Clothing processing equipment

Abstract

This invention provides a clothes dryer that can improve reliability by accurately determining whether or not there are any abnormalities in the drying process. [Solution] The garment processing device comprises an outer box, a storage tank provided inside the outer box for storing garments, an air passage for supplying air into the storage tank, a heating device that generates warm air by heating the air flowing through the air passage, a blower that blows the air in the air passage into the storage tank, an inlet humidity sensor that detects the humidity on the inlet side of the air passage relative to the storage tank, and a control unit capable of performing an operation that includes a drying process in which the heating device is driven to dry the garments in the storage tank. The control unit determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the drying process based on the detection result of the inlet humidity sensor during the execution of the drying process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a clothing treatment apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a clothes dryer provided with a plurality of humidity detection means capable of detecting the humidity of hot air at the inlet and outlet of a rotating drum. In Patent Document 1, after the drying operation starts, the temperature of the hot air near the outlet blown out from the rotating drum is measured by a thermistor, and if it is a predetermined temperature, for example, 50°C or higher, the outputs from a plurality of humidity sensors are detected, and it is determined whether the output difference is less than or equal to a predetermined value, for example, 3% or less. Then, if the output difference is less than or equal to the above-mentioned predetermined value, that is, the threshold value, it is determined that the clothes are almost dry, and after that, the drying is terminated after a predetermined delay time.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] That is, in the conventional configuration, the control means of the clothes dryer also takes in the information of a plurality of humidity detection means installed near the inlet and outlet of the rotating drum, measures and determines the difference in the outputs from these humidity detection means, so that the end of drying can be accurately detected, optimal drying end detection can be performed according to the wetness and humidity of the clothes, the clothes can be efficiently dried, and the energy saving, accuracy, and reliability for clothes drying can be surely improved. However, in the conventional configuration, there is a problem in improving the reliability for clothes drying because the presence or absence of an abnormality in the drying process including the presence or absence of an abnormality in the circulation path where a plurality of humidity detection means are provided is not considered.

[0005] Therefore, we provide a clothes dryer that can improve reliability by accurately determining whether or not there are any abnormalities in the drying process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The garment processing apparatus of the embodiment comprises an outer box, a storage tank provided inside the outer box for storing garments, an air passage for supplying air into the storage tank, a heating device for heating the air flowing through the air passage to generate warm air, a blower for blowing the air in the air passage into the storage tank, an inlet humidity sensor for detecting the humidity on the inlet side of the air passage relative to the storage tank, and a control unit capable of performing an operation including a drying process in which the heating device is driven to dry the garments in the storage tank. The control unit determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the drying process based on the detection result of the inlet humidity sensor during the execution of the drying process. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] A schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a clothes dryer according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] A schematic diagram showing an example of a clothes dryer according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] A block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a clothes dryer according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of the changes in temperature and humidity in the air passage over time during the drying process for a clothes dryer according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of how the measured value of the inlet humidity sensor changes when water splashes occur on the inlet side of the airflow path in a clothes dryer according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of how the measured value of the inlet humidity sensor changes when outside air flows into the air passage of a clothes dryer according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of the change in the measured value of the inlet humidity sensor when over-drying occurs in a clothes dryer according to one embodiment. [Figure 8]This figure shows an example of the change in the measured value of the inlet humidity sensor when airflow blockage occurs in a clothes dryer according to one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a clothing processing device will be described with reference to the drawings. The clothes dryer 1 shown in Figure 1 is an example of a clothes processing device, and is, for example, a drum-type clothes dryer in which the rotation axis of the rotating drum 14 is oriented horizontally or inclined downward toward the rear. The clothes dryer 1 is equipped with, for example, a washing function and a drying function, and is capable of performing a washing and drying operation that includes the processes of washing, rinsing, spinning, and drying. Note that the clothes dryer 1 is not limited to a drum-type clothes dryer, but may also be a vertical-axis type clothes dryer in which the rotation axis of the rotating drum is oriented vertically. Furthermore, the clothes dryer can also be configured without a washing function.

