Laundry appliance and valve assembly

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of washing machine, and aims to solve the problem that the existing washing machine has a complex structure when air from the outside is used to dry the outer drum, which is not conducive to the simplified design of the product structure. To this end, the present application provides a washing machine and a valve assembly, the washing machine comprising a drum assembly, a valve assembly and a fan, the valve assembly comprising a blocking mechanism and a valve housing having an air inlet cavity and an air outlet cavity, the air inlet cavity and the air outlet cavity being independently arranged, the air inlet cavity being connected with an air inlet pipeline for connecting the outside with the drum assembly, the air outlet cavity being connected with an air outlet pipeline for connecting the outside with the drum assembly, the fan being arranged on the air inlet pipeline and / or the air outlet pipeline, and the blocking mechanism being arranged to simultaneously block the air inlet pipeline and the air outlet pipeline. The present application can simultaneously block the air inlet pipeline and the air outlet pipeline, thereby achieving the dual blocking effect of blocking the dust from the outside and preventing foam overflow, and has a simple structure, which is conducive to the overall structure arrangement of the product and reduces the complexity of the design.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of laundry technology, specifically providing a laundry device and a valve assembly. Background Technology

[0002] Laundry equipment is a garment processing device that can wash, rinse, dehydrate and / or dry clothes. Some laundry equipment also adds functions such as air washing, disinfection, sterilization and fragrance. There are many types of laundry equipment, such as the most common drum washing machine, top-loading washing machine and washer-dryer combo.

[0003] Taking drum washing machines as an example, existing drum washing machines include an outer drum and an inner drum. During washing, a certain amount of water is first injected into the outer drum, and then the inner drum tumbles the clothes to achieve washing. It is designed to mimic the principle of beating clothes with a stick. After washing the clothes, the outer drum and the window gasket connected to the outer drum are damp, that is, there is residual water on its inner wall. Over time, bacteria can easily grow. If the door glass is simply opened to allow the outer drum and window gasket to dry naturally, the effect is very limited. Moreover, the window gasket has folds, which is not conducive to the dissipation of moisture. When the user uses the drum washing machine a second time, the bacteria and dirt on the inner wall of the outer drum and the window gasket can easily cause secondary contamination of the clothes, seriously affecting the washing effect and resulting in a poor user experience. Washer-dryer combos add a drying system to traditional drum washing machines, giving them a drying function. Some models can even perform air washing. However, while the drying system can dry the residual water in the outer drum and door seal after washing, washer-dryer combos use an internal circulation system. This means that moisture still circulates between the drying duct and the outer drum. Furthermore, the dehumidification of washer-dryer combos mainly relies on the dehumidification device of the drying system. This means that if the residual water in the outer drum and door seal is to be further removed after the drying cycle, the drying system needs to continue running, which significantly increases the washing machine's energy consumption and is very detrimental to energy conservation.

[0004] Patent document No. 201922216894.9 discloses a drum washing machine, which includes an air inlet pipe and an air outlet pipe with a fan. Both the air inlet and outlet pipes are connected to the outer drum, allowing flowing air to enter the outer drum and dry the inner and outer surfaces of the outer drum. The flowing air is then discharged from the washing machine through the air outlet pipe. This method of drying the outer drum with outside air prevents the growth of dirt and bacteria. However, this type of drum washing machine cannot guarantee that external dirt will not enter the washing machine, and still poses certain safety hazards.

