Apparatus and method for treating the buildup of steam oven drain

Abstract

The application relates to a steam oven drain pipe scale treatment device and method. The device can include a drain pipe, a deformable track, an endoscope camera and a drain pipe cleaning device, the drain pipe is arranged at the bottom of a steam oven body 4 and is used for blowing liquid generated in a steaming and baking process; the deformable track is installed inside the drain pipe and is arranged in the axial direction of the drain pipe, a first end of the deformable track is fixed at a water inlet of the drain pipe, and a second end of the deformable track extends to a water outlet of the drain pipe in the axial direction of the drain pipe; the endoscope camera is movably connected with the deformable track and is used for shooting an internal image of the drain pipe along the deformable track; and the drain pipe cleaning module is arranged on the deformable track and is used for cleaning the inner wall of the drain pipe according to the internal image of the drain pipe. According to the technical scheme provided by the application, the scale state inside the drain pipe can be accurately obtained, the scale detection precision and the scale cleaning efficiency are improved, and the service life of the device is also improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of household appliance technology, and in particular to a device and method for removing scale buildup from the drain pipe of a steam oven. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technologies, the detection of scale buildup in the drain pipe of a steam oven primarily relies on the user's subjective judgment. For example, users typically assess the problem by observing whether the drainage speed slows down, whether there is an unusual odor in the drain, or whether the steam oven emits any unusual smell when not in use. However, this method has significant limitations. It struggles to detect scale buildup promptly and accurately, often only revealing the issue when it becomes severe, such as when the scale completely blocks the drain pipe, causing wastewater backflow. This approach fails to provide early warning. Furthermore, even when scale buildup is detected, cleaning it requires manual disassembly of the drain pipe by the user or manufacturer's personnel for cleaning or replacement. This process not only increases the user's workload and reduces the user experience but also results in low cleaning efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a device and method for treating scale buildup in the drain pipe of a steam oven, aiming to at least solve problems in related technologies such as how to improve the accuracy of scale detection and the efficiency of drain pipe cleaning. The technical solution of this application is as follows: According to a first aspect of the embodiments of this application, a device for treating scale buildup in the drain pipe of a steam oven is provided, comprising: Drain pipe, located at the bottom of the steam oven, is used to drain liquids generated during the steaming and baking process; A deformable track is installed inside the drain pipe and is arranged along the axial direction of the drain pipe. The first end of the deformable track is fixed at the inlet of the drain pipe, and the second end of the deformable track extends along the axial direction of the drain pipe to the outlet of the drain pipe. An endoscope camera, which is movably connected to a deformable track, is used to capture images of the inside of a drain pipe along the deformable track. The drain pipe cleaning module is mounted on a deformable track and is used to clean the inner wall of the drain pipe based on an internal image of the drain pipe.

[0004] In one possible implementation, the dirt removal device further includes a camera cleaning module; the camera cleaning module includes a water jet unit and a mechanical scraping unit; the water jet unit is located on both sides of the endoscope camera and is used to spray cleaning fluid onto the lens surface of the endoscope camera; the mechanical scraping unit is configured as an arc-shaped elastic scraper, the radius of curvature of the elastic scraper being consistent with the outer diameter of the endoscope camera lens; the mechanical scraping unit is used to remove dirt from the lens surface.

[0005] In one possible implementation, the drain cleaning module includes a rotating brush head, a cleaning liquid spraying unit, and a drive motor; the rotating brush head is detachably mounted on a deformable track, and the bristles at the end of the rotating brush head contact the inner wall of the drain pipe; the drive motor is connected to the rotating brush head and is used to drive the rotating brush head to clean the inner wall of the drain pipe; the cleaning liquid spraying unit is located inside the drain pipe and is used to spray cleaning liquid onto the inner wall of the drain pipe.

[0006] In one possible implementation, the scale removal device also includes a water flow rate sensor, which is located at the outlet of the drain pipe to monitor the water flow rate discharged from the drain pipe.

