Clothes Processing Equipment

Abstract

A clothing processing device capable of detecting dryness with high accuracy is provided. [Solution] The clothing treatment device includes a control unit that controls the operation of a heating device and an air blowing device to execute a drying process for drying clothing in a clothing treatment tub. The drying process includes a temperature increase process for increasing the temperature of the clothing treatment tub. The control unit acquires a maximum humidity, which is the maximum value of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit during a temperature increase period during which the temperature increase process is executed, and executes a heat suppression process to terminate the drying process or suppress the operation of the heating device based on the amount or rate of decrease from the maximum humidity to the current humidity detected by the humidity detection unit after the temperature increase period being equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a clothes treatment device. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that an electrical appliance being a washer / dryer comprises a control unit for controlling the electrical appliance, a tub for storing items to be dried, a hot air supply unit for heating and drying gas and blowing the heated and dried gas into the tub through an air inlet, a humidity detection unit for detecting the humidity of the gas discharged from the tub through an air outlet, and a temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the gas discharged from the tub through the air outlet, and that after starting heating and drying of the gas by the hot air supply unit, the control unit controls the hot air supply unit to stop heating and drying when the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit is a predetermined humidity and the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is a predetermined temperature. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-018256 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the drying operation, when the drying operation starts and the clothes are heated, the moisture contained in the clothes starts to evaporate, but as the drying operation progresses, the amount of moisture contained in the clothes decreases. Also, the humidity of the air discharged from the tub through the air outlet shows a high value when the moisture from the clothes starts to evaporate, but shows a low value when the drying ends. For this reason, it is possible to use this humidity to detect the dryness of the clothes.

[0005] However, in the conventional method of detecting dryness by reaching a target humidity, there are cases where humidity varies depending on, for example, the environmental temperature or the weight of the clothes to be dried, making it difficult to perform dryness detection with high accuracy. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the accuracy of dryness detection.

[0006] Therefore, a clothing processing device capable of detecting dryness with high accuracy is provided. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The clothes treatment device of the embodiment includes a clothes treatment tub having an air inlet and an air outlet, an air passage connected to the air inlet, a blower for blowing the air through the air passage into the clothes treatment tub, a heater for heating the air, a humidity detector for detecting the humidity of the air discharged from the air outlet, and a controller for controlling the operation of the heater and the blower to perform a drying process for drying the clothes in the clothes treatment tub. The drying process includes a temperature increase process for increasing the temperature of the clothes treatment tub. The controller acquires a maximum humidity, which is the maximum value of the humidity detected by the humidity detector during a temperature increase period during which the temperature increase process is performed, and executes a heat suppression process for terminating the drying process or suppressing the operation of the heater when a decrease amount or rate of decrease from the maximum humidity to the current humidity detected by the humidity detector becomes equal to or exceeds a predetermined threshold value after the temperature increase period. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an example of a washing and drying machine according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an example of a washing and drying machine according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a washing / drying machine according to a first embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of changes in temperature and humidity over time in a drying process in the washer / dryer according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 5]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of changes over time in the drive frequency of the compressor and the drive rotation speed of the blower, as well as changes over time in temperature and humidity during the temperature rise process and the dehumidification process in the drying operation of the washer / dryer according to the first embodiment; [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of changes over time in the drive frequency of the compressor and the drive rotation speed of the blower, as well as changes over time in temperature and humidity during the temperature rise process and the dehumidification process in the washer / dryer according to the first embodiment during the washer / dryer operation. [Figure 7] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed in a drying operation in the washer / dryer according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of processing contents in a temperature increasing process in the washer / dryer according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of processing contents in a dehumidification process in the washer / dryer according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of processing contents in a temperature increasing process in a washing / drying machine according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of changes in temperature and humidity over time in a drying process in a washer / dryer according to a third embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of changes in temperature and humidity over time in a drying process in a washer / dryer according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of changes in temperature and humidity over time in a drying process in a washer / dryer according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of changes in temperature and humidity over time in a drying process in a washer / dryer according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of changes in temperature and humidity over time in a drying process in a washer / dryer according to a seventh embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of changes in temperature and humidity over time in a drying process in a washer / dryer according to an eighth embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of changes in temperature and humidity over time during a drying process in a washer / dryer according to a ninth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, a washing and drying machine, which is an example of a laundry processing device according to a plurality of embodiments, will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that substantially the same elements in each embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0010] (First embodiment) First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 9. The washer-dryer 10 shown in Fig. 1 is a drum-type washer-dryer of a horizontal axis type in which the rotation axis of the rotating tub 14 faces horizontally or an oblique axis type inclined downward toward the rear. The washer-dryer 10 has, for example, a washing function and a drying function, and can perform a washing and drying operation including each process of washing, rinsing, spin-drying, and drying. The washer-dryer is not limited to a drum-type washer-dryer, and may be a vertical axis type washer-dryer in which the rotation axis of the rotating tub faces vertically. The clothing processing device of this embodiment can also be applied to a configuration without a washing function, such as a clothing dryer.

[0011] The washer-dryer 10 includes an outer box 11, a door 12, a water tub 13, a rotating tub 14, a motor 15, a drainage mechanism 16, a water supply mechanism 17, a drying mechanism 30, and an exhaust mechanism 40. In Fig. 1, the side of the installation surface of the washer-dryer 10, i.e., the vertically lower side, is defined as the lower side of the washer-dryer 10, and the side opposite the installation surface, i.e., the vertically upper side, is defined as the upper side of the washer-dryer 10. The side of the washer-dryer 10 seen from the user, i.e., the left side of the paper in Fig. 1, is defined as the front side of the washer-dryer 10, and the side opposite the user, i.e., the right side of the paper in Fig. 1, is defined as the rear side of the washer-dryer 10.

[0012] The outer box 11 is formed into a rectangular hollow box shape as a whole by combining metals such as stainless steel plates and resin materials. The outer box 11 constitutes the outer shell of the washer / dryer 10. The outer box 11 has a front opening 111 on the front side that communicates the inside and outside of the outer box 11. The door 12 is provided on the front side of the outer box 11 and opens and closes the front opening 111. With the door 12 open, a user can put clothes in and take them out of the spin tub 14 through the front opening 111. The water tub 13 and the spin tub 14 are both formed into a so-called bottomed cylinder shape that is open on one side, i.e., the front side, in the axial direction of the cylindrical shape and has a bottom on the other side, i.e., the rear side.

[0013] The water tank 13 can store water therein. The water tank 13 is provided in the outer box 11 and elastically supported by a suspension (not shown). As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the water tank 13 has an air outlet 131 and an air inlet 132. The air outlet 131 and the air inlet 132 communicate the inside and outside of the water tank 13. The air outlet 131 is for discharging air from the water tank 13. The air outlet 131 is provided, for example, in a portion toward the front of the upper portion of the water tank 13, and is located to the right of the center of the water tank 13 in the left-right direction. The air inlet 132 is for supplying air into the water tank 13. The air inlet 132 is provided, for example, in the bottom of the water tank 13, slightly above the center of the bottom in the up-down direction.

[0014] Rotary tub 14 is capable of accommodating clothes therein and is rotatably disposed within water tub 13. Rotary tub 14, together with water tub 13, constitutes a clothes treatment tub that accommodates clothes therein and processes the clothes during a washing or drying operation. Rotary tub 14 is driven to rotate by motor 15. Rotary tub 14 has a plurality of holes 141. The plurality of holes 141 are formed over almost the entire circumferential surface of rotary tub 14, and function as water holes through which water flows in and out during a spin-drying process, and as ventilation holes through which air flows in and out during a drying process. Rotary tub 14 also has a plurality of baffles (not shown). The baffles have the function of stirring and stirring up the clothes accommodated in rotary tub 14.

[0015] Motor 15 is provided on the outside of the bottom of water tub 13. Although details of motor 15 are not shown, it is composed of, for example, a brushless direct drive motor whose rotation speed is variable. Motor 15 is connected to rotating tub 14 and has the function of driving rotating tub 14 to rotate relative to water tub 13. Motor shaft 151 of motor 15, the central axis of water tub 13, and the rotation axis of rotating tub 14 overlap with each other.

[0016] Drain mechanism 16 has a function of draining water stored in water tub 13 to the outside of washer-dryer 10. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, drain mechanism 16 has drain valve 161 and drain hose 162. Drain valve 161 is configured to be electromagnetically openable and closable. One end of drain hose 162 is connected to drain valve 161, and the other end is drawn out to the outside of washer-dryer 10. When drain valve 161 is opened, water stored in water tub 13 is drained to the outside of washer-dryer 10 through drain hose 162. Drain valve 161 opens and closes a drain path for draining water stored in water tub 13 to the outside.

