Laundry treating apparatus and control method

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of clothes processing equipment, and discloses clothes processing equipment and a control method, the clothes processing equipment comprising: a drum module; an air inlet module connected with the drum module, used for introducing drying air into the drum module; an air outlet module having an air outlet air duct communicating the drum module with an external space of the clothes processing equipment; the air outlet module has a condensing mechanism, and the condensing mechanism introduces water into the air outlet air duct from a region close to an outlet end of the air outlet air duct for cooling. In the present application, the clothes processing equipment adopts a direct discharge drying scheme, and the moisture in the clothes is directly discharged along with the drying air. By setting the condensing mechanism to introduce water from the region close to the outlet end of the air outlet air duct, the water flow and the drying air flow in opposite directions, which can effectively cool the discharged drying air, condense and precipitate the water vapor carried in the drying air, thereby reducing the temperature and humidity of the air outlet of the clothes processing equipment, and avoiding the influence of the direct discharge of high-temperature and high-humidity air flow on the surrounding environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of clothing processing equipment, specifically, it relates to a clothing processing device and control method. Background Technology

[0002] Existing clothing processing equipment with drying functions, such as dryers and washer-dryer combos, typically employ one of two methods: circulating drying or direct discharge drying.

[0003] Specifically, in a circulating drying system, air is heated by a heater and then sent into the drying drum or inner drum. The clothes, under the influence of the hot air, evaporate water, creating humid air. This humid air then enters a condenser, where it cools and condenses into condensate and dry gas. The dry gas is then reheated by the heater and enters the drum again, thus achieving the purpose of drying clothes. However, because of the air circulation, incomplete condensation can result in high humidity in the air entering the drying drum or inner drum, affecting the drying efficiency.

[0004] In direct-vent drying systems, fresh air is drawn in from the outside, heated, and then fed into the drying drum or inner drum. The resulting hot and humid air, in full contact with the clothes, is directly exhausted from the drying system. In this system, moisture carried from the clothes is directly discharged and does not return to the drying drum or inner drum, resulting in higher drying efficiency. However, the direct release of the hot and humid air after drying into the room can increase indoor humidity and temperature, affecting the indoor environment. Furthermore, after prolonged operation, the drying system may draw in air with increased indoor humidity, impacting the drying effect.

[0005] In view of this, the present invention is hereby proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, on the one hand, to provide a direct-exhaust clothing processing device that can reduce exhaust temperature and humidity.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention provides a control method for the above-mentioned garment processing equipment, wherein air is directly exhausted to the outside during the drying process, and the temperature and humidity of the exhaust air are reduced.

[0008] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the basic concept of the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0009] A garment processing device, comprising:

[0010] Cylinder module;

[0011] An air inlet module, connected to the cylindrical module, is used to introduce drying air into the cylindrical module;

[0012] The exhaust module has an exhaust duct that connects the cylinder module to the external space of the clothing processing equipment;

[0013] The exhaust module has a condensation mechanism, which introduces water into the exhaust duct for cooling from the area near the exhaust outlet.

[0014] Furthermore, the exhaust outlet of the exhaust duct is located at one end;

[0015] The exhaust duct is provided with a water inlet that communicates with the condensation mechanism, and the water inlet is located at the end near the exhaust outlet.

[0016] Preferably, the exhaust duct extends from bottom to top, and the exhaust outlet is located at or near the upper end of the exhaust duct.

[0017] The water inlet is located in the upper area of ​​the exhaust duct;

[0018] More preferably, the water inlet is a strip-shaped opening that forms a certain angle with the extension direction of the exhaust duct.

[0019] Furthermore, the condensation mechanism includes a rinsing pipe, one end of which is connected to the water inlet module of the garment processing equipment, and the other end is connected to the water inlet.

[0020] Preferably, the exhaust duct is located at the bottom of the cylindrical module, and the front sidewall of the exhaust duct faces the bottom of the cylindrical module.

[0021] The water inlet is located on the front side wall of the exhaust duct, and the flushing pipe extends from the bottom of the cylindrical module toward the water inlet.

[0022] Furthermore, the air intake module has:

[0023] An air inlet duct, the outlet of which is connected to the cylindrical module;

[0024] A fan is used to drive external air into the cylinder module along the air inlet duct;

[0025] The air inlet duct is equipped with a heating device to heat the flowing air and form drying air;

[0026] Preferably, the heating device includes a PTC heater.

[0027] Furthermore, a temperature controller is provided between the heating device and the outlet end of the air inlet duct;

[0028] Preferably, the temperature controller is located near the outlet end of the air inlet duct.

[0029] Furthermore, the air inlet module is disposed above the cylinder module and extends from the bottom end of the cylinder module to the opening end;

[0030] Preferably, the air inlet module is offset by a certain distance in the horizontal direction relative to the central axis of the cylinder module;

[0031] Preferably, the garment processing device has a frame assembly, and the tube module is disposed inside the frame assembly;

[0032] The top of the frame assembly is provided with a reinforcing beam, one end of which is connected to the front panel of the frame assembly and the other end of which is connected to the rear panel of the frame assembly; the air intake module is connected to the reinforcing beam.

[0033] More preferably, one side of the air intake module is connected to the reinforcing beam, and the other side is connected to the side plate of the frame assembly.

[0034] Furthermore, the outer cylindrical peripheral wall of the cylindrical module has a protruding structure, and the bottom of the air inlet module is provided with a relief recess for avoiding the protruding structure.

[0035] Furthermore, the air inlet of the air intake module and the exhaust outlet of the exhaust module are located on the same side of the garment processing equipment;

[0036] Preferably, both the air inlet and the exhaust outlet are located at the rear of the garment processing equipment.

[0037] A control method for the above-described garment processing equipment, characterized in that, during the drying process, water is introduced into the exhaust duct via the condensation mechanism.

[0038] Furthermore, the condensation mechanism continuously introduces water into the exhaust duct during the drying process;

[0039] Alternatively, during the drying process, the airflow temperature T in the exhaust duct is monitored. If it is higher than the preset temperature T0, the condensation mechanism introduces water into the exhaust duct.

[0040] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art.

[0041] In this invention, the garment processing equipment adopts a direct-vent drying scheme, directly expelling moisture from the garments with the drying air, ensuring drying efficiency. By incorporating a condensation mechanism, water can be introduced into the exhaust duct from an area near the outlet, causing the water flow to reverse the drying air flow. This cools the exhaust air, causing the water vapor carried in the drying air to condense and precipitate, reducing the temperature and humidity of the exhaust air from the garment processing equipment. This prevents the direct discharge of high-temperature, high-humidity airflow from impacting the surrounding environment and prevents the intake module from drawing in air with increased humidity, further improving drying efficiency. Simultaneously, the water flow can also flush the inner wall of the exhaust duct, effectively cleaning residual lint and debris.

[0042] In this invention, the drying air flows from bottom to top within the exhaust duct, and water enters through the upper area of ​​the exhaust duct. This ensures that the water flow direction is opposite to the drying air flow direction, allowing for full contact between the drying air and the water flow, thus improving the cooling effect. The water inlet is designed as a strip-shaped opening, which increases the coverage area of ​​the water flow, thereby ensuring more thorough contact with the drying air.

[0043] In this invention, the reinforcing beam at the top of the frame assembly serves two purposes: firstly, it supports the front and rear side panels, enhancing the overall strength of the frame assembly; secondly, it secures the air intake module, improving its installation stability. Simultaneously, the air intake module also acts as a reinforcing structure between the front and rear side panels, further enhancing the strength and stability of the frame assembly.

[0044] In this invention, the air inlet module is provided with an avoidance recess, which can avoid interference with the protruding structure on the outer cylinder, making the overall structure of the garment processing equipment more compact and conducive to the miniaturization of the overall machine size.

