Automatic cleaning component, refrigerator, and control method of automatic cleaning component

Abstract

The present invention discloses an automatic cleaning component, a refrigerator, and a control method for the automatic cleaning component, which relate to the field of refrigerators and solve the problems in the prior art of cleaning the storage area of the refrigerator, which are time-consuming and labor-intensive, incomplete cleaning, and difficulty in disassembling and cleaning the drawers. The automatic cleaning component of the present invention includes a cleaning evaporator, which is connected in parallel with the freezing evaporator in the refrigeration circuit. A frosting circuit is formed between the outlet of the cleaning evaporator, the compressor, the condenser, the capillary tube, and the inlet of the cleaning evaporator, and frost is formed on the surface of the cleaning evaporator; the automatic cleaning component also includes a flushing component, which is used to collect defrost water generated by defrosting the cleaning evaporator and use the defrost water to clean the area to be cleaned. The automatic cleaning component of the present invention can achieve the purpose of automatic cleaning by frosting the surface of the cleaning evaporator, then defrosting the cleaning evaporator and generating defrost water, so that the collected defrost water can be used to clean the area to be cleaned.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of refrigerators, and in particular to an automatic cleaning component, a refrigerator, and a control method for the automatic cleaning component. Background Art

[0002] Refrigerators are essential household food freezers and refrigerator. However, due to the storage of multiple types of food or food spoilage, bacteria can grow in each compartment, causing grease, dirt, and odors. This accelerates food decay, affects food freshness, and hinders long-term food storage. This is especially true for baby and cosmetic refrigerators, which place even higher demands on the refrigerator compartment environment.

[0003] As the demand for smart homes becomes increasingly segmented, in order to improve the problems existing in the storage environment inside the refrigerator, in addition to conventional sterilization technology, it is also necessary to visually maintain the key areas of the refrigerator (such as the instant freezing drawer for storing meat) and clean up the remaining dirt. Moreover, after long-term use, if the key areas are not cleaned regularly, they are prone to scaling and various traces, giving people a sense of uncleanliness and hygiene. Currently, the commonly used cleaning methods are: (1) manually wiping the key areas of the refrigerator with a rag, but this method has the problems of being time-consuming and labor-intensive and not cleaning thoroughly; (2) taking out the drawer and rinsing it, but due to the requirements of the refrigerator's aesthetics, drawer insulation and pull-out experience, the French refrigerator drawer uses a pull-rod type to improve the damping experience, resulting in the drawer not being easily disassembled; the tray drawer method is easy to collide and make noise during the removal process, so it is difficult to disassemble the drawer for cleaning, and an automatic cleaning function is required.

[0004] The prior art discloses a self-cleaning refrigerator with intelligent reminder and its control method. This technology uses an odor sensor to identify the cleanliness status of the refrigerator in real time, and reminds the user through a smart device such as a display. It activates the sterilization function through a built-in processor, and then activates the nozzle to spray water, which is output through a sink. However, there are doubts about the cleanliness of the water used by this technology, and the user needs to manually wipe the refrigerator with a dry cloth. Another prior art discloses a method for cleaning the refrigerator by adding water from the top, but this technology requires manual water addition and may not be able to clean the entire refrigerator. The overall water path is complex. Another prior art discloses a method for cleaning the refrigerator condenser. This solution uses the defrost water inside the refrigerator to rinse the condenser outside the refrigerator. However, this technology cleans the condenser outside the refrigerator, which is not intuitive enough for the user experience.

