A liner for a laundry care machine and a laundry care machine

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of clothes processing equipment, and particularly provides an inner container for a clothes care machine and the clothes care machine. The present application aims to solve the problem that the plastic inner container of the clothes care machine is greatly affected by temperature, resulting in a gap between the inner container and the intermediate connecting piece in the prior art. To this end, the present application provides an inner container for a clothes care machine, which comprises a cover plate, a box body and a bottom connecting piece, the cover plate, the box body and the bottom connecting piece being connected in sequence in the vertical direction, the cover plate and the bottom connecting piece being made of plastic, and the box body being made of metal. Based on the above structure, the inner container for the clothes care machine provided by the present application can reduce the weight of the inner container by manufacturing the cover plate and the bottom connecting piece from plastic. In addition, by manufacturing the box body from metal, the processing and manufacturing difficulty of the inner container is reduced, and the influence of high-temperature work of the inner container on the box body can also be reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of garment processing equipment technology, specifically providing an inner liner for a garment care machine and the garment care machine itself. Background Technology

[0002] A garment care machine is a device that removes odors, wrinkles, or moisture from clothes by applying steam or hot air to them. Garment care machines can automatically iron and quickly dry clothes that are hanging freely, preventing new wrinkles from forming. They are time-saving, labor-saving, convenient, and quick, and therefore have become common in households.

[0003] In existing technology, the inner liner of a garment care machine is usually divided into an upper cavity, a lower cavity, and an intermediate connecting part. The inner liner shell and the connecting part are both plastic components. Due to the large size and complex structure of these components, they are very difficult to process and manufacture. At the same time, because the temperature of the garment care machine is high when it is ironing or drying, and the plastic components are greatly affected by temperature (thermal expansion and contraction), the dimensional accuracy of the inner liner is prone to deviation. As a result, the fit clearance between the inner liner and the intermediate connecting part cannot be guaranteed, and the overall quality of the garment care machine is affected.

[0004] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an inner liner for a garment care machine and a garment care machine in order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned technical problem, namely, in the prior art, the plastic inner liner of the garment care machine is greatly affected by temperature, which leads to the gap between the inner liner and the intermediate connecting part.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an inner liner for a garment care machine, the inner liner comprising a cover plate, a housing, and a bottom connector.

[0007] The cover plate, the box body, and the bottom connector are connected in sequence along the vertical direction.

[0008] The cover plate and the bottom connector are made of plastic.

[0009] The enclosure is made of metal.

[0010] In the specific embodiment of the inner liner for the garment care machine described above, the bottom connector includes a first plate and a second plate connected together.

[0011] The first plate and the second plate are connected by an arc-shaped plate.

[0012] The first plate is equipped with a drainage mechanism.

[0013] In the specific embodiment of the inner liner of the garment care machine described above, the plane where the first plate is located forms a first preset angle with the horizontal plane.

[0014] In the specific embodiment of the inner liner of the garment care machine described above, the range of the first preset angle is 1°-3°.

[0015] In the specific embodiment of the inner liner for the garment care machine described above, the cover plate is provided with a first connecting groove that faces downwards.

[0016] The top of the box is inserted into the interior of the first connecting slot.

[0017] A first sealing element is provided in the first connecting groove.

[0018] In the specific embodiment of the inner liner for the garment care machine described above, the bottom connector is provided with a second connecting groove that opens upwards.

[0019] The bottom of the housing is inserted into the interior of the second connecting slot.

[0020] A second sealing element is provided in the second connecting groove.

[0021] In the specific embodiment of the inner liner for the garment care machine described above, the inner liner further includes multiple connecting members.

[0022] The plurality of connectors are arranged around the lower part of the housing and are engaged with the bottom connector.

[0023] In the specific embodiment of the inner liner for the garment care machine described above, the housing is a stainless steel sheet metal structure; and / or, the cover plate and the bottom connector are provided with multiple reinforcing ribs, which are arranged in a crisscross pattern to form a mesh.

[0024] With the above technical solution adopted, the inner liner for a garment care machine provided by the present invention includes a cover plate, a housing, and a bottom connector. The cover plate, the housing, and the bottom connector are connected sequentially in a vertical direction. The cover plate and the bottom connector are made of plastic, and the housing is made of metal. Based on the above structural configuration, the inner liner's weight can be reduced by using plastic for the cover plate and the bottom connector. In addition, using metal for the housing reduces the manufacturing difficulty of the inner liner and also reduces the impact of the high-temperature operation of the inner liner on the housing.

