A moisture control exhaust structure suitable for a cleaning machine

Abstract

A kind of humidity control exhaust structure suitable for cleaning machine, including exhaust shell, air inlet and air outlet are equipped on exhaust shell, exhaust passage is formed in the inside of exhaust shell, fan assembly is located on exhaust passage, air inlet includes upper air inlet and lower air inlet located on the same side of exhaust shell, wind channel adjusting area is located in the upstream area of fan assembly air inlet in exhaust passage, upper air inlet and the upper part of wind channel adjusting area constitute upper air inlet channel, lower air inlet and the lower part of wind channel adjusting area constitute lower air inlet channel, wind volume adjusting mechanism for adjusting the air inlet of upper air inlet channel and lower air inlet channel is equipped in wind channel adjusting area.The humidity control exhaust structure realizes the synchronous exhaust of upper and lower chambers of cleaning machine by using double-chamber double-channel structure, and the air volume adjusting mechanism in wind channel adjusting area is used for intelligent adjustment of exhaust passage, which can realize different hot air flow distribution of upper and lower chambers, and can also close the exhaust passage of specific half-chamber to realize super-fast drying of the other half-chamber.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to cleaning equipment, and more particularly to a humidity control and exhaust structure suitable for cleaning machines. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, there are existing technologies that disclose dishwashers with separate cavities. For example, Chinese invention patent application CN201911035674.4 (publication number CN110638406A), entitled "A Dishwasher and Its Control Method," discloses a structure in which the inner tub of the dishwasher can be divided into two independent parts, upper and lower, by a partition. When the partition divides the inner tub into two parts, i.e., in the "dual-cavity" state, the lower part of the inner tub can be used to wash the tableware, while the upper part can be used for drying, disinfecting, and storing clean tableware. When the user needs to wash a large number of tableware, the partition can be retracted or folded to connect the upper and lower parts, forming a large cavity, i.e., in the "connected" state, where the upper and lower parts can complete the washing function simultaneously.

[0003] Dual-cavity dishwashers place higher demands on overall drying. The partition between the cavities increases the difficulty of drying the dishes and racks, and the drying components do not provide targeted drying for the lower cavity wash. Ordinary hot air drying components often have uneven drying efficiency between the upper and lower cavities, and the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the cavity is difficult to control, easily leading to uneven drying (or asynchronous drying, poor drying effect, etc.). Steam leakage near the door also occurs from time to time, resulting in a decreased customer experience (condensation easily appears on the inner walls of the cabinet). Furthermore, there is a significant difference in the types of dishes placed on the upper and lower cavities. The upper cavities typically hold bowls, plates, cups, etc., with a base-like structure at the bottom. If the tilt angle is not large enough, water can easily accumulate, increasing the difficulty of drying. The lower cavities typically hold deep and shallow plates, fish plates, etc., with a large tilt angle (nearly vertical), so the probability of water accumulation is low. During the final drying stage or storage after drying, water trapped inside the water flow system and in the gaps can easily cause dampness. Intensive drying and storage are necessary; otherwise, condensation may occur on the lower cavities and the inner walls of the machine. In addition, during a half-cavity wash (lower-cavity wash), the humidity in the upper cavity remains low, making simultaneous high-volume drying from both the upper and lower cavities less efficient. Traditional dishwashers have a single exhaust vent on the door, which fails to effectively distribute hot air between the upper and lower cavities, leading to reduced drying efficiency, unstable internal air pressure, and potential steam leakage during heated washing. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a humidity control and exhaust structure suitable for cleaning machines that can realize synchronous air extraction from the upper and lower layers and intelligently adjust the exhaust volume of the upper and lower chambers, in view of the above-mentioned existing technology.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows: the humidity control and exhaust structure applicable to cleaning machines includes an exhaust shell, on which an air inlet and an air outlet are provided, and an exhaust channel connecting the air inlet and the air outlet is formed inside the exhaust shell. A fan assembly is disposed on the exhaust channel. The air inlet includes an upper air inlet and a lower air inlet disposed on the same side of the exhaust shell. An air duct adjustment area is provided in the exhaust channel and in the area upstream of the air inlet of the fan assembly. The upper air inlet and the upper part of the air duct adjustment area together constitute an upper air inlet channel, and the lower air inlet and the lower part of the air duct adjustment area together constitute a lower air inlet channel. An air volume adjustment mechanism for adjusting the air volume of the upper air inlet channel and the lower air inlet channel is provided in the air duct adjustment area.