[0005] Therefore, providing a method and device for automatically cleaning the storage area of a refrigerator has become a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide an automatic cleaning assembly that addresses the technical issues of prior art refrigerator storage area cleaning, which are time-consuming and labor-intensive, incomplete cleaning, and difficulty in disassembling and cleaning the drawers. The various technical benefits of the preferred technical solution of the present invention are detailed below.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0008] The automatic cleaning component of the present invention includes a cleaning evaporator, which is connected in parallel with the freezing evaporator in the refrigeration circuit. A frost circuit is formed between the outlet of the cleaning evaporator, the compressor, the condenser, the capillary tube and the inlet of the cleaning evaporator, and frost is formed on the surface of the cleaning evaporator; the automatic cleaning component also includes a flushing component, which is used to collect defrost water generated by defrosting the cleaning evaporator and use the defrost water to clean the area to be cleaned.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the automatic cleaning component also includes a switching valve, which is arranged at the inlet of the cleaning evaporator and the freezing evaporator, and the switching valve has a first state and a second state. When the switching valve is in the first state, the freezing evaporator is connected to the capillary tube; when the switching valve is in the second state, the cleaning evaporator is connected to the capillary tube.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the automatic cleaning component also includes a one-way valve, one end of which is connected between the switching valve and the cleaning evaporator, and the other end is connected between the switching valve and the refrigeration evaporator, and the refrigerant flow direction in the one-way valve is: from the inlet end of the cleaning evaporator to the inlet end of the refrigeration evaporator.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the flushing assembly includes a water tank, which is located above the area to be cleaned and has a first preset height difference with the area to be cleaned. The water tank is used to collect defrost water generated by defrosting the cleaning evaporator and use the defrost water to clean the area to be cleaned.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the automatic cleaning component also includes a defrost device and a water receiving tray, wherein the defrost device is used to defrost the cleaning evaporator, the water receiving tray is arranged below the cleaning evaporator, the water receiving tray is connected to the water tank, and the water receiving tray is used to collect defrost water generated by defrosting the cleaning evaporator.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, a water outlet pipe is provided on the water tank, and the water outlet pipe is provided above the area to be cleaned and has a second preset height difference with the area to be cleaned. A control valve is provided at the water outlet of the water tank, and the control valve has an open state and a closed state. When the control valve is in the open state, the water in the water tank flows into the area to be cleaned through the water outlet pipe.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the flushing component also includes a water level sensor, which is arranged in the water tank. The water level sensor is used to detect the water level in the water tank, and the control valve is in an open state or a closed state based on the detection result of the water level sensor, and the switching valve is in a first state or a second state based on the detection result of the water level sensor.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the water tank is further provided with an overflow pipe, which is connected to the water receiving box of the refrigerator. When the water level in the water tank exceeds a preset value, the water in the water tank is discharged through the overflow pipe.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the automatic cleaning component also includes a drain pipe, which is arranged in the area to be cleaned, and the drain pipe is connected to the water receiving box of the refrigerator, and a drain valve is also provided at the water outlet of the area to be cleaned, and the drain valve has an open state and a closed state. When the drain valve is in the open state, the drain pipe is used to drain the water in the area to be cleaned.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the area to be cleaned is arranged obliquely, and the drain pipe is located on the lower side of the area to be cleaned.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the automatic cleaning component further comprises a humidity sensor, which is disposed in the compartment where the cleaning evaporator is located, and is used to monitor the humidity in the compartment where the cleaning evaporator is located.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the automatic cleaning assembly further comprises a vibration device, which is disposed at the area to be cleaned and is used to vibrate the area to be cleaned.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the automatic cleaning component further includes a heater and a sterilizing device, the heater and the sterilizing device are arranged above the area to be cleaned, and the heater and the sterilizing device are used to dry and sterilize the area to be cleaned.

[0021] The automatic cleaning assembly provided by the present invention has at least the following beneficial technical effects:

[0022] The automatic cleaning component of the present invention includes a cleaning evaporator, which is connected in parallel with the freezing evaporator in the refrigeration circuit, and a frost circuit is formed between the outlet of the cleaning evaporator, the compressor, the condenser, the capillary tube and the inlet of the cleaning evaporator, and frost is formed on the surface of the cleaning evaporator; the automatic cleaning component also includes a flushing component, which is used to collect defrost water generated by defrosting the cleaning evaporator and use the defrost water to clean the area to be cleaned. It can be seen that the automatic cleaning component of the present invention can achieve the purpose of automatic cleaning by frosting the surface of the cleaning evaporator, and then defrosting the cleaning evaporator to generate defrost water, so that the collected defrost water can be used to clean the area to be cleaned, so as to keep the key areas of the refrigerator, such as the instant freezing drawer, hygienic and clean, avoiding the problems of time-consuming and labor-intensive manual cleaning and incomplete cleaning in the prior art, and also avoiding the problems of taking out the drawer for flushing and difficulty in disassembling the drawer for cleaning in the prior art.

[0023] That is, the automatic cleaning component of the present invention can realize regular cleaning or intelligent cleaning, solving the technical problems in the prior art of cleaning the refrigerator storage area, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive, incomplete cleaning, and difficult to disassemble and clean the drawer.

[0024] A second object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator.

[0025] The refrigerator of the present invention comprises the automatic cleaning assembly described in any one of the technical solutions of the present invention.

[0026] The refrigerator provided by the present invention has at least the following beneficial technical effects:

[0027] The refrigerator of the present invention includes the automatic cleaning component of any technical solution of the present invention. Since the automatic cleaning component can realize regular cleaning or intelligent cleaning, key areas of the refrigerator, such as the flash freezing drawer, can be kept hygienic and clean, thereby improving the user experience.

[0028] The third object of the present invention is to provide a control method for an automatic cleaning component.

[0029] The control method of the automatic cleaning component according to any technical solution of the present invention comprises the following steps:

[0030] Get the cleaning status of the area to be cleaned;

[0031] When the area to be cleaned reaches the cleaning state, the water level in the flushing component is detected, and when the water level in the flushing component reaches a preset height, the control valve is controlled to be in an open state, and the water in the flushing component is used to clean the area to be cleaned.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment, when the water level in the flushing assembly does not reach a preset height, the following steps are further included:

[0033] Get the humidity in the room where the evaporator is cleaned;

[0034] When the humidity in the compartment where the cleaning evaporator is located reaches a preset humidity, the switching valve is controlled to be in a second state, and frost is formed on the surface of the cleaning evaporator;

[0035] When the cleaning evaporator reaches a first preset working time, the defrost device is controlled to start and the cleaning evaporator is defrosted by the defrost device, and defrost water generated by defrosting enters the flushing component.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, when the humidity in the room where the cleaning evaporator is located does not reach the preset humidity, the method further includes the following steps:

[0037] The door or drawer of the compartment where the clean evaporator is located is controlled to be in an open state, and the humidity of the compartment where the clean evaporator is located is increased by using outside air, or water is added to the compartment where the clean evaporator is located, and the humidity in the refrigerator reaches a preset humidity.

