed forward, and inside the recess 44, a forward protruding surface 45 protruding forward is provided.

[0015] The air duct cover 46 is a member that forms a part of the circulation air duct and houses the fan 50, and is attached to the drum support member 40. The fan 50 operates to generate a flow of air circulating in the circulation air duct.

[0016] The control unit 48 is a member that controls the operation of the clothes dryer 10, and is attached to the drum support member 40. The control unit 48 controls components of the clothes dryer 10 such as the driving means of the rotary drum 20 and the fan 50. The control unit 48 may include, for example, a memory (not shown) recording a program and a processing circuit (not shown) corresponding to a processor such as a CPU, and the processor functions as these elements by executing the program.

[0017] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the back of the clothes dryer 10, and FIG. 4 is an end view showing the A - A cross section of FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a seal assembly 16 is provided between the rotary drum 20 and the drum support member 40.

[0018] The seal assembly 16 is an assembly for sealing the space between the rotating drum 20 and the drum support member 40, and has an annular shape. The seal assembly 16 is fixed to the forward protruding surface 45 of the drum support member 40 and makes annular contact with the bottom wall 22 of the rotating drum 20. The seal assembly 16 continues to contact the bottom wall 22 of the rotating drum 20 even while the rotating drum 20 is rotating, thereby maintaining the seal between the rotating drum 20 and the drum support member 40. The seal assembly 16 in this embodiment has a sealing member (e.g., felt) made of a material suitable for sliding against the bottom wall 22 of the rotating drum 20.

[0019] As shown in Figure 4, the seal assembly 16 attached to the drum support member 40 contacts the bottom wall 22 of the rotating drum 20.

[0020] Here, the circulating air passage of the clothes dryer 10 will be described. The circulating air passage through which airflow I and airflow N pass, as shown in Figure 4, is the path of air that circulates between the rotating drum 20 and the heat exchange unit 122 by the fan 50 (not shown in Figure 4), and is defined by the air passage cover 46, the drum support member 40, the outlet 54, the forward protruding surface 45 of the drum support member 40, the seal assembly 16, the ventilation holes 28 of the bottom wall 22, the rotating drum 20, the ventilation holes 124, and the heat exchange unit 122.

[0021] As shown by airflow I, the airflow generated by the fan 50 first passes through the space between the air passage cover 46 and the drum support member 40.

[0022] Next, as indicated by the airflow J, it flows upward into the interior of the rotating drum 20 through the outlet 54 and the vent 28 communicating with the outlet 54. To prevent the airflow J from flowing out of the circulating air passage, a sealing assembly 16 is provided to seal the space between the rotating drum 20, which is a rotating body, and the drum support member 40, which is a stationary body.

[0023] Next, as indicated by the airflow K, the air that flows into the rotating drum 20 is discharged from the vent hole 124.

[0024] Next, as indicated by airflows L and M, the circulating air discharged through the vents 124 is dehumidified and heated by the heat exchange unit 122. The heat exchange unit 122 is located at the bottom of the clothes dryer 10 and comprises a heat exchanger for dehumidification and a heat exchanger for heating.

[0025] Then, as indicated by airflow N, the dehumidified and heated air returns to fan 50, becoming airflow I. This concludes the explanation of the circulating airflow path.

[0026] Next, I will explain each component.

[0027] Figure 5 is a plan view showing the rotating drum 20. The rotating drum 20 has a bottom wall 22, which comprises a shaft fixing portion 26 having a rotating shaft 25 and a ventilation portion 29 having a plurality of ventilation holes 28. Furthermore, the bottom wall 22 has a seal sliding portion 30 radially outward from the ventilation holes 28 that contacts the first seal portion 18 of the seal assembly 16 in an annular manner.

[0028] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the BB section of Figure 5. Multiple baffles 32 for agitating clothes are arranged inside the peripheral wall 24 of the rotating drum 20. A drive belt (not shown) for transmitting motor power to the rotating drum 20 is attached to the peripheral wall 24.