[0005] Patent document No. 201810106076.0 discloses a vent structure and a washing machine. The vent structure includes a vent and a rotating body. The rotating body is rotatably disposed at the vent. The rotating body has a through first connecting hole arranged radially. When the rotating body rotates, the first connecting hole can communicate with the vent or the rotating body can block the vent, thus selectively connecting the first connecting hole with the vent. This achieves the purpose of opening or closing the vent by rotating the rotating body. The vent structure can be disposed on the front panel of the washing machine casing, or simultaneously disposed in the rear vent. However, when the vent structure is only disposed on the front panel, external dirt can easily enter the drum washing machine through the rear vent. If a vent structure is also disposed in the rear vent, both vent structures need to be closed separately to achieve complete isolation between the drum washing machine and the outside world, which is very unfavorable for the product structure layout and seriously increases the complexity of the product design.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need in the art for a new washing machine and valve assembly to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the aforementioned problems in the prior art, specifically the issue that existing washing equipment has a complex structure when using external air to dry the outer drum, hindering simplified product design, this invention provides a washing equipment comprising a drum assembly, a valve assembly, and a fan. The valve assembly includes a blocking mechanism and a valve housing having an air inlet chamber and an air outlet chamber. The air inlet chamber and the air outlet chamber are independently configured. The air inlet chamber is connected to an air inlet pipe that connects the outside to the drum assembly, and the air outlet chamber is connected to an air outlet pipe that connects the outside to the drum assembly. The fan is disposed on the air inlet pipe and / or the air outlet pipe. The blocking mechanism is configured to simultaneously block the air inlet pipe and the air outlet pipe.

[0008] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned washing equipment, the blocking mechanism includes a drive motor, a first blocking component, and a second blocking component. The output shaft of the drive motor is connected to both the first blocking component and the second blocking component. The first blocking component is disposed in the air inlet cavity, and the second blocking component is disposed in the air outlet cavity. The drive motor can drive the first blocking component and the second blocking component to move simultaneously to block the air inlet cavity and the air outlet cavity.

[0009] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned washing equipment, the drive motor is connected to the transmission shaft, the first barrier is a first barrier plate, the second barrier is a second barrier plate, both the first barrier plate and the second barrier plate are disposed on the transmission shaft, and the drive motor can drive the transmission shaft to rotate so that the first barrier plate and the second barrier plate rotate simultaneously.

[0010] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned washing equipment, the drive shaft passes through the air outlet chamber and the air inlet chamber sequentially from one side of the valve housing, and the drive shaft is rotatably mounted on the partition plate that separates the air inlet chamber and the air outlet chamber.

[0011] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned washing equipment, the air inlet pipe includes a first air inlet pipe and a second air inlet pipe. The first air inlet pipe connects the air inlet of the air inlet chamber to the outside, and the second air inlet pipe connects the air outlet of the air inlet chamber to the drum assembly.

[0012] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned washing equipment, the fan is installed on the first air inlet pipe.

[0013] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned washing equipment, the air outlet duct includes a first air outlet duct and a second air outlet duct. The first air outlet duct connects the drum assembly to the air inlet of the air outlet chamber, and the second air outlet duct connects the air outlet of the air outlet chamber to the outside.

[0014] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned washing equipment, the front panel of the washing equipment body is provided with an opening that communicates with the outside, and the second air outlet pipe is connected to the opening.

[0015] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned washing equipment, the drum assembly includes a connected outer drum and a window gasket, the air inlet pipe is connected to the window gasket, the air outlet pipe is connected to the outer drum, and the connection port of the air inlet pipe and the window gasket is tangentially arranged on the window gasket.

[0016] In another aspect, the present invention also provides a valve assembly including a blocking mechanism and a valve housing having an air inlet chamber and an air outlet chamber, the air inlet chamber and the air outlet chamber being independently arranged, and the blocking mechanism being configured to simultaneously block the air inlet chamber and the air outlet chamber.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, after the washing machine finishes its washing cycle, an external air can be introduced into the air inlet duct by activating a fan, and then into the drum assembly to dry the inside of the drum assembly. Finally, the air is discharged through the air outlet duct, preventing bacteria from growing inside the drum assembly due to residual water. After the washing machine finishes its drying cycle, the blocking mechanism can simultaneously block the air inlet and air outlet ducts, thereby completely isolating the drum assembly from the outside world. This not only prevents external dust from entering the drum assembly, but also prevents foam from overflowing outside the washing machine during the washing process. In other words, a single blocking mechanism can achieve the above-mentioned functions of preventing external dust from entering and preventing foam from overflowing. Furthermore, the blocking mechanism can simultaneously block and cut off the air inlet and air outlet ducts, resulting in a simple structure that facilitates the overall structural layout of the product and reduces the complexity of the product design.

[0018] Furthermore, the drive motor can drive the first barrier to block the air inlet cavity, and at the same time drive the second barrier to block the air outlet cavity, thereby achieving simultaneous blocking of the air inlet and air outlet ducts. That is, the drive motor is used as the driving source to achieve simultaneous blocking of the air inlet and air outlet ducts. The overall structure is simple, which is conducive to the overall structural layout of the product and reduces the complexity of product design.

