Dryer

Abstract

To facilitate access to the heat exchange section of the heat pump unit. [Solution] The dryer comprises a duct for circulating air to a drying chamber, a heat pump unit disposed within the duct and including a heat exchanger 161, and a housing that houses the drying chamber, the duct, and the heat pump unit 161. The duct has a first opening (225) that allows access to the heat exchanger 161 from the outside of the duct along a predetermined access direction. The housing has a wall surface (114) that partially includes a second opening (311) formed at a position aligned with the first opening (225) in the access direction. The first opening (225) and the second opening (311) are closed by a lid that can be opened and closed.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a dryer. [Background Art]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a washer-dryer having a heat pump-type drying function. This washer-dryer comprises a casing forming an outer shell. Inside the casing, there are provided a drying chamber (a water tub and a rotating tub), a circulation air path for circulating air to the drying chamber, and a heat pump that generates dried warm air by dehumidifying and heating the air circulating in the circulation air path. A part of the circulation air path is formed of a box-shaped case, and an evaporator and a condenser that constitute the heat exchange part of the heat pump unit are housed in this in-case unit. The air circulating through the circulation air path is dehumidified and heated by passing through the heat exchange part. A filter device is installed on the upstream side of the heat exchange part in the case. Lint contained in the air is collected by the filter device. An opening that can be opened and closed by attaching and detaching a lid is provided at the upper part of the case. Patent Document 1 describes that opening this opening enables cleaning work of the heat exchange part, specifically, work to remove lint that has passed through the filter device and adhered to the evaporator. [Prior Art Literature] [Patent Literature]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2022-119 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a dryer that can facilitate access to the heat exchange part of a heat pump unit. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0005] The dryer according to the present disclosure has the following configuration.

[0006] The dryer comprises a drying chamber in which the material to be dried is contained; a duct for circulating air to the drying chamber; a heat pump unit including a heat exchange section located within the duct for dehumidifying and heating the air; and a housing in which the drying chamber, the duct, and the heat pump unit are housed. The duct has a first opening that allows access to the heat exchange section from the outside of the duct along a predetermined access direction, and the housing has a wall surface that includes a second opening formed in part at a position aligned with the first opening in the access direction. The first and second openings are closed by a cover that can be opened and closed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The dryer of this disclosure facilitates access to the heat exchange section of the heat pump unit. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Perspective view of the dryer [Figure 2] Cross-section of a dryer [Figure 3] Schematic diagram of a heat pump unit [Figure 4] Perspective view of the case housing the heat pump unit. [Figure 5] Case plan view [Figure 6] Top view of the case (with the case cover removed) [Figure 7] Top view of the case (with only the inner lid removed) [Figure 8] Partial cross-sectional view of the case cover (cross-sectional view along line VIII-VIII in Figure 5) [Figure 9] Perspective view of the top of the enclosure [Figure 10] Perspective view of the top of the enclosure [Figure 11] Perspective view of a modified dryer [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] (Knowledge and other information that formed the basis of this disclosure) At the time the inventors conceived this disclosure, the washer-dryer disclosed in Patent Document 1 was known as a heat pump type dryer. This washer-dryer makes it possible to clean lint and other debris adhering to the heat exchanger. However, in order to clean the heat exchanger, it is necessary to first remove the entire housing cover that forms the back of the housing, that is, to disassemble the housing extensively to expose the case in which the heat exchanger is located, and then to remove the lid on the top of the case to expose the heat exchanger. As a result, it is necessary to expose the heat exchanger, which requires effort and workspace, and cleaning the heat exchanger is not easy. In particular, when removing the housing cover that forms the back of the housing, it is necessary to pull the washer-dryer installed against a wall forward and secure sufficient workspace between the housing and the wall, which requires excessive effort.

[0010] Therefore, in order to solve the above problems, the inventors have come to constitute the subject matter of this disclosure. This disclosure provides a dryer that can facilitate access to the heat exchange section of a heat pump unit.

[0011] The embodiments of the dryer will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary details may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters or redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid the following explanation becoming unnecessarily verbose and to facilitate understanding for those skilled in the art. The accompanying drawings and the following explanation are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand this disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0012] (Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dryer 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the dryer 10. The dryer 10 can not only dry objects to be processed such as clothes or fabric products, but also can wash these objects. That is, the dryer 10 according to the present embodiment is a washer-dryer (a so-called drum-type washer-dryer) capable of performing washing (laundering) and drying. Note that the directions (indicators in the drawings) used in the following description are directions when viewed from the front side in the installed state of the dryer 10.

[0013] (Overall Structure of Dryer) The dryer 10 has a housing 110 formed with an input port 111 for inputting objects to be processed such as clothes. The housing 110 includes a front portion 112 that serves as a front surface when the dryer 10 is in an installed state, side portions 114 respectively connected to both left and right ends of the front portion 112, an upper portion 114 connected to the upper end of the front portion 112, a rear portion 115 facing the front portion 112, and a bottom portion 116 facing the upper portion 114. In the present disclosure, the front portion 112 corresponds to an example of the "front wall surface", the side portion 113 corresponds to an example of the "side wall surface", and the upper portion 114 corresponds to an example of the "upper wall surface", respectively.

[0014] The input port 111 is formed in the front portion 112 of the housing 110, and a door portion 118 for opening and closing the input port 111 is rotatably provided on the front portion 112. Various internal devices for performing a washing step, a rinsing step, a dewatering step and a drying step are accommodated in the housing 110.

[0015] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, a water tub 121 and a rotating drum 122 are disposed inside the housing 110, which form a processing chamber 120 (an example of a drying chamber) for accommodating objects to be processed such as clothes input through the input port 111 and washing and drying the accommodated objects to be processed. The water tub 121 has an opening 123 that opens toward the closed door portion 118, and the rotating drum 122 is rotatably held in the water tub 121. An opening 125 that opens in the same direction as the opening 123 of the water tub 121 is formed in the front end wall of the rotating drum 122. A plurality of small holes 126 are formed in the bottom surface and the peripheral wall of the rotating drum 122. Objects to be processed such as clothes input through the input port are accommodated in the rotating drum 122 through the openings 123 and 125 of the water tub 121 and the rotating drum 122.

[0016] The water tub 121 is provided for storing water in the washing step and the rinsing step. The water tub 121 is elastically supported by a suspension mechanism 128 fixed to the bottom surface portion 116 of the housing 110.

[0017] In order to suppress leakage of water from the opening 123 of the water tub 121, a sealing member 124 is provided at the opening 123 of the water tub 121. The sealing member 124 is compressed by the door portion 118 when the door portion 118 closes the input port 111.

