Water inlet control method and device of steam generator and clothes processing equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to a water inlet control method and device of a steam generator and clothes processing equipment, and belongs to the technical field of household appliances. The steam generator pumps water from a steam water box through a water pump, and the method comprises the steps that in response to the start of steam care operation and the fact that the water level in the steam water box is higher than a preset lower limit water level, the water pump is controlled to execute a point control water inlet strategy, so that the difference value of the water inlet amount and the water consumption amount of the steam generator within preset time is within a preset difference value interval; and controlling the steam generator to stop and the water pump to stop in response to triggering the steam high-temperature protection operation. According to the method, the problem that when the steam generator carries out steam nursing operation, part of water is sprayed out of the steam nozzle in a liquid form, and the nursing effect of steam nursing becomes poor is solved, and the method has the advantages that in the steam nursing operation process, the situation that the water in the liquid form is discharged out of the steam generator is reduced, and the nursing effect of steam nursing is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of home appliance technology, and in particular to a water inlet control method, device and clothing treatment equipment for a steam generator. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, when the steam generator of a garment treatment device is performing steam treatment, some water is sprayed out from the steam nozzle in liquid form, which reduces the effectiveness of the steam treatment. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To overcome the problems existing in the related technologies, this disclosure provides a water inlet control method, device and clothing treatment equipment for a steam generator, which reduces the discharge of liquid water from the steam generator during steam care operations and improves the care effect of steam care.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method for controlling the water inlet of a steam generator is provided, wherein the steam generator draws water from a steam water box via a water pump, the method comprising:

[0005] In response to the start of steam care operation and the water level in the steam water box being higher than the preset lower limit water level, the water pump is controlled to execute a point-controlled water intake strategy so that the difference between the water intake and water consumption of the steam generator is within a preset difference range within a preset time.

[0006] In response to triggering the high-temperature steam protection operation, the steam generator and the water pump are controlled to stop.

[0007] In one possible implementation, controlling the water pump to execute a point-controlled water intake strategy includes: determining the cavity capacity and cavity water volume of the steam generator; determining the expected water intake duration based on the cavity capacity and cavity water volume; determining the expected water consumption duration based on the cavity water volume; and, in response to the difference between the expected water intake duration and the expected water consumption duration being within a preset duration, controlling the water pump to start and complete the water intake according to the expected water intake duration, and controlling the steam generator to perform steam heating to complete the water consumption, so that the difference between the water intake and water consumption of the steam generator is within a preset difference range within a preset time.

[0008] In one possible implementation, determining the expected water intake duration based on the cavity capacity includes: determining the pumping rate; determining the expected water intake volume based on the cavity capacity and the water volume in the cavity; and determining the expected water intake duration based on the expected water intake volume and the pumping rate.

[0009] In one possible implementation, determining the expected water consumption duration based on the water volume in the cavity includes: determining the water consumption rate of the steam generator; and determining the expected water consumption duration based on the water consumption rate and the water volume in the cavity.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the cavity capacity is 0.5 to 1 times the rated cavity capacity of the steam generator.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: in response to the difference between the expected water intake time and the expected water consumption time exceeding the preset time, setting the expected water consumption time as the target water intake time; controlling the water pump to start and complete water intake according to the target water intake time, and controlling the steam generator to perform steam heating to complete water consumption, so that the difference between the water intake and water consumption of the steam generator within the preset time is within the preset difference range.

[0012] In one possible implementation, controlling the water pump to perform a point-controlled water intake strategy further includes: in response to the failure to trigger the high-temperature steam protection operation, controlling the steam generator to perform steam heating, and in response to the failure to complete the steam care, jumping to the step of determining the cavity capacity and cavity water volume of the steam generator.

[0013] In one possible implementation, controlling the water pump to perform a point-controlled water intake strategy further includes: in response to the completion of the steam care, controlling both the water pump and the steam generator to stop.

[0014] In one possible implementation, after the steam care operation begins, the method further includes: controlling the steam water box to fill with water in response to the water level in the steam water box being lower than the preset lower limit water level; determining the current water level in the steam water box after water has been added; and controlling the steam water box to stop filling with water in response to the current water level reaching the preset upper limit water level.

[0015] In one possible implementation, the method further includes: controlling the steam water box to fill with water in response to the start of the steam care operation; determining the current water level in the steam water box; controlling the steam water box to stop filling with water in response to determining that the current water level in the steam water box has reached a preset upper limit water level; and switching to controlling the water pump to execute the point-controlled water filling strategy in response to the steam water box stopping filling with water.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a water inlet control device for a steam generator is provided, wherein the steam generator draws water from a steam water box via a water pump, the device comprising:

[0017] The control module is used to respond to the start of steam care operation and the water level in the steam water box being higher than the preset lower limit water level, and to control the water pump to execute a point-controlled water intake strategy so that the difference between the water intake and water consumption of the steam generator is within a preset difference range within a preset time.

[0018] The control module is also used to control the steam generator to stop and the water pump to stop in response to triggering the high-temperature steam protection operation.

