Control method of washing equipment and washing equipment

Abstract

The invention provides a washing equipment control method and washing equipment, the washing equipment comprises a washing cavity used for containing washed objects, the control method specifically comprises the steps that color information in a preset range in the washing cavity is obtained, and the washing equipment adjusts washing parameters according to the obtained color information. The washing equipment can selectively and automatically start a defoaming program or a color protection washing program according to the proportion of various colors in the monitoring set range, manual selection of a user is not needed, the automation degree is high, the situation that foam is too much or washed objects fade is effectively prevented, the functions of the washing equipment are more powerful, and the washing efficiency is improved. The overall technical level of the washing equipment is improved, and the use experience of a user is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the technical field of household appliances, and in particular relates to a control method for a washing device and the washing device. Background Art

[0002] With the advancement of science and technology, various washing equipment have entered thousands of households, such as washing machines, shoe washing machines, dishwashers, etc. Washing equipment based on high-tech technologies such as the Internet and the Internet of Things are also emerging in an endless stream. These automatically operated washing equipment has brought great convenience to people's lives.

[0003] When people use washing equipment to wash objects, the main parameters that affect the washing effect are washing time, washing temperature, mechanical force, detergent dosage, etc. In order to achieve a more ideal washing effect, different materials and quantities of objects to be washed often have different requirements for the above washing parameters.

[0004] Today's washing equipment is often fully automatic. When users use washing equipment, the combination of the above washing elements may cause excessive washing foam. When there are too many foams, it may cause incomplete rinsing and more detergent residues. When the foam increases further, it may even cause foam overflow, seriously affecting the user experience. There are many washing equipment on the market that have the functions of foam detection and defoaming, and there are many ways to achieve it, such as using liquid level meters, pressure sensors, image analysis and other methods. However, on the one hand, since the distribution of foam is often uneven, physical methods such as liquid level meters and pressure sensors are prone to misjudgment; on the other hand, the use of image analysis methods requires the installation of expensive image acquisition and analysis devices on the equipment, resulting in high cost of washing equipment and unfriendly prices.

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

[0006] The main purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems and provide a control method and a washing device for washing equipment, which can accurately sense excessive foam in the washing drum, accurately eliminate foam, shorten the defoaming time, and improve clothing washing efficiency and user experience.

[0007] To achieve the above object, the technical solution of the present invention is:

[0008] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a control method for a washing device, wherein the washing device includes a washing cavity for accommodating objects to be washed, and the control method is specifically as follows:

[0009] Obtaining color information within a preset range in the washing chamber;

[0010] The washing equipment adjusts the washing parameters according to the obtained color information.

[0011] As a preferred implementation, the color information includes the location and proportion of various colors within a set range.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment, in the washing process, the proportion of various colors within the set range is continuously or intermittently monitored. If the proportion of white is detected to exceed the set value, it is determined that there is too much foam at this time, and the washing equipment automatically starts the defoaming program.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment, whether the amount of foam is excessive is determined based on an average value of monitoring results over a period of time.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment, the defoaming procedure includes reducing the washing intensity, and / or reducing the temperature of the washing water, and / or spraying and rinsing the white area.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment, before executing the washing program, the washing device identifies the proportions of various colors within a set range M times, and uses the average white proportion identified M times as the initial value of the white proportion, and the set value is A times the initial value.

[0016] As a preferred embodiment, the washing device identifies the proportion of various colors within a set range N times before executing the washing program. If it is identified that the set color proportion exceeds a first limit value, or the set color quantity exceeds a second limit value, it is determined that the laundry has a tendency to fade, and the washing device automatically starts a color protection washing program.

[0017] As a preferred embodiment, the color protection washing program includes reducing the washing intensity, and / or lowering the temperature of the washing water, and / or reducing the amount of detergent added, and / or adding a color protection agent.

[0018] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a washing device, which adopts the control method of the washing device as described above.

