Control method of an additive dosing device and additive dosing device

Abstract

The application belongs to the technical field of washing equipment, and discloses a control method of an additive feeding device and the additive feeding device. The additive feeding device acquires a matching relationship between water inlet duration / water inlet quantity and additive feeding quantity. The additive feeding device performs feeding operations multiple times according to water inlet duration / water inlet quantity during the water inlet process of the washing equipment. The additive feeding quantity in one feeding operation is determined according to the matching relationship. In the application, the additive feeding device can perform feeding operations multiple times according to water inlet duration / water inlet quantity, thereby completing the additive feeding process. Since the additive feeding quantity in each feeding operation is matched with the current water inlet duration / water inlet quantity, the additive feeding device does not need to know the total water inlet quantity required by the washing equipment in advance, and can also realize accurate matching between the actual additive feeding quantity and the actual total water inlet quantity of the washing equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of washing equipment technology, specifically, it relates to a control method and an additive dispensing device. Background Technology

[0002] When washing clothes using laundry equipment, detergent, fabric softener, and other garment treatment agents need to be added to achieve better washing results. These agents can be added manually by the user or automatically by an automatic dispensing device. When adding garment treatment agents manually, it's impossible to precisely control the amount dispensed; adding too little will affect the washing effect, while adding too much will waste the agent. Most automatic dispensing devices are currently integrated inside the laundry equipment. Due to the limitations of the overall size of the washing machine, the size of the automatic dispensing device is limited, and the maximum capacity of the additive is relatively small, requiring frequent refills by the user, which is inconvenient.

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, existing technologies have proposed a dispensing device independent of the washing equipment. Because this dispensing device is independently configured, its additive storage capacity is no longer limited by the overall size of the washing equipment. However, the amount of additive used during laundry is closely related to the water consumption. Existing automatic dispensing devices, to achieve precise control of the additive dosage, require pre-obtaining the water intake volume for the current cycle to calculate the corresponding amount of laundry detergent to be dispensed during the water intake process. However, the aforementioned independently configured dispensing device has a separate control system from the washing equipment. The dispensing device cannot directly obtain the operating status of the washing equipment and therefore cannot pre-obtain the water intake volume.

[0004] Therefore, for dispensing devices that are independent of the washing equipment, how to achieve precise control over the amount of additives dispensed, and thus ensure the washing effect, has become an urgent problem to be solved.

[0005] In view of this, the present invention is hereby proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a control method and additive dispensing device for an additive dispensing device. The additive dispensing device can perform dispensing operations multiple times during the water intake process according to the water intake duration / volume. By matching the amount of additive dispensed in each dispensing operation with the water intake duration / volume, the additive dispensing device can achieve accurate control of the dispensing amount without pre-obtaining the total amount of water intake.

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the basic concept of the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0008] A method for controlling an additive dispensing device includes:

[0009] The additive dosing device obtains the matching relationship between the water inlet duration / volume and the amount of additive added;

[0010] The additive dispensing device performs multiple dispensing operations during the water intake process of the washing equipment based on the water intake duration / volume. The amount of additive dispensed in each dispensing operation is determined according to the matching relationship.

[0011] Furthermore, during the water intake process of the washing equipment, for every additional preset time interval T0 in the water intake time, the additive dispensing device performs a dispensing operation of a dispensing amount S.

[0012] The preset time interval T0 and the dosage S satisfy the matching relationship between the water inflow duration and the dosage.

[0013] Furthermore, the additive dispensing device acquires relevant information about the washing equipment and / or the laundry, and determines the value of the preset time interval T0 and / or the dispensing amount S based on the relevant information about the washing equipment and / or the laundry.

[0014] Preferably, the additive dispensing device pre-stores the correspondence between relevant information of the washing equipment and / or the laundry and the preset time interval T0 and / or the dispensing amount S, and determines the preset time interval T0 and / or the dispensing amount S based on the correspondence.

[0015] Furthermore, during the water intake process of the washing equipment, for every increase of the preset water intake volume X0, the additive dispensing device performs a dispensing operation of a dispensing volume S.

[0016] The values ​​of the preset influent volume X0 and the dosage S satisfy the matching relationship between the influent volume and the dosage.

[0017] Furthermore, the additive dispensing device acquires relevant information about the washing equipment and / or the laundry, and determines the values ​​of the preset water inlet volume X0 and / or the dispensing volume S based on the relevant information about the washing equipment and / or the laundry.

[0018] Preferably, the additive dispensing device pre-stores the correspondence between relevant information of the washing equipment and / or the laundry and the preset values ​​of water inlet volume X0 and / or dispensing volume S, and determines the values ​​of preset water inlet volume X0 and / or dispensing volume S based on the correspondence.

[0019] Furthermore, the additive dispensing device receives the user's settings information and determines relevant information about the washing equipment and / or the clothes being washed based on the settings information.

