JPH0790091B2 - Dryer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a dryer capable of predicting a time required for a drying operation.

(Prior Art) Recently, some dryers have been designed to make it convenient to use by predicting the time required for drying operation (time required until the end of operation) and displaying the estimated time. Have been served. This kind of dryer has the following configuration.
That is, in this device, hot air is supplied to the drying chamber formed in the drum to perform the drying operation. Therefore, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of exhaust air from the drying chamber, that is, the exhaust temperature. Is provided, the exhaust temperature is detected at the beginning of the drying operation, and the rate of change thereof, for example, the degree of temperature rise is detected, the required time for the drying operation is predicted based on this, and this predicted time is displayed on the display. I am trying. The rate of change is the second rate after the exhaust temperature reaches the first reference temperature.
The time required for the temperature change to reach the reference temperature is detected. In this prediction method, the smaller the rate of change in exhaust temperature at the beginning of the drying operation (the slower the temperature rising rate and the longer the time required for the temperature change), the larger the drying load amount and the time required for completion of drying. This is due to the empirical rule that the drying time becomes longer, and this can roughly predict the required drying operation time.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the above-mentioned problem has a problem that even if the drying load is the same, if the outside air temperature is different, the predicted time of the drying operation required time is deviated. About this 14th
It will be described with reference to the drawings and FIG. Figure 14 shows the change in the detected temperature when the outside air temperature is relatively low.
The figure shows changes in the detected temperature when the outside air temperature is relatively high. In both figures, the drying load amount is the same and the required drying operation time is the same. 14th
In the figure, Tr ₁ shows the first reference temperature, and Tr ₂ shows the second reference temperature. The first reference temperature Tr ₁ is set by adding a constant temperature difference T ₁ to the initial temperature (outside air temperature) Ta ₁ of the detected temperature, and the second reference temperature Tr ₂ is set to the initial temperature Ta ₁
Is set by adding a constant temperature difference T ₂ (T ₂ > T ₁ ). Further, Tg _{1 in} FIG. 15 indicates the first reference temperature,
g ₂ indicates the second reference temperature. This first reference temperature
Tg ₁ is set by adding a constant temperature difference T ₁ similar to the above to the initial temperature (outside air temperature) Ta ₂ of the detected temperature, and the second reference temperature Tg ₂ is the same as the initial temperature Ta ₁ as described above. Constant temperature difference of T ₂
Is set by adding. As can be seen from this, the first reference temperature and the second reference temperature are set with a certain temperature difference (T ₁ , T ₂ ) from the initial temperature.

When these two figures are seen, the actual drying operation time does not change so much even if the outside air temperature is different,
Exhaust temperature changes at different rates. That is, since the rising saturation temperature of the exhaust temperature is not so much influenced by the outside air temperature, when the outside air temperature is low, the relative temperature difference between them is large, and the rising speed of the exhaust temperature becomes fast. In this case, even if the outside air temperature is different, the first reference temperature and the second reference temperature are uniquely set with a constant temperature difference with respect to the initial temperature. As you can see from the comparison, they are different. That is, it is expected that the time required for the drying operation will be the same, and therefore the time required for temperature change Δt should also be the same, but that Δt will differ due to the difference in outside air temperature.

As can be seen from the above, the first temperature reference value and the second reference temperature, which are the index reference values for the temperature rise required time, are respectively
Even if it is expected that the required operating time will be the same, there is a difference in the temperature change required time due to the difference in the outside air temperature, because the temperature difference is fixed to the detected initial temperature. As a result, a deviation occurs in the prediction time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a dryer capable of accurately predicting the time required for a drying operation without being affected by the outside air temperature.

[Configuration of Invention] (Means for Solving Problems) The present invention is directed to an exhaust temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the air discharged from the drying chamber, and a temperature detected by the exhaust temperature detecting means at the beginning of the drying operation. Exhaust temperature change rate that detects the change rate of exhaust temperature with the time required for temperature change from reaching the first reference temperature having a temperature difference from the initial temperature to reaching the second reference temperature having a temperature difference from the initial temperature A means for detecting, which predicts the required drying operation time based on the detection result of the exhaust gas temperature change rate, by setting each of the above temperature differences in accordance with the outside air temperature immediately before the start of the drying operation. It is characterized in that a reference temperature determining means for determining the first reference temperature and the second reference temperature is provided.

