Clothes treatment equipment

Abstract

To provide a clothing treatment device capable of suppressing a user from burning himself / herself at the time of hot water drainage, while suppressing clothing in a storage tub being damaged by coming into contact with the hot water.SOLUTION: A clothing treatment device includes: a tub provided so as to store washing water; a storage tub included in the tub and for storing an object to be treated; a water supply part for supplying water to the tub; a drainage part for draining water from the tub; a heating part for generating hot water by heating the water in the tub; and a control part for controlling the water supply part, the drainage part and the heating part. The control part executes a cooling drainage operation for simultaneously or alternately executing a water supply operation by the water supply part and a drainage operation by the drainage part, at a water level lower than a lower end part of the storage tub, when draining the hot water.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a clothing treatment device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a drum-type washing machine that uses hot water to wash clothes.

[0003] The drum-type washing machine in Patent Document 1 includes a rotating drum formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, a water tub that rotatably contains the rotating drum, a water supply means for supplying water into the water tub, a drainage means for draining water from the water tub, a hot water heater disposed at the bottom of the water tub for heating wash water, and a control means for controlling the water supply means, drainage means, hot water heater, etc., to control each process such as washing, rinsing, and spin-drying. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-83247 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present disclosure provides: In the steam supply operation to supply steam, To provide a clothing treatment device capable of preventing damage to clothing in a storage tub due to contact with hot water and preventing a user from getting burned when hot water is discharged. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The clothing treatment device of the present disclosure includes a tub capable of storing wash water, a storage tank contained in the tub and storing items to be treated, a water supply unit that supplies water to the tub, a drain unit that drains water from the tub, and a heating unit that heats the water in the tub to generate hot water. a water level detection unit that detects the water level in the tub; Controls water supply, drainage and heating sections and execute steam supply operation and a control unit for controlling the The steam supply operation includes a water supply step of supplying water into the tub by the water supply unit, and a steam step of heating the water in the tub by the heating unit to generate steam, The control unit In steam supply operation, When draining hot water , salary Cooling drainage operation is performed by simultaneously or alternately supplying water by the water section and draining water by the drain section. The water level during the water supply process, steam process, and cooling and draining operation is lower than the bottom end of the storage tank. . [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The clothing treatment device of the present disclosure provides a clothing treatment device that can prevent damage to clothing in a storage tub due to contact with hot water, while also preventing the user from getting burned when hot water is drained. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] Schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a washing / drying machine according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic front cross-sectional view of a washing / drying machine according to a first embodiment; [Figure 3] Flowchart of steam supply operation of the washer / dryer according to the first embodiment [Figure 4] Timing chart of cooling and draining operation of the washer / dryer in the first embodiment [Figure 5] Timing chart of cooling and draining operation of a washer / dryer in accordance with the second embodiment DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary detailed description may be omitted. For example, detailed description of well-known matters or redundant description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following description and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0010] The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims. stomach.

[0011] 1. First Embodiment Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0012] [1-1.Configuration] [1-1-1. Overall configuration of a washer-dryer] (Washer / dryer 100) As shown in FIG. 1, the washer / dryer 100 includes a housing 110, a tub unit 200, a water supply unit 300 (shown in FIG. 2), a drainage unit 400, and a drying unit 500.

[0013] (Housing 110) The housing 110 includes a housing front wall 111, a housing rear wall 112, housing left and right side walls 113 (shown in FIG. 2), a housing top wall 114, and a housing bottom wall 115.

[0014] The housing front wall 111 is provided on the front side of the housing 110. The housing rear wall 112 is provided on the back side of the housing 110. The housing left and right side walls 113 (FIG. 2) are provided on the left and right sides of the housing 110 to connect the housing front wall 111 and the housing rear wall 112. The housing top wall 114 is provided at the top of the housing 110, extending in a substantially horizontal direction to connect the housing front wall 111, the housing rear wall 112, and the housing left and right side walls 113. The housing bottom wall 115 is provided at the bottom of the housing 110, extending in a substantially horizontal direction to connect the housing front wall 111, the housing rear wall 112, and the housing left and right side walls 113.

[0015] Housing front wall 111 is provided with an inlet 119 for introducing materials to be treated into drum 220 (described later) of tank unit 200, and a door 120 that opens and closes and covers inlet 119. Door 120 rotates between a closed position that closes inlet 119 and an open position that opens inlet 119.

[0016] An operation display unit 130 is provided on the upper part of the front wall 111 of the housing. A user inputs information such as an operation program to be operated by the washer-dryer 100 through the operation display unit 130.

[0017] (Tank unit 200) 1, tank unit 200 is provided in housing 110. Tank unit 200 includes a tub 210 capable of storing water, a drum 220 capable of accommodating material to be treated, a rotation drive unit 230, and a water level detection unit 250.

[0018] The tub 210 and the drum 220 are formed in a generally cylindrical shape with a bottom and centered on a central axis X (FIG. 1). The central axis X is provided so as to incline downward from the front side to the rear side of the washer / dryer 100. The central axis X may also be provided so as to extend horizontally.

