Clothes dryer

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a clothes dryer. The clothes dryer comprises a box body; a drying barrel and an air circulation system; an air inlet assembly and an air exhaust assembly; a heater, an air inlet pipeline and an air flow meter; the filter screen, the air exhaust pipeline, the air exhaust fan, the air exhaust motor and the fan are arranged in the shell; the controller is connected with the air flow meter and the exhaust motor and used for executing a clothes dryer filter screen detection program, and the program comprises the following steps that the exhaust motor is controlled to reach the preset rotating speed and operates at the preset rotating speed; the current value of the exhaust motor in the process of keeping the preset rotating speed operation is detected, and whether the filter screen is blocked or not is judged based on the current value; and / or, the current flow value of the air flow meter and the historical flow value obtained in the process of historically executing the clothes dryer filter screen detection program are obtained, and whether the filter screen is blocked or not is judged based on the current flow value and the historical flow value; and if at least one judgment is yes, determining that the filter screen is blocked. The accuracy of cleaning detection of the filter screen can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of clothes dryers, and in particular to a clothes dryer. Background Art

[0002] A clothes dryer is a drying device that can dry wet clothes. During the operation of the clothes dryer, the heater located at the front end of the air inlet duct heats the air and then sucks it into the drying barrel through the air inlet duct, so that the wet clothes exchange heat with the high-temperature dry gas in the drying barrel. The gas after the heat exchange often carries the lint or fine impurities and dust left in the dried clothes. After passing through the filter, the gas will retain the lint or fine impurities and dust on the filter, which can easily cause the filter to be blocked.

[0003] Once the filter is clogged, it will affect the normal operation of the dryer, and further affect the final drying effect of the clothes, so it is extremely important to ensure that the filter is not clogged. However, the accuracy of detecting whether the filter is clogged is currently poor.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a clothes dryer that can accurately detect whether the filter is clogged. Summary of the invention

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of the present application provides a clothes dryer.

[0006] According to one aspect of an embodiment of the present application, the embodiment of the present application provides a clothes dryer, comprising: a housing; a drying barrel and an air circulation system arranged in the housing; the air circulation system comprises an air intake assembly and an air exhaust assembly; the air intake assembly comprises a heater and an air intake duct, for allowing heated air to enter the drying barrel to exchange heat with the clothes in the drying barrel, and an air flow meter is also arranged in the air intake duct; the exhaust assembly comprises a filter, an exhaust duct and an exhaust fan, and the gas after heat exchange is discharged from the exhaust duct after passing through the filter under the action of the exhaust fan, and the exhaust fan comprises an exhaust motor and a fan; a controller is respectively connected to the air The air flow meter is electrically connected to the exhaust motor and is used to execute a dryer filter detection program, which includes the following steps: controlling the exhaust motor to reach a preset speed and maintaining the preset speed; detecting the current value of the exhaust motor while maintaining the preset speed, and judging whether the filter is blocked based on the current value; and / or obtaining a current flow value of the air flow meter and a historical flow value obtained during the historical execution of the dryer filter detection program, and judging whether the filter is blocked based on the current flow value and the historical flow value; if at least one of the above judgments is yes, it is determined that the filter is blocked.

[0007] In the above embodiment, by detecting the current value of the exhaust motor while maintaining a preset speed, it is possible to accurately determine whether the filter is blocked based on the current value; and based on the current flow value obtained by the air flow meter and the historical flow value obtained during the historical execution of the dryer filter detection program, it is also possible to accurately determine whether the filter is blocked. If at least one of the two judgments is yes, it can be accurately determined that the filter is blocked and needs to be cleaned.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present application, based on the aforementioned scheme, the dryer filter detection program also includes the following steps: first determine whether the filter is blocked by the current value, and if the judgment is no, then determine whether the filter is blocked based on the current flow value and the historical flow value, and if the judgment is also no, determine that the filter is not blocked.

[0009] In the above embodiment, whether the filter is blocked is first determined by the current value of the exhaust motor while maintaining a preset speed. When it is initially determined that the filter is not blocked, a second determination is made based on the current flow value and historical flow value measured by the air flow meter to determine whether the filter is blocked. Only when the second determination is no can it be finally determined that the filter is not blocked. Whether the filter is blocked can be accurately determined through two consecutive determinations.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present application, based on the aforementioned scheme, in the dryer filter detection program, the step of judging whether the filter is blocked based on the current value includes: if the current value reaches above a preset current value, it is determined that the filter is blocked, and the preset current value represents the maximum current value of the exhaust motor when the filter is blocked; if the current value is below the preset current value, it is determined that the filter is not blocked.