(Operation) The first reference temperature and the second reference temperature in the exhaust gas temperature change rate detecting means are corrected by the reference temperature determining means setting the temperature difference with respect to the initial temperature (outside air temperature) in accordance with the outside air temperature. To be done. Therefore, the temperature change required time in the exhaust gas temperature change rate detecting means is a time value including a variation due to the outside air temperature. As a result, the exhaust gas temperature change rate detected with this temperature change time becomes a value according to the drying load amount without being influenced by the outside air temperature, and therefore the drying operation time is determined based on the detection result of this change rate. By predicting, the prediction time becomes accurate.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13.

First, in FIG. 2 showing the overall structure of the dryer, 1 is an outer box, 2 is a drum rotatably arranged inside the outer box 1, and the front opening edge of the drum is supported by an annular support plate 3. The rear opening edge is supported by the fan casing 4. And
The inside of this drum 2 is configured as a drying chamber 5.
Reference numeral 6 denotes a double-blade fan provided inside the fan casing 4 so as to be divided into front and rear, and the fan 6 also serves as a heat exchanger. Reference numeral 7 is a heater provided with a vent hole (not shown) at the bottom of the fan casing 4. The drum 2 and the fan 6 are driven to rotate by a motor 8 (see FIG. 1). In this case, the air in the drying chamber 5 passes through the filter 9 and the exhaust port 4a to reach the front part of the fan casing 4. The process of being sucked, heated by the heater 7 and returned to the drying chamber 5 is repeated. At the same time,
The outside air is sucked into the rear part of the fan casing 4 through the outside air intake port 1a, exchanges heat with the air in the drying chamber 5 exhausted from the exhaust port 4a, and is discharged from the outside air discharge port 1b to the outside of the machine. .

Reference numeral 10 denotes a pair of electrodes, which are provided on the annular support plate 3 so that the clothes accommodated in the drying chamber 5 can come into contact therewith. Reference numeral 11 denotes an exhaust temperature sensor which is an exhaust temperature detecting means,
This is provided in the exhaust port 4a portion. Reference numeral 12 denotes an outside air temperature sensor, which is provided near the outside air intake port 1a.

Next, in FIG. 1 showing the electrical configuration, 13 is an operation control device composed of a microcomputer, which also functions as an exhaust gas temperature change rate detecting means and a reference temperature determining means.

Reference numeral 14 is an instantaneous resistance detection circuit, which measures the resistance value appearing between the electrodes 10 when the electrode 10 is contacted with clothes by the voltage value Vp.
Is converted to (inversely proportional to the resistance value) and output. An example of the output change is shown in FIG. Reference numeral 15 is a contact determination circuit, which compares the output voltage value Vp from the instantaneous resistance detection circuit 14 with a considerably low reference voltage Vs, and when Vp> Vs, a high level contact determination signal Vt in the time width. Is output. This contact determination signal Vt is given to the input terminal It of the operation control device 13.
The operation control device 13 reads the state of the input terminal It at intervals of 10 μsec at the beginning of the drying operation, for example, for 2 minutes.
That is, a value (Sn / 12000) obtained by dividing the number of times Sn of reading the contact determination signal Vt 12,000 times by 12000 times is detected as the contact rate Ss (%). Reference numeral 16 is a peak hold circuit, which holds the peak value of the output voltage Vp in a minute time width and gives the peak hold value V _H to the A / D terminal of the input interface of the operation control device 13. . The peak hold value V _H is reset by a signal from the output terminal _R of the operation control device 13 every predetermined time. An example of the output change of the peak hold value V _H is shown in FIG. This peak hold value V _H is the operation controller
In step 13, the dryness reference value V _R is compared, and when V _H <V _R, a predetermined dryness is detected. Reference numeral 17 denotes an exhaust temperature signal processing circuit, which digitally converts the temperature detection signal of the exhaust temperature sensor 11 to output a detected temperature Tem and supplies it to the operation control device 12. 1
8 is an outside air temperature signal processing circuit, which is an outside air temperature sensor 1
The temperature detection signal 2 is digitally converted to output the outside air temperature Ta and given to the operation control device 13. In addition, 19 is a power switch,
20 is a DC power supply circuit, 21 is a clock pulse generation circuit, 22 is a start switch, 23 is a display consisting of a 3-digit 7-segment type light emitting diode, 24 is the heater 7 and the motor 8
Is a drive circuit for driving the.

Here, the operation control device 13 holds the predicted time detection data in the memory. The content of this estimated time detection data is
It is shown in FIG. 3, and holds the relationship shown in FIG. 3 with a predetermined numerical value and a predetermined calculation formula. The relationship shown in FIG. 3 has been obtained experimentally, and the horizontal axis represents the drying time required time Tk, and the vertical axis represents the exhaust temperature change required time Δt (described later). And the characteristic line Vc ₁
Indicates the change in water content when the amount of clothes is large, in association with the temperature change required time Δt and the drying operation required time Tk,
Similarly, the characteristic line Vc ₂ shows the change in water content when the amount of clothes is medium, and the characteristic line Vc ₃ shows the change in water content when the amount of clothes is small, respectively, the temperature change required time Δt and the drying operation required time Tk. It corresponds to and is shown. In addition, the above-mentioned third
In the figure, the amount of clothing is shown in three stages for convenience in order to facilitate understanding of the content of the estimated time detection data, but the amount of clothing to be determined is actually set linearly.