[0009] The clothes dryer 1 comprises an outer casing 11, a door 12, an outer tub 13, a rotating tub 14, a motor 15, a drainage mechanism 16, a water supply mechanism 17, an operation panel 18, and a drying mechanism 20. In Figure 1, the side of the clothes dryer 1 facing the installation surface, i.e., the vertically downward side, is considered the bottom of the clothes dryer 1, and the side opposite the installation surface, i.e., the vertically upward side, is considered the top of the clothes dryer 1. The side of the clothes dryer 1 that is in front of the user, i.e., the left side of Figure 1, is considered the front of the clothes dryer 1, and the side opposite the user, i.e., the right side of Figure 1, is considered the rear of the clothes dryer 1.

[0010] The outer casing 11 constitutes the outer shell of the clothes dryer 1 and is formed as a rectangular hollow box by a combination of metals such as stainless steel plates or resin materials. The outer casing 11 has a front opening 111 on its front side that connects the inside and outside of the outer casing 11. The door 12 is provided on the front side of the outer casing 11 and opens and closes the front opening 111. With the door 12 open, the user can put clothes in and take them out of the rotating tub 14 through the front opening 111. Both the outer tub 13 and the rotating tub 14 are formed in a so-called bottomed cylindrical shape, with one side in the axial direction, i.e., the front side, open and the other side, i.e., the rear side, having a bottom. The outer tub 13 and the rotating tub 14 constitute a storage tub in which clothes are stored during the drying process and dried.

[0011] The outer tank 13 is elastically supported by a suspension (not shown) provided within the outer casing 11. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the outer tank 13 has an exhaust port 131 and an air intake port 132. The exhaust port 131 and the air intake port 132 communicate the inside and outside of the outer tank 13. The exhaust port 131 is for discharging air from inside the outer tank 13. The exhaust port 131 is located, for example, in the upper front part of the outer tank 13. The air intake port 132 is for supplying air into the outer tank 13. The air intake port 132 is located, for example, at the bottom of the outer tank 13, slightly above the vertical center of the bottom.

[0012] The rotating tub 14 is capable of holding clothes inside and is rotatably positioned within the outer tub 13. The rotating tub 14 is rotationally driven by a motor 15. The rotating tub 14 has a plurality of holes 141. The plurality of holes 141 are formed over almost the entire circumference of the rotating tub 14 and function as ventilation holes through which air enters and exits, for example, during the drying process. The motor 15 is located on the outside of the bottom of the outer tub 13. The motor 15, although not shown in detail, is composed of, for example, a brushless direct-drive motor with a variable rotation speed. The motor 15 has the function of rotationally driving the rotating tub 14 relative to the outer tub 13. The motor shaft 151 of the motor 15, the central axis of the outer tub 13, and the rotation axis of the rotating tub 14 are in a so-called concentric relationship, overlapping each other.

[0013] The drainage mechanism 16 has the function of discharging water stored in the outer tank 13 to the outside of the clothes dryer 1. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the drainage mechanism 16 has a drain valve 161 and a drain pipe 162. The drain valve 161 is an electromagnetically operated on-off valve for liquids. One end of the drain pipe 162 is connected to the drain valve 161, and the other end is drawn out to the outside of the clothes dryer 1. The drain valve 161 opens and closes the drainage path for draining water stored in the outer tank 13 to the outside. When the drain valve 161 is opened, the water stored in the outer tank 13 is discharged to the outside of the clothes dryer 1 through the drain pipe 162.

[0014] The water supply mechanism 17 has the function of supplying water into the outer tub 13 from an external water source, such as a water tap. As shown in Figure 2, the water supply mechanism 17 has a water supply valve 171 and a water inlet case 172. The water supply valve 171 is an electromagnetically operated on-off valve for liquids. The water supply valve 171 has the function of opening and closing a water supply path (not shown) from an external water source to the outer tub 13 via the water supply mechanism 17. The water inlet case 172 is located in the middle of the water supply path and is provided downstream of the water supply valve 171. The water inlet case 172 has a treatment agent case (not shown). The treatment agent case is configured to accommodate, for example, the amount of laundry treatment agent needed for one wash cycle. When the laundry treatment agent is contained in the treatment agent case, the water supplied from the external water source that flows into the water inlet case 172 and the laundry treatment agent are mixed in the water inlet case 172 and then supplied to the outer tub 13 and the rotating tub 14.