[0038] According to a preferred embodiment, cleaning the area to be cleaned includes the following steps:

[0039] The control valve is controlled to be in an open state, and the area to be cleaned is cleaned using the water stored in the water tank;

[0040] When the duration of the control valve being in the open state exceeds a second preset duration, the vibration device is controlled to be in the open state;

[0041] After the cleaning of the area to be cleaned is completed, the drain valve is controlled to be in an open state, and the sewage in the area to be cleaned is discharged through the drain pipe;

[0042] The heater and sterilizer are controlled to be in the on state to dry and sterilize the area to be cleaned.

[0043] The control method of the automatic cleaning component provided by the present invention has at least the following beneficial technical effects:

[0044] The control method of the automatic cleaning component of the present invention obtains the cleaning status of the area to be cleaned, detects the water level in the flushing component when the area to be cleaned reaches the cleaning status, and controls the control valve to be in an open state when the water level in the flushing component reaches a preset height, and uses the water in the flushing component to clean the area to be cleaned, thereby achieving the purpose of automatic cleaning, so that key areas of the refrigerator, such as the instant freezing drawer, are kept hygienic and clean, avoiding the problems of time-consuming and labor-intensive manual cleaning and incomplete cleaning in the prior art, and also avoiding the problems of taking out the drawer for flushing and the difficulty in disassembling the drawer for cleaning in the prior art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0046] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of a refrigerator refrigeration assembly in the prior art;

[0047] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of a refrigerator refrigeration assembly of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow when the switching valve is in the first state;

[0049] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow direction when the switching valve is in the second state;

[0050] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the automatic cleaning component of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the distribution of a preferred embodiment of the refrigerator storage area of the present invention;

[0052] Figure 7 is a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of a control method for an automatic cleaning component of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 8 It is a flow chart of another preferred embodiment of the control method of the automatic cleaning component of the present invention.

[0054] In the figure: 101, cleaning evaporator; 102, freezing evaporator; 103, compressor; 104, condenser; 105, capillary tube; 106, switching valve; 107, one-way valve; 108, water tank; 109, water tray; 110, water outlet pipe; 111, control valve; 112, overflow pipe; 113, drain pipe; 114, anti-condensation pipe; 115, filter; 201, refrigerator compartment; 202, instant freeze drawer; 203, freezer drawer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more apparent, the technical solutions of the present invention will be described in detail below. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other implementations obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0056] The following is attached with the instruction manual Figures 1 to 8 And embodiments 1 to 3 describe in detail the automatic cleaning component, refrigerator and control method of the automatic cleaning component of the present invention.

[0057] Example 1

[0058] This embodiment describes the automatic cleaning component of the present invention in detail.

[0059] The automatic cleaning component of this embodiment includes a cleaning evaporator 101, which is connected in parallel with the freezing evaporator 102 in the refrigeration circuit. A frost circuit is formed between the outlet of the cleaning evaporator 101, the compressor 103, the condenser 104, the capillary 105 and the inlet of the cleaning evaporator 101, and frost is formed on the surface of the cleaning evaporator 101; the automatic cleaning component also includes a flushing component, which is used to collect the defrost water generated by the defrosting of the cleaning evaporator 101 and use the defrost water to clean the area to be cleaned, such as Figure 2 shown.

[0060] Figure 1 and Figure 2 Schematic diagrams of the refrigerator refrigeration assembly of the prior art and the present invention are shown respectively. Figure 1 As shown, the refrigeration assembly of the refrigerator in the prior art includes a freezing evaporator 102, a compressor 103, a condenser 104, an anti-condensation tube 114, a filter 115 and a capillary tube 105, and a refrigeration circuit is formed between the outlet of the freezing evaporator 102, the compressor 103, the condenser 104, the anti-condensation tube 114, the filter 115, the capillary tube 105 and the inlet of the freezing evaporator 102. Figure 2 As shown, the clean evaporator 101 is connected in parallel with the freezing evaporator 102 in the refrigeration circuit, and an anti-condensation pipe 114 and a filter 115 may be further provided in the frosting circuit, thereby forming a frosting circuit between the outlet of the clean evaporator 101, the compressor 103, the condenser 104, the anti-condensation pipe 114, the filter 115, the capillary tube 105, and the inlet of the clean evaporator 101. Specifically, when the clean evaporator 101 is in operation, the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the clean evaporator 101 is relatively low, causing the air passing through the clean evaporator to condense upon being cooled, and then to form frost.