[0045] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0046] The accompanying drawings, as part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of the invention are used to explain the invention, but do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative effort. In the drawings:

[0047] Figure 1 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of the clothing processing device in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 2 This is the present invention. Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure shown from another angle;

[0049] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the clothing processing device without the second upper cover of the air inlet module in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 4 This is the present invention. Figure 3 The diagram shown is a schematic diagram of the structure without the heating device, temperature controller, and first top cover;

[0051] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the clothing processing device in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0052] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the outer cylinder of the clothing processing device in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the rear structure of the clothing processing device in an embodiment of the present invention (the rear shell of the exhaust duct is not shown);

[0054] Figure 8 This is an exploded view of the exhaust module in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom structure of the distance sensor in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom structure of the frame component in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0057] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first support member in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0058] Figure 12 This is a structural schematic diagram of the first support member from another angle in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0059] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first support member and the base in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the base structure in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0061] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of the clothing processing device in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] In the diagram: 100, cylindrical module; 110, outer cylinder; 111, drain outlet; 112, air outlet; 113, window gasket; 114, air inlet; 115, connecting pipe; 200, air intake module; 201, first upper cover; 202, second upper cover; 203, lower shell; 2031, first connecting part; 2032, second connecting part; 2033, clearance recess; 2034, air inlet; 2035, third connecting part; 2036, support part. 2037. Positioning structure; 210. Fan; 211. Impeller; 220. Air inlet duct; 221. Heating device; 222. Temperature controller; 300. Exhaust module; 310. Exhaust duct; 3101. Front shell; 3102. Rear shell; 311. First detection port; 312. Second detection port; 313. Third detection port; 314. Sealing groove; 315. Water inlet; 316. Water inlet connector; 317. Exhaust inlet; 3 18. Exhaust outlet; 320. Foam monitoring device; 321. Distance sensor; 3211. Sealing mating part; 322. Probe; 330. Temperature monitoring device; 341. First seal; 342. Second seal; 343. Third seal; 350. Flushing pipe; 400. Frame assembly; 401. First support member; 402. Second support member; 420. Front side panel; 421. Rear side panel; 422. Left side panel; 423. Right side panel; 430, reinforcing beam; 451, first bend; 4512, mounting mating part; 452, second bend; 453, third bend; 4611, first mounting part; 480, shock absorber bracket; 500, door body; 700, shell assembly; 701, first shell component; 702, second shell component; 703, base; 7031, screw post; 7032, support rib; 716, lower outer surface; 731, support protrusion.

[0063] It should be noted that these accompanying drawings and textual descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0064] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are used to illustrate the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0065] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0066] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0067] like Figures 1 to 15 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a garment processing device and a control method for the garment processing device.

[0068] Specifically, the clothing processing equipment described in this embodiment is a washer-dryer combo machine with both washing and drying functions, comprising a drum module 100, and an air inlet module 200 and an air outlet module 300 respectively connected to the drum module 100. The drum module 100 includes an outer drum 110 and an inner drum (not shown in the figure) whose axes are generally horizontal. During the washing process, the outer drum 110 holds water, and the inner drum holds the clothing.

[0069] The outer cylinder 110 is provided with an air inlet 114 for connecting to the air inlet module 200 and an air outlet 112 for connecting to the exhaust module 300. During the clothes drying process, relatively dry hot air is introduced into the outer cylinder 110 along the air inlet module 200 as drying air. After the drying air comes into contact with the wet clothes, it carries water vapor and is discharged from the outer cylinder 110 through the exhaust module 300, so that the clothes are gradually dried.

[0070] More specifically, the garment processing equipment has a housing assembly 700, with a door 500 mounted on the front side of the housing assembly 700. The door 500 has a door glass panel. When the door 500 is closed, the door glass panel contacts the window gasket 113 at the opening of the outer drum 110, sealing the opening of the outer drum 110. This prevents wash water from overflowing from the opening of the outer drum 110 during the washing process. And during the drying process, it prevents air leakage at the opening of the outer drum 110, ensuring that the drying air makes full contact with the clothes.

[0071] In one specific implementation, the air inlet 114 is set on the window gasket 113 at the opening of the outer cylinder 110. After the drying air passes through the window gasket 113 and enters the outer cylinder 110, it can enter the inner cylinder through the opening of the inner cylinder and come into contact with the wet clothes contained in the inner cylinder.

[0072] In a more specific embodiment, the air intake module 200 has an air inlet 2034, and the exhaust module 300 has an exhaust outlet 318. Both the air inlet 2034 and the exhaust outlet 318 are directly connected to the outside of the garment processing equipment. The air intake module 200 directly draws in dry air from the outside. The airflow is heated within the air intake module 200 to form drying air, which is then introduced into the outer cylinder 110 through the air inlet 114. The humid airflow carrying water vapor exits the outer cylinder 110 through the air outlet 112, enters the exhaust module 300, and is then discharged to the outside of the garment processing equipment.

[0073] In this embodiment, the clothing processing equipment adopts a direct-flow drying solution, in which the moisture in the clothing is directly discharged with the airflow, resulting in higher drying efficiency.

[0074] In one specific embodiment of this example, the clothing processing device can be placed on a table for use, providing users with more options for where to place the clothing processing device, thereby allowing for more flexible adaptation to users' usage habits.

[0075] Specifically, in this embodiment, the clothing processing device is an electrical appliance that can be placed on a desktop. The airflow discharged from the outer drum 110 is directly discharged into the indoor space where the clothing processing device is located after passing through the exhaust module 300. However, the airflow discharged from the outer drum 110 through the air outlet 112 is high-temperature and high-humidity air. If it is directly discharged into the room through the exhaust module 300, it will cause changes in the temperature and humidity of the environment around the clothing processing device, affecting the user experience. In addition, if the humidity of the surrounding environment increases significantly, the air inlet module 200 will also draw in air with higher humidity, thereby affecting the drying efficiency.

[0076] To address the aforementioned issues, this embodiment further employs the following technical solution.

[0077] In this embodiment, the exhaust module 300 includes an exhaust duct 310 connected to the cylinder module 100. High-temperature, high-humidity airflow from the outer cylinder 110 enters the exhaust duct 310 and is discharged to the outside along the exhaust duct 310. The exhaust module 300 has a condensation mechanism, which introduces water into the exhaust duct 310 from a region near the outlet end of the exhaust duct 310 for cooling.

[0078] Specifically, in this embodiment, during the drying process, water is introduced into the exhaust duct 310 through the condensation mechanism of the garment processing equipment. The water injected into the exhaust duct 310 through the condensation mechanism is essentially at room temperature, significantly lower than the temperature of the drying air entering the exhaust duct 310. Furthermore, the room temperature water enters from the area near the outlet end of the exhaust duct 310, flowing in the opposite direction to the drying air inside the exhaust duct 310, thus ensuring sufficient contact. In this way, the temperature of the drying air discharged from the exhaust duct 310 can be effectively reduced, preventing high-temperature airflow from directly affecting the surrounding environment. At the same time, after the drying air cools down, the water vapor carried in it condenses and precipitates out in the form of liquid water, which is not discharged with the airflow, thereby reducing the humidity of the airflow discharged from the exhaust outlet 318.

[0079] On the other hand, lint carried in the drying air may remain on the inner wall of the exhaust duct 310. By introducing water into the exhaust duct 310 through the condensation mechanism, the inner wall of the exhaust duct 310 can be flushed, thus achieving the purpose of cleaning lint.

[0080] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the exhaust outlet 318 of the exhaust duct 310 is located at one end of the exhaust duct 310, and a water inlet 315 communicating with the condensation mechanism is provided on the exhaust duct 310, through which water is introduced into the exhaust duct 310 for cooling. The water inlet 315 is located at the end relatively closer to the exhaust outlet 318.

[0081] In one specific implementation, the exhaust duct 310 extends from bottom to top, with the exhaust inlet 317 located at or near the lower end of the exhaust duct 310, and the exhaust outlet 318 located at or near the upper end of the exhaust duct 310. During the drying process, the drying air discharged from the outer cylinder 110 flows upward along the exhaust duct 310 and is discharged.

