Laundry treating apparatus

Abstract

This disclosure provides a garment processing device, relating to the field of household appliance technology. The garment processing device includes an outer drum, an inner drum, and a drying duct. A condensation chamber is formed between the rear wall of the inner drum and the rear wall of the outer drum. The inner drum, the drying duct, and the condensation chamber are interconnected, forming a drying circulation loop. A condensation plate is provided in the condensation chamber, and a first temperature detection device is installed on the condensation plate to detect the surface temperature of the condensation plate. A liquid inlet communicating with the condensation chamber is provided on the rear wall of the outer drum. The liquid inlet is connected to a liquid inlet valve. When the liquid inlet valve is opened, coolant can be injected into the condensation chamber through the liquid inlet to cool the condensation plate. In drying mode, the controller can control the opening or closing of the liquid inlet valve based on a first detection value from the first temperature detection device. Since the surface temperature of the condensation plate directly reflects the cooling requirement of the condensation plate, controlling the opening or closing of the liquid inlet valve based on the first detection value can more efficiently improve the condensation efficiency of the condensation plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of household appliance technology, and in particular to a garment processing device. Background Technology

[0002] With social progress and technological development, clothing processing equipment has become a common household appliance. In particular, with the fast pace of life, people are using the drying performance of clothing processing equipment more and more frequently, and their requirements are also increasing.

[0003] Currently, condenser-type garment drying equipment on the market uses a condenser tray inside the outer drum to improve drying heat exchange efficiency. During drying, dry hot air comes into contact with wet clothes to form humid hot air. This humid hot air then comes into contact with the condenser tray, causing its temperature to drop rapidly and condensing the moisture in the air to form relatively dry cool air. This relatively dry cool air can be extracted and reheated to continue drying clothes. During this process, the temperature of the condenser tray rises after heat exchange with the humid hot air, requiring cooling water to lower the tray's temperature and ensure its condensation efficiency.

[0004] However, if there is too much cooling water, when the hot, humid air comes into contact with the condenser, it easily carries away a lot of moisture from the cooling water. The hot air recirculated into the inner drum has a higher moisture content, and the air in the inner drum is more likely to reach saturated vapor pressure, which is not conducive to the evaporation of moisture from the clothes, prolonging the drying time and failing to meet the need for rapid drying, resulting in a poor user experience. On the other hand, if there is insufficient cooling water, the condensation efficiency of the condenser will decrease. When the hot, humid air comes into contact with the condenser, the amount of moisture condensed from the hot, humid air will be less. The hot air recirculated into the inner drum will also have a high moisture content, which is not conducive to the evaporation of moisture from the clothes, failing to meet the need for rapid drying, and resulting in a poor user experience.

[0005] Therefore, how to effectively improve the condensation efficiency of the condenser tray in condenser garment processing equipment has become an urgent technical problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the purpose of this disclosure is to provide a garment processing device for improving the condensation efficiency of the condenser tray in a condenser-type garment processing device, thereby meeting the demand for rapid drying and improving the user experience.

[0007] To achieve at least one of the above objectives, this disclosure provides the following technical solutions:

[0008] This disclosure provides a garment processing device, comprising:

[0009] The outer cylinder has a liquid inlet on its rear wall;

[0010] An inner cylinder is disposed inside the outer cylinder; a condensation cavity is formed between the rear wall of the inner cylinder and the rear wall of the outer cylinder;

[0011] The inner drum is configured to exchange heat with the clothes inside the inner drum through hot air supplied into the inner drum, and to discharge the humid and hot air formed by the heat exchange to the condensation chamber.

[0012] A drying air duct, wherein the return air inlet of the drying air duct is connected to the condensation chamber, and the air outlet of the drying air duct is connected to the inner cylinder;

[0013] The drying air duct is configured to draw dry, cold air from the condensation chamber through the return air inlet, heat the dry, cold air to form hot air, and then send it into the inner cylinder.

[0014] A condenser plate, disposed in the condenser chamber, is configured to exchange heat with the humid and hot air to form dry and cold air;

[0015] A liquid inlet valve, connected to the liquid inlet, is configured to spray coolant onto the condenser pan through the liquid inlet when in the open state.

[0016] A first temperature detection device is disposed on the condenser plate and configured to detect the temperature of the surface of the condenser plate;

[0017] The controller, connected to the first temperature detection device, is configured as follows:

[0018] After the clothing processing equipment enters the drying mode, it obtains the first detection value from the first temperature detection device.

[0019] Before the drying stage of the drying mode ends, the liquid inlet valve is controlled to open or close based on the first detection value.

[0020] After the clothing processing equipment enters the drying mode, during the drying process, hot air and wet clothes exchange heat to form humid hot air. The humid hot air then comes into large-area contact with the surface of the condenser tray and exchanges heat, causing the surface temperature of the condenser tray to rise. After the condenser tray is cooled by using coolant, the surface temperature of the condenser tray drops accordingly.

[0021] If the surface temperature of the condenser plate rises to the upper limit of the condensation requirement, it indicates that the condenser plate itself is not condensing enough and cannot meet the condensation demand. Cooling is required by using coolant. In this case, if the controller opens the inlet valve in time, coolant can be injected into the condensation chamber to cool the condenser plate in time, thus avoiding the problem of reduced condensation efficiency due to insufficient coolant.

[0022] Conversely, if the temperature of the condenser plate surface drops to the lower limit of the condensation requirement after the coolant is injected, it means that the condenser plate itself is sufficient to meet the condensation requirements, and there is no need to continue cooling the condenser plate with coolant. In this case, if the controller closes the inlet valve in time, it can ensure the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate while preventing the dry and cold air entering the return air vent from carrying too much moisture, thereby avoiding the problem of reduced condensation efficiency. At the same time, it can also reduce coolant consumption and avoid causing large energy consumption.

[0023] In view of this, in the above technical solution, controlling the opening or closing of the liquid inlet valve based on the first detection value can avoid the problem of too much or too little coolant being injected into the condensing chamber. It can effectively control the injection of coolant according to the cooling requirements of the condensing plate, thereby effectively improving the condensing efficiency of the condensing plate. This greatly reduces the moisture content in the hot air re-entering the drying chamber, and when exchanging heat with wet clothes, it can remove more moisture from the wet clothes, shorten the drying time, and achieve the purpose of quickly drying clothes.

[0024] In some embodiments, the controller is configured to control the liquid inlet valve to open or close based on the first detection value before the end of the drying phase of the drying mode, including:

[0025] The controller is configured to:

[0026] Before the drying stage ends, the liquid inlet valve is opened if the first detection value is greater than the first temperature threshold; the liquid inlet valve is closed if the first detection value is less than the second temperature threshold.

[0027] In the above technical solution, when the first detection value is greater than the first temperature threshold, the liquid inlet valve is opened. This allows for timely injection of coolant to cool the condensing plate when its condensing performance cannot meet the actual condensing requirements, ensuring that insufficient coolant does not lead to a decrease in the condensing efficiency of the condensing plate. Similarly, when the first detection value is less than the second temperature threshold, the liquid inlet valve is closed. This allows for timely stopping of coolant injection when the condensing performance of the condensing plate is sufficient to meet the condensing requirements, preventing excessive coolant injection that could result in too much moisture in the hot air re-entering the drying chamber, leading to prolonged drying time and failure to meet the rapid drying requirements.

[0028] As can be seen, by setting appropriate first and second temperature thresholds according to the needs of actual application scenarios, and based on the relationship between the first detection value and the first and second temperature thresholds, the injection of coolant can be effectively controlled according to the condensation requirements of the condenser plate, thereby effectively improving the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate, shortening the drying time of the clothing processing equipment, and achieving the requirement of rapid drying.

[0029] In some embodiments, it also includes:

[0030] A second temperature detection device is located at the connection between the condensation chamber and the return air vent, and is configured to detect the temperature of the dry, cold air; the second temperature detection device is connected to the controller;

[0031] The controller is also configured to:

[0032] After the clothing processing equipment enters the drying mode, it acquires the second detection value from the second temperature detection device.

[0033] If the second detection value meets the drying conditions, the drying stage is determined to be over;

[0034] The drying conditions include: the second detection value is within a preset temperature range at each detection time within a first preset time period.

[0035] During the drying process of the clothing processing equipment, the wet clothes are continuously heated and dehumidified. When the moisture in the clothes is basically removed, the heat consumption during the heat exchange between the hot air and the clothes tends to stabilize and can be basically ignored. The temperature of the humid hot air flowing into the condenser tends to stabilize. Correspondingly, the temperature of the dry cold air formed after heat exchange with the condenser plate also tends to stabilize and can be maintained within a certain temperature range for a certain period of time.

[0036] In view of this, in the above technical solution, the temperature of the dry and cold air is detected in a timely manner by the second temperature detection device, and the condition that the second detection value of the second temperature detection device is within the preset temperature range at each detection time within the first preset time period is used as the criterion for determining the end of the drying stage. The accuracy is high, and the drying of clothes can be ended accurately without the problem of over-drying or under-drying, resulting in a better user experience.

[0037] In some embodiments, it also includes:

[0038] A third temperature detection device is located at the connection between the air outlet and the inner cylinder, and is configured to detect the temperature of the hot air; the third temperature detection device is connected to the controller;

[0039] The controller is configured to control the liquid inlet valve to open or close based on the first detection value before the drying stage of the drying mode ends, including:

[0040] After the clothing processing equipment enters the drying mode, it acquires the third detection value of the third temperature detection device.

[0041] The liquid inlet valve is opened for the first time when the third detection value is greater than the third temperature threshold and the first detection value is greater than the first temperature threshold.

[0042] After the inlet valve is opened for the first time, before the second detection value meets the drying conditions, if the first detection value is less than the second temperature threshold, the inlet valve is closed; if the first detection value is greater than the first temperature threshold, the inlet valve is opened.

[0043] After the garment processing equipment enters the drying mode, the temperature of the hot air sent into the drying chamber through the drying duct gradually increases. As the temperature of the hot air increases, the temperature of the humid hot air and the temperature of the condenser plate surface also increase. In other words, only when the temperature of the hot air rises to a certain level can the temperature of the condenser plate surface rise to a level that cannot meet the condensation requirements. When the temperature of the hot air is relatively low, the temperature of the condenser plate surface usually will not rise to a level that cannot meet the condensation requirements first.

[0044] In view of this, in the above technical solution, during the cooling control of the condenser plate, the liquid inlet valve is opened for the first time when the third detection value is greater than the third temperature threshold and the first detection value is greater than the first temperature threshold. This can avoid the problem of the liquid inlet valve being opened incorrectly due to the false detection of the first detection value, which would cause a decrease in the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate. This allows for more effective control of the injection of coolant, ensuring the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate, thereby improving drying efficiency, shortening drying time, and meeting the need for rapid drying. In addition, it can also reduce water consumption and save energy.

[0045] In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to:

[0046] After the second detection value meets the drying conditions, the liquid inlet valve is opened;

[0047] The inlet valve is closed when the drying mode ends.

[0048] In the above technical solution, after the clothing processing equipment finishes the drying stage and enters the cooling stage, the controller keeps the liquid inlet valve open, which can quickly cool the temperature of the clothes to a state where there is no risk of burns, shorten the running time of the entire drying mode, and achieve the purpose of rapid drying.

[0049] In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to:

[0050] After the second detection value meets the drying conditions, the liquid inlet valve is opened according to the preset opening frequency;

[0051] The inlet valve is closed when the drying mode ends.

[0052] In the above technical solution, after the clothing processing equipment finishes the drying stage and enters the cooling stage, the controller controls the liquid inlet valve to open intermittently. While cooling the clothes to a level where there is no risk of burns, the injection of coolant can be reduced, thereby reducing energy consumption.

[0053] In some embodiments, a heating device is further provided in the drying air duct, and the heating device is configured to heat the dry and cold air to form the hot air.

[0054] The controller is also configured to:

[0055] After the garment processing equipment enters the drying mode, before the second detection value meets the drying conditions, if the third detection value is less than the fourth temperature threshold, the heating device is turned on; if the third detection value is greater than the third temperature threshold, the heating device is turned off.

[0056] Once the second detection value meets the drying conditions, the heating device is turned off.

[0057] When drying clothes, if the temperature of the hot air entering the drying chamber is too high, it may scald the clothes. If the temperature of the hot air entering the drying chamber is too low, the heat exchange between the hot air and the wet clothes will be reduced, and the amount of moisture removed from the wet clothes will be less, thus reducing the drying efficiency and failing to meet the demand for rapid drying. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain the temperature of the hot air within a suitable range so as not to scald the clothes while ensuring the drying efficiency.

[0058] In view of this, in the above technical solution, during the drying stage, the heating device is turned on or off based on the change of the third detection value. When the third detection value is less than the fourth temperature threshold, the heating device is turned on to ensure drying efficiency; when the third detection value is greater than the third temperature threshold, the heating device is turned off to avoid the risk of scalding clothes. Thus, while ensuring drying efficiency, the risk of scalding clothes is avoided, resulting in a better user experience.

[0059] In some embodiments, a fan is also provided in the drying duct, the fan being configured to draw dry, cold air from the condensation chamber into the drying duct through the return air inlet, and to send hot air into the inner cylinder through the air outlet;

[0060] The controller is also configured to:

[0061] After the garment processing equipment enters the drying mode, the fan is turned on;

[0062] The fan is turned off when the drying mode ends.

[0063] In the above technical solution, the fan is kept on throughout the drying process, which enhances the power of air circulation during the drying cycle. Under the action of the fan, the dry and cold air formed in the condensation chamber is drawn back to the drying duct more quickly, and the hot air formed in the drying duct is sent into the drying chamber more quickly under the action of the fan, thereby greatly shortening the drying time, improving the drying efficiency, and achieving the goal of rapid drying.

[0064] In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to: after the second detection value meets the drying conditions, determine that the drying mode ends if the third detection value is less than or equal to the fifth temperature threshold.

[0065] When clothes are being dried, both the clothes and the drying chamber are relatively hot. The clothes and drying chamber must be cooled before the door of the garment processing equipment can be opened and the clothes removed; otherwise, there is a risk of burns. During the cooling phase, the heating device stops heating, and the temperature of the air supplied to the drying chamber through the drying duct gradually decreases. The temperature of the air inside the drying chamber also decreases accordingly. Therefore, the temperature of the air supplied to the drying chamber through the drying duct can be used as a reference standard for the end of the drying mode.

[0066] In view of this, the above technical solution uses the third detection value as the criterion for the end of the drying mode. When the third detection value is less than or equal to the fifth temperature threshold, the drying mode is determined to end. This can ensure that the human body will not be burned after the door of the clothing processing equipment is opened, making it safer to use and providing a better user experience.

[0067] In some embodiments, the condenser tray includes:

[0068] The first plate is fixed to the rear wall of the outer cylinder on the side facing the inner cylinder;

[0069] The second plate is disposed opposite to the first plate, and a closed condensation pipe is formed between the second plate and the first plate;

[0070] A heat transfer medium is used to fill the condenser pipe.

[0071] In the above technical solution, the condenser plate is set as a composite plate structure filled with heat transfer medium. After the hot and humid air comes into contact with the surface of the condenser plate, both the condenser plate itself and the heat transfer medium inside the condenser plate can cool and dehumidify the hot and humid air. Compared with an unfilled condenser plate, it can not only speed up the cooling rate of the hot and humid air, but also increase the amount of dehumidification of the hot and humid air, thereby improving the dehumidification and condensation efficiency of the condenser plate to a greater extent. Attached Figure Description

[0072] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0073] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a garment processing device provided according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0074] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a garment processing device provided according to some embodiments of the present disclosure after removing the housing;

[0075] Figure 3 This is a side view of a garment processing device provided according to some embodiments of the present disclosure after removing the housing.

