JPH088959B2 - Dryer operation control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Object of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an operation control device for a dryer including a control means having a timer function for reserving the end time of the drying operation.

(Prior Art) In a dryer, a control means such as a microcomputer for controlling the drying operation is provided with a timer function for a long time, and if set at night, the drying operation is completed the next morning. What has been done is provided.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The time required for actual drying varies depending on the amount of clothes. Therefore, conventionally, the user predicts the required drying operation time and starts the drying operation accordingly. The current situation is that the time is set, and as a result, the clothes are often left for a long time after the drying operation is finished well before the expected time, which causes wrinkles on the clothes. It is the cause.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a dryer operation control device capable of reliably ending the drying operation at the end time reserved for the timer function of the control means. .

[Configuration of the Invention] (Means for Solving Problems) The operation control device for a dryer of the present invention is provided with a clothes amount detecting means for detecting the amount of clothes, and a drying detecting means for detecting the drying of clothes. Then, a control means having a timer function for reserving the end time of the dry operation is provided, and the control means starts the hot air operation by the hot air supply device when a predetermined time comes before the reserved end time. When the amount of clothes is detected by the clothes amount detecting means, the heat generation capacity of the heater of the hot air supply device is set according to the detected amount of clothes, and when the dryness detecting means detects drying of clothes, based on this It is characterized in that the heater of the hot air supply device is stopped and the cold air operation by only the fan is executed until the reserved end time.

(Operation) According to the dryer operation control device of the present invention, the control means causes the hot air supply device to perform the hot air operation at a predetermined time before the reserved end time regardless of the amount of clothes. At the same time as starting, the clothing amount detecting means detects the amount of clothing, sets the heat generation capacity of the heater of the hot air supply device according to the detected clothing amount, and continues hot air operation. Then, when the dryness detecting means detects the dryness of the clothes thereafter, the control means stops the heater of the hot air supply device based on the dryness and causes the cold air operation by the fan only to be executed until the reserved end time. Therefore, regardless of the amount of clothes, the hot-air operation time will be approximately the same, and then the cold-air operation will be performed until the reserved time and the drying operation will end. The end time reserved for the timer function of the control means can be matched.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the overall structure of the dryer will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 1 is an outer box, and 2 is a rotating drum which is a drying chamber arranged in the outer box 1. The opening 2a on the front side of the rotary drum 2 is supported by the annular support plate 3 attached to the inlet on the front side of the outer case 1, and the opening 2b on the rear side is arranged on the rear side in the outer case 1. It is supported by an installed casing 4. Reference numeral 5 denotes a fan, which is arranged in the casing 4 so as to be partitioned into front and rear, and a boss portion 5a thereof is supported by a horizontal frame 6 arranged in the central portion of the casing 4 and the rear surface side of the outer box 1. Is supported by the shaft 7. Reference numeral 8 denotes a back cover attached to the rear opening of the outer box 1, and has an outside air intake port 8a and an outside air discharge port 8b formed therein. The rotary drum 2 and the fan 5 are rotationally driven by a drive motor 9 (see FIG. 1), and the rotation of the fan 5 causes the air inside the rotary drum 2 to flow from the exhaust port 4a of the casing 4 to the casing. 4 is discharged into the rotary drum 2 through an intake port (not shown), and outside air is drawn into the casing 4 through the outside air intake port 8a and then discharged outside through the outside air discharge port 8b. During this time, the air inside the rotary drum 2 and the outside air are heat-exchanged via the fan 5. An electric heater 10 is disposed inside the casing 4 at the intake port portion, thus constituting a hot air supply device 11 for supplying hot air into the rotary drum 2 together with the fan 5. 12 and 12 are annular support plates 3 via a mounting plate 13.
Is an electrode attached to the lower part of.

