Clothing processing system

Abstract

We provide a garment processing system that can shorten the time required for washing and drying. [Solution] The system includes a clothes dryer 12, a clothes dryer 14 which is a separate unit from the clothes washing machine 12, a communication unit 25 which enables communication between the clothes dryer 14 and the clothes washing machine 12, and a control unit 52 which controls at least the clothes dryer 14 to start preheating the clothes dryer 14 while the clothes washing machine 12 is in operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a laundry processing system including a clothes dryer, and a clothes washing machine that is an independent unit relative to the clothes dryer.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a structure capable of efficiently drying laundry in a washer-dryer integrally provided with a clothes washing machine and a heat pump type clothes dryer.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A heat pump type clothes dryer requires preheating of the heat pump in advance. Even in the washer-dryer disclosed in Patent Document 1, preheating of the heat pump is required, and the time required for washing and drying is prolonged accordingly. Incidentally, a laundry processing system including a clothes washing machine and a clothes dryer that is an independent unit relative to the clothes washing machine is known. Even in such a laundry processing system, if the clothes dryer is preheated after the dehydration of the clothes washing machine is completed, the total time required for washing and drying is extended by that preheating time.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a laundry processing system that can reduce the time required for washing and drying, in a laundry processing system provided with a clothes dryer that requires preheating.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A clothing processing system according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises a clothes dryer and a clothes washing machine in separate units, has a function for communication between the clothes dryer and the clothes washing machine, and starts preheating the clothes dryer while the clothes washing machine is in operation. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a garment processing system that can shorten the time required for washing and drying. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows the overall structure of a garment processing system, which is an example of the disclosure. [Figure 2] This diagram illustrates the basic structure of a heat pump unit installed in a clothes dryer. [Figure 3] This diagram illustrates the process of washing and drying clothes using a garment processing system. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram illustrating the control system of a garment processing system. [Figure 5] This diagram illustrates the washing and drying process when the preheating operation of the heat pump is controlled according to the operating status of the washing machine. [Figure 6] This is a flowchart explaining the control operation related to preheating in a clothes dryer. [Figure 7] This is an example of a notification displayed on a mobile device when the preheating of a heat pump is complete. [Figure 8] This is an example of a notification displayed on a mobile device when the drying cycle of a clothes dryer has finished. [Figure 9] This is a diagram illustrating the washing and drying process in the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments described below are all specific examples of the present disclosure. The numerical values, shapes, components, steps, and order of steps shown in the following embodiments are examples only and do not limit the present disclosure. Furthermore, among the components in the following embodiments, those components that are not described in the independent claim representing the highest-level concept will be described as optional components.

[0010] [First Embodiment] Figure 1 shows the overall structure of a garment processing system 10, which is an example of the present disclosure. The garment processing system 10 comprises a washing machine 12, a clothes dryer 14, and a mobile terminal 16 such as a smartphone that can communicate with the washing machine 12 and the clothes dryer 14. As shown in Figure 1, the clothes dryer 14 is a unit independent of the washing machine 12.

[0011] The washing machine 12 and the clothes dryer 14 can communicate wirelessly with each other. The washing machine 12 has a built-in first communication device 18. The clothes dryer 14 has a built-in second communication device 20. The washing machine 12 and the clothes dryer 14 can communicate via these first communication device 18 and second communication device 20. Alternatively, the washing machine 12 and the clothes dryer 14 may communicate wirelessly via a server 22. In this embodiment, the communication unit 25 is configured to include the first communication device 18 and the second communication device 20. Furthermore, if the washing machine 12 and the clothes dryer 14 communicate via the server 22, the communication unit 25 may also include the server 22.

[0012] The clothes dryer 14 and the mobile terminal 16 can communicate wirelessly via the second communication device 20 of the clothes dryer 14 and the third communication device 24 built into the mobile terminal 16. Alternatively, the clothes dryer 14 and the mobile terminal 16 may also communicate wirelessly via the server 22.

[0013] The washing machine 12 and the mobile terminal 16 can communicate wirelessly via the first communication device 18 of the washing machine 12 and the third communication device 24 of the mobile terminal 16. Alternatively, the washing machine 12 and the mobile terminal 16 may communicate wirelessly via the server 22. The washing machine 12, the clothes dryer 14, and the mobile terminal 16 may be configured to communicate via a wireless LAN such as Wi-Fi® or Bluetooth®. The communication unit 25 in this embodiment includes the third communication device 24 of the mobile terminal 16. This allows the communication unit 25 to receive command signals from the mobile terminal 16 operated by the user. Furthermore, the communication unit 25 can transmit notification signals to the mobile terminal 16 indicating the operating status of the washing machine 12 and the clothes dryer 14.

