Filter assembly and clothes treatment equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of clothes treatment equipment, in particular to a filter assembly and clothes treatment equipment, and aims to solve the technical problem of how to reduce dust falling in the drawing process of a filter screen. In order to achieve the purpose, the filter assembly comprises a filter screen support and a filter screen, a mounting groove is formed in the windward side, close to an air duct, of the filter screen support, and the depth of the mounting groove is larger than the thickness of the filter screen, so that after the filter screen is mounted, the mounting groove still has a dust containing face on the windward side. According to the filter assembly, when the filter screen support is pulled out, impurities on the filter screen can be contained by the dust containing face even if part of the impurities are shaken off, so that the impurities are prevented from falling into a machine, and the problem that dust falls off in the extraction process is fundamentally solved.

Description

This application claims priority to Chinese patent application CN202410536339.7, filed on April 30, 2024, entitled “Control Method for a Drying Device and Clothing Processing Equipment”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of garment care technology, specifically providing a filter component and garment treatment equipment. Background Technology

[0002] With the advancement of technology, conventional clothing processing equipment, such as washing machines, is no longer limited to washing clothes. They are often designed with other structures, such as drying structures, to dry the washed clothes. These can be washer-dryer combos integrated with washing machines, or stand-alone dryers.

[0003] These garment processing devices still have some defects and shortcomings, which enable those skilled in the art to continue to improve them, thereby obtaining higher quality garment processing devices that better meet user experience, and thus enhancing the overall competitiveness of the products.

[0004] For example, during the experimental use, the applicant discovered that the vertically arranged pull-out filter of this application has some drawbacks. When there is too much dirt on the filter, during the process of pulling it outward, the dirt on the filter will inevitably fall to the outside of the filter assembly, especially on the windward side, such as the slide or the exhaust port of the air duct. Over time, this will cause accumulation, making it difficult to pull out the filter assembly and unable to thoroughly clean the internal impurities. On the other hand, setting the filter at an angle does not provide good filtration and air outlet effects. Therefore, how to solve the above technical problems is something that the applicant needs to focus on. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned technical problem, namely, how to reduce dust falling off during the process of pulling out the filter screen.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a filtering assembly, characterized in that the filtering assembly is used in a garment processing device;

[0007] The garment processing equipment also includes a housing, a working chamber, a heating module, an air duct, and a fan disposed within the housing. The fan is configured to blow air through the air duct to the heating module and then into the working chamber to dry the garments inside the working chamber.

[0008] The filter assembly is disposed between the air duct and the heating module;

[0009] The filter assembly includes a filter support and a filter. The filter support has an installation groove on the windward side near the air duct. The depth of the installation groove is greater than the thickness of the filter, so that after the filter is installed, the installation groove still has a dust-collecting surface on the windward side.

[0010] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned filter assembly, the depth of the mounting groove is a, and the thickness of the filter screen is b, wherein the dimensional relationship between a and b is a≥2b.

[0011] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned filter assembly, the depth of the mounting groove is a, and the thickness of the filter screen is b, wherein the dimensional relationship between a and b is a≥4b.

[0012] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned filter assembly, the depth of the mounting groove is a, and the thickness of the filter screen is b, wherein the dimensional relationship between a and b is a≤6b.

[0013] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned filter assembly, a dust-containing groove is provided on the dust-containing surface.

[0014] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned filter assembly, the dust-containing surface is a corrugated surface or a raised frosted surface.

[0015] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned filter assembly, the air inlet of the fan is connected to the working chamber via a flexible hose, and an anti-wear structure is provided on the side wall of the flexible hose.

[0016] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned filter assembly, the anti-wear structure is disposed on the side wall of the hose near the working chamber.

[0017] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned filter assembly, the filter support is slidably and pullably disposed in the housing; and / or, a mesh support frame is provided at the bottom of the mounting groove, and the filter is mounted on the mesh support frame.

[0018] This application also provides a garment processing device, characterized in that the garment processing device includes a housing, and a working chamber, a heating module, an air duct, and a fan disposed within the housing. The fan is configured to blow air through the air duct to the heating module and then into the working chamber to dry the garments inside the working chamber. The garment processing device is provided with a filter component according to any of the above technical solutions.