[0018] A water supply port 130 through which water flows in during the washing step and the rinsing step is provided at an upper portion of the peripheral wall of the water tub 121. Further, a drain port 131 for draining water used for washing and rinsing objects to be processed such as clothes is provided at a lower portion of the rear end wall of the water tub 121. Since a plurality of small holes 126 are formed in the bottom surface and the peripheral wall of the rotating drum 122 inside the water tub 121, water supplied through the water supply port 130 flows into the rotating drum 122 through these small holes 126. As a result, water is stored inside the rotating drum 122. Further, during drainage from the processing chamber 120 and dehydration of objects to be processed such as clothes, water can drain out of the rotating drum 122 through the small holes 126.

[0019] Furthermore, in the drying process, an exhaust port 141 is formed on the upper part of the peripheral wall of the water tank 121, and an air intake port 142 is formed on the rear end wall of the water tank 121, serving as a ventilation path for air to dry the items to be processed, such as clothing. In the drying process, air flows into the processing chamber 120 from the air intake port 142 and is exhausted from the processing chamber 120 through the exhaust port 141. Since numerous small holes 126 are formed on the bottom and peripheral wall of the rotating drum 122, the air that flows into the processing chamber 120 can flow into the rotating drum 122 through these small holes 126 and come into contact with the items to be processed, such as clothing, inside the rotating drum 122.

[0020] A drive motor 143 for rotating the rotating drum 122 is mounted on the outer surface of the rear end wall of the water tank 121. The motor shaft of the drive motor 143 passes through the rear end wall of the water tank 121 and is connected to the rotating drum 122. When the rotating drum 122 is rotated by the drive motor 143, the object to be processed, such as clothing, can be agitated within the rotating drum 122. The drive motor 143 is configured to change the rotational speed of the rotating drum 122 under inverter control.

[0021] Above the water tank 121, a water supply section 132 is provided for supplying water into the treatment chamber 120. The water supply section 132 includes a water supply route 134 piped above the water tank 121, a water supply valve 135 and a treatment agent input container 133 provided in the water supply route 134.

[0022] The upstream end of the water supply path 134 is exposed to the outside from the top surface 114 of the housing 110 and is configured to be connectable to a hose (not shown) extending from a water tap. The downstream end of the water supply path 134 is connected to the water inlet 130 of the water tank 121.

[0023] The water supply valve 135 is configured to open and close the water supply path 134 and is positioned upstream of the treatment agent input container 133 in the direction of water flow within the water supply path 134. The treatment agent input container 133 is configured to accommodate treatment agents such as detergent and fabric softener that are added by the user.

[0024] A drainage path 136 is provided on the underside of the water tank 121 for draining water from the water tank 121. The drainage path 136 extends from the drain port 131 of the water tank 121 to the outside of the housing 110. The drainage path 136 is equipped with a drain valve 137 that opens and closes the drainage path 136. When the drain valve 137 opens the drainage path 136 while water has accumulated in the processing chamber 120, the water in the processing chamber 120 is drained through the drainage path 136.

[0025] A duct 150 is provided on the outside of the water tank 121, forming a flow path for air used to dry the objects to be processed, such as clothing, during the drying process. The duct 150 is connected to the air intake port 142 and exhaust port 141 of the water tank 121. The air used to dry the objects to be processed, such as clothing, during the drying process can flow from the processing chamber 120 into the flow path of the duct 150 through the exhaust port 141. This air can then return to the processing chamber 120 through the air intake port 142.

[0026] The duct 150 is equipped with an airflow generating unit 154 that generates airflow through the duct 150. The airflow generating unit 154 can be composed of any fan, such as a sirocco fan or an axial fan. The airflow generating unit 154 draws air from the processing chamber 120 through the exhaust port 141 and supplies air to the processing chamber 120 through the air intake port 142. In other words, the airflow generating unit 154 and the duct 150 have the function of circulating air to the processing chamber 120.

[0027] The duct 150 includes an upstream duct section 151 connected to an exhaust port 141, a downstream duct section 153 connected to an air intake port 142, and an intermediate duct section 152 located between the upstream duct section 151 and the downstream duct section 153, which includes an airflow generating section 154. The upstream duct section 151 can be made of, for example, a rubber material.

[0028] The intermediate duct section 152 is located between the upper surface 114 of the housing 110 and the water tank 121, and extends along the upper surface 114. In the direction of airflow through the duct 150 (white arrow in Figure 2), the heat exchange section 161 of the heat pump unit 160 is located upstream of the airflow generation section 154. The heat exchange section 161 is located in the intermediate duct section 152 and includes a heating section 163 that heats the air flowing through the duct 150, and a dehumidifying section 162 located upstream of the heating section 163 that cools the air and causes condensation.

[0029] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the heat pump unit 160. In this embodiment, the heat pump unit 160 includes a dehumidifying section 162 consisting of an evaporator, a heating section 163 consisting of a condenser, a compressor 165, a pressure reducing device 166, and a refrigerant pipeline. The refrigerant circulates as shown by the thin arrows in the figure, so that heat is released from the refrigerant in the heating section 163, heating the air, and heat is absorbed by the refrigerant in the dehumidifying section 162, cooling the air and causing moisture in the air to condense. The compressor 165, the pressure reducing device 166, and the refrigerant pipeline may be located inside the intermediate duct section 152, or they may be located outside the intermediate duct section 152 or at a location away from the heating section 163 and the compressor 165.

[0030] The dehumidifying unit 162 and the heating unit 163 produce high-temperature, low-humidity air. This air is sent to the processing chamber 120 through the air intake 142 by the airflow generating unit 154. As a result, the items to be processed, such as clothing, in the processing chamber 120 are exposed to high-temperature, low-humidity air, and the moisture contained in the items to be processed can evaporate into this air. At this time, lint such as threads and hair can be separated from the items to be processed, and this lint flows into the duct 150.

[0031] In order to suppress the adhesion of lint and other substances to the dehumidification unit 162, heating unit 163, and airflow generation unit 154, the first filter 175 and the second filter 176 are positioned upstream of the dehumidification unit 162 in the direction of airflow within the intermediate duct unit 152.

[0032] The second filter 176 is attached to a contact prevention member 177 (Figure 10(a)) located upstream of the dehumidification unit 162 (heat exchange unit 161) within the duct 150 via a fitting part such as a claw. The contact prevention member 177 is a member having an outer area and a grid-like area, intended to prevent user contact with the heat exchange unit 161, and is positioned opposite the front (upstream side) of the dehumidification unit 162.