[0014] The washing machine 12 may be, for example, a top-loading washing machine or a front-loading washing machine. The washing machine 12 includes a washing tub 26 in which clothes are placed, a motor 28 for rotating the washing tub 26, various switching valves 29, a first communication device 18, and a washing control device 50. The various switching valves 29 are valves that switch the supply and discharge of water to the washing tub 26 according to the operating state of the washing machine 12. The washing control device 50 is a controller that controls the operating state of the washing process. A detailed description of the washing machine 12 is omitted.

[0015] [Structure of a heat pump unit] The clothes dryer 14 is a heat pump type dryer. The clothes dryer 14 includes a heat pump unit 30 for drying clothes, a drying control device 52, and a second communication device 20. The drying control device 52 is a controller that controls at least the operation of the heat pump unit 30, in other words, controls at least the clothes dryer 14. The drying control device 52 is an example of a control unit of the present disclosure.

[0016] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a heat pump unit 30 provided in a clothes dryer 14. The heat pump unit 30 includes a drying container 32, a heat pump 34, a circulating air duct 36, and a fan 38. The circulating air duct 36 is a pipe that circulates air between the drying container 32 and the heat pump 34.

[0017] The drying container 32 is a container for storing clothes, and has, for example, a cylindrical shape. The drying container 32 may be configured to be rotatable during a drying operation. The drying container 32 is provided with an air inlet 32in to which warmed air is supplied from the circulating air duct 36, and an air outlet 32out from which air containing moisture is discharged from the drying container 32.

[0018] The heat pump 34 is a device for generating hot air that is supplied into the drying container 32 to dry clothes. The heat pump 34 includes a compressor 40, a condenser 42, an evaporator 44, an expansion valve 46, and a refrigerant pipe 48. The refrigerant pipe 48 is a pipe that circulates refrigerant among the compressor 40, the condenser 42, the evaporator 44, and the expansion valve 46. The refrigerant circulates within the refrigerant pipe 48 as indicated by the dashed arrow.

[0019] The compressor 40 compresses the refrigerant to generate heat and raise the temperature of the refrigerant. The heat pump 34 consumes electric power when driving the compressor 40. The condenser 42 is a heat exchanger, which heats the air in the circulating air duct 36 by causing heat exchange between the refrigerant warmed by the compressor 40 and the air passing through the circulating air duct 36. The expansion valve 46 lowers the temperature of the refrigerant by reducing the pressure of the refrigerant. The evaporator 44 is a heat exchanger, which cools the air in the circulating air duct 36 by causing heat exchange between the refrigerant cooled to a low temperature by the expansion valve 46 and the air passing through the circulating air duct 36.

[0020] In the heat pump unit 30, air heated by the condenser 42 is sent by the fan 38 through the circulation air passage 36 into the drying container 32 from the air inlet 32in. At this time, moisture attached to the clothes is evaporated and discharged from the air outlet 32out. The air discharged from the air outlet 32out is humid, and this air is cooled in the evaporator 44 via the circulation air passage 36, causing the moisture to be removed (dehumidification). The air discharged from the evaporator 44 is cold and dry, and after being heated in the condenser 42, it is supplied to the drying container 32 via the circulation air passage 36. As described above, the circulation of air in the circulation air passage 36 removes moisture attached to the clothes, drying them.

[0021] [Wash and Dry Process] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the process of washing and drying clothes using the garment processing system 10 described above. The left side of Figure 3 shows the process of washing and drying clothes in the prior art, and the right side of Figure 3 shows the process of washing and drying clothes in this embodiment. The steps shown by solid lines in Figure 3 represent the steps of the washing machine 12, and the steps shown by dashed lines in Figure 3 represent the steps of the clothes dryer 14.

[0022] First, the conventional washing and drying process shown on the left side of Figure 3 will be explained. When washing is started, the washing machine 12 performs the washing, rinsing, and spinning processes in that order. The start of washing may be notified to the clothes dryer 14 wirelessly. The operating status of the washing machine 12 may also be notified to the clothes dryer 14 wirelessly at any time. When spinning is complete, the user removes the clothes from the washing tub 26 of the washing machine 12 and places them in the drying container 32 of the clothes dryer 14. After that, the power to the clothes dryer 14 is switched on. When the power to the clothes dryer 14 is switched on, preheating of the heat pump 34 is started. Preheating is a process in which the heat pump 34 is driven in advance and heated to a temperature at which the heat pump 34 can efficiently dry the clothes. In preheating, for example, the heat pump 34 is heated until the refrigerant temperature Tr of the refrigerant heated by the condenser 42 reaches a preset preheating temperature Tp. In preheating, for example, by raising the temperature inside the clothes dryer 14, including the condenser 42, heat pump 34, drying container 32, and circulating air passage 36, to a predetermined temperature or higher before the start of the drying process, the time required for the drying process can be further shortened. After the preheating of the heat pump 34 is complete, the drying of clothes begins. Once the drying of clothes is complete, the entire washing and drying process is finished.

