Washing machine and washing machine control method

Abstract

The invention discloses a washing machine which comprises a machine shell, and a drum assembly is installed in the machine shell and used for treating clothes of the machine shell; the putting device is used for putting the clothes treating agent into the drum assembly; an air inlet and an air outlet which are communicated with the outside are formed in the two ends of the fresh air loop respectively, and the fresh air loop is communicated with a drum assembly of the washing machine; the fresh air loop is further connected with the putting device through a connecting branch, a switching air door is arranged at the intersection of the fresh air loop and the connecting branch, and the switching air door is used for guiding outside fresh air into a drum assembly of the washing machine and then discharging the fresh air from the air outlet and / or the putting device. By additionally arranging the fresh air loop on the washing machine, the fresh air loop indirectly exhausts fresh air flow through the putting device in a reversing manner or directly exhausts the fresh air flow through the air outlet, so that the effect of controllable fresh air exchange of the washing machine barrel assembly and / or the putting device is achieved; and therefore, the obvious technical progress of sterilizing and deodorizing the drum assembly and / or the feeding device of the washing machine which is not used for a long time is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of washing machines. Specifically, it relates to a washing machine and also relates to a control method for a washing machine. Background Art

[0002] After the existing washing machine finishes washing, the user may forget to dry the clothes in time. The clothes are in the relatively airtight drum assembly for a long time, which is likely to produce peculiar smell and breed bacteria. In addition, when the washing machine is not used for a long time, the drum assembly fails to exchange fresh air with the external environment, which also results in the unclean air inside the drum assembly.

[0003] Currently, some washing machines on the market have installed ventilation devices and are connected to the drum assembly through hoses for fresh air exchange treatment. However, due to the large number of added hoses and their difficulty in shaping, the ventilation effect of the washing machine drum assembly fails to meet the user's expectations.

[0004] In view of this, the present invention is specifically proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and provide a washing machine. The air outlet of the fresh air circuit can be controllably connected to the external atmosphere or the dosing device respectively, which can ensure that the introduced external fresh air is introduced into the drum assembly for fresh air flow exchange and can also ventilate the dosing module, so as to achieve the effect of fresh air ventilation for the drum assembly and the dosing device respectively. In addition, the present invention also provides a washing machine and a control method to achieve the effect of controllably ventilating the fresh air for the drum assembly and / or the dosing device respectively.

[0006] To solve the above technical problems, the basic concept of the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0007] The present invention provides a washing machine, which includes: a housing, in which a drum assembly is installed, and the drum assembly is used to process clothes; a dosing device for dosing laundry treatment agents into the drum assembly; and a fresh air circuit with an air inlet connected to the outside and an air outlet at both ends, which is connected to the drum assembly of the washing machine; the fresh air circuit is also connected to the dosing device through a connecting branch, and a switching air door is provided at the intersection of the fresh air circuit and the connecting branch for exhausting the fresh air introduced into the drum assembly of the washing machine from the air outlet and / or the dosing device.

[0008] Further, the fresh air circuit includes: an air inlet duct, the air inlet end of which is connected to the external atmosphere through an air inlet provided on the housing, and the air outlet end is connected to the drum assembly; an air outlet duct, the air inlet end of which is connected to the drum assembly, and the air outlet end is connected to the external atmosphere through an air outlet provided on the housing; a connecting branch, the air inlet end of which is connected to the middle of the air outlet duct, and the air outlet end is connected to the dosing device.

[0009] Further, a switching air damper is provided in the middle of the air outlet air path. The switching air damper is a one-in-two-out valve, and the valve core of the air damper controls the on-off setting of the communication between the inlet and the first outlet and / or the second outlet alternatively or in combination; the inlet is communicated with the cylinder assembly through the upstream part of the air outlet air path, the first outlet is communicated with the air outlet through the downstream part of the air outlet air path, and the second outlet is communicated with the internal chamber of the water box of the dosing device through the connecting branch; the first outlet of the switching air damper is communicated with the outside atmosphere through the air outlet provided on the front side of the casing; the second outlet of the switching air damper is communicated with the outside atmosphere through the internal chamber of the water box of the dosing device.

