JP4271064B2 - Drum washing machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine that accommodates laundry in a drum and performs washing.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a drum type washing machine that accommodates laundry in a substantially cylindrical drum that can rotate around a rotation axis extending in a substantially horizontal direction and performs washing. The drum is placed in the outer tub, and when the drum-type washing machine is started, water (tap water) is supplied into the outer tub from a water supply facility (such as a water tap) outside the machine. A certain amount of water is stored inside. After that, by rotating the drum, the laundry in the drum is lifted by the baffle protruding on the inner surface of the drum, and the operation (tumbling) is spontaneously dropped from a certain height toward the water surface. The laundry is washed (tapping). When the washing process is completed, the water in the outer tub is drained, and then the drum is rotated at a high speed to perform the dehydration process. Usually, when washing is performed, the detergent is put into the outer tub before the washing process is started.

Generally, the higher the temperature of the water supplied into the outer tub, the higher the washing power during washing. Therefore, in a region where the temperature is relatively low, the temperature of the water supplied into the outer tub is low, and there is a possibility that the laundry cannot be washed with sufficient cleaning power.
In recent years, detergents containing enzymes have been widely used to improve detergency. However, some enzymes are activated at higher temperatures to improve detergency. When washing is performed using this, if the temperature of the water supplied into the outer tub is low, there is a possibility that improvement of the cleaning power by the enzyme cannot be expected.

Therefore, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, warm air is generated using a heater for drying the laundry, and the water supplied into the outer tub is warmed by the warm air, thereby washing the laundry. It is conceivable to improve the cleaning power.
Japanese Patent No. 2517116

However, in the above prior art, since it takes time to warm a large amount of water stored in the outer tub with warm air, there is a problem that power consumption increases.
The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object thereof is to provide a drum type washing machine capable of improving the cleaning power with less electric power.

  The invention according to claim 1 for achieving the above object comprises an outer tub (7) and a drum (10) for storing laundry disposed in the outer tub. A drum-type washing machine (1) that stores water and performs a washing step (S2), and then drains (S3) the water in the outer tub and then performs a dehydration step (S5). A drum rotating means (12) for causing the hot water to be supplied into the outer tub, and a hot air supplying means (3) for supplying hot air into the outer tub, and after the washing process is completed and the water in the outer tub is drained. Until the dehydration process is started, hot air is supplied into the outer tub by the hot air supply means, and the drum is rotated by the drum rotating means to execute the hot air washing process. And a hot air washing process executing means (40, S4). It is a non-type washing machine.

The alphanumeric characters in parentheses indicate corresponding components in the embodiments described later. The same applies hereinafter.
According to this configuration, the water contained in the laundry after draining is warmed by the warm air supplied from the warm air supply means into the outer tub. Then, the laundry containing the warmed water is rubbed against the other laundry or the inner surface of the drum as the drum rotates, or is struck against the inner surface of the drum, so that washing with warm water is achieved.

Therefore, since a relatively small amount of water contained in the laundry after drainage can be warmed and washed (warm air washing) in a short time, the configuration is such that a large amount of water stored in the outer tub is warmed. In comparison, the cleaning power can be improved with less power.
In particular, when washing is performed using a detergent containing an enzyme that is activated at higher temperatures and improves detergency, a relatively small amount of water contained in the laundry after drainage by warm air washing Can be activated in a short time to activate the enzyme contained in the water. Therefore, since washing with higher detergency can be performed in a short time, the detergency can be further improved with less electric power.

  The drum type washing machine (1) can execute a drying step (S10) for drying the laundry after washing, and the hot air supply means (3) It may be for supplying warm air inside. In this case, since the warm air is supplied into the outer tub during the warm air washing process using the warm air supplying means used during the drying process, it is not necessary to provide a new member for executing the warm air washing process. Therefore, warm air washing can be realized without increasing the manufacturing cost of the drum type washing machine.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the drum rotating means (12) rotates the drum (10) after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the warm air washing process (YES in E3). A drum type washing machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that:
According to this configuration, the water contained in the laundry after draining is warmed during the predetermined time, and the drum is rotated and hot air washing is performed in a state where the cleaning power is increased. Compared with the configuration in which the drum is rotated simultaneously with the start of the supply of hot air, the cleaning power can be improved with less power.

