A control method for a dispensing device of a washing machine

By using a flow sensor in the washing equipment placement device to detect the number of water inlets, and automatically control the placement of clothing treatment agents in combination with the information set by the user, the problem of inability to store multiple clothing treatment agents at the same time and the inability to accurately determine the timing of delivery in the prior art is solved, and accurate and economical clothing treatment agents are implemented.

CN114645414BActive Publication Date: 2025-03-18QINGDAO HAIER WASHING MASCH CO LTD +1
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202011507321.2
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2020-12-18
Publication Date
2025-03-18
Estimated Expiration
2040-12-18

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The automatic delivery device of existing washing equipment cannot store multiple different types of laundry treatment agents at the same time, and it is impossible to accurately determine the timing of putting laundry treatment agents without obtaining the operation process of the washing equipment, resulting in placement errors or wastes.

Method used

A delivery device is designed, which includes a flow sensor for detecting the number of water inlets of the washing equipment, and automatically determines and controls the delivery of the laundry treatment agent by receiving the total number of water inlets set by the user or the delivery process information.

Benefits of technology

It realizes the accurate control of the delivery of laundry treatment agent without obtaining the operation process of the washing equipment, avoiding delivery errors and waste, and simplifying the control logic of the delivery device.

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Abstract

The present invention belongs to the technical field of washing equipment, and discloses a control method for a dispensing device for washing equipment, wherein the dispensing device includes a water inlet end connected to an external water source, a water outlet end connected to a water inlet valve of the washing equipment, and a flow sensor for detecting the amount of water inflow into the washing equipment; the dispensing device determines whether to dispense clothing treatment agent according to the number of water inflows into the washing equipment detected by the flow sensor. The dispensing device of the present invention controls the dispensing of clothing treatment agent according to the number of water inflows into the washing equipment, and the dispensing device can dispense corresponding clothing treatment agent at a specific operation stage without obtaining the operation process of the washing equipment. The control logic of the dispensing device is simple and easy to implement.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of washing equipment, and in particular, relates to a control method for a dispensing device of washing equipment. Background Art

[0002] When using a washing machine to wash clothes, detergents, softeners and other clothing treatment agents need to be added to achieve better washing results. Clothing treatment agents can be added manually by the user, or automatically by an automatic dispensing device. When the user manually adds clothing treatment agents, it is impossible to accurately control the amount of clothing treatment agents added. If the amount added is too small, it will affect the washing effect. If the amount added is too large, it will cause a waste of clothing treatment agents. Most of the current automatic dispensing devices are integrated inside the washing machine. Due to the size of the washing machine, the size of the automatic dispensing device is limited, and it is impossible to store multiple different types of clothing treatment agents at the same time. Therefore, it is generally only possible to dispense a single type of detergent, or a fixed combination of detergents and softeners.

[0003] With the development of science and technology and the improvement of living standards, the materials of clothes in daily life are more diverse, and people's needs for clothing washing and care are more diversified. The existing automatic dispensing devices cannot achieve detailed washing and care for special or high-end clothes. At the same time, when multiple types of clothing treatment agents need to be added during the entire laundry process, the dispensing process is more complicated. How the automatic dispensing device determines the operation process of the washing equipment to ensure that various clothing treatment agents are dispensed at the right time has become an urgent problem to be solved.

[0004] Especially for an external dispensing device that is independent of the washing machine, since the external dispensing device and the washing machine have different control systems, if the operation progress of the washing machine is to be directly obtained, a communication connection needs to be established between the control systems of the two, which increases the production cost. However, if the operation status of the washing machine cannot be correctly judged, the clothing treatment agent may be incorrectly dispensed, which in turn affects the washing effect.

[0005] In view of this, the present invention is proposed. Summary of the invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and provide a control method for a dispensing device of a washing machine, which can achieve the purpose of dispensing corresponding clothing treatment agents at a specific operating stage without obtaining the operating progress of the washing machine.

[0007] In order to solve the above technical problems, the basic concept of the technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0008] A method for controlling a dispensing device for a washing machine, the dispensing device comprising a water inlet end connected to an external water source, a water outlet end connected to a water inlet valve of the washing machine, and a flow sensor for detecting the amount of water inflow into the washing machine; the dispensing device determines whether to dispense clothing treatment agent based on the number of water inflows into the washing machine detected by the flow sensor.

[0009] Furthermore, the dispensing device comprises at least a first liquid storage chamber for containing detergent and a second liquid storage chamber for containing softener;

[0010] After receiving the start command, the dispensing device dispenses detergent when the flow sensor detects the first water inflow into the washing device; when the flow sensor detects the Nth water inflow into the washing device, the dispensing device dispenses softener;

[0011] When the flow sensor detects the second to N-1th water inflow of the washing device, the dispensing device does not dispense the clothes treatment agent;

[0012] Preferably, the delivery device receives the total water inflow times information set by the user, and determines the total water inflow times N during the current operation of the washing device.

