Fluff cleaning reminding method and washing and drying all-in-one machine adopting same

Abstract

The invention discloses a fluff cleaning reminding method and a washing and drying integrated machine adopting the fluff cleaning reminding method, and the fluff cleaning reminding method is characterized by comprising the following steps: 1, setting a concentration initial value x0; 2, a door lock is locked and a set program is executed; 3, judging whether a dehydration program exists or not, and if yes, step 7; if not, detecting an actual concentration value x; 4, judging whether the difference value reaches a first threshold value a or not, and executing step 5; if not, step 7; 5, judging whether a washing procedure exists, if so, reminding to clean fluff; if not, step 6; 6, whether the difference value reaches a second threshold value b is judged, if yes, fluff cleaning is reminded; if not, step 7; 7, judging whether the execution program ends or not, if so, ending the program; if not, returning to the step 2. The detection device has the advantages that the blocking degree of the fluff intercepting net is indirectly detected by detecting the fluff concentration (namely the fluff concentration penetrating through the fluff intercepting net) change of the periphery of the fluff intercepting net, the detection device can be installed in an air duct, the influence of fluff collection in the fluff intercepting net on the precision of the detection device is avoided, and installation is more convenient and simpler.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a control method for a washer-dryer, in particular to a lint cleaning reminder method and a washer-dryer using the method. Background Art

[0002] The lint collection function of existing washer-dryers is usually achieved by the following two technologies: the first is to use a filter net to collect lint, which is cleaned regularly by consumers, such as the Chinese invention patent "Filter Assembly and Clothing Processing Device" with patent number ZL202011066528.0. However, this design requires the entire detergent dispensing assembly to be completely separated from the detergent dispensing chamber before the filter net on the bracket can be taken out for cleaning, that is, the filter assembly cannot be taken out separately to clean the lint. For consumers, the operation of cleaning the lint is not very convenient, and it is easy to wet the home environment when taking it out; the second is to use an interception net to collect lint, intercept the return air at the return air outlet of the washer-dryer, and flush the lint back between the inner and outer barrels by flushing water, but this treatment method is likely to cause lint to remain between the inner and outer barrels, which is easy to breed bacteria and contaminate the inner and outer barrels.

[0003] In order to achieve regular cleaning of lint, usually, the lint collection and cleaning reminder function mostly monitors the drying time / drying times, or reminds the user to clean the lint after the drying time / drying times reaches a predetermined value. However, the above reminder method has two disadvantages: the first disadvantage is that the reminder time for lint cleaning is not accurate enough. Since the types and quantities of clothes dried by the user are different each time, it is easy to make misjudgments by using the drying time / drying times, which leads to poor user experience; the second disadvantage is that since the states of lint in different programs (such as drying program and washing program) are quite different, different programs all execute the same set of lint cleaning reminder solutions, which is easy to cause lint blockage and cause equipment failure.

[0004] Therefore, the existing fluff reminder method still has the above-mentioned shortcomings and needs to be further improved. Summary of the invention

[0005] The first technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a lint detection and cleaning reminder method with higher accuracy and stronger pertinence in view of the above-mentioned existing technical status.

[0006] The second technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a washer-dryer that adopts the above-mentioned lint cleaning reminder method to achieve lint cleaning in response to the above-mentioned existing technical status.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned first technical problem is: a lint cleaning reminder method, characterized in that the lint cleaning reminder method comprises the following steps:

[0008] Step 1: Start the program and set the initial value x0 of the concentration of fluff in the wind around the fluff interception net;

[0009] Step 2: The door is locked and the device executes the set program;

[0010] Step 3: determine whether the currently executed program is a dehydration program. If yes, go to step 7; if no, detect the actual concentration value x of the fluff in the wind around the fluff interception net, and continue to the next step 4;

[0011] Step 4: determine whether the difference between the detected actual concentration value x and the preset initial concentration value x0 reaches the first threshold value a. If yes, proceed to the next step 5; if no, proceed to step 7;

[0012] Step 5: determine whether the currently executed program is a washing program. If so, remind the user to clean the lint; if not, the currently executed program is a drying program, and proceed to the next step 6;

[0013] Step 6: determine whether the difference between the detected actual concentration value x and the preset initial concentration value x0 reaches a second threshold value b. If yes, remind the user to clean the lint; if no, execute step 7;

[0014] Step 7: Check whether the set execution program is finished. If so, the program is finished; if not, return to step 2.