The hot air supply means (3) supplies the hot water into the outer tub (7) after the predetermined period has elapsed (YES in E3) after the hot air washing process has started and before the predetermined time has elapsed. A warm air having a temperature lower than that of the warm air may be supplied into the outer tub.
Invention of Claim 3 contains the load amount detection means (40, 47, 50) for detecting the load amount of the laundry accommodated in the said drum (10), The said warm air supply means (3) Depending on the detection result of the load amount detection means, the temperature of the warm air supplied to the inside of the outer tub (7) during the warm air washing process, or the warm air in the outer tub during the warm air washing process. The drum type washing machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the supply time can be changed.

When there is a large amount of laundry load, there is a lot of water in the laundry after draining, so there is a lot of heat required to warm the water contained in the laundry to a certain temperature, and the load of laundry is small. Since there is little water contained in the laundry after drainage, the amount of heat required to warm the water contained in the laundry to a certain temperature is small.
According to the configuration of the present invention, when the load of the laundry is large, the temperature of the warm air supplied into the outer tub is increased during the warm air washing process, or the warm air is washed in the outer tub during the warm air washing process. If the load of the laundry is small while the hot air supply time is long, the temperature of the hot air supplied into the outer tub is lowered during the hot air washing process, or the warm air is supplied during the hot air washing process. By shortening the time for supplying warm air into the tub, the water contained in the laundry after drainage can be warmed with a suitable amount of heat, so that the cleaning power can be improved with less power.

  Invention of Claim 4 contains the water temperature detection means (62) for detecting the temperature of the water stored in the said outer tank (7), The said warm air supply means (3) is the said water temperature detection means. According to the detection result, the temperature of the hot air supplied into the outer tub during the hot air washing process or the time for supplying the hot air into the outer tub during the hot air washing process can be changed. A drum type washing machine (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

When the temperature of the water stored in the outer tub is low, the temperature of the water contained in the laundry after draining is also low, so the amount of heat required to warm the water contained in the laundry to a certain temperature is large. When the temperature of the water stored in the interior is high, the temperature of the water contained in the laundry after draining is also high, so that the amount of heat required to warm the water contained in the laundry to a certain temperature is small.
According to the configuration of the present invention, when the temperature of the water stored in the outer tub is low, the temperature of the hot air supplied into the outer tub is increased during the hot air washing process, or during the hot air washing process. While increasing the time for supplying hot air into the outer tub, if the temperature of the water stored in the outer tub is high, the temperature of the hot air supplied into the outer tub during the hot air washing process is lowered, Or, by shortening the time for supplying warm air into the outer tub during the warm air washing process, the water contained in the laundry after draining can be warmed with a suitable amount of heat, so the washing power can be reduced with less power. It can be improved.

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a drum-type washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows a cross-section viewed from the front when cut along a vertical plane along the left-right direction. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the drum type washing machine 1 and shows a cross-section viewed from the right side when cut along a vertical plane along the front-rear direction.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the drum type washing machine 1 is partitioned by a casing 2 having an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape. An opening 4 for taking in and out the laundry that can be opened and closed by the outer lid 2A is formed on the upper surface of the housing 2. Inside the housing 2, an outer tub 7 formed by closing both end faces of a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall 7C with end face walls (the left end face wall 7L and the right end face wall 7R) has its axis line left and right (substantially) (Horizontal). The outer tub 7 is supported by a plurality of dampers 5 at the lower part of the peripheral wall 7C (see FIG. 2).

Inside the outer tub 7, a drum 10 for storing laundry therein is arranged. The drum 10 is formed by closing both end faces of a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall 10C with end face walls (left end face wall 10L and right end face wall 10R), and is arranged so that its axis extends to the left and right (substantially horizontal). Has been.
Rotating shafts 11L and 11R extending along the axis of the drum 10 are attached to the left and right end face walls 10L and 10R of the drum 10, respectively. The rotary shafts 11L and 11R are rotatably attached to the left and right end face walls 7L and 7R of the outer tub 7. A drum driving motor 12 is connected to the left rotating shaft 11L by, for example, a DD (direct drive) system, and the drum 10 connected to the rotating shaft 11L is axially driven by rotating the motor 12. It is designed to rotate around at the same rotational speed. On the inner surface of the peripheral wall 10C of the drum 10, three baffles 10B for lifting the laundry in the drum 10 when the drum 10 rotates are spaced apart from each other at equal intervals in the circumferential direction (every 120 °). It protrudes so as to extend in the left-right direction.