[0010] Further, the dosing device includes a water box, on which a dosing chamber, a dosing water path and a liquid storage chamber are provided. The dosing water path connects the liquid storage chamber and the dosing chamber. The dosing chamber is communicated with the cylinder assembly through a pipeline. The liquid storage chamber stores a laundry treatment agent. The dosing water path extracts the laundry treatment agent in the liquid storage chamber to the dosing chamber and flushes it into the cylinder assembly through the incoming water flow flowing through the dosing chamber; the outlet end of the connecting branch is communicated with the dosing water path and / or the dosing chamber, and the dosing chamber is communicated with the outside atmosphere.

[0011] Further, the lower part of the internal chamber of the water box forms a dosing chamber, a drawer part that can be pulled outwards is installed in the upper part of the internal chamber of the water box, a liquid storage chamber is provided in the drawer part, the dosing water path is arranged on the upper cover of the water box, both ends of the dosing water path are respectively communicated with the liquid storage chamber and the dosing chamber, and a driving unit for providing power to extract the laundry treatment agent in the liquid storage chamber is arranged on the dosing water path.

[0012] Further, the air inlet is arranged at a part of the casing that is inaccessible to the user; the air outlet is arranged at a part of the casing that can be directly touched by the user; preferably, a machine door and / or a control panel that can be turned outwards and opened and closed is provided on the front side or the upper side of the casing. The air inlet is located on the front side and / or the upper side and / or the machine door of the casing, and the air outlet is located on the rear side and / or the lower side of the casing.

[0013] The present invention also introduces a control method for any one of the above-mentioned washing machines, which includes: the washing machine has a cylinder fresh air mode and a dosing device fresh air mode; when the washing machine executes the cylinder fresh air mode, the switching air damper switches to open the air outlet and disconnect the connecting branch, and the outside fresh air flow is replaced in the cylinder assembly and then discharged to the outside atmosphere through the air outlet; when the washing machine executes the dosing device fresh air mode, the switching air damper switches to disconnect the air outlet and open the connecting branch, and the outside fresh air flows through the air inlet, the cylinder assembly and the connecting branch into the dosing device, and after replacing the air flow in the dosing device, it is discharged to the outside atmosphere.

[0014] Further, when the washing machine executes the drum fresh air mode, the fan starts to operate, and the fresh air from the outside flows into the air inlet duct to form a fresh air flow; the fresh air flow is transported to the drum assembly through the air inlet duct to renew the air flow in the drum assembly; the switching damper switches to open the air outlet and disconnect the connecting branch, and the renewed air flow in the drum assembly flows out through the air outlet duct and is discharged to the outside atmosphere through the air outlet.

[0015] Further, when the washing machine executes the fresh air mode of the dosing device, the fan starts to operate, and the fresh air from the outside flows into the air inlet duct to form a fresh air flow; the fresh air flow is transported to the drum assembly through the air inlet duct; the switching damper switches to disconnect the air outlet and open the connecting branch, and the air flow flowing through the drum assembly flows out through the air outlet duct and enters the dosing device through the connecting branch, and after renewing the air flow in the dosing device, it is discharged to the outside atmosphere.

[0016] Further, when the washing machine executes the drum fresh air mode, the fan operates at a first set power; when the washing machine executes the fresh air mode of the dosing device, the fan operates at a second set power; the first set power is greater than the second set power.

[0017] Further, when the washing machine executes the drum fresh air mode, the switching damper alternately executes the drum fresh air stage and the fresh air stage of the dosing device; in the drum fresh air stage, the drum fresh air set duration t11 is executed, and the switching damper switches to open the air outlet and disconnect the connecting branch; in the fresh air stage of the dosing device, the fresh air set duration t12 of the dosing device is executed, and the switching damper switches to disconnect the air outlet and open the connecting branch.

[0018] After adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art:

[0019] By installing a fresh air circuit on the washing machine, the fresh air circuit can reversibly discharge the fresh air flow indirectly through the dosing device or directly through the air outlet, so as to achieve the effect of controllable fresh air replacement for the drum assembly and / or the dosing device of the washing machine respectively, and then achieve a significant technical progress in sterilizing and deodorizing the drum assembly and / or the dosing device of the washing machine that has not been used for a long time.

