Dryer

Abstract

The present invention provides a dryer that does not require cleaning components, thereby reducing manufacturing costs, and that can remove dust from the dry air flowing through the air circulation path while preventing a decrease in drying efficiency. [Solution] The cyclone container 1 has an inlet 3 into which dry air flows in from the air circulation passage 21a, a swirling section 4 that swirls the dry air between it and the discharge pipe 2, and a dust collection section 5 that is continuously provided below the swirling section 4 and collects dust in the swirled dry air. The dust collection section 5 has a dust-capturing processed surface 5b on its substantially cylindrical inner wall surface 5a, which is processed with irregularities to prevent backflow of dust transferred from the swirling section 4.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a dryer having an air circulation path through which drying air for drying an object to be washed flows in communication with a tank body in which the object to be washed is accommodated.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a dryer provided with a filter for collecting dust and a filter cleaning device for removing the dust adhering to the filter is known (Patent Document 1).

[0003] The dryer described in Patent Document 1 is configured such that warm air generated by a blowing means and a heating means is circulated and supplied through a circulation duct into a rotary drum that is rotatably disposed in a tank body and accommodates clothes or the like, so that the clothes or the like can be dried. The dryer has a filter cleaning device on the exhaust side of the circulation duct from the tank body. The filter cleaning device includes a cleaning mechanism and a filter body having a filter surface capable of collecting dust from ventilation. The cleaning mechanism has a cleaning body, and the cleaning body has a cleaning member made of a blade and a fixing portion for fixing the cleaning member. The fixing portion has a rotation shaft and a support portion contact portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the dryer described in Patent Document 1, clogging occurs when the amount of dust adhering to the filter surface increases, reducing drying efficiency. Therefore, it was necessary to periodically operate the filter cleaning device to clean the filter surface during dryer operation. Furthermore, since a cleaning member consisting of blades and a rotating mechanism to rotate this cleaning member are essential components for scraping off the dust adhering to the filter surface, this contributed to increasing the manufacturing cost of the dryer.

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the aforementioned conventional problems and to provide a dryer that can reduce manufacturing costs by not requiring cleaning members or a rotating mechanism for rotating cleaning members, while preventing a decrease in drying efficiency and removing dust from the dry air flowing through the air circulation path. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the aforementioned conventional problems, the invention of claim 1 provides a dryer comprising: a tank body; a rotating drum provided inside the tank body; a blowing means; a heating means; an air circulation path communicating with the tank body through which drying air for drying an object to be washed flows; and a cyclone mechanism provided in the air circulation path for swirling the drying air to separate dust, wherein the cyclone mechanism comprises a substantially cylindrical cyclone container and a means provided inside the cyclone container for discharging the drying air into the air circulation path. The cyclone container has a discharge pipe that is roughly cylindrical or roughly frustoconical in shape, and the cyclone container has an inlet into which the dry air from the air circulation path flows in, a swirling section that swirls the dry air between itself and the discharge pipe, and a dust collection section that is provided continuously with the swirling section and contains dust in the swirled dry air, and the dust collection section is characterized in that the inner wall surface of the roughly cylindrical container has a dust-capturing surface that is processed with irregularities to prevent backflow of dust transported from the swirling section.

[0008] In the invention of the dryer according to claim 1, by providing a cyclone mechanism in the air circulation path, dust can be separated and collected without the use of cleaning members such as blades, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and preventing a decrease in drying efficiency. Furthermore, by providing a swirling section that circulates the dry air and a dust collection section that contains the dust in the dry air in a continuous manner, and by having a dust-catching surface with uneven processing on the inner wall surface of the dust collection section, backflow of dust transferred from the swirling section to the dust collection section can be prevented.

[0009] The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the dust-capturing surface is a knurled surface or a dotted surface with a plurality of protrusions formed thereon. This allows dust to be efficiently captured in the dust collection section.

[0010] The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the cyclone container has a swirling section arranged on the upper side and a dust collection section arranged on the lower side, and when the cyclone container is viewed from above, a dust-capturing surface is formed in the dust collection section located near the inlet of the swirling section. This makes it possible to efficiently capture dust by identifying the location where the swirling flow in the dust collection section slows down and forming the dust-capturing surface there.