[0020] Furthermore, the additive dispensing device identifies images of the washing equipment and obtains relevant information about the washing equipment;

[0021] Preferably, the additive dispensing device captures images of the washing equipment.

[0022] Furthermore, the additive dispensing device is communicatively connected to the washing equipment and receives relevant information from the washing equipment.

[0023] Preferably, the additive dispensing device is connected to the washing equipment via infrared or Bluetooth, sends a pairing request to the washing equipment, and obtains relevant information about the washing equipment.

[0024] Furthermore, the additive dispensing device scans the clothing tag on the laundry to identify the relevant information contained therein; or, the additive dispensing device scans the laundry to obtain the relevant information of the laundry.

[0025] Preferably, the additive dispensing device scans the laundry to obtain an image of the clothing, and identifies the clothing image to obtain relevant information about the laundry.

[0026] Another object of the present invention is to provide an additive dispensing device, comprising:

[0027] The dosage determination module is used to obtain the matching relationship between the water inlet duration / volume and the dosage of the additive;

[0028] A timing module is used to time the duration of water intake; or, a water flow detection module is used to detect the amount of water intake.

[0029] The dispensing execution module is used to determine the matching relationship obtained by the module based on the water inlet duration / water inlet volume and dispensing amount, and to perform dispensing operations multiple times during the water inlet process of the washing equipment.

[0030] Furthermore, for every additional preset time interval T0 in the water inflow duration obtained by the timing module, the dispensing execution module performs a dispensing operation of a dispensing amount S.

[0031] The preset time interval T0 and the amount of water added S satisfy the matching relationship between the water inflow duration and the amount of water added obtained by the amount of water added determination module.

[0032] Preferably, the dosage determination module is used to determine the value of the preset time interval T0 and / or the dosage S based on relevant information of the washing equipment and / or the laundry.

[0033] Furthermore, for every increase of a preset inflow volume X0 detected by the water flow detection module, the dispensing execution module performs a dispensing operation of a dispensing volume S.

[0034] Wherein, the values ​​of the preset water inflow X0 and the dosage S satisfy the matching relationship between the water inflow and the dosage obtained by the dosage determination module;

[0035] Preferably, the dosage determination module is used to determine the values ​​of the preset water intake volume X0 and / or the dosage volume S based on relevant information of the washing equipment and / or the laundry.

[0036] Furthermore, it also includes an interaction module for receiving user settings information and determining the washing program and / or clothing information of the clothes to be washed based on the settings information.

[0037] Furthermore, it also includes an image recognition module for recognizing images of the washing equipment and obtaining relevant information about the washing equipment from them;

[0038] Preferably, the additive dispensing device further includes a camera module for capturing images of the washing equipment.

[0039] Furthermore, it also includes a communication module for receiving relevant information about the washing equipment sent by the washing equipment;

[0040] Preferably, the communication module includes an infrared communicator or a Bluetooth communicator, used to send a pairing request to the washing equipment and obtain relevant information about the washing equipment.

[0041] Furthermore, it also includes a clothing scanning module, used to scan the clothing tag carried by the laundry to obtain the relevant information of the laundry contained therein, or to scan the laundry to obtain a clothing image of the laundry, and to obtain the relevant information of the laundry by recognizing the clothing image.

[0042] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art.

[0043] In this invention, the additive dispensing device performs additive dispensing operations multiple times during the water intake process of the washing equipment, based on the water intake duration / volume. The amount of additive dispensed in each dispensing operation is matched with the water intake duration / volume since the previous dispensing operation. In this way, the additive dispensing device can achieve relatively accurate control of the amount of additive dispensed even without obtaining the total water intake of the washing equipment in advance, thereby improving the washing effect.

[0044] In this invention, an additive dosage S is performed every fixed preset time interval T0 or preset water inflow X0, so that the dosage of the additive is always kept in a certain ratio with the current total water inflow. The additive dosing device does not need to know the total water inflow in advance, and can also achieve precise control of the additive dosage.

[0045] In this invention, the additive dispensing device can obtain relevant information about the washing equipment and the laundry by manually setting the device, taking pictures of the washing equipment, pairing with the washing equipment via infrared or Bluetooth, or scanning the clothing label on the laundry or directly scanning the laundry. This allows the device to match the appropriate amount of additive to be dispensed. The operation is simple and convenient, and the amount of additive dispensed is adapted to the actual washing situation, further improving the washing effect.

[0046] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0047] The accompanying drawings, as part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of the invention are used to explain the invention, but do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative effort. In the drawings:

[0048] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the control method for the additive dispensing device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of the control method for the additive dispensing device in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the control method for the additive dispensing device in Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0051] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of the control method for the additive dispensing device in Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[0052] It should be noted that these accompanying drawings and textual descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0053] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are used to illustrate the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0054] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the term "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, it can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0055] Example 1

[0056] This embodiment provides an additive dispensing device and its control method. The additive dispensing device is used in washing equipment such as washing machines and can realize the automatic dispensing of additives. The additives include, but are not limited to, detergents, fabric softeners, disinfectants, etc.