  An opening 22 for taking in and out the laundry is formed in a part of the peripheral wall 10C of the drum 10. An opening 23 is formed in the peripheral wall 7 </ b> C of the outer tub 7 at a position facing the opening 4 of the housing 2. The opening 22 of the drum 10 can be opened and closed by a drum lid 25 that can rotate outward, and the opening 23 of the outer tub 7 can be opened and closed by an inner lid 26 that can rotate outward. It has become. By opening all of the outer lid 2A, the inner lid 26, and the drum lid 25, the laundry can be taken in and out of the drum 10 through the openings 4, 22, and 23.

  A water supply port 2B is formed in the rear part of the upper surface of the housing 2 (see FIG. 2), and tap water (hereinafter simply referred to as “water”) from the external water supply facility (such as a water tap) through the water supply port 2B. ").) Can be supplied. A water supply valve (not shown) is connected to the water supply port 2B, and water is supplied into the machine through the water supply port 2B by opening the water supply valve. The water supplied into the machine from the water supply port 2 </ b> B is supplied into the outer tub 7 from the rear end portion of the peripheral wall 7 </ b> C of the outer tub 7 through the water supply pipe 17.

  A drain port 19 is formed at the lower right side of the peripheral wall 7 </ b> C of the outer tub 7. By supplying water with the drain valve 18 connected to the drain port 19 closed, water can be stored in the outer tub 7. A large number of water passage holes (not shown) are formed in the peripheral wall 10C of the drum 10, and the water supplied into the outer tub 7 flows into the drum 10 through the water passage holes. It has become. The water stored in the outer tub 7 can be discharged out of the machine through the drain port 19 and the drain hose 20 by opening the drain valve 18.

  The drum type washing machine 1 also has a function of drying the laundry after washing, and a drying unit 3 for a drying function is attached to the right end surface wall 7R of the outer tub 7 from the outside (see FIG. 1). The drying unit 3 warms the air in the outer tub 7 sucked through an air passage member (not shown) communicating with the inside of the outer tub 7 by the drying heater 34, and then the center of the right end surface wall 7R of the outer tub 7 It guides in the outer tank 7 toward the left from the ventilation port 31 formed in the part. In this embodiment, the drying unit 3 is provided with two drying heaters 34. By energizing only one of the drying heaters 34, the drying heater 34 is driven "weakly" so that the temperature is relatively low. Air can be supplied into the outer tub 7, and both the heaters 34 are energized, whereby the drying heater 34 is driven “strongly” and a relatively high temperature hot air is supplied into the outer tub 7. Be able to. In the drying unit 3, both the drying heaters 34 are energized, and half-wave control is performed on the alternating current flowing through one of the drying heaters 34 (the drying heater 34 is driven using an alternating current every half cycle). ), The drying heater 34 is driven at “medium”, and hot air having an intermediate temperature between “weak” and “strong” can be supplied into the outer tub 7. Yes.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the drum type washing machine 1.
The operation of the drum type washing machine 1 is controlled by a control unit 40 including a microcomputer. The control unit 40 includes a CPU 41, a RAM 42, a ROM 43, an A / D converter 44, a timer 51, and the like. In addition, the control unit 40 functionally includes a water level measurement unit 45, a rotation speed control unit 46, a current measurement unit 47, and the like by the microcomputer executing program processing.

  For example, an operation display panel 6 provided on the upper surface of the housing 2 is attached to the control unit 40 so that input / output is possible. The user can perform various settings (such as setting of a driving course) by operating the operation display panel 6, and a signal based on the operation of the operation display panel 6 is input to the control unit 40. Further, the control unit 40 can display the operation status and setting contents of the drum type washing machine 1 on the operation display panel 6 by outputting a signal to the operation display panel 6.

