Door seal, barrel assembly and clothes processing equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of clothes treatment equipment, in particular to a door seal, a barrel assembly and clothes treatment equipment, and aims to solve the problem of how to reduce the phenomenon of water quantity reduction during washing of existing clothes treatment equipment. In order to achieve the purpose, the door seal of the clothes processing equipment comprises a door seal body and a shielding structure formed on the door seal body, the door seal body is used for forming sealing with a door and an outer barrel of the clothes processing equipment, and the shielding structure is used for shielding a gap between an inner barrel opening and an outer barrel opening of the clothes processing equipment. According to the arrangement mode, the shielding structure can shield the foremost end of the gap between the inner drum and the outer drum which causes water flow leakage, so that the possibility of reducing the washing water amount in the inner drum can be obviously reduced, and on the basis, the flexible characteristic of the door seal is combined, so that the distance between the shielding structure and the opening of the inner drum can be smaller; therefore, the possibility that the washing water flows out of the gap is reduced, and the washing effect is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of garment processing equipment, specifically providing a door seal, a bobbin assembly, and garment processing equipment. Background Technology

[0002] In the design of washing machines and other clothing handling equipment, some devices feature a closed inner drum design, meaning that there are no water perforations on the surface of the inner drum. This design aims to prevent wash water from flowing freely in the gap between the inner and outer drums during the washing process, thereby reducing the risk of dirt entering the inner drum and contacting the surface of the clothes, and improving the washing effect.

[0003] However, to ensure the inner drum can rotate freely, a certain gap is still needed between the inner and outer drums. While this gap is a necessary mechanical feature, it becomes a channel for detergent and water leakage. This problem is exacerbated, especially when the washing machine is spinning at high speed, as the water pressure increases, reducing the amount of water in the inner drum and thus affecting washing performance.

[0004] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a new door seal, cylinder assembly, and garment processing device to solve the above problems. Application content

[0005] This application aims to solve the aforementioned technical problem, namely, how to reduce the water volume reduction phenomenon during washing in existing garment processing equipment.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a door seal for a garment processing device, characterized in that the door seal comprises: a door seal body for forming a seal with the door and outer cylinder of the garment processing device; and a shielding structure formed on the door seal body for shielding the gap between the inner cylinder opening and the outer cylinder opening of the garment processing device.

[0007] With the above technical solution, the only leakage point for washing water is the gap between the inner and outer drum openings. Because the shielding structure formed on the door seal body blocks this gap, it effectively prevents water leakage from reaching the very front of the gap, thus significantly reducing the likelihood of water loss in the inner drum and improving washing performance. Furthermore, the door seal's flexibility allows it to bend or deform when the inner drum bounces and contacts the shielding structure. This deformation absorbs the impact of the inner drum's movement, ensuring good contact between the inner drum opening and the shielding structure even during high-speed rotation. This allows for a smaller gap between the shielding structure and the inner drum opening, further reducing the possibility of water leakage and improving washing performance.

[0008] In the preferred embodiment of the door seal of the aforementioned garment processing equipment, the shielding structure is located inside the gap.

[0009] By employing the above technical solution, the shielding structure, located inside the gap, minimizes external interference. For example, it prevents direct exposure to clothing surfaces prone to frequent collisions during washing, reducing deformation caused by impacts and ensuring a durable shielding effect and functional stability. Furthermore, the inner location of the shielding structure also makes its connection to the door seal body more convenient and reliable.

[0010] In the preferred embodiment of the door seal of the above-mentioned garment processing equipment, the gap is oriented toward its annular radial center, and the shielding structure includes a first water-blocking ring connected to the door seal body, the first water-blocking ring being configured to shield the gap in the radial direction.

[0011] When the above technical solution is adopted, since the gap is oriented toward its annular radial center, most of the washing water needs to flow radially to the gap before it can leak out. In this case, the first water-blocking ring of this application is configured to block the gap radially, effectively preventing the possibility of water flowing radially into the inside of the gap. The effect is more obvious for the upper gap, thereby further reducing the waste of washing water.

[0012] In the preferred embodiment of the door seal of the above-mentioned garment processing equipment, the shielding structure further includes a second water-blocking ring, which is disposed on the side of the first water-blocking ring near the inner cylinder opening, and the second water-blocking ring, the first water-blocking ring and the door seal body form an annular groove.