[0019] As a preferred embodiment, the washing equipment comprises:

[0020] An image acquisition module is used to acquire an image within a set range and transmit the image to a control module of the washing device for analysis to obtain color information, and / or,

[0021] A color sensor is used to identify color information within a set range and transmit it to the control module of the washing equipment for analysis;

[0022] and a control module for adjusting washing parameters according to color information within a set range in the washing cavity.

[0023] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0024] 1. In the present invention, the washing device adjusts the washing parameters according to the color information within a set range in the washing cavity. The color information includes the position and proportion of various colors within the set range. The result is accurate and the judgment efficiency is high, which is conducive to improving the overall technical level of the washing device.

[0025] 2. In the present invention, the washing device can selectively start the defoaming program or the color protection washing program according to the proportion of various colors within the monitoring set range, without the need for manual selection by the user. It has a high degree of automation and effectively prevents excessive foam or discoloration of washed items, making the washing device more powerful and improving the user experience.

[0026] 3. In the present invention, the washing device includes an image acquisition module and / or a color sensor, and only needs to perform corresponding analysis on the color, which effectively saves costs compared to the prior art, making the price of the washing device more affordable and adapting to market demand. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The accompanying drawings are part of the present invention and are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention, but do not constitute an improper limitation of the present invention. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work. In the accompanying drawings:

[0028] Figure 1 It is a flow chart of the present invention.

[0029] It should be noted that these drawings and textual descriptions are not intended to limit the conceptual scope of the present invention in any way, but are intended to illustrate the concept of the present invention for those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0031] [Example 1]

[0032] Reference Figure 1 This embodiment provides a control method for a washing device, where the washing device includes but is not limited to a washing machine, a shoe washing machine, a dishwasher, etc. The following is a specific description using a washing machine as an example. Those skilled in the art are capable of adaptively modifying this method according to the specific structure of the washing device to adapt it to other washing devices.

[0033] Specifically, the washing device includes a washing cavity for accommodating the laundry, and the control method is specifically: obtaining color information within a preset range in the washing cavity, and then the washing device adjusts the washing parameters according to the obtained color information. The washing machine includes a washing drum, which generally includes an inner drum and an outer drum, and the inner drum is used to accommodate the laundry, that is, in this embodiment, the washing machine will adjust the washing parameters according to the color information within the set range in the inner drum, and the washing parameters include but are not limited to: washing intensity, heating temperature, detergent dosage, etc.

[0034] Furthermore, the setting range is a relatively fixed position range in the inner drum of the washing machine, which is related to the installation position of the recognition module for identifying color information. In a preferred embodiment, the recognition module is installed at a fixed position outside the inner drum of the washing machine. In a drum washing machine, the recognition module can be installed on the upper inner side of the washing machine door, and in a pulsator washing machine, the recognition module can be installed on the bottom or side wall of the washing machine pan.

[0035] Furthermore, the setting range generally includes a portion of the upper surface of the clothes and water, and in a preferred case also includes a portion of the side wall of the inner drum, so the setting range is not necessarily a simple plane. The setting range will not change with the rotation of the inner drum, but with the rotation of the inner drum, the distribution of clothes within the setting range will continue to change, and the amount of foam will also change, resulting in the color information within the setting range is constantly changing.

[0036] Furthermore, the side wall of the inner drum is preferably non-white, so as to prevent the situation where the color of the foam and the clothes cannot be distinguished when all or most of the clothes to be washed are pure white.

[0037] In some embodiments, the color information includes the location and proportion of each color within the set range. Specifically, the proportion of each color is represented by the ratio of the area of ​​the color within the set range to the total area of ​​the set range.

[0038] In some embodiments, in the washing program, the proportion of various colors within the set range is continuously or intermittently monitored. If the proportion of white is monitored to exceed the set value, it is determined that the amount of foam is too much at this time, and the washing device automatically starts the defoaming program. Before executing the washing program, the washing device identifies the proportion of various colors within the set range M times, and rotates the inner drum at a certain speed to ensure that the washed clothes are turned over multiple times in the inner drum to reduce the data deviation caused by the clothes covering each other. The average value of the proportion of white identified M times is used as the initial value of the proportion of white, and the set value is A times the initial value. The value of A is preferably 1.5-10, which is specifically related to the initial value of the proportion of white. Preferably, the higher the initial value of the proportion of white, the smaller A tends to be.

