Laundry treating apparatus and control method thereof

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of clothes treatment equipment, and discloses clothes treatment equipment and a control method thereof. The clothes treating apparatus comprises a cylinder and a heating device. The tub is configured to contain laundry to be treated and wash water. The heating device is arranged on the peripheral side of the barrel and can heat the barrel in different areas. According to the clothes treatment equipment, partitioned heating, heat distribution adjustment and temperature control accuracy improvement can be carried out in the clothes treatment process, the clothes treatment effect is improved, and energy consumption can be effectively reduced.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of clothes treatment equipment, and in particular to clothes treatment equipment and a control method thereof. BACKGROUND

[0002] When clothes are treated by a clothes treatment equipment such as a washing machine, raising the water temperature of washing water can effectively improve the washing effect and the decontamination efficiency. Therefore, the prior art proposes a technical solution of setting a heating device to heat a washing drum so as to raise the temperature of washing water in the washing drum.

[0003] In the prior art, the heating device is generally fixedly arranged outside the bottom or the side of the outer tub of the washing machine, so as to heat the washing water to the target temperature in a very short time. The heated washing water then enters the inner tub for washing the clothes to be cleaned.

[0004] The arrangement of the above heating device has the following problems:

[0005] Firstly, since the installation position of the above heating device is fixed, it may cause uneven heat distribution, affecting the washing efficiency and effect. Secondly, during the washing process, due to environmental factors or the tumbling of clothes with washing water, the temperature of washing water may drop. The heating range of the heating device in the prior art is only concentrated at the position where the heating device is arranged close to the bottom of the inner tub or the position where the heating device is arranged close to the side of the inner tub, and the heating range is small and the heating efficiency is low. Thirdly, the heating device in the prior art needs to heat and raise the temperature of all washing water, which consumes a large amount of electric energy and is not conducive to reducing energy consumption. Fourthly, different clothes may have different material qualities or positions in the inner tub, which may cause different rates of temperature drop and real-time temperatures of the surrounding washing water. The existing heating device cannot heat different target temperatures for different areas, which is not conducive to improving the washing effect.

[0006] Therefore, there is an urgent need for clothes treatment equipment and a control method thereof to solve the above problems. SUMMARY

[0007] According to an aspect of the present application, the purpose is to provide clothes treatment equipment which can perform zoned heating during the clothes treatment process, adjust heat distribution, improve the accuracy of temperature control, and thus improve the treatment effect of clothes, and can effectively reduce energy consumption.

[0008] To achieve this purpose, the present application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0009] The clothes treatment equipment comprises:

[0010] a drum configured to accommodate clothes to be treated and washing water;

[0011] A heating device is arranged on the side of the cylinder and can heat the cylinder in different regions.

[0012] As a preferred scheme of the clothes processing device, the heating device comprises a plurality of heating components which are uniformly distributed along the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the cylinder to divide the cylinder into a plurality of heating regions, and the plurality of heating components can work all together or individually.

[0013] As a preferred scheme of the clothes processing device, the clothes processing device further comprises a processor which can control the working of all or part of the plurality of heating components and can control the target heating temperature of different heating components respectively.

[0014] As a preferred scheme of the clothes processing device, the clothes processing device further comprises a liquid level monitoring module which is arranged on the cylinder and is communicatively connected to the processor, and the processor can control the working of the heating components at corresponding positions according to the liquid level signal monitored by the liquid level monitoring module.

[0015] As a preferred scheme of the clothes processing device, the clothes processing device further comprises a plurality of temperature monitoring modules which are arranged one by one corresponding to the heating components and can monitor the temperature of different heating regions respectively, and the processor can control the working of the corresponding heating components according to the temperature signal monitored by different temperature monitoring modules.

[0016] As a preferred scheme of the clothes processing device, the heating component is a flexible heating element which can be attached to the cylinder.

[0017] As a preferred scheme of the clothes processing device, the flexible heating element is a high-molecular conductive composite material which can generate heat when powered.