[0017] The water supply mechanism 17 has a function of supplying water supplied from an external water source such as a water supply into the water tub 13. As shown in FIG. 2, the water supply mechanism 17 has a water supply valve 171 and a water injection case 172. The water supply valve 171 is configured to be electromagnetically openable and closable. The water supply valve 171 has a function of opening and closing a water supply path from an external water source to the water tub 13 via the water supply mechanism 17. The water injection case 172 is provided downstream of the water supply valve 171. The water injection case 172 has a treatment agent case (not shown). The treatment agent case is configured to be able to accommodate, for example, a laundry treatment agent required for one washing operation. That is, the water injection case 172 is configured to be able to accommodate the laundry treatment agent therein. When the laundry treatment agent is accommodated in the treatment agent case, the water supplied from the external water source that flows into the water injection case 172 and the laundry treatment agent are mixed in the water injection case 172, and then supplied into the water tub 13 and the spin tub 14. The washer / dryer 10 may be provided with an automatic dispenser that automatically dispenses a predetermined amount of laundry treatment agent into the water tub 13.

[0018] The drying mechanism 30 has a function of supplying hot air into the water tub 13. The drying mechanism 30 has a circulation air duct 50 and a heating device 60. The circulation air duct 50 is located outside the water tub 13, one end of which is connected to the air outlet 131, and the other end of which is connected to the air inlet 132. The circulation air duct 50 connects the air outlet 131 and the air inlet 132. The circulation air duct 50 is for circulating and supplying air into the water tub 13. The circulation air duct 50 takes in air from the water tub 13 through the air outlet 131, generates hot air through the heating device 60, and then supplies the hot air from the air inlet 132 into the water tub 13. In this case, when looking at the air flowing through the circulation air duct 50, the air outlet 131 is on the upstream side, and the air inlet 132 is on the downstream side.

[0019] The circulating air passage 50 can be configured to have, for example, an exhaust duct 51, a filter device 52, a connection duct 53, a heat exchanger 54, and an air supply duct 55. The exhaust duct 51 is configured, for example, by a flexible bellows-shaped hose. One end of the exhaust duct 51 is connected to the air outlet 131, and the other end is connected to the filter device 52. The exhaust duct 51 is, for example, a part that exhausts air from the aquarium 13.

[0020] The filter device 52 is provided downstream of the air outlet 131, in this case on the air circulation path 50, and collects foreign matter such as lint and dust contained in the air flowing out of the air outlet 131 and flowing through the air circulation path 50. The filter device 52 can be configured to have a filter device main body 521 and a filter 522. The filter device main body 521 can be configured as a container-shaped member made of, for example, resin and with an open top. The opening provided on the top surface of the filter device main body 521 is opened and closed by a lid (not shown). The filter 522 is provided detachably inside the filter device main body 521. The filter 522 collects foreign matter contained in the air flowing through the air circulation path 50.

[0021] The connection duct 53 is a duct that connects the filter device 52 and the heat exchanger 54. The heat exchanger 54 is disposed, for example, on the rear side of the washer / dryer 10, near the bottom inside the outer box 11. The heat exchanger 54 is provided in a midway portion of the circulating air passage 50. The air that is taken into the circulating air passage 50 from the water tub 13 and flows through the connection duct 53 is dehumidified and heated as it passes through the heat exchanger 54, becoming dry warm air. The supply air duct 55 is a duct that connects the heat exchanger 54 and the air inlet 132 of the water tub 13. The supply air duct 55 is, for example, a part that supplies air into the water tub 13.

[0022] The heating device 60 constitutes, for example, a heat pump mechanism, that is, a refrigeration cycle. The heating device 60 is provided in the middle of the circulation air passage 50. The heating device 60 heats the air flowing through the circulation air passage 50 to generate hot air for drying the clothes in the rotating tub 14. The temperature of the hot air can be set to, for example, about 60°C to about 70°C. As shown in FIG. 2, the heating device 60 includes an evaporator 61, a condenser 62, a compressor 63, and a throttle valve 64. The evaporator 61 and the condenser 62 are provided in the heat exchanger 54. The evaporator 61 cools and dehumidifies the air circulating through the circulation air passage 50. The condenser 62 heats the air flowing through the circulation air passage 50 to generate hot air. The compressor 63 is provided outside the heat exchanger 54. The throttle valve 64 is for reducing the pressure of the high-pressure liquid refrigerant so that it can be easily evaporated. The heating device 60 may be configured as a well-known heater type instead of the heat pump mechanism.

[0023] The washer / dryer 10 also has a blower 65. The blower 65 is, for example, a sirocco fan. The blower 65 is provided in the middle of the air circulation duct 50 and has a function of supplying air that has been dehumidified and heated by the heating device 60 from the air inlet 132 into the water tub 13. The blower 65 is provided, for example, between the heat exchanger 54 and the air supply duct 55.

[0024] The exhaust mechanism 40 has an opening 41 and an exhaust damper 42. The opening 41 is provided in the middle of the circulation air passage 50 and communicates the inside and outside of the circulation air passage 50. The opening 41 exhausts a part of the air in the circulation air passage 50 to the outside. The exhaust damper 42 has an actuator such as a motor or a solenoid, and is configured to be able to open and close the opening 41 based on a control signal. When the exhaust damper 42 is open, the opening 41 is open, whereas when the exhaust damper 42 is closed, the opening 41 is closed. That is, the exhaust damper 42 has a function of switching between an open state in which the opening 41 is open and a part of the air in the circulation air passage 50 is exhausted from the opening 41, and a closed state in which the opening 41 is closed and a part of the air in the circulation air passage 50 is not exhausted from the opening 41.

[0025] 1, outer box 11 is provided with communication port 112. Communication port 112 is located in a portion of outer box 11 corresponding to opening 41, and communicates between the inside and outside of outer box 11. Air discharged from opening 41 to the outside of circulating air passage 50 is discharged from communication port 112 to the outside of washer-dryer 10, as indicated by the black arrow in FIG.

[0026] The washer / dryer 10 includes an outlet temperature detector 71, an inlet temperature detector 72, and a humidity detector 73. The outlet temperature detector 71 has a function of detecting the temperature of the air discharged from the air outlet 131. In this embodiment, the outlet temperature detector 71 detects the temperature of the air in the circulation air duct 50 before being affected by the heat of the evaporator 61 and the condenser 62. In this case, the outlet temperature detector 71 is located downstream of the filter device 52 and upstream of the evaporator 61 in the circulation air duct 50. The inlet temperature detector 72 has a function of detecting the temperature of the air supplied from the air inlet 132 to the water tub 13. In this embodiment, the inlet temperature detector 72 detects the temperature of the air in the circulation air duct 50 that has been heated by the condenser 62. In this case, the inlet temperature detector 72 is located downstream of the blower 65 and upstream of the air inlet 132 in the circulation air duct 50.

[0027] The humidity detection unit 73 has a function of detecting the humidity of the air discharged from the air outlet 131. In this embodiment, the humidity detection unit 73 detects the humidity of the air in the circulation air passage 50 before being affected by the heat of the evaporator 61 and the condenser 62. Humidity means relative humidity (% RH), and the relative humidity (% RH) is the ratio of the amount of water vapor in the air at a certain temperature to the amount of saturated water vapor at that time. The humidity detection unit 73 is located downstream of the filter device 52 and upstream of the evaporator 61 in the circulation air passage 50. By positioning the humidity detection unit 73 downstream of the filter device 52, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from accumulating on the humidity detection unit 73. In this embodiment, the humidity detection unit 73 is located near the outlet temperature detection unit 71. The outlet temperature detection unit 71 and the humidity detection unit 73 may be integrally configured.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the washer-dryer 10 includes a control unit 80 and a storage unit 81. The motor 15, the drain valve 161, the water supply valve 171, the compressor 63, the blower 65, the exhaust damper 42, and the storage unit 81 are electrically connected to the control unit 80 and operate under the control of the control unit 80. The outlet temperature detection unit 71, the inlet temperature detection unit 72, and the humidity detection unit 73 are electrically connected to the control unit 80 and transmit their respective detection results to the control unit 80. The control unit 80 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having a storage area such as a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a rewritable flash memory. The control unit 80 controls the overall operation of the washer-dryer 10. The storage area of ​​the control unit 80 stores a control program for controlling the washer-dryer 10 to perform operation. Each process of the control unit 80 is realized by the CPU executing the control program.

[0029] The control unit 80 receives detection signals from the various detection units 71, 72, 73, and controls the operation of the motor 15, the drain valve 161, the water supply valve 171, the compressor 63, the blower 65, and the exhaust damper 42 based on a control program to execute operation. The storage unit 81 is composed of well-known storage media such as a ROM, a HDD, a semiconductor memory, and a magnetic disk, and stores various information. The storage unit 81 can be composed of a predetermined area set in the storage area of ​​the control unit 80, for example.