[0013] Furthermore, the dispensing device comprises at least two liquid storage chambers for containing different types of laundry treatment agents;

[0014] The dispensing device receives dispensing process information set by a user, wherein the dispensing process information includes whether clothes treating agent is dispensed each time water is inflowed during the current operation of the washing device, and the type of clothes treating agent dispensed;

[0015] After the dispensing device receives the start instruction, each time the flow sensor detects water inflow into the washing device, the dispensing device dispenses the clothes treatment agent according to the dispensing process information;

[0016] Preferably, the delivery process information also includes the delivery amount of the laundry treatment agent each time water is added.

[0017] Furthermore, the washing device has a plurality of washing programs, the dispensing device has a plurality of dispensing programs, and the plurality of dispensing programs of the dispensing device correspond one-to-one to the plurality of washing programs of the washing device; the dispensing program includes whether to dispense clothing treatment agent each time water is supplied when the washing device runs the corresponding washing program;

[0018] The placing device receives the washing program information selected by the user and determines the washing program to be run by the washing device this time;

[0019] After receiving the start command, the dispensing device dispenses the clothes treatment agent according to the dispensing program corresponding to the washing program selected by the user each time the flow sensor detects water inflow into the washing device;

[0020] Preferably, the dispensing device comprises at least two liquid storage chambers for containing different types of clothing treatment agents, and the dispensing program further comprises the type of clothing treatment agent dispensed each time water is introduced when the washing device runs the corresponding washing program.

[0021] Furthermore, after the dispensing device receives the start command, the water inflow times are initially set to zero, and after the flow sensor detects the start of water inflow, the water inflow times are increased once, and the dispensing device determines whether to dispense the clothing treatment agent;

[0022] After each water inflow stage, when the flow sensor detects the start of water inflow again and the cumulative water inflow of this water inflow reaches the set water inflow volume X0, the water inflow times increases by one.

[0023] Furthermore, when the flow sensor detects that water inflow has stopped, if water inflow is not detected within a preset time period T0, the delivery device determines that the water inflow phase is over;

[0024] If water inflow is detected again within the preset time T0, the number of water inflows will not be counted until the flow sensor detects that the continuous cessation of water inflow reaches the preset time T0, and the delivery device determines that the current water inflow stage is over.

[0025] Furthermore, after each water inflow stage ends, the delivery device obtains the total water inflow volume X of this water inflow stage. If the total water inflow volume X is less than the set water inflow volume X0, this water inflow is not counted;

[0026] And / or, the delivery device also includes a timing module, which starts timing when the flow sensor detects water inflow; after each water inflow stage, the delivery device obtains the water inflow time T of this water inflow stage. If the water inflow time T is less than the set water inflow time T0, the water inflow will not be counted.

[0027] Furthermore, when the dispensing device determines that the clothes treatment agent is to be dispensed in this water inflow stage, the corresponding clothes treatment agent is dispensed according to the following dispensing process:

[0028] When the flow sensor detects that the water inflow volume after the start of the water inflow phase reaches the first preset water inflow volume X1, the delivery device executes the first delivery step of the first preset delivery volume S1;

[0029] After the first delivery step is completed, each time the flow sensor detects water inflow of a second preset water inflow volume X2, the delivery device executes a second delivery step of a second preset delivery volume S2;

[0030] When the flow sensor detects that the water inflow stops for a preset time T0, the delivery device ends the delivery process;

[0031] Among them, X1>X2, S1>S2;

[0032] Preferably, S1 / X1=S2 / X2.

[0033] Furthermore, the delivery device further comprises a communication module and a control system independent of the washing device, and the control system is electrically connected to the communication module and the flow sensor respectively;

[0034] The communication module is connected to the cloud server for communication, and the cloud server is connected to the mobile terminal for communication;

[0035] The mobile terminal receives the setting information of the user, and sends the setting information to the cloud server, and the cloud server generates a delivery instruction for whether to deliver the clothes treatment agent each time the washing device is running according to the setting information;

[0036] The delivery device receives the delivery instruction from the cloud server, and when the flow sensor detects each water inflow into the washing device, the delivery device delivers the clothing treatment agent according to the delivery instruction.

[0037] Furthermore, the cloud server stores a plurality of dispensing instructions corresponding to different washing programs one by one;

[0038] The mobile terminal receives the washing program information selected by the user, and sends the washing program currently being run by the washing device to the cloud server; the cloud server determines the corresponding delivery instruction based on the received washing program and sends it to the delivery device.

[0039] After adopting the above technical scheme, the present invention has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art.