[0019] Tub 210 is resiliently supported within housing 110. Tub 210 includes a steam generating unit 215 that heats wash water to generate steam. Steam generating unit 215 is provided below tub 210 and includes a water storage unit 216 and a hot water heater 217. Water storage unit 216 is formed one step lower than tub 210 and is capable of storing water. Hot water heater 217 generates heat when powered on, and heats the water stored in water storage unit 216.

[0020] The steam generating section 215 is preferably provided at a position lower than the lower end of the drum 220. This prevents the material to be treated in the drum 220 from being submerged in water in the water storage section 216. Since the steam generated in the steam generating section 215 generates an ascending air current while suppressing the above-mentioned phenomenon, the steam can be efficiently supplied into the drum 220.

[0021] Steam generating section 215 is provided with a water temperature sensor 218 that detects the temperature of water stored in water storage section 216. In this embodiment, water temperature sensor 218 is provided near the base of hot water heater 217.

[0022] Drum 220 is contained within tub 210 and is rotatable about central axis X. A drum opening 221 communicating with input port 119 is provided at the front of drum 220, and a user inputs an object to be treated into drum 220 through input port 119 and drum opening 221. Here, the object to be treated is, for example, clothing, hats, shoes, toys, etc.

[0023] The drum 220 includes a drum bottom wall 222 facing the drum opening 221, and a drum peripheral wall 223 that forms the periphery of the drum 220. A rotating shaft 224 connected to a pulley 232 (described later) is provided on the drum bottom wall 222. The rotating shaft 224 extends along the central axis X from the drum bottom wall 222 toward the rear wall 112 of the housing. The rotating shaft 224 penetrates the bottom wall of the tub 210 and appears between the tub 210 and the rear wall 112 of the housing. A plurality of water-passing holes 225 that allow water to pass between the tub 210 and the drum 220 are formed on the drum peripheral wall 223. A baffle 226 is provided on the inner wall of the drum peripheral wall 223 to lift and drop the material to be treated inside the drum 220 when the drum 220 rotates.

[0024] The rotation drive unit 230 includes a motor 231 (FIG. 2) provided below the tub 210, a pulley 232, and a belt 233. The pulley 232 is connected to the rotating shaft 224. The belt 233 transmits the power of the motor 231 to the pulley 232. The motor 231 rotates the drum 220 via the belt 233, the pulley 232, and the rotating shaft 224.

[0025] The water level detection unit 250 is provided outside the tub 210. The water level detection unit 250 includes an air trap 251, an air pipe 252, and a water level sensor 253. The air trap 251 is in communication with the inside of the tub 210, and is provided by branching off from near the connection between the tub 210 and a drainage path 410 (described below). The air trap 251 may be provided on the side wall behind the bottom of the tub 210. One end of the air pipe 252 is connected to the air trap 251, and the other end is connected to the water level sensor 253.

[0026] The water level sensor 253 is configured by a MEMS pressure sensor, and detects the water level in the tub 210 by detecting the pressure in the air trap 251 .

[0027] (Water Supply Unit 300) As shown in FIG. 2, water supply unit 300 includes a water inlet 301, a water supply pipe 302, a water supply valve 303, and a detergent storage compartment 310. Water inlet 301 introduces water into housing 110 from the outside through a water supply hose (not shown). Water supply pipe 302 connects water inlet 301 to tub unit 200. In this embodiment, water supply pipe 302 is connected to the side of tub 210. Water supply valve 303 is provided so as to be able to open and close water supply pipe 302. When water supply valve 303 is opened, water that has flowed into housing 110 from water inlet 301 flows through water supply pipe 302 and into tub 210. Detergent storage compartment 310 is provided midway along water supply pipe 302 and stores detergent.

[0028] (Drainage unit 400) As shown in FIG. 1, the drainage unit 400 includes a drainage path 410 and a circulation path 420. include.

[0029] The drain path 410 is a path through which water discharged from the tub 210 passes. A drain hose (not shown) provided outside the housing 110 is connected to the downstream end of the drain path 410.

[0030] Discharge path 410 is provided with, from the upstream side, a discharge filter 415 and a discharge valve 416. Discharge filter 415 is provided midway along discharge path 410, and captures foreign matter such as lint contained in the water flowing through discharge path 410.

[0031] The drain filter 415 is provided so as to be attachable and detachable from the drain path 410 through the front wall 111 of the housing. A user can remove the drain filter 415 from the drain path 410 by rotating the drain filter 415 by a first angle A1 (for example, 240 degrees) from the attached state of the drain filter 415. A drain filter attachment / detachment sensor 415a that detects attachment and detachment of the drain filter 415 is provided inside the housing 110. The drain filter attachment / detachment sensor 415a detects that the user is attempting to remove the drain filter 415 when the drain filter is rotated by a second angle A2 (for example, 25 degrees) that is smaller than the first angle A1 from the attached state.

[0032] Drain valve 416 is provided so as to be able to open and close drain path 410. When drain valve 416 is in an open state, water in tub 210 is discharged to the outside of housing 110 through drain path 410.

