Laundry treating apparatus and control method of laundry treating apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of clothes processing equipment, and particularly provides a clothes processing equipment and a control method of clothes processing equipment, aiming at solving the problem that the stain removal effect and the dissolving effect of detergent of the existing washing machine need to be obviously improved. For this purpose, the clothes processing equipment of the present application comprises: an inner drum, which is provided with a ventilation hole; a ventilation member, which comprises an air inlet and an air outlet; and a gas generating device, which comprises a gas outlet, the gas outlet being in communication with the air inlet, and the gas generated by the gas generating device entering the water storage area of the inner drum through the air outlet and the ventilation hole. The above arrangement can efficiently strip the dirt on the clothes, reduce the use amount and residue of the detergent, and obviously improve the stain removal effect and the dissolving effect of the detergent.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of clothes treatment equipment, and particularly provides clothes treatment equipment and a control method of clothes treatment equipment. BACKGROUND

[0002] The existing washing machine usually adds detergent to remove stains on clothes. The detergent removes stains mainly through its chemical composition. Whether the detergent can be fully dissolved affects the washing effect of clothes. If the detergent cannot be fully dissolved, it will remain on the clothes, causing damage to the clothes.

[0003] In the prior art, in order to accelerate the dissolution of the detergent and the removal of stains on clothes, a gas generating device is usually introduced. The gas outlet of the gas generating device is arranged between the inner drum and the outer drum. For example, the gas generating device is directly arranged on the inner side wall of the outer drum, and the bubbles generated by the gas outlet of the gas generating device are directly emitted between the inner drum and the outer drum. Alternatively, the gas generating device is arranged outside the outer drum, and the bubbles are introduced between the inner drum and the outer drum through a pipeline, and then the bubbles enter the inner drum through the water permeable holes of the inner drum. However, the above arrangement has limited effect on the dissolution of the detergent and the removal of stains on clothes.

[0004] In order to solve the above problems, the existing improvement scheme is to improve the gas generating device or the related pipeline, so that the gas outlet generates enough bubbles or micro-bubbles. Although the removal of stains on clothes and the solubility of the detergent are slightly improved, the effect is not satisfactory to users.

[0005] Correspondingly, there is a need in the art for a new clothes treatment equipment and a control method of clothes treatment equipment to solve the problem that the existing washing machine needs to significantly improve the effect of removing stains on clothes and dissolving detergent. SUMMARY

[0006] The present application aims to solve the above technical problems, i.e., to solve the problem that the existing washing machine needs to significantly improve the effect of removing stains on clothes and dissolving detergent.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present application provides a clothes treatment equipment, characterized in that the clothes treatment equipment comprises: an inner drum, the inner drum being provided with a ventilation hole; a ventilation member, the ventilation member comprising an air inlet and an air outlet; and a gas generating device, the gas generating device comprising a gas outlet, the gas outlet being in communication with the air inlet, and the gas generated by the gas generating device entering a water storage area of the inner drum through the air outlet and the ventilation hole.

[0008] In the preferred technical scheme of the laundry treating apparatus, the laundry treating apparatus further comprises a driving device connected with the air passage, the air passage is capable of stretching in and out of the air passage under the driving of the driving device, wherein the air outlet is located in the water storage area when the air passage stretches into the air passage.

[0009] In the preferred technical scheme of the laundry treating apparatus, the inner wall of the inner cylinder is provided with a lifting rib, the lifting rib is provided with a first through hole, the lifting rib and the inner wall form a cavity, and the air passage is arranged in the cavity.

[0010] In the preferred technical scheme of the laundry treating apparatus, the air passage is a rod, an airflow channel is formed in the rod along the axial direction of the rod, the air inlet and the air outlet are communicated with the airflow channel, the driving device comprises a motor and a transmission assembly, and the motor is connected with the rod through the transmission assembly.

[0011] In the preferred technical scheme of the laundry treating apparatus, the outer cylinder of the laundry treating apparatus is provided with a first mounting hole, the laundry treating apparatus further comprises a sealing member, the sealing member comprises a flexible cover, the bottom end of the flexible cover is open, the opening is sealingly connected with the first mounting hole, the top end of the flexible cover is provided with a second mounting hole, the first end of the rod is connected with the transmission assembly, the second end of the rod is arranged to pass through the second mounting hole from the inside of the flexible cover, the second mounting hole is fixedly and sealingly connected with the rod, and the flexible cover can form a seal with the air passage when the driving device drives the rod to stretch into the air passage.

[0012] In the preferred technical scheme of the laundry treating apparatus, the sealing member further comprises a shell with an open top end, the bottom end of the shell is sealingly mounted in the first mounting hole, the bottom end of the flexible cover is connected with the inner bottom wall of the shell, the top end of the flexible cover is sealingly connected with the opening, the bottom wall of the shell is further provided with a second through hole, the second through hole is arranged in the flexible cover, the rod passes through the second through hole and leaves a movable gap with the second through hole; and / or the transmission assembly is a cam connecting rod mechanism.