[0057] In this embodiment, the additive dispensing device is externally mounted on the washing equipment and includes a water inlet pipe, a dispensing pipe, and a storage chamber for holding the additive. The water inlet end of the water inlet pipe is used to connect to an external water source, and the water outlet end is used to connect to the washing equipment. The two ends of the dispensing pipe are respectively connected to the storage chamber and the water inlet pipe.

[0058] In use, connect the inlet of the additive dispensing device to an external water source, and the outlet to the inlet of the washing equipment. When the washing equipment is filled with water, the inlet valve of the washing equipment is opened, and the external water source enters the washing equipment through the inlet pipe of the additive dispensing device and then through the inlet valve of the washing equipment. The additive in the storage chamber is dispensed into the inlet pipe through the dispensing pipe, so that the additive enters the washing equipment along with the water in the inlet pipe.

[0059] In this embodiment, the additive dispensing device specifically includes:

[0060] The dosage determination module is used to obtain the matching relationship between the water inlet duration / volume and the dosage of the additive;

[0061] The timing module is used to time the water intake duration of the washing equipment;

[0062] The dispensing execution module is used to perform dispensing operations multiple times during the water intake process of the washing equipment, based on the water intake duration obtained by the timing module and the matching relationship determined by the analysis module.

[0063] Specifically, the control method for additive dispensing by the additive dispensing device includes:

[0064] The additive dosing device dosage determination module obtains the matching relationship between the water inlet duration and the additive dosage.

[0065] The timing module of the additive dispensing device times the water intake time of the washing equipment. The dispensing execution module performs dispensing operations multiple times during the water intake process of the washing equipment based on the water intake time. The amount of additive dispensed in each dispensing operation is determined according to the matching relationship.

[0066] In detail, the dispensing execution module can be a liquid pump installed on the dispensing pipeline. When a dispensing operation is required, the liquid pump will draw out the additive from the storage chamber and dispense it into the water inlet pipeline. The additive will then enter the washing equipment with the water inlet flow.

[0067] Furthermore, the additive dispensing device includes a water flow sensor installed on the water inlet pipe to detect whether water is flowing through it. Based on the detection result, the timing module is controlled to start / stop timing the water inlet duration. When the water flow sensor detects water flowing through, it starts timing the water inlet duration; when the water flow sensor detects that the water flow has stopped, it determines that the water inlet process has stopped, and the additive dispensing process of the device ends.

[0068] In the above solution, the additive dispensing device performs the dispensing operation multiple times during the water intake process of the washing equipment, instead of adding all the additive into the washing equipment at once. This allows the additive to be evenly distributed in the water during the water intake process, making it easier for it to disperse evenly and dissolve fully in the water during the subsequent washing process, thus achieving a better washing effect.

[0069] On the other hand, the additive dispensing device performs dispensing operations in multiple stages based on the water inlet duration. The amount dispensed in each operation is matched with the current water inlet duration. This allows for relatively accurate control of the additive dosage without needing to know the total water inlet of the washing equipment in advance, thereby improving washing performance. The additive dispensing device only uses a water flow sensor to obtain information about the water inlet of the washing equipment, eliminating the need for direct communication between the additive dispensing device and the washing equipment, which helps reduce the production cost of the additive dispensing device.

[0070] In this embodiment, the water flow sensor can be a water flow detection switch, which feeds back one signal when water flows through and another signal when no water flows through. The additive dispensing device controls the timing module to time the duration of water intake based on the type of signal received.

[0071] In a further embodiment, during the water intake process of the washing equipment, the additive dispensing device performs a dispensing operation of a dosage S once for every preset time interval T0 increase in the water intake duration. The preset time interval T0 and the dosage S satisfy a matching relationship between the water intake duration and the dosage.

[0072] Specifically, for every additional preset time interval T0 in the water inflow duration obtained by the timing module, the dispensing execution module performs a dispensing operation of a dispensing amount S.

[0073] In the above scheme, the additive dispensing device dispenses an amount of additive S into the washing equipment every preset time interval T0 of the water inlet time, so that the amount of additive dispensed is always kept in a certain ratio with the water inlet time. Even if the additive dispensing device does not know the total amount of water entering the washing equipment in advance, it can achieve precise control of the amount of additive dispensed.

[0074] In a further embodiment, the additive dispensing device acquires relevant information about the washing equipment and / or the clothes being washed, and the dosage determination module of the additive dispensing device determines the value of the preset time interval T0 and / or the dosage S based on the relevant information about the washing equipment and / or the clothes being washed.

[0075] The information related to the washing equipment includes, but is not limited to, the model of the washing equipment or the washing program being run. The information related to the clothes being washed includes, but is not limited to, the color, material, soiling, and total amount of clothes.