[0040] The dispensing device of the present invention controls the dispensing of clothing treatment agent according to the number of water intakes of the washing device. The dispensing device does not need to obtain the operating progress of the washing device and can dispense corresponding clothing treatment agent at a specific operating stage. The control logic of the dispensing device is simple and easy to implement.

[0041] When counting the number of water inflows, if the water inflow stop time before the start of water inflow is less than T0, the dispensing device does not count the number of water inflows for this start of water inflow, so as to prevent intermittent water inflow caused by unstable water pressure in the use environment or other conditions, which may cause program misjudgment.

[0042] When counting the number of water inflows, the dosing device of the present invention does not count a water inflow in which the total water inflow volume X is less than the set water inflow volume X0 and / or the water inflow time T is less than the set water inflow time T0, thereby avoiding misjudgment of the dosing device when the washing equipment executes a water inflow program that cannot be predicted in advance, such as water distribution.

[0043] The dispensing device of the present invention intermittently dispenses clothing treatment agent according to the water intake detected by the flow sensor during a water intake phase, and can accurately control the amount of clothing treatment agent dispensed without the dispensing device knowing the total amount of water intake of the washing device in advance, and can more easily achieve uniform distribution of clothing treatment agent in water to achieve better washing results. The setting value of the first preset water intake X1 is greater than the second preset water intake X2, which can ensure that when the dispensing device dispenses clothing treatment agent for the first time, there is already enough water in the washing device to prevent the clothing treatment agent from being directly absorbed by the clothes.

[0044] The delivery device of the present invention can be remotely controlled by the user through a mobile terminal, which is convenient for the user to use. The user's setting information is sent to the cloud server for calculation and processing. The cloud server directly sends delivery instructions to the delivery device to control the delivery process of the delivery device, thereby simplifying the control logic of the delivery device itself, and there is no need to write all multiple delivery programs into the control system of the delivery device.

[0045] The specific implementation modes of the present invention are further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] The accompanying drawings are part of the present invention and are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention, but do not constitute an improper limitation of the present invention. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work. In the accompanying drawings:

[0047] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of the structure of a dispensing device for washing equipment in Embodiments 1 to 4 of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 2 is a flow chart of a control method of a delivery device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 3 This is a flow chart of a delivery process in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 4 is a flow chart of a control method of a delivery device in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 5 is a flow chart of a control method of a delivery device in Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0052] Figure 6 It is a schematic block diagram of the structure of the dispensing device for washing equipment in the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] It should be noted that these drawings and textual descriptions are not intended to limit the conceptual scope of the present invention in any way, but are intended to illustrate the concept of the present invention for those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. The following embodiments are used to illustrate the present invention but are not used to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0055] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the term "connection" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0056] Embodiment 1

[0057] This embodiment provides a control method for a dispensing device of a washing device, which is used to dispense clothing treatment agent into the washing device. The washing device includes but is not limited to a pulsator washing machine, a drum washing machine and a washer-dryer.

[0058] The dispensing device of this embodiment includes a water inlet end connected to an external water source, a water outlet end connected to a water inlet valve of a washing device, and a flow sensor for detecting the amount of water inflow to the washing device. The dispensing device determines whether to dispense clothing treatment agent based on the number of times the washing device has been inflowed with water detected by the flow sensor.

[0059] like Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the delivery device and the washing device have independent control systems respectively. Specifically, the delivery device includes a water inlet pipeline, a delivery pipeline, and a liquid storage chamber for holding the laundry treatment agent. The two ends of the water inlet pipeline are respectively connected to the water inlet end and the water outlet end of the delivery device. The two ends of the delivery pipeline are respectively connected to the liquid storage chamber and the water inlet pipeline, and a delivery mechanism, such as a liquid pump, is provided on the delivery pipeline for delivering the laundry treatment agent into the water inlet pipeline. The flow sensor is provided on the water inlet pipeline.

[0060] When in use, the water inlet end of the dispensing device is connected to an external water source, and the water outlet end is connected to the water inlet valve of the washing device. When the washing device is filled with water, the water inlet valve of the washing device is opened, and the external water source passes through the water inlet pipeline of the dispensing device, and then enters the washing device from the water inlet valve of the washing device. The dispensing mechanism dispenses the clothing treatment agent in the liquid storage chamber into the water inlet pipeline, so that the clothing treatment agent enters the washing device together with the water in the water inlet pipeline.

[0061] The dispensing device of this embodiment controls the dispensing of clothing treatment agent according to the number of times the washing device takes in water. The dispensing device does not need to obtain the operating progress of the washing device and can dispense corresponding clothing treatment agent at a specific operating stage. The control logic of the dispensing device is simple and easy to implement.

[0062] In this embodiment, the dispensing device at least includes a first liquid storage chamber for containing detergent and a second liquid storage chamber for containing softener.