[0029] Figure 7 is a plan view of the drum support member 40. The drum support member 40 has a rotary bearing 42 for rotatably supporting the rotating drum 20 and is also used as a base for attaching components to the back of the clothes dryer 10.

[0030] The drum support member 40 is bent and has at least a partially annular recess 44, a forward-projecting surface 45, and a plurality of ribs 52. This improves the bending rigidity of the drum support member 40, allowing it to support the rotating drum 20 more reliably. Although bending has been described as an example of processing applied to the drum support member 40, it is not limited to this, and processes such as drawing may also be applied.

[0031] Furthermore, the drum support member 40 has multiple holes 58 for screw-fixing the seal assembly 16. In this embodiment, the holes 58 are arranged in an annular shape with spaces between them. Recesses are provided around the holes 58 to improve strength.

[0032] Furthermore, of the holes 58, hole 58A, located below the outlet 54, is covered by the air passage cover 46 when the air passage cover 46 is attached to the drum support member 40. In other words, hole 58A is located within the circulating air passage. By providing a recess around hole 58A, the screw can be prevented from protruding into the air passage, thereby suppressing the reduction in airflow due to increased pressure loss.

[0033] Furthermore, the drum support member 40 has a vent 53 and an outlet 54. The vent 53 is an opening that allows airflow N from a separately provided heat exchange unit 122 to pass through. The outlet 54 is an opening that allows airflow I generated by the fan 50 to pass through. In this embodiment, the outlet 54 is located below the rotary bearing 42.

[0034] Next, the seal assembly 16 will be described. Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the seal assembly 16. Figure 9 is an enlarged view of section R in Figure 4, showing the state in which the seal assembly 16 and the bottom wall 22 are in contact.

[0035] The seal assembly 16 shown in Figures 8 and 9 comprises a first seal member 60, a seal support member 70, a holding member 90, and a second seal member 110.

[0036] The first sealing member 60 has a first sealing portion 18 that contacts the bottom wall 22 and performs a sealing function, and a sealing base 62 that supports the first sealing portion 18.

[0037] The first sealing portion 18 is attached to the inner portion of the sealing base 62, and the outer portion of the sealing base 62 is fixed to the sealing support member 70 by the holding member 90.

[0038] The first seal member 60, which supports the first seal portion 18, is fixed to the seal support member 70 by sandwiching the outer portion of the seal base 62 between the holding member 90 and the seal support member 70.

[0039] The seal support member 70 is the part that fixes the first seal portion 18, the first seal member 60, and the holding member 90 to the drum support member 40, and is fixed to the forward protruding surface 45 of the drum support member 40 via the second seal member 110.

[0040] The detailed structures of the first sealing member 60, the sealing support member 70, the holding member 90, and the second sealing member 110 will be described below with reference to Figures 10 to 16.

[0041] Figure 10 is a plan view showing the annular first sealing member 60, and Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the CC section of Figure 10. The first sealing member 60 comprises a first sealing portion 18 and a sealing base 62, the sealing base 62 comprising a flat portion 64, a bent portion 66 and a sealing mounting portion 68. The first sealing member 60 is a flat member when no external force is applied, but when pressed against the bottom wall 22 of the rotating drum 20, it bends as shown by the bent portion 66 in Figure 11.

[0042] The flat portion 64 is the part that is sandwiched between the seal support member 70 and the holding member 90 and fixed to the seal support member 70. The seal mounting portion 68 is the part for attaching the first seal portion 18 and extends radially inward from the flat portion 64 and in the Y-axis direction. The first seal portion 18 may be attached to the seal mounting portion 68 by sewing it with thread or the like, or by attaching it with adhesive or the like. The first seal member 60 is pressed against the bottom wall 22 of the rotating drum 20, and the bent portion 66 is located between the flat portion 64 and the seal mounting portion 68. The flat portion 64 and the seal mounting portion 68 extend in different directions. The bent portion 66 allows the first seal portion 18 to contact the bottom wall 22 of the rotating drum 20 at an angle. Since the first seal portion 18 slides against the bottom wall 22 of the rotating drum 20, a wear-resistant material is used.