[0018] As a preferred scheme of the clothes processing device, the heating device is arranged on the outer periphery of the cylinder; or,

[0019] The heating device is arranged on the outer periphery and the outer bottom of the cylinder.

[0020] As a preferred scheme of the clothes processing device, the clothes processing device further comprises an outer cylinder structure, the cylinder is coaxially arranged in the outer cylinder structure and can rotate around its own axis, and the heating device is arranged between the outer cylinder structure and the cylinder.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present application, it is provided a control method of a laundry treating apparatus, the control method of the laundry treating apparatus being performed based on the laundry treating apparatus according to any one of the above-mentioned aspects, the drum being divided into a plurality of heating zones in a circumferential direction and an axial direction, the control method of the laundry treating apparatus comprising:

[0022] Step S100, putting laundry to be treated into the drum and injecting washing water;

[0023] Step S200, starting a washing mode;

[0024] Step S300, controlling the heating device to heat the drum in a zone-by-zone manner according to a liquid level in the drum and temperatures of different heating zones.

[0025] As a preferred aspect of the control method of the laundry treating apparatus provided by the present application, after the washing mode is ended, the following step is further performed:

[0026] Step S400, controlling the heating device to heat the drum.

[0027] As a preferred aspect of the control method of the laundry treating apparatus provided by the present application, the laundry treating apparatus further comprises a humidity monitoring module capable of detecting humidity in the drum;

[0028] In step S400, when the humidity monitoring module detects that the humidity in the drum decreases to a preset humidity value, the heating device stops heating.

[0029] The present application has the following advantages:

[0030] The laundry treating apparatus provided by the present application comprises a drum and a heating device. The drum is configured to accommodate laundry to be treated and washing water; and the heating device is arranged on a circumferential side of the drum and capable of heating the drum in a zone-by-zone manner. Through the above-mentioned arrangement, the heating device can heat in a zone-by-zone manner during the laundry treating process, adjust the heat distribution of the drum, improve the accuracy of temperature control, and thus improve the treating effect of the laundry. Moreover, the different zones of the drum can be heated according to actual needs, without the need to heat the entire drum, which can effectively reduce energy consumption. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 is a partial schematic view of the laundry treating apparatus provided by Embodiment One of the present application;

[0032] Figure 2 is a partial structure top view of the laundry treating apparatus provided by Embodiment One of the present application;

[0033] Figure 3is a partial structure side view of a drum provided by embodiment one of the present application;

[0034] Figure 4 is another partial structure side view of a drum provided by embodiment one of the present application;

[0035] Figure 5 is a partial structure top view of a laundry treating apparatus provided by embodiment two of the present application;

[0036] Figure 6 is a partial structure side view of a drum provided by embodiment two of the present application;

[0037] Figure 7 is a bottom outer side view of a drum provided by embodiment two of the present application;

[0038] Figure 8 is a partial structure top view of a laundry treating apparatus provided by embodiment three of the present application;

[0039] Figure 9 is a partial structure side view of a drum provided by embodiment three of the present application;

[0040] Figure 10 is a bottom outer side view of a drum provided by embodiment three of the present application;

[0041] Figure 11 is a flowchart of a control method of a laundry treating apparatus provided by embodiment four of the present application;

[0042] Figure 12 is a partial view of a laundry treating apparatus provided by embodiment five of the present application;

[0043] Figure 13 is a flowchart of a control method of a laundry treating apparatus provided by embodiment five of the present application.

[0044] In the drawings:

[0045] 10, drum;

[0046] 20, heating device; 21, heating assembly;

[0047] 30, processor;

[0048] 40, liquid level monitoring module;

[0049] 50, temperature monitoring module;

[0050] 60, outer drum structure;

[0051] 70, humidity monitoring module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] The application will be further described below in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are intended to be merely illustrative of the application and not in limitation thereof. It should also be noted that, for the purpose of description, only the parts related to the application are shown in the drawings rather than all the parts.

