JP3661209B2 - Clothes dryer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a clothes dryer having a dehumidifier used for drying clothes.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a clothes dryer having a conventional dehumidifying device. In FIG. 4, heated air generated from the blower 3 and the heater 4 is sent to the wet clothing 2 in the sealed space 1, and moisture of the clothing dissolves in the heated air, and becomes hot and humid air. To the air-cooled dehumidifier 5. And when passing the dehumidifier 5, it cools with external air, a part of moisture is collect | recovered as water, and dehumidifies.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional clothes dryer described above, in order to improve the dehumidification efficiency, it is necessary to send high-temperature and high-humidity air to the air-cooled dehumidifier. A sealing material that eliminates air leakage is required, which not only makes it difficult to reduce the size, but also increases the cost.
[0004]
This invention solves the said subject, and it aims at providing the clothing dryer with a dehumidification apparatus which is small and cheap which does not require a cabinet or its sealing material.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides, as a first means, an adsorbent that adsorbs moisture in a container having an air inlet and an exhaust port directed to an object to be dried, and heating the adsorbent. Heating means, air supply means for supplying air outside the container to the adsorbent from the inlet, and downstream of the adsorbent, desorbed from the adsorbent in the adsorbent regeneration step A dehumidifying means for removing moisture, and air that has passed through the adsorbent during the regeneration process of the adsorbent is introduced into the dehumidifying means, and air that has passed through the adsorbent at times other than during the regeneration process. in a first path switching means for switching a path for passage of air passing through the adsorbent to introduced, is connected to the dehumidifier, the exhaust outlet and the air circulation duct connected to the vicinity of the intake port The dehumidifying means includes the heating means The adsorbent is further heated to cool and dehumidify means for removing the moisture in the high-temperature and high-humidity air by cooling the high-temperature and high-humidity air generated by desorption of water from the adsorbent with outside air, In the regeneration process, the air dehumidified by the dehumidifying means is sent to the vicinity of the intake port through the circulation air passage, and the outside air cooled by the cooling dehumidifying means is exhausted to the object to be dried. The clothes dryer is characterized by the above.
[0006]
As a second means, the air dehumidified by the dehumidifying means of the first means is sent to the vicinity of the intake port inside the container through the circulation air passage .
[0007]
As a third means, outside air is prevented from flowing into the container from the air inlet during the adsorbent regeneration process of the first means , and from the air inlet to the container during times other than the regeneration process. A second path switching means for switching the path of the air passing through the intake port so as to allow external air to flow in is added .
[0008]
[Action]
Next, the operation of each means will be described. In the first means, the adsorbent adsorbs moisture contained therein from the air around the clothing fed by the air supply means in the adsorption process, and removes the remaining air from which moisture has been removed. It discharges to the rear and discharges outside through the first path switching means . Next, when moving from the adsorption process to the regeneration process, the heating means is heated and the air fed from the air supply means to the adsorbent is also heated to become heated air, and the temperature of the adsorbent itself gradually increases. As the temperature of the adsorbent rises, the moisture adsorbed by the adsorbent in the adsorption process gradually desorbs from the adsorbent and becomes hot and humid air together with the heated air, and is dehumidified via the rear first path switching means. Flow into the vessel. Then, it is cooled in the dehumidifier, a part of the moisture is recovered (dehumidified) as water, and the remaining air that still contains moisture is sent to the air inlet of the air supply means through the circulation air passage. , it is dehumidified sent to the dehumidifier through the adsorbent again. By repeating this adsorption and regeneration process continuously, the air around the clothes is dehumidified and dried, and moisture is transferred from the wet clothes to the surrounding dry air, and the moisture is received from the air. Is dehumidified again by the adsorption / regeneration process of the adsorbent, and as a result, drying of wet clothing proceeds. Thus, a dehumidifying device for a clothes dryer can be provided without requiring a cabinet around the clothes or a sealing material for the cabinet.
