Clothes washing and drying machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a clothes washing and drying machine which comprises a box body and a transversely-arranged barrel located in the box body, the barrel is connected with the two ends of an air channel arranged outside the barrel through an air outlet and an air return opening respectively, and a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger and a blower device are located in the air channel. Wherein the first heat exchanger is used for dehumidifying air from the barrel, the second heat exchanger is used for heating the dehumidified air, an air guide channel is arranged in the barrel, and the air guide channel is communicated with the air outlet and an air inlet arranged in the barrel. In this way, a part of the airflow channel is arranged in the barrel, the occupied space outside the barrel can be reduced, the space is utilized more reasonably, and meanwhile the air guide channel in the barrel can serve as a pre-condensation channel.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to the field of washer-dryer technology, and more particularly to the air heat exchange system of a washer-dryer. [Background Technology]

[0002] Washer dryers are generally made by adding a dehumidification system to a washing machine, and it is usually not desirable to change the size of the machine itself. Therefore, there are challenges in utilizing space.

[0003] Especially for heat pump washer-dryers, the heat pump dehumidification system has many components, and they are relatively large, requiring more efficient use of the internal space. The layout design of each component is particularly important.

[0004] In addition, the layout of the dehumidification system should also take into account avoiding the adverse effects of washing water and washing foam on functional components during the washing program.

[0005] Lint is easily generated during the drying process. To prevent it from clogging air passages or covering the heat exchanger surface, it needs to be blocked and / or cleaned promptly. If a large amount of lint accumulates after long-term use, manual cleaning is also necessary. For example, it should be easy for users or after-sales service personnel to access and clean the areas where lint accumulates. Currently known washer-dryers also have room for improvement in this regard. [Summary of the Invention]

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved washer-dryer. In this application, "lint" refers to small pieces of yarn and fluff, dust, and other particles contained in the air passing through the filter, generated during garment processing. For ease of description, "upstream" and "downstream" in this application are used relative to the direction of the drying airflow.

[0007] This invention discloses a washer-dryer, comprising a housing and a horizontally arranged drum within the housing. The drum is connected to both ends of an air channel located outside the drum via an air outlet and an air return outlet. A first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a blower are located within the air channel. The first heat exchanger dehumidifies the air from the drum, and the second heat exchanger heats the dehumidified air. An air guide channel is provided inside the drum, connecting the air outlet and an air inlet located inside the drum. By placing part of the airflow channel inside the drum, the space occupied outside the drum can be reduced, thus making more efficient use of space. Simultaneously, the air guide channel inside the drum can serve as a pre-condensation channel.

[0008] The horizontal arrangement of the bucket can be understood as the bucket's axis being horizontal or relative to the horizontal, with the axis tilted upwards at a certain angle on the open side of the bucket.

[0009] An optional embodiment includes: the air passage includes a first section connected to the air outlet, and the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are located in the first section.

[0010] Optional embodiments include: the air outlet is located at the rear of the barrel, the barrel has a side wall and a rear wall located at the rear end of the side wall, and the first section is located between the rear wall and the rear plate of the housing. This effectively utilizes the space between the rear wall of the barrel and the housing to arrange the first and second heat exchangers. Especially with the need for larger barrel diameters, the vertical space of the barrel is extremely limited, and the size of the heat exchangers also has certain requirements to ensure heat exchange efficiency.

[0011] Optional embodiments include: the air duct further includes a second section connecting the first section and the return air inlet, and the air duct, the first section and the second section are arranged sequentially along the airflow direction after the blower is turned on.

[0012] An optional embodiment includes a return air vent located at the front of the barrel, with the second section extending axially from back to front along the sidewall. This creates a relatively smooth airflow between the first and second sections, while simultaneously providing space for the arrangement of other structures between the barrel's rear wall and the rear panel of the housing.

[0013] An optional embodiment includes a location where the air inlet is at the rear of the tub. This allows dry, hot air entering the tub from the return air inlet to pass through the clothes inside the tub before exiting through the air inlet.