[0053] In the description of the application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected", "connected", "fixed" should be understood broadly, for example, it can be fixedly connected, or it can be detachably connected, or it can be integrated; it can be mechanically connected, or it can be electrically connected; it can be directly connected, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium; it can be the internal communication of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0054] In the present application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "on" or "under" of the first feature to the second feature can include that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are not in direct contact but are in contact through another feature between them. Moreover, "on", "above" and "above" of the first feature to the second feature includes that the first feature is directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or only indicates that the horizontal height of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. The "below", "below" and "below" of the first feature to the second feature includes that the first feature is directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or only indicates that the horizontal height of the first feature is less than that of the second feature.

[0055] In the description of the present embodiment, the terms "up", "down", "right", "left" and other orientation or position relationship are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, which is only for the convenience of description and simplification of operation, and does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the application. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish in description and have no special meaning.

[0056] Embodiment one

[0057] The present embodiment provides a clothes treatment device. In the present embodiment, the clothes treatment device is specifically a washing machine, and in other embodiments, the clothes treatment device can also be a dryer or any device capable of realizing clothes treatment and requiring heating during the treatment process.

[0058] Figure 1 Part of the schematic diagram of the clothes treatment device provided by the first embodiment of the application is shown, Figure 2 Part of the schematic diagram of the clothes treatment device provided by the first embodiment of the application is shown, Figure 3Fig. 1 shows a partial structure side view of a drum according to an embodiment of the present application. Referring to Fig. 1, a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present application comprises a cabinet, an outer drum structure 60, a drum 10, a heating device 20, and a processor 30. The outer drum structure 60 is disposed in the cabinet, the drum 10 is coaxially disposed in the outer drum structure 60 rotatably about an axis of the drum 10, and the heating device 20 is disposed between the outer drum structure 60 and the drum 10. In this embodiment, the heating device 20 is disposed on a circumferential side of the drum 10, and can heat the drum 10 in a divided manner. Figures 1-3 The laundry treating apparatus according to this embodiment comprises the cabinet, the outer drum structure 60, the drum 10, the heating device 20, and the processor 30. The outer drum structure 60 is disposed in the cabinet, the drum 10 is coaxially disposed in the outer drum structure 60 rotatably about an axis of the drum 10, and the heating device 20 is disposed between the outer drum structure 60 and the drum 10. In this embodiment, the heating device 20 is disposed on a circumferential side of the drum 10, and can heat the drum 10 in a divided manner. The processor 30 is integrated in the cabinet, and is communicatively connected to the heating device 20 to control the heating device 20.

[0059] Specifically, referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the heating device 20 comprises a plurality of heating components 21. The plurality of heating components 21 are uniformly distributed along a circumferential direction and an axial direction of the drum 10 to divide the drum 10 into a plurality of heating regions, and the plurality of heating components 21 can be operated in an all-on or a single-on manner. In this embodiment, the heating components 21 are disposed in three groups along the axial direction of the drum 10, and each group comprises four heating components 21. That is, the drum 10 is divided into twelve heating regions by the above arrangement. The processor 30 can control all or part of the plurality of heating components 21 to operate. That is, whether the heating components 21 in the twelve heating regions operate, and a target heating temperature at which the heating components 21 operate, can be controlled by the processor 30 respectively. In this embodiment, the processor 30 can be a single-chip microcomputer or the like, which is a prior art, and the structure and principle thereof will not be described herein. The number of the heating components 21 can be flexibly arranged according to actual needs, and this embodiment does not limit the number of the heating components 21. Figure 2 Figure 3 Further, specifically, the plurality of heating components 21 are disposed on the circumferential side of the drum 10 to avoid the influence of washing water in the drum 10 on the heating components 21, and to achieve the heating effect of the drum 10.