[0020] At the same time, the present invention has a simple structure, a concise method, and remarkable effects, and is suitable for popularization and use.

[0021] The following further describes the specific embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Description of the Drawings

[0022] The accompanying drawings, as part of the present invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention. The schematic embodiments of the present invention and their descriptions are used to explain the present invention, but do not unduly limit the present invention. Obviously, the accompanying drawings in the following description are only some embodiments, and those of ordinary skill in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative efforts. In the drawings:

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a washing machine in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a washing machine in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 is a control flow chart of a washing machine in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 is a control flow chart of a washing machine in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Description of main elements in the figures:

[0028] 100, housing; 101, front side; 102, rear side; 103, upper side; 104, lower side; 105, control panel; 106, door; 107, air inlet; 108, air outlet; 109, window gasket; 2, fresh air circuit; 21, air inlet duct; 22, air outlet duct; 23, connecting branch; 24, fan; 25, check valve; 26, damper switch; 27, switching damper; 8, drum assembly; 11, dosing device.

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

[0030] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. The following embodiments are used to illustrate the present invention, but are not used to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0031] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "inner", "outer", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

[0032] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, the terms "installation", "connection", and "coupling" 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 those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0033] Embodiment 1

[0034] As Figure 1 shown, in this embodiment, a washing machine is introduced, including a housing 100, and a drum assembly 8 is installed inside the housing 100; the washing machine can be any existing device for washing clothes, such as a drum washing machine, a pulsator washing machine, a stirring column washing machine, a washing and drying integrated machine, etc. In the embodiment of the present invention, for the convenience of description, the washing machine is taken as an example of a drum washing machine for elaboration. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the drum washing machine; the drum assembly 8 can be a drum assembly with a horizontally extending axis or an axis inclined upward at the front side, which includes a water storage drum and a washing drum coaxially installed inside the water storage drum. The openings of the water storage drum and the washing drum both face the front side of the washing machine, and the bottom facing the rear side of the washing machine is the drum bottom; a driving device is installed at the rear side of the drum bottom of the water storage drum. The driving device includes a driving motor, and the motor shaft is directly or coaxially connected to the drum bottom through a reduction clutch, and is used to drive the drum to rotate around the axis to beat and wash the clothes inside the drum.

[0035] As Figure 1 shown, in the embodiment of the present invention, a fresh air circuit 2 is installed inside the housing 100 of the washing machine. The fresh air circuit 2 includes: an air inlet duct 21, the air inlet end of which is connected to the external atmosphere through an air inlet 107 provided on the housing 100, and the air outlet end is connected to the drum assembly 8; an air outlet duct 22, the air inlet end of which is connected to the drum assembly 8, and the air outlet end is connected to the external atmosphere through an air outlet 108 provided on the housing 100.

[0036] By adding a fresh air circuit to the washing machine, the fresh air circuit provides a fresh air flow into the drum assembly of the washing machine, so as to achieve the effect of fresh air replacement for the drum assembly of the washing machine, and thus achieves a remarkable technical progress of fresh air replacement for the drum assembly of the washing machine that has not been used for a long time, reducing bacteria growth and removing odors.

[0037] In an embodiment of the present invention, the air inlet 107 is provided at a part of the casing 100 that is inaccessible to the user; the air outlet 108 is provided at a part of the casing 100 that is directly accessible to the user; preferably, a machine door 106 and / or a control panel 105 that can be opened and closed by flipping outwards are provided on the front side 101 or the upper side 103 of the casing 100, the air inlet 107 is located on the front side 101, and / or the upper side 103, and / or the machine door 106 of the casing 100, and the air outlet 108 is located on the rear side 102 and / or the lower side 104 of the casing 100. Further preferably, as Figure 1 shown, a laundry loading opening is provided in the middle of the front side 101 of the washing machine, and a control panel 105 is provided on the top. The control panel 105 is provided with control components for the user to issue operation instructions to the washing machine, such as: control knobs, touch screens, control buttons, etc.; the air outlet 108 is located on the front side 101 of the washing machine casing 100 below the control panel 105, and the air outlet 108 is opened upwards and in front of the control panel 105, so that when the user reaches out to operate the control panel 105, the air flow flowing out of the air outlet 108 can be directly felt.