[0019] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a garment processing apparatus is also provided, the garment processing apparatus being used to perform a water inlet control method for a steam generator as described in the first aspect and / or any implementation thereof.

[0020] The embodiments of this disclosure provide a water inlet control method, device, and garment treatment equipment for a steam generator, which can include the following beneficial effects: by using point-controlled water inlet operation at the start of steam care operation and when the water level in the steam water box is higher than the preset lower limit water level, the water inlet rate and water consumption rate of the steam generator are matched, avoiding excessive water in the steam generator and filling the steam generator, so that the water in the steam generator is fully heated into steam, reducing the proportion of liquid water and improving the steam care effect.

[0021] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application scenario of a water inlet control method for a steam generator according to some embodiments of this disclosure;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a water inlet control method for a steam generator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a water inlet control device for a steam generator, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a garment processing device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure Labels

[0028] 101 - Outer shell;

[0029] 102 - First Steam Water Box;

[0030] 103 - First Steam Pump;

[0031] 104 – First Steam Generator;

[0032] 105 - First garment processing drum;

[0033] 401 - Equipment housing;

[0034] 402 - Second Steam Water Box;

[0035] 403 – Second Steam Pump;

[0036] 404 – Second Steam Generator;

[0037] 405 - Second garment processing drum;

[0038] 406 - Water inlet pipe;

[0039] 407 - Water box inlet valve. Detailed Implementation

[0040] Some embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. Various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein will become apparent upon understanding this disclosure. For example, the order of operations described herein is merely illustrative and is not limited to those orders set forth herein, but can be changed as will become apparent upon understanding this disclosure, except for operations that must be performed in a particular order. Furthermore, for clarity and brevity, descriptions of features known in the art may be omitted.

[0041] The embodiments described in the following examples of this disclosure are not representative of all embodiments consistent with this disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this disclosure as detailed in the appended claims.

[0042] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application scenario of a water inlet control method for a steam generator, based on some embodiments of this disclosure. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the scene includes: a clothing processing device, which specifically includes a housing 101, a first steam water box 102, a first steam water pump 103, a first steam generator 104, and a clothing processing cylinder 105.

[0043] The clothing treatment equipment can be a washing machine, washer-dryer, or other equipment capable of washing or drying clothes, and these devices can perform steam treatment operations. The outer casing 101 is used to integrate and install a first steam water box 102, a first steam pump 103, a first steam generator 104, a first clothing treatment drum 105, and other components and devices, such as a motor, drive shaft, and belt drive components. The outlet of the first steam water box 102 is connected to the inlet of the first steam generator 104 through the first steam pump 103. The first steam water box 102 is used to store water for the steam treatment operation. When the first steam pump 103 starts, it pumps the water from the first steam water box 102 into the first steam generator 104, and simultaneously controls the first steam generator 104 to perform steam heating, heating the water into steam and discharging it. The first garment processing cylinder 105 is used to place garments and to wash, dry, and care for them. The outlet of the first steam generator 104 is connected to the first garment processing cylinder 105. Steam discharged from the first steam generator 104 is discharged into the first garment processing cylinder 105 from the outlet to perform steam care operations on the garments to be treated in the first garment processing cylinder 105.

[0044] Depend on Figure 1 It is known that in related technologies, if the water inlet rate of the first steam pump 103 of the garment processing equipment pumping water from the first steam water box 102 into the first steam generator 104 is not matched with the water consumption rate of the first steam generator 104 for steam heating, the pumping rate of water is generally greater than the water consumption rate. In this case, the water inlet will be greater than the water consumption. As the water in the steam generator increases, the water pressure increases, and the water will be discharged before it is fully heated into steam, causing the water to enter the garment processing cylinder 106 in liquid form, thereby affecting the steam care effect of the garments to be treated.

[0045] To address the aforementioned technical problems, the inventors propose the following technical concept: By controlling the water pump to perform point-controlled water intake during steam treatment operation, the water intake of the steam generator and the water consumption of the steam are basically consistent, avoiding excessively rapid water intake and preventing liquid water from spraying out of the steam outlet of the steam generator, thereby improving the steam treatment effect.

[0046] Figure 2 This is a schematic flowchart illustrating a water inlet control method for a steam generator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The entity executing this water inlet control method for the steam generator can be the aforementioned clothing processing equipment. Figure 2 As shown, the method includes:

[0047] S201: In response to the start of steam care operation and the water level in the steam water box being higher than the preset lower limit water level, control the water pump to perform point-controlled water intake operation so that the difference between the water intake and water consumption of the steam generator within a preset time is within a preset difference range.