[0015] In order to avoid frequent activation of the lint cleaning reminder, reduce false alarms, and appropriately extend the cleaning cycle, as a further preferred embodiment, the step 5 further includes the following steps before reminding the user to clean the lint:

[0016] Step 5-1, the timer starts counting;

[0017] Step 5-2, determine whether the timing duration reaches the preset time t, if yes, execute the next step 5-3; if no, loop this step;

[0018] Step 5-3: determine whether the difference between the detected actual concentration value x and the preset initial concentration value x0 reaches a third threshold value a1. If yes, remind the user to clean the lint; if no, execute step seven.

[0019] In order to avoid frequent activation of the reminder for cleaning the fluff, reduce false alarms, and appropriately extend the cleaning cycle, as another preferred embodiment, the step 6 further includes the following steps before reminding the user to clean the fluff:

[0020] Step 6-1, the timer starts counting;

[0021] Step 6-2, determine whether the timing duration reaches the preset time t, if yes, execute the next step 6-3; if no, loop this step;

[0022] Step 6-3: determine whether the difference between the detected actual concentration value x and the preset initial concentration value x0 reaches a fourth threshold value b1. If yes, remind the user to clean the lint; if no, execute step seven.

[0023] In order to improve the detection accuracy and realize progressive detection, preferably, the third threshold a1 is greater than the first threshold a, and the fourth threshold b1 is greater than the second threshold b.

[0024] In order to prevent water from forming on the filter screen after the washing process and thus causing bacteria to grow, preferably, in step seven, if the currently executed program is a washing program, the following steps are further provided before the program ends:

[0025] Step 7-1, determine whether the currently executed program is a washing program, if yes, proceed to the next step; if no, proceed to step 7-3;

[0026] Step 7-2, start the heating device to perform a drying procedure on the lint filter;

[0027] Step 7-3, the program ends.

[0028] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above-mentioned second technical problem is: a washer-dryer, comprising a lint interception net arranged in the air duct, characterized in that: the washer-dryer adopts the lint cleaning reminder method as described above to detect the lint content on the lint interception net and issues a lint cleaning reminder when the lint content reaches a set threshold.

[0029] Preferably, the lint interception net is arranged in the lint collecting air duct, and the concentration of lint in the wind around the lint interception net is the lint content contained between the inner cavity of the lint collecting air duct and the outer peripheral wall of the lint interception net.

[0030] The detection of the fluff concentration can be achieved by various solutions in the prior art. As a further preferred embodiment, a photoelectric detection device is provided on the inner cavity of the fluff collection air duct to detect the actual concentration value x of the fluff in the wind behind the fluff interception net. The photoelectric detection device is usually controlled by converting the change of light intensity into the change of electrical signal. The photoelectric detection device can obtain the change of fluff concentration through the change of the detected photoelectric receiving signal.

[0031] Taking into account the convenience of installation and easy implementation, it is preferred that the washer-dryer is also provided with a buzzer to remind the user to clean the lint when the lint content reaches a set threshold.

[0032] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are: the more fluff collected on the fluff interception net, the larger the area of ​​the gaps on the fluff interception net that are blocked, the smaller the effective ventilation area, and the less fluff that passes through the fluff interception net with wind. The blockage degree of the fluff interception net can be indirectly detected by detecting the change in the fluff concentration at the periphery of the fluff interception net (i.e., the fluff concentration passing through the fluff interception net). The detection device can be installed in the air duct to avoid the influence of fluff collected inside the fluff interception net on the accuracy of the detection device, and the installation is more convenient and simple. Different thresholds are used to grade and judge the fluff content for different execution programs, taking into account the influence of the actual use environment on the detection results, so that the detection results are more accurate and reasonable. A timer is added to effectively reduce the frequency of users cleaning fluff and improve user experience. After the washing program is completed, the filter net is dried to avoid the problem of bacterial growth caused by this, thereby ensuring the safety and hygiene of the equipment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Figure 1 This is one of the control flow charts of the lint cleaning reminder method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 2 This is the second control flow chart of the lint cleaning reminder method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of a lint cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] This embodiment discloses a washer-dryer, which includes a lint intercepting net 2 arranged in an air duct 1. Figure 3 As shown, the fluff intercepting net 2 is arranged in the fluff collecting air duct 1, wherein the concentration of fluff in the wind around the fluff intercepting net 2 is the fluff content contained in the cavity 3 between the inner cavity of the fluff collecting air duct 1 and the outer peripheral wall of the fluff intercepting net 2.

[0038] The detection of fluff concentration can be achieved by various schemes in the prior art. Simply put, in this embodiment, a photoelectric detection device 4 is provided on the inner cavity of the fluff collection air duct 1, which can detect the actual concentration value x of fluff in the wind behind the fluff interception net 2. The photoelectric detection device 4 usually realizes concentration detection by converting the change of light intensity into the change of electrical signal. The photoelectric detection device 4 can obtain the change of fluff concentration by the change of the detected photoelectric receiving signal.