[0011] In the above embodiment, the preset current value represents the maximum current value of the exhaust motor when the filter is clogged, and because the exhaust motor maintains a preset speed, the higher the degree of filter blockage, the greater the reflected flow value. Therefore, if the current value reaches above the preset current value, it can be accurately determined that the filter is clogged, and if the current value is below the preset current value, it can be accurately determined that the filter is not clogged.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present application, based on the aforementioned scheme, in the dryer filter detection program, the step of judging whether the filter is blocked based on the current flow value and the historical flow value includes: calculating the difference between the historical flow value and the current flow value; if the difference is below a preset value, determining that the filter is blocked, the preset value represents the minimum air intake volume when the filter is blocked, and the preset value is a positive number; if the difference reaches above the preset value, determining that the filter is not blocked.

[0013] In the above embodiment, since clothes may continuously drop lint during the drying process, the degree of filter blockage in the current dryer filter detection program will only increase compared to the previous filter blockage degree. Therefore, if the difference between the historical flow value and the current flow value is below the preset value, indicating that the amount of lint increased in the subsequent drying process is unlikely to affect the air intake, it can be accurately determined that the filter is blocked; if the difference between the historical flow value and the current flow value reaches above the preset value, indicating that the amount of lint increased in the subsequent drying process can still handle the air intake, it can be accurately determined that the filter is not blocked.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present application, based on the aforementioned solution, the step of determining whether the filter is clogged based on the current flow value and the historical flow value further includes: if the difference is a negative value, determining that the filter is not clogged.

[0015] In the above embodiment, in order to prevent the filter from being cleaned due to human intervention, which may cause the filter that is not blocked to be judged as blocked, it is determined whether the difference is a negative value. If the difference is a negative value, it can be accurately determined that the filter is not blocked and does not need to be cleaned.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present application, based on the aforementioned scheme, the dryer filter detection program also includes the following steps: when the start instruction of the dryer filter detection program is detected, determining whether the door of the dryer is closed; if it is determined to be yes, controlling the filter detection indicator light to display a detection state, and executing the step of controlling the exhaust motor to reach a preset speed and maintaining the preset speed.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present application, based on the aforementioned scheme, the dryer filter detection program also includes the following steps: when it is determined that the filter is not blocked, controlling the filter detection indicator light to display an end state, and controlling the exhaust motor to stop running.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present application, based on the aforementioned solution, the dryer filter detection program further includes the following steps: when it is determined that the filter is clogged, controlling the filter detection indicator light to display a prompt state.

[0019] In the above embodiment, when it is determined that the filter is clogged, the prompt status displayed by the filter detection indicator light can promptly remind the user to clean the filter to avoid affecting the subsequent normal use of the dryer.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present application, based on the aforementioned scheme, the controller also performs the following steps: if it is detected that after the drying program is completed, the dryer door is opened and then closed, then the filter detection candidate state is entered after waiting for a preset period of time; in the filter detection candidate state, the temperature value of the heater is detected, and when the temperature value is below the preset temperature value, the dryer filter detection program is started.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present application, based on the aforementioned scheme, the controller further performs the following steps: before starting the execution of the dryer filter detection program, determining whether the current program execution corresponds to the first detection after the filter is cleaned; if the determination is yes, during the current execution of the dryer filter detection program, determining whether the filter is blocked based only on the current value, and recording the air flow value of the exhaust motor while maintaining the preset speed; if the determination is no, executing the dryer filter detection program normally.

[0022] In the above embodiment, before starting the dryer filter detection program, it is determined whether this program corresponds to the first detection after the filter is cleaned. If it is the first detection after the filter is cleaned, whether the filter is blocked is determined only based on the current value, and the air flow value of the exhaust motor while maintaining the preset speed is recorded, so that the air flow value recorded in this detection is used as the historical flow value for the next detection, thereby simplifying the detection process while ensuring the accuracy of detecting whether the dryer is blocked.

[0023] It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The drawings herein are incorporated into the specification and constitute a part of the specification, showing embodiments consistent with the present application, and together with the specification, are used to explain the principles of the present application. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application, and for those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work. In the drawings:

[0025] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a clothes dryer provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 2 is a side structural schematic diagram of a clothes dryer provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figure 3 is a flowchart of the steps of foreign body detection provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 4 is a flowchart of the steps of a clothes dryer filter detection procedure provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Figure 5 is a flowchart of steps that can be executed by a controller in a clothes dryer provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application;

[0030] Figure 6 Another exemplary embodiment of the present application provides a flowchart of the steps of a dryer filter detection procedure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Here, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The implementations described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all implementations consistent with the present application. Instead, they are only examples of devices and methods consistent with some aspects of the present application as detailed in the attached claims.

[0032] The block diagrams shown in the accompanying drawings are merely functional entities and do not necessarily correspond to physically independent entities. That is, these functional entities may be implemented in software form, or in one or more hardware modules or integrated circuits, or in different networks and / or processor devices and / or microcontroller devices.