[0033] The second filter 176, as shown in Figure 10(a) later, has a grid-shaped filter frame 176a and a filter mesh 176b held by the filter frame 176a. The grid-shaped area of ​​the contact prevention member 177 faces the filter mesh 176b of the second filter 176.

[0034] The first filter 175 is positioned upstream (in front of) the second filter 176. This arrangement allows the first filter 175 to primarily capture larger particles such as lint and hair, while smaller particles such as lint and hair that pass through the first filter 175 are more easily captured by the second filter 176. In this embodiment, the first filter 175 has the same number of cells as the second filter 176. However, the first filter 175 may have fewer cells than the second filter 176, in other words, it may be a filter with a coarser mesh.

[0035] Finer particles of lint and hair in the air may pass through the second filter 176. These particles may move downstream and adhere to the heat exchange unit 161. In particular, these particles tend to adhere to the front surface (upstream side) of the dehumidification unit 162, which is located upstream of the heat exchange unit 161. For this reason, the heat pump unit 160 is further equipped with a water spray nozzle 170.

[0036] The watering nozzle 170 is positioned adjacent to the upstream side of the heat exchange unit 161 within the intermediate duct section 152, specifically between the second filter 176 and the heat exchange unit 161. The watering nozzle 170 is connected to the water supply valve 173 via the water supply pipe 172. The water supply valve 173 is located at a branching point (not shown) in the water supply path 134 of the water supply unit 132 described above. When the water supply valve 173 opens, water is sprayed from the watering nozzle 170 onto the dehumidification unit 162, and this spraying can remove lint and other substances adhering to the dehumidification unit 162.

[0037] A drain pipe 174 is provided on the underside of the intermediate duct section 152. The drain pipe 174 is connected to the rear wall of the water tank 121, and water sprayed from the water spray nozzle 170, etc., when cleaning the dehumidifying section 162, as well as condensation dripping from the dehumidifying section 162, are drained into the water tank 121 through the drain pipe 174.

[0038] (Specific structure of duct 150) The intermediate duct section 152 of the duct 150 is comprised of a case 200 (Figure 4), and the heat pump unit 160 and the first and second filters 175 and 176 described above are arranged inside this case 200.

[0039] Figure 4 is a perspective view of case 200, and Figures 5 to 7 are plan views of case 200. Figure 5 shows the case 200 with the case cover 220 (described later) attached, Figure 6 shows the case 200 with the case cover 220 removed, and Figure 7 shows the case 200 with only the inner lid 222 (described later) removed.

[0040] The case 200 is made of, for example, a resin material and comprises a case body 210 and a case cover 220, as shown in Figures 4 to 7. The case body 210 is formed in the shape of a box with a roughly rectangular top in plan view. The upstream duct portion 151 is connected to the front portion of the peripheral wall portion 211 of the case body 210, that is, the upstream end face in the direction of airflow. The case cover 220 is a top cover that closes the opening of the case body 210.

[0041] The interior of the case body 210 is divided by a partition wall 213 (Figure 6) into a ventilation space 214 that occupies most of the inside of the case body 210 and a ventilation outer space 215 located at the right end of the case body 210. The ventilation space 214 is the space through which air flowing in from the upstream duct section 151 passes. The heat exchange section 161 of the heat pump unit 160, the first filter 175 (Figure 5), and the second filter 176 are arranged in the ventilation space 214. The ventilation outer space 215 is the space that houses the compressor 165 and the pressure reducing device 166 of the heat pump unit 160.

[0042] The ventilation space 214 is separated from the air intake chamber 216 and the heat exchange chamber 217 adjacent to its downstream side by a contact prevention member 177 (Figure 10(a)) and a second filter 176 fitted thereto. The air intake chamber 216 is the space into which air from the upstream duct section 151 first flows. The first filter 175 is placed in this air intake chamber 216. As will be described later, the first filter 175 is held in the holder section 325 (Figure 2) of the front outer cover 320. When this front outer cover 320 is attached to the upper surface section 114 of the housing 110, the first filter 175 is placed in the air intake chamber 216 together with the holder section 325.

[0043] The contact prevention member 177 is supported at both its left and right ends by guides (not shown) formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall portion 211 and the partition wall portion 213, respectively. The guides consist of, for example, protrusions extending in the vertical direction, and the contact prevention member 177 can be displaced vertically along these guides. That is, by pulling the contact prevention member 177 upward along the guides, the contact prevention member 177 and the second filter 176 fitted thereto can be removed from the case body 210.

[0044] The heat exchange chamber 217 contains a dehumidifier 162 and a heating unit 163, which constitute the heat exchange section 161. The dehumidifier 162 and heating unit 163 have a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is elongated in the left-right direction in a plan view, and are equipped with numerous fins.

[0045] The dehumidifying unit 162 and the heating unit 163 are arranged adjacent to each other in the front-to-back direction, that is, in the direction of airflow. A flat water splash prevention wall 218 is provided between the dehumidifying unit 162 and the heating unit 163. The water splash prevention wall 218 is, for example, erected low on the inner bottom surface of the case body 210. The condensation dripping from the dehumidifying unit 162 is restricted in flow by the water splash prevention wall 218, so that it does not flow from the dehumidifying unit 162 side to the heating unit 163 side, but is instead drained into the water tank 121 through the drain pipe 174.

[0046] The case cover 220 has an opening 224 that opens upward to the air intake chamber 216. In other words, the case cover 220 is configured to cover the portion of the opening in the case body 210 other than the air intake chamber 216.

[0047] The case cover 220 comprises a main cover 221 and an inner lid 222. In Figure 7, the area covered by the inner lid 222 is hatched. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the inner lid 222 covers a portion of the heat exchange chamber 217 and the upper part of the contact prevention member 177. The main cover 221 covers the remaining portion of the heat exchange chamber 217 and the upper part of the ventilation space 215. The inner lid 222 is an example of the "first cover" in this disclosure.

[0048] By removing the inner cover 222, a portion of the heat exchange chamber 217 and the upper part of the contact prevention member 177 can be exposed. In other words, the case cover 220 has an opening 225 that can expose a portion of the heat exchange chamber 217 and the contact prevention member 177, and the inner cover 222 closes this opening 225 in a way that allows it to be opened and closed.