Now, the electrical configuration of the operation control device will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 14 is a microcomputer as a control means, to which a timer set signal S ₁₅ of the timer set switch ₁₅ and a start signal S ₁₆ of the start switch ₁₆ are given, and the clock of the clock pulse generation circuit 17 is supplied. A pulse S ₁₇ is provided. The microcomputer 14 is designed to display the current time on the display 18 digitally by the internal clock function at all times.
When the timer set signal S ₁₅ is given from ₁₅ , when the end time indicated by the timer set signal S ₁₅ is set in the internal timer function and is displayed on the display 18, then the start signal S ₁₆ is given from the start switch 16. The timer function is caused to start the time counting operation and the display unit 18 is caused to display the current time again. Reference numeral 19 denotes a DC power supply circuit that outputs a DC voltage + V _DD when the power switch 20 is turned on, and this DC voltage + V _DD is applied to various circuits other than the microcomputer 14. On the other hand, in the electrodes 12 and 12, the one electrode 12 is connected to a DC terminal 21 to which a DC voltage + V _DD is applied, and the other electrode 12 is grounded via a resistor 22.
The common connection point of 12 and the resistor 22 is connected to the input terminal of the resistance value detection circuit 23. Further, the resistance value detection signal Vp of the resistance value detection circuit 23 is the contact rate detection circuit 24 and the drying rate detection circuit.
Detection signal applied to 25 input terminals and output from this
Vt ₁ and Vt ₂ are provided to the microcomputer 14. Reference numeral 26 denotes a load control circuit that controls the drive motor 9 and the electric heater 10 to be turned on and off based on a signal from the microcomputer 14.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 9.

First, by operating the timer set switch 15 to give the timer set signal S ₁₅ to the microcomputer 14, for example, the end time of 6:00 the next morning is reserved for the timer function at about 10:00 pm. After that, when the start switch 16 is operated after the damp clothes to be dried are put into the rotary drum 2, the start signal S ₁₆ from the start switch 16 is given to the microcomputer 14 to cause the timer of the microcomputer 14 to operate. The function starts timing operation as shown in FIG. Then microcomputer 14
When the timer function of 6 becomes a predetermined time before the reserved time of 6 o'clock, for example, 3 hours, that is, at 3 am, the microcomputer 14 gives a signal to the load control circuit 26, and the drive motor 9 rotates at a constant speed. With an electric heater
10 generates heat with a preset heat generation capacity, so that the hot air operation in the drying operation is started. In this case, FIG. 3 (a) is when the amount of clothes is large and FIG. 3 (b) is when the amount of clothes is small, but in both cases, the start time of the hot air operation is the same 3:00 am. is there.

Next, the clothes amount detecting operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. When the hot air operation is started and the rotary drum 2 is rotated by the drive motor 9, the clothes in the rotary drum 2 come into contact with the electrodes 12 and 12 intermittently so as to short-circuit them, and therefore the resistance value. The resistance value detection signal Vp of the detection circuit 23 is as shown in FIG. Then, the microcomputer 14 first makes a processing step (A ₁₁ ) of “SSC ← 0”, sets the contact rate counter SSC to “0”, and makes a judgment step (A ₁₂ ) of the next “sampling time elapsed?”. Become. The microcomputer 14 makes this judgment step (A
_{In 12} ), it is judged whether the sampling time (for example, 10msec) has elapsed, and when it is judged as "NO", the judgment step
Repeat returning to (A ₁₂ ). Here, the contact rate detection circuit 24
Compares the resistance value detection signal Vp with the set voltage Vs shown in FIG. 5, and outputs the detection signal Vt ₁ to the microcomputer 14 when Vp> Vs. Then, the microcomputer 14 sets the sampling time (for example, 10 ms
When ec) has elapsed and the determination step (A ₁₂ ) determines “YES”, the process proceeds to the next “Are there Vt ₁ ?” determination step (A ₁₃ ). The microcomputer 14 makes this judgment step (A
_{In 13} ), the presence or absence of the detection signal Vt ₁ is determined.
When it is determined that (Vt ₁ exists, that is, Vp> Vs), "SSC ← SSC +
1) processing step (A ₁₄ ). In the processing step (A ₁₄ ), the microcomputer 14 uses the contact rate counter SSC.
The count value obtained by adding "1" to the previous count value is written and stored. Therefore, at this time, the count value of the contact rate counter SSC becomes "1". After that, the microcomputer 14 shifts to the judgment step (A ₁₅ ) of “is data detection time ended?”. Microcomputer 14
Is designed to judge whether the detection signal Vt _{1 is} present (Vp> Vs) every time the sampling time (10 msec) elapses, for only the data detection time (2 minutes). _{In 15} ), for the time being, the judgment is “NO” and the process returns to the judgment step (A ₁₂ ). Incidentally, the microcomputer 14 is "NO" in the determination step (A ₁₃₎ (Vt ₁
When it is judged that there is no, that is, Vp <Vs, the judgment step (A ₁₅ )
Therefore, the contact rate counter SSC is not incremented. In this way, the steps
When (A ₁₂ ) to (A ₁₅ ) are repeated and the data detection time (for example, 2 minutes) elapses, the microcomputer 14
The process moves to the processing step (A ₁₆ ) of "SS ← SSC / 12000". Here, the count value of the contact rate counter SSC is set to "1.
Divide by 2000 "to get the contact rate detection signal SS,
And it becomes a return. Fig. 6 shows the amount of clothing (kg) on the horizontal axis
It is shown that the contact rate detection signal SS (%) is plotted on the vertical axis and the contact rate detection signal SS also increases in proportion to the increase in the amount of clothes. That is, the amount of clothes can be detected and judged from the contact rate detection signal SS.
Incidentally, in FIG. 6, W indicates the drying rate, which means that the contact rate detection signal SS does not depend much on the drying rate.