[0030] The control unit 80 can selectively execute, for example, a washing operation, a drying operation, and a washing and drying operation. An operation means that a number of different processes are executed in sequence. A washing operation is an operation aimed at washing clothes. The washing operation includes, for example, a washing process. A drying operation is an operation aimed at drying clothes. The drying operation includes, for example, a drying process. A washing and drying operation is an operation aimed at washing and drying clothes. The washing and drying operation includes, for example, a washing process and a drying process.

[0031] In the drying process, the control unit 80 causes the outlet temperature detection unit 71 and / or the inlet temperature detection unit 72 to detect the temperature at predetermined intervals. For example, the predetermined period is one minute. The control unit 80 acquires the temperature detected by the outlet temperature detection unit 71 and / or the inlet temperature detection unit 72 and stores it in the memory unit 81. Also, in the drying process, the control unit 80 causes the humidity detection unit 73 to detect the humidity at predetermined intervals. For example, the predetermined period is one minute. The control unit 80 acquires the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 and stores it in the memory unit 81.

[0032] Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the drying process includes a temperature increasing process, a dehumidification process, and an air blowing process in this order. The periods during which the temperature increasing process, the dehumidification process, and the air blowing process are performed are referred to as a temperature increasing period P1, a dehumidification period P2, and an air blowing period P3, respectively. The graph illustrated with reference symbol A1 in FIGS. 4 to 6 shows the change over time in the measured value of the outlet temperature detection unit 71. Furthermore, the graph illustrated with reference symbol A2 in FIGS. 4 to 6 shows the change over time in the measured value of the inlet temperature detection unit 72. Furthermore, the graph illustrated with reference symbol A3 in FIGS. 4 to 6 shows the change over time in the measured value of the humidity detection unit 73.

[0033] The temperature rise process shown in Fig. 4 is a process for warming the clothes treatment tub, i.e., the water tub 13 and the rotating tub 14, and thus the clothes in the clothes treatment tub. The control unit 80 operates the compressor 63 and the blower 65 in the temperature rise process. The temperature rise period is the period from the start of the drying process until the temperature of the clothes treatment tub starts to increase.

[0034] When the clothes treatment tubs 13, 14 are heated to a predetermined level, the control unit 80 ends the heating process and starts the dehumidification process. The dehumidification process is a process for lowering the humidity in the clothes treatment tub. In other words, it is a period during which moisture evaporates from the clothes stored in the rotating tub 14. During the dehumidification period, the temperature detected by the inlet temperature detection unit 72 tends to remain constant. Also, during the dehumidification process, the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 tends to decrease. The humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 during the constant rate period T2 is lower than the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 during the heating period T1. During the dehumidification process, the control unit 80 sets the drive frequency of the compressor 63 lower than the target frequency during the heating process.

[0035] The air blowing process is a process for cooling the water tub 13, the rotating tub 14, and the clothes contained in the rotating tub 14. In the air blowing process, the control unit 80 operates the air blower 65 with the compressor 63 stopped, to cool the clothes contained in the water tub 13, the rotating tub 14, and the rotating tub 14. The control unit 80 can determine the end time of the air blowing period P3 based on the elapsed time since the start of the air blowing period P3 or the detection results of the temperature detection units 71, 72.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the temperature rise period P1 includes a heating stage P11 and a stable stage P12. The heating stage P11 is a stage until the operation of heating the clothes treatment tub in the temperature rise process becomes stable. That is, the heating stage P11 is a stage until the compressor 63 and the blower 65 are driven and the drive frequency of the compressor 63 reaches the target frequency and / or the rotation speed of the blower 65 reaches the target rotation speed. The stable stage P12 is a stage after the operation of heating the clothes treatment tub in the temperature rise process becomes stable. That is, the stable stage P12 is a stage in which the drive frequency and / or the rotation speed of the blower 65 is maintained after the drive frequency of the compressor 63 reaches the target frequency and / or the rotation speed of the blower 65 reaches the target rotation speed. In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the graph illustrated by the symbol B1 shows the change over time in the drive frequency of the compressor 63. 5 and 6, the graphs indicated by the symbol B2 show the change in the driving rotation speed of the blower device 65 over time.

[0037] In this embodiment, the heating stage P11 is a stage in which the compressor 63 and the blower 65 are driven, the drive frequency of the compressor 63 reaches the target frequency, and the drive rotation speed of the blower 65 reaches the target rotation speed. In this embodiment, the stable stage P12 is a stage in which the drive frequency of the compressor 63 reaches the target frequency and the drive rotation speed of the blower 65 reaches the target rotation speed, and the drive frequency and drive rotation speed are maintained. That is, in the stable stage P12, the control unit 80 maintains the drive frequency of the compressor 63 and the drive rotation speed of the blower 65.

[0038] For example, the target frequency of the compressor 63 in the temperature raising process can be set within a range of about 65 Hz to about 95 Hz. In this embodiment, the target frequency of the compressor 63 in the temperature raising process is set to about 70 Hz for drying operation and to about 90 Hz for washing and drying operation. Also, the target rotation speed of the blower device 65 in the temperature raising process can be set within a range of about 4500 rpm to about 5500 rpm. In this embodiment, the target rotation speed of the blower device 65 in the temperature raising process is set to about 5000 rpm.

[0039] In the temperature raising process, the control unit 80 controls the rotation of the motor 15 under predetermined conditions to rotate the rotating tank 14. For example, the control unit 80 controls the motor 15 to periodically rotate the rotating tank 14 forward and backward at about 50 rpm. The control conditions of the motor 15 are constant in the temperature raising process.

[0040] The control unit 80 ends the heating process when the clothing treatment tubs 13, 14 are heated to a predetermined level. Whether or not the clothing treatment tubs 13, 14 have been heated to a predetermined level can be determined by various methods. For example, the control unit 80 can end the heating process based on the temperature detected by the inlet temperature detection unit 72 and / or the temperature detected by the outlet temperature detection unit 71.

[0041] In this embodiment, the control unit 80 obtains the difference ΔT between the temperature detected by the inlet temperature detection unit 72 and the temperature detected by the outlet temperature detection unit 71, and when the difference reaches a maximum value, it determines that the clothing treatment tubs 13, 14 have been heated to a predetermined level and ends the heating process. For example, when the difference ΔT between the temperature detected by the inlet temperature detection unit 72 and the temperature detected by the outlet temperature detection unit 71 decreases continuously for a predetermined period of time, it may be determined that the difference ΔT has reached a maximum value. The predetermined period is, for example, two minutes.

[0042] The control unit 80 does not determine the heating state of the clothes treatment tubs 13, 14 based on the maximum difference between the temperature detected by the inlet temperature detection unit 72 and the temperature detected by the outlet temperature detection unit 71 until a predetermined first period t1 has elapsed after the start of the temperature raising process. This is to prevent erroneous detection of the heating state due to variation, which is likely to occur in the temperature detected by the inlet temperature detection unit 72 immediately after the start of the drying process, particularly in the case of a washing and drying operation. The first period t1 can be set within a range of about 1 minute to about 5 minutes, for example. In this embodiment, the first period t1 is set to 3 minutes.

[0043] The control unit 80 executes a heating suppression process after the temperature rise period based on the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 during the temperature rise process. The heating suppression process is a process for ending the drying process or a process for suppressing the heating operation on the clothes stored in the rotating tub 14. The process for suppressing the heating operation on the clothes stored in the rotating tub 14 is, for example, a process for suppressing the operation of the compressor 63 as a heating device. Suppressing the operation of the compressor 63 includes both reducing the drive frequency of the compressor 63 and stopping the drive of the compressor 63.

[0044] In this embodiment, the control unit 80 executes the heating suppression process based on the maximum value Hmax of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 in the heating process and the current detected humidity. In this case, the control unit 80 stores the maximum value of the detected humidity in the stable stage in the storage unit 81 as the maximum value Hmax of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 in the heating process. This suppresses erroneous determination due to the detected humidity that is prone to variation before the operation of the compressor 63 and / or the blower 65 stabilizes, and achieves highly accurate dryness detection.

[0045] When the control unit 80 observes that the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 has decreased continuously for a predetermined period, the control unit 80 sets the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 before the decrease as the maximum humidity Hmax and stores it in the storage unit 81. For example, when the humidity detection unit 73 continues to decrease for two minutes, that is, when the humidity detection unit 73 has decreased from the previous humidity detection two consecutive times, the control unit 80 sets the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 two minutes ago as the maximum humidity Hmax. Furthermore, when the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 has decreased two or more consecutive times for a predetermined period in the stable stage, the control unit 80 sets the maximum humidity Hmax to the maximum humidity Hmax among the humidity detected before the multiple decreases. This makes it possible to obtain a more appropriate maximum humidity Hmax even when the graph of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 has two or more peaks, and thus to realize accurate dryness judgment.