[0025] Furthermore, the inner liner of the garment care machine provided by the present invention defines a first plate and a second plate of the bottom connector, so that the internal liquid flows from the second plate through the arc plate to the first plate and is discharged through the drainage mechanism to avoid water accumulation in the inner liner.

[0026] Furthermore, the inner liner of the garment care machine provided by the present invention defines a first preset angle between the plane where the first plate is located and the horizontal plane so that accumulated water flows along the inclined surface of the first plate to the drainage mechanism to keep the first plate dry.

[0027] Furthermore, the inner liner of the garment care machine provided by the present invention defines a specific range of the first preset angle to avoid the first preset angle being too large, resulting in a large liquid flow rate, or the first preset angle being too small, preventing the accumulated water from flowing to the drainage mechanism.

[0028] Furthermore, the inner liner of the garment care machine provided by the present invention, by defining a first connecting groove and a first sealing member, seals the gap between the cover plate and the housing by the first sealing member, thereby ensuring the airtightness of the inner liner.

[0029] Furthermore, the inner liner of the garment care machine provided by the present invention, by defining a second connecting groove and a second sealing member, seals the gap between the bottom connector and the housing by the second sealing member, thereby ensuring the airtightness of the inner liner.

[0030] Furthermore, the inner liner of the garment care machine provided by the present invention strengthens the connection between the housing and the bottom connector by providing a connector, thereby preventing slippage between the housing and the bottom connector.

[0031] Furthermore, the inner liner for the garment care machine provided by the present invention specifies that the housing is a stainless steel sheet metal structure to enhance the strength of the housing, and also specifies that the cover plate and the bottom connector are provided with multiple reinforcing ribs to enhance the strength of the cover plate and the bottom connector and prevent damage.

[0032] Secondly, the present invention also provides a garment care machine, the garment care machine comprising a frame and an inner liner for garment care machines as described in the above embodiments.

[0033] The frame covers the outside of the inner liner of the garment care machine.

[0034] In a specific embodiment of the above-described garment care machine, the frame includes side beams.

[0035] The connector has a mounting groove on its outer side.

[0036] The side beam is snapped into the mounting groove and connected to the connector with screws. Attached Figure Description

[0037] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0038] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a preferred embodiment of the inner liner for a garment care machine provided by the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the inner liner for a garment care machine provided by the present invention;

[0040] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a preferred embodiment of the garment care machine provided by the present invention.

[0041] Figure label:

[0042] 1. Cover plate; 11. First sealing element; 12. First limiting element; 13. Second limiting element; 2. Box body; 3. Bottom connector; 31. First plate; 311. Drainage mechanism; 32. Second plate; 321. Pipeline installation port; 33. Second sealing element; 34. Third limiting element; 35. Fourth limiting element; 36. Connecting plate; 37. Curved plate; 4. Connector; 5. Frame; 51. Column; 52. Side beam; 53. Top plate; 54. Bracket. Detailed Implementation

[0043] 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. For example, although this specific embodiment is described in conjunction with the application of the inner liner structure in a garment care machine, the inner liner structure of the present invention can obviously also be used in other devices. Such changes in application scenarios do not depart from the basic principles of the present invention and fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0044] In this disclosure, the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "middle," "outer," "front," and "rear," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for better description of the embodiments of this disclosure and their implementations, and are not intended to limit the indicated devices, elements, or components to having a specific orientation, or to require them to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Furthermore, some of the aforementioned terms may be used to indicate other meanings besides orientation or positional relationship; for example, the term "upper" may in some cases indicate a dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in the embodiments of this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.

[0045] It should be noted that, in the description of this preferred embodiment, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "connected" should be interpreted broadly. For example, it can refer to a direct connection, an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or a connection within two elements; these should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only, and those skilled in the art can understand their specific meaning in the present invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0046] A garment care machine is a device that removes odors, wrinkles, or moisture from clothing by applying steam or hot air. It automatically irons and quickly dries freely hanging garments, preventing new wrinkles and saving time and effort, making it a popular choice for home use. In existing technology, the inner drum of a garment care machine is typically divided into an upper cavity, a lower cavity, and an intermediate connecting component. Both the inner drum shell and the connecting component are made of plastic. Due to their large size and complex structure, these components are difficult to manufacture. Furthermore, because garment care machines operate at high temperatures during ironing or drying, and plastic components are highly susceptible to temperature fluctuations (expansion and contraction), the dimensional accuracy of the inner drum is prone to deviation. This can lead to compromises in the fit between the inner drum and the intermediate connecting component, thus affecting the overall quality of the garment care machine.