[0049] The opening 225 and the opening 224 that opens the air intake chamber 216 upward may be independent openings, but in this embodiment they are continuous. In this embodiment, the openings 224 and 225 are strictly speaking a single continuous opening, but for the sake of explanation, they will be distinguished, and in the following description, the opening 224 will be referred to as the "front opening 224" and the opening 225 as the "rear opening 225". The rear opening 225 is an example of the "first opening" in this disclosure.

[0050] As shown in Figure 7, the rear opening 225 is formed to expose the region of the heat exchange chamber 217 upstream of the dehumidification section 162. This allows only the dehumidification section 162 of the heat exchange section 161 to be exposed through the rear opening 225.

[0051] As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the rear opening 225 is an opening defined by an outer contour L0, which is defined by the peripheral wall portion 211 of the case body 210 that extends in a crank shape in the front-rear direction, and two contour lines L1 and L2, which are the boundaries between the inner lid 222 and the main cover 221. Contour line L1 is located on the water splash prevention wall portion 218 (Figure 6) between the dehumidification section 162 and the heating section 163, and extends linearly in the left-right direction along the water splash prevention wall portion 218. Contour line L2 is located on the partition wall portion 213 (Figure 6) between the ventilation space 214 and the ventilation outside space 215, and extends linearly in the front-rear direction along the partition wall portion 213. As a result, only the dehumidification section 162 can be exposed through the rear opening 225, while the heating section 163, compressor 165, and pressure reducing device 166 are not exposed through the rear opening 225.

[0052] The inner lid 222 is fixed to the case body 210 by fastening members such as screws. Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the case cover 220 (cross-sectional view along line VIII-VIII in Figure 5). As shown in Figure 8, the peripheral edge of the rear opening 225 of the case cover 220 is provided with a fitting portion 230 into which the peripheral edge of the inner lid 222 fits. The peripheral edge of the inner lid 222 and the fitting portion 230 have flat opposing surfaces 222a and 230a that face each other in the direction of attachment and detachment of the inner lid 222, i.e., in the vertical direction. A sheet-like sealing member 240 is fixed to the opposing surface 230a of the fitting portion 230. The sealing member 240 seals the space between the opposing surfaces 222a and 230a by elastically compressing and deforming when the rear opening 225 is closed with the inner lid 222. Furthermore, the opposing surfaces 222a and 230a may be curved or have irregularities, and there are no particular restrictions on their shape as long as they perform the function of sealing the peripheral edge of the inner lid 222 and the fitting portion 230 via the sealing member.

[0053] As shown in Figure 5, the watering nozzle 170 (an example of related parts) described above is integrally assembled to the inner lid 222. The watering nozzle 170 is fixed to the lower surface of the inner lid 222. In other words, the watering nozzle 170 is positioned adjacent to the rear opening 225. A water supply port section 171 is provided on the outer circumference of the inner lid 222, and a water supply pipe 172 (an example of pipes), for example, made of a flexible tube, is connected to the water supply port section 171.

[0054] Furthermore, a temperature sensor 167 (an example of related component) is fixed to the lower surface of the inner lid 222. In other words, the temperature sensor 167 is positioned adjacent to the rear opening 225. The temperature sensor 167 is also positioned adjacent to the heat exchange section 161, between the water spray nozzle 170 and the second filter 176. The temperature sensor 167 detects the temperature of the air flowing through the duct 150. Wiring 168 (an example of tubing) connected to the temperature sensor 167 is routed horizontally along the upper surface of the inner lid 222 to a position adjacent to the water supply port section 171, and is fixed to the inner lid 222 by fixing members not shown, such as cable ties.

[0055] The wiring 168 connected to the temperature sensor 167 and the water supply pipe 172 connected to the watering nozzle 170 are both routed such that, with the inner cover 222 removed, they do not intersect with the contour lines L1 and L2 of the rear opening 225, which are the boundary lines between the inner cover 222 and its surrounding members (main cover 221), between the rear opening 225 and the upper surface portion 114 of the housing 110 (rear outer cover 321, described later). In other words, with the inner cover 222 removed, the rear opening 225 of the case 200 is formed such that its contour lines L1 and L2 do not intersect with the routing paths of the wiring 168 and the water supply pipe 172.

[0056] (Specific configuration of the upper surface portion 114 of the housing 110) As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the upper surface 114 of the housing 110 is provided with a front outer cover 320 and a rear outer cover 321. The rear outer cover 321 is adjacent to the rear side of the front outer cover 320, offset to one side in the left-right direction (in this case, the left side) relative to the front outer cover 320. However, the offset between the rear outer cover 321 and the front outer cover 320 is not essential, as long as they are positioned to match the location of the target opening. The rear outer cover 321 is an example of the "second cover" in this disclosure.

[0057] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the top surface 114 of the housing 110, viewed from diagonally above. (a) shows the state with the front outer cover 320 and the rear outer cover 321 attached, (b) shows the state with only the front outer cover 320 removed, and (c) shows the state with both the front outer cover 320 and the rear outer cover 321 removed. As shown in this figure, the top surface 114 of the housing 110 has an opening 310 corresponding to the front outer cover 320 and an opening 311 corresponding to the rear outer cover 321. The openings 310 and 311 may be independent openings, but in this embodiment they are continuous. In this embodiment, the openings 310 and 311 are strictly speaking a single continuous opening, but for the sake of explanation, they will be distinguished, and in the following description, the opening 310 will be referred to as the "front opening 310" and the opening 311 as the "rear opening 311". The rear opening 311 is an example of the "second opening" in this disclosure.

[0058] Both the front opening 310 and the rear opening 311 are rectangular openings. The rear opening 311 is adjacent to the rear side of the front opening 310, offset to one side in the left-right direction (in this case, the left side).

[0059] The front opening 310 is located above the front opening 224 of the case cover 220. The rear opening 311 is located above the rear opening 225 of the case cover 220 or the inner lid 222 that covers it. In other words, the upper surface 114 of the housing 110 has a front opening 310 formed in a position aligned vertically with the front opening 224 of the case cover 220, and a rear opening 311 formed in a position aligned vertically with the rear opening 225 of the case cover 220.

[0060] The front outer cover 320 closes the front opening 310 so that it can be opened and closed. The shape of the front outer cover 320 is not particularly limited as long as it corresponds to the shape of the front opening 310, but in this embodiment the front outer cover 320 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. The front outer cover 320 has an integral holder portion 325 (Figure 2) that holds the first filter 175. As described above, the front opening 310 is aligned vertically with the front opening 224 of the case cover 220, so when the front outer cover 320 is attached to the upper surface portion 114 of the housing 110 so as to close the front opening 310, the first filter 175 and the holder portion 325 are inserted into the air intake chamber 216 (Figure 5) of the case cover 220 through the front opening 224. As a result the first filter 175 is positioned in the passage of air circulating through the duct 150, and lint and other particles in the air are collected by the first filter 175.