[0046] In the temperature rise process, if the temperature rise process cannot be completed even after a predetermined second period t2 has elapsed from the start of the temperature rise process, the control unit 80 does not execute the heating suppression process based on the humidity H detected by the humidity detection unit 73 in the temperature rise process. The case where the temperature rise process cannot be completed includes, for example, a case where the heating stage P11 cannot be completed and a case where the stable stage P12 cannot be completed. In this way, when an unexpected temperature behavior is observed, the drying state is determined based on an inappropriate maximum humidity Hmax, and the drying process is prevented from ending half-dry or becoming over-dry. The second period t2 can be set, for example, within a range of about 60 minutes to about 100 minutes in the case of drying operation, and within a range of about 20 minutes to about 40 minutes in the case of washing and drying operation. In this embodiment, the second period t2 is set to about 80 minutes in the case of drying operation, and about 30 minutes in the case of washing and drying operation. In this case, for example, the control unit 80 sets the "humidity H detected by the humidity detection unit 73 in the temperature rise process" to a "non-use" mode in which the "humidity H detected by the humidity detection unit 73 in the temperature rise process" is not used, and stores it in the memory unit 81.

[0047] When the "non-use" mode is set, the control unit 80 executes the heating inhibition process based on factors other than "humidity H detected by humidity detection unit 73 in the heating process" after the heating period. The control unit 80 may execute the heating inhibition process based on the temperature detected by inlet temperature detection unit 72 and / or the temperature detected by outlet temperature detection, or may execute the heating inhibition process based on the operation time of the drying process. The control unit 80 may execute the heating inhibition process based on, for example, the temperature difference ΔT between the temperature detected by inlet temperature detection unit 72 and the temperature detected by outlet temperature detection becoming equal to or less than a predetermined threshold ΔT0.

[0048] The control unit 80 does not end the temperature raising process until a predetermined third period t3 has elapsed from the start of the temperature raising process. As a result, even if the temperature fluctuates at the beginning of the temperature raising process, the temperature raising process is continued until the water tub 13, the rotating tub 14, and the clothes are warmed to a desired degree, and the clothes can be dried reliably. The third period t3 can be set, for example, within a range of about 15 minutes to about 25 minutes in the drying operation and within a range of about 7 minutes to about 15 minutes in the washing and drying operation. In this embodiment, the third period t3 is set to about 20 minutes in the drying operation and about 10 minutes in the washing and drying operation.

[0049] The control unit 80 executes the heating suppression process in a process after the heating process based on the amount or rate of decrease of the humidity H detected by the humidity detection unit 73 from the maximum humidity Hmax. That is, the control unit 80 determines that the drying of the clothes stored in the rotating tub 14 is progressing because the humidity of the exhaust air from the clothes treatment tubs 13, 14 has decreased to a predetermined level or more. In this embodiment, the control unit 80 acquires the humidity difference ΔH between the maximum humidity Hmax and the current humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 in the dehumidification process, and executes the heating suppression process based on the humidity difference ΔH being equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value ΔH0. In this embodiment, when the humidity difference ΔH is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value ΔH0 in, for example, a dehumidification process after the heating process, the control unit 80 executes the heating suppression process and stops the compressor 63 to end the dehumidification process.

[0050] The heating inhibition process does not have to be executed immediately when the humidity difference ΔH becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value ΔH0, and may be executed, for example, when some other condition is met in addition to the above. For example, the heating inhibition process may be executed when a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the humidity difference ΔH became equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value ΔH0, or the heating inhibition process may be executed when the humidity difference ΔH becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value ΔH0 and a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of the dehumidification process.

[0051] Next, the details of the processing by the control unit 80 in the drying operation or the drying step of the washing and drying operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in Figs. 7 to 9. At the start point in Fig. 7, it is assumed that the power of the washer / dryer 10 is on and the washing operation or the washing and drying operation has been started by a user operation or the like. When the drying step is started (START), in step S11, the control unit 80 executes the temperature increase step, the details of which are shown in Fig. 8. In step S12, the control unit 80 executes the dehumidification step, the details of which are shown in Fig. 9. In step S13, the control unit 80 executes the air blowing step.

[0052] When the temperature raising step shown in Fig. 8 is started, in step S21, the control unit 80 drives the air blower 65 and controls the driving rotation speed to be the target rotation speed. In this case, driving the air blower 65 includes driving the air blower 65 that has been stopped and driving the air blower 65 that has been driven at a higher rotation speed. For example, in the case of the drying operation, in step S21, the control unit 80 drives the air blower 65 that has been stopped and increases the driving rotation speed to the target rotation speed. For example, in the case of the washing and drying operation, in step S21, the control unit 80 continues to drive the air blower 65 that has been driven and increases the driving rotation speed to a target rotation speed that is higher than the current state.

[0053] In step S22, the control unit 80 drives the compressor 63 and controls the drive frequency to be the target frequency. In this case, driving the compressor 63 includes driving the compressor 63 that has been stopped and driving the compressor 63 that has been driven at a higher frequency. For example, in the case of a drying operation, in step S22, the control unit 80 drives the compressor 63 that has been stopped and increases the drive frequency to the target frequency. For example, in the case of a washing and drying operation, in step S22, the control unit 80 continues to drive the compressor 63 that has been driven and increases the drive frequency to a target frequency that is higher than the current frequency.

[0054] In step S23, the control unit 80 determines whether the heating operation has stabilized, that is, whether the heating phase has ended. In this embodiment, the control unit 80 determines whether the driving rotation speed of the blower device 65 has reached the target rotation speed and the driving frequency of the compressor 63 has reached the target rotation speed. If the heating phase has not ended (No in step S23), the control unit 80 proceeds to step S31, which will be described later. If the heating phase has ended (Yes in step S23), the control unit 80 proceeds to step S24.

[0055] In step S24, the control unit 80 starts acquiring the maximum humidity Hmax of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73. In step S25, the control unit 80 determines whether or not the first period t1 has elapsed since the start of the heating process. If the first period t1 has not elapsed (No in step S25), the control unit 80 repeats the process of step S25. If the first period t1 has elapsed (Yes in step S25), the control unit 80 proceeds to step S26. In step S26, the control unit 80 starts acquiring the humidity difference ΔT between the detected temperature of the inlet temperature detection unit 72 and the detected temperature of the outlet temperature detection unit 71.

[0056] In step S27, the control unit 80 determines whether the humidity detection unit 73 has reached the maximum humidity Hmax. Specifically, the control unit 80 determines whether the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 has decreased for two consecutive minutes. If the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 has not decreased for two consecutive minutes (No in step S27), the control unit 80 proceeds to step S29. If the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 has decreased for two consecutive minutes (Yes in step S27), the control unit 80 proceeds to step S28.

[0057] In step S28, the control unit 80 sets the maximum humidity Hmax and stores it in the memory unit 81. Specifically, the control unit 80 sets the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 two minutes ago as the maximum humidity Hmax and stores it in the memory unit 81.

[0058] In step S29, control unit 80 determines whether water tub 13, spin tub 14, and clothes have warmed up to a predetermined temperature. Specifically, control unit 80 determines whether humidity difference ΔT between the temperature detected by inlet temperature detection unit 72 and the temperature detected by outlet temperature detection unit 71 has decreased for two consecutive minutes. If humidity difference ΔT has not decreased for two consecutive minutes (No in step S29), control unit 80 proceeds to step S31. If humidity difference ΔT has decreased for two consecutive minutes (Yes in step S29), control unit 80 proceeds to step S30.

[0059] In step S30, the control unit 80 determines whether or not the third period t3 has elapsed since the start of the temperature increase process. If the third period t3 has not elapsed (No in step S30), the control unit 80 returns the process to step S27. If the third period t3 has elapsed (Yes in step S30), the control unit 80 advances the process to step S33.

[0060] In step S31, the control unit 80 determines whether or not the second period t2 has elapsed since the start of the temperature increase process. If the second period t2 has not elapsed (No in step S31), the control unit 80 returns the process to step S23. If the second period t2 has elapsed (Yes in step S31), the control unit 80 advances the process to step S32.

[0061] In step S32, the control unit 80 sets the "humidity H detected by the humidity detection unit 73 during the heating process" to a "non-use" mode in which the mode is not used to determine the dry state, and stores the mode in the memory unit 81. This prevents an inappropriate determination of the dry state when the heating process cannot be completed even after the second period has elapsed. The control unit 80 then proceeds to step S33.

[0062] In step S33, the control unit 80 reduces the drive frequency of the compressor 63. In this manner, the control unit 80 ends the temperature increasing process, and the flow returns to FIG.