[0019] The filter assembly of this application, when the filter support is pulled out, allows any debris on the filter screen to be collected by the dust-collecting surface, even if some falls off, thus preventing it from falling into the machine and fundamentally solving the problem of dust falling off during the extraction process. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the garment processing equipment of this application;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a layout diagram of the working chamber, fan, and air duct inside the garment processing equipment of this application;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the position and layout of the fan within the housing according to this application;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a structural schematic diagram of the fan and duct of this application;

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the connection position between the fan and the hose in this application. Figure 1 ;

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the connection position between the fan and the hose in this application. Figure 2 ;

[0027] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0028] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the undeformed state of a hose in one embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the deformed state in one embodiment of the hose of this application;

[0030] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the air duct of this application after the cover plate has been removed;

[0031] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the internal airflow guiding structure of the air duct in this application. Figure 1 ;

[0032] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the internal airflow guiding structure of the air duct in this application. Figure 2 ;

[0033] Figure 13 yes Figure 12 Enlarged view of point B in the middle;

[0034] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the filter support structure of this application;

[0035] Figure 15This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the filter support and the filter after assembly according to this application;

[0036] Figure 16 This is a structural schematic diagram of the handle of this application;

[0037] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the installation structure of the filter screen bracket and handle of this application;

[0038] Figure 18 This is a schematic diagram showing the external assembly and structural position of the handle and the housing in this application;

[0039] Figure 19 This is a bottom view of the handle of this application after installation;

[0040] Figure 20 This is a schematic diagram of a possible implementation of the first connecting hole and the first connecting post of this application;

[0041] Figure 21 This is a schematic diagram of a possible implementation of the second connecting hole and the second connecting post of this application;

[0042] Figure 22 This is a schematic diagram of another possible implementation of the first connecting hole and the first connecting post of this application;

[0043] Figure 23 This is a schematic diagram of another possible implementation of the second connecting hole and the second connecting post of this application;

[0044] Figure 24 This is a schematic diagram showing the location of the isolation barrier in this application;

[0045] Figure 25 This is a schematic diagram of the detection element of this application;

[0046] Figure 26 This is a front view of one possible installation position of the detection element in this application;

[0047] Figure 27 This is a side view schematic diagram of two different installation positions of the detection element of this application.

[0048] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0049] 1-Box body; 11-Top surface of the box body; 12-Side surface of the box body;

[0050] 2-Working chamber;

[0051] 3-Heating module; 31-Cover plate; 32-Inspection port;

[0052] 4-Fan; 41-Central axis of the fan;

[0053] 5-Air duct; 51-First guide vane; 52-Second guide vane; 53-Third guide vane; 54-Right wall of the air duct; 55-Left wall of the air duct;

[0054] 6-Filter components;

[0055] 61-Filter screen bracket; 611-Mounting groove; 6111-Dust collection surface; 61111-Dust collection slot; 6112-Grid support frame;

[0056] 62-Filter screen; 621-First connecting bracket; 6211-First connecting hole; 6212-Second connecting hole; 6213-Clamping strip;

[0057] 63-Handle; 631-Second connecting frame; 6311-First connecting post; 6312-Second connecting post; 632-Clamping rib; 633-Flexible washer;

[0058] 7-Hose; 71-Abrasion-resistant structure; 711-Noise-blocking groove;

[0059] 8-Helical corner channel;

[0060] 9-Observation window; 91-Detection element; 92-Boss;

[0061] 10-Isolation barrier; Detailed Implementation

[0062] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the invention. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments as needed to adapt to specific applications. For example, although the specification describes a clothes dryer as an example of a garment processing device, the garment processing device of this application can obviously also be a washer-dryer combo, a steam-drying and drying machine, etc.

[0063] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, terms such as "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," indicating directional or positional relationships, are based on the directional or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. These are merely for ease of description and do not indicate or imply that the device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation; therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0064] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0065] The following is combined with Figures 1 to 27 Taking a clothes dryer as an example, this application will elaborate on one possible specific implementation of the application.

[0066] Please see Figures 1 to 4 , Figure 10 The clothes dryer includes a housing 1, a working chamber 2 (e.g., an outer drum), a heating module 3, and a fan 4 disposed within the housing 1. The fan 4 is configured to blow hot air from the heating module 3 into the working chamber 2 to dry the clothes inside. This can be achieved by introducing air from the outside for heating, or by circulating air heating within the dryer, as shown in the figure. The path could be that the fan 4 draws air from the outer drum, then discharges it to the heating module 3, and then re-enters the outer drum. The housing 1 is square, and can be rectangular, square, or other structures. The fan 4 is inclined at the angle between the top surface 11 and the side surface 12 of the square housing. Figure 3 As shown, when the fan 4 is tilted, it can be clearly seen that the highest point on the left side of the fan 4 is roughly the same height as the highest point on the central axis. Compared with the normal vertical setting (where only the central axis is the highest), it makes full use of the space at the corners, thereby reducing the overall height, reducing the size of the clothing processing equipment, reducing the space occupied by the clothing processing equipment in the room, and improving the user experience.