[0060] Fig. 3 shows another partial structure side view of a drum according to an embodiment of the present application. Referring to Fig. 3, as an option, the drum 10 is provided with heating components 21 on a circumferential side and a bottom thereof. Since the bottom of the drum 10 has a large area in the axial direction, the heating components 21 disposed on the bottom of the drum 10 can effectively increase the heating area of the bottom, and improve the heating efficiency of the drum 10.

[0061] Figure 4 In this embodiment, the heating components 21 can be electric heating elements or the like, which are prior arts, and the structure and principle thereof will not be described herein. Figure 4

[0062]

[0063] Continuing to refer to Fig. 1, the processor 30 is integrated in the cabinet, and is communicatively connected to the heating device 20 to control the heating device 20.​​​Figure 1 The laundry treatment apparatus further comprises a liquid level monitoring module 40. The liquid level monitoring module 40 is arranged in the drum 10 and is capable of monitoring the liquid level of the content in the drum 10, specifically the liquid level of the washing water. The liquid level monitoring module 40 is communicatively connected to the processor 30 and is capable of transmitting liquid level signals to the processor 30. The processor 30 is capable of controlling the heating assemblies 21 arranged in the drum 10 from the bottom to the highest liquid level to be in the heating state according to the liquid level signals monitored by the liquid level monitoring module 40, and controlling the heating assemblies 21 corresponding to the space above the highest liquid level to stop heating, so as to reduce energy consumption and achieve energy saving and emission reduction. The liquid level monitoring module 40 can specifically select a liquid level sensor, and the specific type thereof is not limited in the present embodiment.

[0064] Continuing to refer to Figure 1 The laundry treatment apparatus further comprises a temperature monitoring module 50. The temperature monitoring module 50 is arranged one-to-one corresponding to the heating assemblies 21 and is capable of monitoring the temperature of different heating areas respectively. The processor 30 is capable of controlling the corresponding heating assemblies 21 to work according to the temperature signals monitored by different temperature monitoring modules 50. For example, when the temperature of one of the heating areas decreases below the target washing temperature, the temperature monitoring module 50 corresponding to this heating area can transmit a temperature signal to the processor 30, and the processor 30 immediately controls the heating assembly 21 of this heating area to work and heat, thereby heating this heating area and ensuring the accuracy of temperature control of the drum 10. The temperature monitoring module 50 can specifically select a temperature sensor in the prior art, and the structure and principle thereof will not be described herein.

[0065] Embodiment Two

[0066] The present embodiment also provides a laundry treatment apparatus. The present embodiment is different from embodiment one in that the present embodiment provides a heating assembly 21 different from that of embodiment one.

[0067] Figure 5 Fig. 2 shows a partial structure top view of the laundry treatment apparatus provided by the present embodiment two; Figure 6 Fig. 3 shows a partial structure side view of the drum provided by the present embodiment two. Refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the present embodiment, the heating assembly 21 is a flexible heating member which can be attached to the drum 10.

[0068] Specifically, the flexible heating element is specifically a high polymer conductive composite material. The high polymer conductive composite material can generate heat when electrified. The above heating principle is as follows: the conductive particles inside the high polymer conductive composite material generate Joule heat under the action of an electric field. Compared with traditional metal heating elements, the high polymer conductive composite material has lower thermal inertia and can quickly respond to temperature changes, thereby achieving more accurate temperature control.

[0069] Specifically, in the embodiment, as shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6 , the flexible heating element specifically has a circular ring shape and is wrapped around and attached to the outer periphery of the cylinder 10. In the embodiment, the flexible heating element is specifically three, and the three ring-shaped flexible heating elements are uniformly arranged on the outer periphery of the cylinder 10 in the axial direction, dividing the cylinder 10 into three heating areas. That is, whether the flexible heating elements in the above three heating areas are working and the target heating temperature of the working can be controlled by the processor 30 respectively.