[0043] Figure 12 shows a plan view of the seal support member 70, and Figure 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the DD section of Figure 12. The seal support member 70 has a fixed portion 72, a support portion 74 that extends radially outward from the fixed portion 72, and an intermediate portion 76 between the fixed portion 72 and the support portion 74. The fixed portion 72, the support portion 74, and the intermediate portion 76 are all annular.

[0044] The fixing portion 72 is the part that fixes the seal assembly 16 to the drum support member 40, and has screw holes 80, 82, and 84. Screw hole 80 is used for screwing to the drum support member 40. Screw hole 82 is used for screwing to the drum support member 40 together with the second seal member 110. Hole 84 is used for temporarily attaching the second seal member 110 to the seal support member 70. Multiple screw holes 80, 82, and 84 are provided in an annular arrangement with intervals between them.

[0045] The support portion 74 is the part that attaches and supports the first sealing member 60 shown in Figure 10 using the retaining member 90. The support portion 74 has screw holes 86 and screw holes 88 used for screwing the retaining member 90. Multiple screw holes 86 are arranged in an annular shape at intervals. Furthermore, the screw holes 86 have bent portions around their periphery used for positioning the retaining member 90. In the embodiment of this disclosure, the screw holes 88 are arranged at intervals on both sides of one screw hole 86.

[0046] As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the intermediate portion 76 extends from the fixed portion 72 to the support portion 74 in the Y-axis direction and radially outward. The intermediate portion 76 ensures the distance between the fixed portion 72 and the support portion 74 in the Y-axis direction and radially. The fixed portion 72 also has a foot portion 78, which is in direct contact with the drum support member 40.

[0047] Figure 14 is a plan view showing the annular retaining member 90, and Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the EE section of Figure 14. The retaining member 90 is attached to the seal support member 70 and fixes the first seal member 60. As shown in Figure 14, the retaining member 90 is divided into multiple parts (four parts in this embodiment) and comprises multiple retaining plates 92. By dividing it, it becomes easier to attach the retaining plates 92 to the seal support member 70.

[0048] Each retaining plate 92 has a hole 94 and a hole 96. Holes 94 and 96 are used for screw fastening to the seal support member 70. The area around hole 94 is bent, which engages with the bent portion around the screw hole 86 of the seal support member 70, thereby enabling alignment of the retaining plate 92 on the seal support member 70.

[0049] The retaining plate 92 has a contact portion 98 that contacts the seal support member 70, a pressing portion 100 that contacts the first seal member 60, and a bent portion 102 between the contact portion 98 and the pressing portion 100. The retaining plate 92 fixes the first seal member 60 to the seal support member 70 by the reaction force generated by its own elastic deformation.

[0050] Figure 16 is a plan view showing an annular second sealing member 110. The second sealing member 110 is positioned between the drum support member 40 and the fixing portion 72 of the seal support member 70, and is a member for ensuring airtightness. The second sealing member 110 has a hole 112 and a protrusion 114. The hole 112 is used for screw fastening, and the protrusion 114 is press-fitted into the hole 84 of the seal support member 70 for temporary attachment to the seal support member 70. Multiple holes 112 and protrusions 114 are arranged in an annular shape with spacing between them. The second sealing member 110 is made of an elastic material (for example, rubber).

[0051] The above are the components of the seal assembly 16. As shown in Figure 9, the seal assembly 16 contacts the bottom wall 22.

[0052] As the intermediate portion 76 of the seal support member 70 extends radially outward, the support portion 74 is positioned radially outward from the fixed portion 72 and the intermediate portion 76. The position of the sliding portion 30 of the bottom wall 22 is positioned radially inward from the support portion 74 of the rotating drum 20, and radially outward from the position of the fixed portion 72 of the rotating drum 20.

