Control method for a clothes drying appliance and clothes drying appliance

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of clothing handling equipment technology, specifically providing a control method for a clothes drying device and the clothes drying device itself. The invention aims to solve the problem of misjudgment in existing methods for prompting the cleaning of the lint collector in clothes drying equipment. The clothes drying device of this invention includes a fan and a lint collector. The control method includes: acquiring the operating power of the fan during the drying process of the clothes drying device; and selectively prompting the user to clean the lint collector based on the operating power. With this setting, compared to the prior art which determines whether to prompt for cleaning the lint filter based on the compressor temperature and condenser temperature of the clothes drying device, this invention selectively prompts based on the fan operating power. In cases where the clothes drying device pauses and then restarts, it will not be misjudged as requiring a prompt to clean the lint collector, thus eliminating misjudgment and improving the user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of clothing processing equipment technology, specifically providing a control method for a clothes drying device and a clothes drying device. Background Technology

[0002] Existing clothes drying equipment has lint collectors installed inside the air ducts. If lint is not cleaned regularly, the accumulated lint can obstruct airflow or even block the ducts, reducing drying efficiency, increasing energy consumption, and potentially damaging the equipment. Therefore, users should be advised to clean the lint collectors regularly to ensure unobstructed airflow within the clothes drying equipment.

[0003] Taking dryers as an example, current dryer prompts for cleaning the lint collector often rely on obtaining the compressor and condenser temperatures to selectively alert the user. However, when the dryer restarts after a brief pause during the drying cycle, the lint collector cleaning prompt is prone to false alarms. That is, after the user pauses and restarts the dryer, the system prompts for cleaning the lint collector, only to find that there is no lint clog or residue when the user removes it. This causes inconvenience. Therefore, the aforementioned lint collector cleaning prompt scheme is prone to misjudgment, resulting in a poor user experience.

[0004] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a new control method for clothes drying equipment and a clothes drying equipment to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, that is, to solve the problem that the prompting method of the existing clothes dryer's lint collector is prone to misjudgment.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a control method for a clothes drying device, the clothes drying device including a fan and a lint collector, the control method comprising: acquiring the operating power of the fan during the execution of a drying program by the clothes drying device; and selectively prompting the cleaning of the lint collector based on the operating power.

[0007] In the preferred embodiment of the above control method, the step of "selectively prompting to clean the lint collector according to the operating power" specifically includes: comparing the operating power with a set power; and selectively prompting to clean the lint collector according to the comparison result.

[0008] In the preferred embodiment of the above control method, the step of "selectively prompting to clean the lint collector based on the comparison result" specifically includes: if the operating power is less than the set power, then prompting to clean the lint collector.

[0009] In the preferred embodiment of the above control method, the step of "selectively prompting the lint collector to be cleaned according to the comparison result" further includes: if the operating power is not less than the set power, then no prompt is made to clean the lint collector.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the above control method, before executing the step "obtain the operating power of the fan", the control method further includes: obtaining the temperature of the condenser of the drying equipment, denoted as a first temperature; obtaining the temperature of the compressor of the drying equipment, denoted as a second temperature; determining whether a set condition has occurred; if the set condition has not occurred, selectively prompting the cleaning of the lint collector based on the first temperature and the second temperature, and not executing the step "obtain the operating power of the fan"; if the set condition has occurred, then executing the step "obtain the operating power of the fan"; wherein, the set condition is that the drying equipment pauses for a set time and then resumes operation during the drying process.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the above control method, the step of "selectively prompting the cleaning of the lint collector based on the first temperature and the second temperature" specifically includes: calculating the temperature difference between the first temperature and the second temperature; comparing the temperature difference with a first preset value; and prompting the cleaning of the lint collector if the temperature difference is less than the first preset value.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the above control method, the control method further includes: obtaining the number of times the drying equipment has executed the drying program since the lint collector was last cleaned; comparing the number of times with a preset number; and prompting to clean the lint collector if the number of times is greater than the preset number.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the above control method, the control method further includes: when the wire chip collector is detected to have left the installation position, recording the duration of the wire chip collector leaving the installation position; comparing the duration with a preset time; and if the duration is greater than the preset time, resetting the count to zero.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the above control method, the control method further includes: if the duration is not greater than the preset time, then the number of times remains unchanged.