[0038] As Figure 1 shown, in an embodiment of the present invention, a blower 24 is provided on the air inlet duct 21. When the blower 24 works, the outside fresh air flow is blown into the drum assembly 8 along the air inlet duct 21; the drum shaft of the drum assembly 8 extends horizontally, the front end of the drum assembly 8 is a drum opening, and the drum opening is connected to the laundry loading opening provided on the front side 101 of the casing 100 through an annular window gasket 109 to form a channel for taking in and out clothes into and from the drum assembly 8; a blowing opening is provided through the upper part of the annular window gasket 109; the air outlet end of the air inlet duct 21 is connected to the blowing opening provided on the upper part of the annular window gasket 109 for introducing the fresh air flow into the drum assembly 8 from the drum opening end; preferably, a check valve 25 for controlling the unidirectional flow of the air flow in the duct towards the drum assembly is provided on the air inlet duct 21.

[0039] As Figure 1 shown, in an embodiment of the present invention, the rear end of the drum assembly 8 is a drum bottom, and the drum bottom or the drum wall of the drum assembly near the drum bottom is connected to the air inlet end of the air outlet duct 22 for leading out the fresh air flow introduced into the drum assembly 8 through the opening at the drum bottom to the air outlet duct 22; preferably, an opening is provided in the upper part of the drum bottom of the drum assembly 8 or the upper part of the rear end of the drum wall, and the opening is connected to the air inlet end of the air outlet duct 22.

[0040] In an embodiment of the present invention, a damper switch 26 for controlling the on / off of the duct is provided on the air outlet duct 22; preferably, the damper switch 26 is provided near the air inlet end of the air outlet duct 22.

[0041] In the embodiments of the present invention, the fresh air inlet duct 21 and the exhaust air duct 22 are both arranged inside the cabinet 100 and fixedly installed on the cabinet 100 and / or on other washing machine components installed inside the cabinet 100, such as components like the drum assembly 8, the dispensing device, the mounting bracket, and so on.

[0042] As Figure 3 shown, the embodiments of the present invention also introduce a control method applied to the above-mentioned washing machine, which includes:

[0043] When the washing machine executes the fresh air mode,

[0044] the blower starts to operate, and the fresh air from the outside flows into the fresh air duct through the air inlet to form a fresh air flow;

[0045] The fresh air flow is transported through the fresh air duct to the inside of the drum assembly to replace the air flow inside the drum assembly;

[0046] The air damper switch is opened, and the replaced air flow inside the drum assembly flows out through the exhaust air duct and is discharged to the outside atmosphere through the air outlet.

[0047] In the embodiments of the present invention, at least a part of the outflow air discharged to the outside atmosphere through the air outlet blows towards the touchable part directly accessible by the user outside the cabinet; the user visually, and / or aurally, and / or tactilely perceives the outflow air blown to the touchable part.

[0048] In the embodiments of the present invention, when the washing machine executes the fresh air mode,

[0049] the air damper switch is opened for a second set duration t2 every first set duration t1;

[0050] Preferably, the first set duration t1 for each closing of the air damper switch is shortened in sequence, and the second set duration t2 for each opening of the air damper switch is extended in sequence.

[0051] In the embodiments of the present invention, when the washing machine executes the fresh air mode,

[0052] the blower is turned on for a fourth set duration t4 every third set duration t3.

[0053] Preferably, the third set duration t3 for each closing of the blower is extended in sequence, and the fourth set duration t4 for each opening of the blower is shortened in sequence.

[0054] In the embodiment of the present invention, the switching time nodes of the opening and closing of the air damper switch are staggered with the switching time nodes of the starting and stopping of the blower, so that in some time periods when the blower starts, the air damper switch is open, and in some time periods, the air damper switch is closed. When the blower blows air into the drum assembly, there is a certain period of air retention in the drum assembly, so that the fresh air flow entering the drum assembly can be blown in the drum assembly, and after sufficient air exchange, it is discharged outside, thereby improving the fresh air exchange efficiency in the drum assembly.

[0055] In the embodiment of the present invention, the blower can also be set as a variable-frequency blower, which has multiple speed adjustments or can perform stepless speed regulation. When the washing machine executes the fresh air mode, the blower can be kept in a working state all the time, and it is controlled that the blower reduces the set difference △n of the rotational speed every fifth set time period t5.