[0067] Furthermore, the fan 4 is connected to the outer cylinder, drawing air in from within it. This means that the placement angle of the fan 4 directly affects the opening direction and size of the air outlet on the outer cylinder, which in turn directly impacts its molding difficulty and cost. Therefore, the tilt of the fan 4 must balance the spatial dimensions and the molding difficulty of the outer cylinder. Based on this, while ensuring compatibility with both, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the angle α between the central axis 41 of the fan and the top surface 11 of the casing ranges from 50° to 85°, and can further be from 60° to 75°, and even further can be 70°. At this point, the angle dimension is optimal, which can make full use of the remaining corner space and reasonably reduce the cost of the outer casing, achieving two goals at once.

[0068] The fan 4 is selected as a centrifugal fan 4. This type of fan 4 draws air in from the bottom and exits from the side. This means that if conventional air duct layout is followed, the air duct must also be arranged along the air blowing direction of the fan 4. However, the air duct 5 is usually a regular cross-section shape, such as a rectangular air duct 5. When placed horizontally, it can fill the space inside the housing 1. When placed at an angle, it is difficult to fill the space, resulting in wasted space. This causes the product size to be larger in the width direction for the same exhaust volume. Therefore, this application also designs a set of drainage pipes, namely a spiral corner channel 8, such as... Figure 4 , Figure 10 As shown, the air blown by the fan 4 is spiraled and diverted, which not only does not affect the air volume, but also slightly changes the angle of the air, so that the rear air duct 5 does not need to be inclined. Preferably, the air duct 5 is parallel to the top surface 11 of the box. The spiral corner channel 8, together with the inclined fan 4 and the parallel air duct 5, makes the structure of the whole machine more compact and reliable.

[0069] Continuing with the connection structure at fan 4, the connection between fan 4 and the outer drum is typically achieved using a flexible hose 7. This is because vibrations are inevitable during the dryer's operation, and a rigid connection would directly transmit these vibrations to fan 4, making it prone to damage. Since the distance between fan 4 and the outer drum is often short, the overall space is more compact. This means the flexible hose 7 occupies very little space, while its deformation requirements are relatively high. Often, when compressed, the hose 7 rubs against the outer drum. Over time, this can easily lead to breakage and air leakage, affecting the dryer's drying efficiency. Furthermore, this leakage is often difficult to detect, causing user dissatisfaction with the product's performance decline. Based on the aforementioned technical problems, existing technologies typically employ newer, more wear-resistant, and more expensive flexible hoses to improve their abrasion resistance, or add supporting ribs inside the hose to limit its deformation. However, replacing the hose with a more wear-resistant material inevitably increases the overall price of the unit, resulting in higher costs for the user. Furthermore, adding supporting ribs can have a counterproductive effect on vibration damping, reducing the difference between the hose and the rigid hose and potentially causing damage to the fan as well, making it counterproductive. Solving these technical problems remains a challenge for those skilled in the art.

[0070] Based on the above problems, this application proposes a new hose 7 that enables the dryer's fan 4 to be compatible with this vibration environment.

[0071] like Figures 5 to 9 As shown, in one possible implementation, the air inlet of the fan 4 of this application is connected to the working chamber 2 via a flexible hose 7, and an anti-wear structure 71 is provided on the side wall of the flexible hose 7. Figure 8 , Figure 9As shown, when the hose 7 is compressed, the hose 7 typically collapses due to overlap. In this case, the anti-wear structure 71 is pre-installed on the side wall of the hose 7, preferably on the side wall of the hose 7 near the working chamber 2. It can be arranged along 1 / 2 of the length of the hose 7, for example... Figure 8 In the middle, it is only arranged on the lower half of the hose 7, more preferably, the anti-wear structure 71 is arranged along 1 / 4 of the length of the hose 7. For example Figure 5 , Figure 8 As shown, the hose 7 is generally drum-shaped with a raised center, and the anti-wear structure 71 is provided on the part of the drum-shaped hose 7 near the working chamber 2.

[0072] With this configuration, when vibration occurs, hose 7 collapses to... Figure 5 , Figure 9 In this state, the sidewall of the hose 7 does not directly contact the outer cylinder, but rather the friction-resistant anti-wear structure 71. This ensures that the overall rigidity of the hose 7 remains unchanged, still effectively blocking vibrations and preventing damage to the fan 4, while also providing friction protection for the hose 7. Furthermore, this design does not require a hose 7 made of special materials, and the overall production cost is not increased. This cleverly solves the problem of insufficient lifespan and unbalanced product cost in existing hose technologies.