[0063] When the dehumidification process is executed in step S12 of Fig. 7, the control unit 80 starts the control shown in Fig. 9. When the dehumidification process starts, the control unit 80 determines whether or not the "unused" mode is set in step S41. If the unused mode is set (Yes in step S41), the control unit 80 proceeds to step S43. If the unused mode is not set (No in step S41), the control unit 80 proceeds to step S42.

[0064] In step S42, the control unit 80 determines whether the humidity difference ΔH between the maximum humidity Hmax and the current humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold ΔH0. If the humidity difference ΔH is less than the predetermined threshold ΔH0 (No in step S42), the control unit 80 repeats the process of step S42. If the humidity difference ΔH is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold ΔH0 (Yes in step S42), the control unit 80 proceeds to step S44.

[0065] In step S43, the control unit 80 determines whether the temperature difference ΔT between the temperature detected by the inlet temperature detection unit 72 and the temperature detected by the outlet temperature detection unit 72 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value ΔT0. If the temperature difference ΔT is greater than the predetermined threshold value ΔT0 (No in step S43), the control unit 80 repeats the process of step S43. If the temperature difference ΔT is equal to or smaller than the predetermined threshold value ΔT0 (Yes in step S43), the control unit 80 advances the process to step S44.

[0066] In step S44, the control unit 80 executes a heating suppression process. Specifically, the control unit 80 stops driving the compressor 63. This stops the heating operation on the clothes.

[0067] In this way, the control unit 80 executes the dehumidification process. Then, the control unit 80 returns the process to the flowchart of FIG.

[0068] In this manner, the control unit 80 executes the drying process (END). Note that the control unit 80 may execute a wrinkle removing process, a sterilization process, etc., following the air blowing process.

[0069] The washer / dryer 10 as a clothes processing device of the present embodiment described above includes the water tub 13 and the rotatable tub 14 as clothes processing tubs, the circulating air duct 50 as an air duct, the blower 65, the heater 60, the humidity detector 73, and the controller 80. The water tub 13 has an air inlet 132 and an air outlet 131. The circulating air duct 50 is connected to the air inlet 132. The blower 65 blows air to the water tub 13 and the rotatable tub 14 through the circulating air duct 50. The heater 60 heats the air supplied to the water tub 13 and the rotatable tub 14. The humidity detector 73 detects the humidity of the air discharged from the air outlet 131. The controller 80 controls the operation of the heater 60 and the blower 65 to execute a drying process for drying the clothes in the rotatable tub 14. The drying process includes a temperature raising process for raising the temperature of the water tub 13 and the rotatable tub 14. The control unit 80 acquires a maximum humidity Hmax, which is the maximum value of the detected humidity by the humidity detection unit 73 during the heating period P1, during which the heating process is executed, and executes a heating suppression process to terminate the drying process or suppress the operation of the heating device 60 based on the amount or rate of decrease from the maximum humidity Hmax to the current detected humidity of the humidity detection unit becoming equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value during the period after the heating period.

[0070] According to this, by determining the dryness state based on the amount or rate of decrease from the maximum humidity Hmax, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the determination of the dryness state regardless of the environmental temperature, the weight of the clothes, etc. Also, by acquiring the maximum humidity Hmax in the temperature rise process, which is the stage at the beginning of the drying process where the humidity is the highest, it is possible to appropriately determine the dryness state based on the state of the clothes before dehumidification.

[0071] The heating device 60 includes heat exchangers 61 and 62, and a compressor 63 that compresses and sends a refrigerant to the heat exchangers 61 and 62. The control unit 80 acquires, as a maximum humidity Hmax, the maximum value of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 during a period after the drive frequency of the compressor 63 reaches a predetermined target frequency.

[0072] According to this, the maximum humidity Hmax is obtained after the compressor 63 is started and its operation becomes stable, so that it is possible to avoid the influence of fluctuations in humidity that may occur before the operation becomes stable.

[0073] The heating device 60 includes heat exchangers 61 and 62, and a compressor 63 that compresses and sends a refrigerant to the heat exchangers 61 and 62. The control unit 80 acquires, as a maximum humidity Hmax, the maximum value of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 during a period in which the drive frequency of the compressor 63 maintains a predetermined target frequency.

[0074] According to this, the maximum humidity Hmax is obtained during a period in which the operation of the compressor is stable, so that it is possible to avoid the influence of fluctuations in humidity that may occur before the operation becomes stable.

[0075] The control unit 80 acquires, as the maximum humidity Hmax, the maximum value of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 during the period after the drive rotation speed of the air blower 65 reaches the predetermined target rotation speed.

[0076] According to this, the maximum humidity Hmax is obtained after the blower 65 is started and its operation becomes stable, so that it is possible to avoid the influence of fluctuations in humidity that may occur before the operation becomes stable.

[0077] Heating device 60 includes heat exchangers 61 and 62, and a compressor 63 that compresses and sends a refrigerant to heat exchangers 61 and 62. Control unit 80 acquires, as maximum humidity Hmax, the maximum value of the humidity detected by humidity detection unit 73 during a period after the drive rotation speed of blower device 65 reaches a predetermined target rotation speed and the drive frequency of compressor 63 reaches a predetermined target frequency.

[0078] According to this, the maximum humidity Hmax is obtained after the blower 65 and the compressor 63 are started and their operation stabilizes, so that it is possible to avoid the influence of fluctuations in humidity that may occur before the operation stabilizes.

[0079] Washer / dryer 10 as a clothing treatment device includes outlet temperature detection unit 71 that detects the temperature of exhaust air from air outlet 131, and inlet temperature detection unit 72 that detects the temperature of air entering water tub 13 and spin tub 14 from air inlet 132. Control unit 80 ends the heating process when temperature difference ΔT between the temperatures detected by inlet temperature detection unit 72 and outlet temperature detection unit 71 becomes maximum.

[0080] According to this, the temperature of the air supplied to water tub 13 and rotating tub 14 rises rapidly due to the action of heating device 60, while the temperature of the exhaust air rises only gradually because the clothes are wet. Furthermore, since moisture evaporates from the clothes while the temperature of the exhaust air is rising, it is assumed that the maximum humidity ΔHmax will be observed before the temperature difference ΔT reaches its maximum. By ending the heating process when the temperature difference ΔT reaches its maximum and acquiring the maximum humidity ΔHmax during this heating process, erroneous detection of the maximum humidity ΔHmax can be suppressed.

[0081] Here, since there can be variation in humidity detection, there is a risk of false detection if it is determined that the maximum humidity has been observed just because the detected humidity has decreased once.

[0082] On the other hand, when the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 has been decreasing continuously for a predetermined period of time, the control unit 80 acquires the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 before the decrease as the maximum humidity Hmax.

[0083] According to this, if the humidity continues to decrease for two minutes, for example, the decreasing trend is certain, so it can be assumed that the maximum humidity was observed before the decrease, reducing the risk of false detection. This allows for more accurate determination of the dryness state, which in turn improves the dryness of the clothes when the drying operation is completed.

[0084] In another embodiment, if the temperature change from the humidity detected at a certain point in time is always on a decreasing trend during a predetermined period of time, the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 at the certain point in time may be acquired as the maximum humidity Hmax.

[0085] If the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 drops continuously for a predetermined period of time multiple times during the temperature rise period, the control unit 80 sets the largest value among the maximum humidities acquired during the temperature rise period as the maximum humidity Hmax.

[0086] The humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 may have two or more peaks. Therefore, when there are multiple peaks, the largest of the peaks is set as the maximum humidity Hmax, thereby preventing erroneous detection. This allows for a more accurate determination of the dryness state, and ultimately improves the dryness of the clothes when the drying operation is completed.

[0087] The control unit 80 is capable of executing a drying operation including a drying process and a washing and drying operation including a drying process and a washing and drying process, and executes a heating suppression process in both the drying process in the drying operation and the drying process in the washing and drying operation.

[0088] According to this, whether it is a drying operation or a washing and drying operation, the dryness state of the clothes can be determined and the drying process can be controlled by similar processing, so that the control by the control unit 80 does not become too complicated.

[0089] If the temperature increasing process cannot be completed even after a predetermined second period t2 has elapsed since the start of the temperature increasing process, the control unit 80 does not execute the heating suppression process based on the maximum humidity Hmax.

[0090] For example, if the end conditions for the heating stage or the stabilization stage are not met, it is assumed that some kind of false positive or abnormal operation has occurred. Therefore, by not determining the dryness state based on the maximum humidity Hmax or controlling the drying process, false positives and the resulting over-dry or semi-dry state of the clothes are suppressed.

[0091] The control unit 80 executes the temperature increasing process for at least a period from the start of the temperature increasing process until a predetermined third period t3 has elapsed.

[0092] This eliminates the effect of temporary fluctuations in temperature difference ΔT due to fluctuations in the temperature detected by inlet temperature detection unit 72 that may occur, for example, at the beginning of the heating process, and ensures that water tub 13, spin tub 14, and the clothes are warmed. In addition, the dryness of the clothes can be determined based on the maximum humidity Hmax during this period, preventing erroneous detection.