[0007] In one possible implementation, the scale removal device also includes a control panel mounted on the steam oven. The control panel is communicatively connected to an endoscope camera and a drain cleaning module to monitor the scale status of the drain pipe, handle fault alarms, and record and store each scale removal process.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the embodiments of this application, a method for removing scale buildup from the drain pipe of a steam oven is provided, comprising: Obtain the water flow velocity in the drain pipe; When the water flow velocity is less than the warning flow velocity threshold for scale buildup in the drain pipe, the endoscope camera is controlled to acquire internal images of the drain pipe. The internal image of the drain pipe is recognized and processed to obtain the state of scale buildup in the drain pipe; when the scale buildup is in the state of dirt blockage, the drain pipe cleaning module is controlled to clean the inner wall of the drain pipe.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the scale removal method also includes: If the internal image recognition of the drain pipe fails, the camera cleaning module is controlled to clean the endoscope camera. After cleaning the endoscope camera, the internal image of the drain pipe is reacquired.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the scale removal method also includes: If the cumulative number of re-acquisitions reaches a preset number, it is determined that the endoscope camera is malfunctioning, and the malfunction information is reported to the control panel.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the scale removal method also includes: In the event of a malfunction of the endoscope camera, an automatic cleaning command is generated; According to the automatic cleaning command, the drain pipe cleaning module is controlled to clean the drain pipe.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the scale removal method also includes: When the scale buildup is reduced to a clean state, the drain pipe cleaning module is switched to standby mode.

[0013] 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 application.

[0014] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this application bring at least the following beneficial effects: An endoscope camera is installed inside the drain pipe to take pictures of the inside of the drain pipe along a deformable track. This can accurately obtain the state of scale inside the drain pipe and improve the accuracy of scale detection. The deformable track is installed on the inner wall of the drain pipe and is set along the axial direction of the drain pipe. The first end of the deformable track is fixed at the inlet of the drain pipe, and the second end of the deformable track extends along the axial direction of the drain pipe to the outlet of the drain pipe. The deformable track can be flexibly adjusted according to the shape of the drain pipe, so that the camera and the drain pipe cleaning module can pass through the drain pipe smoothly, improving the adaptability and flexibility of the device. The drain pipe cleaning module is set on a deformable track and cleans the inner wall of the drain pipe according to the internal image of the drain pipe. This reduces the amount of manual disassembly and cleaning, improves the convenience, safety and efficiency of cleaning, and can also extend the service life of the device. The scale removal device is integrated into the drain pipe, which does not take up extra space, has a compact structure, and is easy to install.

[0015] Other features and aspects of this application will become clear from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions and advantages in the embodiments or prior art of this specification, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this specification. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a descaling device for a steam oven drain pipe, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of a deformable track according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0019] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of a deformable track according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of a camera cleaning module according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a method for removing scale buildup from the drain pipe of a steam oven, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0022] Figure 6 This is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device for treating scale buildup in the drain pipe of a steam oven, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0023] In the diagram, 1-Endoscope camera, 2-Deformable track, 3-Drain cleaning module, 4-Steam oven body, 5-Lens, 6-Mechanical scraping unit, 7-Water jet unit, 8-Water flow rate sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0024] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of this application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments in the specification, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this specification, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0025] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of the invention described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or server that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or devices.

[0026] Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote elements that have the same or similar functions. Although various aspects of the embodiments are shown in the drawings, they are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated otherwise.

[0027] The term "exemplary" as used herein means "serving as an example, embodiment, or illustration." Any embodiment illustrated herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as superior to or better than other embodiments. The term "and / or" in this document is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships may exist, for example, A and / or B, which can represent: A alone, A and B simultaneously, and B alone. Furthermore, the term "at least one" in this document means any combination of at least two of any one or more of a plurality, for example, including at least one of A, B, and C, which can represent including any one or more elements selected from the set consisting of A, B, and C.

[0028] Unless otherwise specified, the directions in this article should be understood as follows: the direction closer to the user is forward, and the direction farther from the user is backward.

[0029] Furthermore, to better illustrate this application, numerous specific details are provided in the following detailed description. Those skilled in the art should understand that this application can be implemented without certain specific details. In some instances, methods, means, components, and circuits well-known to those skilled in the art have not been described in detail in order to highlight the main points of this application.