[0015] In a second aspect, the present invention also provides a clothes drying device including a controller configured to perform the control method described above.

[0016] Those skilled in the art will understand that, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, during the drying process of the clothes dryer, the operating power of the fan is acquired, and then, based on the fan's operating power, a selective prompt to clean the lint collector is made. With this setting, compared to the prior art which determines whether to prompt for lint filter cleaning based on the compressor and condenser temperatures of the clothes dryer, the present invention uses selective prompts based on fan operating power. This prevents misjudgment when the clothes dryer pauses and then restarts, thus improving the user experience.

[0017] Furthermore, before executing the step "obtain the operating power of the fan", the control method also includes: obtaining the temperature of the condenser of the drying equipment, recorded as the first temperature; obtaining the temperature of the compressor of the drying equipment, recorded as the second temperature; determining whether a set condition has occurred; if the set condition has not occurred, selectively prompting the cleaning of the lint collector based on the first and second temperatures, and not executing the step "obtain the operating power of the fan"; if the set condition has occurred, then executing the step "obtain the operating power of the fan"; wherein, the set condition is that the drying equipment pauses for a set time and then resumes operation during the drying process. With this setting, if the drying equipment does not experience a set condition, the prompting to clean the lint collector is determined based on the condenser and compressor temperatures; if a set condition has occurred, the lint collector blockage status is further determined by obtaining the fan's operating power. This scheme compensates for the shortcomings of using condenser and compressor temperatures to prompt the cleaning of the lint collector, improving the flexibility and accuracy of the lint collector cleaning prompting method.

[0018] Furthermore, the control method also includes: obtaining the number of times the drying equipment has executed the drying program since the lint collector was last cleaned; comparing the number of times with a preset number; and prompting the user to clean the lint collector if the number of times exceeds the preset number. This setting, which prompts the user to clean the lint collector regularly and promptly, ensures unobstructed ventilation within the drying equipment's air ducts, reduces lint collector blockage, and improves the user experience.

[0019] Furthermore, the control method also includes: when the lint collector is detected to have left the installation position, recording the duration of the lint collector's absence from the installation position; comparing the duration with a preset time; and resetting the count to zero if the duration exceeds the preset time. With this setting, after the user removes the lint collector for cleaning, the system can automatically reset the drying execution count to zero, ensuring the accuracy of the lint collector cleaning prompts without requiring manual operation by the user, thus improving the user experience.

[0020] Furthermore, the control method also includes maintaining the number of cycles unchanged if the duration is no greater than a preset time. With this setting, when a user accidentally touches the lint collector, causing it to detach from its installation position, and the user promptly restores the lint collector to its original position, or when the user actively checks the status of the lint collector and immediately restores it to its installation position, the current drying cycle count is maintained, ensuring the accuracy of the lint collector cleaning prompts.

[0021] Furthermore, the clothes drying device provided by the present invention, based on the above technical solution, possesses the technical effects of the above control method due to the adoption of the above control method. Moreover, compared with existing clothes drying devices, the prompting method for cleaning the lint collector of the clothes drying device of the present invention is better, thus improving the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the control method for a clothes drying device according to the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of an embodiment of the control method for a clothes drying device according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely illustrative of 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 embodiments described below are in conjunction with a clothes dryer, the technical solutions of the present invention can also be applied to other drying equipment, such as washer-dryer combos. Such adjustments and changes to the application do not depart from the principles and scope of the present invention and should all be limited to the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] As pointed out in the background art, existing methods for prompting lint collector cleaning in dryers are prone to misjudgment. This invention provides a control method and dryer for a dryer, aiming to determine whether to prompt lint collector cleaning based on the operating power of the fan, thereby avoiding misjudgment.