[0006] Preferably, the exhaust housing includes a lower exhaust cover and an upper exhaust cover that fit together. Rhinos are provided at corresponding positions on the inner sidewalls of the lower and / or upper exhaust covers. These ribs fit together to form the upper and lower air inlet channels. The upper air inlet is located at the upper part of the lower exhaust cover, and the lower air inlet is located at the lower part. The air duct adjustment area and the fan assembly are located between the upper and lower air inlets. The bottom of the fitted lower and upper exhaust covers forms the air outlet. In this way, the fitted lower and upper exhaust covers form the exhaust housing, and the fan assembly is relatively easy to install.

[0007] To prevent the airflow from interfering with each other in the upper and lower air intake channels and to improve the accuracy of the humidity value, a baffle is provided in the middle of the air duct adjustment area to isolate the upper and lower air intake channels.

[0008] To make the exhaust structure more intelligent, a first humidity sensor is installed in the upper air intake channel, and a second humidity sensor is installed in the lower air intake channel. The airflow regulation mechanism can control the airflow in the upper air intake channel according to the output signal received from the first humidity sensor, and can control the airflow in the lower air intake channel according to the output signal received from the second humidity sensor. In this way, by configuring the feedback signals from the humidity sensors to obtain the absolute humidity of different chambers, the drying effect of weaker layers can be enhanced. Energy consumption is reduced while maintaining the same level of drying in both upper and lower chambers, achieving a deeper drying effect. Furthermore, through program optimization, an energy-efficient drying goal can be achieved.

[0009] The airflow regulating mechanism can have various structures. Preferably, the airflow regulating mechanism includes a controller, a drive component, and blades. The controller controls the drive component accordingly by receiving output signals from a first humidity sensor and a second humidity sensor. The blades rotate under the drive component, thereby regulating the airflow of the upper and lower airflow channels. In this way, the airflow can be steplessly adjusted.

[0010] Preferably, the air volume adjustment mechanism includes at least two air volume adjustment levels, and the blades rotate to different air volume adjustment levels to adjust the air volume of the upper air intake channel and the lower air intake channel.

[0011] Further preferably, the driving component is a motor, and the rear end of the blade is mounted on the output shaft of the motor. The airflow adjustment settings include a first limit setting, a second limit setting, a first adjustment setting, a second adjustment setting, and a third adjustment setting. When the blade rotates to the first limit setting, the upper air intake channel is closed and the airflow of the lower air intake channel is at its maximum. When the blade rotates to the second limit setting, the lower air intake channel is closed and the airflow of the upper air intake channel is at its maximum. When the blade rotates to the first adjustment setting, both the upper and lower air intake channels are open and the airflow is equal. When the blade rotates to the second adjustment setting, both the upper and lower air intake channels are open and the airflow of the upper air intake channel is less than that of the lower air intake channel. When the blade rotates to the third adjustment setting, both the upper and lower air intake channels are open and the airflow of the upper air intake channel is greater than that of the lower air intake channel. In this way, the upper or lower air intake channel can be closed, and the air intake volume of the upper and lower air intake channels can be adjusted to adapt to various different usage modes.

[0012] In order for the blades to be able to cooperate with each gear, the first adjustment gear, the second adjustment gear and the third adjustment gear are all horizontally arranged adjustment baffles. The top wall of the air duct adjustment area constitutes the first limit gear, the bottom wall of the air duct adjustment area constitutes the second limit gear, and the front end of the blade can rotate to collide with the adjustment baffle, the top wall and the bottom wall of the air duct adjustment area.