  A water supply valve 13 and a drain valve 18 are connected to the control unit 40 via a valve driving unit 48. In addition, a signal from a water level sensor 61 for detecting the water level of the water stored in the outer tub 7 is input to the control unit 40. The control unit 40 measures the water level in the outer tub 7 on the basis of the input signal from the water level sensor 61 by the water level measuring unit 45, and opens and closes the water supply valve 13 or the drain valve 18 to open the water in the outer tub 7. Can be set to a desired water level.

In addition, the motor 12 is connected to the control unit 40 via an inverter control unit 49. The rotation speed control unit 46 of the control unit 40 can inverter-control the rotation speed of the motor 12 via the inverter control unit 49.
A current detection circuit 50 is connected to a middle portion of the wiring connecting the inverter control unit 49 and the motor 12. The current detection circuit 50 is for detecting the drive current of the motor 12 flowing from the inverter control unit 49 to the motor 12. When a signal representing the drive current of the motor 12 detected by the current detection circuit 50 is input to the control unit 40, the current measurement unit 47 of the control unit 40 measures the drive current of the motor 12 based on the input signal. can do.

  Further, the control unit 40 includes a water temperature sensor 62 for detecting the temperature of water supplied into the apparatus from the water supply port 2 </ b> B, and a tank temperature sensor 63 for detecting the temperature of the air temperature in the outer tank 7. A drying heater 34 is connected as an object to be controlled. The water temperature sensor 62 includes, for example, a thermistor disposed in the water supply pipe 17. Moreover, the tank internal temperature sensor 63 is a structure containing the thermistor arrange | positioned in the air path member of the drying unit 3, for example.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a control flow by the control unit 40 when the operation of the drum type washing machine 1 is started.
With reference to FIG. 4, when the operation of the drum type washing machine 1 is started, the control unit 40 first opens the water supply valve 13 to perform a water supply process for supplying water into the outer tub 7 (step). S1). When it is detected based on the input signal from the water level sensor 61 that water has accumulated up to a preset water level in the outer tub 7 (a water level at which the laundry in the drum 10 is immersed in water), the control unit 40 closes the water supply valve | bulb 13, complete | finishes the water supply in the outer tank 7, and performs a washing process (step S2). Usually, when washing is performed, the detergent is put into the outer tub 7 before the washing process is started.

  In the washing process, the drum 10 is rotated in a state where water is stored in the outer tub 7, and the laundry in the drum 10 is lifted by the baffle 10B along with the rotation, and is naturally dropped from a certain height. (Tumbling) is repeated. By repeating the tumbling, the laundry is struck against the water surface of the water stored in the outer tub 7, and so-called tapping is achieved.

When the washing process (step S2) is completed, the control unit 40 opens the drain valve 18 to perform a drain process for draining the water in the outer tub 7 (step S3). At the time when the draining process is completed, the laundry in the drum 10 is in a state containing water and a detergent component.
In this embodiment, after the drainage process (step S3) is completed, the control unit 40 rotates the drum 10 while driving the drying heater 34 to supply hot air from the drying unit 3 into the outer tub 7. The hot air washing process is performed by tumbling the laundry in the drum 10 (step S4).

In the warm air washing process, water contained in the laundry after draining is warmed by warm air supplied from the drying unit 3 into the outer tub 7. Then, the laundry containing the warmed water is rubbed against the other laundry and the inner surface of the drum 10 as the drum 10 rotates, or is washed against the inner surface of the drum 10, thereby achieving washing with warm water. Is done.
Therefore, since a relatively small amount of water contained in the laundry after drainage can be warmed and washed (warm air washing) in a short time, a configuration in which a large amount of water stored in the outer tub 7 is warmed. Compared with, the cleaning power can be improved with less power.

  In particular, when washing is performed using a detergent containing an enzyme that is activated at higher temperatures and improves detergency, a relatively small amount of water contained in the laundry after drainage by warm air washing Can be activated in a short time to activate the enzyme contained in the water. Therefore, since washing with higher detergency can be performed in a short time, the detergency can be further improved with less electric power.