[0015] The control panel 18 is located, for example, on the front part of the top surface of the outer casing 11. The control panel 18 receives input from the user regarding the settings and operation of the clothes dryer 1, and has the function of presenting information regarding the settings and operation of the clothes dryer 1 to the user through display, voice, etc. The control panel 18 is composed of, for example, a touch panel display.

[0016] The drying mechanism 20 has the function of supplying hot air into the outer tank 13. The drying mechanism 20 is composed of an air passage 30, a heating device 40, and an exhaust device 50. The air passage 30 is located outside the outer tank 13, with one end connected to the exhaust port 131 and the other end connected to the air intake port 132. The air passage 30 connects the exhaust port 131 and the air intake port 132 and circulates and supplies air into the outer tank 13. The air passage 30 takes in air from the outer tank 13 through the exhaust port 131, generates hot air via the heating device 40, and then supplies that hot air into the outer tank 13 through the air intake port 132. In this case, looking at the air flowing through the air passage 30, the exhaust port 131 is the upstream side and the air intake port 132 is the downstream side. Also, the exhaust port 131 constitutes the outlet of the air passage 30, and the air intake port 132 constitutes the inlet of the air passage 30.

[0017] The air passage 30 can be configured with, for example, an exhaust duct 31, a filter device 32, a connecting duct 33, a heat exchange section 34, and an air supply duct 35. The exhaust duct 31, the connecting duct 33, and the air supply duct 35 each function as part of a duct. The exhaust duct 31 is made of, for example, a flexible bellows-shaped hose. One end of the exhaust duct 31 is connected to the exhaust port 131, and the other end is connected to the filter device 32. The exhaust duct 31 is, for example, the part that discharges air from the outer tank 13. The filter device 32 is located downstream of the exhaust port 131 and collects foreign matter such as lint and dust contained in the air that flows out from the exhaust port 131 and through the air passage 30. The filter device 32 can be configured with a filter device body 321 and a filter 322. The filter device body 321 can be made of, for example, a resin container-shaped member with an open top. The opening on the top surface of the filter device body 321 is opened and closed by a cover (not shown). The filter 322 is detachably installed inside the filter device body 321. The filter 322 collects foreign matter contained in the air flowing through the air passage 30.

[0018] The connection duct 33 is a duct that connects the filter device 32 and the heat exchange section 34. The heat exchange section 34 is, for example, on the back side of the clothes dryer 1 and is arranged near the bottom inside the outer case 11. The heat exchange section 34 is provided in the middle of the air passage 30. The air taken in from the outer tub 13 into the air passage 30 and flowing through the connection duct 33 becomes warm and dry air that is dehumidified and heated when passing through the heat exchange section 34. The air supply duct 35 is a duct that connects the heat exchange section 34 and the air supply port 132 of the outer tub 13. The air supply duct 35 is, for example, a part that supplies air into the outer tub 13.

[0019] The heating device 40 is constituted by, for example, a heat pump mechanism, that is, a refrigeration cycle. The heating device 40 is provided in the middle of the air passage 30. The heating device 40 heats the air flowing through the air passage 30 to generate warm air for drying the clothes in the rotary tub 14. The warm air is set to be, for example, about 60°C to 70°C. As shown in FIG. 2, the heating device 40 includes an evaporator 41, a condenser 42, a compressor 43, and an expansion valve 44. When based on the compressor 43, the heating device 40 is annularly connected in the order of the condenser 42, the expansion valve 44, and the evaporator 41 with respect to the direction in which the refrigerant flows. That is, the heating device 40 circulates the refrigerant through the compressor 43, the condenser 42, and the evaporator 41.

[0020] The evaporator 41 and the condenser 42 are provided in the heat exchange section 34. The evaporator 41 cools and dehumidifies the air circulating in the air passage 30. The condenser 42 heats the air flowing through the air passage 30 to make it warm air. The compressor 43 is provided outside the heat exchange section 34. The compressor 43 supplies the refrigerant to the condenser 42 by pressure feeding. The expansion valve 44 is for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure liquid refrigerant so that it is easy to evaporate. Note that the heating device 40 may be constituted by a well-known heater-type mechanism instead of the configuration of the heat pump mechanism.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, a drain tank 45 is provided at the bottom of the heat exchange section 34. The drain tank 45 is configured to receive and store dehumidified water removed by the evaporator 41 or moisture present in the air passage 30. A drain pump 46 is provided near the drain tank 45. The drain pump 46 is for discharging the water in the drain tank 45 to the outside of the clothes dryer 1 via a drainage path.