[0076] The additive dispensing device can adjust the preset time interval T0 and the corresponding dispensing amount S according to the actual conditions of the washing equipment and the clothes being washed, so that the concentration of additive in the water is the optimal concentration required by the clothes under the current washing conditions, which is conducive to achieving better washing results.

[0077] Furthermore, the additive dispensing device also includes a storage module for storing the correspondence between relevant information of the washing equipment and / or the laundry and the preset time interval T0 and / or the dispensing amount S.

[0078] The storage module stores the correspondence between the relevant information of the washing equipment and / or the laundry and the preset time interval T0 and / or the dosage S. The dosage determination module of the additive dispensing device retrieves the correspondence from the storage module and determines the preset time interval T0 and / or the dosage S based on the correspondence.

[0079] In one embodiment, the preset time interval T0 set during the delivery process is the same for different washing devices and laundry-related information. At this time, the storage module pre-stores the correspondence between the washing device and laundry-related information and the delivery quantity S. The delivery quantity determination module reads the corresponding delivery quantity S value from the pre-stored correspondence in the storage module based on the washing device and laundry-related information.

[0080] Alternatively, the storage module can also pre-store the ratio coefficient α between the water inlet time and the amount of water added, corresponding to different washing equipment and the relevant information of the clothes being washed. The amount of water added module reads the corresponding ratio coefficient α from the storage module according to the relevant information of the washing equipment and the clothes being washed, and calculates the amount of water added for each operation according to the amount of water added S = αT0.

[0081] In another embodiment, the preset time interval T0 set during the delivery process has different values ​​depending on the washing equipment and the laundry being washed. In this case, the storage module pre-stores the correspondence between the relevant information of the washing equipment and the laundry, the preset time interval T0, and the delivery amount S. The delivery amount determination module reads the corresponding preset time interval T0 and delivery amount S from the pre-stored correspondence based on the relevant information of the washing equipment and the laundry.

[0082] For example, when the total amount of laundry is large, the preset time interval T0 is relatively small. With a fixed total water intake time (equivalent to the total amount of water), the number of addition operations is increased, and the amount of additive S added each time is smaller, which is more conducive to the additive being fully and evenly contacted with the laundry.

[0083] In the specific scheme of this embodiment, the additive dispensing device receives the user's setting information, determines the relevant information of the washing equipment and the laundry, and then determines the value of the preset time interval T0 and the value of the dispensing amount S based on the relevant information of the washing equipment and the laundry.

[0084] Specifically, the additive dispensing device also includes an interaction module for receiving user settings and determining relevant information about the washing equipment and / or the laundry based on those settings. For example, the interaction module is an operation panel located on the additive dispensing device. After setting the washing program to run on the washing equipment, the user can make further settings through the operation panel, thereby selecting the same washing program on the additive dispensing device and choosing relevant information about the laundry.

[0085] In detail, in this embodiment, the additive dispensing device matches the preset time interval T0 and the dispensing amount S according to the washing program, the material information of the washed clothes, and the degree of soiling. The washing program includes at least three types: standard, quick wash, and soak. If the user does not manually set the washing program, the additive dispensing device defaults to running the standard washing program. The material information includes at least three types: standard, cotton-linen, and blended fabrics, and the degree of soiling includes at least standard, heavily soiled, and lightly soiled.

[0086] like Figure 1 As shown, the control method of the additive dispensing device in this embodiment specifically includes:

[0087] The additive dispensing device is activated to obtain information on the washing program, material composition, and degree of soiling.

[0088] Receive delivery instructions and begin the delivery process;

[0089] The preset time interval T0 and the amount of detergent S are determined based on the washing program, material information, and degree of soiling.

[0090] The water flow sensor detects the water flow and begins timing the water inflow time;

[0091] Compare the obtained water inflow duration T with the preset time interval T0. When the water inflow duration T reaches T0, execute the dispensing operation of the dosage S.

[0092] When the water inflow duration T reaches 2T0, the dispensing operation of the dosage S is executed;

[0093] ...

[0094] When the water inflow duration T reaches nT0, the dispensing operation of the dosage S is executed;

[0095] The water flow sensor detected that the water flow had stopped, and the delivery process ended.

[0096] Where n is a positive integer.

[0097] In the above process, the delivery command can be a confirmation command issued by the user after completing the setting of the washing program and related information of the laundry on the operation panel.

[0098] In a further embodiment, when the water flow sensor detects that the water flow has stopped, the timing module is controlled to pause the timing of the water inflow duration.

[0099] If the water flow sensor detects water flow again within the stop time threshold, the timing module continues to time the water intake duration. If no water flow is detected after the stop time threshold has elapsed, the water intake process is considered to have stopped.

[0100] Preferably, after the timing module pauses timing, if the water flow sensor fails to detect water flow for an extended period beyond the pause time threshold, the water inflow duration recorded by the timing module is reset to zero. When the water flow sensor detects water flow again, the timing module restarts timing the water inflow duration.