[0047] First, see Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a preferred embodiment of the inner liner for a garment care machine provided by the present invention, as shown below. Figure 1 As shown, this invention provides an inner liner for a garment care machine, comprising a cover plate 1, a housing 2, and a bottom connector 3. The cover plate 1, housing 2, and bottom connector 3 are connected sequentially in a vertical direction. The cover plate 1 and bottom connector 3 are made of plastic, while the housing 2 is made of metal. Based on this structural design, the inner liner's weight is reduced by using plastic for the cover plate 1 and bottom connector 3. Furthermore, using metal for the housing 2 reduces the manufacturing difficulty of the inner liner and also minimizes the impact of high-temperature operation of the inner liner on the housing 2. It should be noted that this invention does not impose any limitations on the specific dimensions of the cover plate 1, housing 2, and bottom connector 3; those skilled in the art can set these dimensions according to actual usage requirements.

[0048] Specifically, as a preferred embodiment, the box 2 has an opening on one side to facilitate the user's access to clothing. Figure 1In the preferred embodiment shown, the housing 2 includes three side plates connected in sequence, with adjacent side plates perpendicular to each other, forming a rectangular internal cavity. The cover plate 1 has a downward-facing first connecting groove. The housing 2 connects to the cover plate 1 by inserting into the first connecting groove. It is understood that since the housing 2 includes three side plates, the first connecting groove has three interconnected slots, each corresponding to one of the three side plates of the housing 2, facilitating the insertion of the side plates into the slots and achieving the connection between the cover plate 1 and the housing 2. In this preferred embodiment, a first sealing element 11 is provided within the first connecting groove, sealing the gap between the cover plate 1 and the housing 2 to ensure the airtightness of the inner liner and prevent water vapor inside the housing 2 from leaking out through the gap between the cover plate 1 and the housing 2. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any limitations on the specific structure and dimensions of the first connecting groove and the first sealing element 11, only requiring that the first sealing element 11 completely seals the gap between the cover plate 1 and the housing 2. Those skilled in the art can set these dimensions according to actual usage requirements. Optionally, since the housing 2 includes three side plates and the first connecting groove is provided with three interconnected slots, the first sealing member 11 can be provided in the three slots to ensure that the inner liner is completely sealed.

[0049] In this preferred embodiment, the cover plate 1 further includes a first limiting member 12 and a second limiting member 13, wherein the first limiting member 12 and the second limiting member 13 are respectively disposed at both ends of the first connecting groove, and the straight lines of the first limiting member 12 and the second limiting member 13 are perpendicular to the plane of the cover plate 1, so that when the cover plate 1 is fastened to the box 2, the first limiting member 12 and the second limiting member 13 are respectively engaged with the side wall at the opening of the box 2, preventing the cover plate 1 from slipping off the box 2. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific structure and size of the first limiting member 12 and the second limiting member 13, and those skilled in the art can set them according to actual usage requirements.

[0050] In this preferred embodiment, the cover plate 1 and the housing 2 are fixedly connected by screws to further strengthen the connection between them and prevent deformation of the cover plate 1 due to high-temperature operation of the inner liner, which could lead to slippage between the cover plate 1 and the housing 2. Specifically, multiple screw holes are provided on the back of the first connecting groove, and multiple screw holes are also provided on the top of the housing 2. The screws pass through the cover plate 1 and the first sealing member 11 in sequence and are tightened to the top of the housing 2 to strengthen the connection between the cover plate 1 and the housing 2. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the number and type of screws. Technicians can set them according to actual usage requirements. For example, the number of screws can be 13, with 5 screws on the top of each of the two opposite side plates and 3 screws on the top of the middle side plate. The screws can be ST4X12mm self-tapping screws.

[0051] In some embodiments, the bottom connector 3 has multiple configuration options.