[0048] In this embodiment, the steam care operation can begin when the steam generator receives a start command and begins steam heating. The user selects the button representing the "steam care" function on the control panel of the garment processing equipment, causing the equipment to execute the steam care operation in response to the control command. The water level in the steam water box can be collected by a water level sensor or other water level detection device installed in the steam water box. For example, when water is added to the steam water box, the water seals the air chamber / air pipe inlet at the top of the box. As the water level rises, the air in the air chamber is compressed, forming static pressure. The higher the water level, the greater the air pressure. Finally, the actual water level in the steam water box is accurately obtained by relying on air pressure sensing, electromagnetic or electronic conversion. The preset lower limit water level can be a pre-set fixed water level. When the water level in the steam water box is lower than this fixed water level, it indicates that there may be insufficient water supply, which may cause the steam generator to burn dry. Therefore, the water pump can only be controlled to operate when the water level in the steam water box is higher than the preset lower limit water level.

[0049] In this embodiment, the point-controlled water inlet operation can be achieved by stopping or starting the water pump at fixed intervals based on the specific water consumption rate, thus avoiding pumping too much water into the steam generator. The preset time can be a pre-set fixed water inlet time cycle. If the water inlet volume is greater than the water outlet volume within this water inlet time cycle, it indicates that the water inlet rate and the water consumption rate are mismatched; otherwise, they are matched, and steam treatment can continue.

[0050] S202: In response to triggering the high-temperature steam protection operation, control the steam generator to stop and the water pump to stop.

[0051] In this embodiment, the high-temperature protection operation can be achieved by monitoring the temperature inside the steam generator. If the monitored temperature exceeds a fixed value, it indicates that the steam generator is in a dry-burning state, and there is a possibility of damage to the steam generator. At this time, it is necessary to send a command to the steam generator to stop until the steam generator stops heating.

[0052] In summary, the water inlet control method for a steam generator provided in this disclosure controls the water inlet operation by ensuring that the water level in the steam water box is higher than a preset lower limit at the start of the steam treatment operation. This ensures that the difference between the water inlet and water consumption of the steam generator remains within a preset range for a preset time, preventing excessive water from entering the steam generator and causing the water in the steam generator to be fully heated into steam, thus reducing the proportion of liquid water and improving the treatment effect of steam treatment. Furthermore, by controlling the steam generator to stop heating and the water pump to stop operating when the high-temperature protection operation of the steam is triggered, the safety of the steam generator in use is improved.

[0053] In an optional embodiment of this disclosure, step S201, controlling the water pump to perform point-controlled water intake operation, includes:

[0054] S201a: Determine the chamber capacity and water volume of the steam generator.

[0055] In this embodiment, the cavity capacity of the steam generator can be pre-stored in the control panel or storage device of the garment processing equipment for use by the control terminal. The cavity water volume can be obtained by monitoring the water level through a sensor or pressure sensor installed in the steam generator. This water level can be converted or compared with the corresponding relationship between the water level and the water volume in the cavity to obtain the final cavity water volume.

[0056] S201b: Determine the expected water intake time based on the cavity capacity and the cavity water volume.

[0057] In this embodiment, after obtaining the water volume in the cavity in step S201a, the subsequent water intake of the steam water box can be determined based on the difference between the cavity capacity and the water volume. Then, based on the water pump flow rate and the subsequent water intake, the expected water intake time can be determined. For example, if the cavity capacity is 110 ml and the water volume is 40 ml, the subsequent water intake will be 70 ml. If the water pump speed is 35 ml per minute, the expected water intake time should be 2 minutes.

[0058] S201c: Determine the expected water consumption time based on the water volume in the chamber.

[0059] In this embodiment, based on the water volume in the cavity and the rated heating efficiency of the steam generator, the time required to consume all the water in the cavity under the water consumption per unit time of the steam generator can be calculated, which is the expected water consumption time. For example: if the water volume in the cavity is x ml and the rate at which the steam generator consumes water is y ml per minute, then the expected water consumption time is (x / y) minutes.

[0060] S201d: In response to the difference between the expected water intake time and the expected water consumption time being within a preset time, the water pump is controlled to start to complete the water intake according to the expected water intake time, and the steam generator is controlled to perform steam heating to complete the water consumption, so that the difference between the water intake and water consumption of the steam generator per unit time is within a preset difference range.

[0061] In this embodiment, when the difference between the expected water intake time and the expected water consumption time is within the preset time, it means that the subsequent water intake and water consumption will not fluctuate too much within a certain period of time or until the end of steam treatment. The water intake can just meet the steam treatment needs of the water consumption. Conversely, it means that the water intake is too fast, and in the later stage, the water in the steam generator may not be completely heated into steam and will be discharged in the form of liquid water.

[0062] In this embodiment, the water pump is started and water is introduced according to the expected water introduction time to avoid excessive water intake. Simultaneously, the steam generator is controlled to heat the water to consume it. By controlling the water introduction time, the water intake is prevented from exceeding the water consumption, ensuring that the difference between the water intake and consumption within a preset range is maintained. This preset difference range can be a small value, such as 0.5 ml or 1 ml, which has minimal impact on the steam treatment effect.

[0063] In this embodiment, the chamber capacity and water volume of the steam generator are first determined, and then the expected water intake time and expected water consumption time are determined to ensure that the water intake and water consumption of the steam generator match within the preset time, so as to prevent the water from being discharged before it can be heated into steam due to excessively fast water intake, thereby improving the effect of steam care.