[0013] To improve the sealing between the blades and each gear position, a flexible sealing sleeve is installed at the front end of the blades. Preferably, the flexible sealing sleeve can be a silicone sleeve.

[0014] The motor can have various mounting structures. Preferably, the motor is a geared motor mounted on the outer wall of the exhaust housing, and the output axis of the geared motor extends into the air duct adjustment area.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of any of the above solutions, an exhaust tailpipe is installed at the air outlet.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are as follows: The exhaust shell of the humidity control exhaust structure suitable for washing machines is provided with an upper air inlet channel and a lower air inlet channel. The dual-chamber dual-channel structure realizes synchronous exhaust of the upper and lower chambers. The exhaust channel is intelligently adjusted by the air volume adjustment mechanism located in the air duct adjustment area. This can realize the different hot air flow distribution between the upper and lower chambers of the washing machine, and can also close the exhaust channel of a specific half-chamber to achieve ultra-fast drying of the other half-chamber, achieving a deeper drying effect. Through program optimization, energy-saving and efficient drying goals are achieved. Adjustable drying levels are provided for the half-chamber washing, reducing the energy consumption of the half-chamber washing drying process. In addition, the humidity detection and hot air exchange function in the storage mode reduce the risk of odor and bacterial growth. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded view of the exhaust tailpipe and exhaust casing of the humidity-controlled exhaust structure shown.

[0019] Figure 3 for Figure 1 An exploded view of the humidity control and exhaust structure shown.

[0020] Figure 4 for Figure 3 An enlarged schematic diagram of part A in the middle;

[0021] Figure 5 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the installation structure of the humidity control and exhaust system shown.

[0022] Figure 6 for Figure 5 An exploded view of the installation structure shown. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0024] like Figures 1 to 4As shown, the humidity control and exhaust structure for a cleaning machine in this embodiment includes an exhaust housing 1, which includes a lower exhaust cover 11 and an upper exhaust cover 12 that are mutually opposed. The upper part of the lower exhaust cover 11 has an upper air inlet 16, and the lower part of the lower exhaust cover 11 has a lower air inlet 17. Corresponding positions on the inner walls of the lower exhaust cover 11 and the upper exhaust cover 12 are provided with ribs 13. When the lower exhaust cover 11 and the upper exhaust cover 12 are aligned, the corresponding ribs 13 align, thereby forming an upper air inlet channel 14 and a lower air inlet channel 15 inside the exhaust housing 1. The upper air inlet 16 constitutes the air inlet of the upper air inlet channel 14, and the lower air inlet 17 constitutes the air inlet of the lower air inlet channel 15. An air outlet 18 is formed at the bottom of the aligned lower exhaust cover 11 and upper exhaust cover 12, and an exhaust tailpipe 6 is installed at the air outlet. (See Figure 1 for details.) Figure 2 .

[0025] An exhaust channel is formed inside the exhaust casing 1, and the fan assembly 2 is located within the exhaust channel. A fan cover plate 21 is installed on the outside of the exhaust cover 12. Along the airflow direction, the upper air inlet channel 14 and the lower air inlet channel 15 are located upstream of the air inlet of the fan assembly 2, and both the upper air inlet channel 14 and the upper air inlet channel 15 are components of the exhaust channel. The air duct downstream of the air outlet of the fan assembly 2 is also a component of the exhaust channel. The upper air inlet 16 is connected to the air outlet 18 through the upper air inlet channel 14, the internal air duct of the fan assembly 2, and the air duct downstream of the air outlet of the fan assembly 2. The lower air inlet 17 is connected to the air outlet 18 through the lower air inlet channel 15, the internal air duct of the fan assembly 2, and the air duct downstream of the air outlet of the fan assembly 2.