[0073] The anti-wear structure 71 in this application can take many forms. For example, the anti-wear structure 71 can be an anti-wear protrusion, such as a rounded granular protrusion (not shown in the figure), or something similar. Figure 7 The anti-abrasion protrusions shown are raised cylinders arranged circumferentially along the hose 7. Furthermore, these raised cylinders can be hollow cylinders, with noise-blocking grooves 711 formed on their side walls. Whenever the raised cylinder collides with the garment handling equipment, because the cylinder is hollow, most of the force is absorbed by its own deformation, acting as an energy-absorbing box, and is not transmitted to the side wall of the hose 7, and therefore not to the fan 4. Compared to solid raised cylinders, this not only provides anti-abrasion but also further reduces vibration. Furthermore, in actual use, the hollow structure of the raised structure, due to the internal air, can cause vibration if the compression angle directly contacts the opening of the hollow cylinder. (See [link to relevant documentation]). Figure 7 The structure will cause the gas to be compressed, and each vibration will be accompanied by a popping noise (of course, this problem does not exist if the compression angle of the outlet is not exactly blocked, which will not be discussed further). In order to further solve this problem, this application also provides a noise blocking groove 711 on the side wall of the hollow cylinder. Once the hollow cylinder is completely fitted by the outer cylinder from the front opening, the air can escape from the noise blocking groove 711, preventing the air from being squeezed out instantly after being compressed, thereby fundamentally blocking the generation of abnormal noise.

[0074] The design of the anti-wear structure 71 allows the hose 7 to balance flexibility and wear resistance without increasing costs or requiring replacement with new materials. The integration of the anti-wear structure 71 and the hose 7 can take several forms. For example, the hose 7 and the anti-wear structure 71 can be integrally molded using the same material, only requiring a pre-set service life for the anti-wear structure 71, such as a 20-year friction life. Alternatively, after the anti-wear structure 71 and the hose 7 are integrally molded, a more wear-resistant material can be applied to the end of the anti-wear structure 71. Or, the anti-wear structure 71 and the hose 7 can be designed as separate parts and then connected together, perhaps through adhesive bonding, to achieve fusion. Integral molding is preferred as it is easier to manufacture and lower in cost.

[0075] The following section continues to describe other inventive aspects of this application, following the direction of wind flow.

[0076] Please continue to participate. Figures 10 to 13 The air blown from the fan 4 is redirected by the air duct 5 and evenly blown to the filter assembly 6, and then to the heating module 3 for heating. During this process, the air in the air duct 5, when directly introduced into the filter assembly 6 and the heating module 3, experiences a certain degree of equalization when it reaches the filter screen 62, making the air entering the heating module 3 much more uniform. Therefore, there are few further modifications to this aspect in the prior art. However, the applicant has found that even though the filter assembly 6 can partially achieve uniform airflow, the uniformity of different filter assemblies 6 varies. In actual use, there is still some uneven airflow distribution, resulting in the heat exchange components not being fully utilized. The product still has the potential for further improvement. Therefore, how to make the airflow more uniform when it exits the air duct 5, that is, before reaching the filter assembly 6, is another technical problem that this application aims to solve.

[0077] Based on the aforementioned technical issues, the applicant has proposed a different duct structure design. Please refer to [link / reference]. Figures 10 to 13 In one possible implementation, the fan 4 blows air through the air duct 5 to the heating module 3, and then into the working chamber 2 to dry the clothes inside the working chamber 2. Inside the air duct 5, a first guide plate 51 and a second guide plate 52 are arranged along the airflow direction. The distance between the first guide plate 51 and the right wall 54 of the air duct is m, and the distance between the second guide plate 52 and the right wall 54 of the air duct is n, where m > n. Preferably, as shown in the figure, the first guide plate 51 and the second guide plate 52 are arc-shaped guide plates.

[0078] When air flows in the duct 5, it needs to be discharged from the left wall 55 of the duct. This application provides at least two guide plates. The first guide plate 51 realizes the first air reversal. In addition, a size m is reserved along the right wall 54 of the duct for the remaining air to continue to move along the duct 5. Then, the second air reversal is realized at the second guide plate 52. Since m>n, the air flowing out from m will be further reversed by the second guide plate 52, realizing the staged reversal, so that the air blown out of the duct 5 is evenly reversed according to the preset air volume.

[0079] Furthermore, the distance between the first guide vane 51 and the left wall 55 of the air duct is p, and the distance between the second guide vane 52 and the left wall 55 of the air duct is q, where p < q. Furthermore, the size of the first guide vane 51 is larger than the size of the second guide vane 52, such as... Figure 13 As shown, since m > n, if the size of the first guide plate 51 is larger than the size of the second guide plate 52, then p < q can also be achieved.

[0080] In order to balance the air volume and make up for the possible insufficient air volume guidance on the front side when m is large, this application also designed a structure of p < q, which enables the first guide plate 51 on the front side to guide more air volume close to the right wall 54 of the air duct, so as to achieve a more uniform delivery of the overall air volume of the air duct 5.

[0081] A third guide plate 53 is also provided at the tail end of the air duct along the direction of air flow. The two ends of the third guide plate 53 are connected to the right wall 54 and the left wall 55 of the air duct, respectively. The air leaking from the second guide plate 52 will continue to flow to the third guide plate 53. Since both sides of the third guide plate 53 are connected to the left wall 55 and the right wall 54 of the air duct, no more air will pass through the third guide plate 53. Thus, all the air in the air duct 5 is guided to the filter assembly 6 and the fan 4 through the air outlet of the left wall 55 of the air duct.