[0064] Based on the above embodiments, in an optional embodiment of this disclosure, step S201b specifically includes:

[0065] b1: Determine the pumping speed of the water pump.

[0066] In this embodiment, the pumping rate of the water pump can be detected by a flow meter or other instruments that can detect the flow rate in the water pipe. For example, in this embodiment, the pumping rate of the water pump is 35 ml per minute.

[0067] b2: Determine the expected water intake based on the cavity capacity and the cavity water volume.

[0068] In this embodiment, the expected water intake can be obtained by subtracting the water volume from the cavity capacity, based on the cavity capacity and the cavity water volume. For example, if the cavity capacity is 110 ml and the cavity water volume is 40 ml, then the expected water intake is 110 ml - 40 ml = 70 ml.

[0069] b3: Determine the expected water intake time based on the expected water intake volume and the pumping rate.

[0070] In this embodiment, the expected water intake time can be obtained by calculating the pumping rate and the expected water intake volume. For example, if the pumping rate is 35 ml per minute and the expected water intake volume is 70 ml, then the expected water intake time = 70 ml ÷ 35 ml / minute = two minutes.

[0071] In this embodiment, the accurate expected water intake time is determined based on the water pumping rate and the expected water intake volume, so as to precisely control the water intake volume of the subsequent steam generator, making the water intake volume more suitable for the current steam care operation and matching the steam generator's capacity, thereby improving the steam care effect.

[0072] In an optional embodiment of this disclosure, step S201c includes:

[0073] c1: Determine the water consumption rate of the steam generator.

[0074] In this embodiment, the process of determining the water consumption rate of the steam generator can be as follows: first, the heating time collected by the timer and the water level data collected by the water level sensor in the steam generator are used; then, the water level difference and the heating time corresponding to the water level difference are calculated based on the water level data, and finally, the water consumption per unit time is obtained as the water consumption rate of the steam generator. In some optional embodiments, the water consumption rate of the steam generator can also be the water consumption rate corresponding to the preset rated steam output power or steam level. For example, if the steam level of the steam generator is the first level, the corresponding water consumption rate is 30 ml per minute; if the steam level is the second level, which is lower, the corresponding water consumption rate is 25 ml per minute.

[0075] c2: Determine the expected water consumption time based on the water consumption rate and the water volume in the cavity.

[0076] In this embodiment, after the water consumption rate and the water volume in the cavity are determined, the remaining water in the steam generator will be consumed within a certain timeframe based on the cavity water volume. Correspondingly, the expected water consumption time can be obtained by dividing the cavity water volume by the water consumption rate. This expected water consumption time may only correspond to the water consumption time corresponding to the current cavity water volume in the steam generator, and not necessarily the water consumption time corresponding to the water required for subsequent steam treatment. The aim is to determine the expected water consumption time during the steam treatment process from the current moment until the cavity water is completely consumed, so as to match a precise water intake volume using a point-controlled water intake method, reduce the amount of incompletely evaporated water discharged from the steam generator, and improve the steam treatment effect.

[0077] Based on the above embodiments, as an optional embodiment of this disclosure, the cavity capacity in the above embodiments is 0.5 to 1 times the rated cavity capacity of the steam generator.

[0078] In this embodiment, the actual cavity capacity is set at half to one time the rated cavity capacity to allow space for steam expansion and to prevent the steam generator from being damaged by dry burning. The cavity capacity can be any number less than one time, such as half, 0.8 times, or 0.9 times the rated capacity. For example, if the rated cavity capacity is 110 ml, the cavity capacity can be 77 ml or 88 ml.

[0079] In this embodiment, by limiting the cavity capacity to a value between 0.5 and 1 times the rated cavity capacity of the steam generator, it can be ensured that the heating element in the steam generator is completely submerged and does not dry-burn. Moreover, the reserved space can be used as a steam expansion space to reduce the occurrence of abnormal pressure, reduce water vapor entrainment, generate more stable steam, improve the nursing effect, and adapt to the dynamic balance of heating and consuming water while water is entering.

[0080] Based on the above embodiments, as an optional embodiment of this disclosure, a method for controlling the water inlet of a steam generator further includes:

[0081] S203: In response to the difference between the expected water intake time and the expected water consumption time exceeding the preset time, the expected water consumption time is set as the target water intake time.

[0082] In this embodiment, when the difference between the expected water intake time and the expected water consumption time exceeds the preset time, i.e., the expected water intake time is too short, the water consumption rate of the steam generator may not keep up with the water intake rate, easily leading to water and steam mixing and being discharged from the steam generator, thus affecting the steam treatment effect. In this case, the expected water consumption time needs to be set as the target water intake time. For example, if the expected water intake time is 2 minutes and the expected water consumption time is 3 minutes, then 3 minutes will be used as the target water intake time.

[0083] S204: Control the water pump to start and complete the water intake according to the target water intake time, and control the steam generator to heat the water to complete the water consumption, so that the difference between the water intake and water consumption of the steam generator is within the preset difference range within the preset time.

