Laundry appliance

Abstract

The present application relates to laundry technology field, specifically provide a kind of laundry equipment, to solve the problem that existing laundry equipment cannot effectively air dry window pad.For this purpose, the laundry equipment of the present application includes outer tube, window pad, air inlet pipeline, air outlet pipeline and fan, fan is arranged on air inlet pipeline, outer tube is connected with window pad, one end of air inlet pipeline is communicated with the outside, the other end of air inlet pipeline is communicated with window pad by air vent, both ends of air outlet pipeline are respectively communicated with the outside and outer tube, air vent is formed with shunt structure, shunt structure is set to be able to guide part of air in air inlet pipeline to the wrinkle part of window pad.The present application can improve the air drying effect of outer tube and window pad, achieve dead angle air drying, avoid the wrinkle part of window pad to have residual water and mildew and breed bacteria, while not affecting the secondary cleaning of user, avoid forming secondary pollution to clothes, improve user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of laundry technology, and specifically provides a laundry device. 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 drum washing machine cannot dry the window seal, leaving residual water inside, which can still cause dirt and bacteria growth, and may affect the user's ability to wash the second time.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need in the field for a new washing machine to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned technical problem, namely, to solve the problem that existing washing equipment cannot effectively dry window mats.

[0007] This invention provides a washing machine, comprising an outer drum, a window gasket, an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, and a fan. The fan is disposed on the air inlet duct. The outer drum is connected to the window gasket. One end of the air inlet duct is connected to the outside, and the other end of the air inlet duct is connected to the window gasket via a vent. Both ends of the air outlet duct are connected to the outside and the outer drum, respectively.

[0008] A diversion structure is formed inside the vent, which is configured to guide a portion of the air in the air intake duct to the folds of the window gasket.

[0009] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned washing equipment, the diversion structure includes a diversion baffle formed on the inner wall of the vent, and one side of the diversion baffle is formed with a slope that can guide air to the folds of the window gasket, so that a part of the air in the air inlet pipe is guided to the folds of the window gasket and another part of the air is guided to the outer drum.

[0010] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned washing equipment, the vent is mounted on the window gasket.

[0011] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned washing equipment, a locking protrusion is formed on the outer wall of the vent, and a locking groove is formed on the window gasket, wherein the locking protrusion is locked in the locking groove.

[0012] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned washing equipment, the washing equipment further includes a valve assembly, 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, the air inlet chamber is connected to the air inlet pipe, the air outlet chamber is connected to the air outlet pipe, and the blocking mechanism is configured to block the air inlet pipe and the air outlet pipe simultaneously.

[0013] 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.

[0014] 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.

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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 air outlet duct is connected to the opening.

[0017] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned washing equipment, an air outlet detection device is provided at the opening.

[0018] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention can direct a portion of the air to the folds of the window gasket through the diversion structure inside the vent, thereby concentrating the airflow to dry the folds of the window gasket. The remaining air continues to flow to the surface of the window gasket and the outer cylinder, thereby drying the surface of the window gasket and the outer cylinder. Through this arrangement, the inside of the folds of the window gasket, the surface of the window gasket, and the inner wall of the outer cylinder can all be dried, improving the drying effect on the outer cylinder and the window gasket, achieving drying without dead corners, avoiding residual water in the folds of the window gasket that could lead to mold and bacterial growth, and at the same time, it will not affect the user's secondary washing, avoiding secondary pollution of clothing, and improving the user experience.

[0019] Furthermore, setting a ramp on the diversion baffle can more easily direct air to the folds of the window gasket, making the structure of the vent simpler and facilitating product design and manufacturing.

[0020] Furthermore, placing the vent on the window gasket facilitates its removal, replacement, and maintenance, further enhancing the user experience.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] Furthermore, the air outlet detection device can detect whether air is coming out of the air outlet duct, thereby determining whether the air outlet of the washing equipment is normal. This allows users to know the air outlet status, which is beneficial for controlling the washing equipment and further improves the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and a drum washing machine.

[0026] In the picture:

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the drum washing machine of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the window gasket and vent of the drum washing machine of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ventilation nozzle of the drum washing machine of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the fan and valve assembly of the drum washing machine of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the fan and valve assembly of the drum washing machine of the present invention. Figure 2 . Detailed Implementation

[0032] 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.