In this embodiment, since the warm air is supplied into the outer tub 7 during the warm air washing process using the drying unit 3 used during the drying process, a new member is provided to execute the warm air washing process. There is no need. Therefore, warm air washing can be realized without increasing the manufacturing cost of the drum type washing machine 1.
When the warm air washing process (step S4) is completed, the control unit 40 performs the dehydration process by rotating the drum 10 at a high speed (for example, 300 to 1000 rpm) (step S5). In the dehydration process, the water contained in the laundry in the drum 10 is squeezed out by centrifugal force, and the water squeezed from the laundry is scattered to the outer tub 7 side through the water passage hole of the drum 10 to be drained. It is discharged from the mouth 19. By this dehydration process, the detergent components contained in the laundry are squeezed out together with the water contained in the laundry.

  When the dehydration process (step S5) is completed, the control unit 40 opens the water supply valve 13 again to perform a water supply process for supplying water into the outer tub 7 (step S6). When it is detected based on the input signal from the water level sensor 61 that water has accumulated up to a preset water level in the outer tub 7 (a water level at which the laundry in the drum 10 is immersed in water), the control unit 40 closes the water supply valve | bulb 13 and complete | finishes the water supply in the outer tank 7, and performs a rinse process (step S7). In the rinsing process, the control unit 40 rotates the drum 10 with water stored in the outer tub 7 to tumbl the laundry in the drum 10. By this rinsing process, the detergent components remaining in the laundry are diluted.

  When the rinsing process (step S7) is completed, the control unit 40 opens the drain valve 18 to perform a drain process for draining the water in the outer tub 7 (step S8). Thereafter, the control unit 40 performs a dehydration process by rotating the drum 10 at a high speed (for example, 300 to 1000 rpm) (step S9), and water contained in the laundry in the drum 10 is squeezed out by centrifugal force.

  When the dehydration process (step S9) is completed, the control unit 40 performs a drying process as a final process (step S10). In the drying process, the controller 40 tumbles the laundry in the drum 10 by rotating the drum 10 while sending warm air from the drying unit 3 into the outer tub 7. Thereby, the laundry in the drum 10 can be uniformly exposed to warm air, and the laundry can be dried well.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control flow by the control unit 40 during the warm air washing process.
Referring to FIG. 5, when the warm air washing process is started, control unit 40 starts time measurement by timer 51 (step T <b> 1), then starts rotation of drum 10 (step T <b> 2), and is a drying heater. 34 is driven "medium" to supply hot air from the drying unit 3 into the outer tub 7 (step T3).

  Thereafter, the drum 10 is rotated forward at 45 rpm for 10 seconds (clockwise in FIG. 2) under the control of the control unit 40, then stopped for 3 seconds, and then reversed at 45 rpm for 10 seconds (in FIG. 2). (Counterclockwise) and the operation of stopping again for 3 seconds is repeated. As a result, the laundry containing water warmed by the warm air supplied from the drying unit 3 is tumbled.

While the laundry in the drum 10 is tumbled, the control unit 40 monitors whether or not the temperature of the air in the outer tub 7 has reached 70 ° C. based on the input signal from the tub temperature sensor 63. At the same time (step T4), the timer 51 monitors whether 10 minutes have elapsed from the start of the warm air washing process (step T6).
If 10 minutes have elapsed from the start of the warm air washing process without the temperature of the air in the outer tub 7 reaching 70 ° C. (YES in step T6), the control unit 40 turns off the drying heater 34 (step T7). ) The rotation of the drum 10 is stopped (step T8), the time measurement by the timer 51 is stopped (step T9), and the hot air washing process is ended.

  On the other hand, when the temperature of the air in the outer tub 7 reaches 70 ° C. (YES in step T4), the control unit 40 dries even before 10 minutes have elapsed from the start of the warm air washing process. The heater 34 is turned off (step T5). Even in this case, the control unit 40 controls the rotation of the drum 10 until 10 minutes have elapsed from the start of the hot air washing process (until YES in step T6), and from the start of the hot air washing process. When 10 minutes have elapsed (YES in step T6), the rotation of the drum 10 is stopped (step T8), the time measurement by the timer 51 is stopped (step T9), and the hot air washing process is terminated. Thereby, it can prevent that the temperature of the air in the outer tank 7 becomes too high, and safety | security is impaired.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the flow of control by the control unit 40 during the warm air washing process.
Referring to FIG. 6, when the warm air washing process is started, control unit 40 starts time measurement by timer 51 (step E <b> 1), and energizes both of two drying heaters 34, thereby drying heaters. 34 is driven “strong” to supply hot air from the drying unit 3 into the outer tub 7 (step E2).