[0076] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Schematic diagram of cross section along the AA direction;

[0077] Figure 5 This is a schematic front view of an outer cylinder structure provided according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0078] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a drying cycle loop provided according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0079] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a drying air duct according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0080] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an outer cylinder provided according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0081] Figure 9 This is a schematic front view of a condenser tray according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0082] Figure 10 This is a side sectional view of a condenser pan provided according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0083] Figure 11 This is a side sectional view of another condenser plate provided according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0084] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of another drying cycle circuit provided according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0085] Figure 13This is a schematic diagram of another drying cycle circuit provided according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0086] Figure 14 This is a schematic flowchart of a cooling control method provided according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0087] Figure 15 This is a schematic flowchart of another cooling control method provided according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0088] The attached figures are labeled as follows:

[0089] 1-Box body, 11-Dispensing port, 12-Door body;

[0090] 2-Outer cylinder, 21-Rear wall, 22-Condensation chamber, 23-Liquid inlet, 24-Liquid outlet;

[0091] 3-Door seal ring;

[0092] 4-Inner cylinder, 41-Rotating shaft, 42-Drying chamber, 43-Through hole;

[0093] 5-Drying air duct, 51-Return air outlet, 52-Air supply outlet, 53-Heating device, 54-Fan, 55-Air guide pipe;

[0094] 6-Condensation tray, 61-First plate, 62-Second plate, 63-Condensation piping;

[0095] 7-Inlet valve;

[0096] 8-First temperature detection device;

[0097] 9-Controller;

[0098] 10-Second temperature detection device;

[0099] 11-Third temperature detection device. Detailed Implementation

[0100] The present disclosure will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Through these descriptions, the features and advantages of the present disclosure will become clearer and more apparent.

[0101] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this disclosure have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs; the terminology used in this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit this disclosure; the terms “comprising” and “having” and any variations thereof in the specification and the foregoing description of this disclosure are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0102] The term "embodiment" as used in this disclosure means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this disclosure. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in this disclosure can be combined with other embodiments.

[0103] The specific term "exemplary" used in this disclosure means "serving as an example, embodiment, or illustration." Any embodiment illustrated as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as superior or better than other embodiments. Although various aspects of embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated otherwise.

[0104] In the description of this disclosure, the technical terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number, specific order, or primary or secondary relationship of the indicated technical features.

[0105] In the description of this disclosure, the technical term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0106] In the description of this disclosure, the technical terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "front", "back", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship under the working state of this disclosure. They are only for the convenience of describing this disclosure and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this disclosure.

[0107] In the description of this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the technical terms "installation," "connection," "joining," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure based on the specific circumstances.

[0108] In the description of this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0109] In the description of this disclosure, "multiple" means two or more (including two), unless otherwise expressly and specifically limited.

[0110] In the description of this disclosure, the same reference numerals denote the same components, and for brevity, detailed descriptions of the same components are omitted in different embodiments. It should be understood that the thickness, length, and other dimensions of various components in the embodiments of this disclosure shown in the drawings, as well as the overall thickness, length, and other dimensions of the integrated device, are merely illustrative and should not constitute any limitation on this disclosure.

[0111] As part of the inventive concept of this disclosure, before describing the embodiments of this disclosure, the drying principle of clothing processing equipment, the relevant factors affecting the condensation efficiency of the condenser tray in condenser clothing processing equipment, and how to effectively improve the condensation efficiency of the condenser tray are analyzed in the related art.

[0112] With social progress and technological development, clothing processing equipment has become a common household appliance. In particular, with the fast pace of life, people are using clothing processing equipment more and more frequently and have higher and higher requirements for its drying performance.