[0082] The relative positions of the first guide plate 51 and the second guide plate 52 within the air duct 5 directly affect the air diversion effect of the air duct 5, and thus affect the uniformity of the overall airflow. In one possible implementation, the ratio of the length j of the air duct 5 to the interval h between the first guide plate 51 and the second guide plate 52 is between 1.5 and 4.5, more preferably between 2.5 and 3.5, which can achieve the optimal air diversion state of the guide plate setting in this application.

[0083] The following section continues to describe other inventive aspects of this application, following the direction of wind flow.

[0084] After being guided, the airflow from duct 5 begins to blow towards filter assembly 6. Please refer to... Figure 10 , Figures 14 to 18This application presents a pull-out filter assembly 6, which has the advantage of allowing for very convenient cleaning and replacement of the filter screen 62. Compared to other built-in filters, user operation and cleaning are extremely simple and convenient. However, during experimental use, the applicant discovered that this vertically arranged pull-out filter screen 62 has some drawbacks. When there is too much dirt on the filter screen 62, during the outward pulling process, the dirt on the filter screen 62 inevitably falls to the outside of the filter assembly 6, especially on the windward side, such as the slide rail and the exhaust port of the air duct 5. Over time, this will cause accumulation, making it difficult to pull out the filter assembly 6 and unable to thoroughly clean the internal impurities. Setting the filter screen 62 at an angle also results in insufficient filtration and airflow performance. Therefore, how to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is a key consideration for the applicant.

[0085] Based on the aforementioned technical problems, the applicant proposes a new filter assembly 6, which includes a filter support 61 and a filter 62. The filter support 61 has a mounting groove 611 on its windward side near the air duct 5. The depth of the mounting groove 611 is greater than the thickness of the filter 62, so that after the filter 62 is installed, the mounting groove 611 still has a dust-receiving surface 6111 on its windward side. Further, please refer to... Figure 14 , 15 17, 18, where, to more accurately demonstrate the structure of the filter support 61, Figure 14 62 without a filter installed. Figure 15 The filter screen 62 is shown. The depth of the mounting groove 611 is a, and the thickness of the filter screen 62 is b. The dimensional relationship between a and b is a≥2b, further, a≥4b, and further, a≤6b.

[0086] The depth of the mounting groove 611 must be greater than the thickness of the filter screen 62 to ensure that a pre-defined dust-receiving surface 6111 is present after the filter screen 62 is installed. When the filter screen bracket 61 is pulled out, even if some debris falls off the filter screen 62, it can be collected by the dust-receiving surface 6111, thus preventing it from falling into the machine and fundamentally solving the problem of dust falling during the extraction process. The size of the dust-receiving surface 6111 also needs to be reasonably selected. If it is too small, it cannot hold dust; if it is too large, it will occupy too much space, resulting in an increase in the machine size. Therefore, it is preferable that a ≥ 2b, and more preferably 6b ≥ a ≥ 4b. Figure 15 The structural proportions shown are within the optimal size range, where a = 4.2b.

[0087] To further enhance the ability to collect dust, in one possible implementation, such as Figure 15As shown, a dust-receiving groove 61111 is provided on the dust-receiving surface 6111, which can be V-shaped or arc-shaped, etc. Furthermore, in order to further prevent dust movement and lock the dust, in one possible embodiment, the dust-receiving surface 6111 is a corrugated surface or a raised frosted surface.

[0088] Furthermore, in order to support the filter screen 62 and prevent it from deforming due to wind exposure during use, such as... Figure 14 , 15 As shown, a mesh support frame 6112 is provided at the bottom of the mounting groove 611, and the filter screen 62 is installed on the mesh support frame 6112 to achieve a better support effect and make the filter screen 62 have a better filtration effect.

[0089] like Figure 18 As shown, the filter assembly 6 also includes a handle 63. The handle 63 is located on the outside of the housing 1, allowing the filter support 61 to be pulled out from the outside of the housing 1. Furthermore, the handle 63 and the housing 1 have a flush, zero-interlocking design (a zero-interlocking design means that the user cannot perceive any gaps on the outer surface). The handle 63 is essentially seamless with the housing 1. This requires very precise control of the structural dimensions at the handle 63. However, in actual production, dimensional discrepancies are inevitable. If the dimensions are too precisely defined, the yield rate will decrease, and the production cost of this structure will increase exponentially, which is not what the applicant wants. Moreover, even highly precise finished products that have undergone rigorous screening can have problems. The filter 62 of the dryer in this application is relatively close to the heating module 3. During long-term use, the filter support 61 will inevitably deform slightly. This deformation is transmitted to the handle 63, preventing it from being pushed back into the reserved space in the housing 1, or causing the gap at the handle 63 to widen uncontrollably. Neither of these is what the applicant wants. Based on the actual production precision and the aging and deformation issues of subsequent product use, the applicant proposed a new feasible solution to address the aforementioned technical problems.