  Thereafter, the control unit 40 monitors whether or not the temperature of the air in the outer tub 7 has reached a predetermined temperature lower than 70 ° C. (for example, about 60 ° C.) based on an input signal from the temperature sensor 63 in the tub. (Step E3). When the temperature of the air in the outer tub 7 reaches the predetermined temperature (YES in Step E3), the control unit 40 stops the energization of one of the two drying heaters 34, thereby turning off the drying heater 34. While driving with “weak” (step E4), rotation of the drum 10 is started (step E5).

Thereafter, the drum 10 is rotated forward at 60 rpm for 10 seconds under the control of the control unit 40, then stopped for 3 seconds, then reversed at 60 rpm for 10 seconds, and then stopped again for 3 seconds. Repeat. As a result, the laundry containing water warmed by the warm air supplied from the drying unit 3 is tumbled.
In this modification, during the warm air washing process, the drum 10 is rotated at a higher rotational speed (for example, 60 rpm) than the rotational speed (for example, 45 rpm) of the drum 10 during the cleaning process. Due to the relationship with the torque when rotating the drum 10, during the warm air washing process, the power consumption may be reduced when the drum 10 is rotated at a higher rotational speed than during the washing process. Thus, the warm air washing process can be performed with less power by increasing the rotational speed of the drum 10 during the warm air washing process as described above.

While the laundry in the drum 10 is tumbled, the control unit 40 monitors whether or not the temperature of the air in the outer tub 7 has reached 70 ° C. based on the input signal from the tub temperature sensor 63. At the same time (step E6), the timer 51 monitors whether or not 10 minutes have elapsed since the start of the warm air washing process (step E8).
If 10 minutes have passed since the start of the warm air washing process without the temperature of the air in the outer tub 7 reaching 70 ° C. (YES in Step E8), the control unit 40 turns off the drying heater 34 (Step E9). ) The rotation of the drum 10 is stopped (step E10), the time measurement by the timer 51 is stopped (step E11), and the hot air washing process is ended.

  On the other hand, when the temperature of the air in the outer tub 7 reaches 70 ° C. (YES in step E6), the control unit 40 dries even before 10 minutes have elapsed from the start of the warm air washing process. The heater 34 is turned off (step E7). Even in this case, the control unit 40 performs rotation control of the drum 10 until 10 minutes have elapsed from the start of the hot air washing process (until YES in Step E8), and from the start of the hot air washing process. When 10 minutes have elapsed (YES in step E8), the rotation of the drum 10 is stopped (step E10), the time measurement by the timer 51 is stopped (step E11), and the hot air washing process is terminated. Thereby, it can prevent that the temperature of the air in the outer tank 7 becomes too high, and safety | security is impaired.

  In this modification, the drum 10 is rotated after a predetermined time (time until the temperature of the air in the outer tub 7 reaches the predetermined temperature) after the warm air washing process starts. Accordingly, since the drum 10 is rotated and warm air washing is performed in a state where the water contained in the laundry after drainage is warmed and the detergency is increased, the drum 10 is started simultaneously with the start of supplying hot air to the outer tub 7. Compared with a configuration in which the is rotated, the cleaning power can be improved with less electric power.

  At the start of operation of the drum type washing machine 1, the drum 10 is rotated for a predetermined time, and at that time, based on the input signal from the current detection circuit 50, the current measurement unit 47 of the control unit 40 measures the drive current of the motor 12 Based on the measured drive current, the amount of laundry in the drum 10 (load amount) can be detected. When the load on the laundry is large, the amount of water contained in the laundry after draining (step S3 in FIG. 4) is large, so that the amount of heat required to warm the water contained in the laundry to a certain temperature is large. When the load of the item is small, the amount of heat required to warm the water contained in the laundry to a certain temperature is small because the amount of water contained in the laundry after draining is small.

  Therefore, when the load of the laundry is large, the temperature of the hot air supplied into the outer tub 7 is raised during the hot air washing process, or the hot air is supplied into the outer tub 7 during the hot air washing process. When the load of the laundry is small, the temperature of the hot air supplied into the outer tub 7 is lowered during the hot air washing process, or the outer tub 7 is used during the hot air washing process. If it is set as the structure which shortens the time which supplies warm air to water, since the water contained in the laundry after drainage can be warmed with suitable calorie | heat amount, a cleaning power can be improved with less electric power.