[0082] The water inlet 315 is located in the upper part of the exhaust duct 310. The water flowing into the exhaust duct 310 flows downward under the action of gravity, which is opposite to the flow direction of the drying air. This allows for more thorough contact with the drying air and achieves a cooling effect.

[0083] Water entering the exhaust duct 310 and condensate from the drying air flow downwards along the exhaust duct 310 to the exhaust inlet 317, where it can flow into the outer cylinder 110 through the air outlet 112 and then be discharged through the drain outlet 111 at the bottom of the outer cylinder 110. Simultaneously, lint washed down from the inner wall of the exhaust duct 310 can also enter the outer cylinder 110 with the water flow and ultimately be discharged through the drain outlet 111. Thus, there is no need to provide an additional drain opening on the exhaust module 300, and no additional connecting structure is required between the outer cylinder 110 and the exhaust module 300.

[0084] In the preferred embodiment, the water inlet 315 is positioned at a height half that of the exhaust duct 310, so that the water flow path within the exhaust duct 310 is as long as possible, thereby achieving a more thorough drying and cooling effect.

[0085] In this embodiment, the exhaust module 300 is located at the rear of the cylinder module 100, that is, at the bottom end of the outer cylinder 110. The air outlet 112 is located on or near the bottom of the outer cylinder 110 for easy communication with the exhaust module 300. When operating the garment processing equipment, the user is usually in front of the equipment. The exhaust module 300 exhausts air to the rear of the garment processing equipment, so the exhaust airflow will not blow directly on the user, avoiding affecting the user experience.

[0086] On the other hand, the air inlet 114 is located on the window gasket 113, so that the drying air enters the drum module 100 from the front end where the drum opening is located. The air outlet 112 is close to the bottom of the drum or is located on the bottom of the drum, so that the airflow flows from front to back inside the drum module 100, which can make more full contact with the clothes inside the drum.

[0087] In one specific structure, exhaust ducts 310 are arranged at certain intervals along the axial direction of the outer cylinder 110 at the rear of the outer cylinder 110, and exhaust inlets 317 are located on the front side of the exhaust ducts 310, communicating with the air outlets 112 on the outer cylinder 110 via connecting pipes 115. An exhaust outlet 318 is provided on the rear side of the exhaust ducts 310 to exhaust air to the rear side of the garment processing equipment.

[0088] Preferably, the connecting pipe 115 is a deformable corrugated pipe. In this embodiment, the exhaust duct 310 is relatively fixedly installed inside the garment processing equipment, and the outer cylinder 110 is supported inside the garment processing equipment by a vibration damping support assembly (not shown in the figure), which will generate a certain amplitude of vibration during operation. The connecting pipe 115 can generate a certain degree of deformation, thereby accommodating the relative displacement between the outer cylinder 110 and the exhaust duct 310 when the outer cylinder 110 vibrates.

[0089] To ensure that water flowing back to the outer cylinder 110 can be drained directly without entering the inner cylinder and wetting clothes, the vent 112 is located in the lower half of the bottom of the outer cylinder 110, preferably close to the outer periphery. In a preferred configuration, the vent 112 is located on both the bottom and the peripheral wall of the outer cylinder 110. After the returning water enters the outer cylinder 110 through the vent 112, it can flow downwards along the peripheral wall and finally be discharged through the drain outlet 111 at the bottom of the outer cylinder 110.

[0090] In a preferred embodiment, the water inlet 315 is a strip-shaped opening that forms a certain angle with the extension direction of the exhaust duct 310. More preferably, in this embodiment, the exhaust duct 310 extends from bottom to top, and the water inlet 315 is nearly perpendicular to the extension direction of the exhaust duct 310, forming a horizontally extending strip-shaped opening.

[0091] Water enters the exhaust duct 310 through the strip-shaped water inlet 315, and the water flow can form a water curtain with a certain width, further improving the contact efficiency between the water flow and the drying air, thereby enhancing the cooling effect.

[0092] In a further embodiment, the condensation mechanism includes a rinsing pipe 350, one end of which is connected to the water inlet module of the garment processing equipment, and the other end is connected to the water inlet 315.

[0093] In one specific embodiment, the water inlet module has a water inlet valve that controls the connection or disconnection of the flushing pipe 350 with an external water source. When the water inlet valve is opened, the external water flow can enter the flushing pipe 350 and enter the exhaust duct 310 along the flushing pipe 350, thereby achieving the effect of drying air cooling and condensation.

[0094] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the exhaust duct 310 is located at the rear end where the bottom of the outer cylinder 110 is located, such that the front sidewall of the exhaust duct 310 faces the bottom of the outer cylinder 110. The water inlet 315 is located on the front sidewall of the exhaust duct 310, and is connected to the flushing pipe 350 through a water inlet connector 316 on the outer side of the front sidewall.

[0095] In one detailed structure, the exhaust duct 310 is formed by a front shell 3101 and a rear shell 3102 fastened together. An exhaust inlet 317 is located on the front shell 3101, with its lowest point substantially flush with the lower end of the front shell 3101. An exhaust outlet 318 is located on the rear shell 3102, with its highest point substantially flush with the upper end of the rear shell 3102. A water inlet 315 is located in the upper region of the front shell 3101, and a water inlet connector 316 protrudes from the outer wall of the front shell 3101. The water inlet end of the rinsing pipe 350 is connected to the water inlet module of the garment processing equipment, and its outlet end is fitted onto the water inlet connector 316.

[0096] More specifically, the water inlet module of the garment processing equipment is located below the drum module 100, and the rinsing pipe 350 extends upward around the lower part of the drum module 100 and connects to the water inlet connector 316 on the front side of the exhaust duct 310.

[0097] In this embodiment, the exhaust duct 310 has a flat structure with a width greater than its thickness in the front-to-back direction. The water inlet 315 is set as a horizontal strip opening on the front shell 3101. When water flows through the water inlet 315 into the exhaust duct 310, it can form a water curtain that is more compatible with the cross-sectional shape of the exhaust duct 310, thus ensuring the cooling effect of the incoming water.

[0098] In a further embodiment, the air inlet module 200 includes an air inlet duct 220 and a fan 210. The outlet end of the air inlet duct 220 is connected to the cylindrical module 100. The fan 210 drives external air to enter the cylindrical module 100 along the air inlet duct 220. A heating device 221 is provided in the air inlet duct 220 to heat the flowing air, forming drying air with a certain temperature before entering the cylindrical module 100.

[0099] In one specific embodiment, the fan 210 and the air inlet duct 220 are arranged sequentially along the airflow direction. The fan 210 draws in dry external air through the air inlet 2034 and sends it into the air inlet duct 220. The outlet end of the air inlet duct 220 is connected to the air inlet 114 on the outer cylinder 110. After passing through the heating device 221 inside the air inlet duct 220, the air is heated to a certain temperature and then enters the outer cylinder 110 through the air inlet 114.

[0100] In this embodiment, the heating device 221 can be a resistance wire heater, a heating tube, or a gas heater. The heating device 221 can also be an electromagnetic heater. Accordingly, the air inlet duct 220 is provided with a structure that can be self-heated by the eddy current effect generated by the alternating magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic heater, so that the air is heated to a certain temperature as it flows through the air inlet duct 220.

[0101] In a preferred embodiment, the heating device 221 employs a PTC heater. Compared to traditional resistance wire heaters, PTC heaters offer higher heating efficiency, achieving energy savings. Furthermore, they have a long service life, allowing for extended use without significant power degradation, reducing maintenance and replacement costs. On the other hand, PTC heaters feature automatic temperature limiting. When fan 210 malfunctions or other conditions lead to insufficient heat dissipation, once the temperature reaches the Curie temperature, the resistance rises sharply, and the current decreases, automatically limiting further temperature increases and providing more reliable safety performance.

[0102] Furthermore, PTC heaters can be manufactured as independent modules, facilitating easy arrangement and allowing for design into different shapes and specifications to meet specific needs. PTC heaters can also operate stably within different voltage ranges, unaffected by power supply voltage fluctuations. Their power can be adjusted to meet varying heating temperatures and speeds.