[0030] A steam oven is a kitchen appliance that combines steam and baking functions, enabling various cooking methods such as steaming, baking, and a combination of both. Specifically, a steam oven, such as a steam-oven combo, combines a traditional oven with a steam generator, achieving multiple cooking functions through precise settings. The following are its core components: The oven body is typically made of stainless steel or galvanized steel sheet, which is heat-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and also protects internal components, providing insulation and preventing burns. The control panel can be a mechanical knob, a touch screen, or a smart panel; this application does not limit this. The oven can be controlled via WiFi (wireless network) or Bluetooth, or via an application corresponding to the user's smart product. The door is made of multi-layered insulated glass, generally 2-3 layers of tempered glass, to reduce heat loss and prevent burns. A sealing strip is installed on the door to prevent steam leakage and maintain internal pressure.

[0031] The functions of a steam oven include: Steaming: Steam is generated through a built-in water tank or an external water source to cook food, preserving its nutrients and texture. For example, a steam oven can be used to steam fish, seafood, and noodles. Baking: Baking is performed using upper and lower heating elements or a hot air circulation system. For example, baking cakes, roasting meat, and roasting chicken wings. A combined steam and bake function uses both steam and heat to steam and bake simultaneously, such as steaming and baking a duck with skin. After steaming or baking food in the steam oven, a large amount of water droplets and oil stains are generated, which are then drained through the drain pipe at the bottom of the oven. However, during the draining process, oil stains may adhere to the inner wall of the drain pipe, forming scale. If not cleaned for a long time, this scale can breed bacteria, produce odors, and clog the drain pipe, reducing the lifespan of the steam oven. Therefore, this application addresses these issues by incorporating a scale removal device into the steam oven, which can promptly and accurately detect and clean the scale inside the drain pipe.

[0032] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram illustrating a descaling device for a steam oven drain pipe according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 1 As shown, it may include the following devices.

[0033] During the steaming and baking process, oil stains and liquids generated by steam may drip to the bottom of the oven cavity. A drain pipe can be installed at the bottom of the oven body, connecting to the bottom of the cavity. Liquids generated during the steaming and baking process, such as oil stains, flow into the bottom of the oven and are then drained through the drain pipe to an external water collection container or drainage system, such as a sewer pipe; this application does not limit the material of the drain pipe. The drain pipe can be made of flexible plastic, specifically including polypropylene, silicone, polyvinyl chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, etc.; this application does not limit the material of the drain pipe. Using flexible plastic makes it easier to connect the drain pipe to the external water collection container or drainage system, improving the flexibility of the drain pipe and facilitating the installation of a scale removal device.

[0034] A deformable track 2 is installed inside the drain pipe. The deformable track 2 extends along the axial direction of the drain pipe, i.e., along its length, from the inlet to the outlet. The first end of the deformable track 2 can be rigidly fixed at the inlet of the drain pipe. For example, the first end of the deformable track 2 can be positioned at a predetermined installation location at the inlet, such as approximately 10-30 cm inside the inlet. This can be achieved using welding clips, screws, or expansion bolts to ensure the stability and reliability of the deformable track 2 at the inlet, preventing displacement during scale detection or cleaning. The second end of the deformable track 2 extends axially along the drain pipe to the outlet. The deformable track 2 can be made of shape memory alloy, such as nitinol, which has good superelasticity and self-recovery properties, can maintain structural stability in curved pipes, such as drain pipes, and has strong temperature adaptability, making it suitable for the humid and hot environment inside a steam oven; stainless steel spring steel strip or stainless steel corrugated strip, such as 304 or 316 stainless steel, which has high strength, corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, and is easy to process into a curved structure; high-strength engineering plastics, such as polyamide (PA, nylon), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and polycarbonate (PC), which are lightweight, corrosion resistant, have a low coefficient of friction, can be injection molded, and are easy to integrate into guide rails and slide structures; or composite materials, such as a metal core + polymer coating, with a structure of a metal skeleton covered with a flexible polymer, such as stainless steel wire covered with silicone. This application does not limit the above-mentioned deformable track 2, and the specific design can be determined according to the actual situation.

[0035] An endoscope camera 1 can be installed on the deformable track 2. The endoscope camera 1 can be movably connected to the deformable track 2 and is used to take pictures of the inside of the drain pipe along the deformable track 2.

[0036] In one possible implementation, such as Figure 2-3 As shown, the deformable track 2 is provided with a guide groove, and the endoscope camera 1 has an integrated slider structure at the bottom. The slider structure is slidably connected to the guide groove on the deformable track 2. The slider structure can have lubrication properties to reduce the frictional resistance between the slider structure and the guide groove during the sliding connection process.