[0061] The automatic cleaning assembly of this embodiment can achieve the purpose of automatic cleaning by causing frost to form on the surface of the cleaning evaporator 101, then defrosting the cleaning evaporator 101 to produce defrost water. The collected defrost water can then be used to clean the area to be cleaned, thereby achieving the purpose of automatic cleaning. This keeps key areas of the refrigerator, such as the flash freeze drawer, hygienic and clean, avoiding the time-consuming and labor-intensive, incomplete cleaning problems of manual cleaning in the prior art, as well as the drawer removal and rinsing problems that are difficult to disassemble and clean. In other words, the automatic cleaning assembly of this embodiment can achieve regular cleaning or intelligent cleaning, solving the problems of the prior art of cleaning the refrigerator storage area, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive, incomplete cleaning, and difficult to disassemble and clean the drawer.

[0062] According to a preferred embodiment, the automatic cleaning component further includes a switching valve 106, which is provided at the inlet of the cleaning evaporator 101 and the freezing evaporator 102, and the switching valve 106 has a first state and a second state. When the switching valve 106 is in the first state, the freezing evaporator 102 is connected to the capillary tube 105; when the switching valve 106 is in the second state, the cleaning evaporator 101 is connected to the capillary tube 105. Figures 2 to 4 Preferably, the automatic cleaning component further comprises a one-way valve 107, one end of the one-way valve 107 is connected between the switching valve 106 and the cleaning evaporator 101, and the other end is connected between the switching valve 106 and the freezing evaporator 102, and the refrigerant in the one-way valve 107 flows from the inlet end of the cleaning evaporator 101 to the inlet end of the freezing evaporator 102, as shown. Figures 2 to 4 shown. Figure 3 and Figure 4 Schematic diagrams showing the refrigerant flow direction when the switching valve 106 is in the first state and the second state are shown respectively. Figure 3 As shown, when the switching valve 106 is in the first state, the freezing evaporator 102 is in operation, and the refrigerant flows through the outlet of the freezing evaporator 102, the compressor 103, the condenser 104, the anti-condensation tube 114, the filter 115, the capillary tube 105, the switching valve 106 and the inlet of the freezing evaporator 102, so that the refrigeration component refrigerates and provides cold air to the refrigerator compartment; when the switching valve 106 is in the first state, due to the action of the one-way valve 107, the refrigerant does not flow through the clean evaporator, so that only the freezing evaporator 102 obtains the refrigerant, which does not affect the refrigeration effect of the refrigerator; Figure 4 As shown, when the switching valve 106 is in the second state, the cleaning evaporator 101 and the freezing evaporator 102 are both working, and the refrigerant enters the cleaning evaporator 101 through the switching valve 106. Due to the action of the one-way valve 107, the refrigerant can also enter the freezing evaporator 102 through the one-way valve 107 at the same time, so that the refrigeration circuit and the frosting circuit can be connected at the same time, so that the refrigeration component can both cool and frost the cleaning evaporator 101. Figure 3 and Figure 4The arrows in the figure show the refrigerant flow direction.

[0063] According to a preferred embodiment, the flushing assembly includes a water tank 108, which is located above the area to be cleaned and has a first preset height difference between the area to be cleaned. The water tank 108 is used to collect the defrost water generated by the defrosting of the cleaning evaporator 101 and use the defrost water to clean the area to be cleaned. Figure 5 The first preset height difference can be determined based on the height of the refrigerator and actual needs. In the preferred embodiment of the automatic cleaning assembly, the water tank 108 is located above the area to be cleaned and has a first preset height difference between the area to be cleaned. This height difference between the water tank 108 and the area to be cleaned and the gravity of the water can be used to increase the water pressure, thereby increasing the impact force on the area to be cleaned.

[0064] According to a preferred embodiment, the automatic cleaning assembly further includes a defrost device and a water receiving tray 109, wherein the defrost device is used to defrost the cleaning evaporator 101, and the water receiving tray 109 is arranged below the cleaning evaporator 101, and the water receiving tray 109 is connected to the water tank 108, and the water receiving tray 109 is used to collect the defrosted water generated by the defrosting of the cleaning evaporator 101. Figure 5 As shown. Preferably, the defrost device is, for example, an electric heating defrost device, which is installed at the bottom of the cleaning evaporator 101. In the automatic cleaning assembly of the preferred technical solution of this embodiment, the heat generated by the electric heating defrost device during operation can be radiated to the cleaning evaporator 101, thereby melting the frost on the cleaning evaporator 101 and flowing into the water receiving tray 109 below. The water then flows through the pipeline between the water receiving tray 109 and the water tank 108 and is collected in the water tank 108, preventing excessive water in the water receiving tray 109 from overflowing.

[0065] According to a preferred embodiment, a water outlet pipe 110 is provided on the water tank 108, and the water outlet pipe 110 is arranged above the area to be cleaned and has a second preset height difference with the area to be cleaned. A control valve 111 is provided at the water outlet of the water tank 108, and the control valve 111 has an open state and a closed state. When the control valve 111 is in the open state, the water in the water tank 108 flows into the area to be cleaned through the water outlet pipe 110, such as Figure 5 As shown. The second preset height difference can be determined based on the height of the refrigerator and actual needs. The automatic cleaning component of the preferred technical solution of this embodiment can control the state of the water in the water tank 108 through the control valve 111. Specifically, when the control valve 111 is in the open state, the water in the water tank 108 flows into the area to be cleaned through the outlet pipe 110, thereby cleaning the area to be cleaned. When the area to be cleaned does not need to be cleaned, the control valve 111 is closed, so that the water in the water tank 108 cannot flow out through the outlet pipe 110.