[0103] In one specific structure of this embodiment, the bottom wall of the air inlet duct 220 is provided with a protruding support portion 2036, and the heating device 221 is disposed in contact with the top surface of the support portion 2036, thereby leaving a certain gap between the lower side of the heating device 221 and the bottom wall of the air inlet duct 220 to facilitate heat dissipation of the heating device 221.

[0104] More specifically, the support 2036 is a strip-shaped rib extending perpendicular to the air intake direction, with multiple ribs spaced apart along the air intake direction, thereby stably supporting the heating device 221 inside the air intake duct 220.

[0105] In the preferred structure, the side wall of the air inlet duct 220 is provided with a protruding positioning structure 2037, and the heating device 221 is limited and cooperated with the positioning structure 2037.

[0106] Specifically, the air inlet duct 220 has protruding positioning structures 2037 on both sides, and the two positioning structures 2037 on the same side are spaced apart, so that the heating device 221 is positioned between the two positioning structures 2037 at its upper limit in the front-back direction. The positioning structure 2037 can be a vertically arranged rib, or it can be a boss formed by the concave or convex side wall of the air inlet duct 220.

[0107] In a further embodiment, a temperature controller 222 is provided between the heating device 221 and the outlet end of the air inlet duct 220. The temperature controller 222 can provide feedback on the temperature of the airflow heated by the heating device 221, and then adjust the operating power of the heating device 221 according to the airflow temperature.

[0108] Preferably, the temperature controller 222 is located near the outlet end of the air inlet duct 220, and the obtained airflow temperature is basically the same as the temperature when the drying air enters the outer cylinder 110.

[0109] In this embodiment, during the drying process of the clothing processing equipment, the fan 210 runs and the heating device 221 is started. The clothing processing equipment obtains the temperature t of the passing airflow through the temperature controller 222 and controls the operating status of the heating device 221 according to the airflow temperature t.

[0110] In one specific implementation, if the airflow temperature t is higher than the first preset temperature t1, the heating device 221 is turned off. When the airflow temperature t is lower than the second preset temperature t2, the heating device 221 is turned back on. The first preset temperature t1 is greater than the second preset temperature t2.

[0111] In another specific implementation, if the airflow temperature t is higher than the first preset temperature t1, the heating device 221 reduces its operating power. If the airflow temperature t is lower than the second preset temperature t2, the heating device 221 increases its operating power. The first preset temperature t1 is greater than the second preset temperature t2.

[0112] In one detailed structure of this embodiment, the outer shell structure of the air intake module 200 includes a lower shell 203 with an open upper side, and a first upper cover 201 and a second upper cover 202 covering the open side of the lower shell 203. The first upper cover 201 is located in the rear end region of the air intake module 200, and the impeller 211 of the fan 210 is disposed in the cavity between the first upper cover 201 and the lower shell 203. The second upper cover 202 has a certain length in the front-rear direction and is fastened to the lower shell 203 to form an air intake duct 220. An air inlet 2034 and the outlet end of the air intake duct 220 are both located on the lower shell 203.

[0113] More specifically, the temperature sensing end of the temperature controller 222 extends through the side of the second upper cover 202 into the interior of the air inlet duct 220. A sealing ring is provided on the outer periphery of the temperature controller 222 to achieve a seal between the second upper cover 202 and the temperature controller 222, thereby preventing air leakage from the air inlet duct 220.

[0114] In a further embodiment, the air inlet module 200 is positioned above the cylindrical module 100, extending from the bottom end of the cylindrical module 100 to the opening end. Specifically, the air inlet 2034 is located at the rear of the garment processing equipment, with a fan 210 and an air inlet duct 220 arranged sequentially from back to front. The bottom front end of the air inlet duct 220 has a downwardly extending opening structure, which is connected to the air inlet 114 at the front end of the outer cylinder 110.

[0115] In this embodiment, the air inlet module 200 is placed above the cylinder module 100, which realizes the utilization of the installation space between the top of the cylinder module 100 and the clothing processing equipment housing assembly 700.

[0116] Furthermore, the air intake module 200 is offset horizontally by a certain distance relative to the central axis of the tube module 100. In other words, the air intake module 200 is not positioned directly above the tube module 100, but rather closer to one side of the garment processing device. This allows for the placement of other functional modules, such as circuit board assemblies, in the space above the tube module 100.

[0117] As a specific implementation of this embodiment, the garment processing equipment has a supporting frame assembly 400, the air inlet module 200, the cylinder module 100 and the exhaust module 300 are all disposed inside the frame assembly 400, and a housing assembly 700 is provided on the outside of the frame assembly 400.

[0118] The frame assembly 400 includes a front side plate 420, a rear side plate 421, a left side plate 422, and a right side plate 423 arranged vertically. The front side plate 420, the left side plate 422, the rear side plate 421, and the right side plate 423 are connected in sequence and surround the outside of the cylindrical module 100.

[0119] In one specific structure, the left side plate 422, the rear side plate 421, and the right side plate 423 are an integral U-shaped structure, while the front side plate 420 is separately disposed from the U-shaped structure, and the left and right sides of the front side plate 420 are respectively connected to the left side plate 422 and the right side plate 423.

[0120] The top of the frame assembly 400 is provided with a front-to-back extending reinforcing beam 430. The front end of the reinforcing beam 430 is connected to the front side plate 420, and the rear end is connected to the rear side plate 421. By setting the reinforcing beam 430, it can provide support in the front-to-back direction, making the frame assembly 400 more stable.

[0121] In this embodiment, the air intake module 200 is connected to the reinforcing beam 430, thereby supporting the air intake module 200 above the cylindrical module 100.

[0122] As a specific structure, the reinforcing beam 430 is positioned approximately between the left side plate 422 and the right side plate 423 in the left-right direction. The air inlet module 200 is located on the right side above the cylinder module 100, with its right side connected to the top of the right side plate 423 and its left side connected to the reinforcing beam 430.

[0123] More specifically, the air intake module 200 has one or more first connecting parts 2031 on its left side, which are fixed to the reinforcing beam 430 by screws. The air intake module 200 has one or more second connecting parts 2032 on its right side, which are fixed to the top of the right side plate 423 by screws. Both the first connecting parts 2031 and the second connecting parts 2032 are located on the lower housing 203 of the air intake module 200.

[0124] Furthermore, the air inlet 2034 passes through the rear side panel 421 and connects to the outside of the garment processing equipment. The lower housing 203 has a third connecting part 2035 on the outer periphery of the air inlet 2034. A screw passes through the rear side panel 421 and connects to the third connecting part 2035, allowing for the fixation of the rear end of the air inlet module 200. The front end of the air inlet module 200 is connected to the outer cylinder 110, thus making the overall installation of the air inlet module 200 more stable.

[0125] Furthermore, the exhaust outlet 318 of the exhaust duct 310 also passes through the rear side panel 421 and connects to the outside of the garment processing equipment, thereby exhausting air to the rear of the garment processing equipment. The rear shell 3102 of the exhaust duct 310 has mounting parts at its upper and lower ends, and screws pass through the rear side panel 421 and are connected to the mounting parts, so that the exhaust duct 310 can be fixed to the rear side panel 421.

[0126] In a further embodiment, the outer cylinder 110 has a protruding structure on its circumferential wall, and the bottom of the air inlet module 200 is provided with a relief recess 2033 for avoiding the protruding structure.

[0127] Specifically, the protruding structure is used to connect components, such as counterweights or vibration-damping springs. The bottom surface of the lower housing 203 of the air inlet module 200 is partially concave, forming the aforementioned avoidance recess 2033, ensuring that the air inlet module 200 does not interfere with the protruding structure. This results in a more compact internal structure for the garment processing equipment, contributing to the miniaturization of the overall machine size.

[0128] On the other hand, the reduced cross-sectional area of ​​the air inlet duct 220 at the corresponding position of the recess 2033 can also accelerate the airflow, thereby increasing the airflow intensity when the drying air enters the outer cylinder 110 and enhancing the drying effect.