[0093] In this embodiment, the control unit 80 executes the heating suppression process based on the maximum value Hmax of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 during the temperature rise process, but this is not limited to this. For example, in other embodiments, the heating suppression process may be executed based on the average humidity detected when the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 during the temperature rise period becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined humidity, or the period during which the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 during the temperature rise period becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined humidity.

[0094] Second embodiment A second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 10. In this embodiment, the control unit 80 determines that the clothes treatment tubs 13, 14 have been heated to a predetermined level based on the temperature detected by the inlet temperature detection unit 72 being maintained for a predetermined period of time, and ends the heating process. In this case, since this means that the supply air temperature is stable even if the clothes are continuously heated by the heating device 60 with stable operation, it is considered that the temperatures of the water tub 13, the rotatable tub 14, and the clothes will not rise any further. In other words, it is considered that the temperatures of the water tub 13, the rotatable tub 14, and the clothes have reached the maximum temperature in the drying process.

[0095] In this specification, the detection temperature of the inlet temperature detection unit 72 is maintained means that the temperature does not fluctuate beyond a predetermined temperature change. The predetermined temperature change can be set within a range of about ±0.5°C to about 3°C. In this embodiment, the predetermined temperature range is set to about ±1°C.

[0096] The predetermined period can be set within a range of, for example, 2 to 5 minutes, and in this embodiment, the predetermined period is set to 2 minutes.

[0097] In the temperature increasing process of this embodiment, the control unit 80 executes the process shown in the flowchart of Fig. 10. Compared to the flowchart of the temperature increasing process of the first embodiment, the control unit 80 executes step S51 instead of step S26 and executes step S52 instead of step S29.

[0098] In step S51, the control unit 80 starts acquiring a temporal variation ΔT1 of the temperature detected by the inlet temperature detection unit 72. ΔT1 is a temperature difference between the previous detected temperature and the current detected temperature of the inlet temperature detection unit 72.

[0099] In step S52, control unit 80 determines whether water tub 13, spin tub 14, and clothes have warmed up to a predetermined degree. Specifically, control unit 80 determines whether the temperature detected by inlet temperature detection unit 72 has been maintained within a predetermined range for two minutes. If the temperature detected by inlet temperature detection unit 72 has not been maintained within the predetermined range for two minutes (No in step S52), control unit 80 proceeds to step S31. If the temperature detected by inlet temperature detection unit 72 has been maintained within the predetermined range for two minutes (Yes in step S52), control unit 80 proceeds to step S30.

[0100] The other processes are the same as those in the first embodiment. In this manner, the control unit 80 of this embodiment executes the temperature increasing process.

[0101] This embodiment also provides the same effects as the first embodiment.

[0102] The washer / dryer 10 as a clothing treatment device of this embodiment includes an inlet temperature detection unit 72 that detects the temperature of air entering the water tub 13 and the spin tub 14 as clothing treatment tubs from the air inlet 132. The control unit 80 ends the heating process when the temperature detected by the inlet temperature detection unit 72 does not fluctuate beyond a predetermined range for a predetermined period of time or more.

[0103] The fact that the supply air temperature does not fluctuate means that the temperature of the clothing treatment tubs 13, 14 will not rise any higher, and since the moisture evaporated from the clothing is exhausted from the air outlet 131, it is not expected that the humidity inside the clothing treatment tubs 13, 14 will rise any higher. In other words, there is a high possibility that the maximum humidity Hmax will be observed from the start of the heating process to the stage where the supply air temperature stops fluctuating. Therefore, by ending the heating process when the supply air temperature stops fluctuating and obtaining the maximum humidity Hmax during the heating period, the maximum humidity Hmax can be obtained appropriately.

[0104] In addition, in still another embodiment, for example, the control unit 80 may end the temperature increasing process when the temperature detected by the inlet temperature detection unit 72 reaches a predetermined temperature. This also achieves the same effect as above.

[0105] Third embodiment A third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 11. In this embodiment, the control unit 80 executes a heating suppression process based on the change in humidity over time detected by the humidity detection unit 73 or its inverse during the drying process. The change in humidity over time is the amount of change in humidity in a certain period of time (i.e., the rate of humidity change). The inverse of the change in humidity over time is the time required for a certain amount of change in humidity (i.e., the inverse of the rate of humidity change). As the clothes become drier, the change in humidity over time becomes smaller, and conversely, the period required for a certain amount of humidity change becomes longer.

[0106] In the present embodiment, similarly to the above-described embodiments, the control unit 80 executes the heating inhibition process in the period following the temperature rise period. For example, the control unit 80 executes the heating inhibition process in the air blowing process.

[0107] After a predetermined first condition is met, the control unit 80 can execute the heating suppression process based on a time change in the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 or the inverse thereof. For example, the predetermined first condition may be the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73. In this embodiment, the control unit 80 executes the heating suppression process based on a time change in the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 or the inverse thereof during a period after the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 reaches a preset humidity H0.

[0108] In other embodiments, the specified first condition may be the observation of a specified decrease in humidity from the maximum humidity Hmax during the heating process, or the passage of a specified period of time from the start of the drying process or the start of the dehumidification process.

[0109] In this embodiment, the control unit 80 executes the heat suppression process based on the time-dependent change of the inverse of the time change of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73. Specifically, the time taken for each same amount of decrease in humidity is compared, and the heat suppression process is executed when the time taken for the humidity decrease is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.

[0110] The control unit 80 acquires a required period Δtx over time, which is a period required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by a predetermined first change amount ΔH1 after the first condition is achieved. The storage unit 81 stores a predetermined threshold value q1. When the required period Δtx becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value q1, the control unit 80 executes a heating suppression process. For example, FIG. 11 shows periods Δt1, Δt2, Δt3, and Δt4 required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by the first change amount ΔH1 after the first condition is achieved, that is, after the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 becomes H0. In the example shown in FIG. 11, Δt1, Δt2, and Δt3 are less than the threshold value q1. Since Δt4 becomes equal to or greater than the threshold value q1, the control unit 80 executes a heating suppression process and stops driving the compressor 63.

[0111] The washer / dryer 10 as a clothing processing device of the present embodiment described above includes the water tub 13 and the rotatable tub 14 as clothing processing tubs, the circulating air duct 50 as an air duct, the blower 65, the heater 60, the humidity detector 73, and the controller 80. The water tub 13 has an air outlet 131 and an air inlet 132. The circulating air duct 50 is connected to the air inlet 132. The blower 65 blows air through the circulating air duct 50 to the water tub 13 and the rotatable tub 14. The heater 60 heats the air supplied to the water tub 13 and the rotatable tub 14. The humidity detector 73 detects the humidity of the air discharged from the air outlet 131. The controller 80 controls the operation of the blower 65 and the heater 60 to execute a drying process for drying the clothes in the rotatable tub. During the drying process, the control unit 80 executes a heating suppression process to terminate the drying process or suppress the operation of the heating device 60 and / or the blower device 65 based on the time change in humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 or the inverse of the time change.

[0112] According to this, when the amount of change in humidity over time becomes small or when the reciprocal of the amount of change in humidity over time becomes large, it can be estimated that the moisture evaporating from the clothes is disappearing and the clothes are close to being dry, regardless of the absolute value of the humidity detected by humidity detection unit 73. Therefore, by ending the drying process or suppressing the heating operation for the clothes based on these changes over time, it is possible to prevent the clothes from becoming over-dry or half-dry, regardless of the environmental temperature, weight of the clothes, etc.

[0113] The control unit 80 executes a heating suppression process based on the change in humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 over time or the inverse thereof during the drying process and during the period after the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 reaches a preset humidity.

[0114] According to this, by acquiring the time change of the detected humidity or the reciprocal of the time change of the detected humidity at the stage where the clothes have been dried to a certain extent, the dryness of the clothes can be ensured. Furthermore, compared to the case where the same calculation is performed in all steps, the excessive burden on the control unit 80 can be suppressed.

[0115] During the drying process, the control unit 80 acquires a required period Δtx, which is the period required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by a predetermined first change amount ΔH1, as the inverse of the change in the detected humidity over time. The control unit 80 executes the heating suppression process when the required period Δtx becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value q1.

[0116] According to this, when the required time Δtx required for the humidity to decrease by the same first change amount ΔH1 becomes longer, it can be estimated that the moisture evaporating from the clothes is running out and the clothes are close to being dry. Therefore, by determining the dryness based on the change in the required time Δtx, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of over-dryness or semi-dryness.

[0117] (Fourth embodiment) A fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 12. In this embodiment, the control unit 80 executes the heating inhibition process based on the time-dependent change in the inverse of the time change in humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73. Specifically, the period taken for each same amount of decrease in humidity is compared with a reference period, and the heating inhibition process is executed when the ratio of the period taken for the humidity decrease to the reference period is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.