[0011] The invention of claim 4 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the cyclone container has a swirling section arranged on the upper side and a dust collection section arranged on the lower side, and when the cyclone container is viewed from above, the acute angle α at which a virtual line A passing from the axial center of the cyclone container through the inlet of the swirling section intersects with a virtual line B passing from the axial center of the cyclone container through the rear end of the dust-capturing surface of the dust collection section when the swirling flow flowing through the swirling section is considered to be clockwise in a plan view is 40 degrees or less, and the acute angle β at which a virtual line C passing from the axial center of the cyclone container through the front end of the dust-capturing surface of the dust collection section intersects is 5 degrees or less.

[0012] The invention of claim 5 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 1, the inner wall surface of the cyclone container has a constricted portion formed between the swirling portion and the dust collection portion, the constricted portion having a smaller inner diameter than the dust collection portion. This prevents dust that has reached the dust collection portion from returning to the swirling portion.

[0013] The invention of claim 6 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 5, the size of the inner diameter of the inner wall surface of the cyclone container is such that dust collection section > swirling section > constriction section. This effectively prevents dust that has reached the dust collection section from returning to the swirling section.

[0014] The invention of claim 7 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 5 or 6, the throttling portion has a dust-catching processed surface on the inner wall surface on the dust collection portion side, which is processed with irregularities to prevent backflow of dust transported from the swirling portion. This makes it possible to more effectively prevent dust that has reached the dust collection portion side from returning to the swirling portion side.

[0015] The invention of claim 8 is characterized in that, in any of the inventions of claims 1 to 5, the swirling section has a substantially cylindrical inner wall surface on which spiral ribs are formed for guiding the swirled dry air, and these spiral ribs are formed up to the vicinity of the dust collection section. As a result, the velocity of the swirling flow increases, the centrifugal force applied to the dust increases, and the dust can be efficiently transported to the dust collection section.

[0016] The invention of claim 9 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 8, the distance between adjacent spiral rib bodies is formed to increase toward the dust collection section. This makes it possible to gradually reduce the speed of the swirling flow toward the dust collection section, and dust can be efficiently contained in the dust collection section.

[0017] The invention according to claim 10 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 8, a plurality of spiral rib bodies are continuously formed on the inner wall surface of the dust collection part from the swirling part, and the distance between adjacent spiral rib bodies is formed to be larger than that of the swirling part. Thereby, the speed of the swirling flow can be gradually decelerated toward the lower side of the dust collection part, and dust can be efficiently accommodated in the dust collection part.

[0018] The invention according to claim 11 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, the dust collection part is detachably fixed to the cyclone container. Thereby, the dust accommodated in the dust collection part can be easily discharged to the outside.

Effects of the Invention

[0019] The invention of the dryer according to claim 1 can separate and collect dust without relying on cleaning members such as blades, reduce manufacturing costs, and prevent a decrease in drying efficiency. Further, it is possible to prevent the backflow of the dust transferred from the swirling part to the dust collection part. Also, the inventions according to claims 2 to 4 can efficiently capture dust in the dust collection part.

[0020] The inventions according to claims 5 to 7 can prevent the dust reaching the dust collection part side from returning to the swirling part side. Also, the invention according to claim 8 can increase the speed of the swirling flow and increase the centrifugal force applied to the dust, and can efficiently transfer it to the dust collection part side.

[0021] The inventions according to claims 9 and 10 can gradually decelerate the speed of the swirling flow toward the dust collection part side, and can efficiently accommodate dust in the dust collection part. Also, the invention according to claim 11 can easily discharge the dust accommodated in the dust collection part to the outside.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] [Figure 1] Perspective view showing the dryer according to the present invention [Figure 2] Cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the dryer according to the present invention [Figure 3]Perspective view showing a first embodiment of a cyclone mechanism constituting a dryer according to the present invention [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of a cyclone mechanism constituting a dryer according to the present invention [Figure 5] Cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X of FIG. 4 [Figure 6] (a) Perspective view showing an example of the inner wall surface of the swirling part (b) Perspective view showing another example of the inner wall surface of the swirling part (c) Perspective view showing an example of the inner wall surface of the dust collecting part (d) Perspective view showing another example of the inner wall surface of the dust collecting part [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the cyclone mechanism [Figure 8] Cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the cyclone mechanism [Figure 9] Perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the cyclone mechanism

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by this embodiment. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a dryer according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the same dryer. The dryer according to the present invention will be described below using these figures.