[0066] According to a preferred embodiment, the flushing component also includes a water level sensor, which is disposed in the water tank 108. The water level sensor is used to detect the water level in the water tank 108, and the control valve 111 is in an open state or a closed state based on the detection result of the water level sensor, and the switching valve 106 is in a first state or a second state based on the detection result of the water level sensor. Preferably, the water level sensor is located at a height of 20 to 300 mm from the bottom of the water tank 108, and more preferably, the water level sensor is located at a height of 150 mm from the bottom of the water tank 108, thereby ensuring that there is sufficient water in the water tank 108 to flush the area to be cleaned, and at the same time, the water in the water tank 108 has sufficient flushing pressure. The automatic cleaning component of the preferred technical solution of this embodiment can control the state of the control valve 111 and the switching valve 106 based on the detection result of the water level sensor, so that each valve of the automatic cleaning component can be precisely controlled. Specifically, when the detection result of the water level sensor exceeds the preset water level, the control valve 111 is in an open state, so that the water in the water tank 108 can be used to clean the area to be cleaned; when the detection result of the water level sensor does not exceed the preset water level, the control valve 111 is in a closed state, and at the same time, the control switching valve 106 is in the second state. At this time, the cleaning evaporator 101 works, and the cleaning evaporator 101 can be frosted, and then the cleaning evaporator 101 is defrosted to increase the water in the water tank 108.

[0067] According to a preferred embodiment, the water tank 108 is further provided with an overflow pipe 112, which is connected to the refrigerator water receiving box. When the water level in the water tank 108 exceeds a preset value, the water in the water tank 108 is discharged through the overflow pipe 112. Figure 5 As shown. Preferably, an overflow pipe 112 is provided above the water tank 108. Preferably, the overflow pipe 112 is connected to the water receiving box on the outside of the refrigerator through a foaming tank. In the preferred technical solution of this embodiment, the automatic cleaning assembly is also provided with an overflow pipe 112 on the water tank 108. When the water level in the water tank 108 is too high, the water in the water tank 108 can be drained through the overflow pipe 112 to prevent the water in the water tank 108 from overflowing.

[0068] According to a preferred embodiment, the automatic cleaning component further includes a drain pipe 113, which is arranged in the area to be cleaned and connected to the refrigerator water receiving box. A drain valve is also provided at the water outlet of the area to be cleaned. The drain valve has an open state and a closed state. When the drain valve is in the open state, the drain pipe 113 is used to drain the water in the area to be cleaned. Figure 5As shown. Preferably, the area to be cleaned is inclined, and the drain pipe 113 is located on the lower side of the area to be cleaned. More preferably, the inclination angle of the area to be cleaned is, for example, 5°. The automatic cleaning component of the preferred technical solution of this embodiment is provided with a drain pipe 113 at the area to be cleaned, and a drain valve is also provided at the water outlet of the area to be cleaned. When cleaning is completed, the sewage in the area to be cleaned can be discharged through the drain pipe 113 by opening the drain valve. Furthermore, the drain pipe 113 is located on the lower side of the area to be cleaned, which is conducive to discharging all the sewage in the area to be cleaned.

[0069] According to a preferred embodiment, the automatic cleaning component further includes a humidity sensor, which is provided in the compartment where the cleaning evaporator 101 is located, and the humidity sensor is used to monitor the humidity in the compartment where the cleaning evaporator 101 is located. Preferably, the compartment where the cleaning evaporator 101 is located is the refrigeration compartment 201. The automatic cleaning component of the preferred technical solution of this embodiment can monitor the humidity in the compartment where the cleaning evaporator 101 is located through the humidity sensor. When the humidity in the compartment where the cleaning evaporator 101 is located reaches a preset humidity, frost can be formed on the surface of the cleaning evaporator 101; when the humidity in the compartment where the cleaning evaporator 101 is located does not reach the preset humidity, the humidity in the compartment where the cleaning evaporator 101 is located can be increased by introducing high-humidity air from the external environment or adding moisture to the compartment where the cleaning evaporator 101, thereby causing frost to form on the surface of the cleaning evaporator 101.

[0070] According to a preferred embodiment, the automatic cleaning component further includes a vibration device, which is disposed at the area to be cleaned, and the vibration device is used to vibrate the area to be cleaned. Preferably, the vibration device is disposed at the bottom of the area to be cleaned. Preferably, the vibration device is a vibration motor, such as a mobile phone-type vibration motor. The automatic cleaning component of the preferred technical solution of this embodiment, while using the water in the water tank 108 to rinse the area to be cleaned, simultaneously generates vibrations through the vibration device, which can make it easier for attachments attached to the area to be cleaned to fall off, thereby improving the cleaning effect of the area to be cleaned.