[0013] In the preferred technical scheme of the laundry treating apparatus, the air passage is a bellows, a pressure cavity is formed in the wall of the bellows, the wall of the bellows is provided with a pressure port, the pressure port is communicated with the pressure cavity, the driving device is a pneumatic device or a hydraulic device, the outlet of the driving device is communicated with the pressure port, and one end of the bellows is communicated with the gas outlet.

[0014] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned garment processing equipment, the garment processing equipment further includes a position sensing device, which is configured to be triggered when the inner drum rotates to a set position to control the inner drum to stop rotating, so that after the inner drum stops rotating, the gas generated by the gas generator can enter the water storage area of ​​the inner drum through the air outlet and the vent hole.

[0015] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned clothing processing equipment, the air outlet is located between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder of the clothing processing equipment, and is correspondingly arranged with respect to the vent hole.

[0016] On the other hand, the present invention also provides a control method for a garment processing device, characterized in that the garment processing device includes: an inner drum with a vent hole; a venting element including an air inlet and an air outlet; a gas generating device including a gas outlet connected to the air inlet, wherein the gas generated by the gas generating device enters the water storage area of ​​the inner drum through the air outlet and the vent hole; the control method includes: controlling the inner drum to rotate during the washing process; controlling the inner drum to stop rotating when the inner drum rotates to a set position; and controlling the gas generating device to start.

[0017] It is understood that the garment processing device of the present invention includes: an inner drum with a vent hole; a venting element including an air inlet and an air outlet; and a gas generating device including a gas outlet connected to the air inlet, wherein the gas generated by the gas generating device enters the water storage area of ​​the inner drum through the air outlet and the vent hole.

[0018] This application provides a vent hole on the inner drum, through which gas generated by the gas generator enters the water storage area of ​​the inner drum. This forms high-energy bubbles in the washing / rinsing water, which in turn create a large number of cavitation bubbles. The bursting of these billions of rigid cavitation bubbles generates a powerful impact force, effectively removing dirt from clothes, reducing detergent usage and residue, and significantly improving the stain removal and detergent dissolution effects. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the garment processing equipment and the control method of the garment processing equipment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a possible implementation of the garment processing equipment and the control method for the garment processing equipment of the present invention (I);

[0022] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion at point A;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram (II) of a possible implementation of the garment processing equipment and the control method for the garment processing equipment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A magnified view of a section at point B in the middle;

[0025] Figure 6 This is a flowchart of the main steps of the control method for the clothing processing equipment of the present invention.

[0026] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0027] 1-Inner cylinder; 11-Ventilation hole; 12-Lifting rib; 2-Outer cylinder; 21-First mounting hole; 3-Ventilation component; 31-Air inlet; 32-Air outlet; 33-Rod; 34-Bellwall; 341-Pressure chamber; 342-Pressure port; 4-Gas generator; 41-Gas outlet; 5-Drive device; 51-Motor; 52-Cam linkage mechanism; 6-Seal; 61-Flexible cover; 611-Second mounting hole; 612-Opening; 62-Outer shell; 621-Opening; 622-Second through hole; 7-Connecting pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0028] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the invention. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments as needed to adapt to specific applications.

[0029] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, terms such as "top" and "bottom," indicating directional or positional relationships, are based on the directional or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. This is merely for ease of description and does not indicate or imply that the device must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation of this invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0030] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "communication" 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. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown, in order to address the problem that existing washing machines have insufficient effectiveness in removing stains from clothes and dissolving detergents, the clothing treatment device of the present invention includes: an inner drum 1, on which a vent hole 11 is provided; a venting component 3, which includes an air inlet 31 and an air outlet 32; and a gas generating device 4, which includes a gas outlet 41 connected to the air inlet 31. The gas generated by the gas generating device 4 enters the water storage area of ​​the inner drum 1 through the air outlet 32 ​​and the vent hole 11.

[0032] The gas generating device 4 can take various forms, such as an air pump, fan, or compressor. It can be installed on the inner wall of the garment processing equipment's casing or on the outer wall of the outer cylinder 2. Preferably, the gas generating device 4 is positioned above the liquid level in the water storage area, such as at the top of the inner wall of the casing, to prevent liquid from flowing back into the gas generating device 4. Alternatively, a water-resistant and breathable membrane can be installed at the air outlet 32 ​​of the ventilation component 3, allowing gas to exit through the outlet 32 ​​but preventing washing water from entering the ventilation component 3 through the outlet 32. The water-resistant and breathable membrane can be a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane or a PTFE membrane. In cases involving FE membranes, the placement of the gas generator 4 on the housing and outer cylinder 2 is not restricted. The gas outlet 41 of the gas generator 4 can be connected to the air inlet 31 of the ventilation component 3 via a connecting pipe 7, or it can be directly connected to the air inlet 31 of the ventilation component 3. The gas generator 4 can introduce gas in various ways. For example, when the gas generator 4 is located on the outer wall of the outer cylinder 2, its gas inlet can be connected to a hole on the housing of the garment processing equipment via a pipe; when the gas generator 4 is located on the inner wall of the housing, its gas inlet can be directly connected to a hole on the housing.