[0039] Under normal circumstances, the foam generated by the detergent during the washing process is white, and the foam will accumulate on top of the clothes or the washing water, covering part or all of the clothes, which will increase the proportion of white within the identified set range. Especially when there is excessive foam, the proportion of white within the set range may reach 100%. Therefore, in this embodiment, the main focus is on the proportion of white within the set range.

[0040] Because the inner drum is constantly rotating during the washing process, the clothes and foam are in constant motion. Therefore, in order to ensure the accuracy of the identification result, in a preferred embodiment, it is determined whether the amount of foam is excessive based on the average value of the monitoring results over a period of time.

[0041] In some embodiments, the defoaming procedure comprises:

[0042] Reduce the washing intensity, including reducing the speed and start-stop ratio of the inner drum;

[0043] and / or, reducing the temperature of the wash water;

[0044] And / or, the clothes in the inner drum, especially the identified white area, are sprayed and rinsed, and the washing machine is drained at the same time.

[0045] [Example 2]

[0046] This embodiment is a further upgrade of the washing equipment control method in the previous embodiment.

[0047] Reference Figure 1 Before executing the washing program, the washing device will identify the proportion of various colors within the set range N times. If it is identified that the proportion of the set color exceeds the first limit value, or the number of the set colors exceeds the second limit value, it is determined that the laundry has a tendency to fade, and the washing device automatically starts the color protection washing program. It is understandable that the set color refers to a color that is prone to fading, especially dark colors such as dark red, dark blue, dark purple, etc., which can be set by those skilled in the art based on experience or experimental data, and is not specifically limited here.

[0048] Especially in washing machines or shoe washing machines, the effect of this embodiment is more obvious. Users often wash dark and light-colored clothes together due to negligence, which easily causes color fading and color mixing. By adopting the control method of this embodiment, the recognition module for identifying color information is given more additional functions, which improves its utilization and practicality, making the washing device more powerful.

[0049] Specifically, in some embodiments, to determine whether the proportion of a set color exceeds a first limit value, it is preferred to rotate the inner drum while identifying multiple times and taking an average value to make the clothes pressed underneath appear as much as possible and reduce the deviation caused by the stacking and covering of clothes; to determine whether the number of colors exceeds a second limit value, it is preferred to rotate the inner drum while identifying multiple times and taking the total number of set colors identified. As long as the set color is identified, it means that clothes of this color must exist.

[0050] In some embodiments, since the determination of the initial value of the white ratio and the determination of whether to start the color-protection washing are both performed by the washing device before executing the washing program, the washing device identifies the various color ratios within the set range several times, so when the recognition module for identifying color information and the control module of the washing device have the function of processing the above programs or data at the same time, it is preferred that the two are combined into the same step to save time and energy. Of course, in order to reduce costs, when using hardware or software with relatively low processing power, it is also a choice that those skilled in the art can make to perform the two in different programs.

[0051] In some embodiments, the color protection washing process includes:

[0052] Reduce the washing intensity, including reducing the speed and start-stop ratio of the inner drum;

[0053] and / or lowering the temperature of the wash water;

[0054] and / or reduce the amount of detergent used;

[0055] And / or add color protectant.

[0056] [Example 3]

[0057] This embodiment provides a washing machine, which adopts the control method of the washing machine of the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0058] Specifically, the washing equipment in this embodiment includes:

[0059] An image acquisition module is used to acquire an image within a set range and transmit the image to a control module of the washing device for analysis to obtain color information, and / or,

[0060] A color sensor is used to identify color information within a set range and transmit it to the control module of the washing equipment for analysis;

[0061] and a control module, which receives and adjusts washing parameters according to color information within a set range in the washing cavity.