[0053] Furthermore, because the intermediate portion 76 extends in the Y-axis direction, the first sealing portion 18 can be brought into contact with the bottom wall 22 even when the distance between the drum support member 40 and the bottom wall 22 of the rotating drum 20 is large.

[0054] Furthermore, the second sealing member 110 undergoes elastic deformation between the fixing portion 72 and the forward protruding surface 45 due to the tightening of the screw. This improves the airtightness between the sealing support member 70 and the drum support member 40.

[0055] Furthermore, when the sliding portion 30 of the bottom wall 22 contacts the first sealing portion 18, a bending load is applied to the seal assembly 16. This bending load causes the first sealing member 60 to elastically deform. This elastic deformation makes it less likely for one side of the seal portion 18 and the bottom wall 22 to make contact, and makes it easier for them to make contact in an annular shape.

[0056] As shown in Figure 4, the drying air passes through the air passage cover 46, is blown out from the outlet 54, passes through the ventilation holes 28 in the bottom wall 22 which communicate with the outlet 54, and is supplied into the interior of the rotating drum 20.

[0057] By having the first seal portion 18 contact the outer part of the bottom wall 22, the air outlet 54 can be positioned below the rotating bearing 42, allowing drying air to pass through the ventilation holes 28 in the lower part of the bottom wall 22 into the rotating drum 20. As a result, air can be blown upward towards the front, making it easier for the drying air to reach the clothes inside as they are lifted and dropped by the baffle 32, thus improving the efficiency of clothes drying.

[0058] Furthermore, by positioning the air outlet 54 radially inward from the baffle 32 relative to the rotating drum 20, the airflow for drying is less likely to come into contact with the baffle 32 and is less likely to be obstructed.

[0059] While drying air is supplied into the rotating drum 20, drying air may leak out of the rotating drum 20 through the vent holes 28 that are not connected to the outlet 54. As shown in Figure 4, the leakage of drying air can be suppressed by covering the bottom wall 22 with the seal assembly 16 and the forward protruding surface 45.

[0060] As shown in Figure 4, by providing the seal assembly 16, it is possible to suppress the outflow of the airflow J to the outside of the circulating air passage.

[0061] Next, we will explain an example of the assembly procedure from assembling the seal assembly 16 to attaching the rotating drum 20 to the drum support member 40 to which the seal assembly 16 is attached.

[0062] First, as shown in Figure 11, the first sealing portion 18 is sewn onto the sealing mounting portion 68 of the sealing base 62.

[0063] Next, as shown in Figure 8, the first sealing member 60 is positioned so as to contact the support portion 74 of the sealing support member 70. Furthermore, the retaining member 90 is positioned so that the contact portion 98 contacts the support portion 74 and the pressing portion 100 contacts the flat portion 64. At this time, due to the thickness of the first sealing member 60, the contact portion 98 does not make surface contact with the support portion 74. In this state, the retaining member 90 is screwed to the sealing support member 70. When tightened with screws, the contact portion 98 comes into general surface contact with the support portion 74, while the thickness of the first sealing member 60 and the pressing portion 100 interfere, causing the retaining member 90 to elastically deform. The reaction force generated by the elastic deformation of the retaining member 90 fixes the first sealing member 60 to the sealing support member 70. By using the retaining member 90, the first sealing member 60 can be attached to the support portion 74 of the sealing support member 70 without providing a screw hole in the first sealing member 60.

[0064] Furthermore, the method for attaching the first sealing member 60 to the sealing support member 70 does not have to be the fixing method using the retaining member 90; fixing methods using adhesive or welding may also be used. Not using the retaining member 90 has the advantage of reducing the number of parts. On the other hand, the fixing method using the retaining member 90 has the advantage of allowing for easy reassembly.

[0065] Next, the second sealing member 110 is temporarily attached to the sealing support member 70 by pressing the protrusion 114 of the second sealing member 110 into the hole 84 of the sealing support member 70. The above is an example of the assembly procedure for the sealing assembly 16.

