Clothing processing equipment

Abstract

The present invention provides a garment processing device that allows the user to easily recognize the presence of the lint collection unit after each operation and prompts the user to clean the lint filter. [Solution] The garment processing device 1 is configured such that when the opening / closing door 12 is opened, the lint collection unit 19 protrudes inward into the passage 102a, and when the opening / closing door 12 is closed, the opening / closing door 12 comes into contact with the lint collection unit 19, and the opening / closing door 12 pushes the lint collection unit 19 outward into the passage 102a, resulting in a second state in which the protrusion of the lint collection unit 19 inward into the passage 102a is less than in the first state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a clothing treatment device. In particular, the present invention relates to a clothing treatment device having a lint collection unit to which a lint filter is attached.

Background Art

[0002] In clothing treatment devices such as clothes dryers and washing and drying machines, clothes are put into a rotating drum, the clothes are agitated by the rotation of the rotating drum, heated air is supplied into the rotating drum, and moisture generated from the clothes is exhausted outside the rotating drum, whereby the clothes are dried.

[0003] In this type of clothing treatment device, lint is generated from the clothes agitated in the rotating drum. When this lint enters the exhaust path for exhausting air from the inside of the rotating drum, the lint adheres to and accumulates on the inner wall of the exhaust path or the like, blocking the exhaust path and inhibiting the flow of air. Therefore, a lint collection unit to which a lint filter is attached is attached between the clothing outlet of the main body case and the drum opening of the rotating drum, and the lint generated during the drying operation is collected by the lint filter (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, since the lint filter becomes clogged with the collected lint, it is desirable that the user takes out the lint collection unit from the clothing treatment device and cleans the lint filter as often as possible after each operation. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, the lint collection unit is detachably attached between the clothing outlet and the drum opening.

[0006] However, the lint collection unit described in Patent Document 1 is inserted into an opening in a packing cover provided in the lower part of the passage between the garment removal opening and the drum opening, and the upper surface of the lint collection unit and the upper surface of the packing cover are formed to be substantially flush. Therefore, when a user looks around the garment removal opening with the door open, the packing cover and the lint collection unit are only perceived as part of the members forming the passage, and the presence of the lint collection unit is diminished. As a result, users tend to forget to clean the lint filter, and the lint filter is prone to clogging.

[0007] The present invention solves the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide a garment processing apparatus that allows the user to easily recognize the presence of the lint collection unit after each operation and prompts the user to clean the lint filter. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to a first aspect of this technology, The main case has a clothing removal opening on the front, The main case has an opening door for opening and closing the clothing removal opening, A rotating drum housed within the main case, with a drum opening on the front facing the clothing removal opening, A lint collection unit equipped with a lint filter for collecting lint, It is installed between the clothing removal opening and the drum opening, and connects the clothing removal opening and the drum opening. A garment processing apparatus comprising a connecting passage, A garment processing device is provided in which, when the opening / closing door is opened, the lint collection unit protrudes inward into the passageway in a first state, and when the opening / closing door is closed, the opening / closing door comes into contact with the lint collection unit, and the opening / closing door pushes the lint collection unit outward into the passageway, resulting in a second state in which the protrusion of the lint collection unit inward into the passageway is less than in the first state.

[0009] According to the first embodiment described above, when the opening / closing door is opened, the lint collection unit protrudes inward into the passage between the clothing removal opening and the drum opening, resulting in a first state where the user can easily recognize the presence of the lint collection unit after operation. This allows the user to be reminded to clean the lint filter after each operation. On the other hand, when the opening / closing door is closed, the door abuts against the lint collection unit, pushing the lint collection unit outward into the passage, resulting in a second state where the protrusion of the lint collection unit inward into the passage is less than in the first state, thus reducing the exposure of the lint collection unit. As a result, the lint collection unit is less likely to obstruct the agitation of clothes during operation. Furthermore, damage to the lint collection unit due to heat from hot air or contact with clothes during operation can be suppressed.