[0101] In the above solution, by preset a stop duration threshold, if the water flow is paused for less than the threshold, the timing module of the additive dispensing device can continue timing the water inflow, and the dispensing process continues. This avoids situations where, in the event of a short water outage or water flow interruption due to unstable water pressure, the additive dispensing device fails to continue dispensing additives after the water flow resumes, or where the amount of additive dispensed is incorrect in subsequent processes. The additive dispensing device in this embodiment can automatically respond to unexpected situations of short-term water flow interruption without requiring user intervention, making it more convenient to use.

[0102] In this embodiment, the user can manually set the washing program and clothing-related information on the additive dispensing device. The additive dispensing device matches the appropriate additive dosage ratio based on the user's settings, which helps to achieve better washing results. During the water intake process of the washing equipment, a fixed amount of additive S is added every fixed preset time interval T0, and the preset time interval T0 and the dosage S satisfy the above-mentioned additive dosage ratio. This ensures that the amount of additive added and the water intake time of the washing equipment are always maintained at a fixed ratio. The additive dispensing device can achieve precise control of the additive dosage without needing to know the total amount of water entering the washing equipment in advance.

[0103] Example 2

[0104] The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 above is that the additive dispensing device identifies the image of the washing equipment, obtains relevant information about the washing equipment, and then determines the value of the preset time interval T0 and the dispensing amount S based on the relevant information. The relevant information about the washing equipment includes at least the model of the washing equipment and the washing program being run by the washing equipment.

[0105] Specifically, the additive dispensing device also includes an image recognition module for recognizing images of the washing equipment and obtaining relevant information about the washing equipment from them.

[0106] Furthermore, the additive dispensing device also includes a camera module, which responds to the user's camera instruction and uses the camera module to take a picture of the washing equipment to obtain an image of the washing equipment.

[0107] In detail, the user pre-sets the washing program on the washing machine, then points the camera on the additive dispensing device at the washing machine to take a picture, ensuring that the control panel of the washing machine is included in the captured image. The image recognition module determines the model of the washing machine by analyzing its overall shape in the image, or by recognizing the model number printed on the washing machine.

[0108] The image recognition module analyzes portions of the control panel in an image to determine the washing program. For example, if the washing machine's control panel is a touchscreen display, the image recognition module extracts and recognizes the text or icons displayed on the touchscreen display to determine the user-set washing program. Alternatively, when the control panel includes a program selection knob, the image recognition module identifies the pointing position of the program selection knob and further identifies the text or icon corresponding to that pointing position to determine the washing program.

[0109] In this embodiment, the additive dispensing device identifies the model of the washing equipment and determines the value of the preset time interval T0. For example, for a drum washing machine, the corresponding preset time interval T0 is greater than that of a top-loading washing machine, ensuring that when the dispensing operation is performed for the first time in this dispensing process, the drain port inside the drum is already filled with water, avoiding the situation where the dispensed additive sinks into the drain port or is directly absorbed by the clothes and cannot be fully dissolved in the water.

[0110] like Figure 2 As shown, the control method of the additive dispensing device in this embodiment specifically includes:

[0111] The additive dispensing device is activated, and images of the washing equipment are captured to obtain the model number of the washing equipment and the washing program.

[0112] The preset time interval T0 and the value of the amount of detergent S are determined according to the model of the washing equipment and the washing program.

[0113] Receive delivery instructions and begin the delivery process;

[0114] The water flow sensor detects the water flow and begins timing the water inflow time;

[0115] Compare the obtained water inflow duration T with the preset time interval T0. When the water inflow duration T reaches T0, execute the dispensing operation of the dosage S.

[0116] When the water inflow duration T reaches 2T0, the dispensing operation of the dosage S is executed;

[0117] ...

[0118] When the water inflow duration T reaches nT0, the dispensing operation of the dosage S is executed;

[0119] The water flow sensor detected that the water flow had stopped, and the delivery process ended.

[0120] Where n is a positive integer.

[0121] In this embodiment, the user does not need to perform complicated settings on the additive dispensing device to set the washing program and other information. The user only needs to operate the additive dispensing device to take an image of the washing equipment, and the additive dispensing device can automatically obtain the model of the washing equipment and the washing program, and then match the appropriate additive dispensing ratio, making the operation more convenient.

[0122] Example 3

[0123] The difference between this embodiment and the second embodiment above is that the additive dispensing device is connected to the washing equipment, receives relevant information from the washing equipment, and then determines the value of the preset time interval T0 and the value of the dispensing amount S based on the relevant information from the washing equipment.

[0124] Specifically, the additive dispensing device includes a communication module for receiving relevant information about the washing equipment sent by the washing equipment.

[0125] Furthermore, the communication module includes an infrared communicator or a Bluetooth communicator to send a pairing request to the washing device, thereby obtaining relevant information about the washing device.