Next, the dry operation control by the microcomputer 14 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. The microcomputer 14 calculates the required dry operation time from the information stored in advance based on the clothing amount detection information obtained by the operation shown in FIG. 7 in the routine A of "calculation of required dry operation time". After that, the microcomputer 14 shifts to the judgment step (B) of "required time>timer?", And the calculated drying operation required time is the remaining time of the timer function built in the microcomputer 14 (3 hours in this case).
Determine if greater. When the microcomputer 14 determines "YES" in this determination step (B), it shifts to the next "heater continuous" output step (C), and gives a continuous signal to the load control circuit 26 to supply the electric heater 10 with the continuous signal. Is continuously energized to generate heat with a large heating capacity. Further, the microcomputer 14 shifts to the determination step (D) of "is dryness detected?". By the way, the drying rate detection circuit 25
Compares the input resistance value detection signal Vp with a specified voltage (Vs or a voltage slightly higher than this), and when the resistance value detection signal Vp is larger than the specified voltage, the drying rate detection signal Vt ₂
When the drying rate detection signal Vt ₂ is not applied for a certain period of time or longer, the microcomputer 14 determines that the drying rate is 90% or more and determines that the drying rate is detected. Therefore, the microcomputer 14 returns to the output step (C) when it judges "NO" in the judgment step (D), but when it judges "YES", it outputs it as the output step (H) of "finishing drying". Become. On the other hand, when the microcomputer 14 determines "NO" in the determination step (B), it performs a "heater control method calculation" routine (E).
Move to Then, the microcomputer 14 operates as shown in FIG. 9 in this routine (E). First,
"Du = required drying operation time / timer time" processing step
(E ₁ ), and here, the ratio between the calculated required drying operation time and the timer remaining time is calculated. Next, it becomes a judgment step (E ₂ ) of “Du ≧ 4/5?”, And when it is judged as “YES”, it becomes a processing step (E ₃ ) of “Duty = 4/5” and the electric heater 10 The energization duty ratio is 4/5, that is, 4 seconds energization for 1 second or 4 minutes energization for 1 minute. Decision step "whether Du ≧ 3/5?" When it is determined "NO" in (E ₄₎ of decision (E _4), and the "Duty when it is determined" YES "here
= 3/5 ”processing step (E ₅ ), the energization duty ratio of the electric heater 10 is set to 3/5, that is, energization for 3 seconds, power interruption for 2 seconds or 3
Power is supplied for 2 minutes and disconnected for 2 minutes When the judgment step (E ₄ ) is "NO", the judgment step (E ₆ ) is "Du ≥ 2/5?", And when the judgment is "YES", the processing is "Duty = 2/5". In step (E ₇ ), the energization duty ratio of the electric heater 10 is set to 2/5, that is, 2 seconds energization for 3 seconds or 2 minutes energization for 3 minutes. Further, when the judgment step (E ₆ ) judges “NO”, it becomes the processing step (E ₈ ) of “Duty = 1/5”, and the energization duty ratio of the electric heater 10 is 1/5, that is, 1 second is cut off for 4 seconds. Power or 1 minute energization and 4 minutes interruption. Then, after such processing steps (E ₃ ), (E ₅ ), (E ₇ ) and (E ₈ ), a return is made. The microcomputer 14 then outputs a step (F) next to the "heater control", the above-described process steps _{(E 3), (E 5} ), electricity (E ₇₎ and energizing duty ratio determined in (E ₈₎ The heater 10 is turned on and off. That is, an electric heater
The time required for the drying operation is determined as shown in FIG. 4 by the substantial input (heat generation capacity) indicated by the energization duty ratio of 10. And the microcomputer 14
Becomes a determination step (G) similar to the above-mentioned determination step (D), returns to processing step (F) when "NO" is determined, and outputs "finish drying" output step (H) when "YES" is determined. ). Thus, the microcomputer 14 uses the electric heater 10 in the output step (H).
Gives a signal to the load control circuit 26 so as to generate heat with a predetermined heat generation capacity for a certain period of time, and then the output step (I) of "heater stop" is performed to turn off the electric heater 10. As a result, only the drive motor 9 is energized and rotated, and only the fan 5 is rotationally driven for cold air operation. After that, the microcomputer 14 becomes a judgment step (J) of "whether the timer time has elapsed?", And whether the timer function built in the microcomputer 14 has finished measuring the set time, that is, the reserved end time (in this case, am It is determined whether it is 6 o'clock). The microcomputer 14 returns to the judgment step (J) again when it judges "NO" in the judgment step (J), but when it judges "YES", it becomes the output step (K) of "motor stop" and the drive motor. 9 is stopped, and the drying operation is completed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the timer setting step 15, which is the setting means, reserves the end time of the drying operation in the timer function of the microcomputer 14 and displays it.
When it is displayed in 18, the detection information of the clothes amount judging means including the contact rate detecting circuit 24 and the dryness detecting means including the drying rate detecting circuit 25 (these means are mainly constituted by the routine of the microcomputer 14). Based on the above, the energization duty ratio of the electric heater 10 of the hot air supply device 11, that is, the heat generation capacity is set to perform hot air operation, and after that, cold air operation is performed until the reservation end time. However, the hot air operation time is almost the same, and the end time of the dry operation by the hot air supply device 11 can be made to coincide with the reservation end time set in the timer function of the microcomputer 14, therefore The person does not feel distrust of the device when he / she knows that the drying operation is surely completed at the reservation end time, and the clothes that have been dried do not rotate on the rotating drum 2. It is possible to prevent wrinkles from being generated on clothes as much as possible without being left inside for a long time.