[0010] According to a second aspect of this technology, in the first embodiment described above, The lint collection unit is inserted into an opening in the passage-forming section that forms the passage. When the opening / closing door is opened, the lint collection unit protrudes inward from the opening of the passage forming section, resulting in a first state. When the opening / closing door is closed, the door comes into contact with the lint collection unit, pushing it outward from the passage, resulting in a second state where the protrusion of the lint collection unit inward from the opening of the passage forming section is less than in the first state.

[0011] According to the second embodiment described above, when the opening / closing door is opened, the lint collection unit protrudes inward from the opening of the passage forming section provided between the garment removal opening and the drum opening, resulting in a first state where the user can reliably recognize the presence of the lint collection unit. On the other hand, when the opening / closing door is closed, the door abuts against the lint collection unit and pushes the lint collection unit outward from the passage, resulting in a second state where the protrusion of the lint collection unit inward from the opening of the passage forming section is less than in the first state, thus reducing the exposure of the lint collection unit. As a result, the lint collection unit is less likely to obstruct the agitation of garments during operation. Furthermore, damage to the lint collection unit due to heat from hot air and contact with garments during operation can be further reduced.

[0012] According to a third aspect of this technology, in the second aspect described above, The opening and closing door is pivotally supported on the main case so as to be able to rotate horizontally. A biasing means is provided below the opening of the passage forming section to bias the lint collection unit upward. When the opening / closing door is opened, the biasing force from the biasing means causes the lint collection unit to protrude inward from the opening of the passage forming section into the passage, resulting in a first state. When the opening / closing door is closed, the opening / closing door comes into contact with the lint collection unit, and the opening / closing door pushes the lint collection unit downward against the biasing force of the biasing means, resulting in a second state in which the protrusion of the lint collection unit inward from the opening of the passage forming section into the passage is less than in the first state.

[0013] According to the third embodiment described above, since the opening and closing door is pivotally supported on the main case so as to be able to rotate horizontally, when the opening and closing door is opened, it tends to tilt vertically due to its own weight, with the pivot point as the starting point. As a result, when the opening and closing door is closed, the main case and the closing mechanism of the opening and closing door tend to be misaligned. Consequently, the feel of opening and closing the door may be impaired, or the door may become difficult to open and close.

[0014] However, according to the above-described third aspect, the lint collection unit is inserted into an opening provided in a communication path forming portion that forms a communication path, and biasing means for biasing the lint collection unit upward is provided below the opening. Therefore, when the opening / closing door is opened and closed, the opening / closing door that is in contact with the lint collection unit is supported from below by the lint collection unit. As a result, the inclination of the opening / closing door can be reduced, and the opening / closing door can be smoothly opened and closed.

[0015] According to a fourth aspect of the present technology, in the first or second aspect described above, a rear window portion that bulges rearward is provided on the rear surface of the opening / closing door, and when the opening / closing door is closed, the rear window portion that bulges on the rear surface of the opening / closing door abuts against the front surface of the lint collection unit with substantially no gap.

[0016] According to the fourth aspect described above, during operation, it is possible to reliably reduce the snagging of clothing in the gap between the opening / closing door and the lint collection unit.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a clothes dryer in a closed state of an opening / closing door according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a clothes dryer in a closed state of an opening / closing door according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic rear view showing a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a main part of a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a clothes dryer in an open state of an opening / closing door according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a clothes dryer in an open state of an opening / closing door according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, a clothes dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the clothes dryer according to this embodiment in the closed state of the opening / closing door, Figure 2 is a schematic longitudinal section view thereof, Figure 3 is a schematic rear view with the rear wall of the main body case omitted, and Figure 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the main parts of the components arranged in front of and behind the rotating drum. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the clothes dryer 1 according to this embodiment has an outer casing composed of a roughly rectangular box-shaped main body case 11 with a clothes removal opening 100 on the front, and an opening / closing door 12 that opens and closes the clothes removal opening 100 from its front side. In this specification, the side of the opening / closing door 12 of the clothes dryer 1 is referred to as the front side, the depth direction is referred to as the front-to-back direction, the width direction as the left-to-right direction, and the height direction as the up-and-down direction when viewing the clothes dryer 1 from the front side.