[0033] Furthermore, the specific forms of the clothing processing device of the present invention include various types, such as drum washing machines, pulsator washing machines, washer-dryer combos, etc., wherein the water storage area is the area of ​​the inner drum 1 used to hold washing water. When the clothing processing device is a drum washing machine, the water storage area is located on the radial bottom side of the inner drum 1, and when the clothing processing device is a pulsator washing machine, the water storage area is located on the axial bottom side of the inner drum 1.

[0034] Furthermore, it is understood that the vent 11 is different from the water permeable hole on the inner tube 1. Its diameter is much larger than that of the water permeable hole. The gas generated by the gas generating device 4 should be able to enter the water storage area of ​​the inner tube 1 through the vent 11. In addition, the vent 11 is not the clothing insertion port on the inner tube 1. The generated gas enters the water storage area of ​​the inner tube 1 through the vent 11. Compared with entering the water storage area of ​​the inner tube 1 through the clothing insertion port, there is no problem of interference when inserting or removing clothing.

[0035] Because the gas outlet 41 of the existing gas generator 4 directly emits bubbles between the inner cylinder 1 and the outer cylinder 2, the effect on dissolving detergent and removing stains on clothes is limited. The improvement solutions are usually to increase the gas volume of the gas generator 4 or to improve the gas generator 4 to generate microbubbles, but the final effect is not significantly improved.

[0036] The applicant's research revealed that the probability of air bubbles entering the inner drum 1 from the outer drum 2 through the water-permeable holes on the inner drum 1 is very small. Furthermore, experiments have shown that even very small microbubbles, rather than large ones, have difficulty effectively entering the inner drum 1. In other words, this application found that the main reason for the poor detergent dissolution and stain removal effect on clothing is not the quantity or size of the generated bubbles, but rather that the water-permeable holes on the inner drum 1 prevent air bubbles from effectively entering it.

[0037] Based on the aforementioned problems not discovered by those skilled in the art, this application provides a vent hole 11 on the inner drum 1. The gas generated by the gas generating device 4 directly enters the water storage area of ​​the inner drum 1 through the vent hole 11, forming high-energy bubbles in the washing / rinsing water, and then forming a large number of cavitation bubbles in the water. Hundreds of billions of rigid cavitation bubbles burst, generating a powerful impact force, effectively removing dirt from clothes, reducing the amount of detergent used and residue, and significantly improving the stain removal and detergent dissolution effects.

[0038] To avoid the venting element 3 interfering with the rotation of the inner drum 1 and thus affecting the washing operation, the present invention adopts the following two possible implementation methods.

[0039] In a first possible implementation, the garment processing equipment further includes a drive device 5 connected to a vent 3. Driven by the drive device 5, the vent 3 can extend and retract on both the inner and outer sides of the vent hole 11. When the vent 3 extends into the water storage area of ​​the inner drum 1 through the vent hole 11, the air outlet 32 ​​of the vent 3 is located within the water storage area of ​​the inner drum 1. That is, when it is necessary to introduce gas into the water storage area of ​​the inner drum 1, the drive device 5 drives the vent 3 to extend into the water storage area of ​​the inner drum 1, and the gas discharged from the air outlet 32 ​​can be directly introduced into the water storage area, fully utilizing the energy generated by the bubbles to improve the washing effect. When it is not necessary to introduce gas into the water storage area of ​​the inner drum 1, the drive device 5 drives the vent 3 to retract from the water storage area of ​​the inner drum 1 to the outside of the inner drum 1 to avoid interfering with the rotation of the inner drum 1.

[0040] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the vent 3 may be a rod 33, with an airflow channel formed inside the rod 33 along its axial direction. The air inlet 31 and the air outlet 32 ​​are both connected to the airflow channel. The drive device 5 includes a motor 51 and a transmission assembly (such as the cam linkage mechanism 52 described below). The motor 51 is connected to the rod 33 through the transmission assembly to drive the rod 33 to contract on both the inner and outer sides of the vent hole 11. The outer cylinder 2 of the garment processing equipment is provided with a first mounting hole 21. The garment processing equipment also includes a sealing element 6, which includes a flexible cover 61. The bottom end of the flexible cover 61 is open, and the open end 612 is sealed to the first mounting hole 21. The top end of the flexible cover 61 is provided with a second mounting hole 611. The first end of the rod 33 is connected to the transmission assembly, and the second end of the rod 33 is provided through the second mounting hole 611 from the inside of the flexible cover 61. The second mounting hole 611 is fixedly and sealed to the rod 33. When the driving device 5 drives the rod 33 to extend into the inside of the vent hole 11 (i.e., inside the inner cylinder 1), the flexible cover can form a seal with the vent hole 11. It is understood that the flexible cover 61 is a flexible cover with an internal cavity, its bottom end is open, the opening 612 communicates with the cavity, and the opening 612 is sealed to the first mounting hole 21. Its top end refers to the side away from the opening 612. The wall of the flexible cover 61 is preferably corrugated, but it can also be non-corrugated. The material of the flexible cover 61 can be rubber or silicone, etc. The second mounting hole 611 is fixed and sealed to the rod 33 in various ways, such as the second mounting hole 611 and the rod 33 are interference fit, or they are connected by a sealing gasket, etc. In addition, the air inlet 31 of the rod 33 can be located at its first end or on its side wall, and its air outlet 32 ​​is preferably at its second end, but it can also be located on its side wall. In this case, in order to effectively ensure that the rod 33 can extend and retract, the connecting pipe 7 connected to the gas outlet 41 of the gas generating device 4 can be a corrugated pipe or a flexible hose that can deform.

