Detailed Description
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, unnecessary detailed description is sometimes omitted. For example, detailed descriptions of well-known matters or repeated descriptions of substantially the same structure may be omitted. This is to avoid that the following description becomes unnecessarily lengthy, so that it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.
Furthermore, the figures and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter recited in the claims.
(First embodiment)
As the heating device, a washing and drying machine that heats and dries laundry such as laundry is described in the first embodiment. In addition, the heating device may be a laundry dryer or a device for heating objects other than laundry.
Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view schematically showing the structure of a drum-type washing and drying machine 60 for explaining a heating device according to the first embodiment. The description will be given with the left side as the front, the right side as the rear, the upper side as the upper side, and the lower side as the lower side. The drum-type washing and drying machine 60 of the present embodiment has a function of washing and drying laundry such as laundry, and functions as a washing machine that performs only a washing function, a drying machine that performs only a drying function, and a washing and drying machine that performs both a washing function and a drying function.
The drum-type washing and drying machine 60 has a function of heating the laundry in the drum by radiating microwaves, which is one type of electromagnetic waves. First, the basic structure and operation of the drum-type washing and drying machine 60 will be described, and then, details of the first electromagnetic wave shield for suppressing leakage of microwaves from the casing when the microwaves are irradiated to the drum-type washing and drying machine 60 will be described.
The drum-type washing and drying machine 60 includes a water tank 2 as a heating chamber, and the water tank 2 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape storing washing water. The water tank 2 is supported in a freely swingable manner in the housing 1 (main body) by a damper 4 provided below the water tank. A drum 3 for accommodating laundry such as clothes as a drying object is rotatably provided in the water tub 2. The drum 3 is also formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. The drum 3 is disposed with its rotation axis horizontal. In other examples, the drum 3 may be provided such that the rotation axis is inclined upward and forward with respect to the horizontal, or may be provided such that the rotation axis is vertical. In the present embodiment, the description has been given with the heating chamber being the water tank 2 including the drum 3, but only the drum 3 may be used as the heating chamber.
A drive motor 6 is mounted on the back surface of the water tank 2. The drive motor 6 rotates the drum 3 in the forward and reverse directions around the rotation axis. The drum type washing and drying machine 60 agitates, beaters, rinses and dries laundry stored in the drum 3 by rotation of the drum 3 by driving the drive motor 6.
An opening 19 and a door 5 for opening and closing the opening 19 are provided on the front surface of the casing 1 at positions facing the opening ends of the drum 3 and the water tank 2. The user can put the laundry into the drum 3 or take out the laundry from the drum 3 by opening the door 5.
The water tank 2 has a water tank front portion 2a having a water tank opening portion 2c provided at a position opposed to the opening portion 19 of the housing 1, and a water tank rear portion 2b provided at a position rearward of the water tank front portion 2 a. A cylindrical water seal 23 having elasticity is provided so as to connect the edge of the water tank opening 2c of the water tank front part 2a and the edge of the opening 19 over the entire circumference. When the user closes the door 5, the water seal 23 is pressed by the door 5 to be elastically deformed, thereby ensuring water tightness of the water tank 2 with respect to the outside.
The tub front 2a may be a top surface portion of the tub 2 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. In this case, the tub rear 2b may be a side surface portion and a bottom surface portion of the cylinder. The tub front 2a may include a part of the front of the side surface portion in addition to the top surface portion of the cylinder. In this case, the water tank rear portion 2b may be a rear remainder of the side surface portion of the cylinder and a bottom surface portion. The tub rear 2b may include a part of the side surface side of the top surface part in addition to the side surface part and the bottom surface part of the tub 2. In this case, the tub front 2a may be the remaining portion of the top surface portion of the cylinder on the tub opening 2c side. The tub front 2a and the tub rear 2b may be integrally manufactured, or may be manufactured as separate parts, and the tub 2 may be formed by connecting the tub front 2a and the tub rear 2 b. In the case where the tub front 2a and the tub rear 2b are manufactured as separate parts, a water seal is provided in the joint between the tub front 2a and the tub rear 2b in the same manner as the water seal 23.
A water supply pipe 13 is connected to the upper portion of the water tank 2. A water supply valve 12 is provided in the middle of the water supply pipe 13. The water supply valve 12 is used to supply water into the water tank 2 via a water supply pipe 13. A drain pipe 11 is connected to the lowest part of the water tank 2. A drain valve 10 is provided midway in the drain pipe 11. The drain valve 10 is used to drain water in the water tank 2 to the outside of the housing 1, that is, to the outside of the machine via a drain pipe 11.
A damper 4 is provided below the water tank 2. The damper 4 supports the tub 2 and damps vibration of the tub 2 due to displacement of laundry in the drum 3 or the like during dehydration or the like. A cloth amount detecting unit (not shown) is attached to the damper 4. The cloth amount detecting unit detects a displacement amount by which the shaft of the damper 4 is displaced up and down due to a weight change of laundry or the like in the drum 3. The drum type washing and drying machine 60 detects the amount of laundry in the drum 3 based on the displacement amount detected by the cloth amount detecting section.
The drum 3 has a drum front portion 3a having a drum opening portion 3c provided at a position opposed to the opening portion 19 of the housing 1, and a drum rear portion 3b provided at a position rearward of the drum front portion 3 a. The drum front 3a may also be a top surface portion of the drum 3 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. In this case, the drum rear portion 3b may be a side surface portion and a bottom surface portion of the cylinder. The drum front 3a may also include a portion in front of the side surface portion in addition to the top surface portion of the cylinder. In this case, the drum rear portion 3b may be a rear remaining portion of the side surface portion of the cylinder and a bottom surface portion. The drum rear 3b may include a part of the side surface side of the top surface part in addition to the side surface part and the bottom surface part of the drum 3. In this case, the drum front 3a may be the remaining part of the top surface portion of the drum on the drum opening 3c side. The drum front part 3a and the drum rear part 3b may be manufactured integrally or as separate parts, and the drum 3 is formed by joining the drum front part 3a and the drum rear part 3 b.