[0126] In the above solution, the communication module of the additive dispensing device only needs to be paired with the washing equipment to directly obtain relevant information about the washing equipment, including its model and washing program. During the subsequent dispensing process, there is no need for information communication between the washing equipment and the communication module of the additive dispensing device. The functional and performance requirements of the communication module are low, which can reduce the cost of the additive dispensing device.

[0127] like Figure 3 As shown, the control method of the additive dispensing device in this embodiment specifically includes:

[0128] The additive dispensing device is activated, sends a pairing request to the washing equipment, pairs with the washing equipment, and obtains the model of the washing equipment and the washing program.

[0129] The preset time interval T0 and the corresponding amount of detergent S are determined based on the model of the washing equipment and the washing program.

[0130] Receive delivery instructions and begin the delivery process;

[0131] The water flow sensor detects the water flow and begins timing the water inflow time;

[0132] Compare the obtained water inflow duration T with the preset time interval T0. When the water inflow duration T reaches T0, execute the dispensing operation of the dosage S.

[0133] When the water inflow duration T reaches 2T0, the dispensing operation of the dosage S is executed;

[0134] ...

[0135] When the water inflow duration T reaches nT0, the dispensing operation of the dosage S is executed;

[0136] The water flow sensor detected that the water flow had stopped, and the delivery process ended.

[0137] Where n is a positive integer.

[0138] In this embodiment, the additive dispensing device is equipped with a communication module that can connect to the washing equipment via infrared or Bluetooth. The communication module pairs with the washing equipment to obtain signals and the washing program, thereby controlling the dispensing process. Compared to the method where the additive dispensing device receives real-time operating status information from the washing equipment to control additive dispensing, this reduces the amount of information transmitted between the additive dispensing device and the washing equipment. Furthermore, the washing equipment does not need to have network connectivity, making it convenient to use.

[0139] Example 4

[0140] The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment above is that the additive dispensing device scans the laundry to obtain relevant information about the laundry, and then determines the value of the preset time interval T0 and the value of the dispensing amount S based on the relevant information about the laundry.

[0141] Specifically, the additive dispensing device also includes a clothing scanning module, which is used to scan the clothing tag carried by the laundry to obtain the relevant information of the laundry contained therein, or to scan the laundry directly to obtain the relevant information of the laundry.

[0142] Specifically, the clothing label can be a barcode label, QR code label, RFID label, or NFC label, etc. Correspondingly, the clothing scanning module is a barcode scanner, QR code scanner, RFID reader, or NFC reader, etc. The clothing scanning module scans the clothing label to read the identification mark therein, and determines the clothing information of the garment being washed, such as color information, material information, etc., based on the identification mark.

[0143] In one embodiment, the correspondence between the identification tag and clothing information can be pre-stored in the storage module of the additive dispensing device. After scanning the clothing tag, the clothing scanning module directly retrieves the corresponding clothing information from the storage module. After purchasing new clothing, the user can also add the corresponding clothing information to the storage module by scanning the clothing tag using the clothing scanning module.

[0144] In another embodiment, the additive dispensing device has a network connection function. The correspondence between the identification mark and the clothing information is stored in the cloud server. After the clothing scanning module scans the clothing label, it sends the identified identification mark to the cloud server and matches the corresponding clothing information.

[0145] For solutions where the garment scanning module directly scans the laundry, it obtains an image of the garment by scanning it, and then acquires relevant information about the garment by recognizing the image. Specifically, the garment scanning module can determine the material and color information of the garment by recognizing the image, and can also determine the degree or type of dirt by scanning key stains on the garment.

[0146] In a further embodiment, the additive dispensing device can also match a suitable washing program based on the acquired information about the laundry, including the type of washing program and the values ​​of the washing parameters in that program. The additive dispensing device further comprehensively analyzes the material information, color information, and washing program of the laundry to determine the value of the preset time interval T0 and the dispensing amount S.

[0147] like Figure 4 As shown, the control method of the additive dispensing device in this embodiment specifically includes:

[0148] The additive dispensing device is activated, scanning the label of the laundry to obtain the material information of the laundry and the laundry program to be run.

[0149] The preset time interval T0 and the value of the amount of detergent S are determined based on the material information of the clothes to be washed and the washing program of the washing equipment.

[0150] Receive delivery instructions and begin the delivery process;

[0151] The water flow sensor detects the water flow and begins timing the water inflow time;

[0152] Compare the obtained water inflow duration T with the preset time interval T0. When the water inflow duration T reaches T0, execute the dispensing operation of the dosage S.

[0153] When the water inflow duration T reaches 2T0, the dispensing operation of the dosage S is executed;

[0154] ...

[0155] When the water inflow duration T reaches nT0, the dispensing operation of the dosage S is executed;

[0156] The water flow sensor detected that the water flow had stopped, and the delivery process ended.

[0157] Where n is a positive integer.

[0158] Example 5

[0159] The difference between this embodiment and the above embodiments one to four is that the additive dispensing device obtains the matching relationship between the water intake and the amount of additive dispensed, and performs the dispensing operation multiple times according to the water intake during the water intake process of the washing equipment.