[0037] When the deformable track 2 is made of metal, such as stainless steel, a permanent magnet can be embedded in the endoscope camera 1, which can move on the deformable track 2 by magnetic attraction.

[0038] An endoscope camera 1 is used to acquire real-time images of the interior of the drain pipe. The endoscope camera 1 may include a lens 5, such as a miniature high-definition wide-angle lens, providing a 360° field of view for capturing images of the drain pipe's interior without blind spots. A light-emitting diode (LED) illumination unit, specifically a ring-shaped LED light group, provides uniform light, ensuring the endoscope camera 1 can clearly capture images of the drain pipe's interior even in low-light conditions. A connection interface allows the endoscope camera 1 to connect to the steam oven control system, supporting wired or wireless transmission, which is not limited in this application. Furthermore, the image analysis module corresponding to the steam oven control system receives the internal images captured by the endoscope camera 1 and uses an image recognition algorithm to accurately determine the location and thickness of the scale buildup inside the drain pipe. The types of endoscope cameras 1 may include fiber optic endoscope cameras that transmit images via fiber optic bundles, with a small lens diameter (less than 1 mm), suitable for use in the drainage pipes of this application; electronic endoscope cameras, such as CCD or CMOS types. CCD types offer high sensitivity and low noise, making them suitable for low-light environments; CMOS types offer low power consumption, high integration, and support high-definition resolution. Wireless capsule endoscope cameras, with miniaturized designs, integrated wireless transmission and batteries, can move autonomously along deformable tracks 2. This application does not limit the type of endoscope camera 1.

[0039] In one possible implementation, the scale removal device further includes a camera cleaning module. The camera cleaning module includes a water jet unit 7 and a mechanical scraping unit 6.

[0040] Figure 4 This is a structural diagram illustrating a camera cleaning module according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 3 As shown, the camera cleaning module is located on both sides of the lens 5 of the endoscope camera 1. Water jet units 7 are located on both sides of the lens 5. The water jet units 7 can be configured as nozzle structures, and the spray angle corresponding to the nozzle structures on both sides of the endoscope camera 1 can be designed to be 30°-45°. These nozzles are used to spray cleaning fluid, such as solvents or detergents, onto the surface of the lens 5 of the endoscope camera 1 to soften or wash away oil stains, scale, and other deposits. This ensures that the sprayed cleaning fluid covers the surface area of ​​the lens 5, preventing dirt residue from remaining on the edges of the lens 5 of the endoscope camera 1.

[0041] The mechanical scraping unit 6 is configured with an arc-shaped elastic scraper, the radius of curvature of which matches the outer diameter of the lens 5 of the endoscope camera 1. The frequency of the mechanical scraping unit 6 can be set to 1-2 Hz to avoid high-frequency vibration damaging the lens coating. The arc-shaped elastic scraper of the mechanical scraping unit 6 also prevents the elastic scraper from scratching the lens 5 during cleaning, and the close-fitting cleaning improves the cleaning efficiency of the endoscope camera 1 surface. The mechanical scraping unit 6 and the water jet unit 7 work simultaneously. While the water jet unit 7 sprays cleaning fluid onto the endoscope camera 1, the mechanical scraping unit 6 reciprocates to remove dirt from the surface of the endoscope camera 1.

[0042] When the endoscope camera 1 is in standby mode, the mechanical scraping unit 6 is set to a closed state, that is, the mechanical scraping unit 6 is in full contact with the surface of the endoscope camera 1 to form a full circumferential seal, so as to prevent the endoscope camera 1 from being contaminated when it is not working.

[0043] In one possible implementation, the scale removal device is further provided with a drain pipe cleaning module 3, which is also set on the deformable track 2, for performing precise cleaning of the inner wall of the drain pipe according to the internal image of the drain pipe.

[0044] The drain pipe cleaning module 3 may include a rotating brush head, a cleaning spray unit, and a drive motor. The rotating brush head is detachably mounted on the deformable track 2, allowing for easy replacement with brush heads of different hardness or materials, such as nylon brushes or wire brushes, to adapt to different types of dirt. The bristles at the end of the rotating brush head contact the inside of the drain pipe, thus enabling a complete cleaning of the inner wall of the drain pipe during cleaning.