[0129] More specifically, the outer cylinder 110 has raised structures in the area near the cylinder opening and the area near the cylinder bottom, respectively. Correspondingly, the air inlet module 200 has corresponding avoidance recesses 2033 in the front and rear areas.

[0130] Furthermore, the heating device 221 and the clearance recess 2033 are staggered in the air intake direction to ensure that the heating device 221 has sufficient installation space.

[0131] In this embodiment, the control method of the clothing processing equipment includes: during the drying process, water is introduced into the exhaust duct 310 through the condensation mechanism.

[0132] Specifically, during the drying process, the water inlet valve connected to the rinsing pipe 350 is opened, and water enters into the exhaust duct 310 along the rinsing pipe 350 to cool and condense the discharged drying air.

[0133] In one specific implementation, the condensation mechanism continuously introduces water into the exhaust duct 310 during the drying process.

[0134] Specifically, at the start of drying, or after the set drying time, the garment processing equipment controls the water inlet valve connected to the rinsing pipe 350 to open and remain open, continuously supplying water into the exhaust duct 310 along the rinsing pipe 350 until drying is finished.

[0135] In the above solution, the clothing processing equipment continuously introduces water into the exhaust duct 310 during the drying process, thereby achieving a continuous cooling and condensation effect on the drying air entering the exhaust duct 310, which can minimize the impact of the drying air being directly discharged on the surrounding environment.

[0136] As another specific implementation, during the drying process, the clothing processing equipment monitors the airflow temperature T in the exhaust duct 310. If it is higher than the preset temperature T0, the condensation mechanism introduces water into the exhaust duct 310.

[0137] Specifically, during the drying process, the garment processing equipment obtains the airflow temperature T in the exhaust duct 310 in real time. When it is higher than the preset temperature T0, it controls the water inlet valve connected to the rinsing pipe 350 to open and water enters the exhaust duct 310 along the rinsing pipe 350.

[0138] In a further embodiment, water is continuously supplied to the exhaust duct 310 for a set time or the continuous water supply volume reaches a set volume, at which point the water supply stops. The garment processing equipment continues to monitor the airflow temperature T. If the airflow temperature T exceeds the preset temperature T0 again, water is supplied to the exhaust duct 310 again, and the above process is repeated.

[0139] In the above scheme, the garment processing equipment controls the timing of water intake into the exhaust duct 310 based on the airflow temperature T. Water is only introduced into the exhaust duct 310 when the airflow temperature T is too high. If the airflow temperature T does not exceed the preset temperature T0, water is not introduced into the exhaust duct 310. In this way, the amount of water entering the exhaust duct 310 is reduced while ensuring that the temperature at the exhaust outlet 318 is controllable.

[0140] In order to monitor the airflow temperature in the exhaust duct 310, a temperature monitoring device 330 is provided on the exhaust duct 310 in this embodiment. The temperature monitoring device 330 can be a temperature sensor, whose detection end extends into the exhaust duct 310 to monitor the temperature of the drying air flowing outward along the exhaust duct 310, that is, the airflow temperature mentioned above.

[0141] Specifically, the temperature monitoring device 330 is located in the middle area of ​​the exhaust duct 310, at a height lower than that of the water inlet 315.

[0142] In one specific embodiment, a third detection port 313 is opened on the exhaust duct 310, and a temperature monitoring device 330 is inserted into the third detection port 313.

[0143] More specifically, a third seal 343 is provided between the third detection port 313 and the temperature monitoring device 330 to prevent air leakage from the exhaust duct 310 at the third detection port 313.

[0144] As a specific structure, the third seal 343 is inserted into the third detection port 313, and the temperature monitoring device 330 extends into the exhaust duct 310 through the third seal 343. The temperature monitoring device 330 and the third seal 343 are interference-fitted to ensure a reliable seal between them.

[0145] More specifically, the outer peripheral wall of the third seal 343 is provided with a groove, and the inner side of the third detection port 313 has a raised structure. When the third seal 343 is inserted into the third detection port 313, the raised structure on the inner side of the third detection port 313 engages with the groove on the third seal 343, and the radial dimensions of the two are interference fit, thus achieving a reliable seal for the third detection port 313.

[0146] Preferably, the rear end of the third seal 343 has a tapered structure with an outer diameter that gradually increases from back to front. The tapered structure plays a guiding role during assembly, making it easier for the third seal 343 to be inserted into the third detection port 313.

[0147] In this embodiment of the clothing processing device, during the washing process, the water and detergent in the outer drum 110 mix to produce foam. Because the air outlet 112 is located relatively low, if excessive detergent is used or other reasons cause an excessive amount of foam in the outer drum 110, the foam will overflow through the air outlet 112 and enter the exhaust module 300. If the amount of foam in the outer drum 110 is very large, foam may overflow from the exhaust module 300, resulting in a poor user experience.

[0148] Therefore, in a further embodiment, a foam monitoring device 320 is provided on the exhaust duct 310 to monitor the amount of foam in the exhaust duct 310. The garment processing equipment can obtain the amount of foam in the exhaust duct 310 in real time during the washing process through the foam monitoring device 320, and thus take corresponding measures when there is excessive foam in the exhaust duct 310 to prevent foam from overflowing along the exhaust duct 310.

[0149] Specifically, in this embodiment, the foam monitoring device 320 can be installed on the side wall of the exhaust duct 310, or it can be installed on the top of the exhaust duct 310.

[0150] In one specific implementation, the foam monitoring device 320 includes a distance sensor 321. The distance sensor 321 determines the amount of foam in the exhaust duct 310 by monitoring the distance between itself and the foam. The amount of foam is measured by the height of the foam in the exhaust duct 310, or it can be calculated from the height of the foam in the exhaust duct 310.

[0151] In one specific embodiment, the distance sensor 321 is a grating sensor, which can monitor the distance between the highest point of the foam in the exhaust duct 310 and the distance sensor 321, thereby determining the amount of foam in the current exhaust duct 310.

[0152] In one specific embodiment, the distance sensor 321 is installed at the top of the exhaust duct 310, which can detect the foam in the exhaust duct 310.

[0153] More specifically, a first detection port 311 is opened at the top of the exhaust duct 310, and a distance sensor 321 is set at the first detection port 311. The light emitted by the sensor can pass through the first detection port 311 and shine on the foam in the exhaust duct 310 to obtain the distance between the highest point of the foam and the distance sensor 321, thereby determining the amount of foam in the exhaust duct 310.

[0154] To further prevent air leakage in the exhaust duct 310, the outer wall of the exhaust duct 310 is provided with a sealing groove 314 surrounding the first detection port 311, and a first sealing element 341 is provided in the sealing groove 314. The distance sensor 321 covers the upper side of the first detection port 311 and cooperates with the first sealing element 341 to seal the first detection port 311.

[0155] In one specific structure, the bottom of the distance sensor 321 is provided with a protruding sealing mating part 3211, the shape and size of which match the sealing groove 314. When the distance sensor 321 covers the first detection port 311, the sealing mating part 3211 is embedded in the sealing groove 314, squeezing the first sealing member 341 therein, thereby achieving a sealing effect on the first detection port 311.

[0156] Preferably, the top of the exhaust duct 310 is provided with an upwardly protruding mounting portion for mounting the distance sensor 321. The top surface of the mounting portion is flat, with a first detection port 311 and a sealing groove 314. Correspondingly, the bottom surface of the distance sensor 321 is entirely flat, with only the sealing mating portion 3211 protruding from the bottom surface. This allows for better contact with the top surface of the mounting portion, ensuring a sealing effect.

[0157] In one detailed structure, the outer peripheral area of ​​the assembly part is provided with screw holes, and the distance sensor 321 is provided with mounting holes. Screws pass through the mounting holes on the distance sensor 321 and are screwed into the screw holes to fix the distance sensor 321 to the top surface of the assembly part.

[0158] In another specific embodiment of this example, the foam monitoring device 320 includes at least two probes 322 spaced apart along the exhaust direction. The amount of foam in the exhaust duct 310 is obtained by monitoring the conductivity between different probes 322 or by monitoring the on / off state between different probes 322.