[0063] like Figure 2 As shown, after receiving the start instruction, the dispensing device dispenses detergent when the flow sensor detects the first water inflow of the washing device. When the flow sensor detects the Nth water inflow of the washing device, the dispensing device dispenses softener.

[0064] When N≥3, when the flow sensor detects the second to N-1th water inflow of the washing device, the dispensing device does not dispense the clothing treatment agent.

[0065] In the above scheme, the washing program of the washing device includes a washing stage and N-1 rinsing stages. Water needs to be refilled at the beginning of each stage, and the total number of water inflows in running a washing program is N. The dispensing device counts the number of water inflows, so as to automatically dispense detergent when water is inflowed in the washing stage and dispense softener when water is inflowed in the last rinsing stage, without the need for user operation.

[0066] The total number of water intake times N may be a factory preset value, and at this time the water dispensing device can only be applied to a fixed washing program.

[0067] In a preferred solution of this embodiment, the delivery device receives the total water inflow times information set by the user, and determines the total water inflow times N during the current operation of the washing device.

[0068] In this embodiment, the user can set the total number of water inflows N by directly operating the delivery device. Specifically, the delivery device also has an operation panel for the user to operate, and the operation panel includes a plurality of function keys, or the operation panel is a touch display screen. The user can set the total number of water inflows through the operation panel, and the operation panel is electrically connected to the control system of the delivery device to send the user's setting information to the control system.

[0069] Alternatively, the user may also set the total number of water inflows N through a mobile terminal. Specifically, the delivery device further includes a communication module, the communication module is in communication connection with the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal receives the total number of water inflows information set by the user, and sends the total number of water inflows information to the communication module of the delivery device. The communication module is electrically connected to the control system of the delivery device, and sends the total number of water inflows information to the control system to determine the total number of water inflows N during the current operation of the washing device.

[0070] In the above solution, the total number of water inflows N is manually set by the user before starting the dispensing device each time. The dispensing device receives the total number of water inflows information set by the user, determines the total number of water inflows N when the washing device runs a washing program, and then controls the dispensing of the clothes treatment agent. At this time, the same dispensing device can be used for different washing programs, which is more convenient for users.

[0071] like Figure 3 As shown, in a further solution of this embodiment, when the dispensing device determines that the clothes treatment agent is to be dispensed during the current water inflow stage, the corresponding clothes treatment agent is dispensed according to the following dispensing process:

[0072] When the flow sensor detects that the water inflow volume after the start of the water inflow phase reaches the first preset water inflow volume X1, the delivery device executes the first delivery step of the first preset delivery volume S1;

[0073] After the first delivery step is completed, each time the flow sensor detects water inflow of a second preset water inflow volume X2, the delivery device executes a second delivery step of a second preset delivery volume S2;

[0074] When the flow sensor detects that the water inflow stops for a preset time T0, the delivery device ends the delivery process.

[0075] Among them, X1>X2, S1>S2.

[0076] Preferably, S1 / X1=S2 / X2. More preferably, X1=nX2, S1=nS2, and n is an integer greater than 1.

[0077] In this embodiment, since there is no communication connection between the dispensing device and the washing device, the total amount of water inflow into the washing device cannot be known in advance. In the above scheme, the dispensing device dispenses a second preset amount of clothing treatment agent S2 into the washing device each time it detects the inflow of the second preset water inflow X2, so that the amount of clothing treatment agent dispensed and the amount of water inflow are always maintained at a certain ratio, thereby achieving accurate control of the amount of clothing treatment agent dispensed.

[0078] The setting value of the first preset water inlet volume X1 is greater than the second preset water inlet volume X2, which can ensure that there is enough water in the washing device when the dispensing device dispenses the clothes treatment agent for the first time. Especially for a drum washing machine, the water inlet volume before the first dispensing of the clothes treatment agent is large, and the drain outlet in the drum can be filled first, thereby avoiding the situation where the clothes treatment agent is directly absorbed by the clothes and cannot be fully dissolved in the water.

[0079] Furthermore, the dispensing device receives setting information of the user to determine the washing program and / or the type of dispensing of the laundry treatment agent, and determines the second preset dispensing amount S2 according to the washing program and / or the type of dispensing of the laundry treatment agent.

[0080] In the above scheme, the control system of the dispensing device has built-in second preset dispensing amounts S2 corresponding to different washing programs and different types of clothing treatment agents, which can be directly called when dispensing clothing treatment agents. For example, the second preset water inflow X2 preset by the dispensing device is 1L. Under the conventional washing program, the second preset dispensing amount S2 of concentrated laundry detergent is 1g, and the second preset dispensing amount S2 of ordinary laundry detergent is 2g. Under the washing program corresponding to stubborn stains, the second preset dispensing amount S2 of concentrated laundry detergent is set to 1.5g, and the second preset dispensing amount S2 of ordinary laundry detergent is set to 3g.

