To provide a washing/drying machine capable of reducing the time necessary for washing/drying laundry by enhancing the detergency and reducing the time for washing.

The washing/drying machine comprises a water tub disposed inside an outer frame casing, a rotatable washing/drying tub disposed inside the water tub for storing the laundry, a heat pump device comprising a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a radiator for radiating the heat of the compressed refrigerant, a regulating valve for reducing the pressure of the compressed refrigerant and a heat sink for depriving the periphery of heat with the refrigerant with reduced pressure, and a drying air channel including the washing/drying tub, radiator and heat sink through which drying air flows. The drying air channel is a washing water channel through which washing water in the washing/drying tub circulates in the range from between the heat sink and the radiator to the water tub via the radiator. In the washing operation, washing water is made to circulate in the washing water channel to heat washing water, and in the drying operation, drying air is made to circulate in the drying air channel.

COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT