Laundry fresh air treatment method of a laundry treating apparatus

By using an external circulation fresh air treatment method, and through the cooperation of a fan and a barrier mechanism, the rotation-to-stop ratio and fan speed are adjusted according to the weight of the clothes. This solves the problems of high moisture content in drum washing machines and high energy consumption in washer-dryer combos, achieving rapid drying and reduced energy consumption, thus improving the user experience.

CN116005395BActive Publication Date: 2026-05-19QINGDAO HAIER WASHING ELECTRIC APPLIANCES CO LTD +1
View PDF 2 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
QINGDAO HAIER WASHING ELECTRIC APPLIANCES CO LTD
Filing Date
2021-10-21
Publication Date
2026-05-19

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing drum washing machines leave clothes with high moisture content after washing, requiring air drying. Washer-dryer combos consume high energy and are prone to leaving residual odors due to internal circulation drying.

Method used

The system employs an external circulation fresh air treatment method, using a fan and a barrier mechanism to allow fresh air from outside to dry clothes. The inner drum rotates in coordination with the fan, adjusting the rotation-to-stop ratio and wind speed according to the weight of the clothes. It also blocks the inlet and outlet air ducts, using fresh air from outside to quickly remove moisture and odors.

Benefits of technology

It quickly removes moisture from clothes, reduces energy consumption, avoids odor residue, improves user experience, has a simple structure, reduces product design complexity, and enhances safety.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure CN116005395B_ABST
    Figure CN116005395B_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of clothes processing, and particularly provides a clothes fresh air processing method of clothes processing equipment, aiming to solve the problems that the existing drum washing machine still has high water content after washing clothes, and the user needs to dry the clothes, and the washing and drying integrated machine adopts internal circulation drying after washing clothes, which is not conducive to saving energy consumption and inevitably causes clothes to have residual odor. To this end, the clothes fresh air processing method of the present application comprises: obtaining the weight of clothes in the washing stage; after the washing is completed, determining whether the weight of the clothes is greater than or equal to a preset value; if yes, rotating the inner drum at a first set rotation-to-stop ratio and starting the fan; if no, rotating the inner drum at a second set rotation-to-stop ratio and starting the fan; wherein the first set rotation-to-stop ratio is greater than the second set rotation-to-stop ratio. The present application can use external air to dry the clothes after the washing is completed, which is conducive to quickly removing the water vapor and residual odor on the clothes, avoiding the abrasion of the clothes, and improving the user experience.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of clothing processing technology, and specifically provides a method for fresh air treatment of clothing using clothing processing equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Clothing processing equipment is equipment that can wash, rinse, dehydrate and / or dry clothes. Some clothing processing equipment also adds functions such as air washing, disinfection, sterilization and fragrance. Common clothing processing equipment includes washing machines, washer-dryer combos and double-dry washing equipment (such as twin-drum washing machines).

[0003] Taking drum washing machines as an example, existing drum washing machines consist of 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. This design mimics the principle of beating clothes with a stick. However, even after spinning, the clothes still retain a high moisture content, and users need to remove them to air dry. Washer-dryer combos add a drying system to the traditional drum washing machine, giving it a drying function. However, while the drying system can dry clothes after washing, it consumes too much energy, which is not energy-efficient. Furthermore, the drying systems in washer-dryer combos use an internal circulation method, which means that moisture still circulates between the drying duct and the outer drum. Prolonged drying inevitably leads to residual odors.

[0004] Therefore, the present invention provides a new method for fresh air treatment of clothing in a clothing processing device to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, namely, to solve the problem that existing drum washing machines still retain a high moisture content of clothes after washing, requiring users to air dry them, while washer-dryer combos use internal circulation drying after washing, which is not conducive to saving energy and inevitably leaves residual odors on the clothes.

[0006] This invention provides a method for fresh air treatment of clothing in a clothing processing device. The clothing processing device includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, a window gasket, a valve assembly, and a fan. The inner cylinder is rotatably disposed in the outer cylinder. The window gasket is connected to the outer cylinder. The valve assembly includes a blocking mechanism and a valve housing having an air inlet chamber and an air outlet chamber that are independently disposed therebetween. An air inlet duct is connected to the air inlet chamber to connect the outside to the outer cylinder or the window gasket. An air outlet duct is connected to the air outlet chamber to connect the outside to the outer cylinder. The fan is disposed on the air inlet duct and / or the air outlet duct. The blocking mechanism is configured to block the air inlet duct and the air outlet duct simultaneously.

[0007] The fresh air treatment method for clothing includes:

[0008] Obtain the weight of the clothes during the washing stage;

[0009] After the washing is completed, determine whether the weight of the clothes is greater than or equal to a preset value;

[0010] If the weight of the garment is greater than or equal to the preset value, the inner drum is rotated at a first set rotation-stop ratio and the fan is turned on to introduce fresh air into the outer drum.

[0011] If the weight of the garment is less than the preset value, the inner drum is rotated at a second preset rotation-stop ratio and the fan is turned on to introduce fresh air into the outer drum;

[0012] Wherein, the first set turn-to-stop ratio is greater than the second set turn-to-stop ratio.

[0013] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned fresh air treatment method for clothing, the step of "rotating the inner drum at a first set rotation-stop ratio and turning on the fan to introduce fresh air into the outer drum" specifically includes:

[0014] First, rotate the inner cylinder at a first set rotation-stop ratio, then turn on the fan to introduce fresh air into the outer cylinder.

[0015] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned fresh air treatment method for clothing, the step of "rotating the inner drum at a second set rotation-stop ratio and turning on the fan to introduce fresh air into the outer drum" specifically includes:

[0016] First, rotate the inner cylinder at a second set rotation-stop ratio, then turn on the fan to introduce fresh air into the outer cylinder.

[0017] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned fresh air treatment method for clothing, the rotation speed of the fan is determined based on the weight of the clothing during the washing stage.

[0018] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned fresh air treatment method for clothing, the fresh air treatment method for clothing further includes:

[0019] Determine whether the fresh air system has run for the set time;

[0020] If the fresh air program runs for the set time, then exit the fresh air program.

[0021] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned fresh air treatment method for clothing, the barrier mechanism includes a drive motor, a first barrier and a second barrier. The output shaft of the drive motor is connected to both the first barrier and the second barrier. The first barrier is disposed in the air inlet cavity, and the second barrier is disposed in the air outlet cavity. The drive motor can drive the first barrier and the second barrier to move simultaneously to block the air inlet cavity and the air outlet cavity.

[0022] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned fresh air treatment method for clothing, 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.

[0023] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned fresh air treatment method for clothing, the drive shaft passes through the air outlet cavity and the air inlet cavity sequentially from one side of the valve housing, and the drive shaft is rotatably mounted on the partition plate that separates the air inlet cavity and the air outlet cavity.

[0024] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned fresh air treatment method for clothing, the air inlet and air outlet of the air inlet chamber are located on opposite sides of the valve housing, the air inlet and air outlet of the air outlet chamber are located on opposite sides of the valve housing, the air inlet and air outlet of the air inlet chamber are located on the same side of the valve housing, and the air outlet and air inlet of the air inlet chamber are located on the same side of the valve housing.

[0025] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned fresh air treatment method for clothing, the front panel of the clothing treatment equipment is provided with an opening that communicates with the outside, the air outlet duct is connected to the opening, and an air outlet detection device is provided at the opening.

[0026] By employing the above technical solution, this invention enables the drying of clothes using outside air after washing, i.e., external circulation drying. This facilitates the rapid removal of moisture and residual odors from clothes. Furthermore, the energy consumption of the clothing processing equipment is significantly lower than that of internal circulation drying and heating methods for removing moisture. Simultaneously, it allows for the drying of the inner wall of the outer drum, preventing residual water and bacterial growth. The drum's rotation / stop ratio is selected based on the weight of the clothes during the washing stage, ensuring targeted fresh air drying care for clothes of different weights, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption, preventing clothing wear, and improving the user experience.

[0027] Furthermore, rotating the inner drum before turning on the fan to introduce fresh air helps to shake out damp clothes, allowing them to spread out and expand fully, so that the fresh air can quickly dry the clothes, improving the drying efficiency of the fresh air and further enhancing the user experience.

[0028] Furthermore, determining the fan speed based on the weight of the clothes during the washing stage allows for more targeted drying of the clothes, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption. This achieves a balance between reducing energy consumption and improving drying efficiency, further enhancing the user experience.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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 garment processing equipment. Moreover, the structure is simple and easy to manufacture.

[0031] 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 clothing processing equipment.

[0032] Furthermore, the fact that the air inlet and outlet of the air inlet chamber are located on opposite sides of the valve housing facilitates the arrangement of the fan and air inlet pipes, avoids excessive concentration of different components, reduces the complexity of product design, and is beneficial to the overall structural layout. Similarly, the fact that the air inlet and outlet of the air outlet chamber are located on opposite sides of the valve housing facilitates the arrangement of the air outlet pipes, reduces the complexity of product design, and is beneficial to the overall structural layout. The drive motor drives the transmission shaft to rotate, enabling the first baffle plate to cover the air outlet of the air inlet chamber, thereby isolating the air inlet chamber from the outer drum. At the same time, the second baffle plate can cover the air inlet of the air outlet chamber, thereby isolating the air outlet chamber from the outer drum. Since the air inlet and outlet of the air outlet chamber are covered respectively, even if foam and / or steam are generated during the washing process of the clothing processing equipment, they will not enter the air inlet and outlet chambers, i.e., they will not enter the valve housing. This not only protects the valve assembly from foam and moisture, but also protects the fan from foam and moisture, further improving the user experience.

[0033] 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 garment processing equipment is normal. This allows users to know the air outlet status, facilitates the control of the garment processing equipment, and further enhances the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0034] The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with a drum washing machine, in which:

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the drum washing machine of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the fan and valve assembly of the drum washing machine of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0037] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the fan and valve assembly of the drum washing machine of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0038] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of the fresh air treatment method for clothes in the drum washing machine of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0039] 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.

[0040] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," and "outer," which indicate directional or positional relationships, are based on the directional or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These are used 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.

[0041] 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.

[0042] like 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, the drum washing machine also includes a valve assembly and a fan 5. The valve assembly includes a blocking mechanism and a valve housing 6 having an air inlet chamber 61 and an air outlet chamber 62 that are independently arranged. The air inlet chamber 61 is connected to an air inlet pipe 7 that connects the outside to the outer drum 3 or the window gasket 4. The air outlet chamber 62 is connected to an air outlet pipe 8 that connects the outside to the outer drum 3. The fan 5 is arranged on the air inlet pipe 7 and / or the air outlet pipe 8. The blocking mechanism is configured to block the air inlet pipe 7 and the air outlet pipe 8 at the same time. The fan 5 can be arranged on the air inlet pipe 7 alone, or on the air outlet pipe 8 alone, or there can be multiple fans 5, with some fans 5 arranged on the air inlet pipe 7 and others arranged on the air outlet pipe 8.

[0045] like Figure 4 As shown, the fresh air treatment method for clothes in the drum washing machine of the present invention includes:

[0046] S1: Obtain the weight of the clothes during the washing stage.

[0047] During the washing process, the weight of the clothes can be calculated by the current of the motor that drives the inner drum to rotate, or the weight of the clothes can be detected by a weight sensor.

[0048] S2: After the washing is completed, determine whether the weight of the clothes is greater than or equal to the preset value.

[0049] Preferably, the preset value can be determined based on the weight of the clothes detected before water is added. For example, the preset value can be set to 1.1 times the weight of the clothes detected before water is added. For example, if the initial weight of the clothes is 5kg, the preset value is 5.5kg. Of course, the preset value can also be set to other multiples of the weight of the clothes detected before water is added. In addition, a preset value can be set directly based on the capacity of the washing machine according to experiments or experience. For example, for a 10kg capacity drum washing machine, the preset value is 6kg. Those skilled in the art can flexibly set the specific setting method of the preset value in practical applications.

[0050] S31: If the weight of the clothing is greater than or equal to the preset value, the inner drum 2 will rotate at the first set rotation-stop ratio and the fan 5 will be turned on to introduce fresh air into the outer drum 3.

[0051] Preferably, the step of "rotating the inner drum 2 at a first set rotation-to-stop ratio and turning on the fan 5 to introduce fresh air into the outer drum 3" specifically includes: first rotating the inner drum 2 at the first set rotation-to-stop ratio, and then turning on the fan 5 to introduce fresh air into the outer drum 3. That is, the inner drum 2 rotates first to fully shake out the washed clothes, and then the fan 5 is turned on to achieve thorough drying of the clothes, thereby improving the drying efficiency of the fresh air. Alternatively, the rotation of the inner drum 2 at the first set rotation-to-stop ratio and the turning on of the fan 5 can be performed simultaneously.

[0052] S32: If the weight of the clothes is less than the preset value, the inner drum 2 will rotate at the second set rotation-stop ratio and the fan 5 will be turned on to introduce fresh air into the outer drum 3.

[0053] Preferably, the step of "rotating the inner drum 2 at a second set rotation-to-stop ratio and turning on the fan 5 to introduce fresh air into the outer drum 3" specifically includes: first rotating the inner drum 2 at the second set rotation-to-stop ratio, and then turning on the fan 5 to introduce fresh air into the outer drum 3. That is, the inner drum 2 rotates first to fully shake out the washed clothes, and then the fan 5 is turned on to achieve thorough drying of the clothes, improving the drying efficiency of the fresh air. Alternatively, the rotation of the inner drum 2 at a first set rotation-to-stop ratio and the turning on of the fan 5 can be performed simultaneously.

[0054] In this invention, the first set turn-to-stop ratio is greater than the second set turn-to-stop ratio. For example, the first set turn-to-stop ratio is 30s / 5s and the second set turn-to-stop ratio is 20s / 5s, or the first set turn-to-stop ratio is 40s / 5s and the second set turn-to-stop ratio is 25s / 5s. This avoids the energy consumption and wear and tear on the clothing when using a large turn-to-stop ratio when the clothing is too light. Of course, the specific values ​​of the first set turn-to-stop ratio and the second set turn-to-stop ratio mentioned above are only exemplary and do not constitute a limitation on this invention.

[0055] Preferably, the rotation speed of the fan 5 is also determined based on the weight of the clothes during the washing stage. For example, when the weight of the clothes is greater than or equal to a preset value, the fan 5 rotates at a first set speed after being turned on. When the weight of the clothes is less than the preset value, the fan 5 rotates at a second set speed after being turned on. The first set speed is greater than the second set speed. For example, the first set speed can be set to 80% of the rated speed of the fan 5, and the second set speed can be set to 60% of the rated speed of the fan 5 to avoid using a high speed to consume energy when the clothes are too light. Of course, the specific values ​​of the first set speed and the second set speed mentioned above are only exemplary and do not constitute a limitation on the present invention.

[0056] The fresh air treatment method for clothing of the present invention further includes:

[0057] Determine whether the fresh air system has run for the set time;

[0058] If the fresh air program runs for the set time, then exit the program.

[0059] In the above, the set time can be 20 minutes, 30 minutes, or other time values. The set time can also be determined according to the weight of the clothes in the washing stage, so that the operating parameters of the fresh air program are related to the weight of the clothes in the washing stage, making it more targeted.

[0060] Preferably, the housing 51 of the fan 5 is disposed together with the valve housing 6. The air inlet of the housing 51 is connected to the outside, the air outlet of the housing 51 is connected to the air inlet 61a of the air inlet chamber 61, and the air outlet 61b of the air inlet chamber 61 is connected to the window gasket through the air inlet pipe 7. The housing 51 of the fan 5 and the valve housing 6 can be disposed together as an integral part (e.g., welded or cast in one piece), or they can be fixed together by screws or clips. Those skilled in the art can make flexible arrangements accordingly. In this invention, the housing 51 of the fan 5 contains a fan, which is preferably a centrifugal fan. The air inlet and air outlet of the housing 51 are preferably located on adjacent sides of the housing 51.

[0061] In a preferred embodiment, such as Figure 2 and 3 As shown, the valve housing 6 has two support arms on one side. The housing 51 of the fan 5 is mounted on these two support arms, and each support arm is provided with a threaded hole. The housing 51 of the fan 5 is provided with mounting ears corresponding to the support arms. The mounting ears form threaded holes or through holes corresponding to the threaded holes on each support arm. The housing 51 of the fan 5 is connected to the support arms by screws. When the fan 5 is a centrifugal fan 5, the air inlet of the housing 51 of the fan 5 is preferably located on the side of the housing 51 away from the support arms to avoid the support arms affecting the air intake of the fan 5.

[0062] In the above, such as Figure 2 and 3 As shown, the air inlet 61a and air outlet 61b of the air inlet cavity 61 and the air inlet 62a and air outlet 62b of the air outlet cavity 62 are all formed on the valve housing 6. Those skilled in the art can flexibly set the positions of the air inlet 61a and air outlet 61b of the air inlet cavity 61 and the air inlet 62a and air outlet 62b of the air outlet cavity 62 on the valve housing 6 in practical applications. In a preferred embodiment, the air outlet 61b of the air inlet cavity 61 and the air inlet 62a of the air outlet cavity 62 are located on the same side of the valve housing 6, the air inlet 61a and air outlet 61b of the air inlet cavity 61 are located on opposite sides of the valve housing 6, and the air inlet 62a and air outlet 62b of the air outlet cavity 62 are located on opposite sides of the valve housing 6. Taking the orientation shown in the figure as an example, the air inlet 61a of the air inlet chamber 61 and the air outlet 62b of the air outlet chamber 62 are located on the left side of the valve body 6, while the air outlet 61b of the air inlet chamber 61 and the air inlet 62a of the air outlet chamber 62 are located on the right side of the valve body 6.

[0063] Preferably, such as Figure 2 and 3As 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 in the air inlet cavity 61, and the second blocking member 93 is disposed in the air outlet cavity 62. The drive motor 91 can drive the first blocking member 92 and the second blocking member 93 to move simultaneously, so that the first blocking member 92 covers the air outlet 61b of the air inlet cavity 61 and the second blocking member 93 covers the air inlet 62a of the air outlet cavity 62. 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 drive motor 91 drives the transmission shaft to rotate so that the first baffle plate can cover the air outlet 61b of the air inlet cavity 61, thereby blocking the air inlet pipe 7. At the same time, the second baffle plate can cover the air inlet 62a of the air outlet cavity 62, thereby blocking the air outlet pipe 8. Since the air outlet 61b of the air inlet cavity 61 and the air inlet 62a of the air outlet cavity 62 are covered respectively, even if foam is generated during the washing process of the drum washing machine, it will not enter the air inlet cavity 61 and the air outlet cavity 62. Moreover, if the drum washing machine has a steam washing function, the steam generated by the drum washing machine can also be prevented from entering the air inlet cavity 61 and the air outlet cavity 62, thereby preventing the valve housing 6 from being contaminated by foam and steam. Furthermore, preferably, sealing gaskets are provided on both the side of the first barrier plate facing the air outlet 61b of the air inlet cavity 61 and the side of the second barrier plate facing the air inlet 62a of the air outlet cavity 62, so that a seal can be achieved when the first barrier plate covers the air outlet 61b of the air inlet cavity 61, and also when the second barrier plate covers the air inlet 62a of the air outlet cavity 62. 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 61b of the air inlet cavity 61, 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 62a of the air outlet cavity 62.

[0064] Preferably, such as Figure 2As shown, a drive shaft passes sequentially through the air outlet chamber 62 and the air inlet chamber 61 from one side of the valve housing 6. The drive shaft is rotatably mounted on a partition plate that separates the air inlet chamber 61 and the air outlet chamber 62. In one possible configuration, a first through hole is formed on the side of the valve housing 6 that forms the air outlet chamber 62, 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 62) 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 61) 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 6 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 6, 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 61 and the air outlet chamber 62 sequentially from one side of the valve housing 6.

[0065] Alternatively, the drive motor 91 is a linear motor, the first barrier 92 is a first barrier plate, the second barrier 93 is a second barrier plate, and the valve housing 6 has a first slot communicating with the air inlet cavity 61 and a second slot communicating with the air outlet cavity 62 respectively formed on the same side. The first barrier plate is inserted into the first slot (the first slot is preferably located near the air outlet 61b of the air inlet cavity 61), and the second barrier plate is inserted into the second slot (the second slot is preferably located near the air inlet 62a of the air outlet cavity 62). With a plug-in connection, the linear motor can drive the first and second barrier plates to move synchronously in a linear fashion. When it is necessary to close the air outlet 61b of the air inlet cavity 61 and the air inlet 62a of the air outlet cavity 62, the linear motor drives the first barrier plate to insert into the air inlet cavity 61 from the first slot, thereby covering the air outlet 61b of the air inlet cavity 61. At the same time, it drives the second barrier plate to insert into the air outlet cavity 62 from the second slot, thereby covering the air inlet 62a of the air outlet cavity 62. In the above, the linear motor can also be replaced by a hydraulic cylinder, pneumatic cylinder, or other structures.

[0066] Preferably, the air inlet duct 7 is connected to the top of the window gasket 4, and the air outlet duct 8 is connected to the top of the outer drum 3, thereby preventing water from entering the ducts during washing. In one possible scenario, see [link to previous section]. Figure 1The air outlet duct 8 includes a first air outlet duct and a second air outlet duct. The first air outlet duct connects the drum assembly to the air inlet 62a of the air outlet chamber 62, and the second air outlet duct connects the air outlet 62b of the air outlet chamber 62 to the outside. After the drum washing machine finishes its washing cycle, the controller of the drum washing machine can send a signal to the fan 5 to start the fan 5. The fan 5 rotates, causing air to enter the drum assembly sequentially through the air inlet chamber 61 and the air inlet duct 7, thereby drying the drum assembly. Then, the humid air is discharged sequentially through the first air outlet duct, the air outlet chamber 62, and the second air outlet duct, thus expelling the humid air to the outside. Preferably, the front panel of the housing 1 is provided with an opening communicating with the outside, and the second air outlet duct is connected to the opening. An air filter can be installed at the air inlet of the casing 51 of the fan 5. This air filter can prevent dust from entering the fan 5, the outer cylinder 3, and the window gasket 4. The air filter can employ a multi-layer equivalent filter structure, or a combination of coarse, medium, and high-efficiency filters, or other filtration structures. Those skilled in the art can flexibly configure it in practical applications. In practical applications, a connecting pipe can also be installed to communicate with the air inlet of the casing 51 of the fan 5. The inlet of this connecting pipe is located on the rear panel of the housing 1, thus achieving rear-side air intake and front-side air exhaust for the housing 1.

[0067] More preferably, 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 normally executing the ventilation program. More preferably, an air outlet humidity sensor is also provided at the opening. This sensor detects the air outlet humidity in the air outlet duct 8. An ambient humidity sensor, communicating with the drum washing machine's controller (e.g., via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth), is then installed indoors. 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 two humidity levels is less than a preset humidity value (which can be 5% of the relative humidity), it indicates that the air outlet humidity is approximately equal to or close to the ambient humidity, allowing the drum washing machine to stop executing the ventilation program.

[0068] 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 be replaced with a window gasket humidity sensor installed on the window gasket 4. The window gasket humidity sensor's detection end is located inside the window gasket 4 to detect the humidity inside. The humidity sensor inside the drum and the humidity sensor in the window gasket 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.

[0069] In this invention, a foam sensor can also be installed inside the valve housing 6 (either one foam sensor can be installed in the air inlet cavity 61 and the air outlet cavity 62, or the detection part of the foam sensor can be located in the air inlet cavity 61 and the other part in the air outlet cavity 62). When the drum washing machine executes the washing or rinsing program, the first blocking member 92 covers the air outlet 61b of the air inlet cavity 61, and the second blocking member 93 covers the air inlet 62a of the air outlet cavity 62. If the foam sensor detects foam inside the valve housing 6, it indicates that the blocking mechanism has failed to block the foam. At this time, the drum washing machine can issue an alarm prompt, prompting the user to repair the valve assembly or contact a repairman to repair or replace the valve assembly.

[0070] 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 method for fresh air treatment of clothing in a clothing processing device, characterized in that, The garment processing equipment includes an outer drum, an inner drum, a window gasket, a valve assembly, and a fan. The inner drum is rotatably disposed within the outer drum. The window gasket is connected to the outer drum. The valve assembly includes a blocking mechanism and a valve housing having independently disposed air inlet and air outlet chambers. An air inlet duct is connected to the air inlet chamber, connecting the outside to the outer drum or the window gasket. An air outlet duct is connected to the air outlet chamber, connecting the outside to the outer drum. The fan is disposed on the air inlet duct and / or 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 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 inlet and air outlet of the air inlet chamber are located on opposite sides of the valve housing, the air inlet and air outlet of the air outlet chamber are located on opposite sides of the valve housing, the air inlet and air outlet of the air inlet chamber are located on the same side of the valve housing, and the air outlet and air outlet of the air inlet chamber are located on the same side of the valve housing. The fresh air treatment method for clothing includes: Obtain the weight of the clothes during the washing stage; After the washing is completed, determine whether the weight of the clothes is greater than or equal to a preset value; If the weight of the garment is greater than or equal to the preset value, the inner drum is rotated at a first set rotation-stop ratio and the fan is turned on to introduce fresh air into the outer drum. If the weight of the garment is less than the preset value, the inner drum is rotated at a second preset rotation-stop ratio and the fan is turned on to introduce fresh air into the outer drum; Wherein, the first set turn-to-stop ratio is greater than the second set turn-to-stop ratio.

2. The method for fresh air treatment of clothing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of "rotating the inner cylinder at a first set rotation-stop ratio and turning on the fan to introduce fresh air into the outer cylinder" specifically includes: First, rotate the inner cylinder at a first set rotation-stop ratio, then turn on the fan to introduce fresh air into the outer cylinder.

3. The method for fresh air treatment of clothing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of "rotating the inner cylinder at a second set rotation-stop ratio and turning on the fan to introduce fresh air into the outer cylinder" specifically includes: First, rotate the inner cylinder at a second set rotation-stop ratio, then turn on the fan to introduce fresh air into the outer cylinder.

4. The method for fresh air treatment of clothing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fan speed is determined based on the weight of the clothes during the washing stage.

5. The method for fresh air treatment of clothing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fresh air treatment method for clothing also includes: Determine whether the fresh air system has run for the set time; If the fresh air program runs for the set time, then exit the fresh air program.

6. The method for fresh air treatment of clothing according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The output shaft of the drive motor is connected to both the first barrier and the second barrier. The first barrier is disposed in the air inlet cavity, and the second barrier is disposed in the air outlet cavity.

7. The method for fresh air treatment of clothing according to claim 6, 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.

8. The method for fresh air treatment of clothing according to claim 7, 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.

9. The method for fresh air treatment of clothing according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front panel of the garment processing equipment has an opening that connects to the outside, the air outlet duct is connected to the opening, and an air outlet detection device is installed at the opening.