[0066] Next, the procedure for attaching the seal assembly 16 to the forward protruding surface 45 of the drum support member 40 will be described. First, as shown in Figure 3, the central axis of the ring of the seal assembly 16 is aligned with the rotating bearing 42 of the drum support member 40, the second seal member 110 is brought into contact with the forward protruding surface 45, and the screws attached to the screw holes 80 and 82 are tightened. By tightening the screws until the foot portion 78 of the seal support member 70 contacts the drum support member 40, the second seal member 110 is compressed and elastically deformed, thereby ensuring airtightness between the fixing portion 72 and the drum support member 40.

[0067] Alternatively, the seal support member 70 and the second seal member 110 may be attached to the drum support member 40 first, and then the first seal member 60 and the retaining member 90 may be attached to the seal support member 70.

[0068] Furthermore, the fixing of the drum support member 40 and the seal assembly 16 only needs to ensure airtightness, and in addition to this embodiment, methods of fixing by adhesive or welding are also possible. Since the second seal member 110 is not used, there is the advantage of reducing the number of parts. On the other hand, the fixing method using the second seal member 110 has the advantage of being easily reassembled.

[0069] Finally, as shown in Figure 3, the first sealing portion 18 of the seal assembly 16 is brought into contact with the bottom wall 22 of the rotating drum 20. This contact causes the first sealing member 60 to bend and make contact with the bottom wall 22 at an angle. Then, the rotating bearing 42 of the drum support member 40 and the rotating shaft 25 of the rotating drum 20 are attached, and the drum support member 40 and the rotating drum 20 are fixed together, thereby maintaining contact between the first sealing portion 18 and the bottom wall 22. This concludes the explanation of the assembly procedure.

[0070] [summary] To summarize the above explanation, the features of this disclosure are described below.

[0071] The inventors considered positioning the air outlet 54 lower down in order to improve the efficiency of drying clothes. To position the air outlet 54 lower, the first sealing portion 18 of the first sealing member 60 needs to be positioned outside the bottom wall 22, like the sliding portion 30. For this reason, they invented a clothes dryer 10 equipped with a sealing support member 70, which is not found in conventional structures.

[0072] If the first sealing member 60 were to be directly attached to the drum support member 40, it would need to be attached to the forward protruding surface 45 of the drum support member 40, which would impose constraints on its radial position. In contrast, in the clothes dryer 10 of this embodiment, the first sealing member 60 is attached to the drum support member 40 via the sealing support member 70, and the first sealing member 60 is attached at a position where the sealing support member 70 extends radially outward. This makes it possible to provide the sliding portion 30 at a position outside the forward protruding surface 45.

[0073] Furthermore, since the seal support member 70 extends not only in the radial direction but also in the front-to-back direction, it becomes possible to fill the gap between the bottom wall 22 and the drum support member 40 with the seal support member 70. This further reduces the constraints on the position when installing the first seal member 60.

[0074] [effect] According to the clothes dryer 10 of this embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

[0075] The clothes dryer 10 according to this embodiment includes a rotating drum 20 having a peripheral wall 24 and a bottom wall 22 provided with ventilation holes 28, and rotating around a rotation shaft 25 connected to the bottom wall 22; a plate-shaped drum support member 40 that supports the rotation shaft 25 of the rotating drum 20 and has an outlet 54 at a position facing the bottom wall 22 of the rotating drum 20; a circulating air passage that circulates drying air through the ventilation holes 28 and the outlet 54; an annular first sealing member 60 that contacts the bottom wall 22 to seal the space between the bottom wall 22 of the rotating drum 20 and the drum support member 40; a sealing support member 70 having a fixing part 72 fixed to the drum support member 40 and a support part 74 that supports the first sealing member 60, wherein the support part 74 is located outside the fixing part 72 in the radial direction of the rotating drum 20.

[0076] This configuration allows the first sealing member 60 to contact the bottom wall 22 further outward in the radial direction of the rotating drum 20. As a result, the air outlet 54 can be positioned further outward in the radial direction of the rotating drum 20, providing a clothes dryer with improved drying performance.