The drum-type washing and drying machine 60 includes a circulation duct 7 for circulating air in the water tank 2 and the drum 3, and a microwave heating device 30 for radiating microwaves to the drying object in the drum 3. The microwave heating device 30 constituting a heating section for heating the drying object irradiates microwaves into the drum 3 from a microwave irradiation port 32 provided between the water tank opening 2c of the water tank 2 serving as the heating chamber and the opening 19 of the casing 1, thereby heating moisture contained in the drying object in the drum 3.
The circulation duct 7 is configured as an air circulation duct for drying the drying object in the drying step. The air circulation duct includes a water tub 2 and a drum 3. The circulation duct 7 is provided so as to connect a blowout port 8 (drying air blowout port) provided on the bottom surface of the water tank 2 to a discharge port 9 (drying air discharge port) provided in front of the side surface of the water tank 2.
The circulation duct 7 is provided with a lint filter 22, a dehumidifying part 21, a heater 17, and a blower fan 16 from the exhaust port 9 side. The lint filter 22 is a filter having a nylon net for catching lint contained in the air flowing through the circulation duct 7. The dehumidifying unit 21 dehumidifies the air flowing through the circulation duct 7. The dehumidifying part 21 may be either of a water-cooled type and an air-cooled type. The heater 17 heats the air flowing through the circulation duct 7. The dehumidification section 21 and the heater 17 may be constituted by an evaporation section and a condensation section of the heat pump device. The blower fan 16 circulates air in the water tub 2 and the drum 3 in the circulation duct 7.
The heater 17 and a microwave irradiation section (details will be described later) constitute a heating section for heating the drying object, and both or either of them is energized at the same time. The method of heating the drying object by the heating unit is not particularly limited, and there are a method of directly heating the drying object by microwaves, a method of indirectly heating the circulated air by a heater or the like, or a method of indirectly heating the inner wall of the drum 3. When there is a high possibility that sparks are generated due to the presence of metal such as buttons or zippers on clothes or the like as drying objects, the output of microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation unit into the drum 3 is reduced or stopped, and the drying is switched to the drying by the heater 17.
An inflow temperature detection unit 18 is provided in the circulation duct 7. The inflow temperature detecting unit 18 detects the temperature of the air flowing into the drum 3. The inflow temperature detection unit 18 is constituted by a thermistor or the like, for example.
A control device 20 is provided in the housing 1. The control device 20 controls the blower fan 16, the heater 17, the microwave irradiation part, and the like. The control device 20 also controls the drive motor 6, the water supply valve 12, the drain valve 10, and the like to sequentially perform the respective steps of cleaning, rinsing, and drying.
The control device 20 is realized in hardware by a CPU, a memory, another LSI, or the like of an arbitrary computer, and in software by a program loaded in the memory, or the like. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the control device 20 can be implemented in various forms, either by hardware alone or by a combination of hardware and software.
Next, the flow of the drying air will be described. When microwaves are irradiated into the drum 3, moisture contained in the drying object is heated and evaporated. When the blower fan 16 is driven, the air in a wet state due to the evaporated moisture flows into the circulation duct 7 through the discharge port 9 provided in the water tub 2. The air flowing into the circulation duct 7 is sent to the dehumidifying part 21 and the heater 17 by the blower fan 16. The air passing through the dehumidifying part 21 is cooled and dehumidified. The cooled air is heated by the heater 17.
The air having passed through the heater 17 is blown out again into the drum 3 through the outlet 8. In the laundry dryer having no washing function, the water tank 2, the water supply valve 12, the water supply pipe 13, the drain valve 10, and the drain pipe 11 for storing the washing water are not provided. The drum 3 functions as a heating chamber, and the connection between the rotating drum 3 and the circulating air passage 7 is configured such that the drum 3 slides on a sealing member such as felt.
In the drum type washing and drying machine 60 of the present embodiment, since the inside of the drum 3 is irradiated with microwaves, it is necessary to configure such that the intensity of electromagnetic waves leaking to the outside of the drum type washing and drying machine 60 is equal to or less than a predetermined reference value in the region where the drum type washing and drying machine 60 is used. Accordingly, the drum-type washing and drying machine 60 of the present embodiment includes a first electromagnetic wave shield for suppressing leakage of microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation port 32.
As a standard concerning the leakage electromagnetic wave, there is, for example, japanese industrial standard "JIS C9250" prescribed for a microwave oven having a rated high-frequency output of 2kW or less for heating foods by using electromagnetic waves (microwaves) having a frequency of 2.45GHz band and a microwave oven having an additional device therein. The standard 5.8 specifies that "the power density of the leakage electric wave measured by the power density test of the leakage electric wave specified in 8.2.12 of the standard satisfies (1) the power density of the leakage electric wave is 1mW/cm2 or less when the door is in the closed state, (2) the power density of the leakage electric wave is 5mW/cm2 or less when the door is opened and fixed to the maximum position immediately before the oscillation stop device of the oscillation tube operates, (3) the power density of the leakage electric wave is 5mW/cm2 or less in a state where the oscillation stop device other than the main oscillation stop device is bound. The same applies to the eighth item 2 (95) of the attached table regarding the explanation of "the technical standard for electric appliances is specified" for specifying the technical standard for electric appliances "specified in the technical standard for economic industry, which is specified in the eighth item of the electric appliance safety law. The same reference as the microwave oven is considered to be appropriate for the washing and drying machine.