[0084] In this embodiment, the water pump is started according to the adjusted water inlet time, i.e., the target water inlet time, to pump water from the steam water box into the steam generator within the target water inlet time. Simultaneously, the steam generator is controlled to perform steam heating, ensuring that the water consumption rate and water inlet rate of the steam generator are matched, thus preventing excessive water intake. In this embodiment, the preset difference range can be a pre-selected numerical range. When the difference between the water inlet and water consumption of the steam generator is within this range, it indicates that the water inlet rate and water consumption rate of the steam generator are matched, preventing the steam generator from discharging liquid water. Conversely, if the difference is greater than the water consumption rate, the steam generator will subsequently discharge liquid water.

[0085] In this embodiment, the water pump is started and the water intake is completed by controlling the water intake time according to the expected water consumption time as the target water intake time. This keeps the difference between the water intake and water consumption consistent or within a small range, avoiding excessive water intake that would cause the steam generated by the steam generator to contain some liquid water during the steam treatment process, thus improving the steam treatment effect.

[0086] Based on the above embodiments, in an optional embodiment of this disclosure, step S201, which controls the water pump to perform point-controlled water intake operation, further includes: in response to the failure to trigger the high-temperature steam protection operation, controlling the steam generator to perform steam heating, and in response to the failure to complete steam treatment, jumping to the step of determining the cavity capacity and cavity water volume of the steam generator.

[0087] In this embodiment, if the high-temperature steam protection operation is not triggered, the steam generator is controlled to continue steam heating, and it is simultaneously determined whether the steam treatment has ended. If the steam treatment is not completed, the process jumps to step S201a to perform the next round of point-controlled water inlet operation. Determining whether the steam treatment has ended can be based on: whether the remaining steam treatment time has reached the preset steam treatment end time; whether the steam heating time of the steam generator has reached the preset steam treatment heating time or the rated maximum heating time; whether the timing runtime of the garment processing equipment is greater than or equal to the program-set time corresponding to this steam treatment; or whether the current steam treatment stage is in the steam treatment end stage.

[0088] In this embodiment, while the steam heating operation continues, a self-check is performed to see if the high-temperature steam protection operation is triggered. If the high-temperature steam protection operation is not triggered, it is also determined whether the steam care time has ended. If it has not ended, the process of point-controlled water inlet operation is returned. This allows the point-controlled water inlet operation to be executed in real time throughout the entire steam care operation, thereby improving the safety of the steam care operation, reducing the possibility of liquid water being discharged from the steam generator, and improving the steam care effect.

[0089] In an optional embodiment of this disclosure, step S201, which controls the water pump to perform point-controlled water intake operation, further includes: in response to the completion of steam treatment, controlling both the water pump and the steam generator to stop.

[0090] In this embodiment, once the steam treatment is complete, the water pump is stopped to prevent excessive water from accumulating in the steam generator. The steam generator then stops steam heating to prevent it from burning dry and being damaged.

[0091] In this embodiment, by controlling the water pump and steam generator to stop when steam treatment is completed, the safety of steam treatment operation is improved, and the bacteria that grow in the steam generator due to water accumulation are also reduced.

[0092] Furthermore, to prevent bacteria from growing in the water in the steam generator, in an optional embodiment of this disclosure, after the water pump is stopped, the steam generator is reheated for a preset drying heating time. The preset drying heating time can be a pre-set heating time that keeps the steam generator dry, for example, the preset drying heating time is 5 to 10 seconds.

[0093] Based on the above embodiments, in an optional embodiment of this disclosure, after the steam care operation begins in step S201, the following further step is included:

[0094] Step A: In response to the water level in the steam water box being lower than the preset lower limit water level, control the water to enter the steam water box.

[0095] In this embodiment, the preset lower limit water level can be a pre-set water level value in the steam water box indicating that the water level in the steam water box is too low, for example, a preset lower limit water level of 100 ml or 80 ml. When the water level in the steam water box is lower than the preset lower limit water level, it indicates that the steam water box cannot provide sufficient water to the steam generator for steam heating, which may cause the steam generator to burn dry or the water pump to run dry during subsequent steam treatment operations, affecting the steam treatment effect and potentially causing damage to the clothing treatment equipment. At this time, the water inlet valve of the steam water box can be opened to complete the water filling operation of the steam water box.

[0096] Step B: In response to the water entering the steam water box, determine the current water level of the steam water box.

[0097] In this embodiment, after water enters the steam water box, the current water level in the steam water box can be determined by a water level sensor in the steam water box or other instruments capable of detecting the water level. This avoids problems such as excessive or insufficient water intake.

[0098] Step C: In response to the current water level reaching the preset upper limit, control the steam water box to stop water intake.