[0041] When gas needs to be introduced into the water storage area of ​​the inner drum 1, the drive device 5 drives the rod 33 to extend into the water storage area of ​​the inner drum 1 through the vent hole 11. At this time, since the rod 33 is fixedly and sealed to the second mounting hole 611, when the rod 33 makes a linear movement towards the vent hole 11, it will drive the flexible cover 61 to move together towards the vent hole 11 until the flexible cover 61 abuts against the vent hole 11, thereby forming a seal between the flexible cover 61 and the vent hole 11. This prevents the gas introduced into the water storage area from escaping from the vent hole 11 to the space between the inner drum 1 and the outer drum 2, resulting in a loss of bubble volume. This is especially important when there is a lot of laundry in the inner drum 1, as it can prevent a deterioration in the washing effect. In addition, since the bottom end of the flexible cover 61 forms a seal with the first mounting hole 21, it can prevent the washing water from flowing out of the first mounting hole 21. The above configuration can achieve two seals of the flexible cover 61 at the same time, namely the vent hole 11 and the first mounting hole 21. One part can achieve multiple uses, reducing the cost of use.

[0042] Furthermore, the sealing element 6 also includes a housing 62 with a top opening 621. The bottom end of the housing 62 is sealed and installed in the first mounting hole 21. The sealing connection can be achieved in various ways, such as by interference fit between the housing 62 and the first mounting hole 21, or by sealing gaskets. The bottom end of the flexible cover 61 is connected to the inner bottom wall of the housing 62, and the top end of the flexible cover 61 is sealed and connected to the opening 621, such as by corrugated rubber or by flat silicone. A second through hole 622 is also formed on the inner bottom wall of the housing 62. The second through hole 622 is located in the flexible cover 61. The rod 33 passes through the second through hole 622 and has a clearance with the second through hole 622 so that the rod 33 can move in the second through hole 622.

[0043] The bottom end of the flexible cover 61 is sealed to the first mounting hole 21 via the bottom wall of the outer shell 62, thus preventing washing water from flowing out of the first mounting hole 21. Its top end is sealed to the opening 621, preventing washing water from entering the interior of the outer shell 62. This ensures that internal parts do not come into prolonged contact with washing water, protecting them from damage and extending their service life. The second through hole 622 on the bottom wall of the outer shell 62 restricts the linear movement of the rod 33, allowing it to be accurately inserted into the vent hole 11. The overall design of the sealing element 6 requires minimal structural modification to the inner cylinder 1 and outer cylinder 2, and is easy to install and disassemble. Furthermore, a spring is also provided inside the flexible cover 61. One end of the spring is connected to the inner top wall of the flexible cover 61, and the other end is connected to the inner bottom wall of the outer shell 62, thus providing support for the flexible cover 61.

[0044] Possibly, the transmission component is a cam-linkage mechanism 52, meaning the motor 51 is connected to the first end of the rod 33 via the cam-linkage mechanism 52. It can be understood that the cam-linkage mechanism 52 includes a cam and a connecting rod. The output shaft of the motor 51 is fixedly connected to the cam, the cam is hinged to the connecting rod, and the connecting rod is hinged to the first end of the rod 33. Thus, when the output shaft of the motor 51 rotates, it can drive the rod 33 to move linearly, achieving the contraction of the rod 33 on both the inner and outer sides of the vent 11. The air inlet 31 of the vent 3 can be located on the side wall of the rod 33. The end of the rod 33 away from the inner cylinder 1 has no opening and is hinged to the connecting rod. The motor 51 can be fixed in various ways; for example, a bracket can be installed on the outer wall of the outer cylinder 2 or the housing, and the motor 51 can be fixedly mounted on the bracket; or the motor 51 can be directly mounted on the inner wall of the housing or the outer wall of the outer cylinder 2, etc.