[0026] In this embodiment, an air duct adjustment zone 3 is provided inside the exhaust channel and upstream of the air inlet of the fan assembly 2. The air duct adjustment zone 3 and the fan assembly 2 are located between the upper air inlet 16 and the lower air inlet 17. The upper air inlet 16 and the upper part of the air duct adjustment zone 3 together form the upper air inlet channel 14, and the lower air inlet 17 and the lower part of the air duct adjustment zone 3 together form the lower air inlet channel 15. A baffle 19 is provided in the middle of the air duct adjustment zone 3 to isolate the upper air inlet channel 14 and the lower air inlet channel 15. An airflow adjustment mechanism for adjusting the airflow of the upper air inlet channel 14 and the lower air inlet channel 15 is installed in the air duct adjustment zone 3.

[0027] A first humidity sensor 51 is installed in the upper air inlet channel 14. The first humidity sensor 51 can detect the humidity value of the gas drawn into the upper air inlet channel 14. A second humidity sensor 52 is installed in the lower air inlet channel 15. The second humidity sensor 52 can detect the humidity value of the gas drawn into the lower air inlet channel 15. In this way, the absolute humidity of different areas inside the cleaning machine cavity can be intelligently monitored.

[0028] The airflow adjustment mechanism in this embodiment includes a controller (not shown), a drive unit, blades 42, and airflow adjustment settings. The drive unit is a motor 41 mounted on the outer wall of the exhaust cover 11. The motor 41 is typically a geared motor, and its output shaft extends into the airflow adjustment area 3. Blades 42 are located within the airflow adjustment area 3, and their rear ends are mounted on the output shaft of the motor 41. The blades 42 rotate under the drive of the motor 41.

[0029] The airflow adjustment settings in this embodiment include a first limit setting 43, a second limit setting 44, a first adjustment setting 45, a second adjustment setting 46, and a third adjustment setting 47. The first adjustment setting 45, the second adjustment setting 46, and the third adjustment setting 47 are all horizontally arranged adjustment baffles. The top wall of the airflow adjustment zone 3 constitutes the first limit setting 43, and the bottom wall of the airflow adjustment zone 3 constitutes the second limit setting 44. The front end of the blade 42 can rotate to contact the adjustment baffles, the top wall of the airflow adjustment zone 3, and the bottom wall. To improve the sealing between the blade 42 and the airflow adjustment settings, a flexible sealing sleeve 421, preferably a silicone sleeve, is installed at the front end of the blade 42.

[0030] The controller controls the motor 41 by receiving output signals from the first humidity sensor 51 and the second humidity sensor 52. The blades 42 rotate under the drive of the motor 41, and the blades 42 rotate to different airflow adjustment levels to adjust the airflow of the upper airflow channel 14 and the lower airflow channel 15. In addition to the structure with airflow adjustment levels, a stepless adjustment structure can also be used for the airflow.

[0031] During operation, by rotating the blades 42 to different air duct adjustment positions, synchronous air extraction can be performed on the upper and lower layers, and the exhaust air volume of the upper and lower chambers can be intelligently adjusted to achieve switching between different exhaust modes. Specifically, when the blades 42 are rotated upward to the first limit position 43, the system detects that the stall current of the motor 41 has reached the set value, and then cuts off the operation of the motor 41. At this time, the upper air inlet duct 14 is closed and the air intake of the lower air inlet duct 15 is at its maximum, which is suitable for drying the lower half of the chamber, and hot air exchange in the storage mode of the lower half of the chamber.

[0032] Similarly, when the blade 42 rotates downward to the second limit position 44, the lower air intake channel 15 is closed and the air intake volume of the upper air intake channel 14 is at its maximum, which can maintain the dryness of the upper cavity to a greater extent in the lower cavity washing mode.

[0033] When the blade 42 is rotated to the first adjustment position 45, the blade 42 is in a horizontal position, and both the upper air inlet channel 14 and the lower air inlet channel 15 are open and the air volume is equal. At this time, the air volume of the upper and lower half-cavity air ducts is almost balanced, which is suitable for ventilation in the drying mode after full-cavity washing and the full-cavity tableware storage mode.