In addition, WHO (world health organization) recommends adoption of guidelines of the international non-ionizing radiation protection committee (ICNIRP) established by experts of various countries based on science as the exposure limit value of human body protection. In this guideline, the exposure limit was specified as 0.08W/kg (1 mW/cm2). In the international standard "IEC62233" formulated by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the japanese industrial standard "JIS 1912" formulated based on the international standard, a measurement method of electromagnetic fields related to human body exposure from household electrical appliances and the like is prescribed. In the measurement method defined by the standard, the electromagnetic field is measured in a ratio to the exposure limit value by weighting the signal of the sensor for detecting the electromagnetic field, and if the exposure limit value defined by the guidelines of ICNIRP is not exceeded, it is determined that the guidelines of ICNIRP are satisfied. The first electromagnetic wave shield is configured to conform to these standards.
In the microwave oven, the drum type washing and drying machine 60 of the present embodiment does not generate a large vibration during the irradiation of microwaves, but the drum 3 and the water tank 2 vibrate when the drum 3 is rotated during the drying process in order to improve the drying efficiency. Accordingly, the first electromagnetic wave shield of the drum-type washing and drying machine 60 of the present embodiment has a structure in which the leakage of microwaves from the gap can be suppressed even when the microwaves are irradiated while the drum 3 and the water tank 2 vibrate. Details are described later.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a microwave heating device 30, a water tank 2, a drum 3, a door 5, a control device 20, and the like of the heating device according to the first embodiment. The positional relationship of the water tank 2, the drum 3, and the door 5 when viewed from the front surface position of the drum-type washing dryer 60 to the rear is shown in fig. 1. The position where the microwave irradiation port 32 is provided may be different from that of fig. 2 as long as the microwave can be irradiated to the water tank 2 as the heating chamber. The positions where the microwave heating device 30 and the control device 20 are provided may be different from those of fig. 2 as long as they are outside the first electromagnetic wave shield.
The microwave heating device 30 includes a microwave irradiation section 31, a waveguide 34, a microwave irradiation port 32, a microwave control device 40, a reflection section 33, and a microwave receiving section 36. The microwave irradiation section 31 irradiates microwaves. The waveguide 34 guides the irradiated microwaves into the drum 3. The microwave irradiation port 32 is provided at the front end of the waveguide 34, and is located in the water tank 2. The microwave control device 40 adjusts the output of the microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation section 31. The reflecting portion 33 is provided between the microwave irradiation portion 31 and the microwave irradiation port 32, and irradiates a part or all of the microwaves reflected from the drum 3 into the drum 3. The microwave receiving unit 36 is provided inside the first electromagnetic wave shield, and receives electromagnetic waves including the microwaves emitted from the microwave irradiation unit 31 and electromagnetic waves generated by sparks.
The first electromagnetic wave shield is formed of a material containing an electromagnetic wave blocking material such as a metal capable of reflecting or absorbing microwaves. The first electromagnetic wave shield includes at least a wall forming the heating chamber and a door for allowing the heating object to enter and exit the heating chamber. Here, in the case where the heating chamber is in the shape of a bottomed cylinder, the wall forming the heating chamber includes a cylindrical side wall and a bottom surface. In fig. 2, the first electromagnetic wave shield is constituted by a water tank 2 as a heating chamber and a door 5.
In addition, a part or the whole of the drum 3 or the case 1 may be made of a material containing an electromagnetic wave blocking material, so that the first electromagnetic wave shield may be formed.
The first electromagnetic wave shield may include a first choke portion 38 to block or attenuate electromagnetic waves leaking from the gap between the water tank 2 and the door 5. The first choke portion 38 is formed at the junction of the water tank 2 and the door body 5, and has a high shielding effect against the frequency band of the microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation portion 31. The first choke portion 38 can be of any choke structure known in the art such as a microwave oven.
The first electromagnetic wave shield may be formed of a conductive material such as a metal capable of reflecting the microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation section 31, or a dielectric or magnetic material capable of absorbing and attenuating the microwaves by dielectric loss, magnetic loss, or the like, instead of the choke structure.
The microwave irradiation section 31 is a microwave oscillator such as a magnetron, and oscillates electromagnetic waves of a frequency of 2.45GHz band usable by the microwave heating apparatus. The electromagnetic wave may be an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 915MHz or the like, which is allocated not only to the 2.45GHz band, which is an ISM (Industrial SCIENCE MEDICAL: industrial science medical) band. Microwaves adjusted to be arbitrary output by the microwave control device 40 are irradiated from the microwave irradiation section 31. The irradiated microwaves are irradiated into the rotating drum 3 through the waveguide 34 and the microwave irradiation port 32, and heat moisture contained in the drying object such as laundry.
Of the microwaves irradiated into the drum 3, a part of the microwaves not absorbed by the moisture contained in the drying object is returned as reflected waves from the drum 3 to the microwave irradiation section 31 through the microwave irradiation port 32. The microwaves returned to the microwave irradiation section 31 are converted into heat, and are treated as exhaust heat.
The reflection unit 33 reflects a part or all of the reflected wave reflected from the drum 3 and traveling in a direction of returning to the microwave irradiation unit 31, and re-irradiates the reflected wave into the drum 3 together with the microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation unit 31. This reduces energy loss and shortens drying time.
Fig. 3 shows the configuration of the microwave control device 40, the microwave receiving unit 36, and the microwave irradiation unit 31 for explaining the heating device according to the first embodiment. The microwave control device 40 is implemented by hardware such as a microcomputer, a microcontroller, an integrated circuit, and the like.
The microwave control device 40 includes a spark detection unit 41 and an output adjustment unit 42. These structures are realized in hardware by a CPU, a memory, another LSI, and the like of an arbitrary computer, and in software by a program loaded in the memory, etc., but functional blocks realized by their cooperation are described herein. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that these functional blocks may be implemented in various forms, either by hardware alone or by a combination of hardware and software.