[0022] The drying mechanism 20 also includes a blower 47. The blower 47 is located downstream of the heating device 40 and sends air from the air passage 30 into the outer tank 13. In this case, as shown in Figure 2, the blower 47 is installed, for example, between the heat exchange section 34 and the air supply duct 35. The blower 47 then supplies air that has been dehumidified and heated by the heating device 40 into the outer tank 13 through the air supply port 132. The blower 47 is composed of, for example, a sirocco fan.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the exhaust device 50 has an opening 51 and an exhaust damper 52. The opening 51 is located in the middle of the air passage 30 and connects the inside and outside of the air passage 30. The opening 51 discharges a portion of the air in the air passage 30 to the outside. In addition, the outer casing 11 is provided with a communication port 112, as shown in Figure 1. The communication port 112 is located in the part of the outer casing 11 corresponding to the opening 51 and connects the inside and outside of the outer casing 11. The air discharged from the opening 51 to the outside of the air passage 30 is then discharged outside the clothes dryer 1 through the communication port 112, as indicated by the black arrow in Figure 1.

[0024] The exhaust damper 52 has an actuator, such as a motor or solenoid, and is configured to open and close the opening 51 based on a control signal. When the exhaust damper 52 is open, the opening 51 is open, and when the exhaust damper 52 is closed, the opening 51 is closed. In other words, the exhaust damper 52 has the function of switching between an open state in which the opening 51 is open and a portion of the air in the air passage 30 is discharged from the opening 51, and a closed state in which the opening 51 is closed and a portion of the air in the air passage 30 is not discharged from the opening 51.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the clothes dryer 1 includes an outlet temperature sensor 61, an inlet temperature sensor 62, an outlet humidity sensor 63, an inlet humidity sensor 64, a control unit 70, a timing unit 71, and a storage unit 72. The outlet temperature sensor 61 detects the temperature of the air flowing through the air passage 30 before it is affected by the heat from the evaporator 41 and the condenser 42. In this case, the outlet temperature sensor 61 is located in the air passage 30 downstream of the filter device 32 and upstream of the evaporator 41. The inlet temperature sensor 62 detects the temperature of the air flowing through the air passage 30 that has been heated by the condenser 42. In this case, the inlet temperature sensor 62 is located in the air passage 30 downstream of the blower 47 and upstream of the air intake port 132.

[0026] The outlet humidity sensor 63 detects the humidity of the air in the air passage 30 before it is affected by the heat from the evaporator 41 and condenser 42. In other words, the outlet humidity sensor 63 detects the humidity at the outlet side of the air passage 30. Humidity refers to relative humidity (%), which is the ratio of the amount of water vapor in the air at a given temperature to the amount of water vapor at the saturation point at a given temperature. The outlet humidity sensor 63 is located in the air passage 30 downstream of the filter device 32 and upstream of the evaporator 41. The outlet humidity sensor 63 is located, for example, in the vicinity of the outlet temperature sensor 61. By positioning the outlet humidity sensor 63 downstream of the filter device 32, the accumulation of foreign matter on the outlet humidity sensor 63 can be suppressed.

[0027] The inlet humidity sensor 64 detects the humidity of the air flowing through the air passage 30 that has been heated by the condenser 42. In other words, the inlet humidity sensor 64 detects the humidity on the inlet side of the air passage 30. In this case, the inlet humidity sensor 64 is located within the air passage 30, downstream of the blower 47 and upstream of the air supply port 132. The inlet humidity sensor 64 is located, for example, in the vicinity of the inlet temperature sensor 62.

[0028] The motor 15, drain valve 161, water supply valve 171, control panel 18, compressor 43, drain pump 46, blower 47, and exhaust damper 52 are electrically connected to the control unit 70 and operate under control from the control unit 70. The outlet temperature sensor 61, inlet temperature sensor 62, outlet humidity sensor 63, and inlet humidity sensor 64 are electrically connected to the control unit 70 and each transmits its detection result to the control unit 70. The control unit 70 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having storage areas such as a CPU, ROM, RAM, and rewritable flash memory. The control unit 70 controls the overall operation of the clothes dryer 1. The storage area of ​​the control unit 70 stores control programs for controlling and operating the clothes dryer 1. Each process of the control unit 70 is realized by the CPU executing the control program.