[0013] When the above technical solution is adopted, the washing water entering the inner side of the gap first flows into the annular groove. The upward-flowing washing water first enters the upper annular groove through the gap. Due to the obstruction of the annular groove, the washing water changes its flow path and flows back towards the gap, thus returning to the inner drum to participate in washing. The downward-flowing washing water enters the lower annular groove through the gap. The obstruction of the annular groove reduces the amount of washing water entering the gap between the inner and outer drums, preventing dirt accumulation in the gap between the inner and outer drums.

[0014] In the preferred embodiment of the door seal of the above-mentioned clothing processing equipment, a gap is left between the end of the second water-blocking ring away from the first water-blocking ring and the inner cylinder opening.

[0015] By adopting the above technical solution, the inner drum can rotate efficiently, ensuring the effective operation of the washing process.

[0016] In the preferred technical solution of the door seal of the above-mentioned clothing processing equipment, the value range of the spacing is 2mm-4mm.

[0017] By adopting the above technical solution, the gap can be made smaller while ensuring efficient rotation of the inner drum and not affecting the washing operation, thereby greatly reducing the risk of washing water leakage.

[0018] In the preferred embodiment of the door seal of the above-mentioned garment processing equipment, the door seal body includes a main body, a first connecting part and a second connecting part connected to the main body, the first connecting part is used to wrap the outer cylinder opening, the second connecting part is used to form a seal with the door, and the first water-blocking ring is connected to the portion of the first connecting part located inside the outer cylinder opening.

[0019] By adopting the above technical solution, not only can the tight connection between the door seal and the outer drum be ensured, but the first connecting part can also be inserted into the gap from the outer drum opening. Thus, the inserted part can block part of the gap. By adjusting the thickness of the first connecting part or the tightness of wrapping the outer drum opening, the distance between the first connecting part and the inner drum opening can be made smaller, thereby further reducing the possibility of washing water flowing out from the gap.

[0020] In the preferred embodiment of the door seal of the above-mentioned garment processing equipment, the door includes a door body and a protruding structure protruding from the door body. The door seal body is used to form a seal with the protruding structure, and the protruding structure is closer to the inner side of the inner drum of the garment processing equipment than the gap.

[0021] By employing the above technical solution, the protruding structure can block a portion of the washing water, causing it to flow back to the inside of the drum and participate in the washing process again. Washing water flowing into the gap that is not blocked by the protruding structure is blocked by the shielding structure, reducing the amount of washing water entering the gap. Therefore, this arrangement can significantly reduce washing water waste, thereby improving washing performance. Furthermore, the protruding structure can also push the clothes back into the drum to participate in the washing process, thus improving washing efficiency.

[0022] On the other hand, this application also provides a cylindrical assembly, the cylindrical assembly including an outer cylinder and a closed inner cylinder rotatably disposed inside the outer cylinder, and also including the door seal described in any of the above embodiments.

[0023] When the above technical solution is adopted, after the drum assembly is applied to the clothing processing equipment, it can prevent dirt that may exist in the gap between the inner and outer drums from entering the inner drum and directly contacting the clothes, while also reducing water waste and reducing the occurrence of water running out as the clothes are washed, thereby improving the washing effect of the clothes.

[0024] On the other hand, this application also provides a garment processing device that includes the aforementioned bobbin assembly.

[0025] By adopting the above technical solution, it is possible to avoid dirt that may exist in the gap between the inner and outer drums of the clothing processing equipment from entering the inner drum and directly contacting the clothes. It is also possible to reduce water waste and reduce the occurrence of water running out as the washing progresses, thereby improving the washing effect of the clothes. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The preferred embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] Figure 1 This is a possible structural schematic diagram of the garment processing device of this application;

[0028] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0029] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another possible structure of the garment processing device of this application;

[0030] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Enlarged view of point B in the middle.

[0031] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0032] 1-Door 1; 11-Door body 11; 12-Protruding structure 12; 2-Inner cylinder 2; 21-Inner cylinder opening 21; 3-Outer cylinder 3; 31-Outer cylinder opening 31; 4-Gap 4; 5-Door seal 5; 51-Door seal body 51; 511-Main body 511; 512-First connecting part 512; 513-Second connecting part 513; 514-Third connecting part 514; 52-Shielding structure 52; 521-First water-blocking ring 521; 522-Second water-blocking ring 522; 523-Annular groove 523; 6-Casing 6. Detailed Implementation

[0033] It should be noted that in the description of this application, terms such as "upper" and "lower" indicating directional or positional relationships are based on the directional or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. This is merely for ease of description and does not indicate or imply that the device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation of this application. In this application, "upper" and "lower" refer to the upper and lower parts of the garment handling device in its operational state, based on the height direction. "Front" refers to the direction near door 1 based on the horizontal direction of the garment handling device, and "rear" refers to the direction near the back of the garment handling device based on the horizontal direction of the garment handling device. Furthermore, the ring described in this application is not intended to be limited to a circular ring; it can also be a square ring, a polygonal ring, etc.