The microwave control device 40 controls the microwave irradiation section 31 in accordance with an instruction from the control device 20 in the cleaning process, rinsing process, or drying process controlled by the control device 20. The microwave control device 40 heats the cleaning water in the cleaning step, or heats the rinsing water in the rinsing step, or heats the moisture contained in the drying object in the drying step, or heat-sterilizes bacteria adhering to the laundry or the drying object. For this purpose, the microwave irradiation section 31 irradiates microwaves into the drum 3. In the heating of the washing water or the rinsing water, microwaves may be irradiated into the water tank 2 storing the washing water or the rinsing water.
The spark detection unit 41 can detect that spark is generated in the heating chamber by detecting electromagnetic waves generated by spark among the electromagnetic waves received by the microwave reception unit 36. For example, the spark detection unit 41 detects a change in the intensity of the received electromagnetic wave, thereby detecting the occurrence of spark. In order to improve the accuracy of spark detection, the occurrence of spark may be detected by detecting a change in the intensity of electromagnetic waves at a predetermined frequency. Here, the electromagnetic wave detected by the spark detection unit 41 as the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark from among the electromagnetic waves received by the microwave reception unit 36 is hereinafter referred to as a spark electromagnetic wave.
First, the frequency of electromagnetic waves generated by sparks will be described.
Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the frequency and intensity of electromagnetic waves received by the microwave receiving unit in the heating apparatus according to the first embodiment, and the relationship between the frequency and intensity of electromagnetic waves received by the microwave receiving unit 36 when a metal sheet is accommodated in the heating chamber and a spark is generated by radiating microwaves from the microwave radiating unit 31 into the heating chamber, assuming that the clothes are provided with metal such as buttons or zippers. The horizontal axis represents the frequency of electromagnetic waves, and the vertical axis represents the intensity of electromagnetic waves.
The electromagnetic wave received by the microwave receiving unit 36 includes both the microwave irradiated from the microwave irradiating unit 31 and the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark generated by the irradiated microwave. Here, the frequency of the microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation unit 31 is 2.45GHz band.
Here, the microwave receiving unit 36 includes a filter having a frequency characteristic of blocking or attenuating the microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation unit 31. The filter is, for example, a low-pass filter composed of hardware. This reduces the electromagnetic wave intensity in the frequency band of the microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation unit 31, out of the electromagnetic waves received by the microwave reception unit 36.
Therefore, in the frequency band of the microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation section 31, the peak of the intensity of the electromagnetic wave is not detected as compared with the electromagnetic waves of other frequencies. The peak of the intensity of the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark is detected in a frequency band of 100MHz or more, particularly, in the vicinity of 100MHz to 1.5 GHz.
As described above, the frequency of the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark is 100MHz or more, and the generation of the spark can be detected by receiving the electromagnetic wave having a frequency different from the frequency of the microwave irradiated from the microwave irradiation section 31 and detecting the change in the intensity of the electromagnetic wave.
The electromagnetic wave generated by the spark is not an electromagnetic wave having only a specific frequency, but an electromagnetic wave having a wide range of frequencies above the 100MHz band.
Accordingly, the spark detection unit 41 analyzes the frequency of the electromagnetic wave received by the microwave reception unit 36, and detects a change in the intensity of the electromagnetic wave having a frequency different from the frequency of the microwave irradiated from the microwave irradiation unit 31 as a spark electromagnetic wave, thereby detecting the occurrence of spark.
The microwave receiving unit 36 may receive only the electromagnetic wave generated from the spark by using a filter (low-pass filter, band-stop filter, or high-pass filter) or the like having a frequency characteristic of blocking or attenuating the microwave irradiated from the microwave irradiation unit 31, and the spark detecting unit 41 may detect the spark electromagnetic wave. In addition, the frequency analysis and the filter described above may be used in combination. The filter provided in the microwave receiving unit 36 may be provided in the spark detecting unit 41.
Next, the intensity of the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark will be described.
The intensity of the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark is relatively weak compared with the intensity of the electromagnetic wave of the microwave irradiated from the microwave irradiation section 31 into the heating chamber, and thus the irradiated microwave becomes noise. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to detect electromagnetic waves generated by sparks.
Here, a resonance phenomenon of electromagnetic waves will be described. As described above, the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark is not an electromagnetic wave having only a specific frequency, but an electromagnetic wave having a wide range of frequencies above the 100MHz band. Therefore, in the electromagnetic wave having a certain predetermined frequency or more of the electromagnetic waves, a resonance phenomenon may occur in the space of the electromagnetic wave shield.
Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating conditions under which resonance of electromagnetic waves occurs in the heating apparatus according to the first embodiment. In general, in a space of an electromagnetic wave shield, resonance occurs when a distance between facing surfaces of the electromagnetic wave shield satisfies a relationship in which the distance is an integral multiple of 1/2 of a wavelength λ of an electromagnetic wave. Fig. 5 shows resonance phenomena in the case where the distance between the facing surfaces of the electromagnetic wave shield is 1/2 times, or 3 times the wavelength λ of the electromagnetic wave.
For example, the maximum linear length among the x-axis length, the y-axis length, and the z-axis length in the space constituting the electromagnetic wave shield is set to Lmax. Resonance occurs in a short electromagnetic wave of which half wavelength, i.e., lambda/2, is equal to or less than Lmax, among electromagnetic waves generated by a spark. The intensity of electromagnetic waves generated by the spark is amplified by the resonance phenomenon.
Accordingly, the spark detection unit 41 can also detect the spark electromagnetic wave by selectively detecting the electromagnetic wave of the frequency at which the resonance occurs according to the size of the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield, among the electromagnetic waves generated by the spark, thereby detecting the spark generation with high accuracy.