[0019] Furthermore, the drive motor can drive the transmission shaft to rotate, thereby rotating the first and second baffle plates, thus achieving simultaneous isolation of the air inlet and outlet chambers. With this setup, not only can the air inlet and outlet pipes be isolated simultaneously, but the rotation drive method can also minimize the space required for the valve assembly, which is more conducive to the overall spatial structure layout design of the washing equipment. Moreover, the structure is simple and easy to manufacture.

[0020] Furthermore, the drive motor is located outside the valve housing, allowing the transmission shaft to extend into the valve housing to drive the first and second baffle plates to rotate. This arrangement provides a structural foundation for the installation of the drive motor, and the fact that the drive motor is located outside the valve housing does not affect the airflow. Moreover, the drive motor is not subject to the safety hazard of being covered by humid air, further improving the safety of the washing equipment.

[0021] Furthermore, the air inlet duct is connected to the window gasket, and the air outlet duct is connected to the outer cylinder, allowing outside air to enter through the window gasket to dry it first, then the outer cylinder to dry, and finally the humid air is discharged through the air outlet duct. This allows the outer cylinder and the window gasket to be dried simultaneously, avoiding secondary pollution when users wash their clothes again, thus avoiding affecting the user experience.

[0022] Furthermore, the connection port between the air inlet duct and the window gasket is tangentially positioned on the window gasket to ensure that outside air enters the window gasket tangentially, thereby forming a circular airflow within the window gasket. This facilitates thorough drying of the window gasket and improves the drying effect. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with a drum washing machine, in which:

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the drum washing machine of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the drum washing machine of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of one embodiment of the valve assembly of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the window gasket structure of the drum washing machine of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0028] First, those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely for explaining the technical principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. For example, although the present invention is described in conjunction with a drum washing machine, the technical principles of the present invention are obviously also applicable to washer-dryer combos or multi-layer garment processing equipment. Adjustments or changes to these applications do not constitute a limitation of the present invention and should all be limited to the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] Secondly, although the valve assembly of the present invention is described in conjunction with the specific structure in a drum washing machine, the valve assembly can also be applied to other fields, such as air conditioners, CNC machine tools, and food processing equipment. Adjustments or changes to these applications do not constitute a limitation of the present invention and should all be limited to the protection scope of the present invention.

[0030] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, terms such as "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," indicating directional or positional relationships, are based on the directional or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These are merely for ease of description and do not indicate or imply that the device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation; therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0031] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," "connect," and "connect" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0032] Based on the background art, existing drum washing machines have complex structures when drying the outer drum with outside air, which is not conducive to the simplification of product structure design. The present invention provides a washing device that can simultaneously block the air inlet pipe and the air outlet pipe, thereby achieving a dual barrier function of preventing external dust from entering after the drying process and preventing foam overflow during the washing process. The structure is simple, which is conducive to the overall structural layout of the product and reduces the complexity of product design.

[0033] Specifically, such as Figure 1 and 2 As shown, the drum washing machine of the present invention includes a cabinet 1 and a drum assembly disposed within the cabinet 1. The drum assembly includes an inner drum 2, an outer drum 3, and a window gasket 4. The inner drum 2 is rotatably disposed within the outer drum 3. The window gasket 4 connects the opening of the outer drum 3 to the door opening of the cabinet 1. In a top-loading drum washing machine, the outer drum 3 and the inner drum 2 are coaxial and both are arranged laterally. The window gasket 4 connects the upper opening of the outer drum 3 to the door opening at the top of the cabinet 1. In a front-loading drum washing machine, the outer drum 3 and the inner drum 2 are coaxial and both are arranged laterally. The window gasket 4 connects the front opening of the outer drum 3 to the door opening at the front of the cabinet 1. Figure 1 The diagram shown is a schematic of a front-loading drum washing machine. Those skilled in the art will understand that the inner drum 2 can be directly driven to rotate by a direct-drive motor, or it can be driven by a belt via a motor. The outer drum 3 holds the washing water, the inner drum 2 tumbles the clothes, and the window gasket 4 ensures a seal between the outer drum 3 and the casing 1.