[0062] That is to say, the recognition of color information in the aforementioned embodiment can be mainly realized by the above two hardware routes. One is to directly acquire the image through the image acquisition module, and the control module recognizes the color information in the image. This method makes it easier to integrate the determination of the initial value of the white ratio and the determination of whether to start the color protection wash in the same step; the second is to directly recognize the color information through the color sensor and pass the data to the control module. This method is low in cost, but it is not easy to integrate the determination of the initial value of the white ratio and the determination of whether to start the color protection wash in the same step. Of course, combining the image sensor and the color sensor and using them together can effectively improve the accuracy and efficiency of color information recognition, which is the preferred implementation method.

[0063] In some embodiments, the image acquisition module and / or the color sensor is fixedly installed outside the washing cavity of the washing device, and its recognition range covers a set range in the washing cavity.

[0064] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0065] 1. In the present invention, the washing device adjusts the washing parameters according to the color information within a set range in the washing cavity. The color information includes the position and proportion of various colors within the set range. The result is accurate and the judgment efficiency is high, which is conducive to improving the overall technical level of the washing device.

[0066] 2. In the present invention, the washing device can selectively start the defoaming program or the color protection washing program according to the proportion of various colors within the monitoring set range, without the need for manual selection by the user. It has a high degree of automation and effectively prevents excessive foam or discoloration of washed items, making the washing device more powerful and improving the user experience.

[0067] 3. In the present invention, the washing device includes an image acquisition module and / or a color sensor, and only needs to perform corresponding analysis on the color, which effectively saves costs compared to the prior art, making the price of the washing device more affordable and adapting to market demand.

[0068] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0069] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "inside", "outside", "top", "bottom", etc. indicate directions or positional relationships based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limitations on the present invention.

[0070] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "plurality" is two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0071] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art may combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of the different embodiments or examples, without contradiction.

[0072] As described above, similar technical solutions can be derived from the scheme contents given in the accompanying drawings. However, any simple modification, equivalent changes and modifications made to the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the contents of the technical scheme of the present invention still fall within the scope of the technical scheme of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method for a washing device, wherein the washing device comprises a washing cavity for accommodating objects to be washed, characterized in that: Obtaining color information within a preset range in the washing chamber; The washing equipment adjusts washing parameters according to the obtained color information.

2. A control method for a washing device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The color information includes the location and proportion of various colors within a set range.

3. A control method for a washing device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: During the washing process, the proportion of various colors within the set range is monitored continuously or at intervals. If the proportion of white is detected to exceed the set value, it is determined that there is too much foam at this time, and the washing equipment automatically starts the defoaming program.

4. A control method for a washing device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: Determine whether the amount of foam is excessive based on the average value of the monitoring results over a period of time.

5. A control method for a washing device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: The defoaming procedure includes reducing the washing intensity, and / or reducing the temperature of the washing water, and / or spraying and rinsing the white area.

6. A control method for a washing device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: Before executing the washing program, the washing device identifies the proportions of various colors within a set range M times, and takes the average value of the white proportion identified M times as the initial value of the white proportion, and the set value is A times the initial value.

7. A control method for a washing device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: Before executing the washing program, the washing device identifies the proportion of various colors within the set range N times. If it is identified that the set color proportion exceeds the first limit value, or the set color quantity exceeds the second limit value, it is determined that the laundry has a tendency to fade, and the washing device automatically starts the color protection washing program.

8. A control method for a washing device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that: The color protection washing program includes reducing the washing intensity, and / or reducing the temperature of the washing water, and / or reducing the amount of detergent added, and / or adding a color protection agent.

9. A washing device, characterized in that: A control method for washing equipment as described in any one of claims 1 to 8 is adopted.

10. A washing device according to claim 9, characterized in that: include: An image acquisition module is used to acquire an image within a set range and transmit the image to a control module of the washing device for analysis to obtain color information, and / or, A color sensor is used to identify color information within a set range and transmit it to the control module of the washing equipment for analysis; and a control module for adjusting washing parameters according to color information within a set range in the washing cavity.

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