That is, as described above, when the maximum straight line length among the x-axis length, the y-axis length, and the z-axis length in the space constituting the first electromagnetic wave shield is Lmax, the spark detection portion 41 detects an electromagnetic wave of (λ/2). Ltoreq.lmax as a spark electromagnetic wave. Thus, the spark detection unit 41 detects the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark amplified in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield as the spark electromagnetic wave, thereby more accurately detecting the spark generation in the heating chamber.
For example, a case where the first electromagnetic wave shield is formed substantially in a right circular cylinder shape will be described. In the right circular cylinder shape, the larger one of the maximum diameter of the circle and the maximum depth length of the cylinder as the cross section is set to Lmax. Among electromagnetic waves generated by a spark, an electromagnetic wave having a half wavelength, i.e., λ/2, of Lmax or less generates a resonance phenomenon. The intensity of electromagnetic waves generated by the spark is amplified by the resonance phenomenon.
The case where the first electromagnetic wave shield is formed substantially in a rectangular parallelepiped shape will be described. The maximum linear length of 3 sides forming a rectangular parallelepiped shape is set to Lmax. Resonance occurs in a short electromagnetic wave of which half wavelength, i.e., lambda/2, is equal to or less than Lmax, among electromagnetic waves generated by a spark. The intensity of electromagnetic waves generated by the spark is amplified by the resonance phenomenon.
As described above, the spark detection unit 41 can also detect the spark electromagnetic wave by selectively detecting the electromagnetic wave of the frequency at which the resonance occurs according to the size of the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield, among the electromagnetic waves generated by the spark, thereby detecting the spark generation with high accuracy.
Finally, the influence of the moisture contained in the laundry as the heating target during the drying operation of the drum-type washing and drying machine 60 on the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark will be described.
Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between the frequency and the attenuation of the electromagnetic wave to water in the heating apparatus according to the first embodiment. The horizontal axis represents the frequency of electromagnetic waves, and the vertical axis represents the loss of electromagnetic waves.
The degree of attenuation of water increases rapidly from frequencies above 5 GHz. Since the intensity of electromagnetic waves generated by sparks is weak, if the degree of attenuation caused by moisture contained in clothing increases, it becomes difficult to detect sparks. Therefore, the microwave receiving unit 36 can also receive electromagnetic waves containing frequency components of 10GHz or less, preferably 5GHz or less, thereby detecting sparks with higher accuracy. The spark detection unit 41 may detect an electromagnetic wave containing a frequency component of 10GHz or less, preferably 5GHz or less, thereby detecting a spark with higher accuracy.
That is, the spark detection unit 41 detects, for example, an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 10GHz or less, preferably 5GHz or less, among electromagnetic waves generated by sparks generated in a heating chamber constituted by the water tank 2 or the drum 3. Thus, the spark detection unit 41 can more accurately detect the occurrence of spark by detecting the spark electromagnetic wave.
When the spark electromagnetic wave is detected by the spark detection unit 41, that is, when a spark is generated, the output adjustment unit 42 adjusts the output of the microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation unit 31. Specifically, when the spark electromagnetic wave is detected by the spark detection unit 41, the output adjustment unit 42 is regarded as detecting the occurrence of spark, and reduces the output of the microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation unit 31. Or stops the output of the microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation section 31.
This makes it possible to accurately detect the occurrence of sparks in the drum 3 and to reduce or stop the output of microwaves emitted from the microwave irradiation unit 31. That is, the damage of the drying object due to the spark generated by the metal or the like contained in the drying object in the drum 3 is prevented.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the drum-type washing and drying machine 60 as a heating device includes the water tank 2 or the drum 3 as a heating chamber that accommodates laundry as a heating target, the microwave irradiation section 31 that irradiates electromagnetic waves into the heating chamber, and the first electromagnetic wave shield that suppresses electromagnetic waves leaking from the heating chamber. Further, the microwave oven is provided with a microwave receiving unit 36 that receives electromagnetic waves, and a spark detecting unit 41 that detects electromagnetic waves generated by sparks, among the electromagnetic waves received by the microwave receiving unit 36, that are generated in the heating chamber by irradiation of the electromagnetic waves. The spark detection unit 41 is configured to detect electromagnetic waves amplified in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield.
According to this structure, the spark detection unit 41 can more accurately detect the occurrence of spark in the heating chamber by detecting the spark electromagnetic wave in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield.
The maximum linear length among the x-axis length, the y-axis length, and the z-axis length of the space constituting the first electromagnetic wave shield may be Lmax, and the spark detection unit 41 may be configured to detect an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength λ satisfying (λ/2). Ltoreq.lmax. According to this structure, the spark detection unit 41 can more accurately detect the occurrence of spark in the heating chamber by detecting the electromagnetic wave amplified in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield.
The spark detection unit 41 may be configured to detect an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 10GHz or less, preferably 5GHz or less, among electromagnetic waves generated by sparks generated in the heating chamber. According to this structure, the occurrence of spark in the heating chamber can be detected more accurately.
The first electromagnetic wave shield may include at least a wall forming the heating chamber and a door for allowing the heating object to enter and exit the heating chamber. According to this structure, the first electromagnetic wave shield can be optimally configured, and the spark electromagnetic wave in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield can be detected by the spark detection portion 41, thereby more accurately detecting the occurrence of spark in the heating chamber.
The first electromagnetic wave shield may include a first choke portion 38 (first choke structure), and the first choke portion 38 (first choke structure) may be configured to suppress leakage of electromagnetic waves from the heating chamber. According to this structure, the first electromagnetic wave shield can be optimally configured, and the spark electromagnetic wave in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield can be detected by the spark detection portion 41, thereby more accurately detecting the occurrence of spark in the heating chamber.
The microwave irradiation unit 31 may be configured to irradiate an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 2.45GHz band or 915MHz band into the heating chamber. According to this configuration, the heating device can be realized by using electromagnetic waves in the available frequency band.
(Second embodiment)
Fig. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the microwave heating device 30, the water tank 2, the drum 3, the door 5, the control device 20, and the like of the heating device according to the second embodiment.