[0071] According to a preferred embodiment, the automatic cleaning component further includes a heater and a sterilizing device, and the heater and the sterilizing device are arranged above the area to be cleaned, and the heater and the sterilizing device are used to dry and sterilize the area to be cleaned. Preferably, the heater and the sterilizing device are arranged on top of the area to be cleaned. Preferably, the heater is, for example, an aluminum foil heater, and the sterilizing device is, for example, a sterilizing negative ion device. Both the aluminum foil heater and the sterilizing negative ion device can be products in the prior art. The automatic cleaning component of the preferred technical solution of this embodiment can dry the water in the area to be cleaned by the heater, and can sterilize the area to be cleaned by the sterilizing device, thereby further improving the cleaning effect of the area to be cleaned.

[0072] Example 2

[0073] This embodiment describes the refrigerator of the present invention in detail.

[0074] The refrigerator of this embodiment includes the automatic cleaning assembly of any one of the technical solutions in Example 1. The remaining components of the refrigerator can be the same as those in the prior art. Specifically, the refrigerator includes a refrigerator body and a refrigeration assembly, wherein the refrigerator body has a refrigeration chamber 201, a quick-freeze drawer 202, and a freezer drawer 203. The refrigeration assembly is as described in Example 1 and will not be repeated here. Figure 6 shown.

[0075] The refrigerator of this embodiment includes the automatic cleaning component of any one of the technical solutions in Example 1. Since the automatic cleaning component can achieve regular cleaning or intelligent cleaning, it can keep key areas of the refrigerator, such as the instant freezing drawer, hygienic and clean, thereby improving the user experience.

[0076] Example 3

[0077] This embodiment describes in detail the control method of the automatic cleaning component of the present invention.

[0078] Figure 7 The flowchart of the preferred embodiment of the control method of the automatic cleaning component of any technical solution in Example 1 is shown. Figure 1 As shown, the control method of the automatic cleaning component of any technical solution in Example 1 includes the following steps:

[0079] Step 1: Obtain the cleaning status of the area to be cleaned. Specifically, the cleaning status of the area to be cleaned can be manually input by the user or obtained at a preset time. For example, cleaning is performed every 10 days.

[0080] Step 2: When the area to be cleaned reaches the cleaning state, the water level in the flushing component is detected, and when the water level in the flushing component reaches a preset height, the control valve 111 is controlled to be in an open state, and the water in the flushing component is used to clean the area to be cleaned.

[0081] Specifically, cleaning the area to be cleaned includes the following steps:

[0082] The control valve 111 is controlled to be in an open state, and the water stored in the water tank 108 is used to clean the area to be cleaned; when the time for which the control valve 111 is in an open state exceeds a second preset time, the vibration device is controlled to be in an open state; after the cleaning of the area to be cleaned is completed, the drain valve is controlled to be in an open state, and the sewage in the area to be cleaned is discharged through the drain pipe 113; the heater and the sterilization device are controlled to be in an open state, and the area to be cleaned is dried and sterilized.

[0083] The control method of the automatic cleaning component of this embodiment obtains the cleaning status of the area to be cleaned, detects the water level in the flushing component when the area to be cleaned reaches the cleaning status, and controls the control valve 111 to be in an open state when the water level in the flushing component reaches a preset height. The step of using the water in the flushing component to clean the area to be cleaned can achieve the purpose of automatic cleaning, so that key areas of the refrigerator, such as the flash freeze drawer, can be kept hygienic and clean, avoiding the problems of time-consuming and labor-intensive manual cleaning and incomplete cleaning in the prior art, and also avoiding the problems of taking out the drawer for flushing and the difficulty in disassembling the drawer for cleaning in the prior art.

[0084] According to a preferred embodiment, when the water level in the flushing assembly does not reach a preset height, the following steps are further included:

[0085] The humidity in the room where the clean evaporator 101 is located is obtained. Specifically, the humidity in the room where the clean evaporator 101 is located is measured and obtained by a humidity sensor.

[0086] When the humidity in the room where the cleaning evaporator 101 is located reaches a preset humidity, the switching valve 106 is controlled to be in the second state, and frost forms on the surface of the cleaning evaporator 101. Specifically, the preset humidity is, for example, 50%.

[0087] When the cleaning evaporator 101 reaches a first preset operating time, the defrost device is controlled to start and defrost the cleaning evaporator 101. The defrost water generated by the defrosting enters the flushing assembly. Specifically, the first preset operating time is the time period during which the tube temperature of the cleaning evaporator 101 is less than -5°C to ensure that the cleaning evaporator 101 is effectively frosted.

[0088] The control method of the preferred technical solution of this embodiment is that when the water level in the flushing component does not reach the preset height, the switching valve 106 is controlled to be in the second state, so that the cleaning evaporator 101 is operated, and the high-humidity air in the chamber where the cleaning evaporator 101 is located is used for frosting, and then defrosting is performed, thereby replenishing the water level in the flushing component, which means that the flushing water level requirement is met.