[0033] The drainage unit 400 also has an overflow pipe 417. The overflow pipe 417 is provided as a measure to prevent overflow inside the tub 210, and has an upstream end connected to the tub 210 and a downstream end connected to the drainage path 410 downstream of the drainage valve 416.

[0034] A water-sealed trap 418 is provided on the downstream side of the connection point of the drainage path 410 with the overflow pipe 417 to prevent the backflow of unpleasant odors and the like from outside the housing 110.

[0035] The circulation path 420 branches off from the drain path 410 between the drain filter 415 and the drain valve 416, and is a path that returns water to the inside of the tub 210. The circulation path 420 is provided with a circulation pump 425. When the circulation pump 425 is driven, the water in the tub 210 passes through the drain path 410 and the circulation path 420 and returns to the inside of the tub 210. Note that the downstream end of the circulation path 420 may be connected to the top of the tub 210.

[0036] (Drying unit 500) The drying unit 500 is provided at the upper interior portion of the housing 110. The drying unit 500 includes a drying duct 510, an air intake pipe 520, and an air supply pipe 530. The air intake pipe 520 is connected to the tub 210 via an air intake port 521, and is a path through which air flows from the tub 210 into the drying duct 510. The air supply pipe 530 is connected to the tub 210 via an air supply port 531, and is a path through which air flows from the drying duct 510 to the tub 210.

[0037] The drying duct 510 is provided with a drying filter 511, a heat exchanger 512, and a blower fan 513. The drying filter 511 removes foreign matter such as lint and threads from the air flowing into the drying duct 510. The heat exchanger 512 is configured with a heat pump, and exchanges heat with the air that has passed through the drying filter 511. The blower fan 513 is provided in the drying duct 510 as a blowing means. When the blower fan 513 rotates, a negative pressure environment is generated in the intake pipe 520, and a positive pressure environment is generated in the air supply pipe 530. This forms a circulating air path in which air flows through the tub 210, the intake pipe 520, the drying duct 510, the air supply pipe 530, and the tub 210 in this order. It is desirable that the intake port 521 be provided above the tub 210, where steam generated in the steam generating section 215 is likely to accumulate. In addition, the blower fan 513 is provided in the drying duct 510 as a blowing means. When the blower fan 513 rotates, a negative pressure environment is generated in the intake pipe 520, and a positive pressure environment is generated in the air supply pipe 530. This forms a circulating air path in which air flows through the tub 210, the intake pipe 520, the drying duct 510, the air supply pipe 530, and the tub 210 in this order. It is desirable that the intake port 521 be provided above the tub 210, where steam generated in the steam generating section 215 is likely to accumulate. The steam port 531 is preferably provided at the rear of the drum bottom wall 222 so that the steam can be efficiently applied to the object to be treated.

[0038] The drying unit 500 is provided with a first drying temperature sensor 541 that detects the temperature of the air flowing in from the air intake 521, and a second drying temperature sensor 542 that detects the temperature of the air heated by the heat exchanger 512.

[0039] (Control unit) A control unit (not shown) is provided within housing 110. The control unit controls hot water heater 217, motor 231, water supply valve 303, drain valve 416, heat exchanger 512, blower fan 513, etc. to execute an operating course instructed by a user via operation display unit 130. During execution of the operating course, the control unit acquires information such as the water temperature in tub 210 detected by water temperature sensor 218, the pressure in tub 210 detected by water level sensor 253, the temperature in drying unit 500 detected by first drying temperature sensor 541 and second drying temperature sensor 542, and information related to the attachment and detachment of the drain filter detected by drain filter attachment and detachment sensor 415a. Furthermore, the control unit can perform laundry amount sensing, which detects the weight of the workpieces contained in drum 220 from the value of the current flowing through motor 231 when drum 220 is rotated.

[0040] In this embodiment, the courses that can be executed by the washer-dryer 100 include a wash course, a dry course, a wash-dry course that performs all processes from washing to drying, a refresh course that treats the objects with steam, and a tub wash course that cleans the tub 210 without putting the objects into the drum 220. In some of the above courses, the control unit executes a steam supply operation that generates steam in the steam generation unit 215. In the steam supply operation, steam is applied to the objects to be treated, thereby removing wrinkles from the clothes, sterilizing them, deodorizing them, and removing or deactivating allergens.

[0041] [1-2. Operation] The operation and function of the washer / dryer 100 configured as above will be described below.

[0042] [1-2-1. Steam supply operation] The operation of the steam supply operation of the washer-dryer 100 will be described using Figure 3. The steam supply operation sequentially executes a water supply process in which water is supplied to the tub 210, a steam process in which steam is generated in the steam generating section 215 and applied to the objects to be treated, and a drying process in which the drying unit 500 is controlled to dry the inside of the tub 210 and the objects to be treated. The time for each process of the steam supply operation may be determined based on the amount of objects to be treated in the drum 220, the temperature of water in the tub 210, etc.