[0160] Specifically, the additive dispensing device includes a water flow detection module for detecting the inlet water volume. During the water intake process of the washing equipment, for every increase of a preset inlet water volume X0 detected by the water flow detection module, the dispensing execution module performs a dispensing operation of a dispensing amount S. The preset inlet water volume X0 and the dispensing amount S satisfy the matching relationship between the inlet water volume and the dispensing amount obtained by the dispensing amount determination module.

[0161] The additive dispensing device's storage module pre-stores the correspondence between relevant information about the washing equipment and / or the laundry and preset values ​​of water inlet volume X0 and / or dispensing volume S. The dispensing volume determination module retrieves the correspondence from the storage module to determine the preset values ​​of water inlet volume X0 and / or dispensing volume S based on the relevant information about the washing equipment and / or the laundry.

[0162] In this embodiment, the additive dispensing device can acquire relevant information about the washing equipment and the laundry in any of the above embodiments one to four, and will not be described again here.

[0163] The water flow detection module includes at least a flow meter installed on the inlet pipe of the additive dispensing device, which can detect the water flow rate passing through the inlet pipe to obtain the water intake of the washing equipment.

[0164] In this embodiment, when the flow meter detects water flow, it begins to detect the inflow rate; when the flow meter detects that the water flow has stopped, it determines that the water inflow process has stopped and the additive dispensing device dispensing process has ended.

[0165] Furthermore, when the flow meter detects that the water flow has stopped, the water flow detection module records the current inflow volume X.

[0166] If the flow meter detects water flow again within the stop time threshold, the water flow detection module continues to detect the inflow rate based on the inflow rate X. If no water flow is detected after the stop time threshold, the water inflow process is considered to have stopped.

[0167] Preferably, if the flow meter fails to detect water flow for an extended period exceeding the stop time threshold, the inflow volume recorded by the water flow detection module is reset to zero. Once the flow meter detects water flow again, the water flow detection module re-detects the inflow volume.

[0168] In this embodiment, the additive dispensing module directly detects the water intake of the washing equipment. Whenever the total water intake reaches a fixed preset water intake X0, a fixed amount of additive S is dispensed. The preset water intake X0 and the amount dispensed S always satisfy a certain proportional relationship, so that the amount of additive dispensed and the total amount of water in the washing equipment are always maintained at a fixed ratio. Similar to embodiments one to four above, the additive dispensing device can also achieve precise control of the amount of additive dispensed when it does not need to obtain the total amount of water in the washing equipment in advance.

[0169] Example 6

[0170] This embodiment is a further limitation of any one of the above embodiments one to five. The additive dispensing device acquires the operating information of the washing equipment in real time during the dispensing process, and corrects the amount S of additive dispensing in subsequent dispensing operations based on the operating information.

[0171] Specifically, when the additive dispensing device dispenses additives at a predetermined time interval T0 every time the water inlet duration increases, when the time since the last dispensing operation reaches T0-ΔT, the additive dispensing device acquires the current operating information of the washing equipment and calculates the corresponding dispensing amount correction ΔS based on this information. Then, when the time since the last dispensing operation reaches T0, it performs a dispensing operation with a dispensing amount of S+ΔS.

[0172] For example, the operating information is the turbidity of the water in the cylinder. When the time since the last addition operation reaches T0-△T, the additive dosing device obtains the current turbidity value D of the water in the cylinder and compares it with the preset turbidity D0. Then, based on the difference between the two, △D = D-D0, the correction amount △S for the addition amount is calculated, and S+△S of additive is added during the current addition operation.

[0173] In the above scheme, when △D>0, △S>0, and the larger the value of △D, the larger the value of △S is generally.

[0174] Similarly, when the additive dispensing device dispenses additives by performing one dispensing operation for every increase of the preset inlet water volume X0, it can obtain the current operating information of the washing equipment when the inlet water volume reaches X0-ΔX after one dispensing operation, and derive the corresponding dispensing amount correction ΔS. When the inlet water volume reaches the preset inlet water volume X0, a dispensing operation with a dispensing amount of S+ΔS is performed.

[0175] In this embodiment, the additive dispensing device can adjust the amount of additive dispensed in each dispensing operation in real time according to the operating status of the washing equipment, which solves the problem of inaccurate information on the washing equipment and the laundry obtained in the early stage, resulting in a mismatch in the amount of additive dispensed.