[0090] Based on the aforementioned technical problems, this application proposes a new connection method between the filter screen 62 and the handle 63. The handle 63 is configured to move relative to the filter screen 62 by a preset dimension, allowing the handle 63 to pull out the filter screen 62 while simultaneously adjusting its own fixed position. Thus, when the filter screen support 61 undergoes slight deformation, the adjustable space between the handle 63 and the filter screen 62, constituting a flexible connection, allows for targeted adjustment of the handle 63's position, ensuring it always allows for proper insertion. Figure 18 The notch shown in the diagram does not create a large gap. There are various specific implementations of the flexible connection; several possible implementations are listed below.

[0091] like Figures 14 to 21 As shown, in one possible implementation, the filter screen 62 is provided with a first connecting bracket 621, and correspondingly, the handle 63 is provided with a second connecting bracket 631. The first connecting bracket 621 is provided with a first connecting hole 6211, and correspondingly, the second connecting bracket 631 is provided with a first connecting post 6311. The first connecting post 6311 is inserted into the first connecting hole 6211 and is capable of translational movement of a preset size, thereby connecting the first connecting bracket 621 and the second connecting bracket 631. Of course, the positions of the hole and the post can obviously be interchanged, which will not be elaborated further.

[0092] Furthermore, the first connecting hole 6211 is Figure 17 , Figure 20 The waist hole shown, the first connecting post 6311 is Figure 16 , Figure 17 , Figure 20 The cylinder mentioned above, at this time, is as follows Figure 20 As shown, after the first connecting post 6311 is inserted into the waist hole, it can have a translational movement of a preset size, such as size c, or when there is a gap k between the post and the waist hole, the preset size is size c+2k. With this setting, the handle 63 can be rotated at any angle and translated by a preset size.

[0093] In actual use, the applicant does not want the rotation of the flexible connection to be unrestricted, as this would make the handle 63 too loose and prone to over-rotation, preventing it from achieving the preset zero-interlock design. Therefore, this application also proposes a second connecting hole 6212 on the first connecting frame 621, and correspondingly, a second connecting post 6312 on the second connecting frame 631. The second connecting post 6312 is inserted into the second connecting hole 6212 and can have a preset translational movement and a preset rotational movement, but cannot rotate a full circle. Of course, the positions of the hole and post can obviously be interchanged, which will not be elaborated further.

[0094] Specifically, in order to achieve the above solution, the cross-sectional shapes of the second connecting hole 6212 and the second connecting post 6312 are both non-circular, and the cross-sectional dimension of the second connecting hole 6212 is larger than the cross-sectional dimension of the second connecting post 6312, so that after the second connecting post 6312 is inserted into the second connecting hole 6212, it can have a translational movement of a preset size and a rotational movement of a preset angle, but cannot rotate a full circle.

[0095] Furthermore, to explain the above-defined solution using a specific embodiment, the second connecting hole 6212 is as follows: Figure 19 , Figure 21In the illustrated scheme, the cross-sections of the second connecting hole 6212 and the second connecting post 6312 are both closed irregular shapes formed by splicing straight lines and arcs, with the same teardrop shape. The cross-sectional dimension of the second connecting hole 6212 is larger than that of the second connecting post 6312 by a distance d, so that after the second connecting post 6312 is inserted into the second connecting hole 6212, it can have a preset translational movement of a predetermined size and a preset rotational movement of a predetermined angle, but cannot rotate a full circle. The preset translational movement of the predetermined size is 2d, and the preset angle is the rotational angle between the two based on the distance d. The type of the first connecting hole 6211 / second connecting hole 6212 is not limited; it can be a through hole or a blind hole.

[0096] In this way, the handle 63 is simultaneously defined by the first connecting hole 6211 / first connecting post 6311 and the second connecting hole 6212 / second connecting post 6312, which can achieve a preset lateral movement distance of the smallest value between c+2k / 2d (the product design can select appropriate c, k, and d according to actual needs), and can achieve rotation based on a preset angle of interval d, so as to achieve reasonable angle adjustment between the handle 63 and the slot of the outer shell, without making the handle 63 too loose, which achieves multiple benefits.