[0033] The flowcharts shown in the accompanying drawings are only exemplary and do not necessarily include all the contents and operations / steps, nor must they be executed in the order described. For example, some operations / steps can be decomposed, and some operations / steps can be combined or partially combined, so the actual execution order may change according to actual conditions.

[0034] It should also be noted that the "multiple" mentioned in this application refers to two or more than two. "And / or" describes the association relationship of the associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0035] The terms "first", "second", "third" and "fourth" etc. in the specification and claims of the present application and the drawings are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order. The terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product or device comprising a series of steps or units is not limited to the listed steps or units, but may optionally include steps or units that are not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0036] In order to solve the current technical problem of poor accuracy in detecting whether a filter is clogged, the present application proposes a clothes dryer that can accurately detect whether a filter is clogged. Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a clothes dryer provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 As shown, the clothes dryer 100 includes a drying barrel 101, an exhaust fan 102, a valve 103, an air duct 104, a heating pipe 105 and a filter 106. The following will introduce each part of the clothes dryer 100 one by one.

[0037] It should be noted that, in practical applications, the structure of the clothes dryer can also be adjusted according to actual needs, for example, Figure 1 The structure of the clothes dryer shown in the figure is increased / reduced / replaced. The structure of the clothes dryer is not limited to Figure 1 The structure shown.

[0038] The drying barrel 101 is disposed inside the dryer 100 and is usually made of stainless steel. It is used to accommodate and dry the clothes to be dried. The clothes to be dried are evenly heated by rotating so as to remove moisture from the clothes to be dried.

[0039] The exhaust fan 102 is used to exhaust moisture and heat from the drying barrel, maintain a suitable environment in the drying barrel 101, and improve the drying efficiency.

[0040] The valve 103 controls the flow of hot air in the drying barrel 101 by opening or closing and adjusting the opening of the valve 103 to meet different drying requirements.

[0041] The air duct 104 is responsible for transmitting the generated hot air from the heating pipe 105 to the drying barrel, and exhausting the dehumidified air from the drying barrel 101.

[0042] The heating pipe 105 is responsible for generating hot air by heating the air so that it can be transported to the drying barrel 101, providing the heat energy required for the drying process, ensuring that the clothes in the drying barrel receive sufficient heat and achieving a rapid drying effect.

[0043] The filter 106 is used to prevent fine fibers, dust and other particles from entering the air circulation system to maintain the normal operation of the equipment and the cleanliness of the user environment.

[0044] Please continue reading Figure 2 , Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a side view of a clothes dryer provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 As shown, the clothes dryer 200 includes a lifting rib 201, an air flow meter 202, an air inlet duct 203, an exhaust duct 204, an exhaust motor 205, a box 206, a filter 207, a door 208, a drying barrel 209, a main control board 210, a filter indicator light 211 and a controller. Each part of the clothes dryer 200 will be introduced one by one below.

[0045] Similarly, in practical applications, the structure of the dryer can also be adjusted according to actual needs, for example Figure 2 The structure of the clothes dryer shown in the figure is increased / reduced / replaced. The structure of the clothes dryer is not limited to Figure 2 The structure shown.

[0046] The lifting ribs 201 are used to support and fix the structural components of the drying barrel 209 to ensure that the drying barrel 209 remains stable during operation and to prevent the drying barrel 209 from shaking.

[0047] The air flow meter 202 is arranged in the air inlet duct 203 and is used to monitor the air flow in the air inlet duct 203. It can provide real-time air flow data to help the control system adjust the air intake and exhaust to ensure that the temperature and humidity during the drying process are controlled within an appropriate range.

[0048] The air inlet duct 203 is connected to the external air channel and to air inlet components such as a heater, and is responsible for introducing fresh air into the air circulation system for drying clothes.

[0049] The exhaust duct 204 is responsible for discharging the moist air generated during the drying process out of the dryer 200 to maintain a dry environment in the drying barrel 209 .

[0050] The exhaust motor 205 is responsible for providing power to drive the electric fan, pushing air out of the dryer 200 through the exhaust duct 204 to maintain a dry environment in the drying barrel 209.

[0051] The housing 206 is the outer structure of the clothes dryer 200, and is used to fix and protect the internal components. The housing 206 is usually made of metal or plastic. A door 208 is usually provided on the housing 206 for putting clothes into or taking out the drying barrel 209, and the door 208 is usually equipped with a sealing ring to prevent water leakage.

[0052] A main control panel 210 is usually also provided on the box body 206, and buttons, knobs or touch screens are provided on the main control panel 210. The main control panel 210 is connected to various components of the dryer 200 and is responsible for controlling the operation and drying process of the entire dryer 200. The filter indicator light 211 is used to display the cleaning status of the filter 207, reminding the user whether the filter needs to be cleaned or replaced.