[0014] Optional embodiments include: the return air vent is located at the upper part of the tub, and the second section is substantially located between the tub and the top plate of the housing; the air outlet is located at the lower part of the tub, and the first section extends upwards; the air inlet is located at the upper part of the tub, and the air guide channel extends downwards. The air inlet and return air vent are located at the upper part of the tub, especially at the highest possible position, close to the top of the tub. This prevents washing water or foam from entering the airflow channel during the washing process. Even if some water or foam enters the air guide channel, since no heat exchanger is installed in the air guide channel, the water or foam flows through the air guide channel to the first section or the bottom of the air guide channel, without affecting the heat exchanger. Simultaneously, the air outlet is located at the lower part of the tub, allowing the airflow channel layout to make full use of space, accommodating a heat exchanger of the largest possible size while occupying as little space as possible. In addition, during the drying process, the humid air from inside the drum first passes through the air guide channel, turns and changes direction before entering the first section, where it exchanges heat with the heat exchanger. Before contacting the heat exchanger, the air travels a long path and undergoes some pre-condensation. At the same time, turbulence occurs during the air flow, which is conducive to a full and uniform heat exchange with the heat exchanger.

[0015] An optional embodiment includes: the air guide channel is formed by the barrel wall and the cover plate of the barrel; the barrel wall has a protrusion extending outward from the barrel; the cover plate covers the protrusion from the inside of the barrel, thereby forming the air guide channel between the protrusion and the cover plate; the cover plate has a notch forming the air inlet; and the air outlet is formed on the protrusion. By using the outward-extending protrusion on the barrel wall to form the air guide channel, the cover plate can be substantially flush with other areas on the inner side of the barrel wall, without occupying internal space.

[0016] An optional embodiment includes: the first heat exchanger is located below the second heat exchanger, and a flow guide is provided between the first section and the air outlet, the flow guide being used to drain the condensate generated by the first heat exchanger.

[0017] Optional embodiments include: the air outlet is located on the lower side of the rear wall of the barrel, and the guide portion is connected to the air outlet and guides the condensate to the air guide channel.

[0018] Optional embodiments include: a drain outlet is provided at the bottom of the air guide channel at the lowest point in the direction of gravity, and the guide portion directs the condensate to the drain outlet.

[0019] Optional embodiments include: a water storage section is provided at the bottom of the air guide channel, and the drain outlet is connected to the water storage section.

[0020] Optional embodiments include: the drain outlet is connected to the upper part of the bucket or other water receiving device via a drain pipe, and the drain pipe is equipped with a first drain device. The upper part of the bucket should be located as high as possible, and other water receiving devices may be, for example, a water storage tank, a feed box, etc.

[0021] Optional embodiments further include: a second drainage device connected to the bottom of the tub to drain water to the outside, the drain outlet being connected to the second drainage device via a drain pipe. Since the condensate drains into the air duct, and then from the air duct through the drain pipe and the second drainage device to the outside, and the air duct is separated from the water-containing area inside the tub, condensate will not enter the tub. This allows for condensate drainage during drying, avoiding any impact on the drying process. Additionally, if water or foam overflows into the air duct through the tub's air inlet during washing, the overflowing water or foam can be drained through the drain outlet.

[0022] An optional embodiment includes a valve on the drain pipe that closes while the tub is filled with water. A second drain device can be used to drain wash water during the washing process. During the washing process, especially while the tub is filled with water, the valve is closed to prevent water from flowing back into the air passage. When it is necessary to drain the air passage, the valve is opened, and the second drain device is activated to drain the water from the air passage.

[0023] An optional embodiment includes: the first segment extends substantially in a straight line. This occupies less space behind the bucket, facilitating the layout of other structures without increasing the overall size.

[0024] Optionally, the first section extends substantially radially along the barrel and may be fitted with a larger heat exchanger.

[0025] Optional embodiments include: the angle between the centerline of the first section and the vertical direction is less than 35 degrees, so as to avoid the drive mechanism, transport bolts, etc. set between the rear side of the barrel and the box.

[0026] Optional embodiments also include: the washer-dryer includes a drive motor and a belt for driving its operation, with the first section located substantially between the belts, which allows for more efficient use of space.

[0027] An optional embodiment further includes: the first segment extends substantially vertically.

[0028] Optional embodiments include: further comprising a filter screen disposed in the air passage or the air guide passage, the filter screen being disposed upstream of the first heat exchanger, thereby blocking and reducing lint reaching the heat exchanger.

[0029] An optional embodiment includes: the filter screen is disposed at the air inlet, so that all air entering the air inlet is filtered by the filter screen.

[0030] Optional embodiments include: a filter spray device comprising a water distributor and a water supply unit for supplying water to the water distributor, the water distributor being integrally formed on the air guide channel.