[0034] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" 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 direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, etc. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0035] This application discloses a garment processing device, which can be a drum washing machine, a drum washer-dryer combo, or a sock washing machine, etc., and this application does not impose specific limitations on it. Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the garment handling equipment includes a door 1, a housing 6, and a drum assembly. The drum assembly includes an outer drum 3, an inner drum 2, and a door seal 5. The door 1 is pivotally connected to the garment inlet of the housing 6 to open and close the garment inlet. The outer drum 3 is located inside the housing 6, and the inner drum 2 is rotatably located inside the outer drum 3 via a shaft. The specific connection method can be any existing or future connection method, which will not be described in detail here. The inner drum 2 can be a closed inner drum 2, which isolates the inner drum 2 from the outer drum 3 during washing. That is, the inner drum 2 does not have water permeable holes that allow water to flow through, so as to prevent dirt that may exist in the gap 4 between the inner drum 2 and the outer drum 3 from entering the inner drum 2 and directly contacting the clothes during washing. It should be noted that, despite this, the inner drum 2 can still have openings to accommodate structures that can be sealed during washing, such as a drainage structure. This drainage structure can be designed to close during washing and open during drainage, ensuring that the inner drum 2 is closed during washing and that washing water can be discharged to the outside of the inner drum 2 through the drainage structure during drainage. The drainage structure can be a centrifugal valve, etc. Of course, the above description is not limiting; as long as the garment handling equipment ensures that the inner drum 2 is closed during washing to prevent water from flowing from the inner wall of the inner drum 2 to the outside, the drainage structure can be omitted from this application.

[0036] The door 1 of the garment processing equipment may include a door body 11 (not shown in the figure) and a protruding structure 12 protruding from the door body 11. The protruding structure 12 may be groove-shaped. The door body 11 may include a first annular frame and a second annular frame. The open end of the protruding structure 12 is clamped between the first annular frame and the second annular frame. The first annular frame and the second annular frame may be fixedly connected by means of snap-fit, bolt connection, etc., so that the protruding structure 12 is fixed on the door body 11. It should be noted that although the above description uses the first annular frame and the second annular frame as examples, this is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. As long as the protruding structure 12 can be fixed on the door body 11, its specific form can be adjusted. For example, a single annular frame can be used instead of two separate frames. This frame may have a concave groove to accommodate the open end of the protruding structure 12, and then it can be fixed by bolts, clamps, or other mechanical means. These adjustments do not deviate from the principle of this application and are all within the scope of protection of this application. The protruding structure 12 can be configured as a transparent window made of glass or plastic, or it can be configured as an opaque protruding structure 12, etc.

[0037] Reference Figure 2 or Figure 4 The door seal 5 of this application includes a door seal body 51 and a shielding structure 52 formed on the door seal body 51. The door seal body 51 is used to form a seal with the protruding structure 12 and the outer cylinder 3, thereby preventing water from leaking out from the area between the outer cylinder 3 and the door 1. The shielding structure 52 is used to shield the gap 4 between the inner cylinder opening 21 and the outer cylinder opening 31 of the garment processing equipment. The door seal 5 of this application can be integrally molded, and its material can be flexible materials such as silicone, rubber, polyurethane, or elastic material composites.

[0038] Because the shielding structure 52 formed on the door seal body 51 shields the gap 4 between the inner drum opening 21 and the outer drum opening 31, the shielding structure 52 can block the front end of the gap between the inner drum 2 and the outer drum 3 that would cause water leakage. This prevents most of the water from entering the gap between the inner drum 2 and the outer drum 3, thus significantly reducing the possibility of a reduction in the amount of washing water in the inner drum 2 and improving the washing effect. Based on this, combined with the flexibility of the door seal 5, when the inner drum 2 bounces and comes into contact with the shielding structure 52, the door seal 5 can bend or deform, thereby absorbing the impact of the inner drum 2's bounce through deformation. This ensures that even when the inner drum 2 is bouncing at high speed, the inner drum opening 21 and the shielding structure 52 can maintain good contact, allowing the gap between the shielding structure 52 and the inner drum opening 21 to be smaller, thereby reducing the possibility of washing water flowing out from the gap 4.