[0024] The dryer (washer-dryer) 20 according to the present invention is equipped with a washing function and has a door 20a on the front. Hot air generated by a blower (fan) 23 and a heating means 22 is circulated and supplied to a rotating drum 20b, which is rotatably arranged inside a tub 20d and holds clothes, through air circulation passages 21a, 21b, and 21c to dry clothes. A cyclone mechanism 10 is installed on the exhaust side from the tub 20d of the air circulation passages 21a, 21b, and 21c. The dryer 20 is also equipped with a lid 27 on the lower right front side from which a lint filter 30 can be removed. The lint filter 30 is installed inside a cylindrical filter case 28 provided inside this lid 27. The filter case 28 is connected to the rotating drum 20b by an internal drain hose 25a. The filter case 28 is also connected to a drain pipe 25b equipped with a drain valve 26. With this configuration, when draining water from the tank 20d, the wastewater flows through the internal drain hose 25a into the filter case 28, where the lint filter 30 removes the lint from the wastewater. The wastewater is then discharged outside the dryer 20 through the drain pipe 25b.

[0025] Reference numeral 20c denotes a motor that rotates the rotating drum 20b, and this motor 20c rotates the rotating drum 20b during various processes such as drying, washing, rinsing, and dewatering. Furthermore, a heat exchanger can be used as the heating means 22, for example. Various types of heat exchangers can be adopted, such as heat pump type and heater type. Heating by gas combustion can also be used as the heating means 22. While the dryer 20 is described as a drum type, it is not limited to this, and various types, such as a vertical type, can be adopted.

[0026] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the cyclone mechanism constituting the dryer according to the present invention, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view thereof, and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of XX in Figure 4. The first embodiment of the cyclone mechanism will be described below using these figures.

[0027] As described above, the dryer 20 according to the present invention has a cyclone mechanism 10 provided in the air circulation path that swirls dry air to separate dust, and the cyclone mechanism 10 of the first embodiment has a substantially cylindrical cyclone container 1 and a substantially cylindrical or substantially frustoconical discharge pipe 2 provided inside the cyclone container 1. The discharge pipe 2 discharges the dry air in the cyclone container 1 to the air circulation path 21b.

[0028] The cyclone container 1 has an inlet 3 into which dry air flows in from the air circulation passage 21a, a swirling section 4 that swirls the dry air between it and the discharge pipe 2, and a dust collection section 5 that is continuously provided below the swirling section 4 and collects dust in the swirled dry air. The dust collection section 5 has a dust-capturing processed surface 5b on its substantially cylindrical inner wall surface 5a, which is processed with irregularities to prevent backflow of dust transferred from the swirling section 4.

[0029] The discharge pipe 2 is provided with a filter body 7 on its side and bottom, through which dry air can be inserted. The filter body 7 may be provided on either the side or the bottom of the discharge pipe 2. This allows dust to adhere to the filter body 7, thereby improving the collection efficiency.

[0030] As described above, the dryer 20 according to the present invention is equipped with a cyclone mechanism 10 in the air circulation passages 21a and 21b, which allows for the separation and collection of dust without the use of cleaning members such as blades, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and preventing a decrease in drying efficiency. Furthermore, the cyclone container 1 is provided with a swirling section 4 that swirls the dry air and a dust collection section 5 that contains the dust in the dry air in a continuous manner, and the inner wall surface 5a of the dust collection section 5 has a dust-catching processed surface 5b with an uneven surface, so that backflow of dust transferred from the swirling section 4 to the dust collection section 5 can be prevented.

[0031] The cyclone container 1 has a swirling section 4 positioned on the upper side and a dust collection section 5 positioned on the lower side. As shown in Figure 5, when the cyclone container 1 is viewed from above, a dust-capturing surface 5b is formed on the inner wall surface 5a of the dust collection section 5, which is located near the inlet 3 of the swirling section 4. Preferably, when the cyclone container 1 is viewed from above, the acute angle α at which the imaginary line A9a passing from the axis center of the cyclone container 1 through the inlet 3 of the swirling section 4 intersects with the imaginary line B9b passing from the axis center of the cyclone container 1 through the rear end of the dust-capturing surface 5b of the dust collection section 5 (assuming the swirling flow Z flowing through the swirling section 4 rotates clockwise in a plan view) is 40 degrees or less, and the acute angle β at which the imaginary line C9c passing from the axis center of the cyclone container 1 through the front end of the dust-capturing surface 5b of the dust collection section 5 intersects is 5 degrees or less. This is because experiments have confirmed that the point where the swirling flow Y flowing through the dust collection section 5 slows down the most is within the range described above, based on the positional relationship between the inlet 3 and the discharge pipe 2. By identifying the point where the swirling flow in the dust collection section 5 slows down and forming the dust-capturing surface 5b there, it becomes possible to efficiently capture dust.