[0099] In this embodiment, if the current water level reaches the preset upper limit, it indicates that the water in the steam water box is sufficient for the steam generator during this round of steam treatment. At this time, the steam water box can be stopped from adding water, i.e., the water inlet valve can be closed. In this embodiment, the preset upper limit water level can be the rated capacity of the steam water box or other preset maximum water volume that the steam water box can store. For example, the preset upper limit water level can be 400 ml or 330 ml. In this embodiment, steps A to C correspond to scenarios where the garment processing equipment needs to first control the steam water box to reach the preset upper limit water level before proceeding with subsequent water extraction and steam heating operations, such as when some water remains in the steam water box after the previous high-temperature steam protection was triggered.

[0100] In this embodiment, by detecting the water level in the steam water box and controlling the water inlet operation, it is ensured that there is enough water in the steam water box to complete the steam care operation. This avoids insufficient water supply during the steam care operation, which could lead to the steam generator burning dry or the water pump running dry, thus improving the safety of the clothing treatment equipment.

[0101] Based on the above embodiments, in an optional embodiment of this disclosure, a method for controlling the water inlet of a steam generator further includes:

[0102] Step D: In response to the start of steam care operation, control the water inlet to the steam water box.

[0103] In this embodiment, at the beginning of the steam care operation, water can be directly introduced into the steam water box by controlling the water inlet valve to open.

[0104] Step E: Determine the current water level in the steam water box.

[0105] In this embodiment, during the process of water filling the steam water box, the water level in the steam water box can be monitored by a water level sensor in the steam water box or other instruments that detect the water level. The current water level can be the water level at the moment when the detection during the water filling process determines whether the steam water box has reached the preset upper limit water level.

[0106] Step F: In response to determining that the current water level in the steam water box has reached the preset upper limit water level, control the steam water box to stop water intake.

[0107] In this embodiment, if the current water level in the steam water box reaches the preset upper limit, the water inlet valve can be closed to stop the steam water box from filling with water. If the current water level in the steam water box has not reached the preset upper limit, the steam water box continues to fill with water until the preset upper limit is reached.

[0108] Step G: In response to the steam water box stopping water intake, jump to the control water pump to perform point-controlled water intake operation.

[0109] In this embodiment, after the steam water box stops receiving water, the subsequent point-controlled water intake operation continues. Steps D to G correspond to scenarios where the garment treatment equipment does not need to detect the water level in the steam water box before starting the steam care operation, thus improving the efficiency of the steam care. For example, the time interval between the current steam care operation and the previous steam care operation is greater than a fixed time, such as one week or one month.

[0110] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a water inlet control device for a steam generator, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0111] Please refer to Figure 3 In some embodiments of this disclosure, a water inlet control device for a steam generator is also provided. The steam generator draws water from a steam water box via a water pump. The device includes a control module 301.

[0112] Among them, the control module 301 is used to control the water pump to perform point-controlled water intake operation in response to the start of steam care operation and the water level in the steam water box being higher than the preset lower limit water level, so that the difference between the water intake and water consumption of the steam generator within the preset time is within the preset difference range.

[0113] The control module 301 is also used to control the steam generator to stop and the water pump to stop in response to the triggering of the high-temperature steam protection operation.

[0114] In an optional embodiment of this disclosure, the control module 301 is specifically configured to: determine the cavity capacity and cavity water volume of the steam generator; determine the expected water intake duration based on the cavity capacity and cavity water volume; determine the expected water consumption duration based on the cavity water volume; and, in response to the difference between the expected water intake duration and the expected water consumption duration being within a preset duration, control the water pump to start to complete the water intake, and control the steam generator to perform steam heating to complete the water consumption, so that the difference between the water intake and water consumption of the steam generator within a preset time is within a preset difference range.

[0115] In an optional embodiment of this disclosure, the control module 301 is further specifically used to: determine the pumping rate of the water pump; determine the expected water intake volume based on the cavity capacity and the water volume in the cavity; and determine the expected water intake duration based on the expected water intake volume and the pumping rate of the water pump.

[0116] In an optional embodiment of this disclosure, the control module 301 is further specifically configured to: determine the water consumption rate of the steam generator; and determine the expected water consumption duration based on the water consumption rate and the water volume in the cavity.

[0117] In an optional embodiment of this disclosure, the control module 301 is further specifically configured to: in response to the difference between the expected water intake time and the expected water consumption time exceeding a preset time, set the expected water consumption time as the target water intake time; control the water pump to start and complete the water intake according to the target water intake time, and control the steam generator to perform steam heating to complete the water consumption, so that the difference between the water intake and water consumption of the steam generator within a preset time is within a preset difference range.

[0118] In an optional embodiment of this disclosure, the control module 301 is further specifically configured to: control the steam generator to perform steam heating in response to the failure to trigger the high-temperature steam protection operation, and jump to the step of determining the cavity capacity and cavity water volume of the steam generator in response to the incomplete steam treatment.

[0119] In an optional embodiment of this disclosure, the control module 301 is further specifically configured to: control the water pump and the steam generator to stop in response to the completion of steam treatment.

[0120] In an optional embodiment of this disclosure, the control module 301 is further specifically configured to: control the steam water box to fill with water in response to the water level in the steam water box being lower than a preset lower limit water level; determine the current water level in the steam water box after water has been added; and control the steam water box to stop filling with water in response to the current water level reaching a preset upper limit water level.