[0039] In one possible implementation, the door seal body 51 includes a main body 511, a first connecting part 512 connected to the main body 511, and a second connecting part 513. The first connecting part 512 covers the outer cylinder opening 31, and the second connecting part 513 forms a seal with the protruding structure 12, so that when the door 1 is closed, the protruding structure 12 passes into the annular door seal 5 and forms a seal with the second connecting part 513. After the first connecting part 512 covers the outer cylinder opening 31, the first connecting part 512 can be tightly clamped to the outer wall of the outer cylinder opening 31 by means of a clamping device (such as a clamp), or the first connecting part 512 can be directly adhered to the outer wall of the outer cylinder opening 31, etc., to ensure a firm connection and prevent leakage. Since the first connecting part 512 wraps around the outer tube opening 31, it not only ensures a tight connection between the door seal 5 and the outer tube 3, but also allows the first connecting part 512 to extend into the gap 4 from the outer tube opening 31. Thus, the extended part can block part of the gap 4. By adjusting the thickness of the first connecting part 512 or the tightness of wrapping the outer tube opening 31, the distance between the first connecting part 512 and the inner tube opening 21 can be made smaller, thereby further reducing the possibility of washing water flowing out from the gap 4.

[0040] In one possible implementation, the shielding structure 52 of this application is located inside the gap 4. Because the shielding structure 52 is located inside the gap 4, external interference can be minimized. For example, it is prevented from being directly exposed to the surface of clothing that may experience frequent collisions during washing, reducing the deformation of the shielding structure 52 that may be caused by collisions, thereby ensuring its durable shielding effect and functional stability. Furthermore, the fact that the shielding structure 52 is located inside the gap 4 also makes the connection between it and the door seal body 51 more convenient and reliable.

[0041] In one possible implementation, the gap 4 faces its annular radial center; that is, the gap 4 formed between the inner cylinder opening 21 and the outer cylinder opening 31 is an annular gap 4, and the opening of this annular gap 4 faces its radial center. Possibly, refer to... Figure 2 The shielding structure 52 of this application includes a first water-blocking ring 521 located inside the gap 4. The first water-blocking ring 521 is connected to the portion of the first connecting part 512 located inside the outer cylinder opening 31. The first water-blocking ring 521 is configured to shield the gap 4 in the radial direction.

[0042] Since the gap 4 is oriented toward its annular radial center, most of the washing water needs to flow radially to the gap 4 before it can leak out. In this case, the first water-blocking ring 521 of this application is configured to block the gap 4 radially, effectively preventing the possibility of water flowing radially into the inside of the gap 4. The effect is more obvious for the upper gap 4, thereby further reducing the waste of washing water.

[0043] As one possible implementation method, refer to Figure 4 The shielding structure 52 also includes a second water-blocking ring 522. The second water-blocking ring 522 is disposed on the side of the first water-blocking ring 521 near the inner cylinder opening 21. The second water-blocking ring 522, the first water-blocking ring 521 and the portion of the first connecting part 512 located inside the outer cylinder opening 31 form an annular groove 523, so that the opening of the annular groove 523 faces the gap 4.

[0044] The above arrangement ensures that the washing water entering the inner side of gap 4 first flows into the annular groove 523. The upward-flowing washing water first enters the upper annular groove 523 through gap 4. Blocked by the annular groove 523, the washing water changes its flow path and flows back towards gap 4, thus returning to the inner drum 2 to participate in washing. The downward-flowing washing water enters the lower annular groove 523 through gap 4. Blocked by the annular groove 523, the amount of washing water entering the gap 4 between the inner drum 2 and the outer drum 3 is reduced, preventing dirt accumulation in the gap 4 between the inner drum 2 and the outer drum 3.

[0045] Furthermore, a gap d is left between the end of the second water-retaining ring 522 away from the first water-retaining ring 521 and the inner drum opening 21, thereby enabling the inner drum 2 to rotate efficiently. This gap d may range from 2mm to 4mm, for example, 3mm. This gap allows for a smaller gap 4 while ensuring efficient rotation of the inner drum 2 without affecting the washing process, thus significantly reducing the risk of water leakage. Additionally, with the first connecting portion 512 partially blocking the gap 4 inside the outer drum opening 31, the aforementioned smaller gap between the end of the second water-retaining ring 522 away from the first water-retaining ring 521 and the inner drum opening 21 further reduces water leakage.