[0034] When the blade 42 is rotated to the second adjustment position 46, both the upper air intake channel 14 and the lower air intake channel 15 are open, and the air intake volume of the upper air intake channel 14 is less than that of the lower air intake channel 15; at this time, the lower half of the chamber strengthens exhaust. When the blade 42 is rotated to the third adjustment position 47, both the upper air intake channel 14 and the lower air intake channel 15 are open, and the air intake volume of the upper air intake channel 14 is greater than that of the lower air intake channel 15; at this time, the upper half of the chamber strengthens exhaust.

[0035] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the humidity control and exhaust structure is installed on the outside of the inner door 7 of the dishwasher. The dishwasher is a dishwasher with upper and lower cavities. The upper part of the inner door 7 has an upper exhaust port 71, and the lower part of the inner tank sidewall has a lower exhaust port 72. After the humidity control and exhaust structure is installed, the upper air inlet 16 is directly opposite the upper exhaust port 71, and the lower air inlet 17 is directly opposite the lower exhaust port 72. Since the upper exhaust port 71 corresponds to the upper cavity of the inner tank of the dishwasher, and the lower exhaust port 72 corresponds to the lower cavity of the inner tank of the dishwasher, the airflow in the upper cavity is discharged outwards through the upper air inlet channel 14 and the fan assembly 2 in sequence, and the airflow in the lower cavity is discharged outwards through the lower air inlet channel 14 and the fan assembly 2 in sequence.

[0036] As the drying process nears its end, intelligent humidity detection is added. By comparing the absolute humidity of the upper and lower chambers, the side with higher humidity is dried more intensely to reach the drying standard in a shorter time. For example, water tends to accumulate on the back of the upper cups or small bowls, so the third adjustment setting 47 can be used for enhanced drying; water tends to accumulate in the lower spray system, slag basket, and other areas, so the second adjustment baffle 46 can be used for enhanced drying. All of the above processes can be automatically implemented after intelligent detection, and the humidity detection value is used to determine whether the exhaust process can be terminated, which is linked with the hot air component.

[0037] In addition, when the machine is in clean storage or fresh storage mode, the fan can also be started on a timed or periodic basis to detect the humidity value of the upper and lower chambers, and then perform targeted drying and ventilation to reduce the risk of dampness and mold, while solving energy consumption and quickly achieving the effect of ventilation and freshness preservation.

[0038] The specification and claims of this invention use terms indicating direction, such as "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "side," "top," and "bottom," to describe various exemplary structural parts and elements of the invention. However, these terms are used herein merely for ease of explanation and are determined based on the exemplary orientations shown in the accompanying drawings. Since the embodiments disclosed in this invention can be arranged in different orientations, these terms indicating direction are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limitations. For example, "upper" and "lower" are not necessarily limited to directions opposite to or consistent with the direction of gravity.