[0031] An optional embodiment includes: the barrel wall is provided with a slot, through which the filter screen is detachably installed.

[0032] An optional embodiment includes a slot formed on the side wall of the barrel, with the slot opening facing the top plate of the housing. This allows the filter to be slidably inserted into or removed from the slot when the top plate is not installed in the housing or after the top plate has been removed from the housing.

[0033] Optional embodiments include: the water distributor is integrally formed on the wall of the bucket and has an outlet facing inside the bucket and an inlet facing outside the bucket.

[0034] An optional embodiment includes: the first and second sections of the air passage are fixed to the bracket and located between the bracket and the rear plate.

[0035] An optional embodiment includes: the bracket includes crossbeams that connect the left and right side plates respectively, and the first and second sections of the air passage are fixed to the crossbeams.

[0036] An optional embodiment includes: the bracket is recessed inward, thereby leaving space between the bracket and the rear plate for installing a first section of the air passage.

[0037] An optional embodiment includes a first section comprising an integrally formed base and an integrally formed cover, the base being fixed to the bracket, and the cover being located on the side near the rear panel of the housing. When cleaning or maintenance of the heat exchanger is required, the rear panel of the housing can be opened, and then the cover can be opened to expose the heat exchanger, making operation relatively easy.

[0038] Where technical conditions permit, the above embodiments can be combined in various arbitrary ways.

[0039] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrates some specific embodiments of the present invention. Various other advantages of the present invention will also be described below with reference to these specific embodiments. [Attached Image Description]

[0040] Figure 1 This is a side view of a washer-dryer, with the side and rear panels removed.

[0041] Figure 2 This is a partial schematic diagram of the rear of a washer-dryer, where the rear panel has been removed and the cover of the first section of the air passage has been opened.

[0042] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing the drum of a washer-dryer without the filter installed.

[0043] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A diagram showing the air duct cover of the container open and the filter screen not properly installed.

[0044] Figure 5 for Figure 3 A diagram showing the bucket as viewed from the rear.

[0045] Figure 6 A diagram showing the top and back panels of a washer-dryer when opened.

[0046] Figure 7 Rear view of the washer-dryer drum mounted on the base plate.

[0047] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the top of a washer-dryer, where the top panel has been removed.

[0048] Figure 9 for Figure 5 A partial explosion diagram from another angle. [Specific Implementation Examples]

[0049] To make the technical problems to be solved, the technical solutions, and the beneficial technical effects of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and several exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this invention. Various embodiments may share the same view or multiple views for description, but not all features appearing in the same view should be interpreted as features that an embodiment must possess. Instead, they can be combined in any suitable manner as long as they are not technically mutually exclusive. Moreover, for the sake of brevity, different embodiments of different aspects may be presented in the same specific design; however, such presentation does not mean that embodiments of these aspects should appear together. The disassembly and / or combination of all possible embodiments and / or technical features should also take into account the description in the specification and what a person skilled in the art can directly and unambiguously determine based on the description in the specification.

[0050] like Figure 1 As shown, the washer-dryer 100 includes a housing 1. A horizontally positioned tub 2 is located inside the housing 1. "Horizontally positioned" refers to the tub 2's axis being horizontal relative to a vertical orientation perpendicular to the ground, or its axis being inclined upwards at a certain angle relative to the horizontal orientation on the open side of the tub. The tub 2 has a chamber formed by a tub wall 20, which includes a side wall 21 and a rear wall 22 located at the rear end of the side wall 21. The tub 2 is generally cylindrical, therefore the side wall 21 refers to the side portion, which is generally cylindrical in structure. Here, "rear" and in the context of the washer-dryer 100 refer to the side further away from the user relative to the "front" side.

[0051] The barrel 2 is connected to both ends of the air duct 3 located outside the barrel via the air outlet 23 and the air return outlet 24. Figure 2 The first heat exchanger 4, the second heat exchanger 5, and the blower 6 are located in the air passage 3. Therefore, when the blower 6 is turned on, an air circulation loop is formed between the tub 2 and the air passage 3. The first heat exchanger 4 dehumidifies (condenses) the air from the tub 2 (outlet 23), and the second heat exchanger 5 heats the dehumidified air. The heated air then re-enters the tub 2 (from the return air inlet 24) to heat and evaporate the moisture in the clothes inside.

