Dryer

Abstract

To provide a technology capable of treating an object to be treated such as clothes together with a mat-like member.SOLUTION: A dryer 700 in an embodiment is a dryer 700 for a mat-like member, and comprises a casing 20 in which a drying space is formed, an air supply section for supplying high-temperature drying air to the drying space, a mat mounting section 3 having a mounting surface 35 through which the drying air can pass and mounting the mat-like member on the mounting surface 35, an exhaust section for discharging the drying air that has passed through the mounting surface 35 to the outside of the drying space, and a movable support section 800 provided in the drying space so as to be separated from the mat mounting section 3 and for hanging and supporting an object to be treated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 31

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a dryer.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a dryer for drying mat-shaped members such as futons and mattresses containing moisture by washing, refreshing, or the like. As such a dryer, a drying space into which heated air from a gas heater flows is defined within a housing, a placement portion for the mat-shaped member is arranged within this drying space, an internal space defined within this placement portion is made to communicate with the drying space, and the mat-shaped member is dried by passing the heated air through the placed mat-shaped member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The problem to be solved by the invention is to provide a technique capable of processing objects to be processed such as clothing together with the mat-shaped member.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The dryer of the embodiment is a dryer for a mat-like member, comprising: a housing that forms a drying space; an air supply unit that supplies high-temperature drying air to the drying space; a mat placement unit that has a placement surface through which the drying air can pass and on which the mat-like member is placed; an exhaust unit that discharges the drying air that has passed through the placement surface to the outside of the drying space; and a support unit that is provided in the drying space at a distance from the mat placement unit and suspends and supports the object to be processed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0006] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a dryer for a mat-like member according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a front view showing a dryer for mat-shaped materials. [Figure 3] This is a plan view showing a dryer for mat-shaped materials. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing the mat mounting section of a drying machine for mat-shaped materials. [Figure 5] This is a front view showing the mat mounting section of a drying machine for mat-shaped materials. [Figure 6] This is a side view showing the mat mounting section of a drying machine for mat-shaped materials. [Figure 7] This is a front view showing the mat mounting section on which the mat-like member F is placed. [Figure 8] This is a side view showing the mat mounting section on which the mat-like member F is placed. [Figure 9] This is an overall side view of a drying machine for mat-shaped materials. [Figure 10] This diagram shows the direction of the flow of warm air from the gas heater to the upper wall. [Figure 11] This diagram shows the flow direction of the warm air flowing from the upper wall into the drying space D. [Figure 12] This is a side view showing the overall hot air flow of a mat-shaped material dryer. [Figure 13] This figure shows a perspective view and a front view of the drying mechanism according to Example 1. [Figure 14] This figure shows a perspective view and a front view of the drying mechanism according to Example 2. [Figure 15] It is a diagram showing another configuration example of the steam spray pipe in the drying mechanism of Example 2. [Figure 16] It is a front view and a top view of the drying mechanism in Example 3. [Figure 17] It is a diagram showing a perspective view and a front view of the drying mechanism according to Example 4. [Figure 18] It is a diagram showing another configuration example of the steam spray pipe in the drying mechanism of Example 4. [Figure 19] It is a perspective view of the drying mechanism according to Example 5. [Figure 20] It is a perspective view of the drying mechanism according to Example 6. [Figure 21] It is a diagram showing an overview of the drying mechanism according to Example 7. [Figure 22] It is a diagram showing an overview of the drying mechanism according to Example 8. [Figure 23] It is a diagram showing an overview of another configuration of the drying mechanism according to Example 8. [Figure 24] It is a diagram showing an overview of the drying mechanism according to Example 9. [Figure 25] It shows a perspective view and a front view of the dryer for the mat-like member according to Example 10. [Figure 26] It is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the dryer for the mat-like member according to Example 10 as seen from the side. [Figure 27] It is a perspective view of the dryer for the mat-like member according to Example 10 as seen from the back. [Figure 28] It is a flowchart showing the refresh operation and the operation of only drying of the dryer according to this embodiment. [Figure 29] It is a schematic diagram showing a state in which steam is sprayed into the drying space D of the dryer for the mat-like member according to Example 10. [Figure 30] It is a perspective view showing the configuration of the dryer in which the movable support portion according to the embodiment is shown. [Figure 31] It is a perspective view showing the movable support portion according to the embodiment. [Figure 32] It is a perspective view showing the accommodation state of the movable support portion according to the embodiment. [Figure 33] This is a perspective view showing the extended state of the movable support portion according to the embodiment. [Figure 34] This is a front view showing a dryer with the movable support part according to the embodiment in a housed state. [Figure 35] This diagram shows the internal configuration of a dryer with the movable support unit according to the embodiment in a housed state. [Figure 36] This diagram shows the internal configuration of a dryer in which the movable support portion according to the embodiment is in an extended state. [Figure 37] This diagram shows the internal configuration of a dryer in a state where the movable support part according to the embodiment supports the workpiece to be processed and is in a containment state. [Figure 38] This is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment in which the movable support portion is provided on the side wall. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this specification and the drawings, components having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0008] (Overall structure) First, the overall configuration of a mat-like material dryer (hereinafter simply referred to as the dryer), which is one embodiment, will be described. Figures 1 to 3 are a perspective view, a front view, and a plan view of the dryer 1 according to this embodiment. Hereafter, the front side of the dryer 1 will be referred to as the front, the back side as the rear, and the directions perpendicular to the front-to-back and up-and-down directions will be referred to as the left-to-right directions in this explanation.

[0009] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the dryer 1 comprises a main body 2 and a movable mat placement section 3 for placing a mat-like member F (for example, a futon) that is to be dried by the dryer 1 and is housed within the main body 2. Furthermore, the dryer 1 is equipped with a steam spraying member that blows steam (fluid) onto the mat-like member F to refresh it (see Figures 13 to 19). Hereafter, the steam spraying member will be referred to as a steam spraying pipe. As a result, the dryer 1 can kill mites on the mat-like member F and blow away the mites, their feces, and carcasses. Furthermore, by using water containing chemicals or ionized water, sterilization and deodorizing effects can be expected. Here, "refreshing" refers to restoring the mat-like material F to its fresh condition (smell, softness, cleanliness) as it was when purchased. To achieve this, in this embodiment, steam is sprayed onto the mat-like material F, and then the steam is discharged along with a blowing of drying air. It is also possible to treat the mat-like material F by spraying it with a treatment agent such as a deodorizer.

[0010] Furthermore, the dryer 1 is equipped with a movable support section 800 (see Figures 30 to 38) for drying and / or refreshing garments, particularly suits and other items to be processed. This movable support section 800 enables the dryer 1 to dry and refresh the garments together with the mat-like member F. A detailed explanation of the movable support section 800 will be given after the description of Examples 1 to 10 relating to the refreshing drying mechanism, which will be described later. For this reason, the movable support section 800 is omitted in the drawings prior to Figure 30 for illustrative purposes.

[0011] (Main body 2) The main unit 2 comprises a housing 20, a gas heater 21, an exhaust fan 22, and a control unit 24. The housing 20 is formed as a hollow, roughly rectangular box shape, and a drying space D is defined inside, enclosed by an upper wall 25 (see Figure 12, etc.), a pair of side walls 26, a rear wall 27, a bottom wall 28, and a door 29. A movable mat placement unit 3 can be housed within this drying space D.

[0012] The door section 29 is attached to one of the side walls 26 by hinges or the like so that it can be opened and closed, and the mat placement section 3 can be moved in and out of the drying space D from the front. Part of the door section 29 is formed as a window section 291 made of a light-transmitting material such as glass, and a grip section 292 is provided for the user to open and close the door section 29.

[0013] The gas heater 21 is located above the upper wall portion 25 and at the rearmost part of the housing 20, and has a gas burner. This gas burner heats the air, and the heated air (hot air) is supplied to the intake passage 251 (see Figure 12), which will be described later, via the connecting pipe 253 (see Figure 3). The components from the gas heater 21 to the intake passage 251 are collectively referred to as the air supply section 8 (see Figure 21).