[0045] Furthermore, the implementation of the driving device 5 driving the venting member 3 to extend and retract on both the inner and outer sides of the vent 11 is not limited to the above-described implementation, for example, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the vent 3 may be a bellows 34, with a pressure chamber 341 formed inside the wall of the bellows 34. A pressure port 342 is provided on the wall, and the pressure port 342 communicates with the pressure chamber 341. The drive device 5 is a pneumatic or hydraulic device, and the outlet of the drive device 5 is connected to the pressure port 342. One end of the bellows 34 is connected to the gas outlet 41. In this case, the other end of the bellows 34 is its gas outlet 32.

[0046] The pneumatic device can take various forms, such as an air pump or any existing or future device capable of drawing and blowing air. The hydraulic device can include a bidirectional hydraulic pump and a hydraulic tank. The outlet of the hydraulic tank is connected to the first opening of the bidirectional hydraulic pump, and the second opening of the hydraulic pump is connected to the pressure port 342. That is, when hydraulic oil needs to be injected, the bidirectional hydraulic pump operates, causing the hydraulic oil in the hydraulic tank to flow into the pressure chamber 341 through the first opening, the second opening, and the pressure port 342. When hydraulic oil needs to be released, the bidirectional hydraulic pump operates, causing the hydraulic oil to flow back to the hydraulic tank from the pressure chamber 341 through the pressure port 342, the second opening, and the first opening. Alternatively, the hydraulic device can be a piston-type hydraulic cylinder, including a cylinder body, piston, connecting rod, and drive component. The cylinder body has an oil hole and a mounting hole, with the oil hole connected to the pressure port 342. The piston is... Within the cylinder body, a sealing sliding mechanism is installed along the cylinder body axially, dividing the internal cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber. An oil hole is located in the first chamber, and a mounting hole is located in the second chamber at the end of the cylinder body. One end of a connecting rod is connected to the piston, and the other end passes through the mounting hole and connects to a drive component outside the cylinder body. Hydraulic oil is located in the first chamber. The drive component can be any device capable of driving the piston to make linear motion via the connecting rod, such as a combination of a motor and a gear rack. When the drive component drives the piston toward the first chamber, the volume of the first chamber decreases, and the hydraulic oil is discharged from the oil hole into the pressure chamber 341. When the drive component drives the piston toward the second chamber, the volume of the first chamber increases, and the hydraulic oil in the pressure chamber 341 is drawn back to the first chamber through the oil hole. Alternatively, the hydraulic device can also be any existing or future device capable of achieving oil discharge and oil suction.

[0047] Furthermore, it is understood that the wall of the bellows 34 of the present invention can be entirely corrugated or partially corrugated; for example, the middle part is corrugated, and the two ends are flat. The bellows 34 is sealed in the first mounting hole 21 in various ways. For example, one end of the bellows 34 is not corrugated, and an annular metal sheet is tightly fitted around that end. The first mounting hole 21 on the outer cylinder 2 is sealed to the metal sheet by a gasket. Alternatively, the bellows 34 is directly bonded to the first mounting hole 21 with waterproof adhesive. The bellows 34 can extend out of the first mounting hole 21, and the pressure port 342 is located on the outer wall of the first mounting hole 21, thereby facilitating the connection between the pressure port 342 and the outlet of the drive device 5.

[0048] When gas needs to be introduced into the water storage area of ​​the inner cylinder 1, the pneumatic or hydraulic device operates, allowing gas or hydraulic oil to enter the pressure chamber 341 of the bellows 34 through the pressure port 342, thereby pressurizing the pressure chamber 341. As a result, the bellows 34 begins to elongate, allowing it to extend into the vent hole 11. When gas does not need to be introduced into the water storage area of ​​the inner cylinder 1, the pneumatic or hydraulic device performs a depressurization operation, allowing the gas or hydraulic oil in the pressure chamber 341 to be discharged through the pressure port 342, thereby depressurizing the pressure chamber 341 and allowing the bellows 34 to retract to the outside of the inner cylinder 1 to prevent interference.

[0049] In this case, the aforementioned flexible cover can be further configured, with the bottom opening of the flexible cover sealed to the first mounting hole 21, one end of the bellows 34 sealed to the first mounting hole 21, and the other end of the bellows 34 passing through the interior of the flexible cover and exiting through the second mounting hole 611 at the top of the flexible cover, with the second mounting hole 611 sealed to the bellows 34. When the driving device 5 drives the bellows 34 to extend into the inside of the vent hole 11, the flexible cover can form a seal with the vent hole 11. This prevents gas introduced into the water storage area from escaping through the vent hole 11 between the inner cylinder 1 and the outer cylinder 2, thus preventing the loss of bubble volume.

[0050] In a preferred embodiment, the inner wall of the inner cylinder 1 of the present invention is provided with a lifting rib 12, and the lifting rib 12 is provided with a first through hole. The lifting rib 12 and the inner wall form a cavity, and the vent hole 11 is provided in the cavity. It can be understood that the function of the lifting rib 12 is to lift the clothes to a higher position when the inner cylinder 1 rotates, so as to form an up-and-down tumbling action, thereby achieving the purpose of washing the clothes.