[0039] In order to notify the user in time and considering the cost and installation convenience, the washer-dryer of this embodiment is preferably provided with a buzzer to remind the user to clean the lint when the lint content reaches a set threshold. Other alarm devices used in the prior art may also be used, such as setting a flashing warning light, or using a mobile phone app to notify the user, etc.

[0040] The above-mentioned photoelectric detection device and alarm prompt device are both conventional technologies, and various structures and solutions that can be implemented in the prior art can be adopted, which will not be described in detail here.

[0041] like Figure 1-Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a control flow chart of the lint cleaning reminder method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 and Figure 1 The difference is that a timer link is added, and two threshold judgments are used for the same execution program, which can improve the detection accuracy, reduce the frequency of users cleaning up the fluff, and improve the user experience.

[0042] Specifically, the lint cleaning reminder method of this embodiment includes the following steps:

[0043] A method for reminding a lint removal, characterized in that the method for reminding a lint removal comprises the following steps:

[0044] Step 1. Start the program and set the initial value x0 of the concentration of fluff in the wind around the fluff interception net. The initial concentration value x0 here can be the concentration of fluff in the wind around the fluff interception net before the net starts working, or it can be the concentration of fluff in the wind around the fluff interception net after a layer of fluff is attached to the fluff interception net (blocked state) obtained based on empirical values ​​(theoretical values). Correspondingly, the threshold is adjusted according to the initial concentration value x0.

[0045] Step 2: The door is locked and the device executes the set program.

[0046] Step 3: determine whether the currently executed program is a dehydration program. If yes, go to step 7; if not, detect the actual concentration value x of the fluff in the wind around the fluff interception net, and continue to the next step 4.

[0047] Step 4: Determine whether the difference (generally an absolute value) between the detected actual concentration value x and the preset initial concentration value x0 reaches the first threshold a. If yes, proceed to the next step 5; if not, proceed to step 7.

[0048] Step 5: Determine whether the current program is a washing program. If yes,

[0049] Step 5-1, the timer starts counting;

[0050] Step 5-2, determine whether the timing duration reaches the preset time t, if yes, execute the next step 5-3; if no, loop this step;

[0051] Step 5-3: determine whether the difference (generally an absolute value) between the detected actual concentration value x and the preset initial concentration value x0 reaches a third threshold value a1. If yes, remind the user to clean the lint; if not, execute step seven.

[0052] If the currently executed program is neither a dehydration program nor a washing program, the currently executed program is a drying program, and the next step six is ​​continued.

[0053] Step 6: Determine whether the difference (generally an absolute value) between the detected actual concentration value x and the preset initial concentration value x0 reaches a second threshold value b. If so,

[0054] Step 6-1, the timer starts counting;

[0055] Step 6-2, determine whether the timing duration reaches the preset time t, if yes, execute the next step 6-3; if no, loop this step;

[0056] Step 6-3, determine whether the difference (generally an absolute value) between the detected actual concentration value x and the preset initial concentration value x0 reaches a fourth threshold value b1, if yes, remind the user to clean the lint; if no, execute step 7;

[0057] If the difference between the actual concentration value x and the preset initial concentration value x0 reaches the second threshold value b, step seven is executed.

[0058] Step 7: Determine whether the set execution program has ended. If the execution program has ended, in order to prevent water from forming on the filter screen after the washing process,

[0059] Step 7-1, determine whether the currently executed program is a washing program, if yes, proceed to the next step; if no, proceed to step 7-3;

[0060] Step 7-2, start the heating device to perform a drying procedure on the lint filter;

[0061] Step 7-3, the program ends;

[0062] If the execution of the program has not ended, return to step 2.

[0063] Considering that lint cleaning is not required during the dehydration program, if the washer-dryer executes the dehydration program, it is not necessary to detect the lint accumulation amount or concentration on the lint interception net. However, during the washing and drying programs, if the lint is not cleaned in time, the filter mesh will be blocked due to the dry lint contacting water and becoming wet lint, and the resulting sharp decrease in air volume and potential safety hazards. Therefore, in this embodiment, lint detection is added during the washing and drying processes.

[0064] To avoid frequent activation of the lint cleaning reminder, reduce false alarms, and appropriately extend the cleaning cycle, a timer is added to the lint cleaning reminder method in this embodiment. An alarm reminder can be issued after the cumulative time reaches t. Progressive detection is achieved by setting the first threshold a, the second threshold b, the third threshold a1, and the fourth threshold b1, thereby improving the detection accuracy. Moreover, the above four thresholds satisfy the following conditions: a < a1 < b < b1. During washing, since the lint is wetted and easily blocks the lint interception net, the lint threshold in the washing program is set relatively low to clean the lint in time to prevent the wetted lint from blocking the filter mesh. In the drying program, the lint is in a dry state, and the lint interception net can carry a higher amount of lint than in the washing program. Therefore, the set thresholds are higher than those in the washing program.