As shown in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9, the temperature change required time Δt is the time required from when the detected temperature Tem for the exhaust gas temperature reaches the first reference temperature Tl to when it reaches the second reference temperature Th. is there. In this case, the first reference temperature Tl and the second reference temperature Tl
The reference temperature Th of is determined by the reference temperature determining means in the operation control device 13 as follows. That is, the first reference temperature Tl is set by adding the temperature difference T ₁ to the outside air temperature Ta, and the second reference temperature Th is set by adding the temperature difference T ₂ to the outside air temperature Ta. It is supposed to be done. In this case, the operation control device 13 holds the temperature difference setting data for determining the reference temperature, the content of which is shown in graph form in FIG. In FIG. 7, the vertical axis represents the temperature difference and the horizontal axis represents the outside air temperature. And change line L ₁
Indicates the set value of the temperature difference T ₁ , and the change line L ₂ indicates the set value of the temperature difference T ₂ . That is, the higher the outside air temperature Ta, the smaller the temperature differences T ₁ and T ₂ that should be set. The purpose of this setting method is as follows. 14 and 15 described above
As can be seen from the figure, the temperature change required time Δt should be the same, considering that the same drying operation required time is taken into account in FIGS. 14 and 15. However, since the rising speed of the exhaust gas temperature is different in both figures, if the temperature differences T ₁ and T ₂ are fixed to a constant value, the above Δt becomes long in the case of FIG. 15 (when the outside air temperature is high). I will end up. Thus, the temperature differences T ₁ and T obtained by experiments are set so that the time Δt required for temperature change is the same when the outside air temperature is different for the same dry load amount.
₂ is shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 7, the temperature difference T ₁ , T ₂ is set to be smaller as the outside air temperature Ta becomes higher, and therefore the outside air temperature becomes higher for the first reference temperature Tl and the second reference temperature Th. Is decided to be relatively lower. As a result, even when the outside air temperature is different under the condition that both the drying loads are the same, the temperature change required time Δt can be obtained by being approximated. The temperature differences T ₁ and T ₂ in the data shown in FIG. 7 can be obtained as a function of the outside air temperature. In addition, an example of determining the first reference temperature Tl and the second reference temperature Th based on the temperature difference setting data shown in FIG.
This will be described by applying it to FIGS. In FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the same dry load amount is used now, and assuming that the values of the outside air temperatures Ta in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are Tax and Tay (Tax <Tay), respectively, FIG. In the case where the value of the outside air temperature Ta is Tax, the values of the temperature differences T ₁ and T ₂ are given by T ₁ x and T ₂ x, respectively.
Further, when the value of the outside air temperature Ta is Tay, the values of the temperature differences T ₁ and T ₂ are T ₁ y (T ₁ y <T ₁ x) and T ₂ y (T ₂ y <T _{2 respectively).} x) is given. Therefore, the first reference temperature temperature Tl of FIG.
Is Tl = Tax + T ₁ x, and the second reference temperature Th is Th = Ta
x + T ₂ x. Also, the first reference temperature temperature Tl of FIG.
Is Tl = Tay + T ₁ y, and the second reference temperature Th is Th = Ta
y + T ₂ y. As a result, the temperature change required time Δt in both figures becomes approximately similar.

Now, the operation control device 13 controls the drying operation as follows in accordance with the operation program (including the exhaust gas temperature change rate detecting function, the drying time predicting function, and the reference temperature correcting function) stored therein. 10 to 10 showing the control contents
It will be described with reference to FIG.

First, as shown in step S ₁ in FIG. 10, when the start switch 22 is turned on, the reference temperature of the subroutine S ₂ is determined. The contents of this decision are shown in FIG. This first
In FIG. 11, first, in step F ₁ , the outside air temperature sensor 12
Read the outside air temperature Ta based on. Then, in the next step F ₂ , the temperature differences T ₁ and T ₂ are accessed and set from the temperature difference setting data shown in FIG. 7 based on the outside air temperature Ta. After this, as shown in step F ₃ , the temperature difference between the outside air temperature Ta and each temperature
Based on T ₁ and T ₂ , the first reference temperature Tl and the second reference temperature Th
And decide.