[0023] As described above, after the clothes dryer 14 is powered on, the clothes drying process does not start immediately, and the heat pump 34 is preheated. The preheating time is usually about 10 minutes, and the time required for washing and drying is extended by the amount of time required for this preheating. The aforementioned time is the time from the start of washing to the end of drying.

[0024] Next, the washing and drying process of this embodiment, shown on the right side of Figure 3, will be described. When washing is started, the washing machine 12 performs the washing, rinsing, and spinning processes in that order. Also, preheating of the heat pump 34 is started while the washing machine 12 is running. As a result, preheating of the heat pump 34 is performed in parallel with the operation of the washing machine 12. When the spinning of the washing machine 12 is finished, the user removes the clothes from the washing tub 26 and puts the clothes into the drying container 32. At this time, if the preheating of the heat pump 34 is complete, the drying process of the clothes will start immediately. When the drying of the clothes is complete, the entire washing and drying process is finished. In this embodiment, since preheating of the heat pump 34 is started while the washing machine 12 is running, the time required for washing and drying is shortened accordingly.

[0025] It is desirable that the preheating of the heat pump 34 be completed between the end of the spin cycle of the washing machine 12 and the time when the user opens the door 15 (see Figure 1) of the clothes dryer 14. The drying control device 52 of the clothes dryer 14 has a function to control the operating state of the preheating and the timing of the completion of the preheating so that the preheating of the heat pump 34 is completed between the end of the spin cycle and the time when the door is opened.

[0026] Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating the control system of the clothing processing system 10. The washing control device 50 and the drying control device 52 are composed of a computer including a central processing unit (processor or CPU) and storage devices such as ROM and RAM. The processor retrieves and executes programs stored in the storage devices to perform various processes, including the washing process of the washing machine 12 and the drying process of the clothes dryer 14. The washing control device 50 and the drying control device 52 mutually acquire information about their respective operating states and issue commands to each other via the first communication device 18 and the second communication device 20.

[0027] The washing control device 50 is connected to a motor 28 that rotates the washing tub 26, and various switching valves 29 that switch the supply and discharge of water to the washing machine 12.

[0028] The washing control device 50 includes a washing control unit 60. The washing control unit 60 sequentially performs washing, rinsing, and spinning based on a program pre-stored in the storage device.

[0029] The drying control device 52 is connected to the fan 38, compressor 40, temperature sensor 54, ambient temperature sensor 55, humidity sensor 56, etc. The temperature sensor 54 detects the refrigerant temperature Tr of the refrigerant heated by the compressor 40 in the refrigerant pipe 48 of the heat pump 34. The ambient temperature sensor 55 detects the ambient temperature Tair. The humidity sensor 56 detects the humidity Hd.

[0030] The drying control device 52 includes a heat pump control unit 70 and a preheating time estimation unit 72.

[0031] The heat pump control unit 70 controls the operating state of the heat pump unit 30. For example, when preheating of the heat pump 34 is started, the heat pump control unit 70 drives the compressor 40 to heat the refrigerant. At this time, the heat pump control unit 70 drives the compressor 40 to heat the refrigerant so that the refrigerant temperature Tr detected by the temperature sensor 54 reaches a preset preheating temperature Tp. The preheating temperature Tp may be set to a value such that the temperature inside the clothes dryer 14 reaches a predetermined temperature suitable for drying clothes.

[0032] The heat pump control unit 70 starts preheating the heat pump 34 based on the operating time tph and heat quantity Wph [W] required for preheating, which are estimated by the preheating time estimation unit 72. The heat quantity Wph is the amount of heat generated per unit time during preheating. The preheating time estimation unit 72 estimates the operating time tph and heat quantity Wph required for preheating the clothes dryer 14 while the clothes washing machine 12 is in operation. The preheating time estimation unit 72 estimates the operating time tph and heat quantity Wph for preheating based on information about the surrounding environment, including the outside temperature Tair [°C] and humidity Hd [%].