[0070] Figure 7 Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the bottom outer side of the cylinder provided by the second embodiment of the present application, referring to Figure 7 In the embodiment, since the bottom area in the axial direction of the cylinder 10 is large, a flexible heating element in the form of a circular ring is arranged on the outer bottom of the cylinder 10. The flexible heating element is arranged concentrically with the bottom of the cylinder 10. Through the above arrangement, the heating area and the heating uniformity of the bottom of the cylinder 10 are effectively improved.

[0071] Embodiment three

[0072] The present embodiment also provides a clothes treatment apparatus. The present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the heating assembly 21 provided by the present embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the heating assembly 21 is a flexible heating element that can be attached to the cylinder 10. The flexible heating element can also be made of a high polymer conductive composite material as in the second embodiment.

[0073] Figure 8 Fig. 5 shows a partial structure top view of the clothes treatment apparatus provided by the third embodiment of the present application; Figure 9 Fig. 6 shows a partial structure side view of the cylinder provided by the third embodiment of the present application. Referring to Figure 8 and Figure 9 In the embodiment, the flexible heating element is specifically three groups, and the three groups of flexible heating elements are uniformly distributed on the outer periphery of the cylinder 10 in the axial direction, each group including six flexible heating elements arranged uniformly around the circumferential direction outside the cylinder 10. Through the above arrangement, the cylinder 10 is divided into eighteen heating areas. The specific number of the above flexible heating elements can be flexibly arranged according to actual needs, which is not limited in the present embodiment.

[0074] Figure 10 Figure 6 is a schematic view of the bottom of the drum provided by the third embodiment of the present application. Referring to Figure 6, Figure 10 In this embodiment, the bottom of the drum 10 has a large area in the axial direction, so a plurality of flexible heating elements are arranged on the outer bottom of the drum 10. In order to ensure the uniformity of heating of the bottom of the drum 10, the plurality of flexible heating elements are arranged in a ring array around the geometric center of the bottom of the drum 10.

[0075] Embodiment Four

[0076] Figure 11 Figure 8 is a flowchart of the control method of the laundry treatment apparatus provided by the fourth embodiment of the present application. Referring to Figure 8, Figure 11 The present embodiment provides a control method of a laundry treatment apparatus. The control method of the laundry treatment apparatus is based on any one of the laundry treatment apparatuses provided by the above embodiments.

[0077] The control method of the laundry treatment apparatus comprises the following steps:

[0078] Step S100, putting the laundry to be treated into the drum 10 and injecting washing water;

[0079] Step S200, starting the washing mode;

[0080] Step S300, controlling the heating device 20 to heat the drum 10 in different regions by the processor 30 according to the liquid level in the drum 10 and the temperature of different heating regions.

[0081] Through the above steps, accurate control and scientific regulation of the temperature in the drum 10 during the washing process can be achieved to improve the washing effect.

[0082] Embodiment Five

[0083] The present embodiment provides a laundry treatment apparatus and a control method thereof.

[0084] Figure 12 Figure 9 is a partial schematic view of the laundry treatment apparatus provided by the fifth embodiment of the present application. Referring to Figure 9, Figure 12 The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that the laundry treatment apparatus provided by the present embodiment further comprises a humidity monitoring module 70. The humidity monitoring module 70 is arranged in the drum 10 and is communicatively connected to the processor 30. The humidity monitoring module 70 can detect the humidity in the drum 10. The humidity monitoring module 70 can be a humidity sensor in the prior art, which will not be described in detail in the present embodiment.

[0085] Figure 13 Figure 10 is a flowchart of the control method of the laundry treatment apparatus provided by the fifth embodiment of the present application. Referring to Figure 10, Figure 13The control method of the laundry treating apparatus provided in the embodiment is different from that of the fourth embodiment in that the following step is further performed after the washing mode is ended.

[0086] In step S400, the heating device 20 is controlled to heat the drum 10.