[0029] The control unit 70 receives detection signals from various sensors 61 to 64 and, based on a control program, controls the operation of the motor 15, drain valve 161, water supply valve 171, operation panel 18, compressor 43, drain pump 46, blower 47, and exhaust damper 52 to perform the operation. Operation refers to performing predetermined processing on clothing, in which multiple different processes are executed in sequence. Types of operation include, for example, wash-and-dry operation and drying operation. Wash-and-dry operation is an operation that performs washing and drying continuously. Drying operation is an operation that performs drying only. In drying operation, the drying process is performed with clothing contained in the rotating tub 14.

[0030] Although a detailed explanation will be omitted as this is a well-known configuration, the control unit 70 performs a weight detection process and a fabric quality detection process before the drying process during the drying operation. The drying process may also include the well-known wrinkle removal process and soft-keeping process. The wrinkle removal process and soft-keeping process are performed after the drying process. The time and number of times each process is performed in each operation can be changed according to the user's requirements.

[0031] The timing unit 71 has the function of measuring the current time or the time of each process during operation. The timing unit 71 is not limited to the configuration of the clothes dryer 1. For example, the clothes dryer 1 may have a communication unit capable of communicating with an external server, and obtain time information from the external server via this communication unit. In this case, the control unit 70 may be configured to manage time based on this time information. The storage unit 72 is composed of well-known storage media such as ROM, HDD, semiconductor memory, and magnetic disk, and stores various types of information. The storage unit 72 can be composed of, for example, a predetermined area set in the storage area of ​​the control unit 70.

[0032] When the control unit 70 executes the drying process, it controls the operation of the compressor 43 and blower 47, etc., based on detection signals from the outlet temperature sensor 61, the inlet temperature sensor 62, and the outlet humidity sensor 63, etc., to dry the clothes in the rotating drum 14. In other words, the control unit 70 determines the progress or completion of the drying process based on the temperature detected by either or both of the outlet temperature sensor 61 or the inlet temperature sensor 62, or the humidity detected by the outlet humidity sensor 63, and controls the compressor 43 and blower 47, etc., to execute the drying process. The control unit 70 also stores temperature information related to the temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 61 and the inlet temperature sensor 62 during the drying process in the storage unit 72. Furthermore, the control unit 70 also stores humidity information related to the humidity detected by the outlet humidity sensor 63 and the inlet humidity sensor 64 during the drying process in the storage unit 72.

[0033] Here, the drying process proceeds in the following order, as shown in Figure 4: heating period T1, constant rate period T2, decay rate period T3, and blowing period T4. In Figure 4, the graph exemplified by A1 shows the change over time of the measured value of the outlet temperature sensor 61 under normal conditions, and the graph exemplified by A2 shows the change over time of the measured value of the inlet temperature sensor 62 under normal conditions. Furthermore, the graph exemplified by A3 in Figure 4 shows the change over time of the difference between the measured value of the inlet temperature sensor 62 and the measured value of the outlet temperature sensor 61. In addition, the graph exemplified by B1 in Figure 4 shows the change over time of the measured value of the outlet humidity sensor 63 under normal conditions. And the graph exemplified by B2 in Figure 4 shows the change over time of the measured value of the inlet humidity sensor 64 under normal conditions. Note that in Figure 4, graphs A1 to A3 are shown as dashed lines for easier viewing.

[0034] The heating period T1 is the period during which the clothes in the rotating drum 14 are heated. The heating period T1 is the period from when the compressor 43 and the blower 47 are operated and the drying process begins until the temperature in the rotating drum 14 tends to increase. The heating period T1 corresponds to the initial process executed at the beginning of the drying process. The control unit 70 can determine that the heating period T1 has ended when the maximum temperature tm is reached, which is the maximum value of the difference A3 between the measured value of the inlet temperature sensor 62 and the measured value of the outlet temperature sensor 61. When the maximum temperature tm is obtained, the control unit 70 stores the maximum temperature tm in the storage unit 72. The control unit 70 can also obtain the maximum humidity hm, which is the maximum value of the measured value B1 of the outlet humidity sensor 63, during the heating period T1. The maximum humidity hm tends to be detected earlier than the maximum temperature tm. When the maximum humidity hm is obtained, the control unit 70 stores the maximum humidity hm in the storage unit 72.