[0033] For example, the storage device of the drying control device 52 stores a relationship map that determines the preheating operating time tph and heat quantity Wph, with ambient temperature Tair and humidity Hd as parameters. The preheating time estimation unit 72 estimates the preheating operating time tph and heat quantity Wph by applying the detected ambient temperature Tair and humidity Hd to the relationship map. The relationship map is determined experimentally in advance and specifies the preheating operating time tph and heat quantity Wph at which the refrigerant temperature Tr of the heat pump 34 reaches the preheating temperature Tp.

[0034] Under conditions where the amount of heat Wph generated during preheating is constant, the higher the internal temperature of the clothes dryer 14 at the start of preheating, the shorter the time it takes for the refrigerant temperature Tr to reach the preheating temperature Tp. Furthermore, the internal temperature of the clothes dryer 14 at the start of preheating correlates with the ambient temperature Tair. Therefore, in the above relationship map, the preheating operation time tph is set to decrease as the ambient temperature Tair increases.

[0035] Here, preheating the heat pump 34 tends to consume less power in the compressor 40 when performed at a low temperature for a long period of time than when performed at a high temperature for a short period of time. Therefore, the above relationship map is set so that the operating time tph is longer in a range shorter than the time required for the washing machine 12 to complete the spin cycle. This reduces the amount of heat Wph during preheating, thereby suppressing the power consumption of preheating. Note that since the amount of heat Wph correlates with the power consumption of the compressor 40, the amount of heat Wph may be replaced with the power consumption of the compressor 40.

[0036] When the operating time tph and heat quantity Wph are estimated, the heat pump control unit 70 drives the compressor 40 for the operating time tph while the compressor 40 is in a state where heat quantity Wph is generated from the compressor 40.

[0037] Furthermore, the heat pump control unit 70 can adjust the start time of preheating so that preheating of the clothes dryer 14 is completed when the spin cycle of the washing machine 12 is finished. Since the operating time of the washing machine 12 is predetermined, the end time of the spin cycle of the washing machine 12 can be estimated in advance from the start time of washing and the operating time of the washing machine 12. The heat pump control unit 70 starts preheating of the heat pump 34 at an operating time tph before the estimated end time of spin cycle. As a result, preheating is completed at the time the spin cycle is finished (end of spin cycle), and clothes can be dried quickly after the spin cycle is finished. Also, if the time when the user opens the door 15 of the clothes dryer 14 (opening time) is known in advance, the heat pump control unit 70 may start preheating of the heat pump 34 at an operating time tph before that time. The start time of washing and the operating time of the washing machine 12 are transmitted to and acquired by the drying control device 52 of the clothes dryer 14 as needed.

[0038] As described above, the start time of preheating of the heat pump 34 may be set to a point in time tph earlier than the end of dewatering or the opening of the door 15, but variations in the time it takes to complete preheating may also be taken into consideration. That is, the heat pump control unit 70 may start preheating from a point in time tph earlier than the end of dewatering or the opening of the door 15, by adding a predetermined buffer time to the operating time tph.

[0039] Furthermore, although the operating time of the washing machine 12 is predetermined based on a program stored in the memory device of the washing control device 50, there may be discrepancies in the operating time. For example, if an imbalance in the clothes occurs during the rinsing and spinning cycles of the washing machine 12, water is added to the washing tub 26 again to correct the imbalance. In this case, time is required to add water and correct the imbalance, so the operating time of the washing machine 12 becomes longer than usual. As a result, preheating may be completed earlier than the end of spinning or the opening / closing door 15, and the heat pump 34 may cool down. At this time, it becomes necessary to reheat the heat pump 34, which can lead to an increase in unnecessary steps or an increase in power consumption.

[0040] To eliminate the aforementioned time lag, the heat pump control unit 70 may acquire information regarding the operating status of the washing machine 12 as needed and control the timing of the end of preheating of the heat pump 34 according to the acquired operating status.

[0041] The heat pump control unit 70 acquires information regarding the operating status of the washing machine 12 from the washing control device 50 at predetermined time steps. The heat pump control unit 70 takes the acquired operating status information into consideration and adjusts the operating time of the heat pump 34 so that preheating of the heat pump 34 is completed between the time the washing machine 12 completes its spin cycle and the time the door 15 is opened. For example, if more water than usual is added to the washing tub 26, this information is sent to the drying control device 52. In this case, the heat pump control unit 70 may continue preheating for the amount of time required for the water to be added. In this case, the heat pump control unit 70 drives the compressor 40 so that the refrigerant temperature Tr is maintained at the preheating temperature Tp.