[0089] According to a preferred embodiment, when the humidity in the compartment where the clean evaporator 101 is located does not reach the preset humidity, the following steps are also included: controlling the door or drawer of the compartment where the clean evaporator 101 is located to be in an open state, and using outside air to increase the humidity in the compartment where the clean evaporator 101 is located, or adding water to the compartment where the clean evaporator 101 is located, and making the humidity in the refrigerator reach the preset humidity.

[0090] The control method of the preferred technical solution of this embodiment is that when the humidity in the room where the clean evaporator 101 is located does not reach the preset humidity, the humidity in the room where the clean evaporator 101 is located is increased by introducing high-humidity air from the outside or adding water to the room where the clean evaporator 101 is located to reach the preset humidity.

[0091] Figure 8 FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing another preferred embodiment of the control method of the automatic cleaning component of this embodiment. The automatic cleaning of the instant freezing drawer 202 is used as an example for explanation. Figure 8 As shown:

[0092] The cleaning evaporator 101 is set in the refrigerator compartment 201. Since the refrigerator compartment 201 generally stores food such as fruits and vegetables, the humidity in the refrigerator compartment 201 is generally high. When automatic cleaning is required, the water level sensor of the water tank 108 first detects whether the water in the water tank 108 meets the requirements (if the water level is too low, there may be insufficient flushing water and incomplete flushing). If the water level meets the requirements, the control valve 111 is opened and the flushing process is executed. After the flushing is completed, the aluminum foil heater on the top of the area to be cleaned is turned on for drying, and the sterilization negative ion device is put into operation at the same time.

[0093] If the water level in water tank 108 is insufficient, the water replenishment process is executed. Specifically, the humidity is first detected by the humidity sensor. If the relative humidity is greater than 50%, the switching valve 106 is switched to the second state, and the clean evaporator 101 is put into operation. The clean evaporator 101 allows the air passing through it to condense when it is cooled, and then turns into frost. When it is detected that the clean evaporator has been running at a low temperature for a certain period of time, the electric heating defrost is turned on. At this time, the fan reverses and blows hot air towards the clean evaporator 101, melting the frost and letting the defrost water fall into the water receiving tray 109. The defrost water in the water receiving tray 109 is then transferred to the water tank 108 through a pipe for accumulation. During the defrost period, the switching valve 106 is switched to the first state, and the clean evaporator 101 stops operating.

[0094] If the relative humidity in the refrigerator compartment 201 is detected to be low while the evaporator cleaning device 101 is operating, the refrigerator door (one door) or the refrigerator drawer will automatically open, replenishing the humidity with high-humidity air from the outside, allowing the evaporator cleaning device 101 to operate normally. If the environment is extremely dry at this time, making it impossible to produce water, a message such as "Dry, please place a water cup" will be displayed on the refrigerator display to remind the user to place water in the refrigerator compartment 201. When the water level in the water tank 108 reaches the minimum water level, frost formation on the evaporator cleaning device 101 will stop; otherwise, water production will continue in a continuous cycle.

[0095] After the automatic cleaning process, the drawer can flush away any remaining blood, water stains, and other debris, providing a better user experience. Of course, the user must remove the ingredients from the instant freeze drawer 202 before cleaning. Alternatively, a camera could be added to automatically activate the automatic cleaning function when it detects that the instant freeze drawer 202 has been vacant for a period of time. The automatic cleaning function can also be performed in multiple stages, such as three regular cleanings per night.

[0096] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more; the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," "front end," "rear end," "head," "tail," etc., indicating directions or positional relationships, are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are intended only to facilitate the description of the present invention and simplify the description. They do not indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed, or operate in a specific direction, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0097] It should also be noted that, in the description of the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be understood broadly. For example, they may refer to fixed, detachable, or integral connections; mechanical or electrical connections; and direct or indirect connections through an intermediary. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention depending on the specific circumstances.

[0098] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any modifications or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. An automatic cleaning component, characterized in that: The invention comprises a clean evaporator (101), wherein the clean evaporator (101) is connected in parallel with a freezing evaporator (102) in a refrigeration circuit, and a frosting circuit is formed between the outlet of the clean evaporator (101), a compressor (103), a condenser (104), a capillary tube (105) and the inlet of the clean evaporator (101), and frost is formed on the surface of the clean evaporator (101); The automatic cleaning component further comprises a flushing component, the flushing component being used to collect defrost water generated by defrosting the cleaning evaporator (101) and to use the defrost water to clean the area to be cleaned; The cleaning machine further comprises a vibration device, which is arranged at the area to be cleaned and is used to vibrate the area to be cleaned.

2. The automatic cleaning assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The system further comprises a switching valve (106), wherein the switching valve (106) is provided at the inlet of the cleaning evaporator (101) and the freezing evaporator (102), and the switching valve (106) has a first state and a second state. When the switching valve (106) is in a first state, the freezing evaporator (102) is connected to the capillary tube (105); when the switching valve (106) is in a second state, the cleaning evaporator (101) is connected to the capillary tube (105).