[0033] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, terms such as "middle," "upper," "lower," "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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] Based on the problem pointed out in the background art that existing drum washing machines cannot effectively dry window seals, the present invention provides a drum washing machine that aims to dry the inside of the folds of the window seal, the surface of the window seal, and the inner wall of the outer drum, thereby improving the drying effect on the outer drum and the window seal, achieving drying without dead corners, avoiding residual water in the folds of the window seal that could lead to mold and bacteria growth, and at the same time not affecting the user's secondary washing, avoiding secondary pollution of clothes, and improving the user experience.

[0036] Specifically, such as Figure 1 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 clothes loading port of the cabinet 1. The inner drum 2 can be directly driven to rotate by a direct drive motor, or it can be driven to rotate by a belt driven by a motor. The outer drum 3 is used to contain washing water, the inner drum 2 is used to tumble the clothes, and the window gasket 4 ensures a seal between the outer drum 3 and the cabinet 1.

[0037] 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. In particular, the washing process generates a large amount of foam due to the presence of detergent / laundry powder, and 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.

[0038] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the drum washing machine of the present invention further includes an air inlet pipe 5, an air outlet pipe 6, and a fan 7. The fan 7 is mounted on the air inlet pipe 5. The outer drum 3 is connected to the window gasket 4. One end of the air inlet pipe 5 is connected to the outside, and the other end of the air inlet pipe 5 is connected to the window gasket 4 through a vent 10. Both ends of the air outlet pipe 6 are connected to the outside and the outer drum 3, respectively. A diversion structure is formed inside the vent 10. The diversion structure is configured to guide a portion of the air in the air inlet pipe 5 to the pleats of the window gasket 4. Wherein, as... Figure 3As shown, the vent 10 can be a hollow vent, and a flow-dividing structure is formed on the inner wall of the vent 10. The flow-dividing structure may include a flow-dividing baffle 101. One side of the flow-dividing baffle 101 has a slope 101a that can guide air to the pleats of the window gasket 4. Those skilled in the art can flexibly set the extension direction of the flow-dividing baffle 101 according to the angle at which the vent 10 is inserted into the window gasket 4 in practical applications. For example, the vent 10 is cylindrical in shape, and the flow-dividing baffle 101 is set along the axial direction of the vent 10. The side of the flow-dividing baffle 101 facing the pleats of the window gasket 4 has a slope 101a. After the fan 7 is started, the air in the air inlet duct 5 enters the vent 10. The flow-dividing baffle 101 splits the air into two streams. One stream of air is guided into the pleats of the window gasket 4 through the slope 101a. Another stream of air is directly introduced into the surface of the window gasket 4 facing the inner cylinder 2. An annular cavity is formed in the pleats of the window gasket 4. The air introduced into the pleats of the window gasket 4 flows in the annular cavity, thereby achieving air drying in the pleats of the window gasket 4. The air introduced into the surface of the window gasket 4 can dry the surface of the window gasket 4. Finally, the two streams of air flow in the outer cylinder 3 to dry the inner wall of the outer cylinder 3, and are finally discharged to the outside through the air outlet duct 6. It should be noted that the inner side of the pleats of the window gasket 4 and the surface of the window gasket 4 are respectively the inner wall of the pleats of the window gasket 4 and the surface of the window gasket 4 near the inner cylinder 2. That is, the window gasket 4 is bent to form pleats. The part of the window gasket 4 that does not form pleats will connect to the opening of the outer cylinder 3. The surface of the window gasket 4 is the surface of the part of the window gasket 4 that does not form pleats facing the inner cylinder 2. Alternatively, the vent 10 can also be a solid vent. The diversion structure includes a first diversion channel and a second diversion channel formed in the solid vent. The first and second diversion channels are independently arranged. The first diversion channel guides a portion of the air from the air inlet duct 5 to the folds of the window pad 4, and the second diversion channel guides the other portion of the air from the air inlet duct 5 to the surface of the window pad 4. In the above, in addition to guiding the other portion of the air to the surface of the window pad 4, the other portion of the air can also be directly guided into the outer cylinder 3. Those skilled in the art can flexibly set the specific structure of the diversion structure in practical applications, as long as the diversion structure can guide a portion of the air to the folds of the window pad 4.