[0014] The exhaust fan 22 is located in front of the gas heater 21 and has a check damper 221 to prevent backflow of air. It draws in air from the dry space D and discharges it to the outside via the check damper 221. The components from the lower exhaust passage 281 (described later) to the check damper 221 are collectively referred to as the exhaust section 9 (see Figure 21).

[0015] The control unit 24 is located in front of the exhaust fan 22, that is, at the very front of the housing 20, and has an operation panel 241 for the user to give instructions and perform operations related to the operation of the dryer 1, with the operation panel 241 facing forward. Based on the operations performed on the operation panel 241, the control unit 24 controls the operation of the gas heater 21, the exhaust fan 22, and the jet nozzle 23 (see Figure 9), which will be described later.

[0016] The mat placement section 3 is movable in the front-to-back direction (in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1) within the drying space D of the main body section 2. In other words, when a mat-like member F is placed on top of the mat placement section 3, it is pulled out from the drying space D of the main body section 2, and after placement, it is returned to its original position. When using the mat placement unit 3, the user opens the door 29 and moves the mat placement unit 3, which is housed in the drying space D, forward, pulling it out of the drying space D to a certain extent in the direction of the arrow on the outside of Figure 1, and then places the mat-like member F on top of it. After placing the mat, the user moves the mat placement unit 3 backward (towards the storage direction), houses it back into the drying space D, and closes the door 29. After that, the user operates the control panel 241 to start the desired drying operation on the dryer 1, thereby drying the mat-like member F.

[0017] The bottom wall portion 28 of the housing 20 functions as part of the travel path when the mat placement portion 3 is moved back and forth, and also functions as an exhaust passage when the mat placement portion 3 is housed in the drying space D. This bottom wall portion 28 will be described later.

[0018] (Mat placement section 3) The configuration of the mat placement section 3 will be described in detail. Figures 4 to 6 are perspective, front, and side views of the mat placement section 3. Figures 7 and 8 are front and side views, respectively, of the placement section on which the mat-like member F is placed. Figure 9 is an overall side view of the dryer 1.

[0019] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the mat placement section 3 comprises a placement table 31, a base section 32, and a pressing band 33. The mounting platform 31 has a shape that allows the mat-like member F to be stably placed on it. The mounting platform 31 is formed, for example, as a hollow, roughly triangular prism overall. The mounting platform 31 is positioned horizontally with the top and bottom surfaces of the triangular prism facing in the front-to-back direction, and one side opposite the most acutely angled vertex is facing downwards (for example, like a vaulting box). The curved surfaces formed on the two inclined sides and the upper end are the mounting surfaces 35 of the mounting base 31. The mounting surface 35 is shaped by folding a flat surface so that a virtual fold line oriented in the front-to-back direction is positioned at its upper end. The bottom surface of the mounting base 31 is connected to the upper surface of the base portion 32.

[0020] As shown in Figure 6, the mounting base 31 has dimensions such as a width of 1,000 mm and a height of 1,000 mm. On both sides of the mounting base 31, there are groups of punched holes 311 consisting of multiple circular holes that connect the internal space P (see Figure 5 or Figure 12, etc.) of the mounting base 31 to the drying space D. Air flows between the drying space D and the internal space P through these groups of punched holes 311. These groups of punched holes 311 are provided over a predetermined distance from the top end of the mounting base 31, and this predetermined distance is preferably more than half of the longitudinal width of the futon. Here, it is formed by joining three metal plates such as stainless steel. The joints of the metal plates are bent inward, and the strength They are strengthening it.

[0021] The mounting base 31 has areas 311a, 311b, and 311c on the front, back (left and right in Figure 6), and bottom sides where the punching holes 311 are not formed. The back side of Figure 6 has the same shape. The width of areas 311a and 311b is, for example, 60 mm to 150 mm (approximately 140 mm). The width of area 311c is 100 mm to 250 mm (approximately 200 mm). The edges of the futon placed on the mounting base 31 are located in these areas 311a, 311b, and 311c. At the edges of the futon, a certain degree of airtightness is necessary to prevent heat leakage. By providing areas 311a, 311b, and 311c, there is no need to worry about hot air or cold air (drying air) leaking out. On the other hand, the edges of the futon are also dried by the flow of warm or cold air into the small gaps that form between the edges of the futon and the contact surfaces of areas 311a, 311b, and 311c.

[0022] Each hole in the group of punched holes 311 has a curved surface at its peripheral edge on the side facing the drying space D, i.e., the side that the mat-like member F contacts (upper side in the figure), so that the diameter widens towards the drying space D side. Therefore, the opening diameter (hole diameter) of each hole in the group of punched holes 311 is wider on the drying space D side than the opening diameter on the internal space P side. Alternatively, a tapered surface may be formed so that the diameter widens towards the drying space D side instead of a curved surface.

[0023] Furthermore, the front of the mounting platform 31 is provided with a gripping section 312 for the user to grasp when moving the mat mounting section 3.

[0024] When placing the mat-like member F, which is to be dried, onto the mounting table 31, as shown in Figure 7, the shorter side of the mat-like member F is oriented in the front-to-back direction of the mounting table 31, and it is placed on the mounting surface 35 of the mounting table 31 so as to cover the group of punching holes 311. At this time, the mat-like member F is folded to conform to the inclination of the mounting surface 35.

[0025] The upper end of the mounting base 31 is formed as a curved surface with curvature, and it is preferable that the radius of curvature be at least 0.9 times the thickness of the mat-like member F on which it is placed. By forming a curved surface with such a radius of curvature, when the mat-like member F is folded and placed on the base, the folded portion of the mat-like member F can be made surface contact along the curved surface, and the stress applied there can be distributed well. If the upper end of the mounting base 31 is formed as an acute angle or as a curved surface with a smaller radius of curvature, stress may concentrate on a part of the folded portion of the mat-like member F that is in contact with the upper end. When such stress concentration occurs... As the area is compressed and its density increases, the air permeability decreases, which may lead to a decrease in drying efficiency. However, since the mounting base 31 has the radius of curvature described above, this decrease in drying efficiency can be avoided. Furthermore, since the group of punching holes 311 can be formed even on the curved surface, an improvement in drying efficiency can also be achieved.

[0026] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the base portion 32 is formed in a hollow, roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an opening 321a is formed on its upper surface to connect the internal space T of the base portion 32 to the internal space P of the mounting base 31. On the other hand, an opening 321b is formed on the lower surface of the base portion 32 to connect the internal space T to the downward exhaust passage 281 (described later) formed in the bottom wall portion 28 of the housing 20. These openings 321a and 321b allow air from the internal space P to flow into the downward exhaust passage 281 (see Figure 12).

[0027] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the base portion 32 has two front wheel casters 322a provided on the lower surface of its front end, spaced apart in the left-right direction, and a stepped portion 322c is formed on the lower surface of its rear end, recessed upward over substantially the entire left-right area. Two rear wheel casters 322b are provided on this stepped portion 322c, spaced apart in the left-right direction. The front wheel casters 322a are formed to be larger in diameter than the rear wheel casters 322b, and their lower ends are positioned below the rear wheel casters 322b. The rear wheel casters 322b are in contact with the upper surface of the bottom wall portion 28 of the housing 20 so as to be able to move.

[0028] A sloping surface 323 is formed behind the front wheel caster 322a on the base portion 32, extending in the left-right direction and sloping downward from front to rear. When the mat placement portion 3 is housed in the drying space D, the front end of the sloping surface 323 is located at the position where the support caster 285, described later, makes contact. Due to the formation of this sloping surface 323, the base portion 32 has a shape that protrudes slightly downward in the area near the opening 321b, specifically from the rear end of the sloping surface 323 to the front end of the stepped portion 322c, compared to its front and rear ends.

[0029] As shown in Figure 12, a similar inclined surface 283 is formed on the bottom wall portion 28 of the housing 20 that forms the running surface of the rear wheel caster 322b. The inclined surface 283 has the same inclination angle, direction, and length as the inclined surface 323 of the base portion 32, and is formed so that the rear end of the inclined surface 283 is located at the position where the rear wheel caster 322b makes contact when the mat placement portion 3 is housed in the drying space D. Therefore, the bottom wall portion 28 has a shape in which the area in front of the inclined surface 323 protrudes slightly upward. It is preferable to set the height of the inclined surface 283 and the inclined surface 323 so that a small gap is formed between this area and the area near the opening 321b when the mat placement portion 3 is housed in the drying space D.