[0052] like Figures 3-5 The container 2 is also equipped with an air guide channel 7 to connect the air outlet 23 and the air inlet 25 located inside the container 2. The air guide channel 7 can serve as a pre-condensation channel, forming an airflow channel together with the air channel 3. By placing part of the airflow channel inside the container, the space occupied outside the container can be reduced, thus making more rational use of space.

[0053] The air guide channel 7 can be formed by the barrel wall 20 and the cover plate 26. Specifically, the barrel wall 20 has a protrusion 27 extending outward from the barrel, and the cover plate 26 covers the protrusion 27 from the inside of the barrel, thus forming the air guide channel 7 between the protrusion 27 and the cover plate 26. The cover plate 26 is basically flush with other areas on the inner side of the barrel wall 20 and does not occupy the internal space of the barrel. At the same time, the cover plate 26 has a notch, which forms an air inlet 25, and an air outlet 23 is formed on the protrusion 27. The air outlet 23 and the air inlet 25 are located on both sides of the air guide channel 7.

[0054] In this embodiment, the protrusion 27 is formed on the rear wall 22 and extends circumferentially along the barrel 2. The protrusion 27 can occupy part of the space of the reinforcing ribs on the rear wall 22, so it will not occupy additional space outside the barrel. In other embodiments, the protrusion 27 can also be formed on the side wall 21 and can also extend axially along the barrel 2. The extension length can be set as needed. In other embodiments, the air guide channel 7 can also have other structures.

[0055] like Figure 2 The air passage 3 includes a first section 31 connected to the air outlet 23. The first heat exchanger 4 and the second heat exchanger 5 are located in the first section 31. The airflow that has been pre-condensed by the air guide passage 7 can directly enter the first section 31 for effective heat exchange.

[0056] The air outlet 23 can be located at the rear of the tank 2, allowing the first section 31 to be positioned between the rear wall 22 and the rear plate 101 of the housing 1. This effectively utilizes the space between the rear wall 22 of the tank 2 and the housing 1 to arrange the first and second heat exchangers. Especially with the need for larger tank diameters, the vertical space of the tank is extremely limited, and the size of the heat exchangers also has certain requirements to ensure heat exchange efficiency. In this embodiment, the air outlet 23 is located on the protrusion 27 of the rear wall 22.

[0057] Combination Figure 6 , Figure 7 The first heat exchanger 4, the second heat exchanger 5, the compressor 8, and the throttling device 9 are connected to form a heat pump circuit. In one embodiment, the compressor 8 is located below the tub 2, and the drive motor 10 that drives the washer-dryer 1 is also typically located below the tub 2. Advantageously, to avoid interference, the compressor 8 is located on the opposite side of the drive motor 10. In this embodiment, the drive motor 10 drives a pulley located at the rear of the tub 2 via a belt 11, thereby driving the washer-dryer 1 to operate.

[0058] Advantageously, the first section 31 extends substantially in a straight line, occupying less space behind the tank, facilitating the layout of other structures, and not increasing the overall size. To accommodate a larger heat exchanger, the first section 31 extends substantially radially along the tank 2; simultaneously, the angle A between the centerline 311 of the first section 31 and the vertical direction is less than 35 degrees to avoid drive mechanisms, transport bolts, etc., located between the rear of the tank and the housing. In this embodiment, the first section 31 is substantially located between the belts 11, allowing for more efficient use of space. In other embodiments, the first section 31 may also extend vertically.

[0059] In this embodiment, the first section 31 is basically flat and roughly parallel to the rear plate 101 or the rear wall 22. For example... Figure 6 As shown, the first section 31 is fixedly installed on the housing 1 near the rear panel 101.

[0060] Specifically, the bracket 110 is mounted on the rear flange 120 of the side panel 102 of the housing 1. The first section 31 of the air passage 3 is fixed to the bracket 110 and is located between the bracket 110 and the rear panel 101.

[0061] The bracket 110 includes a crossbeam 111 that connects to the left and right side plates 102 respectively. Specifically, both ends of the crossbeam 111 are fixed to the rear flanges 120 of the left and right side plates respectively. The first section 31 of the air passage 3 is fixed to the crossbeam 111.

[0062] Advantageously, the bracket 110 is recessed inward, that is, recessed towards the barrel 2, thereby leaving space between the bracket 110 and the rear plate 101 for the installation of the first section 31 of the air passage 3. Figure 6 In the embodiment shown, the middle portion of the crossbeam 111 is recessed to facilitate the installation of the first section 31 of the air passage 3.