[0043] 2, the following description will be given by defining the water level corresponding to the bottom end of drum 220 as first water level W1, the water level below the bottom end of drum 220 at which water is stored in water storage section 216 as second water level W2, and the water level at which hot water heater 217 may be exposed as third water level W3. Second water level W2 is set, for example, to a water level approximately 1 cm below first water level W1 corresponding to the bottom end of drum 220. Third water level W3 is set, for example, to a water level approximately 1 cm above the top surface of hot water heater 217.

[0044] When the steam supply operation starts, the water supply process starts. In the water supply process, the control unit first executes an initial drain (S101). If water is present in the tub 210 during the initial drainage in S101, the control unit opens the drain valve 416 to drain the water from the tub 210. When the drainage is complete, the control unit closes the drain valve 416, then opens the water supply valve 303, and allows water from the tub 210 to flow in from the outside. A water supply operation is performed to supply water into tub 210 (S103). In the water supply step of the steam supply operation, the maximum water level supplied into tub 210 is set to a second water level W2 that is lower than the bottom surface of drum 220 so as not to directly wet the object to be treated inside drum 220. When the water level W in tub 210 reaches second water level W2 (YES in S105), the control unit closes water supply valve 303 and ends the water supply step. Note that in this embodiment, the water level W in tub 210 reaching second water level W2 means that the pressure p in tub 210 detected by water level sensor 253 becomes equal to or higher than the water pressure pw2 in tub 210 that corresponds to the second water level W2.

[0045] When the water supply process is completed, the steam process begins. When the steam process begins, the control unit energizes and drives the hot water heater 217 (S107), thereby heating the water in the water storage section 216 and producing hot water. By driving the hot water heater 217 after the water supply process, it is possible to prevent the hot water heater 217 from running while exposed to water, resulting in an empty-heating state. Although not shown, during the steam process, the control unit controls the driving and stopping of the hot water heater 217 so that the water temperature T in the tub 210 detected by the water temperature sensor 218 is between an upper limit temperature adjustment temperature Tmax (e.g., 80°C) and a lower limit temperature adjustment temperature Tmin (e.g., 60°C). When the water temperature T in the tub 210 reaches the upper limit temperature adjustment temperature Tmax, the control unit stops the hot water heater 217, and then drives the hot water heater 217 when the water temperature T in the tub 210 reaches the lower limit temperature adjustment temperature Tmin. The hot water stored in the water storage section 216 generates steam by subcool boiling in the vicinity of the hot water heater 217. Note that the hot water in the water storage section 216 may generate steam by normal boiling.

[0046] When a certain time (for example, 2 minutes) has elapsed since the hot water heater 217 was driven in S107, the control unit drives the blower fan 513 (S109). By driving the blower fan 513 in the steaming process, the steam generated in the steam generating section 215 is not only filled inside the tub 210 by an ascending air current, but also blown by the blower fan 513 from behind the drum 220 after passing through the drying unit 500. This allows the steam generated in the steam generating section 215 to be efficiently applied to the object to be treated.

[0047] In this embodiment, the control unit drives the blower fan 513 constantly during the steaming process, but may control it to drive intermittently. Also, in this embodiment, the control unit drives the blower fan 513 after a certain time has elapsed since driving the hot water heater, but the hot water heater 217 and the blower fan 513 may be driven simultaneously.

[0048] Although not shown, in the steaming process, the control unit operates the motor 231 continuously or intermittently to rotate the drum 220. The rotation speed of the drum 220 is set, for example, to approximately 50 to 60 r / min, at which the objects housed in the drum 220 tumble. When the drum 220 rotates at approximately 50 to 60 r / min, the objects are lifted upward within the drum 220 by the baffle 226 and dropped from above. In this embodiment, the air outlet 531 is provided behind the drum bottom wall 222. As the objects fall from above, they pass in front of the air outlet 531 and are blown with steam. This allows the objects to efficiently benefit from the steam. Furthermore, when the objects are clothing, the air blown to the clothing as it falls from above spreads the clothing, effectively smoothing out wrinkles in the clothing.

[0049] When the process time ts from the start of the steam process reaches or exceeds the steam process setting time ts1 (e.g., 20 minutes) (YES in S111), the control unit stops driving the hot water heater 217 and the blower fan 513 (S113), and the steam process ends.

[0050] When the steam process is completed, the drying process starts. In the drying process, the control unit controls the heat exchanger. The changing unit 512 and the blower fan 513 are driven (S115) to dry the objects in the drum 220 and the inner wall surface of the tub 210. The process time for the drying step is set to, for example, 10 minutes.

[0051] Towards the end of the drying process, the control unit opens drain valve 416 and performs a drain operation (S117). By performing a drain operation at the end of the drying process, the water in tub 210, whose water temperature T has risen to approximately 80°C during the steam process, can be cooled before being drained, thereby preventing the user from getting burned if they touch the drained water.

[0052] When the drainage operation in S117 is completed, the control unit stops the heat exchange unit 512 and the blower fan 513 (S119), and the drying process is completed. When the drying process is completed, the steam supply operation is completed.