[0019] The main case 11 has a perimeter wall 110 consisting of a front wall 11a through which the clothing removal opening 100 opens, a rear wall 11b facing the front wall 11a in the front-to-back direction, an upper wall 11c connecting the upper sides of the front wall 11a and the rear wall 11b, a lower wall 11d connecting the lower sides of the front wall 11a and the rear wall 11b, a left wall 11e connecting the left sides of the front wall 11a and the rear wall 11b, and a right wall 11f connecting the right sides of the front wall 11a and the rear wall 11b. An entrance forming section 101 is provided behind the front wall 11a. The entrance forming section 101 has a cylindrical section 102 (hereinafter referred to as the "communication passage forming section 102") whose front end is fitted into the garment removal opening 100 of the front wall 11a and which extends rearward from the garment removal opening 100 toward the drum opening 130 of the rotating drum 3, and a hollow lower duct section 103 that extends downward from the lower part of the communication passage forming section 102. Therefore, the cylindrical communication passage 102a that connects the garment removal opening 100 and the drum opening 130, which are facing each other in the front-rear direction, is formed by the communication passage forming section 102 of the entrance forming section 101.

[0020] Inside the main case 11, a cylindrical rotating drum 3, with a circular drum opening 130 on its front, is housed in a sideways position. The rotating drum 3 is positioned so that its axis of rotation extends approximately horizontally in the front-rear direction. An annular front drum support 14 is provided on the outer circumference of the rear end of the passage forming section 102 of the inlet forming section 101. Therefore, the drum opening 130 on the front of the rotating drum 3 is formed by providing the front drum support 14 on the inner circumference of the front end of the rotating drum 3.

[0021] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, a semicircular opening 121 (hereinafter referred to as "hot air outlet 121") is provided in a certain area below the communication passage forming section 102 of the inlet forming section 101. The hot air outlet 121 communicates with the lower duct section 103. A lint collection unit 19 equipped with a lint filter 190 is detachably inserted into the hot air outlet 121. Therefore, the air inside the rotating drum 3 is exhausted into the exhaust path via the lint collection unit 19 inserted into the hot air outlet 121.

[0022] The lint collection unit 19 consists of a hollow member in which an upper intake section 19a and a lower filter section 19b are integrally formed. The intake section 19a has a front surface with an inclined surface 193 that slopes upward toward the rear at a predetermined angle and a vertical surface that hangs down from the lower end of the inclined surface 193, a rear surface that stands almost vertically, an upper surface that connects the upper edges of the front and rear surfaces, a left surface that connects the left side of the front and rear surfaces, a right surface that connects the right side of the front and rear surfaces, and a bottom surface. When viewed from the side, the intake section 19a has a deformed pentagonal shape. The front and left and right sides of the intake section 19a are closed. Multiple small holes 194 (hereinafter referred to as "intake holes 194") are opened in a grid pattern on the rear surface of the intake section 19a. The filter section 19b protrudes downward from the inner portion of the lower surface of the intake section 19a in an almost square pendulum shape. Therefore, a stepped portion is formed at the connection between the intake portion 19a and the filter portion 19b. The upper end of the elastic spring 30a, which will be described later, abuts against this stepped portion. The filter portion 19b has a front surface, a rear surface, a left surface, a right surface, and a bottom surface. A lint filter 190 is attached to each of these surfaces of the filter portion 19b.

[0023] The lint collection unit 19 is inserted into the hot air outlet 121 of the communication passage forming section 102 such that the intake hole 194 on the rear surface of the intake section 19a opens towards the rear. As a result, when the air inside the rotating drum 3 that is exhausted to the intake section 19a through the intake hole 194 passes through the lint filter 190 and is sent to the lower duct section 103, the lint filter 190 removes any floating debris and lint inside the rotating drum 3.