[0118] The control unit 80 acquires a reference period Δt1, which is a period required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by a predetermined first amount of change ΔH1 after the first condition is achieved. The control unit 80 stores the acquired reference period Δt1 in the memory unit 81. The memory unit 81 also stores a predetermined threshold value q2. Furthermore, the control unit 80 acquires a required period Δtx over time, which is a period required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by the predetermined first amount of change ΔH1. The control unit 80 executes a heating suppression process when the ratio of the required period Δtx to the reference period Δt1 becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value q2.

[0119] For example, Fig. 12 shows periods Δt1, Δt2, Δt3, and Δt4 required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by the first change amount ΔH1 after the first condition is achieved, that is, after the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 becomes H0. In the example shown in Fig. 12, the ratio of Δt2 or Δt3 to Δt1 is less than threshold value q2. Since the ratio of Δt4 to Δt1 is equal to or greater than threshold value q2, the control unit 80 executes a heating suppression process and stops driving the compressor 63.

[0120] This embodiment also provides the same effects as the above embodiment.

[0121] According to this embodiment, if the period required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by a predetermined first change amount ΔH1 from the set humidity H0 is defined as a reference period Δt1, the control unit 80 executes a heating suppression process when the ratio of the required period Δtx to the reference period Δt1 becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value q2.

[0122] The greater the ratio of the period required for the humidity to decrease by the predetermined humidity change amount ΔH1 to the reference period, the drier the clothes are estimated to be. Therefore, by controlling the drying based on such a ratio, the dryness state can be determined without depending on the environmental temperature, the weight of the clothes, the fabric type of the clothes, etc., and the occurrence of over-drying or half-drying can be suppressed.

[0123] Fifth embodiment A fifth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 13. In this embodiment, the control unit 80 executes the heating inhibition process based on the time-dependent change in the reciprocal of the time change in humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73. Specifically, the period required for the same amount of humidity reduction is compared with the period required for the same amount of humidity reduction the previous time, and the heating inhibition process is executed when the ratio is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.

[0124] The control unit 80 acquires a reference period Δt1, which is a period required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by a predetermined first amount of change ΔH1 after the first condition is achieved. The memory unit 81 stores a predetermined threshold value q3. The control unit 80 acquires a required period Δtx over time, which is a period required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by a predetermined first amount of change ΔH1. The memory unit 81 stores the required period Δtx. The control unit 80 executes a heating suppression process when a ratio of the nth required period Δtn to the n-1th required period Δt(n-1) becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value q3.

[0125] 13 shows periods Δt1, Δt2, Δt3, and Δt4 required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by the first change amount ΔH1 after the first condition is achieved, that is, after the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 becomes H0. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the ratio of Δt2 to Δt1 or the ratio of Δt3 to Δt2 is less than a threshold value q3. Since the ratio of Δt4 to Δt3 is equal to or greater than the threshold value q3, the control unit 80 executes a heating suppression process and stops driving the compressor 63.

[0126] This embodiment also provides the same effects as the above embodiment.

[0127] According to this embodiment, the control unit 80 executes the heating suppression process when the ratio of the n-th required period Δtn to the n-1-th required period Δt(n-1) becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold q3.

[0128] According to this, by comparing the previous required period Δt(n-1) with the current required period Δtn for the same humidity drop, it is possible to observe that the slope of the humidity drop has become gentler. This also makes it possible to determine that the amount of moisture evaporating from the clothes is decreasing and drying is progressing, so that the occurrence of over-drying or semi-drying can be suppressed regardless of the environmental temperature, weight of the clothes, etc.

[0129] Sixth embodiment A sixth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 14. In this embodiment, the control unit 80 executes the heat suppression process based on the time-dependent change of the inverse of the time change of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73. Specifically, the period taken for the humidity to drop from the set humidity to a predetermined value is set as a reference period, and the period taken for each humidity drop less than the humidity drop is compared with the reference period, and the heat suppression process is executed when the period taken for the humidity drop becomes equal to or longer than the reference period.

[0130] The control unit 80 acquires a reference period Δs1, which is the period required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by a predetermined first change amount ΔH1 after the first condition is achieved. The storage unit 81 stores the reference period Δt11. The control unit 80 acquires a required period Δsx over time, which is the period required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by a second change amount ΔH2 that is smaller than the first change amount ΔH1. When the required period Δsx becomes equal to or greater than the reference period Δs1, the control unit 80 executes a heating suppression process.

[0131] For example, Fig. 14 shows a reference period Δs1 required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by a first change amount ΔH1 after the first condition is met, that is, after the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 becomes H0, and required periods Δs2, Δs3, and Δs4 required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by a second change amount ΔH2 smaller than the first change amount. In the example shown in Fig. 14, Δs2 or Δs3 is less than the reference period Δs1. Since Δs4 is equal to or greater than the reference period Δs1, the control unit 80 executes a heating suppression process and stops driving the compressor 63.

[0132] This embodiment also provides the same effects as the above embodiment.

[0133] According to this embodiment, the period required for the humidity to drop from the set humidity H0 by a predetermined first change amount ΔH1 is defined as the reference period Δs1, and the period required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to drop by a predetermined second change amount ΔH2 that is smaller than the predetermined first change amount ΔH1 is defined as the second required period Δsx, and the control unit 80 executes a heating suppression process when the second required period Δsx becomes equal to or greater than the reference period Δs1.

[0134] By observing that the time required for a smaller humidity change than the humidity change during the reference period Δs1 is longer, it is possible to detect that the rate of humidity decrease is becoming gentler. This also makes it possible to determine that less moisture is evaporating from the clothes and that drying is progressing, thereby making it possible to prevent over-drying or semi-drying regardless of the environmental temperature, weight of the clothes, etc.

[0135] Seventh embodiment A third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 15. In this embodiment, the control unit 80 executes the heat suppression process based on the change over time in the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73. Specifically, the control unit 80 executes the heat suppression process when the change over time in the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 falls below a predetermined threshold. For example, the amount of decrease in the detected humidity is compared for each identical period, and the heat suppression process is executed based on the ratio of the amount of decrease in humidity at a certain point in time to the amount of decrease in humidity at a reference time falling below a predetermined threshold.

[0136] The control unit 80 acquires a required period Δt10, which is a period required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by a predetermined first change amount ΔH10 after the first condition is achieved. The storage unit 81 stores the required period Δt10. The storage unit 81 also stores a predetermined threshold value q4. The control unit 80 acquires a decrease amount ΔHx of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 for each required period Δt10. The control unit 80 executes the heating suppression process when the ratio of the decrease amount ΔHx of the detected humidity to the first change amount ΔH10 becomes equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value q4. For example, FIG. 15 shows the decrease amounts ΔH2, ΔH3, and ΔH4 of the detected humidity acquired for each period Δt10 required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by the first change amount ΔH10 after the first condition is achieved, that is, after the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 becomes H0. 15, the ratio of ΔH2 and ΔH3 to the first change amount ΔH10 is greater than the threshold q4. Since the ratio of ΔH4 to the first change amount ΔH10 is equal to or smaller than the threshold q4, the control unit 80 executes the heating suppression process and stops driving the compressor 63.

[0137] This embodiment also provides the same effects as the above-described embodiments.

[0138] According to this embodiment, the control unit 80 acquires a humidity decrease ΔHx, which is an amount of decrease in the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 during a predetermined period Δt10 during the drying process. The control unit 80 executes a heating suppression process when the rate of change of the humidity decrease (ΔHx / ΔH10) becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value q4.

[0139] This also allows us to estimate that the amount of moisture evaporating from the clothes is decreasing and the clothes are becoming drier, as the amount of humidity that decreases over a given period of time becomes smaller. Therefore, by determining the dryness based on the change in the humidity decrease, it is possible to prevent the clothes from becoming overly dry or half-dried, regardless of the environmental temperature, weight of the clothes, etc.

[0140] According to this embodiment, the control unit 80 acquires the detected humidity from the humidity detection unit 73 every time a predetermined first period Δt10 has elapsed since the detected humidity was the set humidity H0. The amount of decrease in the detected humidity from the set humidity H0 after the predetermined first period Δt10 has elapsed since the detected humidity was the set humidity H0 is set as a reference decrease amount ΔH10, and the control unit 80 executes the heating suppression process when the ratio of the decrease amount ΔHx of the detected humidity for each first period Δt10 to the reference decrease amount ΔH10 becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value q4.

[0141] When the ratio of the current humidity change to the humidity change at the time when the reference humidity was reached becomes smaller, it can be estimated that the moisture evaporating from the clothes is disappearing and the clothes are becoming dry. Therefore, by determining the dryness based on the change in the decreasing humidity, it is possible to prevent the clothes from becoming over-dry or half-dry regardless of the environmental temperature, weight of the clothes, etc.