[0061] Conversely, when the front outer cover 320 is removed from the housing 110 as shown in Figure 9(b), the holder portion 325 and the first filter 175 are removed from the air intake chamber 216, and both the front opening 224 of the case cover 220 and the front opening 310 of the housing 110 are opened. As a result, the air intake chamber 216 communicates with the outside of the housing 110 through the front openings 224 and 310, making it accessible from the outside. In other words, the air intake chamber 216 is exposed to the outside through the front openings 224 and 310. In addition, with the removal of the front outer cover 320, the contact prevention member 177 located between the air intake chamber 216 and the heat exchange chamber 217 downstream of it also becomes accessible from the outside of the housing 110. In other words, the contact prevention member 177 is exposed to the outside through the front openings 224 and 310.

[0062] The rear outer cover 321 closes the rear opening 311 so that it can be opened and closed. The shape of the rear outer cover 321 is not particularly limited as long as it corresponds to the shape of the rear opening 311, but in this embodiment the rear outer cover 321 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. The rear outer cover 321 has a front stepped portion 321a that is recessed one step lower on a part of the front edge that overlaps with the front outer cover 320 in order to receive the front outer cover 320. The rear outer cover 321 and the front outer cover 320 are mounted on the upper surface portion 114 of the housing 110 in this order so that they are positioned substantially flush with the upper surface portion 114. That is, in the state shown in Figure 9(b) where the rear opening 311 of the upper surface portion 114 is closed by the rear outer cover 321, the front outer cover 320 is mounted in a position to close the front opening 310, so that a part of the rear edge of the front outer cover 320 is superimposed on the front stepped portion 321a of the rear outer cover 21 from above. As a result, as shown in Figure 9(a), the front outer cover 320 and the rear outer cover 321 are positioned substantially flush with the upper surface portion 114.

[0063] When removing the front outer cover 320 and the rear outer cover 321, they are removed from the housing 110 in that order. As shown in Figure 10(c), when the rear outer cover 321 is removed, both the front opening 310 and the rear opening 311 of the housing 110 are opened. With the rear opening 311 open, the inner cover 222 of the case cover 220 becomes accessible from the outside of the housing 110 through the rear opening 311. In other words, the inner cover 222 is exposed to the outside through the rear opening 311.

[0064] The front stepped portion 321a of the rear outer cover 321 is positioned to correspond to the contact prevention member 177 when it is attached to the housing 110. The front stepped portion 321a is formed to extend in the left-right direction along the upper edge of the contact prevention member 177, above the contact prevention member 177.

[0065] A portion of the inner lid 222 of the case cover 220 is positioned between the front stepped portion 321a and the contact prevention member 177. That is, the inner lid 222 has a front edge portion 222b (Figure 9(c)) that is positioned between the front stepped portion 321a and the contact prevention member 177.

[0066] The front stepped portion 321a of the rear outer cover 321 and the front edge portion 222b of the inner cover 222 are fastened together to the contact prevention member 177 (Figure 10(a)) by a common screw B1 (Figure 9(b)). The contact prevention member 177 is fixed to the case body 210 by appropriate means such as fitting or screw fastening. The filter frame 176a of the second filter 176 is attached to the contact prevention member 177 via a fitting portion. In other words, the contact prevention member 177 and the second filter 176 fitted thereto are fixed together with the inner cover 222 and the rear outer cover 321, which are fastened together by screw B1, to the inside of the case 200 (duct 150). Note that screw B1 is an example of a "fastening member" in this disclosure.

[0067] To remove the rear outer cover 321, loosen screw B1 to release the aforementioned fastening. This releases the fixing of the rear outer cover 321 and inner cover 222 to the contact prevention member 177, allowing the rear outer cover 321 to be removed, as well as the inner cover 222. At this time, the inner cover 222 is removed from the case 200 together with the watering nozzle 170 and temperature sensor 167 (Figure 5) which are integrally assembled with it. Since the water supply pipe 172 and wiring 168 are connected to the watering nozzle 170 and temperature sensor 167, the inner cover 222 remains connected to the housing 110 via the water supply pipe 172 and wiring 168 even after being removed from the case 200. In other words, the inner cover 222 is removed from the case 200 with its range of motion restricted by the water supply pipe 172 and wiring 168. In other words, the water supply pipe 172 and wiring 168 function as restricting members that restrict the range of motion of the inner cover 222.

[0068] Figure 10(a) is a perspective view showing the top surface of the case cover 220 with the inner lid 222 removed, and Figure 10(b) is a perspective view showing the top surface 114 of the housing 110 with the second filter 176 and contact prevention member 177 further removed. When the inner lid 222 is removed as in Figure 10(a), the rear opening 225 of the case cover 220 (see also Figure 7), which was covered by the inner lid 222, is opened. As described above, the rear opening 225 of the case cover 220 is aligned vertically with the rear opening 311 of the housing 110. Therefore, when the inner lid 222 is removed, the dehumidifying unit 162 becomes accessible from the outside of the housing 110 through the rear opening 225 and the rear opening 311, and is exposed to the outside. That is, since the dehumidifying unit 162 is located in the front (upstream) part of the heat exchange chamber 217 covered by the inner lid 222, it is exposed to the outside when the inner lid 222 is removed. The exposed dehumidifier 162 can be accessed from above through the rear openings 225 and 311, which are aligned vertically. In other words, in this embodiment, the rear openings 225 and 311 are aligned vertically, in the direction in which the upper surface 114 of the housing 110 and the dehumidifier 162 face each other, thereby allowing external access to the dehumidifier 162 when the inner cover 222 is removed. Note that the vertical direction in this case, that is, the direction in which the dehumidifier 162 is accessed from the wall surface (upper surface 114) of the housing 110 facing the dehumidifier 162, is an example of an "access direction" in this disclosure.

[0069] From this state, if the second filter 176 and the contact prevention member 177 are further removed from the case body 210 (duct 150), as shown in Figure 10(b), the second filter 176 and the contact prevention member 177 are removed from the front of the dehumidifier 162, making it easy to access the front of the dehumidifier 162 from the outside. This state makes it easy to perform cleaning work, such as removing lint or other debris adhering to the front of the dehumidifier 162.