[0121] In an optional embodiment of this disclosure, the control module 301 is further specifically configured to: control the steam water box to fill with water in response to the start of the steam care operation; determine the current water level of the steam water box; control the steam water box to stop filling with water in response to the determination that the current water level in the steam water box has reached a preset upper limit water level; and switch to controlling the water pump to perform point-controlled water filling operation in response to the steam water box stopping filling with water.

[0122] Regarding the apparatus in the above embodiments, the specific manner in which each module performs its operation has been described in detail in the embodiments related to the method, and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0123] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a garment processing device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0124] like Figure 4 As shown, some embodiments of this disclosure also provide a garment processing device for performing a water inlet control rinsing method using a steam generator as described in any of the above method embodiments. The garment processing device specifically includes: a housing 401, a second steam water box 402, a second steam water pump 403, a second steam generator 404, a second garment processing cylinder 405, a water inlet pipe 406, and a water box inlet valve 407.

[0125] The equipment housing 401 is equipped with a control panel, and also contains devices or components for processing clothing, such as a motor, condenser, heater, and fan. Users can issue corresponding operation commands to the clothing processing equipment via the control panel. When the user selects the steam treatment operation button, the motor in the clothing processing equipment rotates, driving the second clothing processing drum 405 to rotate, thereby adjusting the heating angle of the clothing to be processed in the second clothing processing drum 405.

[0126] When the start of steam care operation is detected, if the water level in the second steam water box 402 is higher than the preset lower limit water level, the second steam water pump 403 is controlled to perform point-controlled water intake operation. For the specific point-controlled water intake operation, please refer to the above method embodiment, which will not be repeated here. Then, if the high temperature protection operation of steam is triggered, the second steam generator 404 is controlled to stop, and the second steam water pump 403 is controlled to stop.

[0127] If the water level in the second steam water box 402 is detected to be lower than the preset lower limit water level, the water box inlet valve 407 on the water inlet pipe 406 can be opened to allow water to enter the second steam water box 402 until the water level in the second steam water box 402 reaches the preset upper limit water level, and then the water box inlet valve 407 is closed.

[0128] Regarding the apparatus in the above embodiments, the specific manner in which each module performs its operation has been described in detail in the embodiments related to the method, and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0129] Those skilled in the art will also understand that the various illustrative logical blocks and steps listed in the embodiments of this application can be implemented by electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. Whether such functionality is implemented through hardware or software depends on the specific application and the overall system design requirements. Those skilled in the art can implement the functionality using various methods for each specific application, but such implementation should not be construed as exceeding the scope of protection of the embodiments of this application.

[0130] In the above detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific aspects of this disclosure by way of illustration. In this regard, terms indicating direction or positional relationship, such as “center,” “longitudinal,” “lateral,” “length,” “width,” “thickness,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” “clockwise,” “counterclockwise,” “axial,” “radial,” and “circumferential,” are used with reference to the orientation of the described figures. Since components of the described device can be positioned in multiple different orientations, directional terms are used for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. It should be understood that other aspects can be utilized and structural or logical changes can be made without departing from the concept of this disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description should not be considered limiting.

[0131] It should be understood that, unless otherwise specifically indicated, features of various embodiments of this disclosure described herein can be combined with each other. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any one of the relevant listed items and any combination of any two or more; similarly, “at least one of…” includes any one of the relevant listed items and any combination of any two or more.

[0132] It should be understood that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "joining," "attaching," "installing," "connecting," "linking," "fixing," etc., used in the embodiments of this disclosure should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms herein based on the specific circumstances.

[0133] Furthermore, the term "above" as used herein with respect to components, elements, or material layers formed or located "above" a surface may be used to indicate that the component, element, or material layer is "indirectly" positioned (e.g., placed, formed, deposited, etc.) on the surface such that one or more additional components, elements, or layers are arranged between the surface and the component, element, or material layer. However, the term "above" as used with respect to components, elements, or material layers formed or located "above" a surface may also optionally have a specific meaning: that the component, element, or material layer is "directly" positioned (e.g., placed, formed, deposited, etc.) on the surface, for example, in direct contact with the surface.

[0134] Although terms such as “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used herein to describe various components, parts, regions, layers, or sections, these components, parts, regions, layers, or sections are not limited to these terms. Rather, these terms are used only to distinguish one component, part, region, layer, or section from another. Therefore, without departing from the teachings of the examples described herein, the first component, part, region, layer, or section mentioned in the examples may also be referred to as the second component, part, region, layer, or section. Furthermore, the terms “first” and “second” are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as “first” or “second” may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description herein, “a plurality” means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0135] It should be understood that spatial relative terms, such as “above,” “upper,” “below,” and “lower,” are used herein to describe the relationship between one element and another shown in the figures. In addition to the orientation depicted in the figures, these spatial relative terms are also intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation. For example, if the device in the figures is flipped, an element described as “above” or “upper” relative to another element would be “below” or “lower” relative to that other element. Thus, depending on the spatial orientation of the device, the term “above” encompasses both above and below orientations. Devices may have other orientations (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative terms used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

[0136] Furthermore, the term “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as advantageous compared to other aspects or designs. Rather, the use of the term “exemplary” is intended to present the concept in a concrete manner. As used herein, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless otherwise specified or clear from the context, “X applies A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive arrangements. That is, “X applies A or B” satisfies any of the foregoing instances if X applies A; X applies B; or both X applies A and B. Additionally, unless otherwise specified or clear from the context to refer to the singular form, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims are generally understood to mean “one or more.”