[0077] Furthermore, in the clothes dryer 10 according to this embodiment, the seal support member 70 includes an intermediate portion 76 between the fixing portion 72 and the support portion 74, which extends in the direction from the drum support member 40 toward the bottom wall 22.

[0078] With this configuration, the first sealing member 60 can be brought into contact with the bottom wall 22 of the rotating drum 20, even if there is a gap between the bottom wall 22 of the rotating drum 20 and the drum support member 40.

[0079] Furthermore, in the clothes dryer 10 according to this embodiment, an annular second sealing member 110 is further provided between the drum support member 40 and the fixing part 72.

[0080] This configuration improves airtightness between the drum support member 40 and the fixing part 72.

[0081] Furthermore, in the clothes dryer 10 according to this embodiment, the second sealing member 110 is made of rubber.

[0082] This configuration makes it easy to reassemble the seal assembly 16 and the drum support member 40.

[0083] Furthermore, in the clothes dryer 10 according to this embodiment, the support portion 74 of the seal support member 70 and the first seal member 60 are fixed together by a retaining member 90.

[0084] This configuration makes it possible to fix the first sealing member 60 to the support portion 74 without providing a screw hole in the first sealing member 60.

[0085] Furthermore, in the clothes dryer 10 according to this embodiment, the air outlet 54 of the drum support member 40 is located below the rotation axis 25 of the rotating drum 20.

[0086] This configuration allows drying air to be supplied into the rotating drum 20 from the bottom of the rotating drum 20.

[0087] Furthermore, in the clothes dryer 10 according to this embodiment, the rotating drum 20 has a baffle 32 that protrudes inward from the peripheral wall 24, and the outlet 54 of the drum support member 40 is positioned further inward than the baffle 32 in the radial direction of the rotating drum 20.

[0088] This configuration makes it less likely for the airflow for drying to be obstructed by the baffle 32.

[0089] Furthermore, in the clothes dryer 10 according to this embodiment, the first sealing member 60 and the bottom wall 22 are in contact with each other outside the ventilation holes 28 of the bottom wall 22 in the radial direction of the rotating drum 20.

[0090] This configuration helps to suppress the outflow of drying air from the circulating air passage.

[0091] Furthermore, in the clothes dryer 10 according to this embodiment, the drum support member 40 has at least a partially annular recess 44 on the outside of the air outlet 54 in the radial direction of the rotating drum 20.

[0092] This configuration improves the bending rigidity of the drum support member 40.

[0093] (Summary of the embodiment) A clothes dryer in the first embodiment includes a rotating drum having a peripheral wall and a bottom wall provided with ventilation holes, rotating around a rotation axis connected to the bottom wall, a plate-shaped drum support member supporting the rotation axis of the rotating drum and having an outlet at a position opposite the bottom wall of the rotating drum, a circulating air passage for circulating drying air through the ventilation holes and the outlet, an annular first sealing member in contact with the bottom wall to seal the space between the bottom wall of the rotating drum and the drum support member, and a sealing support member having a fixing portion fixed to the drum support member and a support portion supporting the first sealing member, wherein the support portion is located outside the fixing portion in the radial direction of the rotating drum.

[0094] In the second embodiment of the clothes dryer, the clothes dryer in the first embodiment may have an intermediate portion between the fixed portion and the support portion that extends in the direction from the drum support member toward the bottom wall.

[0095] In the third embodiment, the clothes dryer may further include an annular second sealing member between the drum support member and the fixing part, as in the clothes dryer of the first and second embodiments.

[0096] In the fourth embodiment, as a clothes dryer, the second sealing member may be made of rubber, as in the clothes dryer of the third embodiment.

[0097] In the fifth embodiment, as in the clothes dryer of the first to fourth embodiments, the support portion of the seal support member and the first seal member may be fixed by a retaining member.