[0042] Figure 5 illustrates the washing and drying process when the timing of the end of preheating of the heat pump 34 is controlled according to the operating state of the washing machine 12.

[0043] When the washing machine 12 starts washing, information regarding the operating status of the washing machine 12 is transmitted to the drying control device 52 of the clothes dryer 14 as needed. The heat pump control unit 70 continues to preheat the heat pump 34 according to the operating status of the washing machine 12 even after preheating is complete, that is, after the refrigerant temperature Tr of the refrigerant has reached the preheating temperature Tp. This allows preheating to be terminated when the spin cycle of the washing machine 12 is finished or when the opening / closing door 15 is opened. In this case, although power consumption increases by the amount of preheating that is continued after preheating is complete, it is less power consumption than when the heat pump 34 is heated again after it has cooled down after preheating is complete. In addition, the time required to reheat the heat pump 34 is eliminated.

[0044] Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating the control operation related to preheating of the clothes dryer 14.

[0045] When the washing machine 12 starts operating, in step S10, the preheating operating time tph and heat quantity Wph are estimated based on the ambient temperature Tair and humidity Hd. In step S20, the operating status of the washing machine 12 is acquired. In step S30, the remaining washing time is determined from the acquired operating status of the washing machine 12, and it is determined whether the remaining time has reached the preheating operating time tph. The remaining washing time decreases as time passes. If the remaining time has not reached the operating time tph, the determination in step S30 is negated, and the process returns to step S20. If the remaining time has reached the operating time tph, the determination in step S30 is made, and in step S40, preheating of the heat pump 34 is started. In step S50, the operating status of the washing machine 12 during preheating is acquired. In step S60, it is determined whether the refrigerant temperature Tr of the heat pump 34 has reached the preheating temperature Tp. If the refrigerant temperature Tr does not reach the preheating temperature Tp, the determination in step S60 is denied, and the process returns to step S50. If the refrigerant temperature Tr reaches the preheating temperature Tp, the determination in step S60 is affirmed, and in step S70, the refrigerant temperature Tr is maintained at the preheating temperature Tp. In step S80, it is determined whether or not the opening / closing door 15 of the clothes dryer 14 has been opened. Step S80 may also determine whether or not the spin-drying of the clothes washing machine 12 has been completed. If the opening / closing door 15 remains closed or the spin-drying has not been completed, the determination in step S80 is denied, and the process returns to step S70. If the opening / closing door 15 has been opened or the spin-drying has been completed, the determination in step S80 is affirmed, and in step S90, preheating is completed.

[0046] Furthermore, when the preheating of the heat pump 34 is completed, the heat pump control unit 70 may notify the mobile terminal 16 of the completion of preheating via a notification signal transmitted from the clothes dryer 14. In addition, the heat pump control unit 70 may estimate the time when preheating will be completed (preheating completion time) and notify the mobile terminal 16 in advance of the estimated preheating completion time via a notification signal transmitted from the clothes dryer 14.

[0047] Figure 7 shows an example of a notification displayed on the mobile terminal 16 when the preheating of the heat pump 34 is complete. For example, a smartphone can be used as the mobile terminal 16. As shown in Figure 7, the display 16a of the mobile terminal 16 may display content indicating that the preheating of the heat pump 34 is complete. Furthermore, the display 16a may also display content prompting the user to put clothes into the clothes dryer 14. In addition, if the preheating completion time is estimated, the estimated preheating completion time may be displayed on the display 16a.

[0048] Furthermore, when the drying operation by the clothes dryer 14 is completed, the heat pump control unit 70 may notify the mobile terminal 16 of the completion of the operation of the clothes dryer 14 via a notification signal transmitted from the clothes dryer 14. In addition, the heat pump control unit 70 may estimate the time when the drying operation will be completed (drying completion time) and notify the mobile terminal 16 of the estimated drying completion time via a notification signal transmitted from the clothes dryer 14.

[0049] Figure 8 shows an example of a notification displayed on the mobile terminal 16 when the drying cycle of the clothes dryer 14 is completed. As shown in Figure 8, the display 16a of the mobile terminal 16 may display content indicating that the clothes drying cycle is complete. Furthermore, the display 16a may also display content prompting the user to remove the clothes. In addition, if the drying completion time of the drying cycle is estimated, the estimated drying completion time may be displayed on the display 16a.

[0050] [Second Embodiment] In the second embodiment, the garment processing system 10 is capable of performing at least one of the following: setting the start time for preheating the heat pump 34 in advance, and setting the end time for preheating in advance. The overall structure of the garment processing system 10 is the same as in the first embodiment, so its description will be omitted.