[0035] The constant rate period T2 is a period in which the surface temperature of the clothes in the rotating tub 14 remains approximately constant because the heat generated by the heating device 40 and the heat lost due to the evaporation of moisture from the clothes are nearly balanced, and the amount of moisture in the clothes decreases in proportion to the elapsed time. The constant rate period T2 corresponds to the drying detection process, which is performed after the initial process and detects the degree of dryness of the clothes in the rotating tub 14. During the constant rate period T2, the humidity detected by the outlet humidity sensor 63 tends to decrease as the clothes dry. Also, during the constant rate period T2, the humidity detected by the inlet humidity sensor 64 tends to decrease gradually. At the end of the constant rate period T2, a certain amount of moisture has evaporated from the clothes, and the clothes are somewhat dry.

[0036] The control unit 70 can determine the end time of the constant rate period T2 based on both the temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 61 and the inlet temperature sensor 62, or the humidity detected by the outlet humidity sensor 63. In other words, the control unit 70 can perform drying detection during the drying process based on both the temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 61 and the inlet temperature sensor 62, or the humidity detected by the outlet humidity sensor 63. Drying detection means detecting the degree of dryness of the clothes, and it detects when the clothes are somewhat dry, that is, when a certain amount of moisture has evaporated from the clothes.

[0037] In this case, the control unit 70 can determine that the constant rate period T2 has ended when the temperature difference A3 between the temperature detected by the inlet temperature sensor 62 and the temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 61 decreases from the maximum temperature tm and the amount of decrease reaches a predetermined threshold. The control unit 70 can also determine that the constant rate period T2 has ended when the humidity detected by the outlet humidity sensor 63 decreases from the maximum humidity hm and the amount of decrease reaches a predetermined threshold. Furthermore, the control unit 70 can determine that the constant rate period T2 has ended when either threshold is reached. The control unit 70 may also determine the end time of the constant rate period T2 based on the detection result of either of the temperature sensors 61 or 62, i.e., when dryness detection is performed. Alternatively, the control unit 70 may determine the end time of the constant rate period T2 based on the elapsed time since the transition to the constant rate period T2.

[0038] The cooling period T3 is the period during which the surface temperature of the clothes in the rotating tub 14 begins to rise and the amount of moisture evaporated from the clothes decreases. The control unit 70 can determine the end time of the cooling period T3, for example, based on the elapsed time since the transition to the cooling period T3. The blowing period T4 is the period during which the rotating tub 14 and the clothes inside the rotating tub 14 are cooled. In this case, the control unit 70 stops the heating device 40 during the blowing period T4 to suppress heating of the rotating tub 14 and the clothes inside the rotating tub 14. The control unit 70 can determine the end time of the blowing period T4, for example, based on the elapsed time since the transition to the blowing period T4.

[0039] Here, for example, in order to ensure proper garment finish during drying, it is desirable to determine whether there are any abnormalities in the drying process, such as abnormalities in the air passage 30. As an indicator for determining the cause of abnormalities in the drying process, it is conceivable to use the humidity of the air on the inlet side of the air passage 30, which is not affected by the moisture of the clothes in the rotating tub 14. In this embodiment, the control unit 70 determines whether there are any abnormalities in the drying process based on the detection results of the inlet humidity sensor 64 during the execution of the drying process. If the control unit 70 determines that there is an abnormality in the drying process, it can use the operation panel 18 to notify the user of the occurrence of the abnormality and prompt inspection or maintenance.

[0040] For example, as indicated by the symbol Ah in Figure 5, if the humidity detected by the inlet humidity sensor 64 rises sharply during the drying process, it is predicted that water splashing has occurred on the inlet side of the air passage 30. Water splashing can include, for example, the outflow of water from the drain tank 45 caused by the water not being properly drained due to a malfunction or other abnormality in the drain pump 46 and being blown up by the blower 47, or the backflow of water remaining in the outer tank 13 or rotating tank 14 to the air inlet 132 side. Therefore, the control unit 70 determines that there is an abnormality related to the drying process on the inlet side of the air passage 30 if the humidity B2 detected by the inlet humidity sensor 64 rises above a predetermined level within a predetermined period, for example, a few seconds to tens of seconds. This makes it possible to efficiently identify that the cause of the abnormality related to the drying process is on the inlet side of the air passage 30.