[0053] In this embodiment, the blower fan 513 is stopped at the end of the steaming step in S113 and is driven at the start of the drying step in S115, but the control unit may control the blower fan 513 to continue driving without stopping it until the steaming step is followed by the drying step.

[0054] [1-2-2. Cooling drainage operation] (Issues when discharging hot water) In the steaming process, water stored in water storage section 216 is heated to a high temperature (approximately 60°C to 80°C) by hot water heater 217 to generate steam. In the steaming process, the hot water is not brought into direct contact with the object to be treated in drum 220, so the object to be treated is treated with hot water that is hotter than that in the hot water washing course in which hot water is used for washing. Therefore, if the high-temperature hot water generated in the steaming process is discharged outside housing 110, there is a risk of the user being burned if they come into contact with the hot water.

[0055] (Initial cooling drainage operation) The control unit executes a cooling drainage operation if, during the initial drainage in S101, high-temperature hot water is stored in the tub 210. The case where high-temperature hot water is stored in the tub 210 during the initial drainage includes the case where, during the previous operation, an operation to generate high-temperature hot water in the tub 210 (for example, a steam supply operation) was performed, and the power was cut off during the operation, and the drainage did not end normally.

[0056] During the initial drainage of S101, the control unit executes the cooling drainage operation if the water level W in tub 210 is equal to or higher than the third water level W3 and the water temperature T in tub 210 is equal to or higher than the first temperature T1 (e.g., 50°C). In this embodiment, the case where the water level W in tub 210 is equal to or higher than the third water level W3 refers to the case where the pressure p in tub 210 detected by water level sensor 253 is equal to or higher than the water pressure pw3 in tub 210 corresponding to the third water level W3. The first temperature T1 is not limited to 50°C and may be set to a temperature higher than the user's body temperature (e.g., 40°C or 45°C). If the initial drainage is executed immediately after the previous drying operation, there is a risk that the water temperature sensor 218 will detect a high temperature even though there is almost no water in tub 210. Therefore, in this embodiment, the condition for executing the cooling drainage operation is the case where the water level W in tub 210 is equal to or higher than the third water level W3 and the water temperature T in tub 210 is equal to or higher than the first temperature T1. This prevents the water temperature sensor 218 from making an erroneous detection.

[0057] 4, in the cooling drainage operation, the control unit simultaneously executes a water supply operation in which water is supplied from the outside into tub 210 by opening water supply valve 303, and a drainage operation in which water is discharged from tub 210 by opening drain valve 416. This allows the temperature of the water discharged from tub 210 to be lowered, thereby preventing the user from getting burned if they touch the drainage water. When a predetermined time (e.g., 9 seconds) has elapsed since the cooling and draining operation was performed, the control unit closes water supply valve 303 and performs only the draining operation. When the water in tub 210 runs out, the control unit closes drain valve 416 and ends the cooling and draining operation. In this embodiment, the amount of water that can be stored in tub 210 during the warm water wash course is approximately 15 to 20 L, whereas the amount of water that can be stored in tub 210 during the steam cycle is approximately 2 L. Therefore, during the steam cycle, even if the water temperature T in tub 210 is high, by performing the cooling and draining operation that supplies water to water supply valve 303, the warm water can be cooled in a shorter time than during the warm water wash course.

[0058] In this embodiment, the control unit controls the cooling water discharge operation to be performed for a predetermined time, but the cooling water discharge operation may also be performed until the water temperature T in the tub 210 falls below the first temperature T1.

[0059] 4, the water level W in the tub 210 during the cooling and draining operation is lower than the water level W1 corresponding to the lower end of the drum 220. This prevents the objects to be treated in the drum 220 from being damaged by direct contact with the hot water even if high-temperature hot water remains in the tub 210.

[0060] If the water level W in the tub 210 is below the third water level W3, or if the water temperature T in the tub 210 is below the first temperature, the control unit does not perform the cooling drainage operation, but instead drives only the drain valve 416 to perform the normal drainage operation. This prevents the water supply operation from being performed when there is no need to perform the cooling drainage operation, thereby reducing the amount of water used. If the water level W in the tub 210 is below the third water level W3, there is almost no water in the tub 210, so the control may be such that the drainage operation is not performed.

[0061] (Cooling drain operation when drain filter is detected to be open) Drainage filter 415 is installed by being inserted into drainage path 410, and when drainage filter 415 is removed from drainage path 410, drainage path 410 communicates with the outside of housing 110. Therefore, if a user removes drainage filter 415 while high-temperature hot water is stored in tub 210, the high-temperature hot water in tub 210 may leak out of housing 110 from the location where drainage filter 415 was removed, and the user may be burned.

[0062] Therefore, during steam supply operation, when the drain filter attachment / detachment sensor 415a detects the removal of the drain filter 415, the control unit executes the cooling drain operation if the water level W in the tub 210 is equal to or higher than the third water level W3 and the water temperature T in the tub 210 is equal to or higher than the first temperature (e.g., 50°C). The control of the cooling drain operation here is similar to the control of the cooling drain operation described above, and therefore will not be described here. This allows the temperature of the hot water stored in the tub 210 to be lowered. On the other hand, when the drain filter attachment / detachment sensor 415a detects the removal of the drain filter 415, if the water level W in the tub 210 is lower than the third water level W3 or the water temperature T in the tub 210 is lower than the first temperature, the control unit does not execute the cooling drain operation, but instead drives only the drain valve 416 to execute the normal drain operation.