[0097] Of course, the above is merely an illustrative representation of one possible implementation of the first connecting hole 6211 / first connecting post 6311 and the second connecting hole 6212 / second connecting post 6312. Those skilled in the art, understanding the above technical solution, can obviously make reasonable modifications, which also fall within the inventive concept of this application. For example, the positions of the first connecting hole 6211 / first connecting post 6311 and the second connecting hole 6212 / second connecting post 6312 can be interchanged, or their cross-sectional areas can be changed. Such modifications are still within the protection scope of this application. Examples are as follows:

[0098] The cross-section of the first connecting hole 6211 / first connecting post 6311 can obviously also be... Figure 22 The cross-sections shown are all rectangular structures, and the length of the first connecting hole 6211 is greater than the length of the first connecting post 6311, so that after the first connecting post 6311 is inserted into the first connecting hole 6211, it can have a translational movement of a preset size, and it can also achieve a lateral movement and rotation of a preset size. Similarly, the cross-section of the second connecting hole 6212 / second connecting post 6312 can obviously also be... Figure 23All cross-sections shown are elliptical and identical in shape (here, "shape" refers to their elliptical shape, not necessarily their identical dimensions). Furthermore, the cross-sectional dimension of the second connecting hole 6212 is larger than that of the second connecting post 6312, allowing the second connecting post 6312, after being inserted into the second connecting hole 6212, to have a preset translational movement and a preset rotational movement, but not to rotate a full circle. Any deformations of the above structure fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0099] After achieving the flexible connection between the handle 63 and the filter holder 61, there is another important design point. When the flexible connection between the handle 63 and the filter holder 61 is completed, the handle 63 has reasonable angle adjustment and lateral movement adjustment. However, it lacks a certain fixing method, and there is still a possibility that the handle 63 is relatively loose. In order to balance the adjustability and looseness of the handle 63, such as Figure 18 As shown, this application also provides a flexible washer 633 between the first connecting frame 621 and the second connecting frame 631. The elasticity of the flexible washer 633 will keep the handle 63 in a stable state. When the handle 63 needs to be adjusted due to the deformation of the filter support 61, it can also overcome the elasticity of the flexible washer 633 to achieve small-angle rotation and small-size translation. Moreover, it will not generate noise due to the gap between the handle 63 and the filter support 61. This achieves multiple benefits and is one of the important technical means for the flexible connection between the handle 63 and the filter support 61.

[0100] In addition, a retaining strip 6213 is provided on the first connecting frame 621, and a retaining rib 632 matching the retaining strip 6213 is provided on the second connecting frame 631. After the filter screen 62 is connected to the handle 63, the retaining rib 632 can abut against the retaining strip 6213. When the handle 63 is rotated, the user needs to manually turn it. After turning, it can provide a resisting force to help fix the handle 63 in the position after turning without rebounding. This is also one of the important technical means for the flexible connection between the handle 63 and the filter screen bracket 61.

[0101] This design achieves a flexible connection between the handle 63 and the filter support 61, ensures a zero-embedding design on the outer wall of the dryer, reduces the precision requirements for product manufacturing, thereby reducing production costs and improving the adaptability of the handle 63. Compared with conventional connection methods, the solution proposed in this application has achieved significant technical benefits.

[0102] like Figure 18 , Figure 24As shown, when the user removes the filter 62 for cleaning, gaps will inevitably appear. In order to improve energy efficiency, as mentioned in the above solution, the heating module 3 is close to the filter 62. If children or others put their hands into it out of curiosity, it is very likely to cause burns. This risk is not what the applicant wants to see. Based on the above technical problems, the applicant continues to optimize and improve the technical solution of this application.

[0103] like Figure 24 As shown, to avoid burns caused by inserting hands deeply, this application also provides an isolation baffle 10 between the filter assembly 6 and the heating module 3. Furthermore, the isolation baffle 10 is located on the side near the pull-out inlet of the filter support 61, and multiple isolation baffles 10 are provided, arranged side by side, with the arrangement direction of the multiple isolation baffles 10 parallel to the pull-out direction of the filter support 61.

[0104] This design ensures that even if someone accidentally puts their hand inside, their fingers or other parts will be physically prevented from contacting the heating module 3, thus fundamentally eliminating the possibility of the aforementioned dangers.

[0105] The heating module 3 in this application is preferably a PTC heating module (Positive Temperature Coefficient Heater). During cleaning and maintenance, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the entire cover plate 31 needs to be removed. However, the entire cover plate 31 covers the heating module 3, filter assembly 6, air duct 5, and other related structures not mentioned, covering a wide area. Since its disassembly also involves the aforementioned structures, many areas require attention, and other structures are easily damaged. To avoid this situation, reduce after-sales difficulties, and decrease the occurrence of after-sales maintenance accidents, this application also provides an inspection port 32 on the cover plate 31. The inspection port 32 is designed to match the heating module 3, preferably located on the upper part of the heating module 3. In this way, when maintenance personnel want to perform maintenance on the PTC, they do not need to disassemble the entire cover plate 31; the maintenance process can be carried out only through the inspection port 32, reducing the impact on other structural parts. Preferably, the cover plate 31 is fixed to the air duct 5 with screws, and the inspection port 32 is fixed to the cover plate 31 with a snap-fit ​​connection. Choosing the above-mentioned fixing method makes the cover plate 31, which is not frequently disassembled, more secure and reliable, and the inspection port 32 is more convenient for maintenance, allowing workers to disassemble it without other tools.

