A humidifier and a control method thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a humidifier and a control method thereof. The humidifier comprises a shell and a water tank, the shell is arranged on the water tank, a supporting column, a driving device and an atomizing device are arranged in the shell, a scraping brush assembly for cleaning the inner wall of the shell is arranged on the outer surface of the supporting column, the driving device and the scraping brush assembly are in transmission connection to drive the scraping brush assembly to rotate, a plurality of water spraying openings are arranged on the scraping brush assembly and correspond to the inner wall of the shell, a mist outlet, a mist outlet channel in communication with the mist outlet and a water outlet channel in communication with the water spraying openings are arranged on the supporting column, the water outlet channel is in communication with the water tank, and the atomizing device is arranged between the mist outlet channel and the water tank. Water in the water tank is transmitted to the water outlet channel and sprayed to the inner wall of the shell through the water spraying openings, and the scraping brush assembly is driven to rotate through the driving device, so that automatic cleaning of the entire inner wall of the shell is realized, dead angle cleaning of the entire humidifier is realized, and the automatic cleaning effect of the humidifier is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of humidification equipment technology, and in particular to a humidifier and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, most humidifiers on the market use atomizing plates to expel water mist into the air. If the water mist remains inside the humidifier for a long time and is not dried, scale will form inside. If the scale is not removed in time, it can easily contaminate the water. The water mist produced by the contaminated water can be released into the air and affect human health.

[0003] Patent CN214065145U proposes a humidifier with automatic cleaning and drainage. It uses a method of dividing the shell into a water tank and a machine compartment to control the water level and drainage. By draining the water inside the humidifier before it is completely used up, it avoids the accumulation of scale. However, it does not effectively clean the scale on the inner wall of the humidifier, resulting in poor cleaning effect. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a humidifier and its control method, which aims to solve the problems of poor cleaning effect of existing humidifiers.

[0005] This invention provides a humidifier, comprising: a housing and a water tank. The housing is disposed on the water tank. A support column, a driving device, and an atomizing device are disposed inside the housing. A scraper assembly for cleaning the inner wall of the housing is rotatably disposed on the outer surface of the support column. The driving device and the scraper assembly are connected to drive the scraper assembly to rotate. The scraper assembly is provided with a plurality of water spray nozzles, which are disposed corresponding to the inner wall of the housing. The support column is provided with a mist outlet, a mist outlet channel communicating with the mist outlet, and a water outlet channel communicating with the water spray nozzles. The water outlet channel is connected to the water tank. The atomizing device is disposed between the mist outlet channel and the water tank.

[0006] Furthermore, the support column includes an inner tub and an outer tub, the outer tub being rotatably fitted onto the inner tub, the driving device being connected to the outer tub in a transmission manner, the scraper assembly being disposed on the outer surface of the outer tub, the mist outlet and the mist outlet channel being disposed in the inner tub, and the water outlet channel being disposed between the outer tub and the inner tub or in the inner tub.

[0007] Furthermore, the scraper assembly includes a connecting part and a scraper body. One end of the connecting part is connected to the outer surface of the support column, and the other end of the connecting part is connected to the scraper body. The scraper body is vertically arranged, and multiple water spray nozzles are provided and spaced vertically along the scraper body.

[0008] Furthermore, the scraper body is provided with a brush that contacts the inner wall of the housing.

[0009] Furthermore, multiple scraper assemblies are provided and are spaced apart along the outer surface of the support column.

[0010] Furthermore, the water tank includes a clean water tank and a wastewater tank, wherein the clean water tank is connected to the water outlet channel and the mist outlet channel respectively, and the wastewater tank is connected to the bottom of the shell.

[0011] Furthermore, the water tank also includes a detergent dispenser, and a three-way valve is provided inside the water tank. The first end of the three-way valve is connected to the water outlet channel and the mist outlet channel, the second end of the three-way valve is connected to the purified water tank, and the third end of the three-way valve is connected to the detergent dispenser.

[0012] Furthermore, an ultrasonic sensor is installed inside the housing.

[0013] This invention also provides a method for controlling a humidifier, comprising:

[0014] When atomization command is received, the atomization device is controlled to atomize the water in the water tank through the atomization channel and spray it out from the mist outlet;

[0015] When a cleaning command is received, the drive device is controlled to drive the scraper assembly to rotate, and water in the water tank is sprayed out from the spray nozzle through the water outlet channel to achieve cleaning.