[0009]
According to the second means of the present invention, since the air dehumidified by the dehumidifying means of the first means is configured to be sent to the vicinity of the intake port inside the container through the circulation air path, the circulation air path and It has a relatively simple structure for connecting the air inlet to the air supply means , and can efficiently dehumidify the adsorbent during the regeneration process without losing much exhaust from the circulation air passage. is there.
[0010]
According to the third means of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the flow of external air from the intake port into the container during the adsorbent regeneration step of the first means , and the intake port at times other than the regeneration step. And a second path switching means for switching the path of the air passing through the intake port so as to allow external air to flow into the container. The air supply during the adsorption process and during the regeneration process In the adsorbent regeneration process, it is possible to send the exhaust with partial moisture from the circulation air passage to the downstream dehumidifier through the adsorbent without escaping it. Efficient dehumidification can be performed.
[0011]
【Example】
(Example 1)
Hereinafter, a clothes dryer according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0012]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes an adsorbent made of silica gel or zeolite, and is formed in a lattice shape. A heater (heating means) 12 is located in front of the adsorbent 11 and is turned on during the regeneration process of the adsorbent 11 so that the adsorbent 11 can be heated. Reference numeral 13 denotes a blower (air supply means) that is located on the upstream side of the heater 12 and sends air to the downstream side, and has an intake port 14. Reference numeral 15 denotes an air-cooled dehumidifier (dehumidifying means) that is located behind the adsorbent 11 and dehumidifies hot and humid air flowing from the front, and is adjacent to a cooling fan 22. Reference numeral 16 denotes an air path switching valve (first path switching means) located between the adsorbent 11 and the dehumidifier 15, and allows air from the adsorbent 11 to flow outside (clothing side) during the adsorption process of the adsorbent 11. In the regeneration process, air from the adsorbent 11 is provided to flow to the dehumidifier 15. Reference numeral 17 denotes a circulation air passage connected to the dehumidifier 15, and an exhaust outlet 18 thereof is connected to the intake port 14 of the blower 13. Reference numeral 19 denotes a drying stick for hooking wet clothing 20. A tray 21 is provided near the dehumidifier 15 and collects water obtained by the dehumidifying function of the dehumidifier 15.
[0013]
The operation of the clothes dryer with the dehumidifier configured as described above will be described. During the adsorption process of the adsorbent 11, the air around the wet clothing 20 is carried to the adsorbent 11 by the blower 13 provided upstream thereof, and moisture contained in the carried air is adsorbed to the adsorbent 11. . The remaining air adsorbed with moisture is discharged to the outside (clothing side) through the air path switching valve 16 as indicated by an arrow a. When this is performed for a predetermined time and then the process proceeds to the regeneration process of the adsorbent 11, first, the heater 12 positioned in front of the adsorbent 11 is turned on. As a result, the heater 12 is heated, the air sent from the blower 13 to the adsorbent 11 is also heated to become heated air, and the temperature of the adsorbent 11 itself gradually increases. As the temperature of the adsorbent 11 rises, the moisture adsorbed by the adsorbent 11 in the adsorption process gradually desorbs from the adsorbent 11 and becomes high-temperature and humid air together with the flowing heated air. 16 flows into the dehumidifier 15 as indicated by the arrow b. Then, in the dehumidifier 15, the air is cooled by the outside air via the cooling blower 22, and a part of the moisture is collected (dehumidified) as water into the tray 21, and the remaining air that still contains the moisture circulates. The air is sent to the intake port 14 of the blower 13 connected to the exhaust outlet 18 through the air passage 17, and becomes hot and humid air again through the blower 13, the heater 12, and the adsorbent 11, and is sent to the dehumidifier 15 to be dehumidified. The After performing this for a certain time, the process returns to the adsorption process again. And said adsorption | suction and reproduction | regeneration process are repeated continuously. By these operations, the air around the wet garment 20 is dehumidified and dried, and moisture can be transferred from the wet garment 20 to the surrounding dry air. Further, the surrounding air is dehumidified again by the adsorption / regeneration process of the adsorbent 11, and as a result, the wet clothing 20 is dried.
[0014]
(Example 2)
Next, a clothes dryer according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 2, an exhaust outlet 18 of the circulation air passage 17 is provided in the vicinity of the intake port 14 of the blower 13. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.