[0063] like Figure 2 The first section 31 includes an integrally molded base 31a and an integrally molded cover 31b, facilitating production and installation. The base 31a is fixed to the bracket 110. The cover 31b is located on one side near the rear panel 101 of the housing 1.

[0064] The air duct 3 also includes a second section 32 connecting the first section 31 and the return air vent 24. The air duct 7, the first section 31 and the second section 32 are arranged in sequence along the airflow direction after the blower 6 is turned on.

[0065] The blower device 6 can be located in the second section 32. In this embodiment, the blower device 6 is located in the second section 32 at the position where it connects to the first section 31. In other embodiments, the blower device 6 can also be located in other positions in the second section 32 or in the first section 31, as needed.

[0066] The return air vent 24 can be located at the front of the barrel 2. The second section 32 of the air passage 3 extends axially from back to front along the side wall 21 of the barrel 2, forming a relatively smooth airflow between the first section 31 and the second section 32. At the same time, it provides space for the arrangement of other structures between the rear wall 22 of the barrel and the rear plate 101 of the housing 1. In this embodiment, the return air vent 24 is located on the door seal 28 connected to the barrel 2.

[0067] The air inlet 25 can be located at the rear of the tub 2, so that the dry, hot air entering the tub from the return air inlet 24 can pass through the clothes inside the tub and then be discharged from the air inlet 25. In this embodiment, the air inlet 25 is formed by a notch on the cover plate 26 of the air guide channel 7 on the rear wall 22.

[0068] To prevent washing water or foam from entering the airflow channel during the washing process, the air inlet 25 and the air outlet 24 are advantageously located at the top of the tub 2, for example... Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, near the top, even if some water or foam enters the air duct, since no heat exchanger is installed in the air duct, the water or foam will flow to the bottom of the first section or the air duct without affecting the heat exchanger. The return air vent 24 is located at the top of the tank 2, thus the second section 32 is basically located at the top of the tank 2, between the tank 2 and the top plate 103 of the housing 1. The air outlet 23 is located at the bottom of the tank 2, so the first section 31 extends upwards from the air outlet 23, connecting directly to the inlet of the second section 32. The blower 6 is located at the top of the tank 2 near the rear wall 22. The air inlet 25 is located at the top of the tank 2, so the air duct 7 extends downwards from the air inlet 25 to the air outlet 23. The layout of the airflow channels makes full use of space, accommodating the largest possible heat exchanger while occupying as little space as possible. In addition, during the drying process, the humid air from inside the drum first passes through the air guide channel, turns and changes direction before entering the first section, where it exchanges heat with the heat exchanger. Before contacting the heat exchanger, the air travels a long path and undergoes some pre-condensation. At the same time, turbulence occurs during the air flow, which is conducive to a full and uniform heat exchange with the heat exchanger.

[0069] In the first section 31, along the airflow direction, the first heat exchanger 4 is located upstream of the second heat exchanger 5. As the first section 31 extends upward, the positional relationship between the first heat exchanger 4 and the second heat exchanger 5 is such that the first heat exchanger 4 is located below the second heat exchanger 5.

[0070] A guide section 33 is provided between the first section 31 and the air outlet 23 to drain the condensate generated by the first heat exchanger 4. When the air outlet 23 is located on the lower side of the rear wall 22 of the tank 2, the guide section 33 can be connected to the air outlet 23 and guide the condensate to the air guide channel 7. In this embodiment, the first section 31 is connected to the air outlet 23 through an air outlet pipe, such as a corrugated pipe. The air outlet pipe serves as the guide section 33 and is inclined downwards in the direction towards the air outlet 23 to facilitate the smooth drainage of condensate.

[0071] The bottom of the air guide channel 7 has a drain outlet 35 at its lowest point in the direction of gravity, and the guide section 33 directs the condensate to the drain outlet 35. The bottom of the air guide channel 7 may also have a water storage section 36 to temporarily store some water from the air channel 3. The drain outlet 35 is connected to the water storage section 36. In this embodiment, the air guide channel 7 extends from the air inlet 25 through the air outlet 23 to the drain outlet 35, meaning the air outlet 23 is located between the air inlet 25 and the drain outlet 35. This ensures that the condensate does not affect the airflow, and the condensate flows directly from the guide section 33 into the air outlet 23 and then directly to the drain outlet 35. Simultaneously, the passage between the air outlet 23 and the drain outlet 35 can serve as the water storage section 36. In other embodiments, the drain outlet 35 and the water storage section 36 may also be located outside the air guide channel 7, such as on an air outlet pipe. In this case, the guide section 33 does not need to direct the condensate to the air guide channel 7.