[0016] Furthermore, it also includes:

[0017] The thickness of scale on the inner wall of the housing was measured.

[0018] Determine whether the scale thickness exceeds the set value;

[0019] When the scale thickness exceeds the set value, a cleaning command is issued.

[0020] This invention discloses a humidifier and its control method. The humidifier includes a shell and a water tank. The shell is disposed on the water tank. A support column, a drive device, and an atomizing device are disposed inside the shell. A scraper assembly for cleaning the inner wall of the shell is rotatably disposed on the outer surface of the support column. The drive device and the scraper assembly are connected to drive the scraper assembly to rotate. The scraper assembly has several spray nozzles, each corresponding to the inner wall of the shell. The support column has a mist outlet, a mist outlet channel communicating with the mist outlet, and a water outlet channel communicating with the spray nozzles. The water outlet channel communicates with the water tank. The atomizing device is disposed between the mist outlet channel and the water tank. This invention achieves automatic cleaning of the entire inner wall of the shell by transferring water from the water tank to the water outlet channel and spraying it onto the inner wall of the shell through the spray nozzles, and by driving the scraper assembly to rotate 360° via the drive device. This achieves thorough cleaning of the entire humidifier without any blind spots and improves the automatic cleaning effect of the humidifier. The present invention also provides a humidifier control method, which has the above-mentioned beneficial effects, and will not be described in detail here. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the following description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a first-view structural schematic diagram of the humidifier in this embodiment;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a structural schematic diagram of the humidifier from a second perspective in this embodiment;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the humidifier in this embodiment, in which the water outlet channel is located between the inner and outer tubs;

[0025] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A partial view of A in the middle;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the humidifier in this embodiment, where the water outlet channel is located inside the connecting pipe;

[0027] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure between the support column and the scraper assembly in this embodiment;

[0028] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating the control method of the humidifier in this embodiment;

[0029] Explanation of markings in the diagram:

[0030] 1. Shell; 2. Water tank; 3. Support column; 4. Drive device; 5. Atomizing device; 6. Scraper assembly; 7. Spray nozzle; 8. Mist outlet; 9. Mist outlet channel; 10. Water outlet channel; 11. Inner tank; 12. Outer tank; 13. Connecting pipe; 14. Connecting part; 15. Scraper body; 16. Brush; 17. Clean water tank; 18. Waste water tank; 19. Detergent box; 20. Three-way valve; 21. Drain outlet; 22. Fan; 23. Ultrasonic sensor; 24. Shielding part; 25. Float. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0032] It should be understood that, when used in this specification and the appended claims, the terms "comprising" and "including" indicate the presence of the described features, integrals, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components and / or collections thereof.

[0033] It should also be understood that the terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0034] It should also be further understood that the term "and / or" as used in this specification and the appended claims refers to any combination of one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations, and includes such combinations.

[0035] Please see Figure 1-6This invention provides a humidifier, comprising: a housing 1 and a water tank 2. The housing 1 is disposed on the water tank 2. A support column 3, a driving device 4, and an atomizing device 5 are disposed inside the housing 1. A scraper assembly 6 for cleaning the inner wall of the housing 1 is rotatably disposed on the outer surface of the support column 3. The driving device 4 and the scraper assembly 6 are connected to drive the scraper assembly 6 to rotate. A plurality of water spray nozzles 7 are disposed on the scraper assembly 6, which are disposed corresponding to the inner wall of the housing 1. A mist outlet 8, a mist outlet channel 9 communicating with the mist outlet 8, and a water outlet channel 10 communicating with the water spray nozzles 7 are disposed on the support column 3. The water outlet channel 10 is connected to the water tank 2. The atomizing device 5 is disposed between the mist outlet channel 9 and the water tank 2.

[0036] In this embodiment, water in the water tank 2 is transferred to the water outlet channel 10 and sprayed onto the inner wall of the housing 1 through the spray nozzle 7. The drive device 4 drives the scraper assembly 6 to rotate, thereby achieving automatic cleaning of the entire inner wall of the housing 1. At the same time, it achieves cleaning of the entire humidifier without dead corners and improves the automatic cleaning effect of the humidifier.