[0051] Reference Figure 1 This invention utilizes the existing structure of the garment processing equipment—the lifting rib 12—to prevent the garment from contacting the ventilator 3 after it is inserted into the water storage area of ​​the inner cylinder 1 through the vent hole 11. Since the vent hole 11 is located in the cavity formed by the lifting rib 12 and the inner wall of the inner cylinder 1, interference between the ventilator 3 and the garment can be avoided, thus preventing potential wear and tear on the ventilator 3 and damage to the garment. Furthermore, since the lifting rib 12 and the inner wall of the inner cylinder 1 form a small enclosed space, the energy loss of the bubbles is minimal. As a result, the bubbles can still reach the garment through the first through hole on the lifting rib 12 to form cavitation bubbles, effectively removing dirt from the garment.

[0052] In the second possible implementation, the air outlet 32 ​​of the vent 3 is located between the inner cylinder 1 and the outer cylinder 2, and is correspondingly provided with the vent hole 11, that is, the gas enters the water storage area of ​​the inner cylinder 1 directly through the air outlet 32 ​​of the vent 3 and the vent hole 11.

[0053] The specific form of the venting component 3 can be various. For example, it can be a hollow rod, with one end (air inlet 31) connected to the gas outlet 41 of the gas generator 4, and the other end being an outlet 32, which is correspondingly set with the vent hole 11. Alternatively, the venting component 3 can be a connecting pipe 7 directly connected to the gas outlet 41 of the gas generator 4, with one end of the outlet of the connecting pipe 7 extending directly from the first mounting hole 21 between the inner cylinder 1 and the outer cylinder 2, and correspondingly set with the vent hole 11. The venting component 3 and the first mounting hole 21 can be directly sealed and connected by a sealing gasket. Alternatively, the venting component 3 can be the first mounting hole 21, which is correspondingly set with the vent hole 11. In this case, the first mounting hole 21 extends a predetermined length from the inner wall of the outer cylinder 2 towards the inner cylinder 1, and the gas outlet 41 of the gas generator 4 is sealed and connected with the first mounting hole 21. When the venting component 3 is a connecting pipe 7 that is directly connected to the gas outlet 41 of the gas generating device 4, the connecting pipe 7 can be inserted through the hole provided on the window gasket connecting the outer cylinder opening and the housing instead of through the first mounting hole 21, so as to form an effective seal. Then the air outlet 32 ​​of the connecting pipe 7 is correspondingly set with the vent hole 11. In this case, the vent hole 11 can be set on the front side of the inner cylinder 1, such as at the inner cylinder opening.

[0054] The above-described setup only slightly reduces the washing effect, but it avoids interference between the air vent 3 and the clothes, preventing wear and tear on the air vent 3 and damage to the clothes. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for a drive device 5, reducing operating costs. Additionally, this setup does not hinder the rotation of the inner drum 1, allowing the gas generator 4 to remain running while the inner drum 1 rotates. The optimal cleaning power for clothes is achieved when the air outlet 32 ​​of the air vent 3 aligns with the air vent 11 of the inner drum 1.

[0055] As one possible implementation, the garment processing equipment also includes a position sensor, which is configured to be triggered when the inner drum 1 rotates to a set position to control the inner drum 1 to stop rotating, so that after the inner drum 1 stops rotating, the gas generated by the gas generator 4 can enter the water storage area of ​​the inner drum 1 through the air outlet 32 ​​and the vent hole 11.

[0056] The aforementioned set position can be the position where the vent 11 and the air outlet 32 ​​are opposite each other. In this case, the inner drum 1 needs to rotate at a relatively slow speed. After the position sensor is triggered, it will send a trigger signal so that the controller of the garment processing equipment can receive the trigger signal. After receiving the trigger signal, the controller controls the inner drum 1 to stop rotating. At this time, because the inner drum 1 rotates at a relatively slow speed, the inner drum 1 can stop rotating almost immediately, thereby ensuring that the vent 11 and the air outlet 32 ​​are opposite each other. This ensures that the vent 3 can extend into the interior of the inner drum 1 through the vent 11 or ensures that the air outlet 32 ​​between the inner drum 1 and the outer drum 2 is aligned with the vent 11 of the inner drum 1. When the inner drum 1 rotates at a relatively fast speed, the aforementioned set position is when the inner drum 1 rotates to the position where the vent 11 is opposite to the outer drum 2. At a preset distance before the position of the air outlet 32 ​​is relative to the inner cylinder 1, that is, at a preset distance before the inner cylinder 1 rotates to the position corresponding to the air outlet 32, the position sensor is triggered to send a trigger signal. After receiving the trigger signal, the controller controls the inner cylinder 1 to stop rotating. After the inner cylinder 1 stops rotating, due to the large rotation speed of the inner cylinder 1, the inner cylinder 1 will continue to rotate a preset distance and stop rotating after rotating a preset distance. At this time, the air outlet 11 and the air outlet 32 ​​are exactly opposite each other, thereby ensuring that the venting component 3 can extend into the interior of the inner cylinder 1 through the air outlet 11 or the air outlet 32 ​​between the inner cylinder 1 and the outer cylinder 2 is exactly opposite to the air outlet 11 of the inner cylinder 1, thereby ensuring that the gas enters the water storage area of ​​the inner cylinder 1 through the air outlet 11.