[0070] (Effects and Benefits) As described above, in this embodiment, a case 200, which constitutes part of the duct 150 within the housing 110, is positioned below the upper surface 114 of the housing 110. Inside the case 200 are the dehumidifier 162 and heating unit 163, which constitute the heat exchange unit 161 of the heat pump unit 160. A rear opening 225 is formed in the case 200 (duct 150) that allows access to the dehumidifier 162 from above. Furthermore, a rear opening 311 is formed on the upper surface 114 of the housing 110, which is aligned vertically with the rear opening 225. The rear opening 225 of the case 200 and the rear opening 311 of the housing 110 are closed by an inner cover 222 and a rear outer cover 321, respectively. This embodiment has the advantage that the dehumidifier 162 can be easily accessed from the outside and cleaned easily.

[0071] In other words, since the dehumidifying unit 162 is located upstream of the duct 150 within the heat exchange unit 161, fine lint and other particles that have passed through the first filter 175 and the second filter 176 may adhere to the front (upstream side) of the dehumidifying unit 162. In contrast, in this embodiment, since the rear opening 225 of the case 200 and the rear opening 311 of the housing 110 are aligned vertically, the front surface of the dehumidifying unit 162 can be easily accessed through the rear openings 225 and 311 simply by removing the inner cover 222 and the rear outer cover 321, respectively, and the front surface of the dehumidifying unit 162 to which lint and other particles have adhered as described above can be cleaned. Furthermore, since the rear opening 311 is formed on the upper surface 114 of the housing 110, the dehumidifying unit 162 can be accessed even more easily by only partially disassembling the housing 110, such as by removing the inner cover 222 and the rear outer cover 321, without removing the entire upper surface 114, i.e., without extensively disassembling the housing 110. Therefore, cleaning the dehumidifying unit 162 becomes easier.

[0072] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since a rear opening 311 is formed on the upper surface 114 of the housing 110, unlike, for example, when a similar opening is formed on the rear surface 115 of the housing 110, the dehumidifying unit 162 can be cleaned without moving the dryer 10. The dryer 10 is often installed with its rear surface 115 in close proximity to a wall of a building or the like. If the dryer 10 is installed near a wall in this way, and an opening is formed on the rear surface 115, the cover that covers the opening cannot be removed and cleaning cannot be performed without moving the dryer 10 in a direction away from the wall. In contrast, according to this embodiment in which a rear opening 311 is formed on the upper surface 114, the rear opening 311 can be opened simply by removing the rear outer cover 321 without moving the dryer 10. This makes it even easier to access the dehumidifying unit 162 from the outside, and the dehumidifying unit 162 can be cleaned more easily.

[0073] In this embodiment, a watering nozzle 170 connected to a water supply pipe 172 and a temperature sensor 167 connected to wiring 168 are positioned adjacent to the dehumidification unit 162 (heat exchange unit 161) within the case 200 (duct 150). Both the watering nozzle 170 and the temperature sensor 167 are assembled to the inner lid 222. With this configuration, the watering nozzle 170 and the temperature sensor 167 can be removed from the case 200 together with the inner lid 222 when cleaning the dehumidification unit 162. Therefore, it becomes even easier to access the dehumidification unit 162 from the outside without removing the wiring 168 and pipes such as the water supply pipe 172, making it easier to clean the dehumidification unit 162.

[0074] Furthermore, even after the inner lid 222 is removed from the case 200, it remains connected to the housing 110 via the wiring 168 and the water supply pipe 172. As a result, these wiring 168 and the water supply pipe 172 function as restricting members that limit the range of motion of the inner lid 222, thus keeping the removed inner lid 222 within a certain range.

[0075] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the inner lid 222 is removed, the contour lines L1 and L2 of the rear opening 225, which is the boundary between the inner lid 222 and its surrounding member (main cover 221), are provided so as not to intersect with the routing paths of the wiring 168 and water supply pipe 172, etc. With this configuration, the wiring 168 and water supply pipe 172, etc., do not get in the way when attaching or detaching the inner lid 222 from the case 200, and the inner lid 222 can be easily attached or detached from the case 200. In addition, the wiring 168 and water supply pipe 172 do not get in the way when cleaning the dehumidifying unit 162, making it even easier to access the dehumidifying unit 162 from the outside and allowing cleaning work to be performed more easily.

[0076] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a contact prevention member 177 is positioned adjacent to the upstream side of the dehumidification unit 162 (heat exchange unit 161) within the case 200 (duct 150), and a second filter 176 is fitted onto this contact prevention member 177. The contact prevention member 177 is fixed to the case 200 together with the inner cover 222 by a common screw B1. With this configuration, when removing the inner cover 222, the contact prevention member 177 and the second filter 176 can be removed from the case 200 by releasing the fastening of the screw B1. This makes it even easier to access the dehumidification unit 162 from the outside, and makes cleaning work easier.

[0077] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the rear opening 225 of the case 200 is provided such that only the dehumidifying section 162 of the heat exchange section 161 is exposed for access. With this configuration, only the minimum necessary part of the heat exchange section 161 that requires cleaning, i.e., the dehumidifying section 162 to which lint and other debris adhere, can be exposed for access. This reduces the risk of damage to parts other than the dehumidifying section 162 due to contact during cleaning.

[0078] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a fitting portion 230 is formed on the periphery of the rear opening 225 of the case 200, having a flat opposing surface 230a that faces the periphery of the inner lid 222, and a sheet-like sealing member 240 is attached to this opposing surface 230a. With this configuration, the space between the inner lid 222 and the case 200 (duct 150) can be sealed with a simple structure, and the space occupied by the sealing portion can be reduced in the attachment / detachment direction.

[0079] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inner lid 222 that closes the rear opening 225 of the case 200 and the rear outer lid 321 that closes the rear opening 311 of the housing 110 are configured as separate components. With this configuration, the rear opening 225 of the case 200 and the rear opening 311 of the housing 110 can be opened and closed individually.

[0080] (modified version) While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and the following modifications may be adopted, for example.