[0039] Preferably, such as Figure 2As shown, the vent 10 is secured to the window gasket 4. Of course, besides the snap-fit ​​method, the vent 10 can also be installed using screws, magnetic adsorption, or a combination of the above methods. In a preferred embodiment, a snap-fit ​​protrusion is formed on the outer wall of the vent 10, and a snap-fit ​​groove is formed on the window gasket 4. The snap-fit ​​protrusion is secured within the snap-fit ​​groove. Through the action of the snap-fit ​​protrusion and the snap-fit ​​groove, the vent 10 is securely secured to the window gasket 4, preventing the vent 10 from shifting. Alternatively, an annular groove can be provided on the vent 10, and an annular protrusion can be provided on the window gasket 4. The vent 10 is secured by the cooperation of the annular groove and the annular protrusion. The annular groove of the vent 10 can be formed by forming two annular protrusions on the outer wall of the vent 10 and then forming an annular groove between the two annular protrusions, or the outer wall of the vent 10 can be directly recessed inward to form an annular groove.

[0040] Preferably, such as Figure 1 , 4 As shown in Figure 5, the drum washing machine also includes a valve assembly, which includes a blocking mechanism and a valve housing 8 having an air inlet chamber 81 and an air outlet chamber 82. The air inlet chamber 81 and the air outlet chamber 82 are independently arranged. The air inlet chamber 81 is connected to the air inlet pipe 5, and the air outlet chamber 82 is connected to the air outlet pipe 6. The blocking mechanism is configured to block both the air inlet pipe 5 and the air outlet pipe 6 simultaneously. The air inlet chamber 81 has an air inlet 81a and an air outlet 81b, and the air outlet chamber 82 also has an air inlet 82a and an air outlet 82b. Alternatively, the outside can be directly connected to the air inlet 81a of the air inlet chamber 81, and then the air outlet 81b of the air inlet chamber 81 can be connected to the window gasket 4 via the air inlet pipe 5 and the vent 10. Or, the air inlet pipe 5 can have two sections: one section connects the outside to the air inlet 81a of the air inlet chamber 81, and the other section connects the air outlet 81b of the air inlet chamber 81 to the vent 10. Similarly, the air outlet 82b of the air outlet cavity 82 can be directly connected to the outside, and the outer drum 3 can be connected to the air inlet 82a of the air outlet cavity 82 through the air outlet pipe 6. Alternatively, the air outlet pipe 6 can have two sections: one section connects the outer drum 3 to the air inlet 82a of the air outlet cavity 82, and the other section connects the air outlet 82b of the air outlet cavity 82 to the outside. Those skilled in the art can flexibly set the connection positions of the vent 10 and the window gasket 4, as well as the connection positions of the air outlet pipe 6 and the outer drum 3 in practical applications. Preferably, the vent 10 is connected to the top of the pleats of the window gasket 4, and the air outlet pipe 6 is connected to the top of the outer drum 3, thereby preventing water from entering the pipes during washing.