[0051] The clothing processing system 10 of the second embodiment performs at least one of the following: a process to set the start time of preheating in advance, and a process to set the end time of preheating in advance. The start and end times of preheating may be set from a mobile terminal 16, or on the operation panel 80 (see Figure 1) provided on the clothes dryer 14. When set from a mobile terminal 16, a process to start preheating of the clothes dryer 14 is performed in response to a command signal transmitted from the mobile terminal 16, and a process to end preheating of the clothes dryer 14 is performed in response to a command signal transmitted from the mobile terminal 16. This allows the user to start and end preheating at their desired time.

[0052] Figure 9 illustrates the washing and drying process in the second embodiment. When washing begins, the washing machine 12 performs the washing, rinsing, and spinning processes in that order. Meanwhile, the clothes dryer 14 begins preheating at a start time set in advance by the user. The clothes dryer 14 begins preheating at the start time set by the user. For example, if the user is going out, they can set the start time a little before (about 10 minutes) the time they are scheduled to return home, so that they can start the drying process without waiting for preheating after returning home. Note that the start time may be changed at any time, even after washing has started, to account for changes in the time of return home.

[0053] Furthermore, if the user sets a preheating end time in advance, preheating will be performed so that it is completed by the end time set by the user. In this case, the heat pump control unit 70 estimates the operating time required for preheating from the outside temperature Tair and humidity Hd, and starts preheating from a point in time that is the estimated operating time prior to the set end time. For example, if the user goes out, the end time can be set to match the user's return time so that the drying operation can start immediately upon returning home. Also, considering that the return time may change, the end time may be made changeable at any time, even after the washing has started.

[0054] Furthermore, in addition to setting the start and end times for preheating, the garment processing system 10 may also have a function to start or stop preheating, for example, by operating a mobile terminal 16 by the user. In this case, even if the start or end times for preheating have been set in advance, it would be preferable for preheating to be started or stopped in priority to those times. For example, if the user's return home is significantly delayed, preheating may be stopped temporarily to avoid wasting time. Then, as the return time approaches, the user may quickly start preheating again by operating the mobile terminal 16.

[0055] As described above, the first and second embodiments have been presented as examples of the technology disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited thereto and can be applied to embodiments that have been modified, replaced, added, or omitted. Furthermore, it is possible to combine the components described in the above-mentioned embodiments to create new embodiments. Therefore, examples of modifications are given below.

[0056] [Differentiation] In the above embodiment, the washing machine 12 and the clothes dryer 14 had the function of communicating wirelessly via the first communication device 18, the second communication device 20, or the server 22. However, the washing machine 12 and the clothes dryer 14 may also be configured to communicate via a wired connection.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the clothes dryer 14 was a heat pump type dryer, but this disclosure is not limited to a heat pump type. That is, this disclosure can be applied to any clothes dryer that requires preheating.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the clothes washing machine 12 only had a clothes washing function, but it may also have a clothes drying function. For example, if the drying function of the clothes washing machine malfunctions, a clothes dryer may be added later to constitute a clothes processing system. Even in this case, the clothes washing machine must have a communication function, and the added clothes dryer must also have a communication function.

[0059] In the above embodiment, the garment processing system 10 includes a portable terminal 16, but the garment processing system of this disclosure does not necessarily require a portable terminal 16. In other words, the garment processing system does not need to include a portable terminal 16.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the drying control device 52 that controls the clothes dryer 14 was built into the clothes dryer 14, but this disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the clothes dryer 14 may be controlled by command signals from a washing control device 50 built into a clothes washing machine 12, or by command signals from a mobile terminal 16. Furthermore, the clothes dryer 14 may be controlled by command signals from a server 22. In other words, the control unit that controls the clothes dryer may be provided in any of the clothes washing machine, mobile terminal, or server.

[0061] In the above embodiment, the mobile terminal 16 was exemplified as a smartphone, but this disclosure is not limited to smartphones. The terminal of this disclosure may be, for example, a terminal built into an automobile, or a personal computer. In other words, the terminal of this disclosure only needs to be configured to communicate with the clothing processing system 10.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the fan 38 is located downstream of the condenser 42, but the position of the fan 38 is not limited to this. For example, the fan 38 may be located downstream of the evaporator 44. Also, multiple fans 38 may be arranged within the circulating air passage 36.