[0081] In this embodiment, the delivery device controls the delivery process of the laundry treatment agent according to the number of water inflows into the washing device. There is no need to establish a communication connection between the delivery device and the washing device to obtain the operation process of the washing device. The corresponding laundry treatment agent can be delivered at a specific operation stage. The control logic of the delivery device is simple. At the same time, the same delivery device can be applied to different washing devices without the need for complex operations such as connection and binding, which is more convenient to use.

[0082] Embodiment 2

[0083] like Figure 4 As shown, the difference between this embodiment and the above-mentioned embodiment 1 is that: the delivery device receives delivery process information set by the user, and delivers the clothing treatment agent according to the delivery process information.

[0084] Specifically, the dispensing device comprises at least two liquid storage chambers for containing different types of laundry treating agents.

[0085] The delivery device receives delivery process information set by a user, wherein the delivery process information includes whether clothes treating agent is delivered each time water is inflowed during the current operation of the washing device, and the type of clothes treating agent delivered.

[0086] After the dispensing device receives the start instruction, each time the flow sensor detects water inflow into the washing device, the dispensing device dispenses the clothes treatment agent according to the dispensing process information.

[0087] Different from the solution in Example 1 where the delivery module can only deliver detergent and softener, in the above solution, the delivery module can deliver various types of clothing treatment agents at different stages of the washing process, and the delivery of clothing treatment agents is not limited to the first water inlet and the last water inlet, so that the delivery module can be applied to more complex washing processes, thereby achieving detailed washing and care for special clothes.

[0088] In this embodiment, the dispensing device includes three liquid storage chambers, for example, respectively containing detergent, softener and disinfectant.

[0089] When using the dispensing device for automatic dispensing, the user sets the washing program for this operation on the washing device, such as pre-washing-washing-rinsing 3 times, and the total number of water intakes in the washing program is 5 times. Then the user operates the dispensing device to set the dispensing process. Specifically, the dispensing process information set by the user includes: disinfectant is dispensed in the first water intake, detergent is dispensed in the second water intake, clothing treatment agent is not dispensed in the third and fourth water intakes, and softener is dispensed in the fifth water intake. After the user completes the setting of the dispensing process, the dispensing device is started, and then the washing device is started to start the operation of the washing program.

[0090] During the washing program, the dispensing device dispenses clothing treatment agent according to the dispensing process information set by the user. When the flow sensor detects the first water inflow, the dispensing device controls the dispensing mechanism connected to the disinfectant storage chamber to operate and dispense disinfectant. When the flow sensor detects the second water inflow, the dispensing device controls the dispensing mechanism connected to the detergent storage chamber to operate and dispense detergent. When the flow sensor detects the third and fourth water inflows, the dispensing device does not dispense. When the flow sensor detects the fifth water inflow, the dispensing device controls the dispensing mechanism connected to the softener storage chamber to operate and dispense softener. After the fifth water inflow, the dispensing device ends the dispensing process and enters the standby state.

[0091] In a preferred solution of this embodiment, the delivery process information also includes the delivery amount of the laundry treatment agent each time the water is added. When the user sets the delivery process, for each time the laundry treatment agent needs to be delivered to the water, the second preset delivery amount S2 of the corresponding laundry treatment agent is also set. During operation, the delivery device executes the delivery process of the corresponding laundry treatment agent according to the second preset delivery amount S2 set by the user.

[0092] In this embodiment, the delivery device may further include a communication module, the communication module is connected to the mobile terminal for communication, the mobile terminal receives the user's operation information, generates corresponding control instructions and sends them to the communication module of the delivery device. The communication module is electrically connected to the control system of the delivery device, and sends the control instructions to the control system to control the operation of the delivery device.

[0093] For example, the user can set the delivery process of the delivery device through the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal generates delivery process information and sends it to the delivery device. The user can also send a start / pause instruction to the delivery device through the mobile terminal to control the delivery device to start / pause operation.

[0094] In this embodiment, the dispensing module receives the set dispensing process information to determine whether the clothes treatment agent needs to be dispensed each time the water enters. When the user sets the dispensing process of the dispensing module, each water inflow is set separately, which is particularly suitable for the case where the user sets the washing device to run a custom washing program. The dispensing device runs according to the dispensing process set by the user and can flexibly adapt to a variety of washing programs.

[0095] Embodiment 3

[0096] like Figure 5 As shown, the difference between this embodiment and the above-mentioned embodiment 1 is that: the delivery device receives the washing program information selected by the user, and calls the delivery program corresponding to the selected washing program to deliver the clothes treatment agent.