[0034] It should be noted that the conventional washing program of a drum washing machine includes a washing process, a rinsing process, a spin-drying process, and a draining process. In some drum washing machines, the spin-drying process may be omitted. Such adjustments or changes to the conventional washing program of a drum washing machine do not constitute a limitation of the present invention and should be limited to the protection scope of the present invention. During the washing process, a large amount of foam will be generated due to the presence of detergent / laundry powder. After the draining process is completed, there will be residual water on the inner surface of the outer drum 3 and the inner surface of the window gasket 4.

[0035] See also Figure 1 and 3The drum washing machine of the present invention further includes a valve assembly 5 and a fan 6. The valve assembly 5 includes a blocking mechanism and a valve housing 51 having an air inlet chamber 511 and an air outlet chamber 512. The air inlet chamber 511 and the air outlet chamber 512 are independently arranged. An air inlet pipe connecting the outside to the drum assembly is connected to the air inlet chamber 511, and an air outlet pipe connecting the outside to the drum assembly is connected to the air outlet chamber 512. The fan 6 is arranged on the air inlet pipe and / or the air outlet pipe. The blocking mechanism is configured to block the air inlet pipe and the air outlet pipe simultaneously. The air inlet chamber 511 has an air inlet 511a and an air outlet 511b, and the air outlet chamber 512 also has an air inlet 512a and an air outlet 512b. The air inlet cavity 511 is connected to an air inlet duct that connects the outside to the cylindrical assembly. This duct can be directly connected to the air inlet 511a of the air inlet cavity 511, and then the air outlet 511b of the air inlet cavity 511 is connected to the cylindrical assembly via the air inlet duct. Alternatively, the air inlet duct can have two sections: one connecting the outside to the air inlet 511a of the air inlet cavity 511, and the other connecting the air outlet 511b of the air inlet cavity 511 to the cylindrical assembly. Similarly, the air outlet cavity 512 is connected to an air outlet duct that connects the outside to the cylindrical assembly. This duct can be directly connected to the outside via the air outlet 512b of the air outlet cavity 512, and then the cylindrical assembly is connected to the air inlet 512a of the air outlet cavity 512 via the air outlet duct. Alternatively, the air outlet duct can have two sections: one connecting the cylindrical assembly to the air inlet 512a of the air outlet cavity 512, and the other connecting the air outlet 512b of the air outlet cavity 512 to the outside. The fan 6 can be installed in the air inlet duct, the air outlet duct, or both the air inlet and outlet ducts. The key is that the fan 6 can draw air into the air inlet duct and discharge humid air through the air outlet duct after the cylinder assembly has finished drying. In another possible scenario, see [link to previous section]. Figure 1 and 3 The air inlet pipe includes a first air inlet pipe 7 and a second air inlet pipe 8. The first air inlet pipe 7 connects the air inlet 511a of the air inlet cavity 511 to the outside. The second air inlet pipe 8 connects the air outlet 511b of the air inlet cavity 511 to the drum assembly. The air outlet pipe includes a first air outlet pipe 9 and a second air outlet pipe 10. The first air outlet pipe 9 connects the drum assembly to the air inlet 512a of the air outlet cavity 512. The second air outlet pipe 10 connects the air outlet 512b of the air outlet cavity 512 to the outside. After the drum washing machine finishes the washing program, the controller of the drum washing machine can send a signal to the fan 6 to start the fan 6. The fan 6 rotates so that air enters the drum assembly through the first air inlet pipe 7, the air inlet cavity 511 and the second air inlet pipe 8 in sequence to dry the drum assembly. Then the humid air is discharged through the first air outlet pipe 9, the air outlet cavity 512 and the second air outlet pipe 10 in sequence, so that the humid air is discharged to the outside.