[0032] The inner wall surface 1a of the cyclone container has a constricted section 6 formed between the swirling section 4 and the dust collection section 5, with a smaller inner diameter than the dust collection section 5. The inner diameters of the inner walls are such that the inner wall surface 5a of the dust collection section 5 has the largest diameter, followed by the inner wall surface 4a of the swirling section 4, and the inner wall surface 6a of the constricted section 6 has the smallest diameter. This effectively prevents dust that has reached the dust collection section 5 from returning to the swirling section 4. In addition, it is possible to increase the speed of the swirling flow in the swirling section 4 while simultaneously increasing the dust collection capacity of the dust collection section 5.

[0033] Figure 6(a) is a perspective view showing an example of the inner wall surface of a swirling section, and Figure 6(b) is a perspective view showing another example of the inner wall surface of a swirling section. The inner wall surface of the swirling section shown in Figure 6(a) has a sharkskin texture, and the inner wall surface of the swirling section shown in Figure 6(b) has a riblet texture. Here, sharkskin texture refers to the process of processing the surface to resemble the shape of a shark's skin, which is covered with microscopic scales invisible to the naked eye. By applying this sharkskin texture, frictional resistance can be reduced, and the velocity of the swirling flow in the swirling section can be increased. However, since sharkskin texture processing is difficult and costly, a simpler riblet texture that mimics sharkskin is usually used, as shown in Figure 6(b). Even this riblet texture can sufficiently reduce frictional resistance, and by applying it to the swirling section, the velocity of the swirling flow in the swirling section can be increased.

[0034] Figure 6(c) is a perspective view showing an example of the inner wall surface of the dust collection unit, and Figure 6(d) is a perspective view showing another example of the inner wall surface of the dust collection unit. The inner wall surface of the dust collection unit shown in Figure 6(c) is knurled, and the inner wall surface of the dust collection unit shown in Figure 6(d) is dotted. Knurling is a process that creates fine irregularities or cuts in metal or resin, and is mainly divided into two types: diagonal pattern and flat pattern. Figure 6(c) shows an example of a diagonal pattern. Dotting, as shown in Figure 6(d), means processing so that a large number of fine protrusions are arranged at equal intervals. By applying this knurled or dotted surface as the dust-capturing surface 5b described above, dust can be efficiently captured in the dust collection unit 5.

[0035] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the cyclone mechanism. In the second embodiment, the cyclone mechanism 40 has a dust-catching processed surface 45b on the inner wall surface 45a of the throttling section 46 on the dust collection section 45 side, which is processed to prevent backflow of dust transferred from the swirling section 44. This makes it possible to more effectively prevent dust that has reached the dust collection section 45 side from returning to the swirling section 44 side.

[0036] In the second embodiment of the cyclone mechanism 40, spiral ribs 12 are formed on the substantially cylindrical inner wall surface 44a of the swirling section 44 to guide the swirling dry air, and these spiral ribs 12 are formed up to the vicinity of the dust collection section 45. This increases the velocity of the swirling flow and the centrifugal force applied to the dust, and allows for efficient transport towards the dust collection section 45. The distance between adjacent spiral ribs 12 can be formed to increase toward the dust collection section 45. This allows for a gradual reduction in the velocity of the swirling flow toward the dust collection section 45, enabling efficient collection of dust in the dust collection section 45. The other configurations are the same as those of the cyclone mechanism in the first embodiment and will not be described further.

[0037] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the cyclone mechanism. In the third embodiment of the cyclone mechanism 50, a plurality of helical ribs 12 are formed continuously from the swirling section 54 on the inner wall surface 55a of the dust collection section 55, and the distance 12b between adjacent helical ribs 12, 12 is formed to be greater than the distance 12a between adjacent helical ribs 12, 12 on the swirling section 54. This allows the velocity of the swirling flow to be gradually reduced toward the downward side of the dust collection section 55, and dust can be efficiently collected in the dust collection section 55. The other configurations are the same as those of the cyclone mechanism of the second embodiment and will not be described further.