In the above embodiment, the heat generation capacity is changed and set by changing the energization duty ratio of the electric heater 10, but instead, the conduction angle of the electric heater 10 may be controlled, or A plurality of electric heaters may be used as the heater 10 to switch between them,
Further, the rotation speed of the drive motor 9 may be controlled simultaneously with the control of the electric heater 10.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION Since the dryer operation control device of the present invention controls the hot air supply device based on the detection information of the clothes amount detection means and the drying detection means as described above, the drying operation ends. It has an excellent effect that it can be surely matched with the end time reserved for the timer function of the control means.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an electric configuration explanatory view of an operation control device, FIG. 2 is a vertical side view of a dryer, FIG. 3 is a time chart of a drying operation, and FIG. Characteristic diagram for explaining the relationship between the heater input and the required drying operation time,
FIG. 5 is a characteristic diagram for explaining the relationship between time and resistance value detection signal, FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between clothing amount and contact rate detection signal, and FIG. 7 is operation of clothing amount detecting means. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the drying operation control, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the calculation operation of the heater control method. In the drawing, 2 is a rotary drum (drying chamber), 5 is a fan, 9 is a drive motor, 10 is an electric heater, 11 is a hot air supply device, 12 is an electrode, 14 is a microcomputer (control means), 18 is an indicator, Reference numeral 24 represents a contact rate detection circuit, and 25 represents a drying rate detection circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A hot air supply device having a heater and a fan for supplying hot air into a drying chamber to dry clothes, a clothes amount detecting means for detecting the amount of the clothes, and a drying detecting means for detecting the drying of the clothes. And a timer function for reserving the end time of the dry operation, and when the predetermined time before the reserved end time is reached, the hot air operation by the hot air supply device is started and the amount of clothes is detected by the clothes amount detecting means. Is detected, the heat generation capacity of the heater of the hot air supply device is set according to the detected clothing amount, and when the drying detection means detects the drying of the clothes, the heater of the hot air supply device is stopped based on this. And a control means for executing a cold air operation by a fan only until the reserved end time.