[0087] Through step S400, the drum 10 can be continuously heated and dried by the heating mode after the washing process is ended, so as to avoid the problem of mildew in the drum 10 due to moisture, improve the cleaning degree of the drum 10, and prolong the service life of the laundry treating apparatus.

[0088] Specifically, in step S400, when the humidity monitoring module 70 detects that the humidity in the drum 10 decreases to a preset humidity value, it indicates that the humidity in the drum 10 has reached the requirement at this time, and there will be no problem of mildew. The above-mentioned preset humidity value can be set by the processor 30 according to different seasons and regions, and the specific value is not limited in the embodiment. At this time, the heating device 20 should be controlled to stop heating, and the laundry treating apparatus should be controlled to stop.

[0089] Obviously, the above-mentioned embodiments of the present application are only examples for clearly illustrating the present application, and are not intended to limit the implementation modes of the present application. For those skilled in the art, various obvious changes, re-adjustments and substitutions can be made without departing from the protection scope of the present application. Here, it is not necessary and also impossible to exhaust all the implementation modes. Any modification, equivalent substitution and improvement within the spirit and principle of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A garment processing device, characterized in that, include: A drum (10) is configured to hold the clothes to be treated and washing water; A heating device (20) is provided on the periphery of the cylinder (10) and is capable of heating the cylinder (10) in different areas.

2. The garment processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heating device (20) includes multiple heating components (21), which are evenly distributed in the cylinder (10) along the circumferential and axial directions to divide the cylinder (10) into multiple heating areas. All or one of the multiple heating components (21) can work.

3. The garment processing equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The garment processing device also includes a processor (30) that can control all or part of the operation of the plurality of heating components (21) and can control the target heating temperature of different heating components (21) respectively.

4. The garment processing equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The garment processing equipment also includes a liquid level monitoring module (40), which is located in the cylinder (10) and is connected to the processor (30). The processor (30) can control the heating component (21) at the corresponding position to work according to the liquid level signal monitored by the liquid level monitoring module (40).

5. The garment processing equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The garment processing equipment also includes a temperature monitoring module (50), there are multiple temperature monitoring modules (50), each temperature monitoring module (50) is set to correspond to the heating component (21), and can monitor the temperature of different heating areas respectively. The processor (30) can control the corresponding heating component (21) to work according to the temperature signals monitored by the different temperature monitoring modules (50).

6. The garment processing equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The heating component (21) is a flexible heating element that can fit into the cylinder (10).

7. The garment processing equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, The flexible heating element is a high-molecular conductive composite material, which can generate heat when energized.

8. The garment processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The heating device (20) is disposed on the outer periphery of the cylinder (10); or, The heating device (20) is located on the outer periphery and bottom of the cylinder (10).

9. The garment processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The garment processing equipment also includes an outer cylinder structure (60), the cylinder body (10) is rotatably and coaxially disposed within the outer cylinder structure (60), and the heating device (20) is disposed between the outer cylinder structure (60) and the cylinder body (10).

10. A control method for garment processing equipment, characterized in that, The control method of the garment processing equipment is based on the garment processing equipment as described in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the cylinder (10) is divided into multiple heating zones along the circumferential and axial directions, and the control method of the garment processing equipment includes: S100, Place the clothes to be treated into the drum (10) and add washing water; S200, start the washing mode; S300. Based on the liquid level in the cylinder (10) and the temperature of different heating zones, control the heating device (20) to heat the cylinder (10) in different zones.

11. The control method for the garment processing equipment according to claim 10, characterized in that, After the washing cycle is complete, the following steps should be performed: S400, Control the heating device (20) to heat the cylinder (10).

12. The control method for the garment processing equipment according to claim 11, characterized in that, The garment processing equipment also includes a humidity monitoring module (70), which is capable of detecting the humidity inside the drum (10); In step S400, when the humidity monitoring module (70) detects that the humidity inside the cylinder (10) has dropped to a preset humidity value, the heating device (20) stops heating.

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