In fig. 2 showing the heating apparatus according to the first embodiment, the microwave receiving unit 36 is provided inside the first electromagnetic wave shield including the wall forming the heating chamber and the door 5, and receives electromagnetic waves in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield. Here, since the electromagnetic wave irradiated from the microwave irradiation unit 31 has a strong intensity of electromagnetic wave, when the spark detection unit 41 detects spark electromagnetic waves, the electromagnetic wave irradiated from the microwave irradiation unit 31 may become noise. That is, it becomes a factor that hinders the detection of spark generation.
In the microwave heating device 30 constituting the heating device according to the second embodiment, as shown in fig. 7, the microwave receiving unit 36 is provided outside the first electromagnetic wave shield, and receives electromagnetic waves leaking outside the first electromagnetic wave shield. Since the first electromagnetic wave shield has a high shielding effect for a specific frequency band, when an electromagnetic wave leaks to the outside of the first electromagnetic wave shield, the attenuation rate of the microwave irradiated from the microwave irradiation section 31 is higher than the attenuation rate of the electromagnetic wave generated by a spark. Therefore, the difference between the intensity of the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark and the intensity of the microwave irradiated from the microwave irradiation section 31 becomes smaller outside the first electromagnetic wave shield. Thus, by receiving the electromagnetic wave by the microwave receiving section 36, the microwave detecting section 41 can more accurately detect the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark, thereby detecting the generation of the spark.
The microwave receiving unit 36 is not particularly limited as long as it is provided outside the first electromagnetic wave shield. For example, the washing machine may be provided in the drum type washing dryer 60, or may be provided independently of the drum type washing dryer 60. In the case of being provided separately from the drum-type washing dryer 60, for example, a mobile terminal or a separate measuring device may be used. The microwave receiving unit 36 is connected to the microwave control device 40 by a wired signal or a wireless signal. Other structures and actions are the same as those of the first embodiment.
As in the first embodiment, the first electromagnetic wave shield may include the first choke portion 38 to block or attenuate electromagnetic waves leaking from the gap between the door 5 and the water tank 2. The first choke portion 38 is formed at a contact point between the door 5 and the water tank 2, and has a high shielding effect against a frequency band of microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation portion 31.
Since the first electromagnetic wave shield using the choke structure has a high shielding effect for a specific frequency band, when electromagnetic waves leak outside the first electromagnetic wave shield, the attenuation rate of microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation section 31 is higher than that of electromagnetic waves generated by sparks.
Therefore, the difference between the intensity of the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark and the intensity of the microwave irradiated from the microwave irradiation unit 31 received by the microwave receiving unit 36 is reduced outside the first electromagnetic wave shield using the choke structure, and the microwave detection unit 41 can detect the spark electromagnetic wave, thereby detecting the spark more accurately.
Further, by providing the first electromagnetic wave shield and the first choke portion 38, it is not necessary to add an attenuator or the like to the microwave receiving portion 36. This can simplify the structure of the drum-type washing and drying machine 60, and therefore, the manufacturing cost and size of the drum-type washing and drying machine 60 can be suppressed. Of course, only the first electromagnetic wave shield may be provided.
Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between the intensity of electromagnetic waves inside the first electromagnetic wave shield and the intensity of electromagnetic waves (leaking electromagnetic waves) leaking outside the first electromagnetic wave shield, among microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation section 31 of the heating apparatus according to the second embodiment. The vertical axis represents the electromagnetic wave intensity of the microwaves. When the intensity of the electromagnetic wave of the microwave injected into the drum 3 from the microwave irradiation port 32 is set to 100%, the intensity of the reflected wave reflected from the drum 3 and returned to the microwave irradiation portion 31 is about 17%, and the intensity of the electromagnetic wave leaked to the outside of the first electromagnetic wave shield is about 0.0001%.
In this way, the intensity of the leaking electromagnetic wave received by the microwave receiving unit 36 is extremely weak outside the first electromagnetic wave shield, compared with the intensity of the incident wave, and the detection of the spark electromagnetic wave is facilitated by providing the microwave receiving unit 36 outside the first electromagnetic wave shield.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the microwave receiving unit 36 is provided outside the first electromagnetic wave shield, and is configured to receive electromagnetic waves leaking from the first electromagnetic wave shield. Thus, the electromagnetic wave leaking from the first electromagnetic wave shield can be received by the microwave receiving section 36 provided outside the electromagnetic wave shield, and the spark electromagnetic wave in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield can be detected by the spark detecting section 41, whereby the occurrence of spark in the heating chamber can be detected more accurately.
The first electromagnetic wave shield may be provided with a first choke portion 38 (first choke structure), and the first choke portion 38 (first choke structure) may be configured to suppress leakage of electromagnetic waves irradiated from the microwave irradiation portion 31 from the heating chamber. Thus, the first electromagnetic wave shield can be optimally configured, and the spark electromagnetic wave is detected by the spark detection portion 41, whereby the occurrence of spark can be more accurately detected.
(Third embodiment)
Fig. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a microwave heating device 30, a water tank 2, a drum 3, a door 5, a control device 20, and the like of the heating device according to the third embodiment. In fig. 7 of the second embodiment, the microwave receiving unit 36 is provided outside the first electromagnetic wave shield, and receives electromagnetic waves leaking outside the first electromagnetic wave shield. In the microwave heating device 30 according to the third embodiment, a second electromagnetic wave shield 37 is provided around the microwave receiving unit 36, and the second electromagnetic wave shield 37 is configured to suppress invasion of microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation unit 31. The microwave receiving unit 36 is provided inside the second electromagnetic wave shield 37, and receives electromagnetic waves that have entered the second electromagnetic wave shield 37.