[0030] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12, a caster base 284 with a roughly U-shaped cross-section and an open bottom is provided at the front end of the bottom wall portion 28, and two support casters 285 are provided on its upper surface, spaced apart in the left-right direction, that slidably contact the lower surface of the base portion 32. When the mat placement portion 3 is housed in the drying space D, the support casters 285 are located at the front end of the inclined surface 323 and contact and support the base portion 32. When the mat placement portion 3 is housed in the drying space D, the front side of the mat placement portion 3 is supported by these support casters 285, so in this embodiment, the front wheel caster 322a is slightly spaced away from the installation surface of the dryer 1. The caster base 284 has notches formed at the corresponding positions so as not to contact the front wheel caster 322a of the base portion 32.

[0031] As described above, the inclined surface 283 is formed on the bottom wall 28 corresponding to the rear wheel caster 322b of the base 32, and the inclined surface 323 is formed on the base 32 corresponding to the support caster 285 of the bottom wall 28. This allows each caster to travel simultaneously on the opposing inclined surface when the mat placement section 3 is pulled out of the drying space D. This allows the base 32 to be moved upward by the height of the inclined surface while maintaining parallelism between the base 32 and the bottom wall 28, and also enables stable horizontal movement. Furthermore, the rear wheel caster 322b and the support caster 285 are positioned at the same location in the left-right direction. Therefore, the forward movement of the rear wheel caster 322b is restricted by the support caster 285, preventing the entire mat placement section 3 from coming out of the drying space D when the user moves the mat placement section 3 forward.

[0032] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12, the bottom wall portion 28 has a downward exhaust passage 281 defined inside, and an opening 282 for connecting the downward exhaust passage 281 to the internal space T is formed on its upper surface, and an opening 287 located behind this opening 282 for fluidly connecting the vertical passage 271 (described later) to the downward exhaust passage 281. The opening 282 is formed in a position opposite to the opening 321b of the base portion 32 and is substantially the same shape as it is when the mat placement portion 3 is housed in the drying space D.

[0033] A sealing member 288 is provided on the periphery of the opening 282. When the mat placement section 3 is housed in the drying space D, the periphery of the opening 321b of the base section 32 comes into contact with the sealing member 288, allowing the opening 282 and the opening 321b of the base section 32 to be airtightly connected via the sealing member 288. The sealing member 288 is fixed immovably to the bottom wall section 28 by fasteners such as screws or adhesive, and any material can be used as long as it can airtightly connect the opposing openings. For example, felt or an elastic material can be used as the sealing member 288. The sealing member 288 may also be provided on the periphery of the opening 321b.

[0034] In this manner, the mat placement section 3 is supported by the rear casters 322b which contact the bottom wall 28 of the housing 20 and by the support casters 285, allowing it to move relative to the housing 20 in the front-rear direction to be placed in and removed from the drying space D. Furthermore, when the mat placement section 3 is placed in the drying space D, it can move downward relative to the housing, allowing the openings 321b and 282 to be airtightly connected.

[0035] As the mat mounting section 3 is pulled out from the drying space D, the rear casters 322b approach the support casters 285, causing the front side to tilt downwards. However, this tilt causes the front casters 322a to make contact with the mounting surface, and the rear casters 322b remain in constant contact with the bottom wall 28 of the housing 20. Therefore, even when the mat mounting section 3 is pulled out to a certain extent, it can be moved stably.

[0036] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the pressing strip 33 is a long, flexible, strip-shaped member that extends in the front-rear direction of the mounting base 31, positioned on both the left and right sides below the mounting base 31, with one end connected to the front wall of the mounting base 31 and the other end connected to the rear wall of the mounting base 31. The pressing strip 33 presses both longitudinal ends of the mat-like member F against the mounting surface 35 of the mounting base 31. The pressing strip 33 may be configured to be detachably attached to the front and rear walls of the mounting base 31 using a connecting mechanism at one end or the other end.

[0037] Such a connecting mechanism could be one that uses a buckle device and a tongue, similar to those used in seat belts. The tongue is a flat plate member with holes or notches formed therein, and by inserting it into an insertion opening provided in the buckle device, the tongue can be locked inside the buckle device. On the other hand, the locking of the tongue can be released by pressing the release button on the buckle device. Other methods of connecting the parts using hooks or using hook-and-loop fasteners may also be used; any detachable connecting mechanism can be used.

[0038] Furthermore, the pressing band 33 may have an expandable portion formed in a part thereof that is expandable and contractible in the longitudinal direction. When pressing the longitudinal end of the placed mat-like member F, the pressing band 33 will be laid along the longitudinal end, so the pressing band 33 will be spaced apart from the mounting surface 35 according to the thickness of the mat-like member F. However, as the expandable portion extends by this distance, the restoring force will allow the pressing band 33 to uniformly press the mat-like member F toward the mounting surface 35. Such an expandable portion is preferably an elastic material such as a coil spring or rubber, and the entire pressing band 33 may be an expandable portion.

[0039] The jet nozzle 23 shown in Figure 9 is a nozzle that ejects a fluid containing treatment agents (chemicals) such as deodorizers, disinfectants, and mite repellents. The treatment agent discharged from the jet nozzle 23 is blown towards the mat-like member F in the drying space D, so that the drying and cooling of the mat-like member F can be performed simultaneously with disinfection.

[0040] The airflow path in dryer 1 will be explained using Figures 10 to 12. Figure 10 shows the flow direction of hot and cold air (drying air) flowing from the gas heater 21 of the dryer 1 to the upper wall. Figure 11 shows the flow direction of hot and cold air flowing from the upper wall of the dryer 1 to the drying space of the main body. Figure 12 is a side view showing the overall flow of hot and cold air in the dryer 1.

[0041] As shown in Figures 10 to 12, in the intake passage 251, the space formed between the flat plate portion 25a and the upper wall portion 25 allows warm air from the gas heater 21 to pass through the connecting pipe 253 and be sent towards the flat plate portion 25a. This generates a vortex (tornado) within the intake passage 251, which is then sent from the inlet hole group 255 to the drying space D.

[0042] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 11, the hot and cold air from the intake passage 251 swirls in the drying space D and is sent to the mat-like member F. The air in the drying space D passes through the mat-like member F via the groups of punching holes 311 provided on both sides of the mounting base 31 and is drawn into the mat mounting section 3.

[0043] As shown in Figure 12, above the upper wall portion 25 of the housing 20, there are two horizontally extending, parallel flat plate portions 25a and 25b. A gas heater 21 and an exhaust fan 22 are mounted on the uppermost flat plate portion 25b, respectively. Below this flat plate portion 25b, a flat plate portion 25a divides the space into two vertical sections. The space between the flat plate portion 25a and the upper wall portion 25 is used as the intake air passage 251, and the space between the flat plate portions 25a and 25b is used as the upper exhaust air passage 252. The upper exhaust air passage 252 extends slightly behind the intake air passage 251 and is fluidly connected to the vertical air passage 271. Since the intake air passage 251 and the upper exhaust air passage 252 are formed vertically with the flat plate portion 25a as the boundary, it is preferable that the flat plate portion 25a is made of an insulating material.

[0044] The vertical flow path 271 is the gap between the rear wall portion 27 and the flat plate portion 27a which is parallel to the rear wall portion 27 and located in front of it. When viewed from above, it is formed as a space with a rectangular cross-section that is elongated in the left-right direction and extends in the vertical direction. The vertical flow path 271 is fluidically connected to the upper exhaust flow path 252 and the lower exhaust flow path 281, and together they form a single exhaust flow path.

[0045] As shown in Figure 12, a connecting pipe 253 is connected to the intake passage 251, and a connecting pipe 254 is connected to the upper exhaust passage 252. The connecting pipe 253 is formed in accordance with the gas heater 21 and is fluidly connected to the intake passage 251, allowing air heated by the gas heater 21 to be drawn into the intake passage 251. The connecting pipe 254 is formed to correspond to the exhaust fan 22 and is fluidly connected to the upper exhaust passage 252, allowing the exhaust fan 22 to discharge the air from the upper exhaust passage 252.