[0036] In the above, the fan 6 is preferably installed on the first air inlet pipe 7, so that air can be drawn in through the first air inlet pipe 7 immediately after the fan 6 is started. Foam generated during the washing process of the drum washing machine will also be blocked within the air inlet cavity 511, without affecting the operation of the fan 6. In other examples, the fan 6 can also be installed on the second air outlet pipe 10, i.e., downstream of the air outlet cavity 512. Foam generated during the washing process of the drum washing machine will also be blocked within the air outlet cavity 512, without affecting the operation of the fan 6. Of course, provided that sealing can be guaranteed, or the amount of foam generation can be controlled, the fan 6 can also be installed on the second air inlet pipe 8 and / or the first air outlet pipe 9. Air blowing from one side of the fan 6 to the other can be achieved through the blade design of the fan 6 (e.g., ...). Figure 1 The diagram shows air being introduced from the left to the right side of the fan 6, which will not be described in detail here. The specific location of the fan 6 described above does not constitute a limitation of the present invention and should be limited to the scope of protection of the present invention. Furthermore, as described above, see also... Figure 2 Alternatively, an opening 10a communicating with the outside can be provided on the front panel of the drum washing machine, and the second air outlet duct 10 can be connected to the opening 10a, so that humid air can be discharged to the outside through this opening 10a on the front panel. In other examples, the outlet of the second air outlet duct 10 can directly pass through the opening 10a, that is, the opening 10a only serves as the installation port of the second air outlet duct 10, and the humid air is directly discharged to the outside through the outlet of the second air outlet duct 10. When humid air is led to the outside through the opening 10a on the front panel of the drum washing machine, a decorative cover can be provided on the opening 10a. The decorative cover can be set as a grille or a hidden structure. In other examples, the opening 10a is not limited to being set on the front panel of the drum washing machine, but can also be set on the left and right side panels, or even on the control panel or the console with the display screen. Such adjustments or changes to the specific setting position of the opening 10a should be limited within the protection scope of this invention. In another possible scenario, the fan 6 may be located at the inlet of the first air inlet pipe 7, and the inlet of the first air inlet pipe 7 may be located inside the casing of the drum washing machine. In other examples, the inlet of the first air inlet pipe 7 may be located outside the casing, such as on the outside of the rear panel of the casing.

[0037] Preferably, the blocking mechanism includes a drive motor 52, a first blocking member, and a second blocking member. The output shaft of the drive motor 52 is connected to both the first and second blocking members. The first blocking member is disposed within the air inlet cavity 511, and the second blocking member is disposed within the air outlet cavity 512. The drive motor 52 can drive the first and second blocking members to move simultaneously to block the air inlet cavity 511 and the air outlet cavity 512. The drive motor 52 can be a rotary motor that ultimately outputs rotational force, or a linear motor that ultimately outputs linear driving force. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the drive motor 52 is connected to a transmission shaft. The first blocking member is a first blocking plate 53, and the second blocking member is a second blocking plate 54. Both the first and second blocking plates 53 and 54 are disposed on the transmission shaft. The drive motor 52 can drive the transmission shaft to rotate so that the first and second blocking plates 53 and 54 rotate simultaneously. That is, the drive motor 52 is a rotary motor, and the drive motor 52 can drive the transmission shaft to rotate. The transmission shaft simultaneously drives the first baffle plate 53 and the second baffle plate 54 to rotate. The air inlet 511a and the air outlet 511b of the air inlet cavity 511 can be located on opposite sides of the air inlet cavity 511, or they can be located on adjacent sides of the air inlet cavity 511. Figure 3 (The images shown are of adjacent sides). Similarly, the air inlet 512a and air outlet 512b of the air outlet cavity 512 can be located on opposite sides of the air outlet cavity 512, or they can be located on adjacent sides of the air outlet cavity 512. Figure 3(The diagram shows adjacent sides). The blocking methods of the first baffle plate 53 and the second baffle plate 54 can be flexibly configured based on the respective positions of the air inlet and outlet of the air inlet cavity 511 and the air inlet and outlet of the air outlet cavity 512. In a preferred embodiment, the air outlet 511b of the air inlet cavity 511 and the air inlet 512a of the air outlet cavity 512 are located on the same side of the valve housing 51, i.e., the air outlet 511b of the air inlet cavity 511 and the air inlet 512a of the air outlet cavity 512 are located on the same side. The drive motor 52 drives the transmission shaft to rotate, allowing the first baffle plate 53 to cover the air outlet 511b of the air inlet cavity 511, thereby blocking the air inlet pipe. Simultaneously, the second baffle plate 54 can cover the air inlet 512a of the air outlet cavity 512. The first barrier plate 53 is provided with a sealing gasket on the side facing the air outlet 511b of the air inlet cavity 511 and the air inlet 512a of the air outlet cavity 512. This ensures that even if foam is generated during the washing process of the drum washing machine, it will not enter the air inlet cavity 511 and the air outlet cavity 512. Furthermore, preferably, sealing gaskets are provided on the side of the first barrier plate 53 facing the air outlet 511b of the air inlet cavity 511 and the side of the second barrier plate 54 facing the air inlet 512a of the air outlet cavity 512. This ensures that the first barrier plate 53 can achieve a seal when it covers the air outlet 511b of the air inlet cavity 511, and the second barrier plate 54 can also achieve a seal when it covers the air inlet 512a of the air outlet cavity 512. In other examples, the gasket on the first barrier plate 53 can be replaced with a sealing ring that corresponds to the shape of the air outlet 511b of the air inlet cavity 511, and the gasket on the second barrier plate 54 can be replaced with a sealing ring that corresponds to the shape of the air inlet 512a of the air outlet cavity 512.