[0063] In the present embodiment, the drain filter attachment / detachment sensor 415a detects the removal of the drain filter 415 at a second angle A2 that is smaller than the first angle A1 that must be rotated to remove the drain filter 415 from the housing 110. In the present embodiment, the control unit opens the water supply valve 303 and the drain valve 416 when the user rotates the drain filter 415 at the second angle A2 that is smaller than the first angle A1. This allows the hot water in the tub 210 to be cooled by the water introduced from the water supply valve 303 when the user rotates the drain filter 415 at the first angle A1, thereby lowering the temperature of the water that may leak when the drain filter 415 is removed by rotating it at the second angle A2.

[0064] When the drain filter attachment / detachment sensor 415a detects the removal of the drain filter 415, the control unit performs the cooling drain operation or the normal drain operation to drain all the water in the tub 210. After that, when the drain filter attachment / detachment sensor 415a detects the attachment of the drain filter 415, the control unit restarts from the water supply process (S103 in FIG. 3) and executes the steam process until the steam process set time ts1 ends. In this case, the steam process time is the time obtained by subtracting the time from the start of operation until the removal of the drain filter 415 is detected from the steam process set time ts1.

[0065] In the present embodiment, when the cooling drainage operation is performed, the control unit opens water supply valve 303 for a predetermined time (for example, 9 seconds) and then closes water supply valve 303. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of water leaking from the location where drain filter 415 has been removed when drain filter 415 is removed by a user. Therefore, even when drain filter 415 is removed, it is possible to prevent the floor on which washer-dryer 100 is placed from being flooded with water due to water leaking from the location where drain filter 415 has been removed.

[0066] Furthermore, the maximum water level in the steam cycle is set to second water level W2, which is lower than the bottom surface of drum 220, and the amount of water used is less than in the warm water wash course in which the objects contained in drum 220 are submerged in water. Therefore, even when the water supply operation is performed in the cooling and draining operation, the amount of water leaking from the location where drain filter 415 is removed can be kept small. Therefore, even when drain filter 415 is removed in the steam cycle, it is possible to prevent the floor on which washer-dryer 100 is placed from being flooded by water leaking from the location where drain filter 415 is removed.

[0067] [1-3.Effects] As described above, in this embodiment, washer / dryer 100 includes tub 210 configured to store wash water, drum 220 contained within tub 210 and accommodating objects to be treated, water supply valve 303 that supplies water to tub 210, drain valve 416 that drains water from tub 210, hot water heater 217 that heats the water in tub 210 to produce hot water, and a control unit (not shown) that controls water supply valve 303, drain valve 416, and hot water heater 217. When draining the hot water from tub 210, the control unit performs a cooling and draining operation that simultaneously executes a water supply operation that activates water supply valve 303 and a draining operation that activates drain valve 416, at a water level lower than the bottom end of drum 220.

[0068] This allows water to be added to the hot water while it is being discharged at a water level lower than the bottom end of drum 220, so the hot water can be drained from tub 210 while lowering its temperature. This prevents damage to the objects in drum 220 that come into contact with the hot water, and also prevents the user from being burned if they come into contact with the drained hot water.

[0069] As in this embodiment, the washer-dryer 100 is provided with a drain filter 415 that is detachably mounted on the drain path 410 through which the water discharged from the tub 210 passes and that captures foreign matter, and the control unit may perform a cooling drain operation when it detects that the drain filter 415 has been removed.

[0070] This makes it possible to lower the temperature of the hot water leaking from the location where the drain filter 415 was installed when the drain filter 415 is removed.

[0071] As in this embodiment, the drain filter 415 can be removed from the drain path 410 by rotating it through a first angle A1, and the control unit may perform a cooling drain operation when the drain filter 415 is rotated through a second angle A2 that is smaller than the first angle A1.

[0072] This allows adding water to the hot water in the tub 210 before the drain filter 415 is removed, thereby lowering the temperature of the hot water that will leak out when the drain filter 415 is removed.

[0073] As in this embodiment, the control unit may execute the cooling water drainage operation if hot water remains in the tub 210 at the start of operation.

[0074] This allows the hot water to be discharged while adding water if the high-temperature hot water generated in the tub 210 during the previous operation was not discharged normally, so that the hot water can be drained from the tub 210 while lowering its temperature.

[0075] As in this embodiment, the washer / dryer 100 is equipped with a water level sensor 253 that detects the water level in the tub 210 and a water temperature sensor 218 that detects the water temperature in the tub 210, and the control unit may perform a cooling and draining operation when the water level W detected by the water level sensor 253 is higher than the height at which the water temperature sensor 218 is located.

[0076] This makes it possible to prevent the temperature detector from erroneously detecting the air temperature when the water level in the tub 210 is lower than the temperature detector.