[0142] Eighth embodiment An eighth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 16. In this embodiment, the control unit 80 executes a heat suppression process based on a change over time in the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73. Specifically, the amount of decrease in the detected humidity is compared for each identical period, and the heat suppression process is executed when the ratio of the amount of decrease in humidity at a certain point in time to the amount of decrease in humidity the previous time becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.

[0143] The control unit 80 acquires a required period Δt10, which is a period required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by a predetermined first change amount ΔH10 after the first condition is achieved. The storage unit 81 stores the required period Δt10. The storage unit 81 also stores a predetermined threshold value q5. The control unit 80 acquires a decrease amount ΔHx of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 for each required period Δt10. The control unit 80 executes a heating suppression process when the ratio of the decrease amount ΔHn of the n-th detected humidity to the change amount ΔH(n-1) of the (n-1)-th detected humidity becomes equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value q5. For example, FIG. 16 shows the decrease amounts ΔH2, ΔH3, and ΔH4 of the detected humidity acquired for each period Δt10 required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by the first change amount ΔH10 after the first condition is achieved, that is, after the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 becomes H0. 16, the ratio of ΔH2 to ΔH10 or the ratio of ΔH3 to ΔH2 is greater than the threshold q5. Since the ratio of ΔH4 to ΔH3 is equal to or smaller than the threshold q5, the control unit 80 executes the heating suppression process and stops driving the compressor 63.

[0144] This embodiment also provides the same effects as the above-described embodiments.

[0145] According to this embodiment, the control unit 80 acquires the detected humidity from the humidity detection unit 73 every time a predetermined first period Δt10 has elapsed since the detected humidity was the set humidity H0. The control unit 80 executes the heating suppression process when the ratio of the decrease in the detected humidity after the nth first period Δt10 has elapsed to the decrease in the detected humidity after the (n-1)th first period Δt10 has elapsed becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold value q5.

[0146] This also reduces the slope of the graph of humidity detected by humidity detection unit 73, and it is estimated that the moisture evaporating from the clothes is disappearing and the clothes are becoming drier. Therefore, by determining the dryness based on the change in the decreasing humidity, it is possible to prevent the clothes from becoming over-dry or half-dry regardless of the environmental temperature, weight of the clothes, etc.

[0147] Ninth embodiment A ninth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 17. In this embodiment, the control unit 80 executes the heating inhibition process based on the change over time in the detected humidity of the humidity detection unit 73. Specifically, the control unit 80 compares the amount of decrease in the detected humidity observed during a certain period from a reference time when the set humidity was observed with the amount of decrease in the detected humidity observed during a period longer than the certain period, and executes the heating inhibition process when the amount of decrease in humidity at a certain point in time becomes equal to or less than the amount of decrease in humidity at the reference time.

[0148] The control unit 80 acquires a required period Δt10, which is a period required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by a predetermined first change amount ΔH10 after the first condition is achieved. The storage unit 81 stores the required period Δt10. The storage unit 81 also stores a predetermined threshold value q5. The control unit 80 acquires a decrease amount ΔHx of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 for each required period Δt10. The control unit 80 executes the heating suppression process when the ratio of the decrease amount ΔHn of the n-th detected humidity to the change amount ΔH(n-1) of the (n-1)-th detected humidity becomes equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value q5. For example, FIG. 17 shows the decrease amounts ΔH2, ΔH3, and ΔH4 of the detected humidity acquired for each period Δt20 longer than the period Δt10 required for the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 to decrease by the first change amount ΔH10 after the first condition is achieved, that is, after the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit 73 becomes H0. 17, ΔH2 or ΔH3 is larger than the first amount of change ΔH10. Since ΔH4 is equal to or smaller than the first amount of change ΔH10, the control unit 80 executes the heating suppression process and stops driving the compressor 63.

[0149] This embodiment also provides the same effects as the above-described embodiments.

[0150] According to this embodiment, the control unit 80 acquires the detected humidity of the humidity detection unit 73 at a time point after a predetermined first period Δt10 has elapsed since the detected humidity was the set humidity, and at each time point after the first period Δt10 has elapsed for each predetermined second period Δt20 longer than the first period Δt10. The amount of decrease in the detected humidity from the set humidity H0 until the predetermined first period Δt10 has elapsed is set as a reference decrease amount ΔH10, and the control unit 80 executes the heating suppression process when the second decrease amount ΔHx, which is the detected humidity of the humidity detection unit 73 measured every second period Δt20, becomes equal to or less than the reference decrease amount ΔH10.

[0151] If the humidity drops by less than the standard drop amount ΔH10 over a period Δt20 that is longer than the period Δt10 required for the detected humidity to drop by the standard drop amount ΔH10, the slope of the detected humidity graph will become smaller, and it can be inferred that the moisture evaporating from the clothes is disappearing and the clothes are drying. Therefore, by determining the dryness based on the change in the decreasing humidity, it is possible to prevent the clothes from becoming over-dry or half-dry, regardless of the environmental temperature, weight of the clothes, etc.

[0152] The above-described embodiments can be combined with each other, or only the characteristic parts of two or more embodiments can be extracted and combined.

[0153] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0154] 10... washer-dryer (clothing treatment device), 13... water tub (clothing treatment tub), 131... air outlet, 132... air inlet, 14... rotating tub (clothing treatment tub), 50... circulating air duct (air duct), 60... heating device, 61... evaporator (heat exchanger), 62... condenser (heat exchanger), 63... compressor, 65... blower, 71... inlet temperature detector, 72... outlet temperature detector, 73... humidity detector, 80... control unit

Claims

1. a clothes treatment tub having an air inlet and an air outlet; an air passage connected to the air inlet; a blower that blows the air through the air passage to the laundry treatment tub; A heating device for heating the air; a humidity detection unit that detects the humidity of the air discharged from the air outlet; a control unit that controls the operation of the heating device and the air blowing device to execute a drying process for drying the clothes in the clothes treating tub, The drying process includes a temperature increasing process of increasing the temperature of the laundry treatment tub, The control unit acquires a maximum humidity, which is a maximum value of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit during a temperature rise period during which the temperature rise process is performed, and executes a heat suppression process to terminate the drying process or suppress the operation of the heating device based on a decrease or rate of decrease from the maximum humidity to the current humidity detected by the humidity detection unit after the temperature rise period becoming equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. Clothes treatment device.

2. The heating device includes a heat exchanger and a compressor that compresses and sends a refrigerant to the heat exchanger. the control unit acquires, as the maximum humidity, a maximum value of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit during a period after the drive frequency of the compressor reaches a predetermined target frequency. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1.

3. The heating device includes a heat exchanger and a compressor that compresses and sends a refrigerant to the heat exchanger. the control unit acquires, as the maximum humidity, a maximum value of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit during a period in which the drive frequency of the compressor is maintained at a predetermined target frequency. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1.

4. the control unit acquires, as the maximum humidity, a maximum value of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit during a period after a drive rotation speed of the air blower has reached a predetermined target rotation speed; The clothing treatment device according to claim 1.

5. The heating device includes a heat exchanger and a compressor that compresses and sends a refrigerant to the heat exchanger. the control unit acquires, as the maximum humidity, a maximum value of the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit during a period after the driving rotation speed of the air blower reaches a predetermined target rotation speed and the driving frequency of the compressor reaches a predetermined target frequency. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1.

6. an outlet temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of exhaust gas from the air outlet; an inlet temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of air entering the clothing treatment tub from the air inlet; the control unit terminates the heating process when a temperature difference between the inlet temperature detection unit and the outlet temperature detection unit becomes maximum. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1.

7. an inlet temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of air entering the laundry treatment tub through the air inlet; The control unit terminates the temperature increasing process when a state in which the temperature detected by the inlet temperature detection unit does not fluctuate beyond a predetermined range continues for a predetermined period of time or more. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1.

8. When the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit has decreased continuously for a predetermined period of time, the control unit acquires the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit before the decrease as the maximum humidity. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1.

9. When the humidity detected by the humidity detection unit is decreased continuously for a predetermined period of time multiple times during the temperature rise period, the control unit sets the maximum humidity as the largest value among the maximum humidities obtained during the temperature rise period. The clothing treatment device according to claim 8.

10. The control unit is capable of executing a drying operation including the drying process and a washing and drying operation including the drying process and a washing and drying process, and executes the heating suppression process in both the drying process in the drying operation and the drying process in the washing and drying operation. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1.

11. the control unit does not execute the heating suppression process based on the maximum humidity when the heating process cannot be completed even after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the start of the heating process. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1.

12. The control unit executes the heating process for at least a predetermined period from the start of the heating process. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1.

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