[0045] The drive motor is located on the outside of the drain pipe and can be connected to the rotating brush head via a waterproof wire. Upon receiving a drive command from the steam oven system, the drive motor drives the rotating brush head to clean the inner wall of the drain pipe. The cleaning liquid spray unit is located inside the drain pipe, preferably 1-2 cm behind the brush head, allowing for continuous brushing and rinsing actions to maintain cleaning effectiveness. The cleaning liquid spray unit is slidably connected to the deformable track 2, meaning it can move from the inlet to the outlet of the drain pipe for comprehensive cleaning of the inner wall. The cleaning liquid spray unit can be connected to an external hot water unit, which can spray a high-temperature decomposing cleaning liquid, such as sodium percarbonate, which decomposes upon heating, enhancing its cleaning power.

[0046] In one possible implementation, the scale removal device further includes a water flow velocity sensor 8. The water flow velocity sensor 8 is located at the outlet of the drain pipe and is used to monitor the velocity of the water discharged from the drain pipe. The water flow velocity sensor 8 can be a turbine-type flow velocity sensor: the water flow drives the turbine to rotate, and the flow velocity is calculated by detecting the rotational speed through a Hall element; an ultrasonic time-of-flight sensor: the flow velocity is calculated by measuring the time difference of ultrasonic wave propagation upstream / downstream; an electromagnetic flow meter: the potential difference generated by the conductive fluid cutting magnetic lines of force is measured according to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction; or a differential pressure flow velocity sensor: the flow velocity is calculated by measuring the pressure difference before and after the throttling element using Bernoulli's equation. This application does not limit the type of water flow velocity sensor 8.

[0047] During the steaming and baking process in the steam oven, the water flow rate sensor 8 monitors the water flow rate of the drain pipe in real time. When the water flow rate is detected to be less than the warning flow rate threshold for scale buildup in the drain pipe, the endoscope camera 1 is controlled to acquire an internal image of the drain pipe, thereby performing scale removal treatment on the drain pipe.

[0048] In one possible implementation, the scale removal device also includes a control panel. The control panel can be mounted on the steam oven and is controlled by the steam oven control system. The control panel is also communicatively connected to the endoscope camera 1, the drain pipe cleaning module 3, and the water flow rate sensor 8, etc., to monitor the scale status of the drain pipe, handle fault alarms, receive water flow rate, and record and save each scale removal process. It also allows the user to directly view the status of the drain pipe and the steam oven.

[0049] Figure 5 This is a method for removing scale buildup from the drain pipe of a steam oven, according to an exemplary embodiment. For example... Figure 5 As shown, it includes the following steps.

[0050] In step S501, the water flow velocity of the drain pipe is obtained.

[0051] In one possible implementation, when the steam oven starts working, the water flow velocity sensor 8 installed at the drain pipe outlet monitors the water flow velocity discharged from the steam oven in real time, and then uploads the monitored water flow velocity to the control system of the scale treatment device. After the control system obtains the monitored water flow velocity, it analyzes and processes the water flow velocity.

[0052] In step S503, when the water flow velocity is less than the warning flow velocity threshold for scale buildup in the drain pipe, the endoscope camera 1 is controlled to acquire an internal image of the drain pipe.

[0053] In the embodiments of this specification, the pre-warning flow velocity threshold for scale buildup in the drain pipe can refer to the water flow velocity corresponding to when scale buildup in the drain pipe is about to or will block the drain pipe.

[0054] In one possible implementation, if the water flow velocity is found to be less than the warning flow velocity threshold for scale buildup in the drain pipe, indicating that the drain pipe may be blocked by scale, the endoscope camera 1 is controlled to slide on a deformable track, that is, slide from the inlet to the outlet of the drain pipe and then back from the outlet to the inlet. This completes the image monitoring of the entire inside of the drain pipe and thus obtains the internal image of the drain pipe.

[0055] In another possible implementation, if the analysis shows that the water flow velocity is greater than the warning flow velocity threshold for scale buildup in the drain pipe, there may be a small amount of scale buildup or no scale buildup in the drain pipe. In this case, the scale buildup treatment device is controlled to enter standby mode.