[0057] The specific forms of the position sensing device include various types. For example, the position sensing device includes a Hall sensor and a magnet. The Hall sensor is set on the outer wall of the outer cylinder 2, and the magnet is set on the outer wall of the inner cylinder 1. When the inner cylinder 1 rotates to the set position, the Hall sensor and the magnet are positioned opposite each other to trigger a signal. Alternatively, the Hall sensor is set on the outer bottom wall of the outer cylinder 2 (at the bottom side of the outer cylinder in the axial direction), and the magnet is set on the outer rotor of the direct drive motor that drives the inner cylinder 1 to rotate. When the inner cylinder 1 rotates to the set position, the Hall sensor and the magnet are positioned opposite each other to trigger a signal. Or, the position sensor includes a signal switch and a signal contact. The signal switch is set at the outer cylinder opening, and the signal contact is set at the inner cylinder opening. When the inner cylinder 1 rotates to the set position, the signal switch and the signal contact come into contact to trigger a signal.

[0058] In addition, the present invention also provides a control method for a garment processing device, the control method comprising:

[0059] Step S100: During the washing process, control the rotation of the inner drum.

[0060] Step S200: When the inner cylinder rotates to the set position, control the inner cylinder to stop rotating.

[0061] Step S300: Start the gas generating device.

[0062] One approach is to incorporate an air-bubble program into the washing cycle of the garment processing equipment. For example, in the washing cycle, the motor controlling the inner drum rotates according to a preset rotation-to-stop ratio. Therefore, when the motor is in a stopped zone during the washing cycle, the air-bubble program can be executed. This involves controlling the inner drum to rotate until it reaches a set position, at which point it stops. After the inner drum stops rotating, a gas generator is activated to introduce gas into the water storage area of ​​the inner drum, improving the washing effect. The set position is the one described in the above embodiments. There are various ways to determine when the inner drum has reached this set position. For example, it can be achieved by using the position sensing device described above, or by determining when the inner drum reaches the set position based on the rotation speed and time of the motor driving the inner drum. In other words, the rotation speed and time of the motor determine the rotation position of the inner drum. Therefore, when both the rotation speed and time of the motor reach the set values, it can be determined that the inner drum has reached the set position.

[0063] When the air outlet is located between the inner and outer cylinders and is corresponding to the vent hole, the gas generator can be directly started after the inner cylinder stops rotating. This allows most of the gas to enter the water storage area of ​​the inner cylinder through the air outlet of the vent and the vent hole of the inner cylinder, thereby improving the washing effect.

[0064] When the garment processing equipment also includes a drive device connected to a vent, the vent can extend and retract on both the inner and outer sides of the vent hole under the drive of the drive device. After the step of "controlling the inner drum to stop rotating", the equipment also includes the step of "controlling the drive device to drive the vent to extend into the inner side of the vent hole", and then controlling the gas generator to start, so that gas is directly introduced into the water storage area of ​​the inner drum through the air outlet of the vent, improving the cleaning ability and washing effect. After the step of "controlling the gas generator to start", the equipment also includes the step of "controlling the drive device to drive the vent to retract to the outer side of the vent hole after a preset time", wherein the preset time can be set by the user, or it can be calculated based on the preset time period before the inner drum rotates according to the preset rotation-stop ratio in the original washing program of the washing machine. That is to say, within the preset time period before the inner drum rotates according to the original washing program of the washing machine, the equipment controls the drive device to drive the vent to retract to the outer side of the vent hole, so that after the clothes are bubble washed, the rotation of the inner drum is not interfered with, thereby completing the efficient washing of the clothes.

[0065] It should be noted that the above embodiments are merely used to illustrate the principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Without departing from the principles of the present invention, those skilled in the art can adjust the above embodiments so that the present invention can be applied to more specific application scenarios.

[0066] For example, although the present invention is described in terms of a flexible cover, this is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. The arrangement can be adjusted, such as omitting the flexible cover, or connecting the first end of the rod 33 to the first mounting hole through a flexible sealing gasket, that is, compensating for the movement distance of the rod 33 through the flexible sealing gasket. These are all within the scope of protection of the present invention and do not deviate from the principle of the present invention.

[0067] For example, although the present invention is described with the second through hole 622 formed on the bottom wall of the outer shell 62, the second through hole 622 being disposed in the flexible cover 61, the rod 33 passing through the second through hole 622, and having an movable gap with the second through hole 622, this is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. For example, the outer shell 62 can be omitted, the rod 33 can pass through the first mounting hole 21, the first mounting hole 21 and the rod 33 can have an movable gap, and the bottom end of the flexible cover 61 can be sealed around the first mounting hole 21, etc. These are all within the scope of protection of the present invention without departing from the principle of the present invention.