[0137] Similarly, although this disclosure has been shown and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding this specification and the accompanying drawings. This disclosure includes all such modifications and variations and is limited only by the scope of the claims. In particular, with respect to the various functions performed by the components described above (e.g., elements, resources, etc.), unless otherwise indicated, the terminology used to describe such components is intended to correspond to any component (functionally equivalent) that performs the specific function of the described component, even if structurally not equivalent to the disclosed structure. Furthermore, although specific features of this disclosure may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such features may be combined with one or more other features of other implementations, as may be desired and advantageous to any given or particular application. Moreover, with regard to the terms “comprising,” “owning,” “having,” “having,” or variations thereof as used in the detailed description or claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “including.”

[0138] Other embodiments of this disclosure will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure that follow the general principles of this disclosure and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this disclosure are indicated by the following claims.

[0139] It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the precise structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the water inlet of a steam generator, characterized in that, The steam generator draws water from a steam water box via a water pump, and the method includes: In response to the start of steam care operation and the water level in the steam water box being higher than the preset lower limit water level, the water pump is controlled to execute a point-controlled water intake strategy so that the difference between the water intake and water consumption of the steam generator is within a preset difference range within a preset time. In response to triggering the high-temperature steam protection operation, the steam generator and the water pump are controlled to stop.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control of the water pump to execute the point-controlled water intake strategy includes: Determine the cavity capacity and cavity water volume of the steam generator; The expected water intake time is determined based on the cavity capacity and the cavity water volume. The expected water consumption time is determined based on the water volume in the cavity; In response to the difference between the expected water intake time and the expected water consumption time being within a preset time, the water pump is controlled to start to complete water intake according to the expected water intake time, and the steam generator is controlled to perform steam heating to complete water consumption, so that the difference between the water intake and water consumption of the steam generator is within a preset difference range within a preset time.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of determining the expected water inlet duration based on the cavity capacity includes: Determine the pumping rate of the water pump; The expected water intake volume is determined based on the cavity capacity and the cavity water volume. The expected water intake time is determined based on the expected water intake volume and the pumping rate.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of determining the expected water consumption time based on the water volume in the cavity includes: Determine the water consumption rate of the steam generator; The expected water consumption time is determined based on the water consumption rate and the water volume in the cavity.

5. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cavity capacity is 0.5 to 1 times the rated cavity capacity of the steam generator.

6. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, Also includes: In response to the difference between the expected water intake time and the expected water consumption time exceeding the preset time, the expected water consumption time is set as the target water intake time; The water pump is started to complete the water intake according to the target water intake duration, and the steam generator is controlled to heat the water with steam to complete the water consumption, so that the difference between the water intake and water consumption of the steam generator is within a preset difference range within a preset time.

7. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The method of controlling the water pump to execute the point-controlled water intake strategy also includes: In response to the failure to trigger the high-temperature steam protection operation, the steam generator is controlled to perform steam heating, and in response to the failure to complete the steam care, the process jumps to the step of determining the cavity capacity and cavity water volume of the steam generator.

8. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The method of controlling the water pump to execute the point-controlled water intake strategy also includes: In response to the completion of the steam treatment, both the water pump and the steam generator are stopped.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the steam treatment operation begins, it also includes: In response to the water level in the steam water box being lower than the preset lower limit water level, the steam water box is controlled to receive water. In response to water entering the steam water box, the current water level of the steam water box is determined; In response to the current water level reaching the preset upper limit water level, the steam water box is controlled to stop water intake.

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: In response to the start of steam care operation, the steam water box is controlled to receive water; Determine the current water level in the steam water box; In response to the determination that the current water level in the steam water box has reached the preset upper limit water level, the steam water box is controlled to stop water intake; In response to the steam water box stopping water intake, the process switches to controlling the water pump to execute the point-controlled water intake strategy.

11. A water inlet control device for a steam generator, characterized in that, The steam generator draws water from a steam water box via a water pump, and the device includes: The control module is used to respond to the start of steam care operation and the water level in the steam water box being higher than the preset lower limit water level, and to control the water pump to execute a point-controlled water intake strategy so that the difference between the water intake and water consumption of the steam generator is within a preset difference range within a preset time. The control module is also used to control the steam generator to stop and the water pump to stop in response to triggering the high-temperature steam protection operation.

12. A garment processing device, characterized in that, The garment processing equipment is used to perform the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 10.

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