[0037] Its humidification principle is as follows: when the humidifier is in the humidification state, the atomizing device 5 atomizes the water in the water tank 2 to form water mist. Then the water mist is discharged through the mist outlet 9 and the mist outlet 8 to increase the humidity of the outside air.

[0038] Its cleaning principle is as follows: When the humidifier is in the cleaning state, the water in the water tank 2 passes through the water outlet channel 10 and is sprayed out from the spray nozzle 7. The drive device 4 is started and drives the scraper assembly 6 connected to it to rotate. The rotation of the scraper assembly 6 will drive the spray nozzle 7 to rotate around the inner wall of the housing 1 to clean the inner wall of the housing 1.

[0039] Please see Figure 3-5 The support column 3 includes an inner tub 11 and an outer tub 12. The outer tub 12 is rotatably sleeved on the inner tub 11. The drive device 4 is connected to the outer tub 12 in a transmission manner. The scraper assembly 6 is disposed on the outer surface of the outer tub 12. The mist outlet 8 and the mist outlet channel 9 are disposed in the inner tub 11. The water outlet channel 10 is disposed between the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11 or in the inner tub 11.

[0040] In this embodiment, the design of the inner tub 11 and the outer tub 12 allows the outer tub 12 to rotate, thus enabling the scraper assembly 6 to clean the entire inner wall of the housing 1. Furthermore, it forms corresponding mist outlet channels 9 and water outlet channels 10, separating them to prevent detergent and other chemical agents from remaining in the support column 3 during humidifier cleaning. This would prevent the residual chemicals from contaminating the atomized water mist during humidification and potentially harming the user's health.

[0041] Specifically, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the specific structure of the water outlet channel 10 located between the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11 is as follows: a certain gap is provided between the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11. The inner tub 11 and the shell 1 are an integral structure. The outer tub 12 is fitted onto the inner tub 11. One end of the outer tub 12 is tightly connected to the inner tub 11, and the connection between the one end of the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11 has a certain degree of airtightness, which can ensure that water cannot flow out. The other end of the outer tub 12 is tightly abutted against the bottom of the shell 1, and the other end of the outer tub 12 and the bottom of the shell 1 also have a certain degree of airtightness, which can ensure that water cannot flow out. Thus, the gap between the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11 can be used as the water outlet channel 10. A round hole is provided on the shell 1 at the gap between the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11. The water in the water tank 2 enters the water outlet channel 10 through the round hole, and then flows from the water outlet channel 10 to the spray nozzle 7, and from the spray nozzle 7 to the inner wall of the shell 1 to effectively clean the inner wall of the shell 1.

[0042] Furthermore, to ensure the airtightness between the outer barrel 12 and the inner barrel 11, and between the outer barrel 12 and the shell 1, this embodiment can also use high-performance sealing elements, such as dynamic and static rings, which are typically made of wear-resistant materials, such as carbon graphite or hard alloys. During installation, it is necessary to ensure the correct installation and tightening of the sealing elements to avoid loosening or leakage. Next, the sealing surfaces can be precision machined to ensure their flatness and parallelism. Due to the high precision requirements, some special processing methods can be adopted, such as electrolytic grinding and polishing or ion plating. After processing, the sealing surfaces should be strictly inspected to ensure that they meet the design requirements. Furthermore, an appropriate amount of lubricating oil or grease can be injected between the sealing surfaces to reduce friction and wear. The selection of lubricating oil or grease should be based on different working conditions and usage environments, such as high temperature, high speed, or high pressure. When injecting, it is necessary to ensure the cleanliness and quality of the lubricating oil or grease to avoid adverse effects on the sealing performance.

[0043] It should be noted that the specific structure of the water outlet channel 10 located between the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11 has strict requirements for airtightness, so its manufacturing and maintenance costs are relatively high. To reduce manufacturing and maintenance costs, a cavity can be directly set inside the outer tub 12 and used as the water outlet channel 10. Two openings are made on the cavity. One opening is used to connect with the water spray nozzle 7 on the scraper assembly 6, and the other opening is used to connect with the water tank 2. The water in the water tank 2 enters the water outlet channel 10 through the other opening, flows to the water spray nozzle 7 through the opening connected to the water spray nozzle 7 on the scraper assembly 6, and flows out from the water spray nozzle 7. This design has relatively low requirements for airtightness, so it does not need to set high-performance sealing elements or perform precision machining on the sealing surface, so its manufacturing and maintenance costs are relatively low.