[0072] In some embodiments, the drain outlet 35 is connected to the upper part of the bucket 2 or other water receiving device via a drain pipe 37, wherein the upper part of the bucket should be located as high as possible. Figure 5 As shown, a first drainage device 38 is provided on the drainage pipe 37. Other water receiving devices may be a feed box 40 or a water storage tank 41 that communicates with the tub 2 and is used to add detergent to the tub 2 during the washing process. The water storage tank can be used to temporarily store water and use the water for other purposes, such as participating in the washing of clothes, rinsing lint from functional parts, generating steam, etc. The first drainage device 38 is, for example, implemented as a water pump.

[0073] During the drying process, the first heat exchanger 4 condenses moisture in the air. The condensate flows through the guide section 33 and the air outlet 23 into the water storage section 36 of the air guide channel 7. The first drain device 38 can be opened to drain the condensate from the drain outlet 35 into the tub 2 or other water receiving device. Furthermore, during the washing process, if washing water or foam overflows into the air guide channel 7 or the air passage 3 through the air outlet 23 of the tub 2, the first drain device 38 can be opened to drain the overflowing water.

[0074] The bottom of tub 2 is connected to a second drainage device 39 that drains water from inside tub 2 to the outside. The second drainage device 39 is mainly used to drain water from the washing stage outside the tub. In this embodiment, as... Figure 1 and Figure 3As shown, drain outlet 35 is connected to the second drainage device 39 via drain pipe 37. Since condensate is discharged into the air guide channel 7, and then from the air guide channel 7 through drain pipe 37 and the second drainage device 39 to the outside, and the air guide channel 7 is separated from the water-containing area inside the tub, condensate will not enter the tub. This allows for condensate drainage during drying, avoiding any impact on the drying process. Additionally, if water or foam overflows into the air guide channel through the tub's air inlet during washing, it can be drained through the drain outlet. Furthermore, to prevent water from backflowing into the air channel 3, drain pipe 37 is equipped with a valve 43 that closes while the tub 2 is filled with water. The second drainage device 39 is implemented as a water pump.

[0075] Because a large amount of lint shed from the clothes during the drying process enters the airflow channel with the air, affecting airflow and drying effect, a filter 30 is installed in the air channel 3 or the air guide channel 7 to better capture and remove the lint. Meanwhile, heat exchangers are usually finned or microchannel type, and lint accumulation is very easy to occur on the surface of the heat exchanger, leading to a sharp decrease in heat exchange efficiency. Therefore, the filter 30 should preferably be located upstream of the first heat exchanger 4 to block and reduce the amount of lint reaching the heat exchanger.

[0076] Advantageously, the filter screen 30 is detachably installed, allowing users or after-sales service personnel to easily remove it for thorough cleaning. In particular, the design already facilitates manual cleaning of the filter screen 30, for example... Figure 8 As shown, the filter screen 30 can be exposed and removed simply by opening the top plate 103 of the housing 1.

[0077] like Figure 9 In the illustrated embodiment, a slot 301 is provided on the barrel wall 20, and the filter screen 30 is detachably installed in the slot 301. In this embodiment, the filter screen 30 also includes a bracket 302 that closes the slot 301. The bracket 302 is fixed to the barrel 2, such as by screws, on the barrel wall 20 surrounding the slot 301. Advantageously, the slot 301 is formed on the side wall 21. In this embodiment, the opening of the slot 301 faces the top plate 103, so that when the top plate 103 is not installed on the housing 1, or after the top plate 103 has been removed from the housing 1, the filter screen 30 can be slidably inserted into or removed from the slot 301.