[0024] Inside the lower duct section 103 of the inlet forming section 101, a biasing means 30 is provided that, when the lint collection unit 19 is inserted into the hot air outlet 121, contacts the lint collection unit 19 from below and biases the lint collection unit 19 upward. The biasing means 30 has an elastic spring 30a that applies an upward biasing force and a support part 30b that supports the elastic spring 30a from below. The support part 30b has an opening through which air sent from the lint collection unit 19 to the lower duct section 30b flows. As will be described later, when the opening / closing door 12 is opened, the lower part of the rear window section 12d of the opening / closing door 12 separates from the front surface of the lint collection unit 19, and the lint collection unit 19 enters a first state in which it protrudes significantly radially inward from the hot air outlet 121 of the connecting passage forming section 102 due to the biasing force of the elastic spring 30a. Furthermore, when the opening / closing door 12 is closed, the lower part of the rear window portion 12d of the opening / closing door 12 comes into contact with the front surface of the lint collection unit 19. Against the biasing force of the elastic spring 30a, the opening / closing door 12 pushes the lint collection unit 19 radially outward in the communication passage 102a, resulting in a second state in which the protrusion of the lint collection unit 19 upward from the hot air outlet 121 is less than in the first state.

[0025] As shown in Figure 5, the opening and closing door 12 consists of a disc-shaped front frame 12a, an annular rear frame 12b that covers the rear surface of the front frame 12a, a front window portion 12c that covers the window opening in the center of the front frame 12a, and the middle of the rear frame 12b It has a rear window portion 12d that covers the central window opening. The outer peripheral edge 100a of the clothing removal opening 100 on the front wall 11a of the main body case 11 (hereinafter referred to as "removal opening outer peripheral edge 100a") is formed to be recessed one step towards the rear. The opening and closing mechanism of the opening and closing door 12 is the same as a conventionally known configuration and is therefore not shown, but the left end, which is one end in the left-right direction of the rear frame 12b of the opening and closing door 12, is connected to a hinge portion provided on the left end of the removal opening outer peripheral edge 100a. For this reason, the opening and closing door 12 is pivotally supported on the main body case 11 so that it can rotate horizontally. In addition, as a closing mechanism for the opening and closing door 12, a striker 12e that protrudes to the rear is provided on the right end, which is the other end in the left-right direction of the rear frame 12b of the opening and closing door 12, and a catch portion 100b that grips the striker 12e is provided on the right end of the removal opening outer peripheral edge 100a. A handle portion 12f is formed on the right end of the circumferential surface of the rear frame 12b of the opening / closing door 12. Therefore, when the user pulls the handle portion 12f towards them, the opening / closing door 12 rotates horizontally around the hinge portion as a pivot point, and the opening / closing door 12 is opened. When the user pushes the opening / closing door 12 backward, the striker 12e is clamped in the catch portion 100b, and the opening / closing door 12 is closed.

[0026] The front window portion 12c of the front of the opening / closing door 12 is made of a thin circular plate. The rear window portion 12d of the rear of the opening / closing door 12 bulges outwards from the inner periphery of the rear frame 12b of the opening / closing door 12. The rear window portion 12d is formed to fit into the inner periphery of the passage forming portion 102 of the entrance forming portion 101 when the opening / closing door 12 is closed. In addition, an inclined surface 12g is formed in the lower part of the rear window portion 12d, which slopes upward at a predetermined angle from the lower end toward the rear. As shown in Figure 2, the inclination angle of the inclined surface 12g in the lower part of this rear window portion 12d is set to be approximately the same as the inclination angle of the inclined surface 193 on the front of the intake portion 19a of the lint collection unit 19 described above. Therefore, when the user closes the opening / closing door 12 from the first state in which the lint collection unit 19 is biased upward by the elastic spring 30a and the lint collection unit 19 protrudes significantly inward into the communication passage 102a, the lower part of the rear window portion 12d of the opening / closing door 12 comes into contact with the front surface of the lint collection unit 19, and the opening / closing door 12 pushes the lint collection unit 19 outward against the biasing force of the elastic spring 30a. When the opening / closing door 12 is closed to the closed position, the lower part of the lint collection unit 19 below the intake hole 194 on the rear surface of the intake portion 19a is embedded in the hot air outlet 121 by the rear window portion 12d. In addition, when the opening / closing door 12 is closed, the inclined surface 12g of the lower part of the rear window portion 12d of the opening / closing door 12 comes into contact with the inclined surface 193 on the front surface of the lint collection unit 19 with almost no gap. Furthermore, only a portion of the lower part of the rear window portion 12d of the opening / closing door 12 and the front surface of the intake portion 19a of the lint collection unit 19 may come into contact with each other.