[0053] The filter 207 is installed on the exhaust duct to filter dust, fibers and other impurities in the air exhausted during the drying process to prevent the impurities from entering the external environment and ensure that the exhausted air is relatively clean.

[0054] The drying barrel 209 is disposed inside the dryer 200 and is usually made of stainless steel. It is used to accommodate and dry the clothes to be dried. The clothes to be dried are evenly heated by rotating so as to remove moisture from the clothes to be dried.

[0055] The controller is electrically connected to the air flow meter and the exhaust motor, respectively, and is used to execute the dryer filter detection program. In order to determine whether the dryer filter detection program can be executed normally, the controller can perform the following steps to make a judgment:

[0056] If it is detected that the door of the dryer is opened and then closed after the drying process is finished, the filter detection candidate state is entered after waiting for a preset time;

[0057] In the filter detection candidate state, the temperature value of the heater is detected. When the temperature value is below a preset temperature value, the dryer filter detection program is started.

[0058] These two steps are described in detail below.

[0059] The door is opened and then closed, which is the first time to determine that the clothes in the drying barrel have been taken out. The purpose of waiting for the preset time is to reduce the temperature value of the heater in the dryer. If the temperature value of the heater is too high, it will heat the air in the drying barrel, thereby affecting the normal operation of the subsequent dryer filter detection program. Therefore, after waiting for the preset time, the filter detection candidate state is entered, and the temperature value of the heater is detected in the filter detection candidate state. When the temperature value of the heater is below the preset temperature value, the dryer filter detection program is started.

[0060] Since the presence of foreign matter in the drying tub will affect the normal operation of the dryer filter detection program, a second determination is required to accurately determine whether there is no foreign matter in the drying tub. Preferably, before executing the dryer filter detection program, a foreign matter detection program is executed to detect whether there is foreign matter in the drying tub. Foreign matter includes but is not limited to living things, metal objects, plastic objects, and sharp objects.

[0061] See also Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the steps of foreign matter detection provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application. The methods of detecting whether there is foreign matter in the drying barrel include but are not limited to using infrared sensors, weight sensors, vibration sensors, and current sensors. After the sensor is used to initially detect that there is no foreign matter in the drying barrel, the drum motor is started and the instantaneous current Ix when the drum motor is started is detected. The instantaneous current Ix is compared with the maximum current Io during multiple simulated no-load starts. If it is determined that the instantaneous current Ix reaches or exceeds the maximum current Io, it is finally determined that there is foreign matter in the drying barrel; if it is determined that the instantaneous current Ix is below the maximum current Io, it is again determined that there is no foreign matter in the drying barrel.

[0062] After determining that there is foreign matter in the drying drum, the filter indicator light is controlled to flash slowly to indicate that the subsequent dryer filter detection program cannot be performed normally. Preferably, the reminder information is pushed to the pre-bound user terminal to promptly remind the user to clean the foreign matter in the drying drum to avoid affecting the subsequent dryer filter detection program. If the user chooses to ignore it on the user terminal or does not handle it within the preset time period, the indicator light goes out and the foreign matter detection program is terminated.

[0063] After the foreign object detection procedure is completed and there is no foreign object in the drying drum, perform the dryer filter detection procedure. Figure 4 , Figure 4 1 is a flowchart of the steps of a dryer filter detection procedure provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application. Figure 4 As shown, the dryer filter detection procedure includes the following S410-S440:

[0064] S410, controlling the exhaust motor to reach a preset speed and maintaining the preset speed;

[0065] S420, detecting a current value of the exhaust motor while the exhaust motor is running at a preset speed, and determining whether the filter is clogged based on the current value;

[0066] S430, obtaining a current flow value of the air flow meter and a historical flow value obtained during the execution of the dryer filter detection program in the past, and determining whether the filter is clogged based on the current flow value and the historical flow value;

[0067] S440: If at least one of the above judgments is yes, it is determined that the filter is clogged.

[0068] These four steps are described in detail below.

[0069] Before S410, it is necessary to ensure that the door of the clothes dryer is in a closed state, because if the door of the clothes dryer is in an open state, it will cause a large misjudgment in the subsequent clothes dryer filter detection program. Therefore, when the present embodiment detects the start instruction of the clothes dryer filter detection program, it first determines whether the door of the clothes dryer is closed. If it is determined that the door of the clothes dryer is closed, the filter detection indicator light is controlled to display the detection state, and the exhaust motor is controlled to reach a preset speed and maintain the preset speed. If it is determined that the door of the clothes dryer is open, the clothes dryer filter detection program is stopped.