[0097] Specifically, the washing machine has multiple washing programs, the dispensing device has multiple dispensing programs, and the multiple dispensing programs of the dispensing device correspond one to one with the multiple washing programs of the washing machine. The dispensing program includes whether to dispense clothing treatment agent each time water is supplied when the washing machine runs the corresponding washing program.

[0098] The delivery device receives the washing program information selected by the user and determines the washing program to be run by the washing device this time.

[0099] After receiving the start instruction, the dispensing device dispenses the clothes treatment agent according to the dispensing program corresponding to the washing program selected by the user each time the flow sensor detects water inflow into the washing device.

[0100] Preferably, the dispensing device comprises at least two liquid storage chambers for containing different types of clothing treatment agents, and the dispensing program further comprises the type of clothing treatment agent dispensed each time water is introduced when the washing device runs the corresponding washing program.

[0101] In the above scheme, the dispensing device pre-stores a plurality of dispensing programs corresponding to different washing programs. When using the dispensing device for automatic dispensing, the user selects the washing program to be run on the washing device, and then operates on the dispensing device to select the same washing program. The dispensing device can call the corresponding dispensing program, and then complete the corresponding dispensing process according to the number of water inflows detected after starting. The user does not need to set it separately for each water inflow, which reduces the user's operation and is convenient to use.

[0102] For example, the normal washing program includes one washing process and two rinsing processes. The corresponding normal washing program is to add detergent in the first water inlet, no clothing treatment agent in the second water inlet, and softener in the third water inlet. The single rinse program only includes one rinse. The corresponding single rinse program is to add softener in the first water inlet.

[0103] When the user wants to perform regular washing, he first selects the regular washing program on the washing machine, then sets the regular washing program on the dispensing device and starts the dispensing device. After the washing machine is started, the dispensing device calls the regular washing dispensing program, dispenses detergent when the flow sensor detects the first water inflow, does not dispense clothing treatment agent when the flow sensor detects the second water inflow, and dispenses softener when the flow sensor detects the third water inflow. After the third water inflow, the dispensing device ends the dispensing process and enters the standby state.

[0104] In this embodiment, the dispensing device pre-stores a plurality of dispensing programs corresponding to different washing programs of the washing device. When the user uses the dispensing device, the user sets the same washing program on the washing device and the dispensing device simultaneously, and the dispensing device can automatically call the corresponding dispensing program for dispensing. The user does not need to know how to dispense the clothes treatment agent in each water inlet stage of the washing program. The user only needs to select the washing program of the washing device on the dispensing device to achieve the correct dispensing of the clothes treatment agent, which is convenient for the user.

[0105] Embodiment 4

[0106] This embodiment is a further limitation of any one of the above embodiments one to three. After the dispensing device receives the start command, the water intake times are initially set to zero. After the flow sensor detects the start of water intake, the water intake times increase by one. The dispensing device determines whether to dispense clothing treatment agent.

[0107] After each water inflow stage, when the flow sensor detects the start of water inflow again and the cumulative water inflow of this water inflow reaches the set water inflow volume X0, the water inflow times increases by one.

[0108] Furthermore, when the flow sensor detects that water inflow has stopped, if water inflow is not detected to start within a preset time period T0, the delivery device determines that the current water inflow phase is over.

[0109] If water inflow is detected again within the preset time T0, the number of water inflows will not be counted until the flow sensor detects that the continuous cessation of water inflow reaches the preset time T0, and the delivery device determines that the current water inflow stage is over.

[0110] In the above scheme, if the water supply stop time before the start of water supply is less than T0, the dispensing device will not count the number of water supply times this time, so as to prevent intermittent water supply caused by unstable water pressure in the use environment or other conditions, causing program misjudgment, resulting in incorrect judgment of the number of water supply times and incorrect dispensing of clothing treatment agent.

[0111] In a further solution of this embodiment, after each water inflow stage ends, the delivery device obtains the total water inflow volume X of this water inflow stage. If the total water inflow volume X is less than the set water inflow volume X0, the water inflow is not counted.

[0112] In another solution of this embodiment, the delivery device further includes a timing module, which counts when the flow sensor detects water inflow. After each water inflow phase, the delivery device obtains the water inflow duration T of this water inflow phase. If the water inflow duration T is less than the set water inflow duration T0, the water inflow is not counted.

[0113] In another scheme of this embodiment, after each water inflow stage ends, the delivery device simultaneously obtains the total water inflow volume X and the water inflow time T of this water inflow stage. When the total water inflow volume X is less than the set water inflow volume X0 or the water inflow time T is less than the set water inflow time T0, the water inflow will not be counted.