[0015]
The operation will be described based on the above configuration. The blower 13 provided in the vicinity of the partially exhausted air discharged from the exhaust outlet 18 of the circulation air passage 17 during the regeneration process of the adsorbent 11 does not escape to the outside (clothing side) so much. The air is sucked into the air inlet 14 together with the air on the outside (clothing side), and is again sent to the dehumidifier 15 through the blower 13, the heater 12, and the adsorbent 11, and is sent to the dehumidifier 15. Therefore, dehumidification can be performed more efficiently than in the first embodiment. Other operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0016]
(Example 3)
Next, a clothes dryer according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 23 denotes an air path switching valve (second path switching means) provided at the intake port 14 of the blower 13, and the exhaust from the circulation air path 17 is discharged from the blower 13 only during the regeneration process of the adsorbent 11. In addition to being connected to the exhaust outlet 18 of the circulation air passage 17 so as to pass through the intake port 14, the outside (clothing side) air is allowed to pass during the adsorption process. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.
[0017]
The operation will be described based on the above configuration. During the adsorption process of the adsorbent 11, external (clothing side) air is carried into the adsorbent 11 from the air inlet 14 of the blower 13 through the air path switching valve 23. During the regeneration process of the adsorbent 11, a part of the air that still contains moisture discharged from the exhaust outlet 18 of the circulation air passage 17 is not leaked to the outside (clothing side) by the air passage switching valve 23. The air is sucked into the air intake port 14 and again becomes high-temperature and high-humidity air through the blower 13, the heater 12, and the adsorbent 11 and is dehumidified. In the present embodiment, since the inflow of air from the outside can be suppressed during the regeneration process of the adsorbent 11, the regeneration process time can be shortened. Other operations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
If Re good to the present invention, all SANYO which can be determined promptly by using an drying of wet clothes, without the particular need around the cabinet or cabinet sealant clothing, inexpensive dehumidifier with clothes dryer It can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a cross-sectional view of a clothes dryer in a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a clothes dryer in a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a third embodiment of the present invention. Cross section of clothes dryer in Japan [Fig. 4] Cross section of conventional clothes dryer [Explanation of symbols]
11 Adsorbent 12 Heater (heating means)
13 Blower (Air supply means)
14 Intake port 15 Dehumidifier (dehumidification means)
16 Air path switching valve (first path switching means)
17 Circulating air path 18 Exhaust outlet 20 Wet clothing 23 Air path switching valve (second path switching means)

Claims (3)

An adsorbent that adsorbs moisture, a heating means for heating the adsorbent, and air outside the container from the intake port into the container provided with an intake port and an exhaust port directed to the object to be dried. An air supply means for supplying to the adsorbent; a dehumidifying means installed downstream of the adsorbent, for removing moisture desorbed from the adsorbent in the adsorbent regeneration process; and at the time of the adsorbent regeneration process Air that has passed through the adsorbent is introduced into the dehumidifying means, and air that has passed through the adsorbent is introduced so that air that has passed through the adsorbent is introduced into the exhaust port at times other than the regeneration step. A first path switching means for switching, and a circulation air passage connected to the vicinity of the intake port, the exhaust outlet being connected to the dehumidifying means, and the dehumidifying means heating the adsorbent by the heating means. Moisture desorbed from the adsorbent The hot and humid air produced a cooling dehumidifier remove moisture is cooled by the outside air in the air of the hot and humid Te, wherein during the regeneration step of the adsorbent, the air dehumidified by said dehumidifying means A clothes dryer which is sent to the vicinity of the air inlet through a circulation air passage and exhausts the outside air cooled by the cooling and dehumidifying means to the object to be dried . The clothes dryer according to claim 1, wherein the air dehumidified by the dehumidifying means is sent to the vicinity of the air inlet in the container via the circulation air passage. The intake air is prevented from flowing from the intake port into the container during the regeneration process of the adsorbent, and outside air is allowed to flow from the intake port into the container at times other than the regeneration process. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, further comprising second path switching means for switching a path of air passing through the mouth.

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