When determining the first reference temperature Tl and the second reference temperature Th in the Such is made, the process proceeds to step S ₃ of FIG. 10. In step S _3, by energizing the motor 8 and the heater 7, the drying operation Te following is started. As a result, the hot air from the fan 6 and the heater 7 is supplied into the drying chamber 5, and the exhaust port 4a
It is repeated that the air is evacuated from and is returned to the inside of the drying chamber 5. In this case, the exhausted air (warm air) exchanges heat with the outside air as described above. Next, as shown in step S ₄ , counting of the elapsed time of this drying operation is started (the parameter is t), and the contact rate Ss is detected in the next subroutine S ₅ . The contents of this detection are shown in FIG. In FIG. 12, first, the content values of the contact rate Ss and the number of counts Sn are cleared (step P ₁ ), and then the input terminal It is repeated every sampling period (10 μSec).
The state of is determined (steps P ₂ and P ₃ ). Then, if the state of the input terminal It is at the high level, that is, if the contact determination signal Vt is input, the count number Sn is incremented (step P ₄ ), and if not, the above increment is not executed. And if the contact ratio detection time has not elapsed a predetermined time, for example 2 minutes (determined in step P _5), repeated the above, and if elapsed Part 2 minutes, detects the contact ratio Ss from the count number Sn Do (step
P ₆ ). That is, the contact rate Ss (%) is detected by dividing by the number of times the contact determination signal Vt input is detected, that is, the count number Sn and the determination number (12000 times).

When the contact rate Ss is detected in this way, the steps shown in FIG.
Proceeds to S _6, determines clothes amount on the basis of the contact ratio Ss. This contact rate Ss changes in magnitude depending on the amount of clothes, and the contact rate Ss and the amount of clothes are substantially equivalent. In order to determine the amount of clothing, the operation control device 13 holds the clothing determination data having the content shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, if the contact rate Ss is detected, the clothing amount Vc is determined. Next, as shown in subroutine S ₇ in FIG.
The temperature change time Δt, which is the exhaust gas temperature change rate, is detected. The contents of this subroutine S ₇ are shown in FIG. 13, and an example of changes in the temperature Tem detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 11 is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIG. 13, first, the time count value t ₁ used in this subroutine is cleared (step Q ₁ ), and each time the sampling period (10 Sec) elapses (determined in step Q ₂ ), the time count value t ₁ if the content value is "0" (determination in step Q _3), the detected temperature Te
m is determined whether more than a first reference temperature _{Tl (Tl = Ta + T 1} ) ( Step Q ₄₎ and, if not exceeded Step Q ₂
Return to. When the detected temperature Tem exceeds the first temperature reference value Tl, the elapsed time of the drying operation at the present time, that is, the content value of the count value t is set to the time count value t ₁ (step
Q ₅ ) and then go back to step Q ₂ . After this,
Since the content value of the count value t ₁ is not “0”, the step
Go from Q ₃ to step Q ₆ . In this step Q ₆ , it is judged whether or not the detected temperature Tem exceeds the second temperature reference value Th (Th = Ta + T ₂ ).
Return to Q ₂ , and if it exceeds, the time required for temperature change Δt (detected temperature
Detecting the time required for Tem to reach the second temperature reference value Th after reaching the first temperature reference value Tl (step
Q ₇ ). The temperature change required time Δt is obtained by subtracting the count value t ₁ from the count value t of the drying operation elapsed time at this point.

Thereafter, to predict the duration of the drying operation at step S ₈ of FIG. 10. This prediction is made as follows. That is, as described above, the operation control device 13 controls the clothing amount Vc (for example, Vc _{1 to} Vc ₃ ) and the water content, the temperature change required time Δt, and the drying operation required time Tk as shown in FIG. Since the relationship is held as predicted time detection data, the required time for the drying operation is determined from the predicted time detection data based on the clothing amount determination result based on the contact rate Ss and the temperature change required time Δt. That is, since the amount of clothes has been known so far from the detection result of the contact rate Ss,
For example, the garment large amount, selects a characteristic curve Vc _1, and, since also the temperature change required time Delta] t has been found, for example, Delta] t is assumed to be Delta] t _1, a Delta] t ₁ corresponding in characteristic curve Vc ₁ Looking at it, the water content was found at W ₁ , and the water content
Looking at the required time Tk corresponding to W ₁ , the required time Tk ₁ is determined. This required time Tk ₁ is set as the predicted time. In this case, the clothing amount classification is set to be linear rather than the above-mentioned three types, and in practice, the determination of the required time Tk ₁ is determined by calculation by a predetermined calculation formula. or,
Since the temperature change required time Δt can be detected without being affected by the outside air temperature Ta, the time required for this drying operation can be accurately predicted.