3. The automatic cleaning assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes a one-way valve (107), one end of which is connected between the switching valve (106) and the clean evaporator (101), and the other end is connected between the switching valve (106) and the refrigeration evaporator (102), and the refrigerant in the one-way valve (107) flows from the inlet end of the clean evaporator (101) to the inlet end of the refrigeration evaporator (102).

4. The automatic cleaning assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flushing assembly comprises a water tank (108), the water tank (108) being located above the area to be cleaned and having a first preset height difference with the area to be cleaned, the water tank (108) being used to collect defrost water generated by defrosting the cleaning evaporator (101) and to use the defrost water to clean the area to be cleaned.

5. The automatic cleaning assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: It also includes a defrosting device and a water receiving tray (109), wherein the defrosting device is used to defrost the cleaning evaporator (101), the water receiving tray (109) is arranged below the cleaning evaporator (101), the water receiving tray (109) is connected to the water tank (108), and the water receiving tray (109) is used to collect defrosted water generated by defrosting the cleaning evaporator (101).

6. The automatic cleaning assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The water tank (108) is provided with a water outlet pipe (110), which is arranged above the area to be cleaned and has a second preset height difference with the area to be cleaned. A control valve (111) is provided at the water outlet of the water tank (108), and the control valve (111) has an open state and a closed state. When the control valve (111) is in the open state, water in the water tank (108) flows into the area to be cleaned through the water outlet pipe (110).

7. The automatic cleaning assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that: The flushing assembly further includes a water level sensor, which is arranged in the water tank (108) and is used to detect the water level in the water tank (108). The control valve (111) is in an open state or a closed state based on the detection result of the water level sensor, and the switching valve (106) is in a first state or a second state based on the detection result of the water level sensor.

8. The automatic cleaning assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The water tank (108) is also provided with an overflow pipe (112), which is connected to the refrigerator water receiving box. When the water level in the water tank (108) exceeds a preset value, the water in the water tank (108) is discharged through the overflow pipe (112).

9. The automatic cleaning assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The refrigerator further comprises a drain pipe (113), wherein the drain pipe (113) is arranged in the area to be cleaned, the drain pipe (113) is connected to the refrigerator water receiving box, and a drain valve is also arranged at the water outlet of the area to be cleaned, the drain valve has an open state and a closed state, and when the drain valve is in the open state, the drain pipe (113) is used to drain water in the area to be cleaned.

10. The automatic cleaning assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that: The area to be cleaned is arranged obliquely, and the drainage pipe (113) is located on the lower side of the area to be cleaned.

11. The automatic cleaning assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a humidity sensor, which is arranged in the compartment where the cleaning evaporator (101) is located, and is used to monitor the humidity in the compartment where the cleaning evaporator (101) is located.

12. The automatic cleaning assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cleaning device further comprises a heater and a sterilizing device, wherein the heater and the sterilizing device are arranged above the area to be cleaned, and the heater and the sterilizing device are used to dry and sterilize the area to be cleaned.

13. A refrigerator, characterized in that: The automatic cleaning component comprises the automatic cleaning component according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A control method for an automatic cleaning component according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that: The steps include: Get the cleaning status of the area to be cleaned; When the area to be cleaned reaches a cleaning state, the water level in the flushing assembly is detected, and when the water level in the flushing assembly reaches a preset height, the control valve (111) is controlled to be in an open state, and the water in the flushing assembly is used to clean the area to be cleaned.

15. The control method of the automatic cleaning component according to claim 14, characterized in that: When the water level in the flushing component does not reach the preset height, the following steps are also included: Obtaining the humidity in the room where the clean evaporator (101) is located; When the humidity in the compartment where the cleaning evaporator (101) is located reaches a preset humidity, the switching valve (106) is controlled to be in a second state, and frost is formed on the surface of the cleaning evaporator (101); When the cleaning evaporator (101) reaches a first preset working time, the defrosting device is controlled to start and the cleaning evaporator (101) is defrosted by the defrosting device, and defrosting water generated by the defrosting enters the flushing component.

16. The control method of the automatic cleaning component according to claim 15, characterized in that: When the humidity in the room where the cleaning evaporator (101) is located does not reach the preset humidity, the following steps are further included: The door or drawer of the compartment where the cleaning evaporator (101) is located is controlled to be in an open state, and the humidity of the compartment where the cleaning evaporator (101) is located is increased by using outside air, or water is added to the compartment where the cleaning evaporator (101) is located, so that the humidity in the refrigerator reaches a preset humidity.

17. The control method of the automatic cleaning component according to claim 15, characterized in that: Cleaning the area to be cleaned includes the following steps: Controlling the control valve (111) to be in an open state, and using the water stored in the water tank (108) to clean the area to be cleaned; When the duration of the control valve (111) being in the open state exceeds a second preset duration, the vibration device is controlled to be in the open state; After the cleaning of the area to be cleaned is completed, the drain valve is controlled to be in an open state, and the sewage in the area to be cleaned is discharged through the drain pipe (113); The heater and sterilizer are controlled to be in the on state to dry and sterilize the area to be cleaned.

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