[0063] In the above embodiment, preheating was performed until the refrigerant temperature Tr of the refrigerant heated by the condenser 42 rose to the preheating temperature Tp, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, preheating may be performed until the temperature of the air that is heat-exchanged by the condenser 42 rises to a preset preheating temperature for the air. Alternatively, the temperature of the condenser 42 may be directly detected by a sensor or the like, and the condenser 42 may be heated until its temperature reaches a preset preheating temperature for the condenser 42.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the storage device of the drying control device 52 stores a relationship map for determining the operating time tph and heat quantity Wph required for preheating, and the operating time tph and heat quantity Wph are determined from this relationship map. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment. For example, a relationship formula for calculating the operating time tph and heat quantity Wph may be obtained using the ambient temperature Tair and humidity Hd as variables, and the operating time tph and heat quantity Wph may be estimated by applying the ambient temperature Tair and humidity Hd to the above relationship formula.

[0065] In the above embodiment, the operating time tph and heat quantity Wph required for preheating were estimated based on the ambient temperature Tair and humidity Hd. However, this disclosure is not limited to ambient temperature Tair and humidity Hd. For example, the preheating time estimation unit 72 may estimate the operating time tph and heat quantity Wph from either the ambient temperature Tair or humidity Hd. Furthermore, the preheating time estimation unit 72 may estimate the operating time tph and heat quantity Wph by including other ambient environment data in addition to at least one of the ambient temperature Tair and humidity Hd.

[0066] In the first embodiment described above, the clothing processing system 10 was equipped with a portable terminal 16, but it may be implemented without the portable terminal 16. In this case, although the operating status of the clothes dryer 14 is not notified to the user, communication can be established between the washing machine 12 and the clothes dryer 14, allowing the preheating of the heat pump 34 to be started while the washing machine 12 is running, thereby shortening the washing and drying time.

[0067] [Summary of this disclosure] The embodiments described above include disclosures having the following configurations.

[0068] A garment processing system according to a first aspect of the present disclosure comprises a washing machine, a clothes dryer comprising a unit independent of the washing machine, a communication unit enabling communication between the clothes dryer and the washing machine, and a control unit that controls at least the clothes dryer to start preheating the clothes dryer while the washing machine is in operation.

[0069] According to the first embodiment described above, by controlling the clothes dryer to start preheating while the washing machine is running, the time required for washing and drying can be shortened by the amount of time that the clothes dryer preheats in parallel with the washing machine.

[0070] A clothing processing system according to a second embodiment is preferably further characterized in the clothing processing system according to the first embodiment. That is, in the clothing processing system according to the second embodiment, the control unit completes the preheating of the clothes dryer between the end of the spin cycle of the clothes washing machine and the time the user opens the door of the clothes dryer.

[0071] According to the second embodiment described above, by completing the preheating of the clothes dryer between the end of the spin cycle of the washing machine and the opening of the clothes dryer's door, the drying operation can be started quickly after the clothes are placed in the clothes dryer. As a result, the time required for washing and drying is shortened.

[0072] A clothing processing system according to a third embodiment is preferably further characterized in the clothing processing system according to the first or second embodiment. That is, in the clothing processing system according to the third embodiment, the control unit acquires information regarding the operating state of the clothes washing machine during the preheating of the clothes dryer, and controls the timing of the end of the preheating of the clothes dryer according to the acquired operating state.

[0073] According to the third embodiment described above, by acquiring information regarding the operating status of the washing machine during the preheating of the clothes dryer, the preheating of the clothes dryer can be performed efficiently, eliminating unnecessary steps such as waiting for the clothes dryer to cool down before reheating.

[0074] A garment processing system according to the fourth embodiment is preferably a garment processing system according to any of the first to third embodiments, further comprising the following features: In the garment processing system according to the fourth embodiment, the control unit is capable of performing at least one of the following: setting the start time for preheating the clothes dryer in advance, and setting the end time for preheating in advance.

[0075] According to the fourth embodiment described above, at least one of the processes of setting the start time of preheating the clothes dryer in advance and setting the end time of preheating in advance can be performed, so that preheating can be performed at the timing desired by the user.

[0076] A garment processing system according to the fifth embodiment is preferably a garment processing system according to any of the first to fourth embodiments, further comprising the following features: In the garment processing system according to the fifth embodiment, the communication unit is capable of receiving command signals from a terminal operated by the user, and the control unit is capable of performing at least one of the following: starting preheating of the clothes dryer in response to the command signal, and ending preheating of the clothes dryer in response to the command signal.

[0077] According to the fifth embodiment, at least one of the following can be performed via a terminal: setting the start time for preheating the clothes dryer in advance, and setting the end time for preheating the clothes dryer in advance. Therefore, even if the user is away from the washing machine or clothes dryer, preheating can be performed at the timing desired by the user.