[0041] Preferably, such as Figure 4 and 5As shown, the blocking mechanism includes a drive motor 91, a first blocking member 92, and a second blocking member 93. The output shaft of the drive motor 91 is connected to both the first blocking member 92 and the second blocking member 93. The first blocking member 92 is disposed within the air inlet cavity 81, and the second blocking member 93 is disposed within the air outlet cavity 82. The drive motor 91 can drive the first blocking member 92 and the second blocking member 93 to move simultaneously to block the air inlet cavity 81 and the air outlet cavity 82. The drive motor 91 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 91 is connected to a transmission shaft, the first blocking member 92 is a first blocking plate, and the second blocking member 93 is a second blocking plate. Both the first and second blocking plates are disposed on the transmission shaft, and the drive motor 91 can drive the transmission shaft to rotate so that the first and second blocking plates rotate simultaneously. That is, the drive motor 91 is a rotary motor, and the drive motor 91 can drive the transmission shaft to rotate. The transmission shaft simultaneously drives the first baffle plate and the second baffle plate to rotate. The air inlet 81a and air outlet 81b of the air inlet cavity 81 can be located on opposite sides of the air inlet cavity 81, or they can be located on adjacent sides of the air inlet cavity 81. Similarly, the air inlet 82a and air outlet 82b of the air outlet cavity 82 can be located on opposite sides of the air outlet cavity 82, or they can be located on adjacent sides of the air outlet cavity 82. The blocking methods of the first baffle plate and the second baffle plate can be flexibly set according to the respective positions of the air inlet and air outlet of the air inlet cavity 81 and the air outlet of the air outlet cavity 82. In a preferred embodiment, such as... Figure 4 and 5 As shown, the air outlet 81b of the air inlet chamber 81 and the air inlet 82a of the air outlet chamber 82 are located on the same side of the valve housing 8, that is, the air outlet 81b of the air inlet chamber 81 and the air inlet 82a of the air outlet chamber 82 are located on the same side. The drive motor 91 drives the transmission shaft to rotate so that the first baffle plate can cover the air outlet 81b of the air inlet chamber 81, thereby blocking the air inlet pipe 5. At the same time, the second baffle plate can cover the air inlet 82a of the air outlet chamber 82, thereby blocking the air outlet pipe 6. And since it covers the air outlet of the air inlet chamber 81, it covers the air outlet of the air inlet chamber 81. The air inlet 82a of the air outlet cavity 82 and the air 81b of the air inlet cavity 82 prevent foam from entering the air inlet cavity 81 and the air outlet cavity 82 during the washing process of the drum washing machine. More preferably, sealing gaskets are provided on the side of the first barrier plate facing the air outlet 81b of the air inlet cavity 81 and the side of the second barrier plate facing the air inlet 82a of the air outlet cavity 82. This ensures a seal when the first barrier plate covers the air outlet 81b of the air inlet cavity 81 and when the second barrier plate covers the air inlet 82a of the air outlet cavity 82. In other examples, the sealing gasket on the first barrier plate can be replaced with a sealing ring that corresponds to the shape of the air outlet 81b of the air inlet cavity 81, and the sealing gasket on the second barrier plate can be replaced with a sealing ring that corresponds to the shape of the air inlet 82a of the air outlet cavity 82.

[0042] Preferably, such as Figure 4 As shown, a drive shaft passes sequentially through the air outlet chamber 82 and the air inlet chamber 81 from one side of the valve housing 8. The drive shaft is rotatably mounted on a partition plate that separates the air inlet chamber 81 and the air outlet chamber 82. In one possible scenario, a first through hole is formed on the side of the valve housing 8 that forms the air outlet chamber 82, 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 chamber 82) is connected to a second partition plate, and the portion of the drive shaft exiting the second through hole (i.e., the portion located in the air inlet chamber 81) is connected to the first partition plate. Alternatively, the drive shaft can be connected to both the edge of the first and second partition plates, so that the rotation of the drive shaft achieves synchronous rotation of the first and second partition plates. Additionally, a third through hole can be provided on the opposite side of the valve housing 8 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 91, located on the outside of the valve housing 8, can be connected to the casing 1 of the drum washing machine via a mounting bracket, or the drive motor 91 can be directly welded to the casing 1 of the drum washing machine. In other examples, the drive shaft can also pass through the air inlet chamber 81 and the air outlet chamber 82 sequentially from one side of the valve housing 8.

[0043] Alternatively, the drive motor 91 is a linear motor, the first blocking member 92 is a first blocking plate, and the second blocking member 93 is a second blocking plate. A first slot communicating with the air inlet chamber 81 and a second slot communicating with the air outlet chamber 82 are formed on the same side of the valve housing 8. 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 and second blocking plates to move synchronously in a linear fashion. When it is necessary to block the air inlet chamber 81 and the air outlet chamber 82, the linear motor drives the first blocking plate to insert into the air inlet chamber 81 from the first slot, thereby blocking the air inlet 81a and air outlet 81b of the air inlet chamber 81 from each other. Simultaneously, it drives the second blocking plate to insert into the air outlet chamber 82 from the second slot, thereby blocking the air inlet 82a and air outlet 82b of the air outlet chamber 82 from each other. In the above, the linear motor can also be replaced by a hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, or other similar structure.