[0046] Furthermore, the upper wall portion 25 is formed with a group of inlet holes 255 that connect the intake air passage 251 and the drying space D, and allow air heated by the gas heater 21 to flow into the drying space D. This group of inlet holes 255 consists of multiple punched holes and is formed over a predetermined range in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction of the drying space D. The predetermined range here is approximately the entire area below the intake air passage 251, and more specifically, the range from above the rear end of the mounting base 31 in the front-rear direction to the front end of the intake air passage 251 in the front-rear direction.

[0047] Next, the refresh drying mechanism according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 13 to 24. Figures 13 to 16 show a drying mechanism with an externally mounted steam-generating boiler. Figures 17 and 18 show a drying mechanism in which the steam-generating boiler is built into the dryer 1. Figures 19 to 24 show a drying mechanism that does not use a boiler.

[0048] (Example 1) Figure 13(a) is a perspective view of the drying mechanism according to Embodiment 1, and Figure 13(b) is a front view. In the drying mechanism shown in Figure 13, the boiler 500 is located outside the dryer 1. Water is stored inside the boiler 500, and when this water is heated, high-pressure, high-temperature steam (hereinafter simply referred to as steam) is generated. The boiler 500 is connected to steam spray members (hereinafter referred to as steam spray pipes) 510 and 520 provided on the left and right sides (drying space D) of the mounting base 31. The steam spray pipes 510 and 520 are provided with numerous small holes in the longitudinal direction facing the mounting base 31.

[0049] As shown in Figure 13(b), steam from the boiler 500 is sprayed towards the drying space D through numerous small holes in the steam spray pipes 510 and 520. During the refresh operation, the exhaust fan 22 is controlled to operate simultaneously, so when high-temperature steam is sprayed towards the mat-like member (such as a futon) F placed on the mounting platform 31 in the drying space D, it is drawn towards the internal space P. The steam that has passed through the mat-like member F is discharged to the outside via the internal space T, the lower exhaust passage 281, the vertical passage 271, and the check damper 221 shown in Figure 12. This refreshes the mat-like member F. Figure 13 shows how steam is sprayed from numerous small holes in the steam spray pipes 510 and 520 in, for example, three directions indicated by arrows. The shape and number of the small holes from which the steam is ejected, as well as the direction of spraying, can be designed to be optimal.

[0050] (Example 2) Figure 14(a) is a perspective view of the drying mechanism according to Embodiment 2, and Figure 14(b) is a front view. The drying mechanism shown in Figure 14 has the same configuration as Embodiment 1, with the boiler 500 positioned outside the dryer 1. The difference from Embodiment 1 is that the steam spray pipe 530 is located on the underside of the mounting base 31 (in the internal space T of the base portion 32). That is, as shown in Figure 14(b), steam from the boiler 500 is sprayed from the steam spray pipe 530, which is located at the lower center of the mounting base 31 of the dryer 1 (when viewed from the front), toward the internal space P. Since the mat-like member F is placed on the mounting base 31, the mat-like member F can be refreshed by spraying high-temperature steam from the steam spray pipe 530 through the internal space P towards the mat-like member F from the inside. The steam that has passed through the mat-like member F is discharged to the outside through the opening / closing window (shutter) 535, the vertical flow path 271, and the check damper 221. The opening / closing window 535 is controlled to remain open in conjunction with the operation of the exhaust fan 22 during the refreshing operation.

[0051] The steam spray pipe 530 in Figure 14 also has numerous small holes along its longitudinal direction from which steam is ejected toward the internal space P. Figure 14(b) shows the steam being sprayed from the steam spray pipe 530 in seven directions, for example, indicated by the arrows. The shape and number of the small holes from which the steam is ejected, and the upward direction of the spray, can be designed to be optimal. In Figure 14, the steam spray pipe 530 is shown to be installed in the internal space T of the base portion 32, but it may also be installed in the internal space P of the mounting base 31.

[0052] Figure 15 shows another example of the steam spray pipe configuration in the drying mechanism of Example 2. In Figure 15, as in Figure 14, a steam spray pipe 530 is provided on the lower side, and a steam spray pipe 540 is also provided on the upper side of the internal space P of the mounting base 31. The steam spray pipe 540 is connected to the boiler 500 by a connecting member 545. In this example, steam is sprayed from the steam spray pipe 530 in the six directions indicated by the arrows, and steam is sprayed from the steam spray pipe 540 in the five directions indicated by the arrows. However, the shape and number of small holes from which the steam is ejected, the direction of spraying, etc., can be designed to be optimal. As shown in Figure 15(b), a mat-like member F is placed on the mounting base 31, and the mat-like member F can be refreshed by spraying high-temperature steam from the steam spray pipes 530 and 540 through the internal space P towards the mat-like member F from the inside. The steam that has passed through the mat-like member F is discharged to the outside through the opening / closing window 535, the vertical flow path 271, and the check damper 221. The opening / closing window 535 is controlled to remain open in conjunction with the operation of the exhaust fan 22 during the refreshing operation.

[0053] (Example 3) Figures 16(a) and (b) show a front view of the drying mechanism of Example 3, and (c) shows a top view of (b). In the drying mechanism shown in Figure 16, the boiler 500 is similarly located outside the dryer 1. The difference from Example 1 in Figure 13 is that instead of steam spray pipes 510 and 520, spray holes 550 are provided to spray steam from the boiler 500 into the drying space D. For example, Figure 16(a) shows a configuration in which one spray hole 550 is provided in the upper center of the left wall (or any other upper position) to spray steam from the boiler 500 into the drying space D. For example, figures (b) and (c) show a configuration in which two spray holes 550a and 550b are provided on the upper diagonal corners of the left and right side walls to spray steam from the boiler 500 into the drying space D. As shown in figure (c), spray hole 550a is located on the far side (upper part in the figure), and spray hole 550b is located on the diagonal corners of the near side (lower part in the figure). Here, we have assumed that there is one spray hole 550 or two spray holes 550a and 550b, but it is also possible to provide three or more spray holes. Furthermore, it is desirable to select positions for the spray holes 550, 550a and 550b that allow steam to be sprayed evenly throughout the entire drying space D in a short amount of time.

[0054] In Figure 16(a) of Example 3, steam from the boiler 500 is sprayed into the drying space D from the spray holes 550, or 550a, 550b for, for example, 10 to 30 seconds. In Figures 16(b) and 16(c) of Example 3, steam from the boiler 500 is sprayed into the drying space D from the spray holes 550a, 550b for, for example, 5 to 15 seconds. When the exhaust fan 22 is activated after a certain amount of steam has been sprayed into the drying space D, the steam in the drying space D passes through the mat-like member F. Then, as in Example 1, the steam is discharged to the outside via the internal spaces P and T, the lower exhaust passage 281, the vertical passage 271, and the check damper 221. This allows the mat-like member F to be refreshed.

[0055] (Example 4) Figure 17(a) is a perspective view of the drying mechanism according to Embodiment 4, and Figure 17(b) is a front view. The drying mechanism shown in Figure 17 has a configuration in which a boiler 500 is built into the dryer 1. The boiler 500 built into the dryer 1 is connected to the left and right steam spray pipes 510 and 520 via a connecting member 570. Steam is sprayed toward the drying space D from numerous small holes provided longitudinally in the steam spray pipes 510 and 520. The other configurations and operations are the same as those of Embodiment 1 shown in Figure 13, so their explanation is omitted. In Example 3, since the mat-like member F is placed on the mounting table 31, the mat-like member F can be refreshed by spraying high-temperature steam towards the mat-like member F in the drying space D.

[0056] Figure 18 shows another example of the steam spray pipe configuration in the drying mechanism of Example 4. In Figure 18, the built-in boiler 500 shown in Figure 17 is connected to three steam spray pipes 510, 520, and 580 via connecting members 570 and the like. Steam spray pipe 580 is located in the upper center (viewed from the front) of the drying space D. The left and right steam spray pipes 510 and 520 are mounted lower than in Figure 13(b). In this example, steam is sprayed from the steam spray pipes 510, 520, and 580 in the three directions indicated by the arrows, but similarly, the shape and number of small holes from which steam is ejected, the direction of spraying, etc., can be designed to be optimal. Also, in Example 1, the configuration in Figure 18 may be adopted instead of Figure 13(b).