[0038] Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the cyclone mechanism. In the fourth embodiment of the cyclone mechanism 60, the dust collection unit 65 is detachably fixed to the cyclone container 61. Reference numeral 8 denotes a lid fixed to the dust collection unit 65. This allows only the dust collection unit 65 to be removed from the dryer and the dust contained in the dust collection unit 65 to be easily discharged to the outside. The other configurations are the same as those of the cyclone mechanism of the first embodiment and will not be described further. [Industrial applicability]

[0039] The dryer according to the present invention is used as a device for drying objects to be washed. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 1. Cyclone container 1a Inner wall surface 2 Discharge pipe 3 Inlet 4. Swivel section 4a Inner wall surface of the rotating section 5. Dust collection unit 5a Inner wall surface of the dust collection section 5b Dust trapping surface 6. Aperture section 6a Inner wall surface of the aperture 7 Filters 8 Lid 9a Virtual line A 9b Virtual line B 9c Virtual Line C 10, 40, 50, 60 Cyclone mechanism 11 Handle 12 Spiral rib body 12a, 12b Distance between spiral rib bodies 20. Dryer (Washer-dryer) 20a Door 20b Rotating Drum 20c motor 20d tank body 21a, 21b, 21c Air circulation path 22 Heating means 23. Air blowing means (fan) 25a In-flight drain hose 25b Drain pipe 26 Drain valve 27 Lid 28 Filter Case 30 lint filters Y, X swirl flow α, β are acute angles.

Claims

1. A tank body, a rotating drum provided inside the tank body, A means of blowing air, a means of heating, An air circulation path, which communicates with the aforementioned tank body and through which drying air flows to dry the object to be washed, In a dryer having a cyclone mechanism provided in the air circulation path for swirling the dry air to separate dust, The cyclone mechanism described above is A roughly cylindrical cyclone container, The cyclone container has a substantially cylindrical or substantially frustoconical discharge pipe provided inside it for discharging dry air into the air circulation path, The cyclone container has an inlet into which the dry air from the air circulation path flows in, and a swirling section that swirls the dry air between itself and the discharge pipe, It has a dust collection section provided in conjunction with the swirling section for collecting dust in the swirling dry air, The dust collection unit is a dryer having a dust-catching surface on its substantially cylindrical inner wall, which is processed with irregularities to prevent backflow of dust transported from the swirling unit.

2. The dust-capturing surface is a knurled surface or a dotted surface with multiple protrusions, according to claim 1.

3. The dryer according to claim 1, wherein the cyclone container has a swirling section positioned on the upper side and a dust collection section positioned on the lower side, and when the cyclone container is viewed from above, a dust-capturing surface is formed on the dust collection section located near the inlet of the swirling section.

4. The dryer according to claim 1, wherein the cyclone container has a swirling section positioned on the upper side and a dust collection section positioned on the lower side, and when the cyclone container is viewed from above, the acute angle α at the intersection of a virtual line A passing from the axial center of the cyclone container through the inlet of the swirling section and a virtual line B passing from the axial center of the cyclone container through the rear end of the dust-capturing surface of the dust collection section (when the swirling flow through the swirling section is considered to be clockwise in a plan view) is 40 degrees or less, and the acute angle β at the intersection of a virtual line C passing from the axial center of the cyclone container through the front end of the dust-capturing surface of the dust collection section is 5 degrees or less.

5. The dryer according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall surface of the cyclone container has a constricted section between the swirling section and the dust collection section, the constricted section having a smaller inner diameter than the dust collection section.

6. The dryer according to claim 5, wherein the size of the inner diameter of the inner wall surface of the cyclone container is: dust collection section > swirling section > throttling section.

7. The drying machine according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the throttling section has a dust-catching surface on the inner wall surface on the dust collection section side, which is processed with irregularities to prevent backflow of dust transferred from the swirling section.

8. The swirling section has a substantially cylindrical inner wall surface on which spiral ribs are formed to guide the swirling dry air, and the spiral ribs are formed up to the vicinity of the dust collection section, according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

9. The dryer according to claim 8, wherein the distance between adjacent spiral rib bodies is formed to increase toward the dust collection section.

10. The dust collection section has a plurality of spiral ribs formed on its inner wall surface, continuously extending from the swivel section, and the distance between adjacent spiral ribs is formed to be greater than that between the swivel section, according to claim 8.

11. The dryer according to claim 1, wherein the dust collection unit is detachably fixed to the cyclone container.

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