[0027] The front and rear window sections 12c and 12d are both made of materials with high transparency, heat resistance, and impact resistance, such as glass or polycarbonate resin.

[0028] Next, other components of the clothes dryer 1 will be described with reference to Figures 2 to 4. A rear wall 133 is connected to the rear end of the body 131 of the rotating drum 3. A cylindrical support shaft 15 is inserted through the center of the rear wall 133 of the rotating drum 3. The support shaft 15 is inserted through a rear drum support 111 which is erected inside the main body case 11 behind the rear wall 133 of the rotating drum 3. A circular protrusion that bulges forward is formed on the outer circumference of the flat plate portion of the rear drum support 111. The protrusion has an opening 112 of a certain width in an annular region facing the duct connection port 171 formed on the front surface of the air supply duct 17, which will be described later.

[0029] A transmission belt 160 is stretched between the outer circumference of the rotating drum 3 and the drum drive pulley on one end of the output shaft of the motor 16 (not shown). A fan pulley 151 is attached to the rear end of the support shaft 15. A fan belt 155 is stretched between the fan pulley 151 and a fan drive pulley 154 attached to the output shaft on the other end of the motor 16. The rotating drum 3 and the intake / exhaust fan 21 are rotated by the belt drive of the common motor 16.

[0030] A flat, roughly semi-circular air intake duct 17 is provided in the left region of the rear side of the rear drum support 111 to supply hot air heated by the burner 9, which is the heating element, into the rotating drum 3. An inlet 170 is provided at the upper rear of the air intake duct 17, which opens to the rear and communicates with the combustion chamber 5, which will be described later. In addition, a duct connection port 171 is provided on almost the entire front surface of the air intake duct 17, which opens to the front and blows hot air forward.

[0031] An exhaust section 200 of the exhaust duct 20 is located in the center of the rear side of the rear drum support 111. The rear opening 210 of the exhaust section 200 (hereinafter referred to as the "exhaust outlet 210") faces the intake port 40 of the fan case 4. An opening that opens forward is also provided at the lower end of the exhaust duct 20. The exhaust duct 20 is connected to a connecting duct 120 that extends from the lower end of the lower duct section 103, which communicates with the hot air outlet 121, through the opening at the lower end of the rear drum support 111, through the gap G formed between the rotating drum 3 and the lower wall 11d of the main body case 11, to the rear of the rotating drum 3.

[0032] A fan case 4 housing the intake and exhaust fans 21 is provided behind the intake duct 17 and exhaust duct 20. The fan case 4 has a front wall 43 and a rear wall 44, an intake port 40 that opens in the front wall 43 and communicates with the exhaust outlet 210 of the exhaust duct 20, and a discharge port 41 that protrudes tangentially upward from the circumferential surface of the fan case 4 and communicates with the exhaust port 10 formed in the upper wall 11c of the main body case 11.

[0033] Multiple small circular holes 135 (hereinafter referred to as "hot air outlets 135") are drilled radially from the support shaft 15 in a recess in the rear wall 133 of the rotating drum 3. The hot air sent from the combustion chamber 5 to the air supply duct 17 is guided through these hot air outlets 135 into the gap between the rear wall 133 and the cover plate 153, which will be described later.

[0034] A roughly disc-shaped fixing flange 152, which widens in the outer direction, is fixed to the front end of the support shaft 15. A disc-shaped cover plate 153 is fixed in a non-rotating state to the front surface of the fixing flange 152, covering substantially the entire front surface of the rear wall 133 from the inside of the rotating drum 3. Multiple small circular holes 153a (see Figure 5) are drilled in an annular region of a predetermined width on the outer circumference of the cover plate 153.

[0035] The front wall of the combustion chamber 5 has an outlet 57 that opens forward. The outlet 57 is connected to an inlet 170 located on the upper rear surface of the intake air duct 17. Multiple burners 9 are positioned near the right end of the combustion chamber 5.