[0056] In step S505, the internal image of the drain pipe is recognized to obtain the scale buildup status of the drain pipe.

[0057] In the embodiments of this specification, the state of scale accumulation can include a state of scale blockage, that is, the drain pipe is severely scaled and urgently needs descaling treatment; and a state of no scale accumulation, that is, the inside of the drain pipe is clean.

[0058] In one possible implementation, the acquired images of the interior of the drain pipe are denoised and contrast-enhanced to improve recognition accuracy. If a wide-angle or fisheye lens is used, image distortion needs to be corrected to ensure accurate reflection of the geometric features of the pipe's inner wall. Further, feature extraction is performed, such as color analysis, using the color difference between dirt and clean pipe walls (e.g., dirt is often yellowish-brown or black, while clean pipe walls are light-colored) to divide areas; texture recognition is used, utilizing texture features such as the roughness of the dirt accumulation and the smoothness of the inner wall to distinguish the degree of dirt accumulation; further, the state of dirt accumulation is classified into dirt-clogged states, no-dirt states, etc., which this application does not limit.

[0059] In another possible implementation, if the internal image recognition of the drain pipe fails, the camera cleaning module is controlled to clean the endoscope camera 1; after the cleaning of the endoscope camera 1 is completed, the internal image of the drain pipe is reacquired.

[0060] For example, if the image recognition of the inside of the drain pipe fails, it may be because the endoscope camera 1 is covered with dirt. In this case, the camera cleaning module is controlled to clean the endoscope camera 1, that is, to remove the dirt from the surface of the lens 5 of the endoscope camera 1 using the water jet unit 7 and the mechanical scraping unit 6. After the cleaning of the endoscope camera 1 is completed, the endoscope camera 1 is controlled to reacquire the image of the inside of the drain pipe.

[0061] If the cumulative number of reacquisitions reaches the preset number, it is determined that the endoscope camera 1 is malfunctioning, and the malfunction information is reported to the control panel.

[0062] For example, if the image recognition process still fails after re-acquiring the internal image of the drain pipe, the endoscope camera 1 is cleaned again, and the internal image of the drain pipe is acquired again. If the cumulative number of re-acquisitions reaches a preset number, such as 3 times, and the internal image of the drain pipe still cannot be accurately recognized, then the endoscope camera 1 is confirmed to be faulty, for example, displaying a black screen, blurry image, or dark image. The fault information is then reported to the control panel so that the user can promptly notify the operator to inspect or replace the endoscope camera 1.

[0063] In one possible implementation, in the event of a malfunction of the endoscope camera 1, an automatic cleaning command is generated; based on the automatic cleaning command, the drain cleaning module is controlled to clean the drain pipe.

[0064] For example, when the endoscope camera 1 malfunctions, such as when the inside of the endoscope camera 1 is damaged, an automatic cleaning command is generated while the steam oven is operating. Then, according to the automatic cleaning command, the control system can control the drain pipe cleaning module to clean the drain pipe to ensure that the drain pipe is free of dirt.

[0065] In step S507, when the scale buildup is in the state of dirt blockage, the drain pipe cleaning module is controlled to clean the inner wall of the drain pipe.

[0066] In one possible implementation, when the accumulated dirt is confirmed to be a blockage, the location of the dirt on the inner wall of the drain pipe is determined based on the image recognition results. Then, based on the location of the dirt on the inner wall of the drain pipe, the drain pipe cleaning module is controlled to perform precise cleaning of the inner wall of the drain pipe to improve cleaning efficiency.

[0067] In one possible implementation, when the scale buildup is in a non-scald state, the drain pipe cleaning module is switched to standby mode, at which point no descaling treatment is required inside the drain pipe.

[0068] 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.