[0056] Preferably, the fifth set time period t5 corresponding to each blower rotational speed and the set difference △n of the blower rotational speed reduced each time are different values; the fifth set time period t5 each time is shortened in sequence, and the numerical value of the set difference △n of the blower rotational speed reduced each time becomes larger in sequence.

[0057] Embodiment 2

[0058] As Figure 2 shown, in this embodiment, a washing machine is introduced, which includes: a casing 100, a drum assembly 8 is installed in the casing 100, and the drum assembly 8 is used for processing clothes therein; a dosing device 11, which is used for dosing laundry treatment agents into the drum assembly 8; a fresh air circuit 2, with two ends being an air inlet 107 and an air outlet 108 respectively connected to the outside, and is connected to the drum assembly 8 of the washing machine; the fresh air circuit is also connected to the dosing device 11 through a connecting branch 23, and a switching air damper 27 is provided at the intersection of the fresh air circuit 2 and the connecting branch 23, which is used for introducing fresh air from the outside into the drum assembly 8 of the washing machine and then discharging it from the air outlet 108 and / or the dosing device 11.

[0059] By adding a fresh air circuit to the washing machine, the fresh air circuit can reversibly discharge the fresh air flow indirectly through the dosing device or directly from the air outlet, so as to achieve the effect of controllable fresh air ventilation for the drum assembly and / or the dosing device of the washing machine respectively, and thus achieve a significant technical progress in sterilizing and deodorizing the drum assembly and / or the dosing device of the washing machine that has not been used for a long time.

[0060] As Figure 2 shown, in this embodiment, the fresh air circuit 2 includes an air inlet duct 21, the air inlet end is connected to the outside atmosphere through the air inlet 107 provided on the casing 100, and the air outlet end is connected to the drum assembly 8; an air outlet duct 22, the air inlet end is connected to the drum assembly 8, and the air outlet end is connected to the outside atmosphere through the air outlet 108 provided on the casing 100; a connecting branch 23, the air inlet end is connected to the middle of the air outlet duct 22, and the air outlet end is connected to the dosing device 11.

[0061] In this embodiment, a switching air damper 27 is provided in the middle of the air outlet air path 22. The switching air damper 27 is a one-in-two-out valve, and the air damper valve core controls the on-off setting of the import communicating with either or in combination with the first outlet and / or the second outlet; the import is communicated with the cylinder assembly 8 through the upstream part of the air outlet air path 22, the first outlet is communicated with the air outlet 108 through the downstream part of the air outlet air path 22, and the second outlet is communicated with the inner chamber of the water box of the dosing device 11 through the connecting branch 23; preferably, the first outlet of the switching air damper 27 is communicated with the outside atmosphere through the air outlet 108 provided on the front side 101 of the machine shell 100; the second outlet of the switching air damper 27 is communicated with the outside atmosphere through the inner chamber of the water box of the dosing device 11.

[0062] In this embodiment, the dosing device 11 includes a water box, on which a dosing chamber, a dosing water path and a liquid storage chamber are provided. The dosing water path connects the liquid storage chamber and the dosing chamber. The dosing chamber is communicated with the cylinder assembly 8 through a pipeline. The liquid storage chamber stores a laundry treatment agent. The dosing water path extracts the laundry treatment agent in the liquid storage chamber to the dosing chamber and flushes it into the cylinder assembly 8 through the incoming water flow flowing through the dosing chamber; the outlet end of the connecting branch 23 is communicated with the dosing water path and / or the dosing chamber, and the dosing chamber is communicated with the outside atmosphere.

[0063] In this embodiment, the lower part of the inner chamber of the water box constitutes the dosing chamber. A drawer part that can be pulled outwards is installed in the upper part of the inner chamber of the water box. A liquid storage chamber is provided in the drawer part. The dosing water path is arranged on the upper cover of the water box. Both ends of the dosing water path are respectively communicated with the liquid storage chamber and the dosing chamber. A driving unit for providing power to extract the laundry treatment agent in the liquid storage chamber is arranged on the dosing water path.