[0057] (Example 5) Figure 19 shows a perspective view of the drying mechanism according to Example 5. In Example 5, without using a boiler, mist is sprayed onto the hot air blown from a gas heater 21, and the fluid vaporized by the heat of the hot air is sprayed into the drying space D. To achieve this, a mist spraying member (e.g., a micronozzle) 600 that generates mist from tap water is provided near the gas heater 21 in the intake passage 251. Steam is generated when the mist sprayed from the mist spraying member 600 is dispersed toward the hot air, for example, 120°C, that is blown from the gas heater 21 into the intake passage 251. This steam is then sprayed from the intake passage 251 into the drying space D. As a result, the drying space D is filled with steam, and the mat-like member F placed on the mounting base 31 can be refreshed by exhausting the steam through it.

[0058] (Example 6) Figure 20 shows a perspective view of the drying mechanism according to Example 6. In Example 6, similar to Example 5, a boiler is not used. Instead, mist is sprayed onto the warm air blown from the gas heater 21, and the vaporized fluid is sprayed into the drying space D. The difference from Example 5 is that the mist spraying member 600 is configured to generate mint from water mixed with a treatment agent such as a deodorant, disinfectant, or mite repellent. As a result, similar to Example 5, the chemical-containing mist discharged from the mist spraying member 600 is sprayed onto the warm air, for example, 120°C, blown from the gas heater 21 into the intake passage 251, causing it to vaporize. This chemical-containing vapor is then sprayed into the drying space D from the intake passage 251. This fills the drying space D with vapor, which can then be exhausted through the mat-like member F placed on the mounting base 31 to refresh the mat-like member F.

[0059] (Example 7) Figure 21 shows an overview of the drying mechanism according to Example 7. In Example 7, without using a boiler, mist ejected from tap water or a water storage tank 610 via a mist spraying member (e.g., a micronozzle) 620 is sprayed onto a mat-like member F placed on the mounting surface 35 of the drying space D. Then, hot air at, for example, 120°C is blown from a gas heater 21 onto the mat-like member F. This allows the mat-like member F to be refreshed with steam during the drying process. The water storage tank 610 may be equipped with a water treatment device that generates ozone, so that the ozonated water is sprayed as a mist towards the mat-like member F. Alternatively, a nanoe™ (registered trademark) device 40 may be provided, and when the dryer 1 is not in operation, nanoe™ may be sprayed into the drying space D by a switch or automatic control.

[0060] (Example 8) Figure 22 shows an overview of the drying mechanism according to Example 8. In Example 8, the drying mechanism shown in Figure 22 reuses a portion of the discharged steam and hot air (recycles temperature and humidity). Similar to Example 7, mist ejected from tap water or a water storage tank 610 via a mist spraying member 620 is sprayed toward the mat-like member F placed on the mounting surface 35 of the drying space D. Then, the exhaust fan 22 is activated to blow hot air, for example, 120°C, from a gas heater 21 toward the mat-like member F to dry it. The steam used during the drying process refreshes the inside of the mat-like member F. The steam that has passed through is then discharged to the outside via a lower exhaust passage 281, a vertical passage 271, and a check damper 221. At this time, the check damper 221 is partially closed, and the on / off valve 630 is opened to return some of the steam to the gas heater 21. As a result, the gas heater 21 generates warm air in a mixture of high-temperature steam and air, which reduces steam waste and improves refresh efficiency.

[0061] Figure 23 shows an overview of the other components of the drying mechanism according to Example 8. The drying mechanism shown in Figure 23 is configured to reuse a portion of the discharged steam, similar to Figure 22, but the difference is that a portion of the discharged steam is returned to the drying space D. As described in Figure 22, mist ejected from tap water or a water storage tank 610 via a mist spraying member 620 is sprayed toward the mat-like member F placed on the mounting surface 35 of the mounting platform 31 in the drying space D. Then, the exhaust fan 22 is activated to blow hot air, for example, 120°C, from the gas heater 21 toward the mat-like member F to dry it. The steam used during the drying process refreshes the inside of the mat-like member F. The steam that has passed through is then discharged to the outside via a lower exhaust passage 281, a vertical passage 271, and a check damper 221. At this time, the check damper 221 is partially closed, and the on / off valve 630 is opened to return a portion of the steam to the drying space D. This allows the drying space D to maintain a high temperature during the refresh operation by returning a portion of the steam contained in the exhaust back to the drying space D, thereby improving the refresh efficiency.

[0062] (Example 9) Figure 24 shows an overview of the drying mechanism according to Example 9. In Example 9, without using a boiler, mist ejected from tap water or a water storage tank 610 via a mist spraying member (e.g., a micronozzle) 620 is sprayed through a heat exchanger 640 toward a mat-like member F placed on the mounting surface 35 of the drying space D. Subsequently, hot air at, for example, 120°C is blown from a gas heater 21 toward the mat-like member F. This allows the mat-like member F to be refreshed with steam during the drying process. By providing a heat exchanger 640, the hot air from the gas heater 21 is blown into the drying space D through an air passage made of a material with good thermal conductivity, causing the air passage to also become hot. By spraying mist water onto this, steam is generated, promoting steam generation along with the hot air. The water storage tank 610 may be equipped with a water treatment device that generates ozone, so that the ozonated water is sprayed as a mist towards the mat-like member F.

[0063] (Example 10) Example 10 will be described below with reference to Figures 25 to 29. Figure 25(a) is a perspective view of the dryer 700 of Example 10, and Figure 25(b) is a cross-sectional view of the opening and closing door seen from the front. Figure 26 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the dryer 700 seen from the side. Figure 27 is a perspective view of the dryer 700 seen from the rear. Figure 28 is a flowchart showing the refresh operation and drying-only operation of the dryer 700. Figure 29 is a schematic diagram showing the state in which steam is sprayed into the drying space D during the refresh operation of the dryer 700.

[0064] First, with reference to Figures 25 to 27, the connection structure between the dryer 700 and the boiler, which constitutes the refresh mechanism, will be described. Note that the configuration of the dryer 700 itself is the same as that described in Figures 1 to 12, so redundant explanations will be omitted. As shown in Figure 25, the dryer 700 is configured such that an external boiler 500 is connected to the housing 20 of the main body 2 by a first connecting member 705 and a second connecting member 710. The first connecting member 705 is a pipe for steam drain recovery, and the second connecting member 710 is a pipe for steam supply. Tap water is supplied to the boiler 500 via a water softener 715, and steam is generated using the softened water produced by the water softener 715. The steam generated by the boiler 500 is supplied to the steam / liquid separator 725 via the second connecting member 710 and the first control valve 720. As shown in Figure 26 or Figure 27, the steam supplied to the steam / liquid separator 725 is supplied to the drying space D of the dryer 700 via third connecting members 730 and fourth connecting members 735, for example, Φ6 mm in diameter, which are provided on the left and right sides. The connecting members 705, 710, 730 and 735 are composed of Teflon® tubes and insulating tubes covering those tubes. The water that has been turned into water from the steam accumulated in the steam / liquid separator 725 is returned to the boiler 500 via the second control valve 740 and the first connecting member 705 and discharged for disposal.

[0065] As shown by the circle outside in Figure 26, steam spray members (nozzles) 750 and 755 are provided on the left and right sides of the upper side wall 26 at the back of the drying space D of the dryer 700. The steam spray members 750 and 755 are mounted with an inclination angle of, for example, 15 degrees with respect to the upper wall 25 and an inclination angle of, for example, 15 degrees with respect to the left and right side walls 26. Then, as shown in Figure 26, steam is sprayed from the left and right steam spray members 750 and 755 into the drying space D. Since drying air (hot air) from the gas heater 21 flows in a swirling manner in the drying space D, the steam is sprayed toward the mat-like member F together with the hot air. As a result, steam can be sprayed evenly onto the mat-like member F (for example, bedding) placed on the mounting table 31. As a result, the mat-like member F can be refreshed efficiently. Here, the steam spray members (nozzles) 750 and 755 are provided on the upper side wall 26 at the back of the drying space D, but they may also be provided on the upper side wall 26 at the front of the drying space D.