[0038] Preferably, the drive shaft passes sequentially through the air outlet cavity 512 and the air inlet cavity 511 from one side of the valve housing 51. The drive shaft is rotatably mounted on the partition plate separating the air inlet cavity 511 and the air outlet cavity 512. In one possible scenario, a first through hole is formed on the side of the valve housing 51 that forms the air outlet cavity 512, and a second through hole is formed on the partition plate. The drive shaft passes sequentially through the first and second through holes. The portion of the drive shaft located between the first and second through holes (i.e., the portion located inside the air outlet cavity 512) is connected to the second baffle plate 54, and the portion of the drive shaft exiting the second through hole (i.e., the portion located in the air inlet cavity 511) is connected to the first baffle plate 53. Alternatively, the drive shaft can be connected to the edge of the first baffle plate 53 and the edge of the second baffle plate 54, so that the rotation of the drive shaft achieves synchronous rotation of the first baffle plate 53 and the second baffle plate 54. Additionally, a third through hole can be provided on the opposite side of the valve housing 51 where the first through hole is located. The protruding end of the drive shaft can be located within the third through hole. This arrangement allows the drive shaft to be supported by the first, second, and third through holes, improving the stability of the support. The drive motor 52, located on the outside of the valve housing 51, can be connected to the casing 1 of the drum washing machine via a mounting bracket, or the drive motor 52 can be directly welded to the casing 1 of the drum washing machine. In other examples, the drive shaft can also pass sequentially through the air inlet chamber 511 and the air outlet chamber 512 from one side of the valve housing 51.

[0039] Alternatively, the drive motor 52 is a linear motor, the first blocking element is a first blocking plate, the second blocking element is a second blocking plate, and the valve housing 51 has a first slot communicating with the air inlet cavity 511 and a second slot communicating with the air outlet cavity 512 respectively formed on the same side. The first blocking plate is inserted into the first slot, and the second blocking plate is inserted into the second slot. The linear motor can drive the first blocking plate and the second blocking plate to move linearly synchronously. When it is necessary to block the air inlet cavity 511 and the air outlet cavity 512, the linear motor drives the first blocking plate to insert into the air inlet cavity 511 from the first slot, thereby blocking the air inlet 511a and the air outlet 511b of the air inlet cavity 511 from each other through the first blocking plate. At the same time, the linear motor drives the second blocking plate to insert into the air outlet cavity 512 from the second slot, thereby blocking the air inlet 512a and the air outlet 512b of the air outlet cavity 512 from each other through the second blocking plate.