[0036] A valve unit 92 is positioned below the burner 9. The valve unit 92 has a conventionally known configuration and is therefore not shown in the diagram, but it includes a solenoid valve, a proportional valve, etc. When these control valves are opened, a predetermined amount of gas and ambient air is sent from the nozzle at the tip into the burner 9. Then, a spark discharge is generated from the ignition electrode to ignite the fuel-air mixture, a combustion flame is formed in the burner 9, combustion exhaust is released into the combustion chamber 5, and the air taken into the combustion chamber 5 is heated, generating warm air.

[0037] Therefore, in this embodiment, by operating the pull-type intake and exhaust fan 21 provided in the exhaust path, warm air is supplied into the rotating drum 3 via the intake port (not shown) of the main body case 11, the combustion chamber 5, the intake duct 17, and the opening 112 of the rear drum support 111. Furthermore, by operating the intake and exhaust fan 21, the warm air inside the rotating drum 3 is exhausted to the outside via the exhaust port 10, passing through the lint collection unit 19 inserted into the warm air outlet 121, the lower duct section 103, the connecting duct 120, the exhaust duct 20, the intake and exhaust fan 21, and the discharge port 41.

[0038] Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the clothes dryer 1 with the opening / closing door 12 in the open position, and Figure 6 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, when the opening / closing door 12 is opened, the lower part of the rear window portion 12d of the opening / closing door 12 separates from the front surface of the lint collection unit 19. The lint collection unit 19 then enters a first state in which it protrudes significantly above the hot air outlet 121 (i.e., inward into the communication passage 102a) due to the biasing force of the elastic spring 30a located below the hot air outlet 121. Therefore, for example, after the drying operation is complete, when the user opens the opening / closing door 12 to remove clothes from the rotating drum 3, the user can easily recognize the presence of the lint collection unit 19. This allows the user to be reminded to clean the lint filter 190 after each operation. In particular, when the opening / closing door 12 is open, the lint collection unit 19 protrudes significantly inward into the passageway 102a, obstructing the removal of clothing. Therefore, the user removes the lint collection unit 19 from the hot air outlet 121 before removing clothing. This allows the user to recognize the dirt on the lint filter 190 when removing the lint collection unit 19. This further encourages the user to clean the lint filter 190.

[0039] On the other hand, since the lower part of the rear window portion 12d of the opening / closing door 12 bulges outwards, when the opening / closing door 12 is closed, the lower part of the rear window portion 12d abuts against the front surface of the lint collection unit 19, and the opening / closing door 12 pushes the lint collection unit 19 downward (i.e., outward from the communication passage 102a) against the biasing force of the elastic spring 30a. As a result, the protrusion of the lint collection unit 19 upward from the hot air outlet 121 becomes smaller in the second state than in the first state, and the exposure of the lint collection unit 19 is reduced. This makes it less likely for the lint collection unit 19 to obstruct the agitation of clothes during drying, for example. Also, damage to the lint collection unit 19 due to heat from the hot air and contact with clothes during drying can be suppressed. In particular, the lower portion of the rear window portion 12d of the opening / closing door 12 has an inclined surface 12g with an inclination angle approximately the same as the inclination angle of the inclined surface 193 on the front of the lint collection unit 19. Therefore, when the opening / closing door 12 is closed, the lower portion of the rear window portion 12d of the opening / closing door 12 comes into contact with the front of the lint collection unit 19 with virtually no gap. As a result, clothing getting caught in gaps during drying operation can be reliably reduced.

[0040] Furthermore, in the case of an opening / closing door 12 that opens and closes in the left-right direction, when the opening / closing door 12 is opened, the weight of the opening / closing door 12 is applied to the pivot support. As a result, the position of the other end of the opening / closing door 12 tends to drop downwards relative to the one end that is pivotally supported, and the striker 12e tends to shift away from the catch portion 100b provided on the outer peripheral edge 100a of the outlet of the main case 11. Consequently, the striker 12e becomes less likely to smoothly engage with the catch portion 100b, impairing the feel of opening and closing the opening / closing door 12, or making it difficult to open and close the opening / closing door 12.