[0159] Specifically, in this embodiment, probes 322 are spaced apart along the height direction on the side wall of the exhaust duct 310.

[0160] Using the above scheme, when the foam in the exhaust duct 310 simultaneously submerges two or more probes 322, the submerged probes 322 are connected, and the conductivity between the probes 322 changes accordingly. Thus, it can be determined that the current amount of foam has reached the height of the highest probe 322 among the submerged probes 322.

[0161] Similar to the previous implementation, in the above scheme, the amount of foam obtained by probe 322 can be directly measured by the foam height in the exhaust duct 310, or it can be converted into the corresponding amount of foam based on the obtained foam height in the exhaust duct 310.

[0162] As a specific structure, this embodiment has two probes 322 on the front shell 3101 of the exhaust duct 310, with a certain height difference between the two probes 322. When the foam height inside the exhaust duct 310 reaches the height of the upper probe 322, the two probes 322 are connected. At this time, the garment processing equipment can determine that the foam height inside the exhaust duct 310 has reached the height of the upper probe 322.

[0163] More specifically, in this embodiment, the lower probe 322 is positioned at a height halfway below the exhaust duct 310, while the higher probe 322 is positioned at a height halfway above the exhaust duct 310.

[0164] Understandably, the probe 322 at the higher position needs to be a certain height lower than the lowest point of the exhaust outlet 318 so that the garment processing equipment can respond in time before the foam height in the exhaust duct 310 reaches the exhaust outlet 318.

[0165] Furthermore, a second detection port 312 for installing probes 322 is provided on the front shell 3101 of the exhaust duct 310. The number of second detection ports 312 is the same as that of probes 322, and probes 322 are inserted into the second detection ports 312 one by one.

[0166] Furthermore, a second sealing element 342 is provided between the second detection port 312 and the probe 322 to ensure the airtightness of the exhaust duct 310.

[0167] In one specific structure, the second sealing element 342 is inserted into the second detection port 312, and the probe 322 is interference-fitted with the second sealing element 342, passing through the second sealing element 342 and extending into the exhaust duct 310. More specifically, the outer peripheral wall of the second sealing element 342 has a groove, and the inner side of the second detection port 312 has a corresponding protrusion. The outer diameter of the second sealing element 342 at the groove and the inner diameter of the second detection port 312 at the protrusion are interference-fitted. When the second sealing element 342 is inserted into the second detection port 312, the protrusion engages with the groove on the second sealing element 342, thereby sealing the second detection port 312.

[0168] Preferably, the rear end of the second seal 342 has a tapered structure with an outer diameter that gradually increases from back to front, which can play a guiding role during assembly, making it easier for the second seal 342 to be inserted into the second detection port 312.

[0169] In this embodiment, both the probe 322 and the temperature monitoring device 330 are installed on the front side of the exhaust duct 310, which makes it easier to run the wiring inside the garment processing equipment.

[0170] In the detailed structure, the temperature monitoring device 330 is staggered with the probe 322 in the height direction, which can make fuller use of the installation space in the exhaust duct 310 and avoid mutual interference. The temperature monitoring device 330 is preferably placed between the two probes 322, which is more reasonable and allows for a sufficient height difference between the two probes 322.

[0171] In a preferred embodiment, a distance sensor 321 and a probe 322 are simultaneously installed inside the exhaust duct 310. Using two different foam monitoring devices 320 to monitor the amount of foam in the exhaust duct 310 results in more reliable monitoring results and avoids the problem of being unable to continue monitoring foam when one of the foam monitoring devices 320 fails.

[0172] In this embodiment, when the clothing processing equipment detects a large amount of foam in the exhaust duct 310 via the foam monitoring device 320, defoaming treatment is required to prevent the foam from continuing to increase and overflowing from the exhaust outlet 318. Specifically, in this embodiment, water is introduced into the exhaust duct 310 using a condensation mechanism to achieve the defoaming effect.

[0173] The inlet 315, which connects to the rinsing pipe 350, is located in the upper part of the exhaust duct 310. This serves two purposes: firstly, it prevents the foam in the outer cylinder 110 from overflowing the inlet 315 when the foam level is within the normal range, thus preventing foam from entering the rinsing pipe 350; secondly, it avoids the inlet 315 being submerged in foam when defoaming is required, which would result in an unsatisfactory defoaming effect.

[0174] In one specific embodiment, the water inlet 315 is positioned at approximately the same height as the probe 322. This ensures effective defoaming when the garment processing equipment detects excessive foam through the probe 322 and then flushes water into the exhaust duct 310.

[0175] In this embodiment, in order to prevent foam from overflowing along the exhaust duct 310, the control method adopted by the clothing processing equipment includes: after the foam monitoring device 320 detects that the amount of foam in the exhaust duct 310 reaches a preset condition, water is introduced into the exhaust duct 310 to defoam.

[0176] Specifically, after the foam monitoring device 320 detects the amount of foam and the results meet the preset conditions, the garment processing equipment controls the water inlet valve connected to the rinsing pipe 350 to open and water enters the exhaust duct 310 along the rinsing pipe 350.

[0177] Among them, the amount of foam in the exhaust duct 310 reaches the preset condition, which can be that the foam height in the exhaust duct 310 reaches the preset height H0.

[0178] As a specific implementation, for the foam monitoring device 320 including a distance sensor 321, the preset condition includes: the distance sensor 321 detects that the distance L between itself and the foam in the exhaust duct 310 is less than or equal to a preset distance L0.

[0179] Among them, the distance sensor 321 is installed at the top of the exhaust duct 310. When the overall height of the exhaust duct 310 is H, the value of the preset interval L0 can be set as L0 = H - H0.

[0180] Specifically, when the garment processing equipment is running, if the distance sensor 321 detects that the interval distance L is less than or equal to the preset interval L0, the water inlet valve connected to the rinsing pipe 350 is opened to allow water to enter the exhaust duct 310 for defoaming.

[0181] In another specific implementation, for the foam monitoring device 320 including probes 322, the installation height of the high probes 322 is set to be level with the preset height H0. The preset conditions include: the conductivity between the two probes 322 is higher than a preset conductivity. The value of the preset conductivity can be set according to actual conditions, such that the conductivity when both probes 322 are simultaneously immersed in foam is higher than the preset conductivity, and the conductivity when the two probes 322 are not connected by foam is significantly lower than the preset conductivity.

[0182] Alternatively, the preset condition can be set to: both probes 322 are connected. Specifically, the two probes 322 are connected in series in a detection circuit. When the foam height has not reached the height of the higher probe 322, the detection circuit is disconnected between the two probes 322. When both probes 322 are submerged, the detection circuit is connected and generates a corresponding feedback signal. The garment processing equipment determines that the foam amount has reached the preset condition based on this feedback signal and controls the water inlet valve connected to the rinsing pipe 350 to open.

[0183] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the foam monitoring device 320 includes both a distance sensor 321 and a probe 322. The preset conditions include a first preset condition and a second preset condition. The first preset condition is that the distance sensor 321 detects a distance L between itself and the foam in the exhaust duct 310 that is less than or equal to a preset distance L0. The second preset condition is that the conductivity between the two probes 322 is higher than a preset conductivity, or the two probes 322 are conductive.

[0184] When either the first preset condition or the second preset condition is met, the garment processing equipment introduces water into the exhaust duct 310 to defoam.

[0185] In the above solution, distance sensor 321 and probe 322 jointly monitor the amount of foam in exhaust duct 310. When it is determined that the amount of foam is too high based on the monitoring results of either one, water will be introduced into exhaust duct 310, which is more reliable and can avoid the problem of foam overflow caused by the failure of distance sensor 321 or probe 322.

[0186] In this embodiment, the occurrence of a large amount of foam in the exhaust duct 310 occurs during the washing stage. At this time, the outer drum 110 contains washing water, and water is directly introduced into the exhaust duct 310 to flush it, causing the liquid level in both the outer drum 110 and the exhaust duct 310 to rise synchronously. If the defoaming speed cannot keep up with the rate of liquid level rise, foam overflow will still occur.