[0040] Preferably, the air inlet duct is connected to the window gasket 4, and the air outlet duct is connected to the outer drum 3 (preferably the air outlet duct is connected to the rear part of the side wall of the outer drum 3 to increase the drying area of ​​the outer drum 3). That is, the window gasket 4 and the outer drum 3 can be dried simultaneously, and even if the user forgets to take out the clothes after the drum washing machine finishes washing, the fan 6 can be turned on to dry the window gasket 4 and the outer drum 3, preventing the clothes from developing odors. More preferably, such as Figure 4As shown, the connection port 40a connecting the air inlet duct to the window gasket 4 is tangentially arranged on the window gasket 4. This arrangement ensures that the air entering the window gasket 4 from the air inlet duct is tangential, creating an annular airflow within the window gasket 4, thereby drying the window gasket 4. Preferably, the connection port 40a is located in the folds of the window gasket 4 to facilitate drying of these folds. The air inlet duct can also form multiple branches, for example in… Figure 1 The second air inlet duct 8 of the drum washing machine shown forms multiple branches at its end. These branches connect to multiple connecting ports 40a located on the window pad 4. Each branch corresponds to one connecting port 40a. The multiple connecting ports 40a are arranged at equal or unequal intervals along the circumference of the window pad 4. Each connecting port 40a is arranged in the same tangential direction on the window pad 4. The same tangential direction means that when viewed from the front of the window pad 4 (i.e., the annular structure of the window pad 4 can be seen), the orientation of all connecting ports 40a is either clockwise or counterclockwise along the circumference of the window pad 4. This allows for the formation of clockwise or counterclockwise annular airflow within the window pad 4, thereby drying all parts of the window pad 4 without any blind spots and further improving the drying effect.

[0041] The technical solution of the present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of the present invention is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principles of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after such changes or substitutions will all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A laundry appliance, characterized in that, The washing equipment includes a drum assembly, a valve assembly, and a fan. The valve assembly includes a blocking mechanism and a valve housing having an air inlet chamber and an air outlet chamber. The air inlet chamber and the air outlet chamber are independently arranged. An air inlet pipe connecting the outside to the drum assembly is connected to the air inlet chamber, and an air outlet pipe connecting the outside to the drum assembly is connected to the air outlet chamber. The fan is disposed on the air inlet pipe and / or the air outlet pipe. The blocking mechanism is configured to simultaneously block the air inlet pipe and the air outlet pipe. The barrier mechanism includes a drive motor, a first barrier component, and a second barrier component. The first barrier component is disposed in the air inlet cavity, and the second barrier component is disposed in the air outlet cavity. The drive motor is connected to a transmission shaft. The first barrier component is a first barrier plate, and the second barrier component is a second barrier plate. Both the first barrier plate and the second barrier plate are disposed on the transmission shaft. The drive motor can drive the transmission shaft to rotate so that the first barrier plate and the second barrier plate rotate simultaneously. Both the air inlet and air outlet chambers have air inlets and outlets. The air outlets of the air inlet and air outlet chambers are located on the same side of the valve body. The drive motor drives the transmission shaft to rotate, allowing the first baffle plate to cover the air outlet of the air inlet chamber, thus blocking the air inlet pipe. Simultaneously, the second baffle plate covers the air inlet of the air outlet chamber, thus blocking the air outlet pipe. Because the air inlet of the air inlet chamber and the air outlet of the air outlet chamber are covered respectively, even if foam is generated during the washing process, it will not enter the air inlet chamber and the air outlet chamber.

2. The washing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive shaft passes sequentially from the outside of the valve housing through the air outlet chamber and the air inlet chamber, and the drive shaft is rotatably mounted on the partition plate that separates the air inlet chamber and the air outlet chamber.

3. The washing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air inlet duct includes a first air inlet pipe and a second air inlet pipe. The first air inlet pipe connects the air inlet of the air inlet chamber to the outside, and the second air inlet pipe connects the air outlet of the air inlet chamber to the cylinder assembly.

4. The washing equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The fan is mounted on the first air inlet pipe.

5. The washing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air outlet duct includes a first air outlet duct and a second air outlet duct. The first air outlet duct connects the cylinder assembly to the air inlet of the air outlet cavity, and the second air outlet duct connects the air outlet of the air outlet cavity to the outside.

6. The washing equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that, The washing machine has an opening on the front panel of its housing that connects to the outside, and the second air outlet pipe is connected to the opening.

7. The washing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The cylinder assembly includes a connected outer cylinder and a window gasket. The air inlet pipe is connected to the window gasket, and the air outlet pipe is connected to the outer cylinder. The connection port between the air inlet pipe and the window gasket is tangentially arranged on the window gasket.

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