[0065] In addition, to prevent bacteria from growing in the lint box in a wet state, a heating program is added after the washing program in this embodiment, which can promptly dry the surface of the lint box, improving the hygiene and safety of equipment use.

[0066] The lint concentration detected in this embodiment is the lint concentration in the cavity 3 between the inner cavity of the lint collection duct 1 and the outer peripheral wall of the lint interception net 2. The detection device can be directly installed in the duct 1, with a large installation space and greater flexibility and convenience. Usually, the filter mesh has a lint interception rate, and a part of the lint will pass through the filter mesh when intercepting lint. However, when the lint in the filter mesh blocks the filter mesh, the lint passing through will gradually decrease and finally maintain at a relatively fixed value. By detecting the lint concentration in the cavity 3 between the inner cavity of the lint collection duct 1 and the outer peripheral wall of the lint interception net 2, the lint accumulation process in the filter mesh can be deduced in reverse, thereby giving a reminder for lint cleaning.

Claims

1. A method for reminding lint cleaning, characterized in that: The lint cleaning reminder method comprises the following steps: Step 1: Start the program and set the initial value x0 of the concentration of fluff in the wind around the fluff interception net; Step 2: The door is locked and the device executes the set program; Step 3: determine whether the currently executed program is a dehydration program. If yes, go to step 7; if no, detect the actual concentration value x of the fluff in the wind around the fluff interception net, and continue to the next step 4; Step 4: determine whether the difference between the detected actual concentration value x and the preset initial concentration value x0 reaches the first threshold value a. If yes, proceed to the next step 5; if no, proceed to step 7; Step 5: determine whether the currently executed program is a washing program. If so, remind the user to clean the lint; if not, the currently executed program is a drying program, and proceed to the next step 6; Step 6: determine whether the difference between the detected actual concentration value x and the preset initial concentration value x0 reaches a second threshold value b. If yes, remind the user to clean the lint; if no, execute step 7; Step 7: Check whether the set execution program is finished. If so, the program is finished; if not, return to step 2.

2. The lint cleaning reminder method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The step 5 further includes the following steps before reminding the user to clean the fluff: Step 5-1, the timer starts counting; Step 5-2, determine whether the timing duration reaches the preset time t, if yes, execute the next step 5-3; if no, loop this step; Step 5-3: determine whether the difference between the detected actual concentration value x and the preset initial concentration value x0 reaches a third threshold value a1. If yes, remind the user to clean the lint; if no, execute step seven.

3. The lint cleaning reminder method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The third threshold a1 is greater than the first threshold a.

4. The lint cleaning reminder method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The step 6 also includes the following steps before reminding the user to clean the fluff: Step 6-1, the timer starts counting; Step 6-2, determine whether the timing duration reaches the preset time t, if yes, execute the next step 6-3; if no, loop this step; Step 6-3: determine whether the difference between the detected actual concentration value x and the preset initial concentration value x0 reaches a fourth threshold value b1. If yes, remind the user to clean the lint; if no, execute step seven.

5. The lint cleaning reminder method according to claim 4, characterized in that: The fourth threshold b1 is greater than the second threshold b.

6. The lint cleaning reminder method according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step 7, if the currently executed program is a washing program, the following steps are also provided before the program ends: Step 7-1, determine whether the currently executed program is a washing program, if yes, proceed to the next step; if no, proceed to step 7-3; Step 7-2, start the heating device to perform a drying procedure on the lint filter; Step 7-3, the program ends.

7. A washer-dryer, comprising a lint intercepting net (2), characterized in that: The washer-dryer adopts the lint cleaning reminder method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6 to detect the lint content in the lint interception net (2) and issues a lint cleaning reminder when the lint content reaches a set threshold.

8. The lint cleaning reminder method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The fluff intercepting net (2) is arranged in the fluff collecting air duct (1), and the concentration of fluff in the wind around the fluff intercepting net (2) is the fluff content contained in the cavity (3) between the inner cavity of the fluff collecting air duct (1) and the outer peripheral wall of the fluff intercepting net (2).

9. The lint cleaning reminder method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The inner cavity of the fluff collecting air duct (1) is provided with a photoelectric detection device (4) capable of detecting an actual concentration value x of fluff in the wind at the periphery of the fluff intercepting net (2).

10. The lint cleaning reminder method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The washer-dryer is also provided with a buzzer to remind the user to clean the lint when the lint content reaches a set threshold.

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