[0106] The invention of this application has been described above in conjunction with the direction of wind flow. During the use of a dryer, in order to determine the degree of drying of clothes, a detection element for determining the degree of drying of clothes is usually set up. The detection element in the prior art (not shown in the figure) usually adopts a conventional columnar sensor, which is placed inside the outer drum. However, this design has drawbacks. Often, due to obstruction or other reasons, the detection accuracy is not high enough, which affects the determination of the overall working progress of the dryer. In order to solve the above technical problems, the applicant proposes a new technical solution.

[0107] The applicant creatively designed and used an arc-shaped annular detection element 91, such as... Figure 25 As shown, it is positioned on the observation window 9. The curved structure fits the structure of the observation window 9 perfectly, resulting in a high degree of overall fit. Even though it occupies a curved corner, it does not obstruct the user's normal observation. Furthermore, the observation window 9 serves as the user's direct observation point and is also the optimal observation angle, as it is unobstructed, thus improving the accuracy of determining the degree of dryness.

[0108] Specifically, the mounting position of the detection element 91 with its special structure in this application is also available in multiple ways, for example... Figure 26 , Figure 27 As shown, the observation window 9 has an inwardly protruding boss 92, and the detection element 91 can be disposed on the side of the boss 92, such as... Figure 27 As shown, it can also be set on the raised surface of the boss 92 and coincide with the edge of the raised surface, such as... Figure 26 , 27 As shown. Neither of the above two solutions affects the user's field of vision and enables the detection element 91 to achieve the best detection effect. The arc-shaped structure of the detection element 91, together with the lead wire of the detection element 91, also creates a smiley face shape, so that the detection element 91 is harmoniously set with the appearance of the dryer, does not appear abrupt, and improves the appearance of the product.

[0109] It should be noted that the above embodiments are merely used to illustrate the principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Without departing from the principles of the present invention, those skilled in the art can adjust the above structure so that the present invention can be applied to more specific application scenarios.

[0110] For example, in an alternative embodiment, the heating module 3 can obviously be other types of heating, such as electric heating wire, as long as it can provide heat to heat the air. These do not deviate from the principle of the present invention and therefore all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0111] Those skilled in the art will understand that the aforementioned garment processing equipment also includes other known structures, such as processors, controllers, and memories. These memories include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM), flash memory, read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), volatile memory, non-volatile memory, serial memory, parallel memory, or registers. Processors include, but are not limited to, CPLD / FPGA, DSP, ARM processors, and MIPS processors. To avoid unnecessarily obscuring the embodiments disclosed in this application, these known structures are not shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0112] The technical solutions of this application have been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of this application is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principles of this application, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after these changes or substitutions will all fall within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A filter assembly, characterized in that, The filter assembly is used in clothing processing equipment; The garment processing equipment also includes a housing, a working chamber, a heating module, an air duct, and a fan disposed within the housing. The fan is configured to blow air through the air duct to the heating module and then into the working chamber to dry the garments inside the working chamber. The filter assembly is disposed between the air duct and the heating module; The filter assembly includes a filter support and a filter. The filter support has an installation groove on the windward side near the air duct. The depth of the installation groove is greater than the thickness of the filter, so that after the filter is installed, the installation groove still has a dust-collecting surface on the windward side.

2. The filter assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The depth of the mounting groove is 'a', and the thickness of the filter screen is 'b', wherein the dimensional relationship between 'a' and 'b' is 'a≥2b'.

3. The filter assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The depth of the mounting groove is a, and the thickness of the filter screen is b, wherein the dimensional relationship between a and b is a≥4b.

4. The filter assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The depth of the mounting groove is 'a', and the thickness of the filter screen is 'b', wherein the dimensional relationship between 'a' and 'b' is 'a≤6b'.

5. The filter assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, A dust-containing groove is provided on the dust-containing surface.

6. The filter assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dust-containing surface is a corrugated surface or a raised frosted surface.

7. The filter assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air inlet of the fan is connected to the working chamber via a flexible hose, and an anti-wear structure is provided on the side wall of the flexible hose.

8. The filter assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The anti-wear structure is disposed on the side wall of the hose near the working chamber.

9. The filter assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filter support is slidably and retractably installed inside the housing; and / or... A mesh support frame is provided at the bottom of the mounting groove, and the filter screen is installed on the mesh support frame.

10. A garment processing device, characterized in that, The garment processing equipment includes a housing, a working chamber, a heating module, an air duct, and a fan disposed within the housing. The fan is configured to blow air through the air duct to the heating module and then into the working chamber to dry the garments inside the working chamber. The garment processing device is provided with a filter component according to any one of claims 1-9.

Images