[0052] In one configuration, the bottom connector 3 includes a first plate 31 and a second plate 32 connected together. In this embodiment, the bottom connector 3 consists only of plates, making it small in size and lightweight, and providing good sealing with the housing 2. The bottom connector 3 is provided with a second connecting groove with an upward opening. The housing 2 is connected to the bottom connector 3 by inserting into the second connecting groove. It is understood that since the housing 2 includes three side plates, the second connecting groove has three interconnected slots, each corresponding to one of the three side plates of the housing 2, facilitating the insertion of the side plates into the slots and achieving the connection between the bottom connector 3 and the housing 2. In this preferred embodiment, a second sealing element 33 is provided in the second connecting groove, sealing the gap between the bottom connector 3 and the housing 2 to ensure the airtightness of the inner liner and prevent water vapor inside the housing 2 from leaking out through the gap between the bottom connector 3 and the housing 2. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific structure and size of the second connecting groove and the second sealing member 33, as long as the second sealing member 33 can completely seal the gap between the bottom connecting member 3 and the box body 2. Technicians can set these dimensions according to actual usage requirements. Optionally, since the box body 2 includes three side plates in this preferred embodiment, and the second connecting groove has three interconnected slots, the second sealing member 33 can be correspondingly positioned in the three slots to ensure a complete seal of the inner liner. The bottom connecting member 3 and the box body 2 are also fixedly connected by screws to further strengthen the connection between them. The connection method is the same as that between the cover plate 1 and the box body 2, and will not be described further here.

[0053] In this embodiment, the bottom connector 3 further includes a third limiting member 34 and a fourth limiting member 35, wherein the third limiting member 34 and the fourth limiting member 35 are respectively disposed at both ends of the second connecting groove, so that when the bottom connector 3 is fastened to the housing 2, the third limiting member 34 and the fourth limiting member 35 are respectively engaged with the side wall at the opening of the housing 2, preventing the bottom connector 3 from slipping off the housing 2. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific structure and size of the third limiting member 34 and the fourth limiting member 35, and those skilled in the art can set them according to actual usage requirements.

[0054] In this embodiment, the inner liner also includes multiple connectors 4, which are arranged around the lower part of the box body 2 and engage with the bottom connector 3. By providing connectors 4, the connection strength between the box body 2 and the bottom connector 3 is strengthened, preventing slippage between the box body 2 and the bottom connector 3. Optionally, since the box body 2 includes three side panels in this preferred embodiment, multiple connectors 4 are evenly arranged on the lower part of the three side panels. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any limitation on the number of connectors 4. Those skilled in the art can set it according to actual usage requirements. It is understood that when the number of connectors 4 is large, the installation of the box body 2 and the bottom connector 3 is more complicated; when the number of connectors 4 is small, the connection strength between the box body 2 and the bottom connector 3 is lower. In this preferred embodiment, the number of connectors 4 can be six, so that each side panel is provided with two connectors 4.

[0055] In another setting, such as Figure 2 As shown, the bottom connector 3 includes a first plate 31, a second plate 32, and a plurality of connecting plates 36 corresponding to the housing 2. In this embodiment, by setting connecting plates 36 in the bottom connector 3 to mate with the housing 2, the height of the housing 2 is reduced, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the housing 2. At the same time, the volume of the bottom connector 3 is increased, resulting in a lower weight for the entire inner liner structure. In this embodiment, a second connecting groove is provided at the top of the connecting plate 36 in the bottom connector 3, allowing the side plates in the housing 2 to be inserted to achieve connection with the bottom connector 3. Optionally, since the housing 2 includes three side plates in this preferred embodiment, the housing 2 is provided with corresponding connecting plates 36 to ensure a completely sealed inner liner. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any limitation on the height of the connecting plates 36, which can be set by those skilled in the art according to actual usage requirements. For example, the connecting plate 36 can be 0.3m.

[0056] In this preferred embodiment, the first plate 31 and the second plate 32 are connected by an arc-shaped plate 37. A drainage mechanism 311 is provided on the first plate 31 so that liquid inside the inner liner flows from the second plate 32 through the arc-shaped plate 37 to the first plate 31, and then is discharged through the drainage mechanism 311, thus preventing water accumulation in the inner liner. The plane of the first plate 31 forms a first preset angle with the horizontal plane, making the first plate 31 an inclined surface. The drainage mechanism 311 is located at the bottom of the inclined surface, allowing water inside the inner liner to flow along the inclined surface of the first plate 31 to the drainage mechanism, keeping the first plate 31 dry. It is understood that if the first preset angle is too large, the liquid flow rate will be too high, easily causing splashing; if the first preset angle is too small, the liquid cannot flow to the drainage mechanism 311, and water accumulation will still occur. Therefore, it is necessary to limit the specific range of the first preset angle. In this preferred embodiment, the range of the first preset angle is 1°-3°. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific structure of the first plate 31, the second plate 32 and the arc plate 37, and those skilled in the art can set them according to actual usage requirements.