[0064] In this embodiment, the air inlet 107 is arranged at a part of the machine shell 100 that is inaccessible to the user; the air outlet 108 is arranged at a part of the machine shell 100 that can be directly touched by the user; preferably, a machine door 106 and / or a control panel 105 that can be turned outwards to open and close are arranged on the front side 101 or the upper side 103 of the machine shell 100. The air inlet 107 is located on the front side 101 and / or the upper side 103 and / or the machine door 106 and / or the control panel 105 of the machine shell 100, and the air outlet 108 is located at the rear side 102 and / or the lower side 104 of the machine shell 100. Further preferably, as Figure 1 shown, a laundry dosing opening is provided in the middle of the front side 101 of the washing machine, and a control panel 105 is provided on the top. Manipulation components for the user to issue operation instructions to the washing machine are arranged on the control panel 105, such as: manipulation knobs, touch screens, manipulation buttons, etc.; the air outlet 108 is located on the front side 101 of the washing machine shell 100 below the control panel 105, and the air outlet 108 faces upwards and is opened on the front side of the control panel 105, so that when the user reaches out to manipulate the control panel 105, the air flow flowing out of the air outlet 108 can be directly felt.

[0065] like Figure 2 As shown, in the embodiment of the present invention, a fan 24 is provided on the air inlet passage 21, and when the fan 24 is working, the external fresh air flow is blown into the barrel assembly 8 along the air inlet passage 21; the barrel axis of the barrel assembly 8 extends horizontally, and the front end of the barrel assembly 8 is a barrel mouth, which is connected to the clothing delivery port provided on the front side 101 of the casing 100 through an annular window pad 109 to form a channel for taking clothes into and putting them into the barrel assembly 8; a blowing port is provided on the upper part of the annular window pad 109; the air outlet end of the air inlet passage 21 is connected to the blowing port provided on the upper part of the annular window pad 109, so as to introduce the fresh air flow from the barrel mouth end into the barrel assembly 8; preferably, a check valve 25 is provided on the air inlet passage 21 to control the unidirectional flow of the air flow in the air passage toward the barrel assembly.

[0066] like Figure 2 As shown, in the embodiment of the present invention, the rear end of the cylinder assembly 8 is the cylinder bottom, and the cylinder bottom or the cylinder wall of the cylinder assembly near the cylinder bottom is connected to the air inlet end of the air outlet passage 22, which is used to lead the fresh air introduced into the cylinder assembly 8 to flow through the opening at the cylinder bottom to the air outlet passage 22; preferably, an opening is provided at the upper part of the cylinder bottom of the cylinder assembly 8, or the upper part of the rear end of the cylinder wall, and the opening is connected to the air inlet end of the air outlet passage 22.

[0067] In the embodiment of the present invention, a switching damper 27 for controlling the on-off of the air path is provided on the air outlet path 22; preferably, the switching damper 27 is provided at the air outlet path 22 near the air inlet end.

[0068] In the embodiment of the present invention, the air inlet passage 21, the air outlet passage 22, and the connecting branch 23 are all arranged in the casing 100, fixedly mounted on the casing 100, and / or installed on other washing machine components installed in the casing 100, such as: the drum assembly 8, the dispensing device 11, the added mounting bracket and the like.

[0069] like Figure 4 As shown, this embodiment also introduces a control method applied to any of the above-mentioned washing machines, which includes:

[0070] The washing machine has a drum fresh air mode and a dispenser fresh air mode;

[0071] When the washing machine executes the drum fresh air mode, the damper is switched to open the air outlet, the connecting branch is disconnected, and the outside fresh air flow is exchanged with the drum assembly and discharged to the outside atmosphere through the air outlet;

[0072] When the washing machine executes the fresh air mode of the delivery device, the damper is switched to disconnect the air outlet and open the connecting branch. The fresh air from the outside flows through the air inlet, passes through the drum assembly and the connecting branch, and enters the delivery device. The airflow in the delivery device is renewed and then discharged into the outside atmosphere.

[0073] In this embodiment, when the washing machine executes the drum fresh air mode,

[0074] The fan starts to operate, and the fresh air from the outside flows into the air inlet duct through the air inlet to form a fresh air flow;

[0075] The fresh air flow is transported to the drum assembly through the air inlet duct to replace the air flow inside the drum assembly;

[0076] The switching damper switches to the air outlet to open and the connecting branch to disconnect. The replaced air flow inside the drum assembly flows out through the air outlet duct and is discharged to the outside atmosphere through the air outlet.