[0044] In this embodiment, as Figure 5 As shown, the specific structural design of the water outlet channel 10 located in the inner tub 11 is as follows: the mist outlet channel 9 is located in the inner tub 11, and a connecting pipe 13 is connected to the outer tub 12. The connecting pipe 13 extends from the inner wall of the outer tub 12 into the inner tub 11, and then extends into the water tank 2 within the inner tub 11. The water outlet channel 10 is located within the connecting pipe 13. One end of the connecting pipe 13 is connected to the spray nozzle 7 on the scraper assembly 6, and the other end of the connecting pipe 13 is connected to the water tank 2. When the humidifier needs to be cleaned, the water in the water tank 2 first flows into the connecting pipe 13, and then flows from the connecting pipe 13 to the spray nozzle 7. Then, the water is sprayed from the nozzle 7 onto the inner wall of the housing 1 to clean the housing 1. In this structural design, the inner tub 11 and the outer tub 12 are relatively fixed, and both the inner tub 11 and the outer tub 12 are rotatable relative to the housing 1. The connecting pipe 13 is located at the center of the mist outlet channel 9. This ensures that when the outer tub 12 rotates, the connecting pipe 13 remains in the same position and rotates in place. The connection pipe 13 is located at the center of the mist outlet channel 9, which causes less disturbance to the water in the water tank 2 compared to other positions of the connecting pipe 13. Therefore, the noise is relatively low, and the user experience is relatively better.

[0045] In one embodiment, a certain gap is provided between the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11, the inner tub 11 and the shell 1 are integrally formed, the outer tub 12 is sleeved on the inner tub 11, and a connecting pipe 13 (e.g., ...) is connected to the outer tub 12. Figure 5 As shown, the connecting pipe 13 is located in the gap between the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11, and extends into the water tank 2 within the gap between the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11. The water outlet channel 10 is located in the connecting pipe 13. One end of the connecting pipe 13 is connected to the spray nozzle 7 on the scraper assembly 6, and the other end of the connecting pipe 13 is connected to the water tank 2. When the humidifier needs to be cleaned, the water in the water tank 2 first flows into the connecting pipe 13, and then flows from the connecting pipe 13 to the spray nozzle 7, and then is sprayed from the spray nozzle 7 onto the inner wall of the housing 1 to clean the housing 1. In this structural design, a circular through hole needs to be provided on the housing 1 at the position of the gap between the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11. The design of the circular through hole allows the connecting pipe 13 to rotate as the outer tub 12 rotates.

[0046] The connecting pipe 13 can be made of metal or plastic. Preferably, the connecting pipe 13 can be made of flexible hose. Flexible hose is usually made of materials with good corrosion resistance and can resist the corrosion of chemicals, thereby extending the service life of the pipe. Flexible hose is relatively easy to maintain. If leakage or damage occurs, it can be easily repaired and replaced. Flexible hose is relatively inexpensive, and its replacement and maintenance costs are low.

[0047] To enable relative rotation between the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11, this embodiment provides a rotating bearing (not shown in the figure) between the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11. The inner side of the rotating bearing is fitted onto the inner tub 11, and the outer tub 12 is fitted onto the outer side of the rotating bearing. The rotating bearing enables relative rotation between the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11, and also ensures that the outer tub 12 does not deviate from the center of rotation during rotation, thereby avoiding collision with the inner tub 11 and causing damage to itself and the inner tub 11. In other words, the rotating bearing can prevent collision and friction between the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11, thereby increasing the service life of the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11 and reducing the replacement and maintenance costs of the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11.

[0048] Furthermore, multiple rotating bearings are provided between the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11. The design of multiple rotating bearings makes the positional relationship between the outer tub 12 and the inner tub 11 more stable. This helps to reduce possible positional shifts or slippage during rotation, and improves the stability and durability of the entire humidifier.

[0049] In this embodiment, the transmission connection between the drive device 4 and the outer barrel 12 can be either gear meshing transmission or belt transmission. The specific structure of gear meshing transmission is as follows: the drive end of the drive device 4 is fixedly connected to a transmission gear, and a meshing gear is provided circumferentially on the outer surface of the outer barrel 12. The drive device 4 and the outer barrel 12 are connected by the meshing of the transmission gear and the meshing gear. This design can effectively transmit power and ensure that the outer barrel 12 will not slip or jump during rotation. This design can also reduce power loss and ensure that the power of the drive device 4 can be effectively transmitted to the outer barrel 12.