[0027] Specifically, the dryer of the present invention includes a fan and a lint collector, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the control method for a clothes dryer of the present invention includes: acquiring the operating power of the fan during the execution of the drying program of the clothes dryer; and selectively prompting the cleaning of the lint collector based on the operating power of the fan.

[0028] During the drying process, the dryer can automatically obtain the operating power of the fan and then determine whether the lint collector is clogged based on the fan's operating power. Based on the determination result, it will decide whether to prompt the lint collector to be cleaned or not.

[0029] It should be noted that when lint is not clogging the lint collector, that is, when the air duct inside the dryer is unobstructed, the fan blades rotate to drive air circulation, and the fan's operating power will remain within a relatively stable range. When lint adheres to or clogs the lint collector, that is, when the air duct inside the dryer is not well ventilated, air flows slowly or cannot pass through the lint collector. The fan blades cannot expel the existing air in time, and the fan blades can only stir the air and spin idly. At this time, the fan's operating power will decrease. Therefore, by observing the change in the fan's operating power, the state of lint clogging can be accurately determined, thereby determining whether the user needs to be prompted to clean the lint collector.

[0030] Voltage and current sensors can be installed at the fan and connected to the dryer's controller to transmit the detected voltage and current values ​​to the controller in a timely manner. The controller can then calculate the fan's operating power based on these values ​​and selectively prompt the cleaning of the lint collector.

[0031] Furthermore, it should be noted that a preset range can be set, and the operating power of the fan can be compared with the preset range to determine whether a prompt to clean the lint collector is needed. Alternatively, a preset value can be set, and the operating power of the fan can be compared with the preset value to directly determine whether a prompt to clean the lint collector is needed. Such flexible adjustments and changes do not deviate from the principles and scope of this invention and should all be limited to the protection scope of this invention.

[0032] Preferably, such as Figure 2 As shown, the steps of "selectively prompting to clean the lint collector based on the operating power" specifically include: comparing the operating power with the set power; and selectively prompting to clean the lint collector based on the comparison result.

[0033] That is, for the operating power of the fan, a set power is set, the operating power of the fan is directly compared with the set power, and then the lint collector is selectively prompted to be cleaned based on the comparison result.

[0034] It should be noted that in practical applications, those skilled in the art can flexibly set the specific value of the power setting based on experiments, as long as the critical point determined by the power setting can be used to determine whether the wire chip collector is blocked.

[0035] Preferably, such as Figure 2 As shown, the step of "selectively prompting to clean the lint collector based on the comparison results" specifically includes: if the operating power is less than the set power, prompting to clean the lint collector; if the operating power is not less than the set power, not prompting to clean the lint collector.

[0036] It should be noted that the operating power of the wind turbine includes the following scenarios:

[0037] In the first scenario, when the lint collector is blocked by lint, the air duct inside the dryer is not well ventilated. Since air cannot flow through the lint collector, the fan cannot expel the air from the existing fan blades. The fan blades agitate the air and spin idly. At this time, the fan's operating power will be lower than the normal operating power, that is, the fan's operating power is less than the set power. The dryer prompts the user to clean the lint collector.

[0038] In the second scenario, when the lint collector is not blocked by lint, the air duct inside the dryer is unobstructed, and the fan blades rotate to drive air circulation. The fan's operating power will remain within a relatively stable and normal range. That is, the fan's operating power is greater than or equal to the set power, and the dryer does not need to prompt the user to clean the lint collector.

[0039] Preferably, before executing the step "obtaining the operating power of the fan", the control method of the present invention further includes: obtaining the temperature of the condenser of the dryer, denoted as a first temperature; obtaining the temperature of the compressor of the dryer, denoted as a second temperature; determining whether a set condition has occurred; if the set condition has not occurred, selectively prompting the cleaning of the lint collector based on the first temperature and the second temperature, and not executing the step "obtaining the operating power of the fan"; if the set condition has occurred, then executing the step "obtaining the operating power of the fan"; wherein, the set condition is that the dryer pauses for a set time and then resumes operation during the drying process.