[0041] Furthermore, for example, after the heating period T1, the humidity of the air flowing on the inlet side of the air passage 30 after passing through the heating device 40 is usually around 10%. On the other hand, the humidity of the air outside the air passage 30 is about 50-60%. Therefore, if outside air enters the air passage 30, the humidity detected by the inlet humidity sensor 64 tends to show a higher value than usual. Possible causes of outside air entering the air passage 30 include, for example, detachment or damage to the exhaust duct 31, connecting duct 33, and supply air duct 35 that constitute the air passage 30. Therefore, as shown by the symbol B2 in Figure 6, the control unit 70 determines that there is an abnormality in the air passage 30 related to the drying process if the humidity B2 detected by the inlet humidity sensor 64 does not fall below a predetermined value H1 and the control unit 70 determines that outside air is flowing into the air passage 30. In Figure 6, the dashed line shows the change over time in the measured value of the inlet humidity sensor 64 when no outside air is flowing into the air passage 30 under normal conditions.

[0042] As shown in Figure 4, if there is no abnormality in the drying process, the measured values ​​of the inlet humidity sensor 64 during the decay period T3 and the blowing period T4 will be approximately the same as or slightly higher than the measured values ​​of the inlet humidity sensor 64 at the end of the constant rate period T2, which is the period before drying detection. Therefore, if a decrease in the measured values ​​of the inlet humidity sensor 64 is observed during the period after the constant rate period T2, there is a possibility that the clothes in the rotating tub 14 are over-dried. In other words, if the clothes in the rotating tub 14 are over-dried, it can be said that the temperature and humidity environment in the air passage 30 is abnormal.

[0043] Therefore, as shown in Figure 7, the control unit 70 determines that there is an abnormality in the drying process, in the case of over-drying, if the humidity B2 detected by the inlet humidity sensor 64 falls below a certain value H2 after the constant rate period T2. In Figure 7, the change over time of the measured value of the inlet humidity sensor 64 under normal conditions is shown by a dashed line.

[0044] Foreign matter that could not be collected by the filter device 32 may adhere to the inner wall of the air passage 30 or the evaporator 41, potentially hindering drying over time. This is known as air passage clogging, and if it is discovered late, maintenance will require more time and effort. The best time to determine whether or not there is air passage clogging during the drying process is when the air in the air passage 30 can be dehumidified, that is, 10 to 20 minutes after the start of the drying process.

[0045] Therefore, as shown in Figure 8, the control unit 70 determines that there is an abnormality in the air passage 30 related to the drying process, in this case an air passage blockage, if the difference between the humidity B2t detected by the inlet humidity sensor 64 after a certain time Ts has elapsed since the start of the drying process in a past operation and the humidity B2n detected by the inlet humidity sensor 64 after a certain time Ts has elapsed since the start of the drying process in the current operation is greater than or equal to a certain value ΔH. The certain time Ts is set, for example, in the range of 10 to 20 minutes. This improves the reliability of the clothes dryer 1 because air passage blockages can be detected early.

[0046] According to the embodiment described above, the clothes dryer 1, which is an example of a clothing processing device, comprises an outer casing 11, an outer tub 13 and a rotating tub 14, an air passage 30, a heating device 40, a blower 47, an inlet humidity sensor 64, and a control unit 70. The outer tub 13 and the rotating tub 14 are located inside the outer casing 11 and contain clothing. The air passage 30 is for supplying air to the outer tub 13 and the rotating tub 14. The heating device 40 heats the air flowing through the air passage 30 to generate warm air. The blower 47 blows the air in the air passage 30 to the outer tub 13 and the rotating tub 14. The inlet humidity sensor 64 detects the humidity on the inlet side of the air passage 30 relative to the outer tub 13 and the rotating tub 14.