[0041] However, since an elastic spring 30a is provided below the lint collection unit 19 to bias the lint collection unit 19 upward, when the opening / closing door 12 is closed, the rear window portion 12d of the opening / closing door 12 that abuts against the lint collection unit 19 is supported from below by the lint collection unit 19. This reduces the tilting of the opening / closing door 12 due to its own weight, and allows the opening / closing door 12 to open and close smoothly.

[0042] (Other embodiments) (1) The above embodiment describes a clothes dryer. However, the present invention can also be applied to other garment processing equipment having a lint collection unit, such as a washing machine and dryer.

[0043] (2) In the above embodiment, the lint collection unit is located below the passageway and is arranged to protrude inward into the passageway when the opening / closing door is opened. However, in the present invention, any configuration can be adopted for the lint collection unit and the opening / closing door, as long as the lint collection unit is in a first state when the opening / closing door is opened and in a second state when the opening / closing door is closed. For example, the lint collection unit may be located to the side of the passageway. Alternatively, a lint collection unit or biasing means may be provided so as to extend inward from above into the connecting passage.

[0044] (3) In the above embodiment, the lint filter is mounted on the lower part of the lint collection unit. However, in the present invention, the lint filter may be provided at other locations on the lint collection unit.

[0045] (4) In the above embodiment, when the opening and closing door is opened, the lint collection unit is configured to protrude inward into the passage by the biasing force of the biasing means. However, in the present invention, the lint collection unit may be configured to protrude inward into the passage by other mechanical means such as a lever, without using a biasing means. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0046] 1. Clothes dryer 3-rotation drum 11 Main unit case 12 Opening and closing doors 12d Rear window 19. Lint collection unit 30. Biasing means 100 Clothes retrieval opening 102 Cylindrical section 102a Communication path 121 Opening 130 Drum opening 190 Lint Filter

Claims

1. The main case has a clothing removal opening on the front, The main case has an opening door for opening and closing the clothing removal opening, A rotating drum housed within the main case, with a drum opening on the front facing the clothing removal opening, A lint collection unit equipped with a lint filter for collecting lint, A garment processing device comprising a garment dispensing opening and a drum opening, and a communication passage that connects the garment dispensing opening and the drum opening, A garment processing device in which, when the opening / closing door is opened, the lint collection unit protrudes inward into the passageway, resulting in a first state, and when the opening / closing door is closed, the opening / closing door comes into contact with the lint collection unit, and the opening / closing door pushes the lint collection unit outward into the passageway, resulting in a second state in which the protrusion of the lint collection unit inward into the passageway is less than in the first state.

2. A garment processing apparatus according to claim 1, The lint collection unit is inserted into an opening in the passage-forming section that forms the passage. A garment processing device in which, when the opening / closing door is opened, the lint collection unit protrudes inward from the opening of the passage forming section into the first state, and when the opening / closing door is closed, the opening / closing door comes into contact with the lint collection unit, and the opening / closing door pushes the lint collection unit outward from the passage forming section into the second state, so that the protrusion of the lint collection unit inward from the opening of the passage forming section into the passage is less than in the first state.

3. A garment processing apparatus according to claim 2, The opening and closing door is pivotally supported on the main case so as to be able to rotate horizontally. A biasing means is provided below the opening of the passage forming section to bias the lint collection unit upward. A garment processing device in which, when the opening / closing door is opened, the lint collection unit protrudes inward from the opening of the passage forming section due to the biasing force of the biasing means, resulting in a first state, and when the opening / closing door is closed, the opening / closing door comes into contact with the lint collection unit, and the opening / closing door pushes the lint collection unit downward against the biasing force of the biasing means, resulting in a second state in which the protrusion of the lint collection unit inward from the opening of the passage forming section is less than in the first state.

4. A garment processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, The rear of the opening and closing door is provided with a rear window section that bulges out towards the rear. A garment processing device in which, when the opening / closing door is closed, a rear window portion that bulges out on the rear surface of the opening / closing door comes into contact with the front surface of the lint collection unit with virtually no gap.

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