[0068] For example, as an alternative implementation, although the drive device 5 of the present invention is described as a motor 51 and a cam linkage mechanism 52, this is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Its configuration can be adjusted. For instance, the drive device 5 can be a motor 51 and a gear and rack mechanism, with the output shaft of the motor 51 fixedly connected to the gear, the gear meshing with the rack, and the rack connected to the first end of the rod 33. A guide member can be provided on the outer wall of the outer cylinder 2, and the guide member has a strip-shaped groove. The rack is movably disposed in the groove to guide the rack. In this case, the rod 33 may not be sealed to the first mounting hole 21; instead, the rack may be sealed to the first mounting hole 21. These modifications do not deviate from the principles of the present invention and are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0069] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above-described garment processing equipment includes other known structures, such as processors, controllers, and memories. These memories include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), volatile memory, non-volatile memory, serial memory, parallel memory, or registers. Processors include, but are not limited to, CPLD / FPGA, DSP, ARM processors, and MIPS processors. To avoid unnecessarily obscuring the embodiments of this disclosure, these known structures are not shown in the accompanying drawings.

[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 garment processing device, characterized in that, The garment processing equipment includes: Inner cylinder, wherein the inner cylinder is provided with a vent hole; A venting component, the venting component including an air inlet and an air outlet; A gas generating device, the gas generating device including a gas outlet, the gas outlet being connected to the air inlet, the gas generated by the gas generating device entering the water storage area of ​​the inner cylinder through the air outlet and the vent hole; The garment processing equipment also includes a driving device, which is connected to the ventilation component. The ventilation component can extend and retract on both the inner and outer sides of the ventilation hole under the drive of the driving device. When the ventilation component extends into the inner side of the ventilation hole, the air outlet is located in the water storage area. The inner wall of the inner cylinder is provided with lifting ribs, and the lifting ribs are provided with first through holes. The lifting ribs and the inner wall form a cavity, and the vent hole is located in the cavity.

2. The garment processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ventilation component is a rod, and an airflow channel is formed inside the rod along its axial direction. The air inlet and the air outlet are both connected to the airflow channel. The driving device includes a motor and a transmission assembly, and the motor is connected to the rod through the transmission assembly.

3. The garment processing equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer cylinder of the garment processing device is provided with a first mounting hole. The garment processing device also includes a sealing element, which includes a flexible cover. The bottom end of the flexible cover is open and the open end is sealed to the first mounting hole. The top end of the flexible cover is provided with a second mounting hole. The first end of the rod is connected to the transmission assembly. The second end of the rod passes through the second mounting hole from the inside of the flexible cover, and the second mounting hole is fixedly and sealed to the rod. When the driving device drives the rod to extend into the inside of the vent hole, the flexible cover can form a seal with the vent hole.

4. The garment processing equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The sealing element further includes a housing with a top opening, the bottom end of which is sealed and installed in the first mounting hole. The bottom end of the flexible cover is connected to the inner bottom wall of the housing, and the top end of the flexible cover is sealed and connected to the opening. A second through hole is also formed on the bottom wall of the housing, the second through hole being disposed in the flexible cover. The rod passes through the second through hole, and a clearance is left between the rod and the second through hole; and / or The transmission component is a cam-linkage mechanism.

5. The garment processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The venting component is a bellows, and a pressure chamber is formed inside the wall of the bellows. A pressure port is provided on the wall of the bellows, and the pressure port communicates with the pressure chamber. The driving device is a pneumatic device or a hydraulic device, and the outlet of the driving device is connected to the pressure port. One end of the bellows is connected to the gas outlet.

6. The garment processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The garment processing equipment also includes a position sensing device, which is configured to be triggered when the inner drum rotates to a set position to control the inner drum to stop rotating, so that after the inner drum stops rotating, the gas generated by the gas generator can enter the water storage area of ​​the inner drum through the air outlet and the vent hole.

7. The garment processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air outlet is located between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder of the clothing processing device, and is configured corresponding to the vent hole.

8. A control method for a garment processing device, characterized in that, The garment processing device includes: an inner drum, on which a vent is provided; A venting component, the venting component including an air inlet and an air outlet; A gas generating device, the gas generating device including a gas outlet, the gas outlet being connected to the air inlet, the gas generated by the gas generating device entering the water storage area of ​​the inner cylinder through the air outlet and the vent hole; The garment processing equipment also includes a driving device, which is connected to the ventilation component. The ventilation component can extend and retract on both the inner and outer sides of the ventilation hole under the drive of the driving device. When the ventilation component extends into the inner side of the ventilation hole, the air outlet is located in the water storage area. The inner wall of the inner cylinder is provided with lifting ribs, and the lifting ribs are provided with first through holes. The lifting ribs and the inner wall form a cavity, and the vent hole is provided in the cavity. The control method includes: During the washing process, the inner drum is controlled to rotate; When the inner cylinder rotates to a set position, the inner cylinder is controlled to stop rotating; The gas generating device is started.

Images