[0077] 2. Second Embodiment [2-1. Operation] In the second embodiment, the washer / dryer 100 differs from the first embodiment in some of the control of the cooling and draining operation. The other configurations and controls are the same, so the description will be omitted.

[0078] [2-1-1. Control of water supply volume during cooling drainage operation] 5, in washer / dryer 100 according to the present embodiment, when water level W in tub 210 detected by water level sensor 253 reaches a predetermined water level (e.g., second water level W2) after the start of the cooling and draining operation, water supply valve 303 is closed to stop the supply of water from water supply valve 303 into tub 210. The control unit may also control water supply valve 303, etc. to reduce the flow rate of water supplied into tub 210. This prevents water level W in tub 210 from reaching a water level corresponding to the lower end of drum 220 during the cooling and draining operation, thereby preventing the object to be treated in drum 220 from being directly wetted.

[0079] [2-2. Effects] As in this embodiment, the washer / dryer 100 is equipped with a water level sensor 253 that detects the water level W in the tub 210, and when the water level W detected by the water level sensor 253 reaches the second water level W2, the control unit may reduce the water supply flow rate from the water supply valve 303 to the tub 210, or may stop the water supply from the water supply valve 303 to the tub 210.

[0080] This prevents the water level in tub 210 from reaching the bottom of drum 220 when hot water is in tub 210. This prevents the objects to be treated in drum 220 from coming into contact with hot water and being damaged.

[0081] (Other embodiments) As described above, the first and second embodiments have been described as examples of the technology disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to these, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. are made. Furthermore, it is also possible to combine the components described in the first and second embodiments to create new embodiments.

[0082] Therefore, other embodiments will be exemplified below.

[0083] In the first and second embodiments, the washer-dryer 100, which is a drum-type washer-dryer, has been described as an example of a clothing processing device. The clothing processing device may be any device that generates hot water in a tub. Therefore, the clothing processing device is not limited to the washer-dryer 100, which is a drum-type washer-dryer, and may be a drum-type washing machine, a top-loading washing machine, a top-loading washer-dryer, or a twin-tub washing machine.

[0084] In the first and second embodiments, the water level sensor 253 configured with a MEMS pressure sensor has been described as an example of a water level detection unit. The water level detection unit may be any unit that detects the water level in the tub. Therefore, the water level detection unit is not limited to the water level sensor 253. The water level detection unit may be configured with an electrode detection unit that detects the water level by reading the potential change between electrodes, or a float sensor. The electrode detection unit and the float sensor sensitively reflect the drop in the water level, and therefore can effectively prevent the tub from running dry.

[0085] In the first and second embodiments, water supply unit 300 including water supply pipe 302 and water supply valve 303 has been described as an example of a water supply unit. The water supply unit is not limited to water supply unit 300 as long as it is configured to supply water from the water supply valve into the tub. The water supply pipe may be formed along the rear surface of the tub and located at the upper rear side of the tub. The water supply path may be configured so that the water supplied from the water supply path to the tub does not contact the items to be treated inside the drum. The control unit may intermittently open the water supply valve to reduce the amount of water supplied to the tub, thereby controlling the supplied wash water to flow down along the inner surface of the tub. The water supply pipe may include a first water supply path configured to allow the wash water to contact the items to be treated inside the drum and a second water supply path configured to prevent the wash water from contacting the items to be treated inside the drum. The first water supply path and the second water supply path may be selectively used depending on the purpose.

[0086] In the first and second embodiments, a cooling drainage operation in which a water supply operation that activates the water supply valve 303 and a drainage operation that activates the drain valve 416 are simultaneously performed has been described as an example of the cooling drainage operation. Control of the cooling drainage operation does not have to involve simultaneous water supply and drainage operations. For example, the water supply and drainage operations may be performed alternately. Performing the water supply and drainage operations alternately means that the water supply and drainage valves are not opened simultaneously, but are instead closed after the water supply operation that activates the water supply valve is completed, a drainage operation that activates the drain valve is performed, and the drainage valve is closed after the drainage operation is completed. Note that this process may include a state in which the water supply valve and the drainage valve are opened simultaneously.

[0087] In the first and second embodiments, water temperature sensor 218 provided near the base of hot water heater 217 has been described as an example of a temperature detection unit. The temperature detection unit is not limited to water temperature sensor 218 as long as it can detect the water temperature in the tub. The temperature detection unit may be provided on the inner wall surface of the tub or on the outer wall surface of the tub. If the tub is provided with a water storage unit that stores water at a level lower than the drum, the temperature detection unit may be provided on the inner wall surface of the water storage unit or on the outer wall surface of the water storage unit.

[0088] (Appendix 1) The clothing treatment device in the first aspect comprises a tub capable of storing wash water, a storage tank contained in the tub and storing the items to be treated, a water supply unit that supplies water to the tub, a drain unit that drains water from the tub, a heating unit that heats the water in the tub to produce hot water, and a control unit that controls the water supply unit, drain unit, and heating unit, and when draining the hot water, the control unit performs a cooling and draining operation in which the water supply unit performs a water supply operation and the drain unit performs a draining operation simultaneously or alternately at a water level lower than the storage tank.