[0046] As one possible implementation, the door seal body 51 of this application further includes a third connecting portion 514 formed on the main body 511. The third connecting portion 514 forms a seal with the housing 6. For example, an annular protrusion is formed on the housing 6, and the third connecting portion 514 wraps around the annular protrusion. After the third connecting portion 514 wraps around the annular protrusion, it can be tightly clamped to the annular protrusion by means of a clamping device (such as a clamp), or wrapped around the annular protrusion by means of a strap, etc., to ensure a firm connection. In addition, the main body 511 can be configured as a pleated or bent structure, thereby improving the deformation degree of the door seal 5 and buffering vibrations, etc.

[0047] As one possible implementation method, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3In this application, the protruding structure 12 of the door 1 is closer to the inner side of the inner drum 2 than the gap 4, that is, the protruding structure 12 is closer to the side of the bottom wall of the inner drum 2 along the axial direction than the gap 4. This allows the protruding structure 12 to block some of the washing water, causing it to flow back to the inner side of the inner drum 2 and participate in the washing process again. The washing water flowing towards the gap 4 that is not blocked by the protruding structure 12 is blocked by the shielding structure 52, reducing the amount of washing water entering the inner side of the gap 4. Therefore, the above arrangement can greatly reduce the waste of washing water, thereby improving the washing effect. On the other hand, the protruding structure 12 can also push the clothes back to the inner side of the inner drum 2 to participate in the washing, thereby improving the washing effect.

[0048] In summary, the garment processing equipment of this application can reduce water waste and prevent dirt that may exist in the gap between the inner and outer drums from entering the inner drum and directly contacting the clothes, thereby improving the washing effect of the clothes.

[0049] It should be noted that the above possible implementation methods can be used in combination to create new implementation methods that are suitable for more specific application scenarios.

[0050] Furthermore, it should be noted that the above embodiments are merely used to illustrate the principles of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Without departing from the principles of this application, those skilled in the art can adjust the above structure so that this application can be applied to more specific application scenarios.

[0051] For example, as an alternative implementation, although this application describes the first connecting part 512 covering the outer cylinder opening 31 as an example, this is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. For example, the first connecting part 512 may be directly and sealingly connected to the inside or outside of the outer cylinder opening 31, etc. As long as a seal can be formed with the outer cylinder 3, these adjustments do not deviate from the principle of this application and are all within the scope of protection of this application.

[0052] For example, as an alternative implementation, the protruding structure 12 can be omitted. In this case, the second connecting part 513 can form a seal with the door body 11. These adjustments do not deviate from the principle of this application and are all within the protection scope of this application.

[0053] For example, as an alternative implementation, the third connecting part 514 can be omitted, and the main body 511 of the door seal body 51 can be directly fixed to the housing 6 by means of bonding, screw connection, etc., or even the door seal body 51 can be not connected to the housing 6, etc. These adjustments do not deviate from the principle of this application and are all within the protection scope of this application.

[0054] 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 door seal of a laundry treating apparatus, characterized by, The door seal includes: a door seal body for forming a seal with a door and an outer drum of the laundry treating apparatus; a blocking structure formed on the door seal body for blocking a gap between an inner drum port and an outer drum port of the laundry treating apparatus. 2.The door seal of the laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the blocking structure is located inside the gap. 3.The door seal of the laundry treating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the gap has a ring-shaped radial center, and the blocking structure includes a first water-blocking ring connected to the door seal body, the first water-blocking ring being arranged to block the gap in the radial direction. 4.The door seal of the laundry treating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the blocking structure further includes a second water-blocking ring arranged on a side of the first water-blocking ring close to the inner drum port, the second water-blocking ring, the first water-blocking ring, and the door seal body forming a ring-shaped groove therebetween. 5.The door seal of the laundry treating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a gap is left between an end of the second water-blocking ring distal from the first water-blocking ring and the inner drum port. 6.The door seal of the laundry treating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the gap has a range of 2mm-4mm. 7.The door seal of the laundry treating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the door seal body includes a main body portion, a first connecting portion connected to the main body portion for wrapping the outer drum port, and a second connecting portion for forming a seal with the door, and the first water-blocking ring is connected to a portion of the first connecting portion located inside the outer drum port. 8.The door seal of the laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the door includes a door body and a protruding structure protruding from the door body, the door seal body is arranged to form a seal with the protruding structure, and the protruding structure is closer to an inner side of an inner drum of the laundry treating apparatus than the gap.

9. A barrel assembly characterized by, The drum assembly includes an outer drum and a closed inner drum rotatably arranged inside the outer drum, and the door seal according to any one of claims 1 to 8. 10.A laundry treating apparatus, characterized by, The laundry treating apparatus includes the drum assembly according to claim 9.

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