  In addition, when the temperature of the water stored in the outer tub 7 detected by the water temperature sensor 62 is low, the temperature of the water contained in the laundry after draining (step S3 in FIG. 4) is also low. When the amount of heat required to warm the water to be discharged to a certain temperature is large and the temperature of the water stored in the outer tub 7 is high, the temperature of the water contained in the laundry after draining is also high, so it is included in the laundry Less heat is needed to warm water to a certain temperature.

  Therefore, when the temperature of the water stored in the outer tub 7 is low, the temperature of the hot air supplied into the outer tub 7 is raised during the warm air washing process, or the temperature inside the outer tub 7 is increased during the hot air washing process. When the temperature of the water stored in the outer tub 7 is high, the temperature of the hot air supplied into the outer tub 7 is lowered during the hot air washing process, or If it is configured to shorten the time for supplying warm air into the outer tub 7 during the warm air washing process, the water contained in the laundry after drainage can be warmed with a suitable amount of heat, so less power is required. Can improve cleaning power.

The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.
For example, the warm air washing process is not limited to a configuration that is performed for 10 minutes, but may be configured to be performed for a shorter time or may be configured to be performed for a longer time.

Further, the hot air washing process is not limited to a configuration that is performed until a predetermined time elapses, and may be a configuration that is performed, for example, until the temperature of the air in the outer tub 7 reaches a predetermined temperature. .
The drum 10 is not limited to a configuration in which the axis extends in the left-right direction, and may be configured to extend in the front-rear direction, for example. In this case, the axis of the drum is not limited to a configuration extending substantially in the horizontal direction, and may be inclined within a predetermined angle range (for example, up to about 30 °) with respect to the horizontal direction.

  In the above embodiment, the drum type washing machine 1 having a drying function has been described as an example of the drum type washing machine, but the present invention can also be applied to a drum type washing machine that does not have a drying function. . In this case, the hot air cannot be supplied into the outer tub 7 during the warm air washing process using the drying unit 3 used during the drying process, as in the above embodiment, but the inside of the outer tub 7 during the hot air washing process. A means for supplying warm air to the slab may be provided separately.

It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view of the drum type washing machine which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: The figure which looked at the cross section when cut | disconnected by the vertical surface along the left-right direction is shown from the front. It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view of a drum-type washing machine, Comprising: The figure which looked at the cross section when cut | disconnected by the vertical surface along the front-back direction is shown from the right side. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of this drum type washing machine. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of control by the control part at the time of starting the driving | operation of this drum type washing machine. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the flow of control by the control part in a warm air washing process. It is a flowchart which shows the modification of the flow of control by the control part in a warm air washing process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drum type washing machine 3 Drying unit 7 Outer tub 10 Drum 12 Motor 40 Control part 47 Current measurement part 50 Current detection circuit 62 Water temperature sensor

Claims (4)

An outer tub and a drum for storing laundry disposed in the outer tub; after storing water in the outer tub and performing a washing process, the water in the outer tub is drained. A drum-type washing machine that performs a dehydration process from
Drum rotating means for rotating the drum;
Hot air supply means for supplying hot air into the outer tub;
After the washing process is completed and the water in the outer tub is drained, until the dehydration process is started, hot air is supplied into the outer tub by the hot air supply means, and A drum type washing machine comprising: a hot air washing process executing means for executing a hot air washing process by rotating the drum by a drum rotating means.   2. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the drum rotating means rotates the drum after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the warm air washing process. Including load amount detection means for detecting the load amount of the laundry housed in the drum,
The hot air supply means is configured to supply the temperature of the hot air supplied into the outer tub during the hot air washing process or the temperature inside the outer tub during the hot air washing process according to the detection result of the load amount detecting means. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the time for supplying wind can be changed. Including a water temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the water stored in the outer tub,
The hot air supply means is configured to supply a temperature of hot air to be supplied into the outer tub during the hot air washing process or a hot air in the outer tub during the hot air washing process according to a detection result of the water temperature detecting means. The drum-type washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the time for supplying the can is changed.

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