[0114] For washing equipment with water distribution function, a small amount of water will be added to disperse the clothes when the clothes are unevenly distributed. This type of water inflow process cannot be predicted in advance and will not be included in the number of water inflows in the delivery process. The water inflow volume of this type of water inflow process is relatively small. In the above scheme, the delivery device does not count the water inflow when the total water inflow volume X is less than the set water inflow volume X0 and / or the water inflow time T is less than the set water inflow time T0, which avoids the delivery device counting the water inflow process of the washing equipment such as water distribution as one water inflow, resulting in an erroneous judgment of the number of water inflows and an error in the delivery of clothing treatment agent.

[0115] In this embodiment, the dispensing device counts the number of water inflows each time the flow sensor detects water inflow. The case where the water inflow stop time before the start of water inflow is less than T0 is not counted, and the water inflow in which the total water inflow volume X is less than the set water inflow volume X0 and / or the water inflow time T is less than the set water inflow time T0 is not counted, thereby avoiding program misjudgment caused by uncontrollable factors during the washing process, making the dispensing device count the number of water inflows more accurately, and reducing the error rate of clothing treatment agent dispensing.

[0116] Embodiment 5

[0117] like Figure 6 As shown, this embodiment is a further limitation of the above embodiment 1, and the delivery device further includes a communication module. The delivery device includes a control system independent of the washing device, and the control system is electrically connected to the communication module and the flow sensor respectively.

[0118] The communication module is connected to the cloud server for communication, and the cloud server is connected to the mobile terminal for communication.

[0119] The mobile terminal receives the setting information of the user, and sends the setting information to the cloud server, and the cloud server generates a delivery instruction for whether to deliver clothing treatment agent each time water is supplied during the current operation of the washing device according to the setting information.

[0120] The delivery device receives the delivery instruction from the cloud server, and when the flow sensor detects each water inflow into the washing device, the delivery device delivers the clothing treatment agent according to the delivery instruction.

[0121] In the above scheme, the delivery device can be remotely controlled by the user through a mobile terminal, which is convenient for the user. The user's setting information is sent to the cloud server for calculation and processing, and the cloud server directly sends delivery instructions to the delivery device to control the delivery process of the delivery device, thereby simplifying the control logic of the delivery device itself and making the built-in program of the delivery device simpler. In addition, the user operates and sets it on the mobile terminal, and the delivery device does not need to be provided with an operation panel, which reduces the production cost of the delivery device.

[0122] In a further solution of this embodiment, the cloud server stores a plurality of placement instructions corresponding to different washing programs.

[0123] The mobile terminal receives the washing program information selected by the user and sends the washing program currently being run by the washing device to the cloud server. The cloud server determines the corresponding delivery instruction based on the received washing program and sends it to the delivery device.

[0124] In the above scheme, the cloud server stores multiple delivery instructions corresponding to different washing programs, which is similar to the scheme of pre-storing the delivery program in the delivery device in Example 3. The user only needs to select the same washing program as the washing device on the mobile terminal, and the cloud server can retrieve the corresponding delivery instruction and send it to the delivery device to control the delivery device to deliver the clothing treatment agent.

[0125] The delivery instructions are stored in the cloud server, and there is no need to write multiple delivery programs in the control program of the delivery device itself, which reduces the space occupied by the control program of the delivery device. On the other hand, the delivery instructions of the delivery device are obtained from the cloud server, and the cloud server can store delivery instructions corresponding to the washing programs of different models of washing equipment, so that one delivery device can be applied to multiple washing equipment of different models. Unlike the delivery device with built-in delivery program, which can only be applied to the same model of washing equipment, the delivery device in this embodiment is more widely used.

[0126] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and does not limit the present invention in any form. Although the present invention has been disclosed as a preferred embodiment, it is not used to limit the present invention. Any technician familiar with this patent can make some changes or modify the technical contents suggested above into equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the present invention. However, any simple modification, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the content of the technical solution of the present invention still fall within the scope of the solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method for a feeding device of a washing device, characterized in that: The delivery device includes a water inlet end connected to an external water source, a water outlet end connected to a water inlet valve of a washing device, and a flow sensor for detecting the amount of water inflow into the washing device; when water is inflowing into the washing device, the water inlet valve of the washing device is opened, and the external water source passes through the water inlet pipeline of the delivery device and enters the washing device from the water inlet valve of the washing device; The dispensing device determines whether to dispense clothes treatment agent according to the number of water inflows into the washing machine detected by the flow sensor; after the dispensing device receives the start command, the number of water inflows is initially set to zero, and after the flow sensor detects the start of water inflow, the number of water inflows increases once, and the dispensing device determines whether to dispense clothes treatment agent; When the flow sensor detects that water inflow has stopped, if water inflow is not detected within the preset time T0, the delivery device determines that the water inflow phase is over; If water inflow is detected again within the preset time T0, the number of water inflows will not be counted until the flow sensor detects that the continuous cessation of water inflow reaches the preset time T0, and the delivery device determines that the current water inflow stage is over.