[0098] In the sixth embodiment, as in the clothes dryer of the first to fifth embodiments, the outlet of the drum support member may be located below the rotation axis of the rotating drum.

[0099] As a clothes dryer in the seventh embodiment, in the clothes dryer in the first to sixth embodiments, the rotating drum has a baffle that protrudes inward from the peripheral wall of the rotating drum, and the outlet of the drum support member may be positioned further inward than the baffle in the radial direction of the rotating drum.

[0100] In the eighth embodiment, as in the clothes dryer of the first to seventh embodiments, the first sealing member and the bottom wall may be in contact with each other outside the ventilation holes in the bottom wall in the radial direction of the rotating drum.

[0101] As a clothes dryer in the ninth embodiment, in the clothes dryer in the first to eighth embodiments, the drum support member may have at least a partially annular recess on the outside of the air outlet in the radial direction of the rotating drum.

[0102] While this disclosure is adequately described in relation to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, various modifications and alterations will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and alterations should be understood to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. [Industrial applicability]

[0103] The clothes dryer of this disclosure is characterized by a structure in which a seal is in contact with a rotating drum, and this feature can be applied to washing machines that have a drum, such as household drum-type washing machines. [Explanation of symbols]

[0104] 10 Clothes dryer 12 doors 14 Control section 16-pack of seals 18. First seal section 20 RPM drum 22 Bottom wall 24 Peripheral wall 25 Rotation axis 26 Axis fixing part 28 Ventilation holes 29 Ventilation section 30 Sliding part 32 baffles 40 Drum support member 42 Rotary bearings 44 recess 45 Front protruding surface 46 Airflow cover 48 Control Unit 50 Fans 52 Ribs 53 Ventilation opening 54 Air outlet 58, 58A hole 60 First sealing member 62 Stickers 64 Plane section 66 Bent section 68 Seal mounting section 70 Seal support member 72 Fixed part 74 Support part 76 Middle section 78 Foot 80, 82, 86, 88 screw holes 84 holes 90 Retaining member 92 Holding plate 94, 96 holes 98 Contact area 100 Pressing part 102 Bending section 110 Second sealing member 112 holes 114 Convex part 122 Heat exchange section 124 Ventilation holes I, J, K, L, M, N airflow

Claims

1. A rotating drum having a peripheral wall and a bottom wall provided with ventilation holes, and rotating around a rotation axis connected to the bottom wall, A plate-shaped drum support member that supports the rotating shaft of the rotating drum and has an outlet at a position opposite the bottom wall of the rotating drum, A circulating air passage for circulating drying air through the aforementioned vents and outlets, An annular first sealing member that contacts the bottom wall to seal the space between the bottom wall of the rotating drum and the drum support member, A seal support member having a fixing portion fixed to the drum support member and a support portion that supports the first seal member, A clothes dryer wherein the support portion is located outside the fixed portion in the radial direction of the rotating drum.

2. The seal support member has an intermediate portion between the fixing portion and the support portion that extends in the direction toward the bottom wall from the drum support member. A clothes dryer according to claim 1.

3. A second annular sealing member is further provided between the drum support member and the fixing portion. A clothes dryer according to claim 1.

4. The second sealing member is made of rubber. The clothes dryer according to claim 3.

5. The support portion of the seal support member and the first seal member are fixed together by a holding member. A clothes dryer according to claim 1.

6. The outlet of the drum support member is located below the rotation axis of the rotating drum. A clothes dryer according to claim 1.

7. The rotating drum has a baffle that protrudes inward from the peripheral wall of the rotating drum. The outlet of the drum support member is positioned inward in the radial direction of the rotating drum compared to the baffle. The clothes dryer according to claim 6.

8. In the radial direction of the rotating drum, the first sealing member and the bottom wall are in contact outside the ventilation holes of the bottom wall. A clothes dryer according to claim 1.

9. The drum support member has at least a partially annular recess on the outside of the outlet in the radial direction of the rotating drum. A clothes dryer according to claim 1.

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