[0089] In the second aspect, the clothing processing device is the clothing processing device of the first aspect, which is provided with a drain filter that is detachably attached to the drain path through which water discharged from the tub passes and that captures foreign matter, and the control unit performs a cooling drain operation when it detects that the drain filter has been removed.

[0090] As a clothing processing device in a third aspect, in the clothing processing device in the second aspect, the drain filter becomes removable from the drain path by rotating it a first angle, and the control unit performs a cooling drain operation when the drain filter is rotated a second angle smaller than the first angle.

[0091] As a fourth aspect of the clothing processing device, in any of the first to third aspects, the control unit performs a cooling and draining operation if there is hot water remaining in the tub when operation starts.

[0092] As a clothing processing device in the fifth aspect, in any of the first to fourth aspects, the clothing processing device is provided with a water level detection unit that detects the water level in the tub and a temperature detection unit that detects the water temperature in the tub, and the control unit performs a cooling and draining operation when the water level in the tub is higher than the height at which the temperature detection unit is located.

[0093] As a clothing processing device in the sixth aspect, in any of the first to fifth aspects, a water level detection unit is provided that detects the water level in the tub, and when the water level detected by the water level detection unit exceeds a predetermined water level, the control unit reduces the water supply flow rate from the water supply unit to the tub or stops the water supply from the water supply unit to the tub. [Industrial Applicability]

[0094] The present disclosure is applicable to a clothing processing device, specifically, a drum-type washer / dryer, a drum-type washing machine, a top-loading washer / dryer, a top-loading washing machine, and a twin-tub washing machine. [Explanation of symbols]

[0095] 100 Washer / Dryer (Clothing Treatment Device) 110 Case 111 Front wall of the enclosure 112 Rear wall of the enclosure 113 Left and right side walls of the housing 114 Cabinet top wall 115 Bottom wall of the enclosure 119 Inlet 120 Door body 130 Operation display section 200 tank unit 210 tabs 215 Steam generation unit 216 Water Reservoir 217 Hot water heater (heating section) 218 Water temperature sensor (temperature detection part) 220 drum (storage tank) 221 Drum opening 222 Drum bottom wall 223 Drum Wall 224 Rotating Shaft 225 Water Vent 226 Baffle 230 Rotation drive unit 231 Motor 232 Pulley 233 Belt 250 Water Level Detection Unit 251 Air Trap 252 Air Pipe 253 Water level sensor (water level detection part) 300 Water Supply Unit 301 Water supply port 302 Water supply pipe 303 Water supply valve (water supply section) 310 Detergent storage section 400 Drainage Unit 410 Drainage route 415 Drainage filter 415a Drain filter attachment / detachment sensor 416 Drain valve (drain section) 417 Overflow pipe 418 Trap 420 Circulation Route 425 Circulation Pump 500 Drying Unit 510 Drying duct 511 Drying filter 512 Heat exchange section 513 Blower fan 520 Intake pipe 521 Air intake 530 Air pipe 531 Air outlet 541 First drying temperature sensor 542 Second drying temperature sensor

Claims

1. a tub capable of storing wash water; a storage tank contained in the tub and configured to store the object to be treated; a water supply unit that supplies water to the tub; a drain portion for draining water from the tub; a heating unit that heats the water in the tub to produce hot water; a water level detection unit that detects the water level in the tub; a control unit that controls the water supply unit, the drain unit, and the heating unit to perform a steam supply operation; Equipped with The steam supply operation includes a water supply step of supplying water into the tub by the water supply unit, and a steam step of heating the water in the tub by the heating unit to generate steam, and the control unit is capable of executing a cooling and draining operation in which, when draining the hot water in the tub during the steam supply operation, a water supply operation by the water supply unit and a draining operation by the draining unit are executed simultaneously or alternately, The water level in the water supply step, the steam step, and the cooling and draining operation is lower than the lower end of the storage tank. Clothes treatment device.

2. a water level detection unit that detects the water level in the tub; When the water level detected by the water level detection unit reaches a predetermined water level, the control unit reduces the flow rate of water supplied from the water supply unit to the tub, or stops the supply of water from the water supply unit to the tub. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1 .

3. a drain filter that is detachably provided in a drainage path through which the water discharged from the tub passes and that captures foreign matter; The control unit executes the cooling water drainage operation when detecting that the drainage filter has been removed. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1 .

4. The drain filter is detachable from the drain path by being rotated by a first angle, the control unit executes the cooling water drainage operation when the water drain filter is rotated by a second angle smaller than the first angle. The clothing treatment device according to claim 3 .

5. The control unit executes the cooling water drainage operation if hot water remains in the tub at the start of operation. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1 .

6. a water level detection unit that detects the water level in the tub; a temperature detection unit that detects the water temperature in the tub; Equipped with The control unit executes the cooling and draining operation when the water level detected by the water level detection unit is higher than a height at which the temperature detection unit is located. The clothing treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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