[0077] In this embodiment, when the washing machine executes the fresh air mode of the dosing device,

[0078] The fan starts to operate, and the fresh air from the outside flows into the air inlet duct through the air inlet to form a fresh air flow;

[0079] The fresh air flow is transported to the drum assembly through the air inlet duct;

[0080] The switching damper switches to the air outlet to disconnect and the connecting branch to open. The air flow flowing through the drum assembly flows out through the air outlet duct and enters the dosing device through the connecting branch. After replacing the air flow inside the dosing device, it is discharged to the outside atmosphere.

[0081] In this embodiment, when the washing machine executes the drum fresh air mode, the fan operates at a first set power; when the washing machine executes the fresh air mode of the dosing device, the fan operates at a second set power; preferably, the first set power is greater than the second set power. The fresh air flow enters the dosing device through the air outlet duct and the connecting branch. After replacing the air flow inside the dosing device, it is discharged to the outside atmosphere

[0082] In this embodiment, the washing machine also has a mixed fresh air mode. When executing the mixed fresh air mode,

[0083] The switching damper alternately executes the drum fresh air stage and the fresh air stage of the dosing device;

[0084] In the drum fresh air stage, the drum fresh air set duration t11 is executed, and the switching damper switches to the air outlet to open and the connecting branch to disconnect;

[0085] In the fresh air stage of the dosing device, the fresh air set duration t12 of the dosing device is executed, and the switching damper switches to the air outlet to disconnect and the connecting branch to open;

[0086] Preferably, when the washing machine executes the drum fresh air stage, the fan operates at a first set power; when the washing machine executes the fresh air stage of the dosing device, the fan operates at a second set power; the first set power is greater than the second set power;

[0087] Preferably, the set duration t11 of each cylinder fresh air stage decreases in sequence, and the set duration t12 of each dosing device fresh air stage also decreases in sequence.

[0088] By adding a mixed fresh air mode, fresh air ventilation can be simultaneously carried out on the inner cylinder assembly and the dosing device of the washing machine, enabling the cylinder assembly and the dosing device to be simultaneously subjected to fresh air ventilation treatment with only a single working procedure, and achieving a significant technological progress in which both components can use fresh air to sterilize and deodorize their interiors.

[0089] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and do not impose any form of limitation on the present invention. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with the preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art of this patent can make some changes or modifications to equivalent embodiments by using the technical content prompted above within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention. The implementation schemes in the above embodiments can also be further combined or replaced. However, as long as it does not depart from the content of the technical solution of the present invention, any simple modification, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present invention still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A washing machine, which comprises: a housing, inside which a drum assembly is installed, and the drum assembly is used for processing clothes; a dosing device for dosing a laundry treatment agent into the drum assembly; characterized in that: it further comprises a fresh air circuit, with two ends being an air inlet and an air outlet respectively that are connected to the outside and communicated with the drum assembly of the washing machine; the fresh air circuit is further connected to the dosing device via a connecting branch, and a switching air damper is provided at the intersection of the fresh air circuit and the connecting branch for exhausting the fresh air from the outside into the drum assembly of the washing machine and then discharging it from the air outlet and / or the dosing device.

2. A washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: the fresh air circuit includes an air inlet duct, the air inlet end of which is connected to the outside atmosphere through an air inlet provided on the housing, and the air outlet end is connected to the drum assembly; an air outlet duct, the air inlet end of which is connected to the drum assembly, and the air outlet end is connected to the outside atmosphere through an air outlet provided on the housing; a connecting branch, the air inlet end of which is connected to the middle part of the air outlet duct, and the air outlet end is connected to the dosing device.