[0078] Advantageously, the filter 30 is located at the air inlet 25, ensuring that all air entering the air inlet 25 is filtered by the filter 30. Combined with Figures 3-5In this embodiment, after the filter 30 is inserted into the slot 301, it fills the air inlet 25. Specifically, the protrusion 27 forming the air guide channel 7 is provided on the rear wall 22 of the barrel and extends from the upper part to the lower part of the barrel 2 along the circumference of the barrel 2. The notch on the cover plate 26 is formed at its upper end, that is, the size of the cover plate 26 at its upper end is smaller than that of the protrusion 27 and forms an opening (air inlet 25) between the upper end of the protrusion 27 and the upper end of the protrusion 27. This opening can be understood as the notch of the cover plate 26. The slot 301 is formed on the upper part of the side wall 21 near the rear wall 22 and corresponds to the air inlet 25. The filter 30 is inserted from the slot 301 and has a size corresponding to the air inlet 25 so that it fits exactly between the upper end of the cover plate 26 and the upper end of the protrusion 27. At the same time, the slot 301 and the second section 32 (blowing device 6) of the air channel 3 are offset in the circumference to avoid interference and facilitate the installation and removal of the filter 30. Advantageously, a first seal (not shown) can be provided between the filter 30 and the air inlet 25, and a second seal 303 can be provided between the filter 30 and the slot 301. In other embodiments, the filter may also be located in other positions or a second filter may be provided in other positions.

[0079] A filter spraying device 50 can also be set up to clean the filter screen 30. The lint washed off by the spraying water enters the bucket 2 and can be discharged directly from the second drainage device 39, reducing adhesion to the flow path.

[0080] The filter spray device 50 includes a water distributor 501 and a water supply unit 502 that supplies water to the water distributor 501. The water supply unit 502 can be connected to a water supply device such as a tap water inlet pipe or a water storage tank 41.

[0081] The water distributor 501 is located adjacent to the filter screen 30 in the air channel 3 or the air guide channel 7, and sprays and cleans the filter surface of the filter screen 30 through the water outlet 503. Figure 9 As shown, when the filter screen 30 is installed in the air guide channel 7 inside the barrel, the water distributor 501 can be integrally formed on the air guide channel 7. In this embodiment, the water distributor 501 is integrally formed on the barrel wall 20 and has a water outlet 5011 facing inside the barrel and a water inlet 5012 facing outside the barrel. Specifically, the water distributor 501 is integrally formed on the protrusion 27 of the air guide channel 7 provided on the rear wall 22 of the barrel 2, and the water outlet 5011 of the water distributor 501 faces the filter surface of the filter screen 30, and the water supply part 502 is connected to the water inlet 5012 of the water distributor 501. In this embodiment, the water inlet 5012 is an elongated opening to facilitate the molding of the water distributor 501. The water supply part 502 includes a water supply pipe 5021 and a cover 5022 communicating with the water supply pipe 5021. The cover 5022 covers the water inlet 5012 and fixes the water supply part 502 to the tank 2. Advantageously, a third sealing element 5013 can also be provided between the cover 5022 and the water inlet 5012.

[0082] In other embodiments, the water distributor 501 may be integrally formed on the air channel 3; the water distributor 501 may also be detachably installed in the air channel 3 or the air duct 7, such as being integrally or fixedly connected to the filter screen 30 and detachably installed together with the filter screen 30.

[0083] Similarly, the heat exchangers can be cleaned, for example by installing a heat exchanger spray device (not shown in the figure) to spray the windward side of the first heat exchanger 4. Of course, a further heat exchanger spray device can also be installed to spray the windward side of the second heat exchanger 5. The spray water and condensate can enter the drain outlet 35 together and be discharged from the airflow channel.

[0084] The washer-dryer 100 includes a control device 200 configured to control the washer-dryer 100 to run drying and / or washing programs according to user selection. The control device 200 can activate a water supply device to supply water to the filter spray device 50 and / or the heat exchanger spray device according to user selection or program settings. The water supply device can supply water to the filter spray device 50 and / or the heat exchanger spray device during the washing program, or before or after drying begins.

[0085] The various specific embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only. Any modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the basic technical concept of this invention are within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A washer-dryer comprising a housing (1) and a horizontally arranged tub (2) located within the housing (1), the tub (2) being connected to both ends of an air passage (3) located outside the tub via an air outlet (23) and an air return outlet (24), wherein a first heat exchanger (4), a second heat exchanger (5), and a blower (6) are located in the air passage (3), wherein the first heat exchanger (4) dehumidifies the air from the tub (2), and the second heat exchanger (5) heats the dehumidified air, characterized in that: The barrel (2) is provided with an air guide channel (7), which connects the air outlet (23) and the air inlet (25) provided inside the barrel.