[0187] Therefore, in a further embodiment, when the foam monitoring device 320 detects that the amount of foam in the exhaust duct 310 reaches a preset condition, the drum module 100 first drains water outwards and then introduces water into the exhaust duct 310 to defoam. One reason for excessive foam is excessive detergent. When the drum module 100 drains water, some detergent can also be discharged with the water flow. In this way, when washing continues after defoaming, it is also helpful to avoid the amount of foam reaching a level close to overflow again.

[0188] In one specific implementation, water is introduced into the exhaust duct 310 to defoam after the water in the outer cylinder 110 has been completely drained. Similarly, water is introduced into the exhaust duct 310 only after the water in the outer cylinder 110 has been completely drained, thus avoiding the problem of foam overflow due to rising liquid levels.

[0189] In a second specific implementation, the garment processing equipment monitors the drainage volume of the outer drum module 100 during drainage. When the drainage volume reaches a set value, drainage is stopped, and water is then introduced into the exhaust duct 310 to defoam. Draining a portion of the water from the outer drum 110 before introducing water into the exhaust duct 310 also avoids the problem of foam overflow caused by a significant rise in the liquid level.

[0190] Preferably, when the continuous water intake into the exhaust duct 310 reaches the set value of the above-mentioned drainage volume, the water intake is stopped, the foam monitoring device 320 detects the foam volume, and if it is determined that the preset conditions are no longer met, the washing can continue.

[0191] In the above solution, only a portion of the washing water in the drum module 100 is discharged, and the discharged water is replenished through the defoaming process, allowing washing to continue after defoaming is complete. Furthermore, compared to the solution of completely emptying the outer drum 110, this solution does not completely drain the detergent, thus eliminating the need to refill detergent during subsequent washes, ensuring effective cleaning and avoiding detergent waste.

[0192] In a third specific implementation, the garment processing equipment monitors the water level during the drainage process of the drum module 100. When the water level drops to a preset level, drainage is stopped, and water is then introduced into the exhaust duct 310 to defoam. The water level used by the garment processing equipment may differ when running different washing programs. Controlling the drainage of the drum module 100 to the same level before introducing water into the exhaust duct 310 for defoaming in different washing programs makes it easier to prevent foam overflow due to rising liquid levels.

[0193] Similar to the previous implementation, during the defoaming process, when the continuous water intake reaches the total drainage volume of the drum module 100 during drainage, the water intake is stopped, and the amount of foam in the exhaust duct 310 is detected. If the detection result no longer meets the preset conditions, washing can continue.

[0194] The clothing processing equipment provided in this embodiment adopts a direct-vent drying method, which can directly remove moisture from the clothing. The exhaust module 300 has a condensation mechanism that allows water to enter the exhaust duct 310. During the drying process, water is continuously or intermittently injected into the exhaust duct 310 to cool and condense the drying air discharged along the duct. This lowers the temperature of the drying air, and the water vapor it carries condenses and precipitates, effectively reducing the exhaust temperature and humidity of the clothing processing equipment and preventing any impact on the indoor environment. A foam monitoring device 320 is installed on the exhaust duct 310 to monitor the amount of foam within the duct. When the amount of foam is excessive, i.e., the foam height is too high, the foam is defoamed by rinsing with water, effectively preventing foam from overflowing from the exhaust duct 310.

[0195] In a further embodiment, the bottom of two opposite side plates of the frame assembly 400 is provided with a first bent portion 451 that bends inward and extends downward at an incline. The housing assembly 700 includes a first housing member 701, a second housing member 702, and a base 703, which are separately disposed. The frame assembly 400 is entirely supported on the base 703 of the housing assembly 700, and the outer wall of the first bent portion 451 contacts the base 703.

[0196] In one specific embodiment, a first bending portion 451 is provided at the bottom of the left side plate 422 and the right side plate 423 of the frame assembly 400, respectively.

[0197] The first bend 451 helps to strengthen the structural strength of the side plate of the frame assembly 400, thereby improving the structural stability of the frame assembly 400 and providing more reliable support for the internal cylindrical module 100. On the other hand, the first bend 451 is in direct contact with the base 703, which increases the contact area compared to a structure that contacts the base 703 through the edge of the side plate, and can disperse the contact pressure between the frame assembly 400 and the base 703.

[0198] In one specific embodiment, the base 703 forms the lower outer surface 716 of the garment processing device. The left and right sides of the base 703 have curved sides that bend from top to bottom towards the center, that is, the left and right sides of the lower outer surface 716 are curved surface structures that bend from top to bottom towards the center. The first bending portion 451 is disposed on the inner side of the curved side and is connected to the base 703.

[0199] Two of the opposing side panels of the frame assembly 400 have a first bend 451 that slopes downward and narrows at the bottom, which can better fit the curved sides of the base 703.

[0200] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first bent portion 451 is provided with a protruding or recessed mounting fitting portion 4512, which is connected to the base 703 of the housing assembly 700 through the mounting fitting portion 4512.

[0201] Specifically, the first bent portion 451 is supported on the internal structure of the bent side of the base 703, wherein the mounting fitting portion 4512 is in contact with and supported by the internal structure of the bent side. Multiple mounting fitting portions 4512 are provided at intervals along the setting direction of the first bent portion 451, that is, in the front-to-back direction.

[0202] In the above scheme, the first bent portions 451 on both sides of the frame assembly 400 cooperate with the bent sides on both sides of the base 703, which can limit the frame assembly 400 in the left and right directions. Multiple mounting and fitting portions 4512 are provided at intervals in the front and back directions, and an alternating concave and convex structure is formed on the first bent portions 451 in the front and back directions, thereby limiting the frame assembly 400 in the front and back directions.

[0203] In one specific embodiment, the mounting mating portion 4512 is formed by a partial upward protrusion of the first bent portion 451, and the top surface of the protrusion of the mounting mating portion 4512 is a horizontal surface. Correspondingly, a groove is formed on the outer side of the first bent portion 451 at the position of the mounting mating portion 4512.

[0204] The base 703 is provided with a screw post 7031, and a connecting hole is provided in the area of ​​the mounting mating part 4512. The top of the screw post 7031 contacts and supports the outer wall of the first bent part 451 at the position of the mounting mating part 4512. The screw passes through the connecting hole and is screwed into the screw post 7031 on the base 703, thereby fixing the first bent part 451 to the base 703.

[0205] By adopting the above solution, the frame component 400 can better fit with the base 703, resulting in a more stable structure after installation and fixation. At the same time, this structure also facilitates the assembly of the frame component 400 onto the base 703 via hoisting.

[0206] In one detailed structure, the base 703 is square in the horizontal direction, and each of the four corners of the square base 703 is provided with a downwardly protruding support protrusion 731 for supporting the garment processing equipment. The support protrusion 731 forms a recessed structure on the inner side of the base 703, and the screw post 7031 is located within the range of the recessed structure.

[0207] The screw post 7031 has radial reinforcing ribs on its sidewalls to enhance its structural strength. In a preferred configuration, when the frame assembly 400 and the base 703 are assembled, the outer periphery of the radial reinforcing ribs abuts against the groove formed on the outside of the first bend 451 in the mounting mating part 4512, providing support and preventing deformation of the mounting mating part 4512.

[0208] Furthermore, a damper bracket 480 for mounting the vibration damping support assembly is provided on the first bend 451. The damper bracket 480 and the first bend 451 can also reinforce each other, further improving the structural stability of the frame assembly 400.

[0209] Preferably, the base 703 has support ribs 7032 with inclined tops inside the curved sides on both the left and right sides, and the first bent portion 451 is supported on the support ribs 7032. Specifically, the support ribs 7032 are arranged in the area on the first bent portion 451 for mounting the shock absorber bracket 480, to avoid insufficient strength in this area after drilling holes for mounting the shock absorber bracket 480, which would be insufficient to support the shock absorber bracket 480.