3. A washing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: a switching air damper is provided in the middle of the air outlet duct, and the switching air damper is a one-inlet two-outlet valve, and the valve core of the air damper controls the on-off setting of the inlet communicating with the first outlet and / or the second outlet alternatively or in combination; the inlet is connected to the drum assembly through the upstream part of the air outlet duct, the first outlet is connected to the air outlet through the downstream part of the air outlet duct, the second outlet is connected to the internal cavity of the water box of the dosing device through the connecting branch; the first outlet of the switching air damper is connected to the outside atmosphere through the air outlet provided on the front side of the housing; the second outlet of the switching air damper is connected to the outside atmosphere through the internal cavity of the water box of the dosing device.

4. A washing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: the dosing device includes a water box, on which a dosing chamber, a dosing water path and a liquid storage chamber are provided. The dosing water path connects the liquid storage chamber and the dosing chamber, and the dosing chamber is connected to the drum assembly through a pipeline. The liquid storage chamber stores a laundry treatment agent, and the dosing water path extracts the laundry treatment agent in the liquid storage chamber to the dosing chamber and flushes it into the drum assembly through the incoming water flow flowing through the dosing chamber; the outlet end of the connecting branch is connected to the dosing water path and / or the dosing chamber, and the dosing chamber is connected to the outside atmosphere.

5. A washing machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: the lower part of the internal cavity of the water box forms the dosing chamber, a drawer part that can be pulled outwards is installed in the upper part of the internal cavity of the water box, a liquid storage chamber is provided in the drawer part, the dosing water path is arranged on the upper cover of the water box, and both ends of the dosing water path are respectively connected to the liquid storage chamber and the dosing chamber. A driving unit for providing power to extract the laundry treatment agent in the liquid storage chamber is provided on the dosing water path.

6. A washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: the air inlet is provided at a part of the housing that is inaccessible to the user; the air outlet is provided at a part of the housing that can be directly touched by the user; Preferably, a door that can be flipped outwards for opening and closing and / or a control panel are provided on the front side or the upper side of the housing. The air inlet is located on the front side and / or the upper side and / or the door of the housing, and the air outlet is located on the rear side and / or the lower side of the housing.

7. A control method for a washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6 above, It is characterized in that: The washing machine has a drum fresh air mode and a dosing device fresh air mode; When the washing machine executes the drum fresh air mode, the switching damper switches to the air outlet to open and the connecting branch to disconnect, and the outside fresh air flow and the air replaced in the drum assembly are discharged to the outside atmosphere through the air outlet; When the washing machine executes the dosing device fresh air mode, the switching damper switches to the air outlet to disconnect and the connecting branch to open, and the outside fresh air flows through the air inlet, through the drum assembly and the connecting branch into the dosing device, and after replacing the air flow in the dosing device, it is discharged to the outside atmosphere again.

8. The control method of a washing machine according to claim 7, It is characterized in that: When the washing machine executes the drum fresh air mode, The fan starts to operate, and the outside fresh air flows into the air inlet duct to form a fresh air flow; The fresh air flow is conveyed to the drum assembly through the air inlet duct to replace the air flow in the drum assembly; The switching damper switches to the air outlet to open and the connecting branch to disconnect, and the air flow replaced in the drum assembly flows out through the air outlet duct and is discharged to the outside atmosphere through the air outlet; When the washing machine executes the dosing device fresh air mode, The fan starts to operate, and the outside fresh air flows into the air inlet duct to form a fresh air flow; The fresh air flow is conveyed to the drum assembly through the air inlet duct; The switching damper switches to the air outlet to disconnect and the connecting branch to open, and the air flow flowing through the drum assembly flows out through the air outlet duct and enters the dosing device through the connecting branch, and after replacing the air flow in the dosing device, it is discharged to the outside atmosphere again.

9. The control method of a washing machine according to claim 8, It is characterized in that: When the washing machine executes the drum fresh air mode, the fan operates at a first set power; When the washing machine executes the dosing device fresh air mode, the fan operates at a second set power; The first set power is greater than the second set power.

10. The control method of a washing machine according to claim 9, It is characterized in that: When the washing machine executes the drum fresh air mode, The switching damper alternately executes the drum fresh air stage and the dosing device fresh air stage; In the drum fresh air stage, the drum fresh air set duration t11 is executed, and the switching damper switches to the air outlet to open and the connecting branch to disconnect; In the dosing device fresh air stage, the dosing device fresh air set duration t12 is executed, and the switching damper switches to the air outlet to disconnect and the connecting branch to open.

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