[0066] As shown in Figure 26, a pressure sensor 760 is connected to the steam / liquid separator 725. The pressure sensor 760 indirectly monitors the boiler 500 by monitoring the pressure in the steam / liquid separator 725. The output signal of the pressure sensor 760 is notified to the control unit 24. If the control unit 24 determines from the output signal from the pressure sensor 760 that the boiler 500 is malfunctioning, it performs safety measures such as stopping the dryer 700. Note that if the boiler 500 has a safety function, the pressure sensor 760 can be omitted.

[0067] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 26 and 27, a suction mechanism 770 is provided on the left side of the steam / liquid separation device 725, which is connected to an internal treatment agent spraying device (e.g., deodorant and / or disinfectant spraying device) 765 having a jet nozzle 23. A treatment agent box (not shown) is connected to the end of the suction mechanism 770 via a fifth connecting member 775. The jet nozzle 23 is shaped to spray the treatment agent diagonally upward to the lower part of the rear wall 27. The treatment agent spraying device 765 and the suction mechanism 770 are operated by a control unit 24. The control unit 24 operates the suction mechanism 770 to pressurize the jet nozzle 23 and spray the treatment agent into the drying space D. Also, if the user requests spraying of the treatment agent (which can be as part of a refresh operation), the control unit 24 operates the treatment agent spraying device 765 after the drying process is completed to spray the treatment agent from the jet nozzle 23 towards the drying space D (mat-like member F).

[0068] Next, the drying and refreshing operations of the dryer 1,700 will be explained with reference to the flowchart in Figure 28. First, the user opens the door 29 of the main unit 2, pulls out the mounting platform 31 from inside, and spreads the mat-like member F on the mounting platform 31. Then, the mounting platform 31 with the mat-like member F on it is returned to the drying space D of the main unit 2, and is set up so that drying air can pass over the mat-like member F on the mounting platform 31 (S100). In other words, when the mat mounting section 3 is completely housed in the drying space D, the internal spaces P and T of the mat mounting section 3 and the lower exhaust passage 281 are fluidically connected, and thus the internal spaces P and T and the upper exhaust passage 252 are fluidly connected. The user selects a course ("drying mode" or "refresh mode") from the control panel 241 of the dryer 1,700 (S110).

[0069] For example, if the "drying mode" course is selected in step S110, the displayed fee for that course is paid (S120), and the operation is instructed to start. The control unit 24 blows drying air from the gas heater 21 into the drying space D to dry the mat-like member F (S130). In this drying process, it is preferable to control (adjust the heat output of) the gas heater 21 to maintain the average temperature inside the drying space D at approximately 90°C. The temperature inside the drying space D should be adjusted to a minimum of 50°C and a maximum of 130°C. This drying process is carried out for approximately 4 minutes. Next, the control unit 24 stops the gas heater 21 and supplies room temperature cold air into the drying space D to cool the mat-like member F for approximately 2 minutes (S140), and then terminates the operation.

[0070] On the other hand, if the "refresh mode" course is selected in step S110, the displayed fee for that course is paid (S150), and the operation is instructed to start. The control unit 24 supplies dry air from the gas heater 21 to the drying space D, warming the dryer 1,700 and the mat-like member F for, for example, 2 minutes, to perform a preheating process (S160).

[0071] This prevents excessive condensation in the apparatus. By warming the mat-like member F in this warming step before the steaming step, the internal fibers of the mat-like member F expand, increasing the steam penetration rate in the subsequent steaming step. However, overheating will prevent the steam from being properly retained within the mat-like member F during the steaming step, so it is preferable to perform the warming step for a short time, for example, about 2 minutes. Alternatively, instead of a set time such as 2 minutes, the process may be moved to the next step when the temperature of the drying space D reaches a set temperature (for example, about 120°C).

[0072] Next, the control unit 24 starts refreshing the mat-like member F by steaming it using steam (S170). In this process, the exhaust fan 22 is operated at an appropriate rotational speed to perform intermittent operation. The supply and exhaust of warm air by the supply unit 8 and exhaust unit 9 is suspended. In other words, only the supply and exhaust of cold air (outside air at room temperature) is performed. In Examples 1 and 2, the boiler 500 is operated to blow steam from the steam spray pipes 510, 520, 530, 540, and 580 onto the mat-like member F of the mounting base 31. In Example 3, the boiler 500 is operated to spray steam into the drying space D. Once the space has filled to a certain extent, the exhaust fan 22 is operated to suck out and discharge the steam that has passed through the mat-like member F. In Examples 4-6, warm air mixed with dry air from the air supply unit 8 and mist from the mist spraying member 600 is sprayed toward the mat-like member F to start refreshing the mat-like member F. In Examples 7-9, mist from the mist spraying member 620 is sprayed onto the mat-like member F placed on the mounting surface 35 of the mounting table 31 in the drying space D. Then, drying air from the air supply unit 8 is blown onto the mat-like member, and the steam generated during the drying process is used to refresh the mat-like member. In Example 10, steam from the boiler 500 is sprayed into the drying space D from the left and right steam spray members 750 and 755 to steam the mat-like member F and start refreshing the mat-like member F. These steaming processes are carried out for about 5 minutes, for example, and the steam spraying is stopped once the time has elapsed.

[0073] Next, the control unit 24 blows dry air from the gas heater 21 into the drying space D to dry the mat-like member F for, for example, 4 minutes (S180). Next, the control unit 24 sprays the treatment agent from the treatment agent spraying device 765 through the jet nozzle 23 into the drying space D filled with dry air for, for example, 1 minute (S190). Finally, the control unit 24 stops the gas heater 21 and supplies room temperature cooling air into the drying space D to cool the mat-like member F for, for example, 2 minutes (S195), and ends the operation.

[0074] Figure 29 is a schematic diagram showing the state in which steam is sprayed into the drying space D of the dryer 700. In step S160 described above, the control unit 24 performs a warming process by flowing dry air from the gas heater 21 into the drying space D (for example, for 2 minutes). By warming the drying space D and the mat-like member F in this warming process before the steaming process, the internal fibers of the mat-like member F expand, which increases the steam penetration rate in the subsequent steaming process.

[0075] Then, in the steaming process of step S170, the control unit 24 sprays steam into the drying space D from two steam spraying members 750 and 755 (for example, for 5 minutes). This steaming process allows a large amount of steam to penetrate into the interior of the mat-like member F.

[0076] In the drying process of steps S130 and S180, the control unit 24 operates the exhaust fan 22 to create a configuration in which drying air from the gas heater 21 passes from the mat-like member F through the inside of the mounting table 31 and is drawn in from the lower exhaust passage 281, thereby drying the mat-like member F. At this time, the drying air from the gas heater 21 flows in a swirling manner within the drying space D. This drying air mixes with the steam from the steam spray members 750 and 755, and the drying process of the mat-like member F is carried out (for example, for 4 minutes). In other words, the drying process is carried out in a manner in which the steam that has permeated the inside of the mat-like member F in the steaming process is drawn in and discharged together with the drying air, refreshing the mat-like member F. That is, steam can be evenly sprayed onto the mat-like member F (for example, bedding) placed on the mounting table 31. As a result, the mat-like member F can be refreshed efficiently.

[0077] In step 290, the control unit 24 stops the gas heater 21 and sprays the treatment agent from the treatment agent spraying device 765 through the jet nozzle 23 towards the drying space D filled with dry air (for example, for 1 minute). In the cooling steps of steps S140 and S195, the control unit 24 stops the gas heater 21 and uses the exhaust fan 22 to draw in room temperature cooling air from the lower exhaust passage 281 to cool the mat-like member F (for example, for 2 minutes).

[0078] Thus, in Example 10, by going through the steps of heating the drying space D and the mat-like member F, and the steaming step of the mat-like member F, it is possible to create a form that allows steam to easily penetrate into the mat-like member F. Furthermore, by spraying a treatment agent in the treatment (deodorization) step, the mat-like member F can be deodorized. Therefore, steam can be evenly sprayed onto the mat-like member F (for example, bedding) placed on the mounting stand 31. As a result, the mat-like member F can be refreshed efficiently.