[0081] In the above embodiment, the rear opening 225 of the case 200 and the rear opening 311 of the housing 110 were closed individually by a separate inner lid 222 and a rear outer lid 321, but both openings 225 and 311 may be closed by a single lid. Figure 11 is a perspective view showing an example of using such a single lid. The lid 350 shown in this figure has an outer lid portion 351 and an inner lid portion 352 integrally. The outer lid portion 351 (an example of a second lid portion) closes the rear opening 311 of the upper surface portion 114 of the housing 110 in an openable and closable manner, and the inner lid portion 352 (an example of a first lid portion) closes the rear opening 225 of the case 200 in an openable and closable manner. The inner lid portion 352 is positioned below the outer lid portion 351 when closed. The lid 350, including these outer lid portion 351 and inner lid portion 352, is supported by the housing 110 via a hinge 355 so as to be pivotable and displaceable. Supported by the housing 110 via the hinge 355, the lid 350 is displaceable between a closed position in which its outer lid portion 351 and inner lid portion 352 close the rear opening 311 and rear opening 225, respectively, and an open position shown in Figure 11, which is rotated approximately 90 degrees upward from the closed position. In other words, the hinge 355 functions as a restricting member that limits the range of motion of the lid 350. Although not shown in Figure 11, components such as the temperature sensor 167 and watering nozzle 170 described above can be assembled to the lid 350.

[0082] According to the modified example shown in Figure 11, the range of motion of the lid 350 can be limited to a certain range centered on the pivot point of the hinge 355. Therefore, when opening the lid 350 for cleaning the dehumidifying section 162 (heat exchange section 161), problems such as disconnection or damage to pipes can be suppressed or prevented.

[0083] In the modified example shown in Figure 11, the lid 350 is connected to the housing 110 via a hinge 355, but the lid 350 may also be connected to an internal component inside the housing 110 via a similar hinge. The internal component may be the case 200 (duct 150), or any component around the rear opening 311. Furthermore, if the range of motion of the lid 350 is restricted, the restricting component only needs to limit the range of motion of the lid 350 to a certain range from the closed position, and means other than the hinge 355 may be used as the restricting component. Moreover, when closing the openings of the case 200 and housing 110 (rear openings 225, 311) with a single lid 350, the lid 350 does not necessarily have to be connected to the housing 110 or case 200 via a restricting component such as a hinge 355. For example, the lid 350 may be detachably fixed to the housing 110 and case 200 via fastening components such as screws. Furthermore, in cases where separate lids (inner lid 222 and rear outer lid 321) are used as in the above embodiments (Figures 1 to 10), either of the lids may be connected to the housing 110 or case 200 via a regulating member such as a hinge.

[0084] In the above embodiment, a rear opening 225 is formed on the upper surface 114 of the housing 110. However, the opening (second opening) formed in the housing 110 for cleaning the dehumidifying section 162 of the heat exchange section 161 can be appropriately set depending on the position of the heat exchange section 161. If the opening of the housing 110 is provided in a location other than the upper surface 114, it is preferable that the opening be provided in either the front surface 112 or the side surface 113. That is, from the viewpoint of ease of cleaning, it is preferable that the opening (second opening) of the housing 110 be provided in any wall surface other than the rear surface 115 and the bottom surface 116.

[0085] In the above embodiment, the sheet-like sealing member 240 was attached to the opposing surface 230a of the fitting portion 230, which includes the peripheral edge of the rear opening 225, and the opposing surface 222a of the inner lid 222 that faces it. However, the sealing member 240 may also be attached to the opposing surface 222a of the inner lid 222. Furthermore, the form of the sealing member 240 is not limited to a sheet shape, and is not particularly restricted as long as it has a sealing function.

[0086] In the above embodiment, the heat pump unit 160, including the heat exchange section 161, was positioned above the processing chamber 120. However, the position of the heat pump unit 160 is not limited to this. That is, the heat pump unit 160 can also be positioned at any appropriate location, such as to the side, rear, or below the processing chamber 120.

[0087] In the above embodiment, the temperature sensor 167 was positioned adjacent to the heat exchange unit 161 within the case 200 (duct 150). However, the temperature sensor 167 (related component) can be positioned anywhere within the duct 150 and may be located away from the heat exchange unit 161.

[0088] (summary) The above-described embodiments disclose the following technologies. Since the above-described embodiments are for illustrative purposes only, various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc., can be made within the claims or their equivalents.

[0089] (Technology 1) The dryer in this disclosure comprises a drying chamber containing an object to be dried, a duct for circulating air to the drying chamber, a heat pump unit including a heat exchanger located within the duct for dehumidifying and heating the air, and a housing that houses the drying chamber, the duct, and the heat pump unit. The duct has a first opening that allows access to the heat exchanger from the outside of the duct along a predetermined access direction, and the housing has a wall surface that includes a second opening formed in part at a position aligned with the first opening in the access direction. The first and second openings are closed by a cover that can be opened and closed.

[0090] According to Technology 1, since the first and second openings are aligned in a predetermined access direction, the heat exchange section can be easily accessed simply by removing the cover. Furthermore, since the second opening is formed in the wall of the housing, the heat exchange section can be easily accessed by only partial disassembly, namely removing the cover, without having to remove the entire wall, i.e., extensively disassembling the housing. This makes cleaning the heat exchange section much easier.

[0091] (Technology 2) In the dryer of Technology 1, if the housing includes a front wall surface which is the front wall surface when the dryer is installed, side wall surfaces extending from both the left and right ends of the front wall surface, and an upper wall surface connected to the upper end of the front wall surface, the second opening may be formed in any of the front wall surface, side wall surface, or upper wall surface.

[0092] In Technology 2, the second opening is formed in one of the walls of the enclosure: the front wall, the side wall, or the top wall. Therefore, even when the dryer is installed near a wall, that is, when the rear wall of the enclosure (opposite to the front wall) is in close proximity to a building wall, the cover can be removed and the second opening opened without moving the dryer. In other words, the heat exchange section can be cleaned while the dryer remains in its installed state.

[0093] (Technology 3) The dryer of technology 1 or 2 may further include related components disposed within the housing and tubing connected to the related components. In this case, with the lid removed, the tubing may be routed such that the routing path of the tubing does not intersect with the contour line of the first opening above the first opening.

[0094] In Technology 3, the routing of the tubing above the first opening does not intersect with the contour line of the first opening. Therefore, the tubing is less likely to get in the way when attaching or detaching the cover to open and close the first opening, and the cover can be easily attached and detached. In addition, the tubing is less likely to get in the way when cleaning the heat exchange section, and cleaning work can be easily performed.

[0095] (Technology 4) In the dryers of technologies 1 to 3, the lid may be connected to the housing or an internal component within the housing via a restricting member that restricts its range of motion.

[0096] According to Technology 4, it becomes possible to open the first opening while keeping the removed lid within a certain range.

[0097] (Technology 5) The dryer of Technology 4 may further include related components positioned adjacent to the heat exchange section within the duct, and pipes connected to the related components. In this case, the related components may be assembled to the cover.