[0070] In S410, the exhaust motor is controlled to maintain the preset speed after reaching the preset speed, thereby ensuring that the exhaust motor runs at the preset speed each time the dryer filter detection program is run, and the blockage degree of the filter is used as the only variable in the entire control process.

[0071] In S420, it should be noted that due to the different blockage degrees of the filter, the current value of the exhaust motor when running at the preset speed will be different. Among them, the larger the current value of the exhaust motor when running at the preset speed, the higher the blockage degree of the filter.

[0072] In the dryer filter detection program, the steps of determining whether the filter is clogged based on the current value include:

[0073] If the current value reaches or exceeds the preset current value, it is determined that the filter is clogged. The preset current value represents the maximum current value of the exhaust motor when the filter is clogged.

[0074] If the current value is below the preset current value, it is determined that the filter is not blocked.

[0075] These two steps are described in detail below.

[0076] The preset current value refers to the maximum current of the exhaust motor when the filter is completely blocked. If the current value reaches above the preset current value, it means that the filter is completely blocked or the blockage degree is higher than the blockage degree corresponding to the preset current value, so it is determined that the filter is blocked and needs to be cleaned; if the current value is below the preset current value, it means that the filter is not blocked and does not need to be cleaned.

[0077] In S430, similarly, when the exhaust motors are running at a preset speed, the blockage degree of the filter will also affect the air flow rate of the air inlet duct. Different blockage degrees of the filter will result in different air flow rates in the air inlet duct. Among them, the smaller the air flow rate of the air inlet duct when the preset speed is reached, the higher the blockage degree of the filter.

[0078] The current flow value of the air inlet duct is detected by the air flow meter.

[0079] The historical flow value is the air flow value recorded after the filter is cleaned and before the current program is executed. Exemplarily, the air flow value recorded in the first detection after the filter is cleaned is marked as the air flow value recorded for the first time, and the air flow value recorded in the second detection after the filter is cleaned is marked as the air flow value recorded for the second time, and so on. If the air flow value recorded in this detection is the air flow value recorded for the third time, then the air flow values ​​recorded in the first detection and the second detection are all historical flow values; if the air flow value recorded in this detection is the air flow value recorded for the fourth time, then the air flow values ​​recorded in the first detection, the second detection, and the third detection are all historical flow values. Historical flow values ​​are usually recorded and stored in the data storage unit of the system for subsequent query and analysis.

[0080] The historical flow values ​​are set with corresponding weights in chronological order. Preferably, the historical flow values ​​closer to the current detection can be set with higher weights. For example, the historical flow values ​​include the air flow values ​​recorded in the first detection, the air flow values ​​recorded in the second detection, and the air flow values ​​recorded in the third detection, which can be assigned weights of 2:3:5 or 1:3:6 in sequence. In addition, the historical flow value closest to the current detection can be set with the highest weight, and the remaining historical flow values ​​can be set with the same weight. Similarly, taking the above embodiment as an example, weights of 2:2:6 or 3:3:4 can be assigned in sequence.

[0081] After calculating the weighted average value based on the historical flow values ​​after setting the corresponding weights, the weighted average value is compared with the current flow value to accurately determine whether the filter is blocked. If the current flow value reaches above the weighted average value, it is determined that the filter is not blocked; if the current flow value is below the weighted average value, it is determined that the filter is blocked.

[0082] In another exemplary embodiment, in the clothes dryer filter detection program, the step of determining whether the filter is clogged based on the current flow value and the historical flow value includes:

[0083] Calculate the difference between the historical flow value and the current flow value;

[0084] If the difference is below a preset value, it is determined that the filter is clogged. The preset value represents the minimum air intake volume when the filter is clogged, and the preset value is a positive number.

[0085] If the difference reaches above the preset value, it is determined that the filter is not blocked.

[0086] These three steps are described in detail below.

[0087] In this embodiment, the historical flow value represents the air flow value recorded by the most recent program execution. For example, if the air flow value recorded by the current program execution is the air flow value recorded by the third detection after the filter is cleaned, then the historical flow value is the air flow value recorded by the second detection after the filter is cleaned; if the air flow value recorded by the current program execution is the air flow value recorded by the second detection after the filter is cleaned, then the historical flow value is the air flow value recorded by the first detection after the filter is cleaned.

[0088] It should be noted that since the filter will filter and accumulate a large amount of cotton wool and impurities during each clothes drying process, the cotton wool and impurity content accumulated by the filter each time is higher than the cotton wool and impurity content accumulated last time, and the flow value detected each time will inevitably be smaller than the flow value detected last time.