2. The control method for the feeding device of the washing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The dispensing device at least comprises a first liquid storage chamber for containing detergent and a second liquid storage chamber for containing softener; After the dispensing device receives the start command, when the flow sensor detects the first water inflow of the washing device, the dispensing device dispenses detergent; When the flow sensor detects the Nth water inflow to the washing device, the dispensing device dispenses softener; When the flow sensor detects the second to N-1th water inflows into the washing device, the dispensing device does not dispense the clothes treating agent.

3. The control method for the placing device of the washing equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The delivery device receives the total water inflow times information set by the user, and determines the total water inflow times N during the current operation of the washing device.

4. The control method for a feeding device for a washing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The dispensing device comprises at least two liquid storage chambers for containing different types of laundry treatment agents; The dispensing device receives dispensing process information set by a user, wherein the dispensing process information includes whether clothes treating agent is dispensed each time water is inflowed during the current operation of the washing device, and the type of clothes treating agent dispensed; After the dispensing device receives the start instruction, each time the flow sensor detects water inflow into the washing device, the dispensing device dispenses the clothes treatment agent according to the dispensing process information.

5. The control method for the placing device of the washing equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The delivery process information also includes the delivery amount of the laundry treatment agent each time water is added.

6. The control method for a feeding device for a washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The washing device has a plurality of washing programs, the dispensing device has a plurality of dispensing programs, and the plurality of dispensing programs of the dispensing device correspond one to one with the plurality of washing programs of the washing device; the dispensing program includes whether to dispense clothing treatment agent each time water is supplied when the washing device runs the corresponding washing program; The placing device receives the washing program information selected by the user and determines the washing program to be run by the washing device this time; After receiving the start instruction, the dispensing device dispenses the clothes treatment agent according to the dispensing program corresponding to the washing program selected by the user each time the flow sensor detects water inflow into the washing device.

7. The control method for the placing device of the washing equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that: The dispensing device comprises at least two liquid storage chambers for containing different types of laundry treatment agents, and the dispensing program further comprises the type of laundry treatment agent dispensed each time water is introduced when the washing device runs the corresponding washing program.

8. The control method for a feeding device of a washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: After each water inflow stage, when the flow sensor detects the start of water inflow again and the cumulative water inflow of this water inflow reaches the set water inflow volume X0, the water inflow times increases by one.

9. The control method for the placing device of the washing equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that: After each water inflow phase, the delivery device obtains the total water inflow volume X of this water inflow phase. If the total water inflow volume X is less than the set water inflow volume X0, this water inflow will not be counted. And / or, the delivery device also includes a timing module, which starts timing when the flow sensor detects water inflow; after each water inflow stage, the delivery device obtains the water inflow time T of this water inflow stage. If the water inflow time T is less than the set water inflow time T0, the water inflow will not be counted.

10. The control method for a feeding device of a washing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: When the dispensing device determines that the clothes treatment agent is to be dispensed during the water inflow phase, the corresponding clothes treatment agent is dispensed according to the following dispensing process: When the flow sensor detects that the water inflow volume after the start of the water inflow phase reaches the first preset water inflow volume X1, the delivery device executes the first delivery step of the first preset delivery volume S1; After the first delivery step is completed, each time the flow sensor detects water inflow of a second preset water inflow volume X2, the delivery device executes a second delivery step of a second preset delivery volume S2; When the flow sensor detects that the water inflow stops for a preset time T0, the delivery device ends the delivery process; Among them, X1 > X2, S1 > S2.

11. The control method for a feeding device for a washing machine according to claim 10, characterized in that: S1 / X1 =S2 / X2.

12. The control method for a feeding device of a washing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The delivery device further comprises a communication module and a control system independent of the washing device, wherein the control system is electrically connected to the communication module and the flow sensor respectively; The communication module is connected to the cloud server for communication, and the cloud server is connected to the mobile terminal for communication; The mobile terminal receives the setting information of the user, and sends the setting information to the cloud server, and the cloud server generates a delivery instruction for whether to deliver the clothes treatment agent each time the washing device is running according to the setting information; The delivery device receives the delivery instruction from the cloud server, and when the flow sensor detects each water inflow into the washing device, the delivery device delivers the clothing treatment agent according to the delivery instruction.

13. The control method for a feeding device for a washing device according to claim 12, characterized in that: The cloud server stores a plurality of dispensing instructions corresponding to different washing programs one by one; The mobile terminal receives the washing program information selected by the user and sends the washing program currently being run by the washing device to the cloud server; The cloud server determines the corresponding delivery instruction according to the received washing program and sends it to the delivery device.

Citation Information

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