[0098] In Technology 5, since the related components are assembled to the lid, the related components can be removed together with the lid during cleaning. This makes it possible to clean the heat exchange section without removing the tubing. Furthermore, since the range of motion of the removed lid is restricted by the restricting member, problems such as tubing breakage can be suppressed or prevented.

[0099] (Technology 6) In the dryer of technology 4 or 5, the regulating member may be a hinge that supports the lid so that it can swing and displace.

[0100] According to Technology 6, the range of motion of the lid can be limited to a certain range centered on the pivot point of the hinge.

[0101] (Technology 7) In the dryers of technologies 1 to 6, a contact prevention member may be further provided, which is located inside the duct and adjacent to the upstream side of the heat exchange section in the direction of air circulation, to prevent the user from coming into contact with the heat exchange section. In this case, the contact prevention member may be fixed to the duct together with the cover by a common fastening member.

[0102] According to Technology 7, by removing the fastening member when removing the lid, the contact prevention member can be removed as well.

[0103] (Technology 8) In the dryers of technologies 1 to 7, if the heat exchange section comprises an evaporator and a condenser located adjacent to the downstream side of the evaporator in the direction of air circulation, the first opening may be provided such that only the evaporator is accessible.

[0104] According to Technology 8, it becomes possible to expose only the minimum necessary part of the heat exchange section that requires cleaning, namely the evaporator where lint and other contaminants accumulate, in an accessible manner. This reduces the risk of damage to parts other than the evaporator due to contact during cleaning.

[0105] (Technology 9) In the dryers of technologies 1 to 8, the periphery of the lid and the periphery of the first opening of the duct are provided with opposing surfaces that face each other in the direction of attaching and detaching the lid, and either the periphery of the lid or the periphery of the first opening may be provided with a sealing member that seals the space between the opposing surfaces when the first opening is closed by the lid.

[0106] According to Technology 9, the gap between the lid and the duct can be sealed with a simple structure, and the space occupied by the sealing portion can be reduced in the detachment direction.

[0107] (Technology 10) In the dryers of technologies 1 to 9, the lid may include a first lid that can open and close a first opening, and a second lid, separate from the first lid, that can open and close a second opening.

[0108] According to technology 10, the first opening and the second opening can be opened and closed individually.

[0109] (Technology 11) In the dryers of technologies 1 to 9, the lid may be configured to integrally include a first lid portion that can open and close a first opening, and a second lid portion that can open and close a second opening.

[0110] According to technology 11, it becomes possible to open and close the first opening and the second opening with a single lid. [Industrial applicability]

[0111] This disclosure is applicable to dryers equipped with a heat pump unit. Specifically, this disclosure is applicable to various types of washer-dryers and dryers, including drum-type washer-dryers, drum-type dryers, and top-loading washer-dryers. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0112] 10 Dryer 110 cabinets 112 Front section (front wall surface) 113 Side section (side wall surface) 114 Upper surface part (upper wall surface) 120 Processing Room (Drying Room) 150 duct 160 Heat Pump Unit 161 Heat exchange section 162 Dehumidifying section (evaporator) 163 Heating section (condenser) 167 Temperature Sensor (Related Parts) 168 Wiring (pipes) 170 Sprinkler nozzle (related parts) 177 Contact prevention member 200 cases 222 Inner lid (first lid) 222a Opposite side 225 Rear opening (first opening) 230 Fitting portion (periphery of the first opening) 230a Opposite side 240 sealing member 311 Rear opening (second opening) 321 Posterior outer lid (second lid body) 350 Lid 351 Outer lid part (second lid part) 352 Inner lid part (first lid part) 355 Hinge B1 Screw (fastening component) L1 Outline L2 outline

Claims

1. A drying room in which the material to be dried is contained, A duct for circulating air to the aforementioned drying chamber, A heat pump unit that includes a heat exchange section located within the duct and dehumidifies and heats the air, The system comprises a drying chamber, a duct, and a housing that houses the heat pump unit, The duct is provided with a first opening that allows access to the heat exchange section from the outside of the duct along a predetermined access direction. The housing has a wall surface that includes a second opening formed in part at a position aligned with the access direction relative to the first opening, A dryer in which the first opening and the second opening are closed by a lid so as to be openable and closable.

2. In the dryer according to claim 1, The enclosure includes a front wall surface which is the front wall surface when the dryer is installed, side wall surfaces extending from both the left and right ends of the front wall surface, and an upper wall surface connected to the upper end of the front wall surface. A dryer in which the second opening is formed in any of the front wall surface, the side wall surface, or the top wall surface.

3. In the dryer according to claim 1 or 2, Related components arranged within the aforementioned housing, The system further comprises pipes connected to the aforementioned related components, A dryer in which, with the cover removed, the pipes are routed such that, above the first opening, the routing path of the pipes does not intersect with the contour line of the first opening.

4. In the dryer according to claim 1 or 2, A dryer in which the lid is connected to the housing or an internal component located within the housing via a restricting member that restricts its range of motion.

5. In the dryer according to claim 4, Related components arranged in the duct adjacent to the heat exchange section, The system further comprises pipes connected to the aforementioned related components, The aforementioned related component is a dryer, which is assembled to the lid.

6. In the dryer according to claim 4, The regulating member is a hinge that supports the lid so that it can swing and displace, in a dryer.

7. In the dryer according to claim 1 or 2, The duct is further equipped with a contact prevention member, which is positioned adjacent to the upstream side of the heat exchange section in the direction of air circulation, and prevents the user from coming into contact with the heat exchange section. A dryer in which the contact prevention member is fixed to the duct together with the cover by a common fastening member.

8. In the dryer according to claim 1 or 2, The heat exchange unit comprises an evaporator and a condenser positioned adjacent to the downstream side of the evaporator in the direction of air circulation. A dryer in which the first opening exposes only the evaporator in an accessible manner.

9. In the dryer according to claim 1 or 2, The peripheral edge of the lid and the peripheral edge of the first opening of the duct have opposing surfaces that face each other in the direction of attachment and detachment of the lid. A dryer wherein either the peripheral edge of the lid or the peripheral edge of the first opening is provided with a sealing member that seals the space between the opposing surfaces when the first opening is closed by the lid.

10. In the dryer according to claim 1 or 2, A dryer comprising a lid, a first lid capable of opening and closing the first opening, and a second lid, separate from the first lid, capable of opening and closing the second opening.

11. In the dryer according to claim 1 or 2, The dryer comprises a lid that integrally includes a first lid portion capable of opening and closing the first opening and a second lid portion capable of opening and closing the second opening.

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