[0040] In other words, when the dryer is running normally, the lint collector's clogging level is determined based on the condenser and compressor temperatures, and the dryer is selectively prompted to clean it. In this case, it is not necessary to obtain the fan's operating power. However, when the dryer encounters a set situation during operation, such as pausing for a set time and then restarting, the lint collector's clogging level is no longer determined based on the condenser and compressor temperatures. Instead, the step of obtaining the fan's operating power is required, and the lint collector's clogging level is then determined based on the fan's operating power, and the dryer is selectively prompted to clean it.

[0041] It should be noted that when the lint collector is not clogged with lint, the temperature difference between the compressor and the condenser remains within a constant range. However, when the lint collector is clogged with lint, the dryer's air duct becomes blocked. On the one hand, the heat generated by the compressor cannot be dissipated through the air duct, causing the compressor to accumulate heat and its temperature to rise. On the other hand, the condenser in the air duct continuously exchanges heat with the hot and humid air, causing its temperature to rise sharply as well. Ultimately, this leads to a smaller temperature difference between the compressor and the condenser. Therefore, the temperature difference between the condenser and the compressor can reflect the degree of lint blockage in the lint collector.

[0042] Through extensive experimentation and research, the inventors discovered that when a dryer pauses during operation, both the compressor and condenser temperatures drop. However, because the compressor is located outside the dryer, it dissipates heat quickly and cools down rapidly. In contrast, the condenser, located inside the dryer, cools down more slowly due to the presence of humid air. Therefore, after a period of pause, the temperature difference between the compressor and condenser decreases. If the dryer restarts at this point, it may mistakenly identify the lint collector as clogged, prompting the inventors to clean it.

[0043] Based on the above findings, when a dryer restarts after a temporary set time during the drying process, the system now uses the fan's operating power to determine whether a prompt to clean the lint collector is needed, thus avoiding misjudgments.

[0044] It should be noted that those skilled in the art can set the specific value of the time setting based on the experiment in practical applications.

[0045] Preferably, the step of "selectively prompting to clean the lint collector based on the first temperature and the second temperature" specifically includes: calculating the temperature difference between the first temperature and the second temperature; comparing the temperature difference with a first preset value; and prompting to clean the lint collector if the temperature difference is less than the first preset value.

[0046] For example, temperature sensors are installed on the compressor and condenser respectively to obtain the temperature of the condenser of the dryer, which is recorded as the first temperature, i.e., set as T1; the temperature of the compressor of the dryer is obtained and recorded as the second temperature, i.e. set as T2. The temperature difference between T1 and T2 is ΔT, where ΔT = T2 - T1. The first preset value is T0. When ΔT is less than T0, it indicates that the lint collector is clogged, and a prompt is made to clean the lint collector.

[0047] Preferably, the control method of the present invention further includes: obtaining the number of times the dryer has executed the drying program since the lint collector was last cleaned; comparing the number of times with a preset number; and prompting to clean the lint collector if the number of times is greater than the preset number.

[0048] For example, to prevent lint from completely clogging the air duct by adhering to the lint collector before prompting the user to clean it, the number of times the dryer performs the drying cycle is recorded. This allows for timely prompts to clean the lint collector before lint becomes completely attached, keeping the dryer's air ducts clear. For instance, assuming the lint completely clogs the lint collector after 10 cycles, to prevent this, the user can set a preset number of cycles to 7 or 8 to prompt them to clean the lint collector earlier, thus improving the user experience.

[0049] It should be noted that the above preset number of times is only an example. Users can also flexibly set the preset number of times according to actual needs. Without departing from the principle of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features. The technical solutions after these changes or substitutions will fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0050] Preferably, the control method of the present invention further includes: when the lint collector is detected to have left the installation position, recording the duration of the lint collector leaving the installation position; comparing the duration with a preset time; and if the duration is greater than the preset time, resetting the count to zero.