[0069] Figure 6 This is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device for treating scale buildup in the drain pipe of a steam oven, according to an exemplary embodiment. The electronic device may be a terminal, and its internal structure may be as shown in the diagram. Figure 6As shown, the electronic device includes a processor, memory, network interface, display screen, and input devices connected via a system bus. The processor provides computing and control capabilities. The memory includes a non-volatile storage medium and internal memory. The non-volatile storage medium stores the operating system and computer programs. The internal memory provides an environment for the operation of the operating system and computer programs in the non-volatile storage medium. The network interface is used to communicate with external terminals via a network connection. When the computer program is executed by the processor, it implements a method for removing scale buildup from the drain pipe of a steam oven. The display screen can be an LCD screen or an e-ink screen. The input devices can be a touch layer covering the display screen, buttons, a trackball, or a touchpad mounted on the device's casing, or an external keyboard, touchpad, or mouse. Those skilled in the art will understand that Figure 6 The structure shown is merely a block diagram of a portion of the structure related to the present application and does not constitute a limitation on the electronic device to which the present application is applied. The specific electronic device may include more or fewer components than shown in the figure, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0070] Other embodiments of this application will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the application disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this application that follow the general principles of this application 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 application are indicated by the following claims.

[0071] It should be understood that this application is not limited to the precise structure 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 application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for treating scale buildup in the drain pipe of a steam oven, characterized in that, include: A drain pipe is installed at the bottom of the steam oven and is used to drain the liquid generated during the steaming and baking process. A deformable track is installed inside the drain pipe and is arranged along the axial direction of the drain pipe. The first end of the deformable track is fixed at the inlet of the drain pipe, and the second end of the deformable track extends along the axial direction of the drain pipe to the outlet of the drain pipe. An endoscope camera is movably connected to the deformable track and is used to capture images of the inside of the drain pipe along the deformable track. A drain pipe cleaning module is mounted on the deformable track and is used to clean the inner wall of the drain pipe based on an internal image of the drain pipe.

2. The scale removal device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The scale removal device also includes a camera cleaning module; the camera cleaning module includes a water jet unit and a mechanical scraping unit; The water jet unit is disposed on both sides of the lens of the endoscope camera and is used to spray cleaning fluid onto the lens surface of the endoscope camera. The mechanical scraping unit is configured as an arc-shaped elastic scraper, the radius of curvature of which is consistent with the outer diameter of the endoscope camera lens; the mechanical scraping unit is used to remove dirt from the lens surface.

3. The scale removal device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drain pipe cleaning module includes a rotating brush head, a cleaning liquid spraying unit, and a drive motor. The rotating brush head is detachably mounted on the deformable track, and the bristles at the end of the rotating brush head are in contact with the inner wall of the drain pipe. The drive motor is connected to the rotating brush head and is used to drive the rotating brush head to clean the inner wall of the drain pipe; The cleaning liquid spraying unit is located inside the drain pipe and is used to spray cleaning liquid onto the inner wall of the drain pipe.

4. The scale removal device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The scale removal device also includes a water flow rate sensor, which is installed at the outlet of the drain pipe to monitor the water flow rate discharged from the drain pipe.

5. The scale removal device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The scale removal device also includes a control panel, which is mounted on the steam oven. The control panel is communicatively connected to the endoscope camera and the drain pipe cleaning module, and is used to monitor the scale status of the drain pipe, handle fault alarms, and record and save each scale removal process.

6. A method for treating scale buildup in the drain pipe of a steam oven, characterized in that, The descaling device applied to the drain pipe of the steam oven according to any one of claims 1-5, the descaling method comprising: Obtain the water flow velocity in the drain pipe; When the water flow velocity is less than the warning flow velocity threshold for scale buildup in the drain pipe, the endoscope camera is controlled to acquire an internal image of the drain pipe. The internal image of the drain pipe is processed to obtain the state of scale buildup in the drain pipe; When the accumulated dirt is clogged, the drain pipe cleaning module is controlled to clean the inner wall of the drain pipe.

7. The method for treating scale buildup according to claim 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the internal image recognition of the drain pipe fails, the camera cleaning module is controlled to clean the endoscope camera. After cleaning the endoscope camera, the internal image of the drain pipe is reacquired.

8. The method for treating scale buildup according to claim 7, characterized in that, The method further includes: If the cumulative number of re-acquisitions reaches a preset number, it is determined that the endoscope camera is malfunctioning, and the malfunction information is reported to the control panel.

9. The method for treating scale buildup according to claim 8, characterized in that, The method further includes: In the event of a malfunction of the endoscope camera, an automatic cleaning command is generated; According to the automatic cleaning command, the drain pipe cleaning module is controlled to clean the drain pipe.

10. The method for treating scale buildup according to claim 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: When the scale buildup is reduced to a clean state, the drain pipe cleaning module is switched to standby mode.

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