Since the second electromagnetic wave shield 37 has a high shielding effect for a specific frequency band, when an electromagnetic wave enters the second electromagnetic wave shield 37, the attenuation rate of the microwave irradiated from the microwave irradiation section 31 is higher than the attenuation rate of the electromagnetic wave generated by a spark. Therefore, the difference between the intensity of the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark and the intensity of the microwave irradiated from the microwave irradiation unit 31 becomes smaller inside the second electromagnetic wave shield 37. Thus, by receiving the electromagnetic wave by the microwave receiving section 36, the microwave detecting section 41 can more accurately detect the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark, thereby detecting the generation of the spark.
The second electromagnetic wave shield 37 may include a second choke 39 at a contact point with the water tank 2. The second choke portion 39 has a high shielding effect against the frequency band of the microwaves irradiated from the microwave irradiation portion 31. As the second choke portion 39, any choke structure known in the technical field of microwave ovens and the like can be employed.
Since the second electromagnetic wave shield 37 using the choke structure has a high shielding effect for a specific frequency band, when an electromagnetic wave enters the second electromagnetic wave shield 37, the attenuation rate of the microwave irradiated from the microwave irradiation section 31 is higher than that of the electromagnetic wave generated by a spark.
Therefore, the difference between the intensity of the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark and the intensity of the microwave irradiated from the microwave irradiation unit 31 received by the microwave receiving unit 36 becomes small inside the second electromagnetic wave shield 37 using the choke structure, and the microwave detection unit 41 can detect the spark electromagnetic wave, thereby detecting the spark more accurately.
Further, by providing the first electromagnetic wave shield, the second electromagnetic wave shield 37, the first choke portion 38, and the second choke portion 39, it is not necessary to add an attenuator or the like to the microwave receiving portion 36. This can simplify the structure of the drum-type washing and drying machine 60, and therefore, the manufacturing cost and size of the drum-type washing and drying machine 60 can be suppressed. Of course, the first electromagnetic wave shield body and the second electromagnetic wave shield body 37 may be configured not to have the first choke portion 38 and the second choke portion 39, and may have any of the first choke portion 38 and the second choke portion 39.
The above-described criteria relating to the leaking electromagnetic wave may be achieved by the first electromagnetic wave shield, and the attenuation rates of the first electromagnetic wave shield and the second electromagnetic wave shield 37 may be set so that the intensity of the electromagnetic wave is suitable for the intensity of the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark received by the microwave receiving unit 36.
Other structures and actions are the same as those of the first embodiment. Or may be the same as the second embodiment. In addition, only a part of the microwave receiving unit 36 may be provided inside the second electromagnetic wave shield 37, so as to receive electromagnetic waves that have entered the second electromagnetic wave shield 37.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the drum-type washing and drying machine 60 as the heating device includes the second electromagnetic wave shield 37, and the second electromagnetic wave shield 37 is configured to suppress the invasion of the electromagnetic wave irradiated from the microwave irradiation unit 31, and the microwave receiving unit 36 is provided inside the second electromagnetic wave shield 37, and is configured to receive the electromagnetic wave invaded into the second electromagnetic wave shield 37.
According to this structure, the electromagnetic wave that has intruded into the second electromagnetic wave shield 37 can be received by the microwave receiving portion 36 provided inside the second electromagnetic wave shield 37, and the spark electromagnetic wave in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield can be detected by the spark detecting portion 41, whereby the occurrence of spark can be detected more accurately.
The second electromagnetic wave shield 37 may be provided in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield. Thus, the electromagnetic wave that has intruded into the second electromagnetic wave shield 37 can be received by the microwave receiving portion 36 that is provided in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield and that is provided inside the second electromagnetic wave shield 37, and the spark electromagnetic wave can be detected by the spark detecting portion 41, whereby the occurrence of spark can be detected more accurately.
The second electromagnetic wave shield 37 may be provided with a second choke portion 39 (second choke structure), and the second choke portion 39 (second choke structure) may be configured to suppress the invasion of the electromagnetic wave irradiated from the microwave irradiation portion 31. Thus, the second electromagnetic wave shield 37 can be optimally configured, and the spark electromagnetic wave is detected by the spark detecting portion 41, so that the occurrence of spark can be detected more accurately.
As shown in fig. 10, in another configuration of the heating device according to the third embodiment, the microwave receiving unit 36, the second electromagnetic wave shield 37, and the second choke 39 may be provided outside the first electromagnetic wave shield, and the installation positions thereof are not particularly limited. For example, the washing machine may be provided in the drum type washing dryer 60, or may be provided independently of the drum type washing dryer 60. In the case of being provided separately from the drum-type washing dryer 60, for example, a mobile terminal or a separate measuring device may be used. The microwave receiving unit 36 is connected to the microwave control device 40 by a wired signal or a wireless signal.
According to this configuration, since the first electromagnetic wave shield and the second electromagnetic wave shield 37 have a high shielding effect for a specific frequency band, the attenuation rate of the microwave irradiated from the microwave irradiation section 31 is further increased than that of the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark when the electromagnetic wave enters the second electromagnetic wave shield 37, compared with the configuration having only the first electromagnetic wave shield (see fig. 7 showing the second embodiment). Therefore, the difference between the intensity of the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark and the intensity of the microwave irradiated from the microwave irradiation section 31 is further reduced inside the second electromagnetic wave shield 37. Thus, the electromagnetic wave generated by the spark can be detected more accurately by receiving the electromagnetic wave by the microwave receiving section 36, thereby detecting the generation of the spark.
As described above, in the first to third embodiments, the heating device and the washing dryer (dryer) provided with the heating device are described. That is, the dryer can be provided with the heating device according to the first to third embodiments, thereby realizing a dryer capable of detecting the occurrence of sparks more accurately.