[0047] The control unit 70 can perform an operation that includes a drying process, which involves driving the heating device 40 to dry the clothes in the rotating drum 14. The control unit 70 then determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the drying process based on the detection results of the inlet humidity sensor 64 during the execution of the drying process. This allows for accurate determination of whether or not there is an abnormality in the drying process. As a result, the reliability of the clothes dryer 1 can be improved.

[0048] The control unit 70 determines that there is an abnormality on the inlet side of the air passage 30, such as wetting of the air passage 30, if the humidity detected by the inlet humidity sensor 64 rises above a predetermined level within a predetermined period. This allows the control unit to determine, for example, that abnormal moisture is flowing into the inlet side of the air passage 30, such as water in the drain tank 45 not being properly drained and being blown up by the blower 47. This improves the reliability of the clothes dryer 1.

[0049] Furthermore, if the control unit 70 determines that outside air is flowing into the air passage 30 without the humidity detected by the inlet humidity sensor 64 falling below a predetermined value H1, it determines that there is an abnormality in the air passage 30 related to the drying process, such as detachment or damage to the ducts 31, 33, and 35. This allows for efficient determination of whether or not there are factors hindering the drying process. This improves the reliability of the clothes dryer 1.

[0050] The drying process includes a drying detection process in which the degree of dryness of the clothes in the rotating tub 14 is detected. After the drying detection process, the control unit 70 determines that there is an abnormality in the drying process, such as over-drying of the clothes, if the humidity detected by the inlet humidity sensor 64 falls below a certain value H2. This allows for efficient identification of an over-drying condition, which is one of the abnormalities in the drying process and causes excessive moisture loss of the clothes in the rotating tub 14, resulting in a deterioration of the texture, and enables the drying process to be terminated quickly. This further improves the reliability of the clothes dryer 1.

[0051] The clothes dryer 1 further includes a storage unit 72 that stores the detection results of the inlet humidity sensor 64. The control unit 70 determines that there is an abnormality in the air passage 30, such as a blockage, if the difference between the humidity B2t detected by the inlet humidity sensor 64 after a certain time Ts has elapsed since the start of the drying process in a past operation and the humidity B2n detected by the inlet humidity sensor 64 after a certain time Ts has elapsed since the start of the drying process in the current operation is greater than or equal to a certain value ΔT.

[0052] This allows for the efficient identification of airflow blockage, which is one of the abnormalities related to the drying process. This further improves the reliability of the clothes dryer 1.

[0053] This embodiment is presented merely as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This novel embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. This embodiment and its 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]

[0054] 1... Clothes dryer (clothes processing device), 11... Outer casing, 13... Outer tank (storage tank), 14... Rotating tank (storage tank), 30... Air passage, 40... Heating device, 47... Blower, 64... Inlet humidity sensor, 70... Control unit

Claims

1. The outer box and A storage tank is provided inside the outer box for storing clothing, A duct for supplying air into the aforementioned containment tank, A heating device that generates warm air by heating the air flowing through the aforementioned air passage, A blower that blows air from the air passage into the storage tank, An inlet humidity sensor for detecting the humidity on the inlet side of the air passage relative to the storage tank, The system includes a control unit capable of performing an operation that includes a drying process for driving the heating device to dry the clothes in the storage tank, The control unit determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the drying process based on the detection result of the inlet humidity sensor during the execution of the drying process. Garment processing device.

2. The control unit determines that if the humidity detected by the inlet humidity sensor rises above a predetermined level within a predetermined period, there is a cause for the abnormality on the inlet side of the air passage, such as wetting of the air passage. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The control unit determines that if the humidity detected by the inlet humidity sensor does not fall below a predetermined value and external air is flowing into the air passage, it determines that there is a cause for the abnormality in the air passage, such as a duct becoming detached or damaged. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 1.

4. The drying process includes a drying detection process in which the degree of dryness of the clothes in the storage tank is detected. The control unit determines that there is an abnormality in the drying process, such as over-drying of the clothes, if the humidity detected by the inlet humidity sensor falls below a certain value after the drying detection process. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 1.

5. The system further includes a storage unit for storing the detection results of the inlet humidity sensor, The control unit determines that there is a cause for the abnormality in the air passage, such as a blockage, if the difference between the humidity detected by the inlet humidity sensor after a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of the drying process in a past operation and the humidity detected by the inlet humidity sensor after a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of the drying process in the current operation is greater than or equal to a certain value. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 1.

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