[0089] As can be seen from the above, the minimum air intake volume when the filter is blocked is used as the preset value, and the preset value is a positive number. If the difference between the historical flow value and the current flow value is below the preset value, it indicates that when the exhaust motor speed remains unchanged, the air flow in the air inlet duct is slightly affected or unchanged, and it can be accurately determined that the filter is blocked; if the difference between the historical flow value and the current flow value reaches above the preset value, it indicates that the filter is still filtering more cotton wool and impurities during each drying process, and it can be accurately determined that the filter is not blocked and does not need to be cleaned temporarily.

[0090] In addition, the present application takes into account the situation that the user cleans the filter between two filter detection procedures. Since the user cleans the filter, the current flow value will be greater than the historical flow value, making the difference a negative number less than the preset value, which will lead to an erroneous judgment that the filter is clogged. In order to avoid misjudgment due to the user cleaning the filter, if the difference between the historical flow value and the current flow value is a negative value, it can be accurately determined that the filter is not clogged and does not need to be cleaned again.

[0091] In S440, if S420 determines that the filter is clogged, it can be determined that the filter is clogged; if S430 determines that the filter is clogged, it can also be determined that the filter is clogged; if both S420 and S430 determine that the filter is clogged, it can be determined without a doubt that the filter is clogged, and only when both S420 and S430 determine that the filter is not clogged, can it be determined that the filter is not clogged.

[0092] When it is determined that the filter is not blocked, the filter detection indicator light is controlled to display the end state, for example, the filter detection indicator light is off, and the exhaust motor is controlled to stop running, indicating that the dryer filter detection program is ended.

[0093] When it is determined that the filter is clogged, the filter detection indicator light is controlled to display a prompt state, such as the filter detection indicator light flashing quickly, and a reminder message can also be sent to the pre-bound user terminal to remind the user to check or clean the filter in time to avoid affecting the normal use of the subsequent dryer.

[0094] In summary, S410-S440 described above, this embodiment detects the current value of the exhaust motor while maintaining a preset speed, and can accurately determine whether the filter is blocked based on the current value; and based on the current flow value obtained by the air flow meter and the historical flow value obtained during the historical execution of the dryer filter detection program, it can also accurately determine whether the filter is blocked. If at least one of the two judgments is yes, it can be accurately determined that the filter is blocked and the filter needs to be cleaned.

[0095] In another exemplary embodiment, whether the filter is clogged is first determined by the current value, and if the determination is no, whether the filter is clogged is then determined based on the current flow value and the historical flow value.

[0096] See also Figure 5 , Figure 5 1 is a flowchart of steps that can be executed by a controller in a clothes dryer provided by an exemplary embodiment of the present application. The controller can also be configured to execute the following S510-S530:

[0097] S510, controlling the exhaust motor to reach a preset speed and maintaining the preset speed;

[0098] S520, detecting a current value of the exhaust motor while the exhaust motor is running at a preset speed, and determining whether the filter is clogged based on the current value;

[0099] S530, if the judgment is no, obtain the current flow value of the air flow meter and the historical flow value obtained during the historical execution of the dryer filter detection program, and determine whether the filter is blocked based on the current flow value and the historical flow value.

[0100] In S510-S530, this embodiment first determines whether the filter is blocked by the current value of the exhaust motor while maintaining a preset speed. When it is initially determined that the filter is not blocked, a second judgment is made on whether the filter is blocked based on the current flow value and historical flow value measured by the air flow meter. Only when the second judgment is also no can it be finally determined that the filter is not blocked. Whether the filter is blocked can be accurately determined through two consecutive judgments.

[0101] In another exemplary embodiment, the controller further performs the following steps:

[0102] Before starting the dryer filter test program, determine whether the current program execution corresponds to the first test after the filter is cleaned;

[0103] If the answer is yes, during the execution of the dryer filter detection procedure, the filter is only judged to be blocked based on the current value, and the air flow value of the exhaust motor is recorded while the exhaust motor is running at the preset speed;

[0104] If the judgment is no, the dryer filter detection procedure is performed normally.

[0105] If it is the first test after the filter is cleaned, there will be no historical flow value, and it is impossible to judge whether the filter is blocked based on the current flow value and the historical flow value. It is only possible to judge whether the filter is blocked based on the current value, and record the air flow value of the exhaust motor while maintaining the preset speed, so that the air flow value recorded in this test is used as the historical flow value for the next test, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the dryer blockage detection and simplifying the detection process. If it is not the first test after the filter is cleaned, the dryer filter detection procedure is performed normally.

[0106] See also Figure 6 , Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the steps of a clothes dryer filter detection procedure provided by another exemplary embodiment of the present application. Figure 6 As shown, the dryer filter detection procedure includes the following S610-S650:

[0107] S610, controlling the exhaust motor to reach a preset speed and maintaining the preset speed;

[0108] S620, detecting a current value of the exhaust motor while the exhaust motor is running at a preset speed, and determining whether the filter is clogged based on the current value of the current;

[0109] S630, obtaining historical current values ​​detected during the execution of the dryer filter detection program, and determining whether the filter is clogged based on the current current value and the historical current value;

[0110] S640, obtaining a current flow value of the air flow meter, and determining whether the filter is clogged based on the current flow value;

[0111] S650, obtaining historical flow values ​​obtained during the historical execution of the dryer filter detection program, and determining whether the filter is clogged based on the current flow value and the historical flow value.