[0050] The specific structure of the belt drive is as follows: the drive end of the drive device 4 is connected to a drive wheel, the outer tub 12 itself is a driven wheel, one end of the belt is connected to the drive wheel, and the other end of the belt is connected to the outer surface of the outer tub 12. The drive device 4 drives the drive wheel, and then the drive wheel drives the outer tub 12 to rotate through the belt. The belt has a certain elasticity, which can buffer and absorb vibration, making the entire transmission process smoother. Compared with gear meshing, it has the characteristic of low noise, which can simplify the noise reduction structure of the air conditioner and reduce noise reduction costs. However, compared with gear meshing transmission, the belt drive will be continuously worn and stretched during long-term operation, resulting in slippage or jumping, and even causing the drive device 4 to be unable to drive the outer tub 12 to rotate.

[0051] In this embodiment, please refer to Figure 6The scraper assembly 6 includes a connecting part 14 and a scraper body 15. One end of the connecting part 14 is connected to the outer surface of the support column 3, and the other end of the connecting part 14 is connected to the scraper body 15. The scraper body 15 is vertically arranged, and multiple water spray nozzles 7 are provided and spaced apart vertically along the scraper body 15. The vertical arrangement of the scraper body 15 can achieve cleaning of the entire inner wall of the housing 1 without dead corners, and the multiple water spray nozzles 7 can improve the cleaning efficiency and effect.

[0052] To improve the cleaning effect, the scraper body 15 of this embodiment is provided with a brush 16 that contacts the inner wall of the housing 1. The direct contact between the brush 16 and the inner wall of the housing 1 can more thoroughly clean all corners and dead angles inside the housing 1. The softness of the brush 16 can effectively avoid damage to the inner wall of the housing 1, while also being able to clean hard-to-reach areas. In addition, the material and hardness of the brush 16 can be selected and adjusted according to different cleaning needs to achieve a better cleaning effect.

[0053] Furthermore, brushes 16 of different densities and lengths can be distributed on the brush body 15 to achieve a better cleaning effect; for example, denser brushes 16 can be set at the edge of the brush to clean the edges and corners of the housing 1; sparser brushes 16 can be set at the center of the brush to clean the large area of ​​the inner wall of the housing 1.

[0054] Furthermore, after prolonged friction with the inner wall of the housing 1, the brush 16 will gradually wear down, its length will gradually shorten, and the cleaning efficiency and effect of the brush 16 on the inner wall of the housing 1 will gradually decrease. However, its remaining length still has good cleaning ability. To achieve effective utilization of the brush 16, the connecting part 14 in this embodiment is designed as a telescopic structure. Specifically, the connecting part 14 includes a first connecting section and a second connecting section. The first connecting section is provided with several spring-loaded holes for length adjustment, and the second connecting section is provided with spring-loaded buckles. When the spring-loaded buckles are engaged in the spring-loaded holes, the first connecting section... The first connecting section and the second connecting section form a stable connection; or, the second connecting section is provided with several spring-loaded holes for length adjustment, the first connecting section is provided with spring-loaded holes, and when the spring-loaded holes are engaged, the first connecting section and the second connecting section form a stable connection. When the cleaning effect of the brush 16 decreases, the length of the connecting part 14 can be extended by engaging another spring-loaded hole, and the contact between the brush 16 and the inner wall of the housing 1 is strengthened, thereby ensuring the cleaning effect of the brush 16. This design enables the reuse of the remaining part of the brush 16 and reduces the replacement cost of the brush 16.

[0055] To improve the cleaning efficiency and effect of the humidifier, this embodiment also includes: multiple scraper components 6 are provided and spaced along the outer surface of the support column 3. The multiple scraper components 6 can not only improve the cleaning efficiency and effect of the humidifier, but also ensure that even if some of the scraper components 6 are damaged and unable to clean the inner wall of the housing 1, the remaining scraper components 6 can still clean the inner wall of the housing 1 well, thus ensuring the stability of the humidifier's cleaning.