After this, the process proceeds to step S ₉ in FIG. 10 and this step S ₉
Then, it is determined whether or not the peak hold value V _H is below the dryness reference value V _R , that is, it is detected whether or not the dryness reaches a predetermined dryness, and if the predetermined dryness is not reached, in the next step S _10, sequentially reduced by the elapsed time of the drying operation the estimated time of the foregoing, and displayed in step S ₁₁ the display device 23 the estimated time at this point. Thereafter, when the dryness is detected, after executing the delay operation at a predetermined time period as shown in step S _12, to deenergized the motor 8 and the heater 7, as shown in step _13.

As can be seen from the above description, according to the present embodiment, the first reference temperature Tl and the second reference temperature Th are determined by setting the temperature differences T ₁ and T ₂ according to the outside air temperature Ta. As a result, the detected temperature change required time Δt includes a variation due to the outside air temperature. As a result, the temperature change required time Δt depends on the dry load amount without being influenced by the outside air temperature Ta. It becomes a time value. Therefore, since the time required for the drying operation is predicted based on the temperature change required time Δt thus detected, the predicted time becomes accurate.

In particular, the amount of clothing Vc is determined by detecting the contact rate Ss, and the amount of clothing Vc is used as a reference for predicting the required drying operation time. Therefore, the accuracy of the estimated time can be further increased. However, this contact rate detection means does not need to be necessary, and the initial purpose can be achieved as long as at least the outside air temperature and the exhaust temperature are used to predict the required drying operation time.

In the above embodiment, the outside air temperature is detected based on the outside air temperature sensor 12 provided separately from the exhaust temperature sensor 11 which is the exhaust temperature detecting means, but the outside air temperature is detected immediately before the start of the drying operation. Therefore, if the temperature detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 11 is read immediately before the start of the drying operation, the outside air temperature can also be detected by the exhaust temperature sensor 11, so the outside air temperature sensor 12 is not always necessary.

Besides, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be carried out without departing from the scope of the invention.

[Effects of the Invention] As is apparent from the above description, the present invention is directed to an exhaust gas temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of gastric air discharged from the drying chamber and an exhaust gas temperature detecting means at the beginning of the drying operation. Exhaust temperature change that detects the rate of change in exhaust temperature with the temperature change required time from when the temperature reaches the first reference temperature that has a temperature difference from the initial temperature to when it reaches the second reference temperature that has a temperature difference from the initial temperature A rate detection means for predicting the required drying operation time based on the detection result of the exhaust gas temperature change rate, and setting each of the above temperature differences in accordance with the outside air temperature immediately before the start of the drying operation. It is characterized in that a reference temperature determining means for determining the first reference temperature and the second reference temperature is provided to correct the time required for the drying operation without being affected by the outside air temperature. It has an excellent effect that it can be predicted accurately.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 13 show one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electrical configuration, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional side view of the whole,
FIG. 3 is a graph showing the contents of the predicted time detection data, FIG. 4 is a graph showing an example of the output change of the instantaneous resistance detection circuit, and FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the contact rate and the amount of clothes. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of output change of the peak hold value, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing temperature difference setting data in a graph, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams showing exhaust temperature changes at different outside air temperatures. , First
10 to 13 are flowcharts showing the control contents. FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 are graphs showing changes in exhaust temperature when the outside air temperature differs in the conventional prediction method. In the figure, 2 is a rotary drum, 5 is a drying chamber, 7 is a heater, 8 is a motor, 10 is an electrode, 11 is an exhaust temperature sensor (exhaust temperature detecting means), 12 is an outside air temperature sensor, and 13 is an operation control device (exhaust). Reference numeral 23 denotes a temperature change rate detecting means and reference temperature correcting means).

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Koshito Goshi 4-21-21, Yoshihara-cho, Nishi-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi Toshiba Audio & Video Engineering Co., Ltd. Nagoya Office

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An exhaust temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of air discharged from a drying chamber, and a temperature detected by the exhaust temperature detecting means at the beginning of a drying operation is a first reference temperature having a temperature difference from an initial temperature. An exhaust temperature change rate detecting means for detecting the change rate of the exhaust temperature with the time required to change from the initial temperature to the second reference temperature having a temperature difference from the initial temperature. In the one in which the time required for the drying operation is predicted based on the result, each of the temperature differences is set according to the outside air temperature immediately before the start of the drying operation, and the first reference temperature and the second reference temperature are determined. A dryer, which is provided with a reference temperature determining means for controlling.