[0112] This embodiment Figure 4On the basis of S410-440 shown in the figure, two more determinations are added, namely S630 and S640. S630 and S640 are described in detail below.

[0113] In S630, the historical current value is the current value recorded after the filter is cleaned and before the current program is executed. Exemplarily, the current value recorded in the first detection after the filter is cleaned is marked as the current value recorded for the first time, and the current value recorded in the second detection after the filter is cleaned is marked as the current value recorded for the second time, and so on. If the current value recorded in this detection is the current value recorded for the third time, then the current values ​​recorded in the first detection and the second detection are all historical current values; if the current value recorded in this detection is the current value recorded for the fourth time, then the current values ​​recorded in the first detection, the second detection, and the third detection are all historical current values. Historical current values ​​are usually recorded and stored in the data storage unit of the system for subsequent query and analysis.

[0114] The historical current values ​​are weighted accordingly in chronological order. Preferably, the historical current values ​​closer to the current detection can be given higher weights. For example, the historical current values ​​include the current values ​​recorded by the first detection, the current values ​​recorded by the second detection, and the current values ​​recorded by the third detection, which can be assigned weights of 2:3:5 or 1:3:6 in sequence. In addition, the historical current value closest to the current detection can be assigned the highest weight, and the remaining historical current values ​​can be set to the same weight. Similarly, using the above embodiment as an example, weights of 2:2:6 or 3:3:4 can be assigned in sequence.

[0115] After calculating the weighted average value based on the historical current values ​​after setting the corresponding weights, the weighted average value is compared with the current current value to accurately determine whether the filter is blocked. If the current current value reaches above the weighted average value, it is determined that the filter is not blocked; if the current current value is below the weighted average value, it is determined that the filter is blocked.

[0116] In another exemplary embodiment, in the clothes dryer filter detection program, the step of determining whether the filter is clogged based on the current current value and the historical current value includes:

[0117] Calculating a first difference between a current current value and a historical current value;

[0118] If the first difference is below a first preset value, it is determined that the filter is clogged, the first preset value represents the minimum current difference when the filter is clogged, and the preset value is a positive number;

[0119] If the first difference reaches or exceeds the first preset value, it is determined that the filter is not clogged.

[0120] These three steps are described in detail below.

[0121] In this embodiment, the historical current value represents the current value recorded by the most recent program execution. For example, if the air current value recorded by the current program execution is the air current value recorded by the third detection after the filter is cleaned, then the historical current value is the air current value recorded by the second detection after the filter is cleaned; if the air current value recorded by the current program execution is the air current value recorded by the second detection after the filter is cleaned, then the historical current value is the air current value recorded by the first detection after the filter is cleaned.

[0122] It should be noted that since the filter will filter and accumulate a large amount of cotton wool and impurities during each clothes drying process, the cotton wool and impurity content accumulated by the filter each time is higher than the cotton wool and impurity content accumulated last time, and the current value detected each time will inevitably be greater than the current value detected last time.

[0123] From the above, it can be seen that since clothes may continue to drop lint during the drying process, the degree of filter blockage in the current dryer filter detection program will only increase compared to the previous filter blockage degree, and a first preset value is set to characterize the minimum current difference when the filter is blocked. Therefore, if the difference between the current flow value and the historical flow value is below the first preset value, indicating that the amount of lint increased in the subsequent drying process is unlikely to affect the air intake, it can be accurately determined that the filter is blocked; if the difference between the current flow value and the historical flow value reaches above the first preset value, indicating that the amount of lint increased in the subsequent drying process can still carry out the air intake, it can be accurately determined that the filter is not blocked.

[0124] In S640, the current flow value of the air inlet duct is detected by the air flow meter.

[0125] It should be noted that since the degree of blockage of the filter will also affect the air flow in the air inlet duct, different degrees of blockage of the filter will result in different air flow rates in the air inlet duct. Among them, the smaller the air flow rate in the air inlet duct when running at the preset speed, the higher the degree of blockage of the filter.

[0126] In the dryer filter detection program, the steps of determining whether the filter is clogged based on the current flow value include:

[0127] If the current flow rate value is below the preset flow rate value, it is determined that the filter is clogged, and the preset flow rate value represents the minimum air flow rate when the filter is clogged;

[0128] If the current flow rate value reaches above the preset flow rate value, it is determined that the filter is not blocked.