[0078] A garment processing system according to the sixth embodiment is preferably a garment processing system according to any of the first to fifth embodiments, further comprising the following features: In the garment processing system according to the sixth embodiment, the communication unit is capable of transmitting a notification signal to a terminal operated by the user, and the control unit is capable of notifying the terminal via the notification signal of information regarding at least one of the completion of preheating of the clothes dryer and the completion of operation of the clothes dryer.

[0079] According to the sixth embodiment described above, information regarding the completion of preheating and the completion of drying of the clothes dryer is notified to the terminal, so that the user can understand the operating status of the clothes dryer via the terminal.

[0080] The garment processing system according to the seventh embodiment is preferably further characterized in that it is a garment processing system according to any of the first to sixth embodiments. That is, in the garment processing system according to the seventh embodiment, the control unit estimates the time required for preheating the clothes dryer based on information about the surrounding environment while the clothes washing machine is in operation, and starts preheating the clothes dryer based on the estimated time.

[0081] According to the seventh embodiment described above, the time required for preheating is estimated based on information about the surrounding environment, and preheating of the clothes dryer is started based on the estimated time. This allows preheating to be started at an appropriate timing according to the surrounding environment. As a result, the power consumption of preheating can be reduced without increasing the time required for washing and drying.

[0082] The eighth aspect of the garment processing system is preferably a garment processing system according to any of the first to seventh aspects, further comprising the following features: In the eighth aspect of the garment processing system, the clothes dryer includes a drying container in which clothes are placed, an air outlet provided in the drying container, a circulating air passage connected to the air inlet, and a heat pump for generating hot air to dry clothes, wherein the preheating of the clothes dryer is a step of heating the heat pump.

[0083] According to the eighth embodiment described above, since the heat pump needs to be preheated in advance, preheating the heat pump while the washing machine is running can shorten the washing and drying time by the amount of time required for preheating the heat pump in parallel with the operation of the washing machine.

[0084] The garment processing system according to the ninth embodiment is preferably further characterized in the garment processing system according to any of the first to eighth embodiments. That is, in the garment processing system according to the ninth embodiment, the communication unit is capable of wireless communication between the washing machine and the clothes dryer.

[0085] According to the ninth aspect described above, even if the washing machine and clothes dryer are located in different places, communication between the washing machine and clothes dryer becomes possible. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0086] 10: Garment processing system 12: Washing machine 14: Clothes dryer 15: Opening and closing doors 16: Mobile device (device) 25: Communications Department 32: Drying container 34: Heat pump 36:Circulation air duct 52: Drying control device (control unit)

Claims

1. A washing machine for clothes, A clothes dryer consisting of a separate unit from the aforementioned washing machine, A communication unit that enables communication between the clothes dryer and the clothes washing machine, A control unit that controls the clothes dryer to start preheating the clothes dryer while the clothes washing machine is in operation, A garment processing system equipped with the following features.

2. The clothing processing system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit completes the preheating of the clothes dryer between the time the spin-drying of the clothes washing machine is finished and the time the user opens the door of the clothes dryer.

3. The garment processing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit acquires information regarding the operating state of the clothes washing machine during the preheating of the clothes dryer, and controls the timing of the termination of the preheating of the clothes dryer according to the acquired operating state.

4. The garment processing system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is capable of performing at least one of the following: setting the start time for preheating the clothes dryer in advance, and setting the end time for preheating in advance.

5. The aforementioned communication unit is capable of receiving command signals from a terminal operated by the user. The garment processing system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is capable of performing at least one of the following: a process of starting preheating of the clothes dryer in response to the command signal, and a process of ending preheating of the clothes dryer in response to the command signal.

6. The aforementioned communication unit is capable of transmitting notification signals to a terminal operated by the user. The garment processing system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is capable of notifying the terminal via the notification signal of information regarding the completion of preheating of the clothes dryer and the completion of operation of the clothes dryer.

7. The garment processing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit estimates the time required for preheating the clothes dryer based on information about the surrounding environment while the clothes washing machine is in operation, and starts preheating the clothes dryer based on the estimated time.

8. The clothes dryer includes a drying container in which clothes are placed, a heat pump for generating hot air to dry clothes, and a circulating air passage for circulating air between the drying container and the heat pump. The garment processing system according to claim 1, wherein the preheating of the clothes dryer is a step of heating the heat pump.

9. The garment processing system according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit is capable of wirelessly communicating between the washing machine and the clothes dryer.

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