[0056] If the multiple scraper components 6 are not distributed evenly, it may cause uneven stress on the support column 3. In addition, during the rotation of the scraper components 6 driven by the drive device 4, the scraper components 6 will also be subjected to centrifugal force. Under the combined action of centrifugal force and the weight of the scraper components 6 themselves, the stress on the support column 3 will be even more uneven. The uneven stress will cause slight deformation to the structure of the support column 3. Over time, the quantitative change will lead to a qualitative change, and the structure of the support column 3 will be seriously damaged, resulting in the support column 3 being unable to operate normally. This will shorten the replacement cycle of the support column 3 and gradually increase the replacement cost. Therefore, in order to avoid damage to the support column 3 caused by uneven stress, the multiple scraper components 6 in this embodiment are evenly distributed around the support column 3.

[0057] To address the issue of manual cleaning of wastewater generated after humidifier scale removal, please refer to [link / reference needed]. Figure 2 In this embodiment, the water tank 2 includes a clean water tank 17 and a wastewater tank 18. The clean water tank 17 is connected to the water outlet channel 10 and the mist outlet channel 9, respectively. The wastewater tank 18 is connected to the bottom of the shell 1. By dividing the water tank 2 into a clean water tank 17 and a wastewater tank 18, this embodiment not only meets the clean water requirements during humidification and cleaning of the humidifier, but also collects the wastewater after cleaning the humidifier.

[0058] Furthermore, to facilitate the filling of water into the water purification tank 17 and the discharge of sewage into the sewage tank 18, the water purification tank 17 and the sewage tank 18 in this embodiment are drawer-type. Specifically, taking the water purification tank 17 as an example, a water purification box is provided inside the water purification tank 17. The internal structure of the water purification box is similar to that of the water purification tank 17, and the water purification box is detachably connected to the water purification tank 17. When water needs to be filled, simply take out the water purification box, fill it with water, and then place the filled water purification box back into the water purification tank 17 to easily fill the water purification tank 17. The sewage tank 18 adopts a similar structure to the water purification tank 17, and will not be described in detail here.

[0059] To improve the cleaning efficiency and effect on the inner wall of the housing 1, the water tank 2 in this embodiment also includes a detergent box 19. The detergent box 19 is filled with detergent. When the humidifier is in the cleaning state, the detergent is first mixed with the clean water in the clean water tank 17, and then the mixed solution is sprayed onto the inner wall of the housing 1 to enhance the cleaning effect on the inner wall of the housing 1.

[0060] Since a humidifier only requires clean water for humidification, but requires both detergent and clean water for cleaning, a three-way valve 20 is also installed in the water tank 2 of this embodiment to provide different supplies of substances for the humidifier in the two different modes. Figure 3 or Figure 5 As shown, the first end of the three-way valve 20 is connected to the water outlet channel 10 and the mist outlet channel 9, the second end of the three-way valve 20 is connected to the clean water tank 17, and the third end of the three-way valve 20 is connected to the detergent box 19. When the humidifier starts the humidification function, the three-way valve 20 controls the second end to open and the third end to close, and then draws clean water for mist humidification. When the humidifier starts the cleaning function, the three-way valve 20 controls the second end and the third end to open simultaneously, and then simultaneously draws clean water and detergent to mix and use for cleaning the humidifier.

[0061] In this embodiment, the specific structure connecting the sewage tank 18 to the bottom of the shell 1 is as follows: a drain outlet 21 (e.g., ...) is provided at the bottom of the shell 1 where the sewage tank 18 is located. Figure 2 As shown), the wastewater after cleaning enters the wastewater tank 18 through the drain outlet 21.

[0062] Furthermore, to prevent wastewater from accumulating on the shell 1 and forming scale at the bottom of the shell 1, the bottom of the shell 1 in this embodiment is funnel-shaped, and the drain outlet 21 is the bottom opening of the funnel. In other words, the drain outlet 21 is the lowest point of the bottom of the shell 1. The wastewater after cleaning will flow towards the drain outlet 21 under its own gravity. The funnel-shaped design at the bottom of the shell 1 improves the discharge of wastewater from the humidifier and prevents the wastewater after cleaning from polluting the shell 1.

[0063] To blow atomized water droplets into the air and achieve the effect of air humidification, this embodiment also includes: a fan 22 (e.g., Figure 3 or Figure 5 As shown, the fan 22 is located below the atomizing device 5, and there is a gap between the atomizing device 5 and the housing 1. When the humidifier is in the humidification state, the atomizing device 5 atomizes water into water mist, and the fan 22 starts to blow air out through the gap between the atomizing device 5 and the housing 1 to blow the water mist into the air, thereby achieving the effect of air humidification.