Claims

1. A humidity-controlled exhaust structure suitable for a cleaning machine, comprising an exhaust housing (1), wherein the exhaust housing (1) is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet (18), and an exhaust channel connecting the air inlet and the air outlet (18) is formed inside the exhaust housing (1), and a fan assembly (2) is disposed on the exhaust channel, characterized in that: The air inlet includes an upper air inlet (16) and a lower air inlet (17) located on the same side of the exhaust casing (1). An air duct adjustment area (3) is provided within the exhaust channel and upstream of the air inlet of the fan assembly (2). The upper air inlet (16) and the upper part of the air duct adjustment area (3) together form an upper air inlet channel (14), and the lower air inlet (17) and the lower part of the air duct adjustment area (3) together form a lower air inlet channel (15). An air volume adjustment mechanism is provided within the air duct adjustment area (3) to adjust the air volume of the upper air inlet channel (14) and the lower air inlet channel (15). The exhaust housing (1) includes a lower exhaust cover (11) and an upper exhaust cover (12) that fit together. Ribs (13) are provided at corresponding positions on the inner wall of the lower exhaust cover (11) and / or the inner wall of the upper exhaust cover (12). The corresponding ribs (13) fit together to form the upper air inlet channel (14) and the lower air inlet channel (15). The upper air inlet (16) is located at the upper part of the lower exhaust cover (11), and the lower air inlet (17) is located at the lower part of the lower exhaust cover (11). The air duct adjustment area (3) and the fan assembly (2) are located at the upper air inlet (16) and the lower air inlet (17). Between the air inlets (17), the bottom of the combined exhaust lower cover (11) and exhaust upper cover (12) forms the air outlet (18). A first humidity sensor (51) is installed in the upper air inlet channel (14), and a second humidity sensor (52) is installed in the lower air inlet channel (15). The airflow regulating mechanism can control the airflow of the upper air inlet channel (14) according to the output signal received from the first humidity sensor (51), and can control the airflow of the lower air inlet channel (15) according to the output signal received from the second humidity sensor (52). The air volume adjustment mechanism includes a controller, a drive unit, and blades (42). The controller controls the drive unit by receiving the output signals of the first humidity sensor (51) and the second humidity sensor (52). The blades (42) rotate under the drive of the drive unit, thereby adjusting the air volume of the upper air intake channel (14) and the lower air intake channel (15). The air volume adjustment mechanism includes at least two air volume adjustment levels. The blades (42) rotate to different air volume adjustment levels to adjust the air volume of the upper air intake channel (14) and the lower air intake channel (15).

2. The humidity control and exhaust structure for a cleaning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: A baffle (19) is provided in the middle of the air duct adjustment area (3) to isolate the upper air inlet channel (14) and the lower air inlet channel (15).

3. The humidity control and exhaust structure for a cleaning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving component is a motor (41), and the rear end of the blade (42) is mounted on the output shaft of the motor (41). The air volume adjustment positions include a first limit position (43), a second limit position (44), a first adjustment position (45), a second adjustment position (46), and a third adjustment position (47). When the blade (42) is rotated to the first limit position (43), the upper air intake channel (14) is closed and the air intake volume of the lower air intake channel (15) is at its maximum. When the blade (42) is rotated to the second limit position (44), the lower air intake channel (15) is closed and the air intake volume of the upper air intake channel (14) is at its maximum. When the blade (42) is rotated to the first adjustment position (45), both the upper air intake channel (14) and the lower air intake channel (15) are open and the air intake volume is equal. When the blade (42) is rotated to the second adjustment position (46), both the upper air intake channel (14) and the lower air intake channel (15) are open and the air intake volume of the upper air intake channel (14) is less than that of the lower air intake channel (15). When the blade (42) is rotated to the third adjustment position (47), both the upper air intake channel (14) and the lower air intake channel (15) are open and the air intake volume of the upper air intake channel (14) is greater than that of the lower air intake channel (15).

4. The humidity control and exhaust structure suitable for a cleaning machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first adjustment position (45), the second adjustment position (46) and the third adjustment position (47) are all horizontally arranged adjustment baffles. The top wall of the air duct adjustment area (3) constitutes the first limit position (43), and the bottom wall of the air duct adjustment area (3) constitutes the second limit position (44). The front end of the blade (42) can rotate to collide with the adjustment baffle, the top wall and the bottom wall of the air duct adjustment area.

5. The humidity control and exhaust structure suitable for a cleaning machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The front end of the blade (42) is fitted with a flexible sealing sleeve (421).

6. The humidity control and exhaust structure suitable for a cleaning machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The motor (41) is a geared motor installed on the outer wall of the exhaust housing (1), and the output axis of the geared motor extends into the air duct adjustment area (3).

7. The humidity control and exhaust structure suitable for a cleaning machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: An exhaust tailpipe (6) is installed at the air outlet (18).

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