[0210] In a further embodiment, the bottom of the rear panel 421 has a second bend 452 that bends inward, and the rear end of the first bend 451 covers the outside of the second bend 452.

[0211] The second bend 452 enhances the structural strength of the rear side plate 421. Furthermore, by partially wrapping the second bend 452 with the first bend 451, the connection strength between the left side plate 422, the right side plate 423, and the rear side plate 421 is enhanced, making the connection structure more stable and less prone to deformation.

[0212] Preferably, the first bend 451 and the second bend 452 are connected in the overlapping area by a connector, for example, by screws. This further enhances the connection strength between the first bend 451 and the second bend 452.

[0213] In one specific structure, the bottom edge of the rear panel 421 extends horizontally as a whole, with an upward slope at both ends. Thus, the second bend 452 can form an inclined structure at both ends that matches the first bend 451, thereby better fitting the inner surface of the first bend 451.

[0214] More specifically, the second bend 452 is a double-bend structure, which better reinforces the structure of the rear side plate 421 itself. Specifically, the first bend at the bottom of the rear side plate 421 has an angle of less than 90°, forming a downwardly extending structure. Then it is bent again, so that the sum of the two bend angles is approximately 90°, which can achieve a close fit with the inner surface of the first bend 451.

[0215] In a further embodiment, the lower end of the first bending portion 451 is provided with a third bending portion 453 extending into the frame assembly 400, and the third bending portion 453 and the first bending portion 451 are at a certain bending angle.

[0216] Specifically, the third bend 453 extends horizontally and forms an angle greater than 90° with the first bend 451.

[0217] In the above scheme, the bottom of the left side plate 422 / right side plate 423 is bent twice to form a first bend 451 and a third bend 453 with a certain angle, which makes the structural strength of the left side plate 422 / right side plate 423 greater and the structure more stable.

[0218] On the other hand, the third bend 453 extends horizontally, so that its rear end can also fit against the second bend 452 at the bottom of the rear side panel 421, covering the outside of the second bend 452. By connecting the third bend 453 to the second bend 452 with a connector, the connection strength between the left side panel 422 / right side panel 423 and the rear side panel 421 can be further enhanced.

[0219] In one specific embodiment, screws are used to fix the third bend 453 and the second bend 452 sequentially from the bottom.

[0220] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the area on the third bend 453 that does not overlap with the second bend 452 is provided with at least one through hole, and the base 703 is provided with a positioning protrusion corresponding to the through hole. During assembly, the positioning protrusion is first inserted into the through hole on the third bend 453 to achieve pre-positioning of the frame assembly 400, and then screws are installed at the connecting hole of the first bend 451 to fix the frame assembly 400 on the base 703.

[0221] In a further embodiment, the front end of the first bending portion 451 is bent upward to form a first mounting portion 4611, which is connected to the second support member 402.

[0222] Furthermore, the front end of the third bend 453 is flush with the front end of the first bend 451, and the front ends of the first bend 451 and the third bend 453 bend upward together to form the first mounting part 4611.

[0223] In one specific structure, the width of the front region of the third bend 453 is smaller than the width of its middle and rear regions.

[0224] In this embodiment, the second support member 402 covers the outside of the first mounting portion 4611 and is fixed by a connector. In a detailed embodiment, the first support member 401 and the second support member 402 can be fixed by screws passing sequentially through the second support member 402 and the first mounting portion 4611 from the outside.

[0225] In the specific embodiment, the bottom edge of the second support member 402 is inclined in the left and right sides, so as to match the shape of the first bent part 451.

[0226] The lowest point of the second support member 402 is not lower than the lowest point of the first bend 451. The third bend 453 is horizontally positioned and flush with the lowest point of the first bend 451. Thus, the lowest point of the first bend 451 is also the lowest point of the overall structure of the frame assembly 400, and there will be no interference with other structures of the frame assembly 400 when the first bend 451 is assembled with the base 703.

[0227] The garment processing equipment provided in this embodiment has a first bending portion 451 at the bottom of the frame assembly 400, which strengthens its own structure and improves the connection stability with the base 703, making the overall structure of the machine more stable and reliable. The overlapping and fixing structure of the first bending portion 451 and the second bending portion 452 can enhance the structural stability of the first support member 401.

[0228] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-described technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A garment processing device, characterized in that, include: Cylinder module (100); An air inlet module (200) is connected to the cylindrical module (100) and is used to introduce drying air into the cylindrical module (100); The exhaust module (300) has an exhaust duct (310) that connects the cylindrical module (100) to the external space of the clothing processing equipment; The exhaust module (300) has a condensation mechanism that introduces water into the exhaust duct (310) for cooling from a region near the outlet end of the exhaust duct (310).

2. The garment processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The exhaust outlet (318) of the exhaust duct (310) is located at one end; The exhaust duct (310) is provided with a water inlet (315) that communicates with the condensation mechanism, and the water inlet (315) is located at the end near the exhaust outlet (318); Preferably, the exhaust duct (310) extends from bottom to top, and the exhaust outlet (318) is located at the upper end or near the upper end of the exhaust duct (310); The water inlet (315) is located in the upper area of ​​the exhaust duct (310); More preferably, the water inlet (315) is a strip-shaped opening that forms a certain angle with the extension direction of the exhaust duct (310).

3. The garment processing equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The condensation mechanism includes a rinsing pipe (350), one end of which is connected to the water inlet module of the garment processing equipment, and the other end is connected to the water inlet (315). Preferably, the exhaust duct (310) is located at the bottom of the cylindrical module (100), and the front sidewall of the exhaust duct (310) faces the bottom of the cylindrical module (100). The water inlet (315) is located on the front side wall of the exhaust duct (310), and the flushing pipe (350) extends from the bottom of the cylinder module (100) toward the water inlet (315).

4. The garment processing equipment according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The air intake module (200) has: An air inlet duct (220) has its outlet end connected to the cylindrical module (100); A fan (210) is used to drive external air into the cylinder module (100) along the air inlet duct (220); The air inlet duct (220) is equipped with a heating device (221) for heating the flowing air to form drying air; Preferably, the heating device (221) includes a PTC heater.

5. The garment processing equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, A temperature controller (222) is provided between the heating device (221) and the outlet end of the air inlet duct (220); Preferably, the temperature controller (222) is located near the outlet end of the air inlet duct (220).

6. The garment processing equipment according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The air inlet module (200) is disposed above the cylinder module (100) and extends from the bottom end of the cylinder module (100) to the opening end. Preferably, the air inlet module (200) is offset by a certain distance in the horizontal direction relative to the central axis of the cylinder module (100); Preferably, the garment processing device has a frame assembly (400), and the tube module (100) is disposed inside the frame assembly (400); The top of the frame assembly (400) is provided with a reinforcing beam (430), one end of which is connected to the front side plate (420) of the frame assembly (400), and the other end is connected to the rear side plate (421) of the frame assembly (400); the air inlet module (200) is connected to the reinforcing beam (430); More preferably, one side of the air intake module (200) is connected to the reinforcing beam (430), and the other side is connected to the side plate of the frame assembly (400).

7. The garment processing equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, The outer cylinder (110) of the cylinder module (100) has a protruding structure on its peripheral wall, and the bottom of the air inlet module (200) is provided with a relief recess (2033) for avoiding the protruding structure.

8. The garment processing equipment according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The air inlet (2034) of the air inlet module (200) and the exhaust outlet (318) of the exhaust module (300) are located on the same side of the garment processing equipment; Preferably, the air inlet (2034) and the exhaust outlet (318) are both located on the rear side of the garment processing equipment.

9. A control method for a garment processing device as described in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, During the drying process, water is introduced into the exhaust duct (310) through the condensation mechanism.

10. The control method for the garment processing equipment according to claim 9, characterized in that, The condensation mechanism continuously introduces water into the exhaust duct (310) during the drying process; Alternatively, during the drying process, the airflow temperature T in the exhaust duct (310) is monitored. If it is higher than the preset temperature T0, the condensation mechanism introduces water into the exhaust duct (310).

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