[0064] To enable automatic cleaning of the humidifier, an ultrasonic sensor 23 is installed inside the housing 1 in this embodiment (e.g., Figure 3 or Figure 5 As shown, when the ultrasonic sensor 23 detects that the scale on the inner wall of the housing 1 exceeds the predetermined value, the ultrasonic sensor 23 will send a signal to the main control module, and the main control module will then start the cleaning function according to the signal, thereby realizing the automatic cleaning function of the humidifier.

[0065] If a user feels that the humidifier needs cleaning, they can manually activate the humidifier cleaning function using a remote control or mobile phone.

[0066] In this embodiment, a shielding part 24 is provided on the support column 3 at the position of the mist outlet 8 (e.g., Figure 1 As shown, the shielding part 24 is arranged so that the mist outlet 8 is horizontally positioned. The shielding part 24 can prevent external objects from entering the support column 3 through the mist outlet 8, thereby preventing external objects from damaging the internal components of the support column 3.

[0067] In order to deliver water from water tank 2 to spray nozzle 7 or to atomizing device 5, this embodiment also includes a water pump.

[0068] In a specific application scenario, a miniature water pump with dimensions of 61*46*52mm is used to extract water from the water tank 2. The head of this miniature water pump can reach about 1m, which can fully meet the water pumping and delivery needs of the humidifier.

[0069] To enhance the cleaning effect on limescale, this embodiment also includes a limescale breaking device inside the humidifier. This limescale breaking device uses ultrasonic technology to generate high-frequency vibrations, breaking the limescale adhering to the inner wall of the humidifier housing 1 into tiny particles. At the same time, a high-pulse water flow generator can be installed in the limescale breaking device to generate high-speed water flow to wash away the broken tiny particles.

[0070] This embodiment can also filter the water in the water tank 2 to remove impurities and tiny particles, reducing the possibility of scale formation. Specifically, the water tank 2 is provided with a water inlet and a filter screen is installed at the water inlet. When the user injects water through the water inlet, the water first flows through the filter screen and is then discharged into the water tank 2 after being filtered by the filter screen.

[0071] This embodiment also includes a float 25 (such as...). Figure 3 or Figure 5 As shown in the figure, the float 25 is mainly used for power-off protection of the humidifier. When the water tank 2 is full, the float 25 floats up under the action of buoyancy, and the humidifier can operate normally. When the water level is too low, the float 25 falls under its own weight and generates electromagnetic induction with the induction structure in the base. At this time, the humidifier cannot operate normally, thus achieving the purpose of power-off protection.

[0072] Furthermore, after connecting the water tank 2 to a water pipe, this embodiment can achieve automatic water filling of the water tank 2 through the float 25. That is, when the float 25 falls under its own weight, it generates electromagnetic induction with the induction structure in the base, and the humidifier opens the valve to inject water into the water tank 2 through the water pipe. When the water tank 2 is full, the float 25 floats up under the action of buoyancy, and the electromagnetic induction with the induction structure in the base is released. At this time, the humidifier closes the valve, thus realizing automatic water filling of the water tank 2, saving users the step of manually adding water frequently and improving the user experience.

[0073] In this embodiment, the humidifier is equipped with a humidity sensor inside, which can monitor the indoor humidity in real time and upload the humidity value to the main control module. The main control module can compare the set humidity value with the measured humidity value and automatically adjust the amount of water mist output according to the comparison result to achieve a comfortable indoor humidity environment.

[0074] Please see Figure 7 The present invention also provides a method for controlling a humidifier, comprising:

[0075] S701: When atomization command is received, the atomization device is controlled to atomize the water in the water tank through the atomization channel and spray it out from the mist outlet;

[0076] S702: When a cleaning command is received, the drive device is controlled to drive the scraper assembly to rotate and spray water from the water tank through the water outlet channel from the spray nozzle to achieve cleaning.

[0077] In one embodiment, when a cleaning command is received, the control drive device drives the scraper assembly to rotate and mixes the water in the water tank with the detergent in the detergent box. Then, the mixed solution is sprayed out from the spray nozzle through the water outlet channel to achieve cleaning. The mixed solution of water and detergent can more effectively clean the scale on the inner wall of the housing.