2. The washer-dryer as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The air passage (3) includes a first section (31) connected to the air outlet (23), the first heat exchanger (4) and the second heat exchanger (5) are located in the first section (31); the air outlet (23) is located at the rear of the barrel (2), the barrel (2) has a side wall (21) and a rear wall (22) located at the rear end of the side wall (21), and the first section (31) is located between the rear wall (22) and the rear plate (101) of the box body (1).

3. The washer-dryer as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The air passage (3) further includes a second section (32) connecting the first section (31) and the return air inlet (24). The air guide passage (7), the first section (31) and the second section (32) are arranged in sequence along the air flow direction after the blower (6) is turned on. The return air inlet (24) is located at the front of the barrel (2), and the second section (32) extends from back to front along the axial direction of the side wall (21).

4. The washer-dryer as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The air inlet (25) is located at the rear of the barrel (2); and / or The return air vent (24) is located at the upper part of the barrel (2), and the second section (32) is basically located between the barrel (2) and the top plate (103) of the box (1); the air outlet (23) is located at the lower part of the barrel (2), and the first section (31) extends from bottom to top; the air inlet (25) is located at the upper part of the barrel (2), and the air guide channel (7) extends from top to bottom.

5. The washer-dryer as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The air guide channel (7) is formed by the barrel wall (20) and the cover plate (26) of the barrel (2). The barrel wall (20) is provided with a protrusion (27) extending outward from the barrel. The cover plate (26) covers the protrusion (27) from the inside of the barrel, thereby forming the air guide channel (7) between the protrusion (27) and the cover plate (26). The cover plate (26) has a notch, which forms the air inlet (25). The air outlet (23) is formed on the protrusion (27).

6. The washer-dryer as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The first heat exchanger (4) is located below the second heat exchanger (5), and a guide section (33) is provided between the first section (31) and the air outlet (23) to drain the condensate generated by the first heat exchanger (4).

7. The washer-dryer as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The air outlet (23) is located on the lower side of the rear wall (22) of the barrel (2), and the guide part (33) is connected to the air outlet (23) and guides the condensate to the air guide channel (7).

8. The washer-dryer as described in claim 7, characterized in that: The bottom of the air guide channel (7) is provided with a drain outlet (35) at the lowest point in the direction of gravity, and the guide part (33) guides the condensate to the drain outlet (35).

9. The washer-dryer as described in claim 8, characterized in that: The bottom of the air guide channel (7) is provided with a water storage section (36), and the drain outlet (35) is connected to the water storage section (36); and / or The drain outlet (35) is connected to the upper part of the bucket (2) or other water receiving device via a drain pipe (37), and the drain pipe (37) is provided with a first drain device (38); or, the bottom of the bucket (2) is connected to a second drain device (39) that drains water to the outside, and the drain outlet (35) is connected to the second drain device (39) via a drain pipe (37), and the drain pipe (37) is provided with a valve (43) that is closed while the bucket is filled with water.

10. The washer-dryer according to any one of claims 2-9, characterized in that: The first section (31) extends basically along a straight line.

11. The washer-dryer as described in claim 10, characterized in that: The first section (31) extends substantially radially along the tub (2), and the centerline of the first section (31) forms an angle of less than 35 degrees with the vertical direction; or, the washer-dryer includes a drive motor (10) and a belt (11) for driving its operation, and the first section (31) is substantially located between the belts (11); or, the first section (31) extends substantially vertically.

12. The washer-dryer as described in any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that: It also includes a filter (30) disposed in the air passage (3) or the air guide passage (7), the filter (30) being disposed upstream of the first heat exchanger (4).

13. The washer-dryer as described in claim 12, characterized in that: The filter (30) is disposed at the air inlet (25); and / or It also includes a filter spray device (50), which comprises a water distributor (501) and a water supply unit (502) for supplying water to the water distributor (501), the water distributor (501) being integrally formed on the air guide channel (7); and / or The barrel (2) has a slot (301) on its wall (20), and the filter screen (30) is detachably installed through the slot (301).

14. The washer-dryer as described in claim 13, characterized in that: The slot (301) is formed on the side wall (21) of the barrel (2), and the opening of the slot (301) faces the top plate (103) of the box (1).

15. The washer-dryer as described in claim 13, characterized in that: The water distributor (501) is integrally formed on the wall (20) of the bucket (2) and has an outlet (5011) facing inside the bucket and an inlet (5012) facing outside the bucket.

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