The present disclosure is described above based on the first to third embodiments. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are examples, and that various modifications are possible for each component and each combination of processing steps, and such modifications are also included in the scope of the present disclosure. That is, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, and the like are made. Further, the components described in the above embodiments may be combined to form a new embodiment.
Any combination of the above components, and a mode in which the present disclosure is expressed by conversion between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, or the like are also effective as modes of the present disclosure.
As described above, the heating apparatus according to the first disclosure includes a heating chamber that accommodates an object to be heated, an irradiation unit that irradiates electromagnetic waves into the heating chamber, and a first electromagnetic wave shield that suppresses electromagnetic waves leaking from the heating chamber. The heating device is provided with a receiving unit that receives electromagnetic waves, and a detecting unit that detects electromagnetic waves generated by sparks, among the electromagnetic waves received by the receiving unit, that are generated in the heating chamber by irradiation of the electromagnetic waves. The detection unit is configured to detect electromagnetic waves amplified in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield.
According to this configuration, the detection unit of the heating device can detect the occurrence of the spark in the heating chamber more accurately by detecting the electromagnetic wave amplified in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield.
In the heating device according to the second disclosure, in the first disclosure, the maximum linear length among the x-axis length, the y-axis length, and the z-axis length of the space constituting the first electromagnetic wave shield may be Lmax, and the detection unit may be configured to detect an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength λ satisfying (λ/2). Ltoreq.lmax.
According to this configuration, the detection unit can more accurately detect the occurrence of spark in the heating chamber by detecting the electromagnetic wave amplified in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield.
In the heating device according to the third disclosure, the detection unit may be configured to detect an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 5GHz or less, among electromagnetic waves generated by sparks generated in the heating chamber, in either of the first and second disclosures.
According to this structure, the occurrence of spark in the heating chamber can be detected more accurately.
In the heating device according to the fourth disclosure, in any one of the first to third disclosures, the receiving portion is provided outside the first electromagnetic wave shield, and may be configured to receive electromagnetic waves leaking from the first electromagnetic wave shield.
According to this structure, the electromagnetic wave leaking from the first electromagnetic wave shield can be received by the receiving portion provided outside the first electromagnetic wave shield, and the electromagnetic wave amplified in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield can be detected by the detecting portion, thereby more accurately detecting the occurrence of the spark in the heating chamber.
In the heating device according to the fifth disclosure, in any one of the first to fourth disclosures, the first electromagnetic wave shield may include at least a wall forming the heating chamber and a door for allowing the heating object to enter and exit the heating chamber.
According to this structure, the first electromagnetic wave shield can be optimally configured, and the electromagnetic wave amplified in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield can be detected by the detection portion, thereby more accurately detecting the occurrence of spark in the heating chamber.
In the heating device according to the sixth disclosure, in any one of the first to fifth disclosures, the first electromagnetic wave shield may have a first choke structure for suppressing leakage of electromagnetic waves from the heating chamber.
According to this structure, the first electromagnetic wave shield can be optimally configured, and the electromagnetic wave amplified in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield can be detected by the detection portion, thereby more accurately detecting the occurrence of spark in the heating chamber.
The heating device according to the seventh disclosure may be configured such that, in any one of the first to third disclosures, a second electromagnetic wave shield for suppressing the invasion of the electromagnetic wave irradiated from the irradiation portion is provided, and the receiving portion is provided inside the second electromagnetic wave shield and receives the electromagnetic wave invaded into the second electromagnetic wave shield.
According to this configuration, the electromagnetic wave that has entered the second electromagnetic wave shield body can be received by the receiving portion provided inside the second electromagnetic wave shield body, and the electromagnetic wave amplified in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield body can be detected by the detecting portion, whereby the occurrence of spark in the heating chamber can be detected more accurately.
In the heating device according to the eighth disclosure, the second electromagnetic wave shield may be provided in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield according to the seventh disclosure.
According to this configuration, the electromagnetic wave that has entered the second electromagnetic wave shield body can be received by the receiving portion provided in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield body and provided inside the second electromagnetic wave shield body, and the electromagnetic wave amplified in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield body can be detected by the detecting portion, whereby the occurrence of spark in the heating chamber can be detected more accurately.
In the heating device according to the ninth disclosure, in either one of the seventh or eighth disclosure, the second electromagnetic wave shield may have a second choke structure for suppressing invasion of electromagnetic waves irradiated from the irradiation portion.
According to this structure, the second electromagnetic wave shield can be optimally configured, and the electromagnetic wave amplified in the space of the first electromagnetic wave shield can be detected by the detection portion, thereby more accurately detecting the occurrence of spark in the heating chamber.
In the heating device according to the tenth disclosure, the irradiation unit may be configured to irradiate an electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 2.45GHz band or 915MHz band into the heating chamber in any of the first to ninth disclosures.
According to this configuration, the heating device can be realized by using electromagnetic waves in the available frequency band.
The dryer according to the eleventh disclosure may be provided with any one of the heating devices according to the first to tenth disclosures.
According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a dryer capable of detecting the occurrence of spark in the heating chamber more accurately.
Industrial applicability
As described above, the application range of the present disclosure is not limited to the drum-type washing dryer or drum-type dryer described above. For example, the present invention can be applied to a drum-type, a vertical washing dryer, a vertical dryer, or the like. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be applied to any type of heating apparatus that heats an object other than clothing.
Description of the reference numerals
1, A housing, 2, a water tank (heating chamber), 2a, 2b, a water tank rear portion, 2c, a lint filter, 23, a water seal, 30, a microwave heating device, 31, a microwave irradiation portion (irradiation portion), 32, a microwave irradiation port, 34, a waveguide, 36, a microwave receiving portion (receiving portion), 37, a second electromagnetic wave shielding portion, 38, a first choke (first choke structure), 39, a second choke structure), 40, a control device, 41, a detection portion, a drum-type dryer, and a spark adjustment dryer.