[0051] For example, to accurately record the duration for which the lint collector leaves its installation position, an electronic microswitch is installed at the lint collector's installation location on the dryer to detect whether the lint collector has detached from its position. For instance, when the user removes the lint collector for cleaning, the system detects this detachment via the microswitch and records the start time. When the user finishes cleaning the lint collector and repositions it, the system records the end time. By calculating the difference between the start and end times—the duration—if the duration exceeds a preset time, the dryer's cleaning cycle count is reset to zero. This ensures the accuracy of the lint collector cleaning prompts, eliminating the need for manual user intervention and improving the user experience.

[0052] It should be noted that the timing method is not limited to using a micro switch; a timer can also be used. That is, a timer is used to record the duration when the lint collector leaves the installation position. Without departing from the principle 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 these changes or substitutions will fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0053] Preferably, the control method of the present invention further includes: if the duration is not greater than a preset time, then the number of times remains unchanged.

[0054] In other words, when a user accidentally touches the lint collector and causes it to fall out of its installation position while actually using the dryer, and the user promptly restores the lint collector to its installation position, or when the user actively checks the status of the lint collector and immediately restores it to its installation position, in order not to affect the recording status of the current drying execution count, that is, if the duration for which the lint collector is out of its installation position does not exceed a preset time, the count will remain unchanged, thus ensuring the accuracy of the lint collector cleaning prompt.

[0055] It should be noted that those skilled in the art can set the specific value of the preset time based on experiments or experience in practical applications.

[0056] 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 control method for a clothes drying device, the clothes drying device comprising a fan and a lint collector, characterized in that, The control method includes: During the drying process of the clothes drying equipment, the operating power of the fan is obtained; Based on the operating power, selective prompts are made to clean the lint collector; Before performing the step "obtaining the operating power of the wind turbine", the control method further includes: The temperature of the condenser of the clothes drying equipment is obtained and recorded as the first temperature; The temperature of the compressor of the clothes drying equipment is obtained and recorded as the second temperature; Determine if the specified condition has occurred; If the set condition is not met, the system will selectively prompt the cleaning of the lint collector based on the first temperature and the second temperature, and will not execute the step "obtain the operating power of the fan"; If the aforementioned scenario occurs, then the step "obtain the operating power of the fan" will be executed; The specified scenario is that the clothes drying equipment pauses for a set time during the drying process and then resumes operation.

2. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of "selectively prompting for cleaning of the lint collector based on the operating power" specifically includes: Compare the operating power with the set power; Based on the comparison results, selective prompts are made to clean the lint collector.

3. The control method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of "selectively prompting for cleaning of the lint collector based on the comparison results" specifically includes: If the operating power is less than the set power, a prompt will appear to clean the lint collector.

4. The control method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The step of "selectively indicating that the lint collector needs to be cleaned based on the comparison results" further includes: If the operating power is not less than the set power, then there is no prompt to clean the lint collector.

5. The control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The step of "selectively prompting the cleaning of the lint collector based on the first temperature and the second temperature" specifically includes: Calculate the temperature difference between the first temperature and the second temperature; The temperature difference is compared with a first preset value; If the temperature difference is less than the first preset value, a prompt will be made to clean the lint collector.

6. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control method further includes: The number of times the drying equipment has performed the drying process since the lint collector was last cleaned; Compare the number of times with the preset number of times; If the number of times exceeds the preset number, a prompt will be made to clean the lint collector.

7. The control method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The control method further includes: When the lint collector is detected to have left the installation position, the duration of the lint collector's absence from the installation position is recorded; Compare the duration with a preset time; If the duration is greater than the preset time, then the count is reset to zero.

8. The control method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The control method further includes: If the duration is not greater than the preset time, then the number of times remains unchanged.

9. A clothes drying device, comprising a controller, characterized in that, The controller is configured to perform the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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