[0079] (Movable support part 800) Next, the movable support unit 800 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 30 to 38. For the purposes of this explanation, Figures 30 to 38 will show the movable support unit 800 as an example of its use in the dryer 700 described in Example 10.

[0080] Figure 30 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a dryer with the movable support part according to this embodiment. Figure 31 is a perspective view showing the movable support part according to this embodiment. Figures 32 and 33 are perspective views showing the retracted and extended states of the movable support part according to this embodiment, respectively. Figure 34 is a front view showing the dryer with the movable support part according to this embodiment in the retracted state, and Figure 35 is a diagram showing its internal configuration. Figure 36 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the dryer with the movable support part according to this embodiment in the extended state, and Figure 37 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the dryer with the movable support part according to this embodiment supporting the workpiece and in the retracted state. Figure 38 is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration in which the movable support part according to this embodiment is provided on the side wall. Note that in Figures 35 to 37, the drying space D is mainly a perspective view seen from the side, and the mounting base 31 is omitted for explanatory purposes. Also, Figure 38 is a schematic diagram showing an enlarged view of the area around the movable support part from the front.

[0081] As shown in Figure 30, the dryer 700 according to this embodiment is provided in a drying space D and includes a pair of movable support parts 800, each of which can be pulled forward from the drying space D.

[0082] As shown in Figures 31 to 33, the pair of movable support sections 800 are so-called three-stage pull-out type slide rails, each having an elongated outer member 810, an inner member 820, and an intermediate member 830 in the front-rear direction. Specifically, in the housing state described later, the elongated outer member 810, formed in a roughly C-shape in its vertical cross-section so that an open portion is defined on the side, and the elongated inner member 820, also formed in a roughly C-shape in its vertical cross-section so that an open portion is defined on the side, are arranged facing each other so that their open portions face each other. An intermediate member 830 is positioned so as to fit into these two open portions, thereby connecting the outer member 810 and the inner member 820 so that they can move relative to each other via the intermediate member 830.

[0083] The intermediate member 830 is formed in a substantially H-shape in its longitudinal cross-section, with open portions defined on both sides. Retainers and retainer balls (not shown) are positioned at both the upper and lower ends of one side portion, thereby supporting the outer member 810 so that it can move relative to it in the longitudinal direction. Similarly, retainers and retainer balls are positioned at both the upper and lower ends of the other side portion of the intermediate member 830, thereby supporting the inner member 820 so that it can move relative to it in the longitudinal direction.

[0084] As shown in Figure 35, the pair of movable support parts 800 are arranged so that their longitudinal direction aligns with the front-rear direction. Therefore, the movable support parts 800 can transition from a housing state in which the outer member 810 and the inner member 820 are positioned at substantially the same position in the front-rear direction, as shown in Figures 31, 32, and 35, to an extended state in which the inner member 820 is fully extended forward relative to the outer member 810, as shown in Figures 30, 33, and 36. In the extended state, it is preferable to restrict separation by a known locking mechanism, that is, to prevent the outer member 810 and the inner member 820 from falling off the intermediate member 830, so that the outer member 810 and the inner member 820 remain supported by the intermediate member 830.

[0085] As shown in Figure 31, the movable support portion 800 has a bracket 840 that is elongated in the front-to-back direction and has a roughly L-shaped vertical cross-section, integrally provided with a horizontal plate positioned above it and a vertical plate hanging down from one end of the horizontal plate in the left-right direction. The vertical plate of the bracket 840 and the side wall portion of the outer member 810 are in surface contact, and these are fixed to each other by spot welding or the like, thereby fixing the bracket 840 to the outer member 810. Alternatively, the bracket 840 may be fixed to the outer member 810 by connecting these with multiple fasteners such as screws. Furthermore, the horizontal plate of the bracket 840 and the upper wall portion 25 that forms the upper surface of the drying space D, as shown in Figures 34 to 36, are in surface contact, and these are connected with multiple fasteners, thereby fixing the movable support portion 800 to the upper wall portion 25 in a way that prevents it from falling off.

[0086] As shown in Figure 31, the movable support portion 800 has a support plate 850 which is elongated in the front-rear direction and formed in the shape of a flat plate with its plane facing vertically. The support plate 850 is fixed to the inner member 820 by surface contact with the side wall portion of the inner member 820 and by fasteners connecting them. The support plate 850 is provided with a plurality of hooks 851 for suspending and supporting the workpiece, which are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction (in this case, two). Each pair of hooks 851 is integrally provided with the support plate 850 and consists of a projection 852 that protrudes downward from the lower end of the support plate 850 and a pair of suspension portions 853 provided on both the left and right sides of the projection 852, with their left and right ends folded upward so that they are formed in a roughly L-shape in vertical cross-section.

[0087] The pair of suspension parts 853 engage with the hook portion of a hanger for hanging clothes and suspend and support it, and it is preferable that the front-to-back width of each is formed to a predetermined length corresponding to the width of the hook portion of the hanger (diameter of the curved portion). This suppresses the rotation of the hanger caused by steam or wind (drying wind, cooling wind) during processing, and allows the object to be suspended and supported in an appropriate position for processing. The predetermined length is, for example, 30 mm. Furthermore, the upwardly folded end and the protruding portion 852 prevent the hook portion of the hanger from falling off in the left-to-right direction. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 30 and 36, the front hook 851 can be completely exposed to the outside of the drying space D when extended, and the rear hook 851 can be positioned near the entrance of the drying space D. Therefore, when extended, the user can easily hook the hanger with the object to be processed onto the front and rear hooks 851.

[0088] The distance L1 (see Figure 35) between the two hooks 851 provided on a single support plate 850 in the front-to-back direction is preferably set to a length that ensures sufficient front-to-back distance between the workpieces CT so that drying and refreshing effects can be adequately provided when each hook 851 suspends and supports the workpiece CT via a hanger, as shown in Figure 37. For example, if jackets are assumed to be workpieces CT and the jackets are lined up without contact in the front-to-back direction, such a length could be approximately 555.6 mm.

[0089] As shown in Figure 34, the pair of movable support parts 800 are configured to be symmetrical with respect to a center line CL that passes vertically through the approximate center of the mat mounting section 3 in the left-right direction. In other words, the support plates 850 are configured to face each other. The pair of movable support parts 800 are located above the upper end of the mounting surface 35 and are spaced apart from each other so that the upper end of the mounting surface 35 is located between them (approximately in the center) in the left-right direction. The distance L2 (see Figure 34) between the center of the hook 851 and the center line CL in the left-right direction is preferably such that, when the hook 851 suspends and supports the workpiece CT via the hanger in the storage state, there is no contact between the workpiece CT and the mat-like member F placed on the mounting surface 35. For example, such a length is approximately 254.6 mm.

[0090] In this embodiment, since each of the two support plates 850 is provided with two hooks 851, each having a pair of hanging parts 853 on the left and right sides, the pair of movable support parts 800 can support at least eight hangers in total, meaning that a total of eight items to be processed can be accommodated in the drying space D. However, this is not the only option, and depending on the size of the drying space D and the mat placement area 3, one or more hooks 851 may be provided on one support plate 850.

[0091] Furthermore, the pair of movable support parts 800 are positioned so that their rear ends are individually close to the steam spray members 750 and 755, respectively. By positioning the movable support parts 800 close to the steam spray members 750 and 755 in this manner, a sufficient refreshing effect of steam or the like can be provided to the supported workpiece CT.

[0092] An example of the dimensions and mounting position of a pair of movable support parts 800 will be described. Assuming that the length of the drying space D is approximately 1,200 mm in the front-to-back direction and approximately 640 mm in the vertical direction, the pair of movable support parts 800 should be set as follows: as shown in Figure 34, length L2 is 254.6 mm, vertical length L3 from the upper wall 25 to the lower end of the hook 851 is 56.1 mm, as shown in Figure 35, separation distance L1 is 555.6 mm, front-to-back length L4 of the movable support part 800 is 713.6 mm, front-to-back length L5 from the front end of the drying space D (or side wall 26) to the center of the front hook 851 on the movable support part 800 is 318.6 mm, and vertical length L6 from the upper surface of the base 32 to the lower end of the hook 851 is 1,057.4 mm.