[0044] Preferably, the front panel of the drum washing machine's casing 1 has an opening communicating with the outside, and the air outlet duct 6 is connected to the opening. Further, an air outlet detection device is provided at the opening. This device can be a flow sensor or other device capable of detecting airflow. The air outlet detection device can determine whether the drum washing machine is properly executing its ventilation program.

[0045] More preferably, an air outlet humidity sensor is installed at the opening. The air outlet humidity sensor can detect the air outlet humidity of the air outlet duct 6. Then, an ambient humidity sensor is installed indoors that communicates with the controller of the drum washing machine (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.). By comparing the ambient humidity detected by the ambient humidity sensor with the air outlet humidity detected by the air outlet humidity sensor, if the difference between the humidity detected by the ambient humidity sensor and the air outlet humidity detected by the air outlet humidity sensor is less than a preset humidity value (the preset humidity value can be 5% of the relative humidity), it means that the air outlet humidity is roughly the same as or close to the ambient humidity, and the drum washing machine can stop running the ventilation program.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, an internal humidity sensor is installed on the outer drum 3. The sensor's detection end is located inside the outer drum 3 to detect the humidity inside. After the washing machine finishes washing, the internal humidity sensor detects the humidity inside the outer drum 3. When the humidity exceeds a set humidity threshold (e.g., relative humidity 100%), it indicates that the outer drum 3 is very humid. The washing machine's controller can then control the washing machine to issue a prompt to start the fresh air function or automatically activate the fresh air function to dry the drum assembly with outside air. The prompt to start the fresh air function can be a buzzer, or the washing machine can communicate with the user's mobile terminal (e.g., mobile phone, tablet, and smart bracelet) to send a notification message to the user's mobile terminal, which the user can then view in the app. Alternatively, the internal humidity sensor can also be installed on the window gasket 4, with its detection end located inside the window gasket 4 to detect the humidity inside. The humidity sensor inside the drum can also be replaced with an odor sensor. The odor sensor can detect the odor inside the drum assembly, and the controller can determine whether it is an odor based on the detected odor. When there is an odor, the controller of the drum washing machine can control the drum washing machine to issue a prompt to start the fresh air function or automatically start the fresh air function.

[0047] 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 machine includes an outer drum, a window gasket, an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, and a fan. The fan is installed on the air inlet duct. The outer drum is connected to the window gasket. One end of the air inlet duct is connected to the outside, and the other end is connected to the window gasket via a vent. The two ends of the air outlet duct are connected to the outside and the outer drum, respectively. A flow-diverting structure is formed inside the vent, and the flow-diverting structure is configured to guide a portion of the air in the air inlet duct to the folds of the window gasket. The ventilation nozzle is mounted on the window gasket and inserted into the window gasket. The washing equipment further includes a valve assembly, which 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. The air inlet chamber is connected to the air inlet duct, and the air outlet chamber is connected to the air outlet duct. The blocking mechanism is configured to simultaneously block the air inlet duct and the air outlet duct. 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. The air outlet of the air inlet chamber and the air inlet of the air outlet chamber are located on the same side of the valve housing. The drive motor enables the first blocking member to cover the air outlet of the air inlet chamber, thereby blocking the air inlet pipe, and simultaneously enables the second blocking member to cover the air inlet of the air outlet chamber, thereby blocking the air outlet pipe. Since the air inlet of the air inlet chamber and the air inlet of the air outlet chamber are covered respectively, even if foam is generated during the washing process of the washing equipment, 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 diversion structure includes a diversion baffle formed on the inner wall of the vent, and one side of the diversion baffle has a slope that can guide air to the folds of the window gasket, so that a portion of the air in the air inlet duct is guided to the folds of the window gasket and another portion of the air is guided to the outer cylinder.

3. The washing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, A locking protrusion is formed on the outer wall of the vent, and a locking groove is formed on the window gasket, with the locking protrusion locking into the locking groove.

4. The washing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive motor is connected to the transmission shaft. The first barrier is a first barrier plate, and the second barrier 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.

5. The washing equipment according to claim 4, 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.

6. The washing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The front panel of the washing machine's casing has an opening that connects to the outside, and the air outlet duct is connected to the opening.

7. The washing equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, An air outlet detection device is installed at the opening.

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