[0078] To enable the humidifier to perform automatic cleaning, this embodiment also includes: detecting the thickness of scale on the inner wall of the housing; determining whether the scale thickness exceeds a set value; and issuing a cleaning command when the scale thickness exceeds the set value.

[0079] The process ends when the scale thickness does not exceed the set value, requiring no further action.

[0080] In this embodiment, in addition to detecting the scale thickness on the inner wall of the housing, a method is also provided to determine whether the number of times the humidifier is started exceeds a predetermined number; if it exceeds the predetermined number, the scale thickness on the inner wall of the housing is detected; if it does not exceed the predetermined number, the process ends without any further operation. The determination of the number of times the humidifier is started can avoid the need to detect the scale thickness on the inner wall of the housing every time the humidifier is turned on, thereby extending the service life of the ultrasonic sensor used to detect the scale thickness and reducing the replacement cost of the ultrasonic sensor.

[0081] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on its differences from other embodiments. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. For the apparatus disclosed in the embodiments, since it corresponds to the method disclosed in the embodiments, the description is relatively simple; relevant parts can be referred to in the method section. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications to this invention without departing from its principles, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the claims of this invention.

[0082] It should also be noted that, in this specification, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusivity.

[0083] The term "comprises" implies that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprises a..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

Claims

1. A humidifier, characterized in that, include: The system comprises a housing and a water tank. The housing is mounted on the water tank. Inside the housing are a support column, a drive device, and an atomizing device. A scraper assembly for cleaning the inner wall of the housing is rotatably mounted on the outer surface of the support column. The drive device and the scraper assembly are connected to drive the scraper assembly to rotate. The scraper assembly has a plurality of water spray nozzles, which are arranged corresponding to the inner wall of the housing. The support column has a mist outlet, a mist outlet channel communicating with the mist outlet, and a water outlet channel communicating with the water spray nozzle. The water outlet channel communicates with the water tank. The atomizing device is located between the mist outlet channel and the water tank. The support column includes an inner tub and an outer tub. The outer tub is rotatably sleeved on the inner tub. The driving device is connected to the outer tub in a transmission manner. The scraper assembly is disposed on the outer surface of the outer tub. The mist outlet and the mist outlet channel are disposed in the inner tub. The water outlet channel is disposed between the outer tub and the inner tub or in the inner tub. The mist outlet channel is located in the inner barrel, and a connecting pipe is connected to the outer barrel. The connecting pipe extends from the inner wall of the outer barrel to the inner barrel, and then extends into the water tank. The water outlet channel is located in the connecting pipe. One end of the connecting pipe is connected to the spray nozzle on the scraper assembly, and the other end of the connecting pipe is connected to the water tank.

2. The humidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The scraper assembly includes a connecting part and a scraper body. One end of the connecting part is connected to the outer surface of the support column, and the other end of the connecting part is connected to the scraper body. The scraper body is vertically arranged, and multiple water spray nozzles are provided and spaced vertically along the scraper body.

3. The humidifier according to claim 2, characterized in that, The scraper body is provided with a brush that contacts the inner wall of the housing.

4. The humidifier according to claim 2, characterized in that, Multiple scraper assemblies are provided and are spaced apart along the outer surface of the support column.

5. The humidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water tank includes a clean water tank and a wastewater tank. The clean water tank is connected to the water outlet channel and the mist outlet channel, respectively, and the wastewater tank is connected to the bottom of the shell.

6. The humidifier according to claim 5, characterized in that, The water tank also includes a detergent dispenser. A three-way valve is installed inside the water tank. The first end of the three-way valve is connected to the water outlet channel and the mist outlet channel. The second end of the three-way valve is connected to the purified water tank. The third end of the three-way valve is connected to the detergent dispenser.

7. The humidifier according to claim 1, characterized in that, An ultrasonic sensor is installed inside the housing.

8. A control method for a humidifier as described in any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, include: When atomization command is received, the atomization device is controlled to atomize the water in the water tank through the atomization channel and spray it out from the mist outlet; When a cleaning command is received, the drive device is controlled to drive the scraper assembly to rotate, and water in the water tank is sprayed out from the spray nozzle through the water outlet channel to achieve cleaning.

9. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that, Also includes: The thickness of scale on the inner wall of the housing was measured. Determine whether the scale thickness exceeds the set value; When the scale thickness exceeds the set value, a cleaning command is issued.

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