[0093] By using these dimensions and mounting positions, contact between the workpieces CT and contact with the mat-like member F can be avoided, ensuring reliable drying and refreshing effects for the workpieces CT. Furthermore, by setting the front-to-back length L4 of the movable support part 800 to 713.6 mm, as shown in Figure 36, the front-to-back length L7 of the extended movable support part 800 can be set to approximately 1443.3 mm, and the length L8 from the front end of the drying space D (or side wall part 26) to the front end of the inner member 820 can be set to approximately 499.3 mm, allowing the front and rear hooks 851 to be extended to a position where hangers on which workpieces CT are hung can be easily attached.

[0094] The method of using the movable support part 800 according to this embodiment will be explained. First, in the storage and placement process S100, the user opens the door 29 of the main body 2, pulls out the mat placement unit 3 from the drying space D, and spreads the mat-like member F on the placement table 31. Before or after this placement, the user pulls out the inner members 820 of the pair of movable support units 800 from the drying space D and hangs the hooks of the hangers on which the workpieces to be processed are already attached to the hooks 851 of the pair of movable support units 800. After that, the pair of movable support units 800, along with the mat placement unit 3 on which the mat-like member F is placed, are returned to the drying space D of the main body 2, and the mat placement unit 3 is set in a position where drying air can pass over the mat-like member F, and the pair of movable support units 800 are returned to a storage state so that drying air hits the workpieces to be processed. The subsequent processing is the same as the flow shown in Figure 28.

[0095] However, the usage is not limited to the above-described method. In the above-described storage and placement process S100, the mat-like member F may be placed on the mat placement section 3, and only the object to be processed may be placed in the drying space D for processing. Furthermore, the processing is not limited to drying or refreshing. For example, deodorizing, sterilizing, and / or mite-proofing treatments may be further performed by spraying the treatment agent from the jet nozzle 23 into the drying space D, and these treatments may be performed individually or in appropriate combinations. In addition, a cooling treatment by supplying only cooling air into the drying space D may be performed individually. In this case, for example, when selecting a course in step S110, in addition to "drying mode" and "refresh mode," "deodorizing mode" for deodorizing treatment, "sterilizing mode" for sterilizing treatment, "mite-proofing mode" for mite-proofing treatment, and "cooling mode" for cooling treatment may be displayed on the control panel for selection.

[0096] As described above, the movable support section 800 makes it possible to effectively utilize the surplus space in the drying space D where there is no mat placement section 3, allowing the object to be processed CT to be dried and / or refreshed together with the mat-like member F, and also providing sterilization and deodorizing effects. Therefore, compared to processing each item individually, processing time, electricity, gas, etc. can be reduced, resulting in lower costs. Furthermore, for example, clothing such as suits, which are difficult to dry in a general dryer, can be dried and refreshed with reduced wrinkles and deformation while still hanging on a hanger using the dryer 700 according to this embodiment. In addition, since the movable support section 800 can be extended, hangers and the like can be easily hung on the hook 851.

[0097] In this embodiment, it has been explained that a hanger is attached to the hook 851, but this is not the only option. Naturally, other structures besides hangers that secure the object to be processed CT may be used, or the object to be processed may be attached directly. Alternatively, a hanger may be attached to the support plate 850, either integrally or detachably, instead of the hook 851. In this way, the object to be processed CT can be supported by the support plate 850 without the need to prepare a separate hanger. Furthermore, although it has been explained that the object to be processed CT is clothing, this is not the only option. The dryer 700 can process anything that can be supported via the hook 851, such as clothing items like scarves, bedding like sheets and pillows, stuffed animals, cushions, etc.

[0098] Furthermore, although it has been explained that the movable support portion 800 is fixed to the upper wall portion 25 by a bracket 840 in this embodiment, it is not limited to this, and it may be fixed to any wall portion in the drying space D, such as the side wall portion 26, as long as the workpiece CT can be dried and refreshed properly. For example, when the movable support portion 800 is provided on the side wall portion 26, the outer member 810 may be fixed via a flat bracket 840a as shown in Figure 39(a), or the outer member 810 may be fixed via a bracket 840b with a substantially C-shaped vertical cross-section as shown in Figure 39(b), as long as the outer member 810 can be fixed to the side wall portion 26. In addition, when using bracket 840b, multiple holes may be drilled in the flat portion located above to allow air to pass through.

[0099] Furthermore, although the movable support section 800 has been described as a three-stage pull-out type slide rail in this embodiment, it is not limited to this, and a two-stage pull-out type slide rail or a slide rail with four or more stages may also be used. Also, the movable support section 800 is not limited to a slide rail, but can be any sliding extension mechanism. Examples of such extension mechanisms include a guide shaft including a rod and a cylinder that houses the rod so that it can move forward, and a guide rail including a movable body and a rail that guides the movement of the movable body in the front-rear direction. These rods and movable bodies may be provided with hooks 851 or hangers. Moreover, if the convenience of setting (hooking) the CT to be processed by the user is not considered, the movable support section 800 may be composed of a fixed rail, i.e., only an outer member 810, with the hooks 851 provided on the outer member 810, instead of a slide rail.

[0100] The embodiments of the present invention are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be carried out in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations of features can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0101] 1,700...Dryer 3… Mattress placement section 8...Air supply section 9... Exhaust section 20…Cabinet 23... Jet nozzle (spray part) 25...Upper wall part, 26…Side wall part 31… Mounting platform 35… Mounting surface 500... Boiler (spray section) 510, 520, 530, 540, 580… Steam spraying components (spray pipes, spraying parts) 550,550a,550b…Spray hole (spray part) 750, 755… Steam spraying component (spraying part) 600, 620… Mist spraying component (spraying part) 610...Water storage tank (spray unit) 800...Movable support part (support part) 810...Outer member (fixed part) 820... Inner member (movable part) 850...Support plate (movable part) 851... Hook D...Drying space F...Mat-like member CT…Processing object

Claims

1. A dryer for mat-shaped materials, A housing that forms a drying space, An air supply unit that supplies high-temperature drying air to the drying space, A mat mounting section having a mounting surface through which the aforementioned drying air can pass, on which the mat-like member is placed, An exhaust unit that discharges the drying air that has passed through the mounting surface to the outside of the drying space, A support portion is provided in the drying space so as to be spaced apart from the mat placement portion, and is used to suspend and support the object to be processed. Equipped with, The support portion is provided at a position spaced apart from the upper end of the mat mounting surface in the width direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction of the drying space, so as to enable simultaneous drying of the mat-like member and the workpiece, and positions the workpiece in the space between the inner wall surface of the housing forming the drying space and the mat mounting portion. A dryer characterized by the following features.

2. The support portion has a fixing portion for fixing the support portion within the drying space, and a movable portion that moves relative to the fixing portion so that at least a portion of it can be pulled out of the drying space. The movable part is provided with a hook for suspending and supporting the object to be processed. The dryer according to feature 1.

3. The support portion is provided on the upper wall portion that forms the upper surface of the drying space or on the lateral wall portion that forms the side surface of the drying space, so as to be located above the mat placement portion. The dryer according to claim 1, characterized by the features described above.

4. The system further includes a spray unit for spraying a fluid into the drying space, The spray unit sprays the fluid into the drying space, refreshing the mat-like member and the object to be treated. A dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the features described above.

5. The spraying unit is A boiler that generates steam, A steam spray member connected to the boiler sprays the steam as the fluid toward the drying space, Equipped with, Along with supplying the drying air from the air supply unit to the drying space, the water vapor is sprayed into the drying space via the steam spraying member to refresh the mat-like member and the workpiece. The dryer according to feature 4.

6. The fluid is a treatment agent or ionized water for deodorization and / or disinfection. The spraying unit mixes the fluid as a mist with the drying air supplied by the air supply unit, or sprays it into the drying space, and refreshes the mat-like member and the workpiece with the fluid in mist form. The dryer according to feature 4.

Images