[0129] These two steps are described in detail below.

[0130] The preset flow value refers to the minimum air flow when the filter is completely blocked. If the current flow value is below the preset flow value, it means that the filter is completely blocked or the blockage degree is higher than the blockage degree corresponding to the preset flow value, so it is determined that the filter is blocked and needs to be cleaned; if the current flow value reaches above the preset flow value, it means that the filter is not blocked and does not need to be cleaned.

[0131] Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate other embodiments of the present application after considering the specification and practicing the embodiments disclosed herein. The present application is intended to cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the present application, which follow the general principles of the present application and include common knowledge or customary technical means in the art that are not disclosed in the present application.

[0132] It should be understood that the above content is only a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the implementation scheme of the present application. A person skilled in the art can easily make corresponding changes or modifications based on the main concept and spirit of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application shall be based on the scope of protection required by the claims.

Claims

1. A clothes dryer, It is characterized in that include: Box; A drying barrel and an air circulation system are arranged in the box; The air circulation system comprises an air intake assembly and an air exhaust assembly; the air intake assembly comprises a heater and an air intake duct, which are used to allow heated air to enter the drying barrel to perform heat exchange with the clothes in the drying barrel, and an air flow meter is also provided in the air intake duct; the exhaust assembly comprises a filter, an exhaust duct and an exhaust fan, and the gas after heat exchange is discharged from the exhaust duct after passing through the filter under the action of the exhaust fan, and the exhaust fan comprises an exhaust motor and a fan; A controller is electrically connected to the air flow meter and the exhaust motor, respectively, and is used to execute a dryer filter detection program, wherein the dryer filter detection program includes the following steps: Controlling the exhaust motor to reach a preset speed and maintaining the preset speed; detecting a current value of the exhaust motor in the process of maintaining the preset speed, and judging whether the filter screen is blocked based on the current value; and / or, obtaining a current flow value of the air flow meter and a historical flow value obtained during the historical execution of the dryer filter detection program, and determining whether the filter is clogged based on the current flow value and the historical flow value; If at least one of the above judgments is yes, it is determined that the filter is clogged.

2. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The clothes dryer filter detection procedure also includes the following steps: First, the current value is used to determine whether the filter is blocked. If the current value is negative, the current flow value and the historical flow value are used to determine whether the filter is blocked.

3. The clothes dryer according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that In the clothes dryer filter detection program, the step of judging whether the filter is clogged based on the current value includes: If the current value reaches or exceeds a preset current value, it is determined that the filter is clogged, and the preset current value represents the maximum current value of the exhaust motor when the filter is clogged; If the current value is below the preset current value, it is determined that the filter is not blocked.

4. The clothes dryer according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that In the clothes dryer filter detection program, the step of judging whether the filter is clogged based on the current flow value and the historical flow value includes: Calculating the difference between the historical flow value and the current flow value; If the difference is below a preset value, it is determined that the filter is clogged, the preset value represents the minimum air intake volume when the filter is clogged, and the preset value is a positive number; If the difference is greater than the preset value, it is determined that the filter is not clogged.

5. The clothes dryer according to claim 4, It is characterized in that The step of judging whether the filter screen is clogged based on the current flow value and the historical flow value also includes: If the difference is a negative value, it is determined that the filter screen is not clogged.

6. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The clothes dryer filter detection procedure also includes the following steps: When a start instruction of the dryer filter detection program is detected, determining whether the door of the dryer is closed; If the judgment is yes, the filter detection indicator light is controlled to display the detection state, and the steps of controlling the exhaust motor to reach the preset speed and maintaining the preset speed are executed.

7. The clothes dryer according to claim 6, It is characterized in that The clothes dryer filter detection procedure also includes the following steps: When it is determined that the filter is not clogged, the filter detection indicator light is controlled to display an end state, and the exhaust motor is controlled to stop running.

8. The clothes dryer according to claim 6, It is characterized in that The clothes dryer filter detection procedure also includes the following steps: When it is determined that the filter is clogged, the filter detection indicator light is controlled to display a prompt state.

9. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The controller also performs the following steps: If it is detected that the door of the dryer is opened and then closed after the drying process is finished, the filter detection candidate state is entered after waiting for a preset time; In the filter detection candidate state, the temperature value of the heater is detected, and when the temperature value is below a preset temperature value, the dryer filter detection program is started.

10. The clothes dryer according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The controller also performs the following steps: Before starting the dryer filter detection program, determining whether the current program execution corresponds to the first detection after the filter is cleaned; If the judgment is yes, during the execution of the dryer filter detection program, whether the filter is blocked is judged only based on the current value, and the air flow value of the exhaust motor in the process of maintaining the preset speed is recorded; If the judgment is no, the dryer filter detection procedure is performed normally.

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