[0176] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-described technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method for an additive dispensing device, characterized in that, include: The additive dosing device obtains the matching relationship between the water inlet duration and the amount of additive added; The additive dispensing device uses a timing module to time the water intake duration of the washing equipment. The dispensing execution module performs multiple dispensing operations during the water intake process of the washing equipment based on the water intake duration. The amount of additive dispensed in each dispensing operation is determined according to the matching relationship. When the additive dispensing device detects that the water flow has stopped through the water flow sensor, it controls the timing module to pause the timing of the water inlet duration. If the water flow sensor detects water flow again within the stop time threshold, the timing module continues to time the water inlet duration; if no water flow is detected after the stop time threshold, the water inlet process is determined to have stopped, the water inlet duration recorded by the timing module is cleared to zero, and the timing module restarts the water inlet duration when the water flow sensor detects water flow again. During the water intake process of the washing equipment, for every additional preset time interval T0 in the water intake time, the additive dispensing device performs a dispensing operation of a dispensing amount S; wherein, the preset time interval T0 and the dispensing amount S satisfy the matching relationship between the water intake time and the dispensing amount. When the time since the last addition operation reaches T0-△T, the additive dosing device obtains the turbidity value D of the water in the cylinder, compares it with the preset turbidity D0, calculates the correction amount △S of the addition amount based on the difference between the two △D=D-D0, and adds S+△S of additive when performing the current addition operation.

2. The control method for the additive dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The additive dispensing device acquires relevant information about the washing equipment and / or the clothes being washed, and determines the value of the preset time interval T0 and / or the dispensing amount S based on the relevant information about the washing equipment and / or the clothes being washed.

3. The control method for the additive dispensing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The additive dispensing device stores the correspondence between relevant information of the washing equipment and / or the laundry and the preset time interval T0 and / or the dispensing amount S, and determines the preset time interval T0 and / or the dispensing amount S based on the correspondence.

4. The control method for the additive dispensing device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The additive dispensing device receives user settings information and determines relevant information about the washing equipment and / or the laundry based on the settings information. The relevant information about the washing equipment includes the model of the washing equipment or the washing program that the washing equipment is running.

5. The control method for the additive dispensing device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The additive dispensing device identifies images of the washing equipment and obtains relevant information about the washing equipment. The relevant information of the washing equipment includes at least the model of the washing equipment and the washing program that the washing equipment is running.

6. The control method for the additive dispensing device according to claim 5, characterized in that, Images of the washing equipment were captured by the additive dispensing device.

7. The control method for the additive dispensing device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The additive dispensing device is connected to the washing equipment and receives relevant information about the washing equipment from the washing equipment. The relevant information of the washing equipment includes at least the model of the washing equipment and the washing program that the washing equipment is running.

8. The control method for the additive dispensing device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The additive dispensing device connects to the washing equipment via infrared or Bluetooth, sends a pairing request to the washing equipment, and obtains relevant information about the washing equipment.

9. The control method for the additive dispensing device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The additive dispensing device scans the clothing tag on the garment being washed to identify the relevant information contained therein; or, the additive dispensing device scans the garment to obtain the relevant information about it.

10. The control method for the additive dispensing device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The additive dispensing device scans the laundry to obtain an image of the clothing, and identifies the clothing image to obtain relevant information about the laundry.

11. An additive dispensing device, executing the control method of the additive dispensing device as described in any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that, The additive dispensing device includes: The dosage determination module is used to obtain the matching relationship between the water inlet duration and the dosage of the additive; The timing module is used to time the duration of water intake; A water flow sensor is used to detect whether water is flowing through it; The dispensing execution module is used to determine the matching relationship obtained by the module based on the water inlet duration and dispensing amount, and to perform dispensing operations multiple times during the water inlet process of the washing equipment.

12. The additive dispensing device according to claim 11, characterized in that, For every additional preset time interval T0 in the water inflow duration obtained by the timing module, the dispensing execution module performs a dispensing operation for a dispensing amount S. The preset time interval T0 and the amount of water added S satisfy the matching relationship between the water inflow duration and the amount of water added obtained by the amount of water added determination module.

13. The additive dispensing device according to claim 12, characterized in that, The dosage determination module is used to determine the value of the preset time interval T0 and / or the dosage S based on relevant information of the washing equipment and / or the laundry.

14. The additive dispensing device according to claim 13, characterized in that, It also includes an interaction module for receiving user settings information and determining relevant information about the washing equipment and / or the laundry based on the settings information.

15. The additive dispensing device according to claim 13, characterized in that, It also includes an image recognition module, which is used to recognize images of the washing equipment and obtain relevant information about the washing equipment from them.

16. The additive dispensing device according to claim 15, characterized in that, The additive dispensing device also includes a camera module for capturing images of the washing equipment.

17. The additive dispensing device according to claim 13, characterized in that, It also includes a communication module for receiving relevant information about the washing equipment sent by the washing equipment.

18. The additive dispensing device according to claim 17, characterized in that, The communication module includes an infrared communicator or a Bluetooth communicator, used to send a pairing request to the washing equipment and obtain relevant information about the washing equipment.

19. The additive dispensing device according to claim 13, characterized in that, It also includes a clothing scanning module, used to scan the clothing tag on the laundry to obtain the relevant information of the laundry contained therein, or to scan the laundry to obtain a clothing image of the laundry and obtain the relevant information of the laundry by recognizing the clothing image.

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