[0057] In this preferred embodiment, the plane where the second plate 32 is located forms a second preset angle with the horizontal plane. Since the second plate 32 has a reserved pipeline installation port 321, the second plate 32 needs to be raised so that there is space below the second plate 32 to accommodate the pipeline. Optionally, the range of the second preset angle can be 10°-30°.

[0058] In this preferred embodiment, to further enhance the strength of the inner liner, the housing 2 is made of stainless steel sheet metal. Additionally, both the cover plate 1 and the bottom connector 3 are provided with multiple reinforcing ribs, which are arranged in a crisscrossing mesh to strengthen the cover plate 1 and the bottom connector 3 and prevent damage.

[0059] See Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a preferred embodiment of the garment care machine provided by the present invention, as shown below. Figure 3 As shown, the present invention provides a garment care machine, including a frame 5 and an inner liner for the garment care machine as described in the above embodiment, wherein the frame 5 covers the outside of the inner liner for the garment care machine.

[0060] In this preferred embodiment, such as Figure 3As shown, the frame 5 includes vertically arranged columns 51, horizontally arranged side beams 52 between the columns 51, a top plate 53, and a bracket 54. The bottom connector 3 of the inner liner is disposed on the bracket 54, so that the cover plate 1 of the inner liner is located below the top plate 53. The columns 51 are respectively disposed at the corners of the inner liner, so that the inner liner is completely embedded in the frame 5 to protect the frame 5. The top plate 53 is provided with multiple reinforcing structures, which protrude upward to enhance the strength of the top plate 53. In this preferred embodiment, the outer side of the connector 4 is provided with a mounting groove, the side beams 52 are engaged in the mounting groove and connected to the connector 4 with screws. This arrangement can enhance the connection strength between the frame 5 and the inner liner. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific structure of the columns 51, side beams 52, top plate 53, and bracket 54, as long as the frame 5 covers the outside of the inner liner used for the garment care machine. Technicians can set it according to actual usage requirements.

[0061] In this preferred embodiment, the garment care machine further includes a water supply and drainage device, a steam generator, and a heat pump-generated hot air circulation system. The lower part of the frame 5 is the equipment installation chamber. The water supply and drainage device, steam generator, and hot air circulation system are all installed in the equipment installation chamber, which also houses an electrical box containing a control circuit board. Additionally, the garment care machine has a circulation duct at the top of the inner drum, with a drying fan installed inside. Both ends of the circulation duct are connected to the interior of the inner drum. By installing a circulation duct at the top of the inner drum, the drying fan can force the top of the inner drum to circulate hot air, achieving overall vertical circulation within the inner drum. After being drawn into the circulation duct, the drying fan forces the air downwards, starting from the top of the garment, thus improving drying efficiency.

[0062] 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 structure so that the present invention can be applied to more specific application scenarios.

[0063] 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. An inner liner for a garment care machine, characterized in that, The inner liner includes a cover, a box body, and a bottom connector. The cover plate, the box body, and the bottom connector are connected in sequence along the vertical direction. The cover plate and the bottom connector are made of plastic. The enclosure is made of metal.

2. The inner liner for a garment care machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom connector includes a first plate and a second plate that are connected together. The first plate and the second plate are connected by an arc-shaped plate. The first plate is equipped with a drainage mechanism.

3. The inner liner for a garment care machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, The plane containing the first plate forms a first preset angle with the horizontal plane.

4. The inner liner for a garment care machine according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first preset angle is in the range of 1°-3°.

5. The inner liner for a garment care machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cover plate is provided with a first connecting groove that opens downwards. The top of the box is inserted into the interior of the first connecting slot. A first sealing element is provided in the first connecting groove.

6. The inner liner for a garment care machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom connector is provided with a second connecting groove that opens upwards. The bottom of the housing is inserted into the interior of the second connecting slot. A second sealing element is provided in the second connecting groove.

7. The inner liner for a garment care machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner liner also includes multiple connectors. The plurality of connectors are arranged around the lower part of the housing and are engaged with the bottom connector.

8. The inner liner for a garment care machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The enclosure is a stainless steel sheet metal structure; and / or, the cover plate and the bottom connector are provided with multiple reinforcing ribs, which are arranged in a crisscross pattern to form a mesh.

9. A garment care machine, characterized in that, The garment care machine includes a frame and an inner liner for the garment care machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 8. The frame covers the outside of the inner liner of the garment care machine.

10. The garment care machine according to claim 9 of claim 7, characterized in that, The frame includes side beams. The connector has a mounting groove on its outer side. The side beam is snapped into the mounting groove and connected to the connector with screws.

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