[0113] In related technologies, when drying clothes, the clothing processing equipment heats the air through a heating device to form relatively dry hot air (hereinafter referred to as hot air), and then the hot air penetrates the clothes to form humid hot air. The humid hot air is then heated and dehumidified by the heating device and continues to penetrate the clothes. This cycle is repeated multiple times to achieve the purpose of drying clothes.

[0114] During this process, because the moisture in the humid air cannot be completely eliminated when it is heated and dehumidified, the moisture content in the hot air that is used to penetrate the clothes is relatively high. This makes it easy for the inner drum of the clothes dryer to reach saturated vapor pressure, requiring a long circulation time to achieve the purpose of drying the clothes, resulting in low drying efficiency.

[0115] To improve drying efficiency, a condenser plate can be installed inside the outer drum to remove moisture from the hot and humid air. During actual drying, hot air comes into contact with wet clothes to form humid air. When this humid air comes into contact with the condenser plate, its temperature drops rapidly, and the moisture in the humid air condenses to form relatively dry cold air (hereinafter referred to as dry cold air). This dry cold air can be extracted and heated back into hot air for continued use in drying clothes. During this process, the temperature of the condenser plate rises after heat exchange with the humid air, requiring cooling water (or coolant) to cool the condenser plate and ensure its condensation efficiency.

[0116] However, during drying, if there is too much cooling water, when the hot, humid air comes into contact with the condenser, it easily carries away a lot of moisture from the cooling water. The hot air recirculated into the inner drum has a higher moisture content, and the air in the inner drum is more likely to reach saturated vapor pressure, which is not conducive to the evaporation of moisture from the clothes. This prolongs the drying time and fails to meet the demand for rapid drying, resulting in a poor user experience. On the other hand, if there is insufficient cooling water, the condensation efficiency of the condenser will decrease. When the hot, humid air comes into contact with the condenser, the amount of moisture condensed from the hot, humid air will be less. The hot air recirculated into the inner drum will also have a high moisture content, which is not conducive to the evaporation of moisture from the clothes and fails to meet the demand for rapid drying, resulting in a poor user experience as well.

[0117] As can be seen from the above analysis, when cooling the condenser plate with cooling water, it is necessary to cool it down according to the cooling requirements of the condenser plate. When the condenser plate needs to be cooled down, cooling water should be used in time, and when the condenser plate does not need to be cooled down, cooling should be stopped in time. Otherwise, it is easy to cause too much or too little cooling water, which will reduce the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate, fail to meet the requirements of rapid drying, and affect the user experience.

[0118] Therefore, this disclosure provides a garment processing device that uses a first temperature detection device on a condenser tray to detect the temperature of the tray surface. The device then controls the entry of cooling water based on the temperature change of the condenser tray surface. Since the temperature change of the condenser tray surface accurately reflects the cooling requirements of the tray, controlling the entry of cooling water based on the surface temperature effectively improves the condensation efficiency of the tray, thereby increasing the drying efficiency of the garment processing device, meeting the needs of rapid drying, and enhancing the user experience.

[0119] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The technical features involved in the different embodiments of this disclosure described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0120] Please refer to the above. Figures 1 to 4 , Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a garment processing device provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a garment processing device after removing the housing, provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 3 This is a side view of a garment processing device after removing the housing, as provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 for Figure 3 Schematic diagram of cross section along the AA direction.

[0121] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the clothing processing equipment provided in this disclosure may include a housing 1 and an outer cylinder 2, an inner cylinder 4, and a drying duct 5 disposed inside the housing 1. The inner cylinder 4 is disposed inside the outer cylinder 2 and can hold clothing. The drying duct 5 is disposed outside the outer cylinder 2 and can supply hot air to the inner cylinder 4 to dry the clothing.

[0122] Optionally, the garment processing equipment can be a drum dryer or a drum washer-dryer combo, etc. For ease of description, the structure of the garment processing equipment will be illustrated below using a drum washer-dryer combo as an example.

[0123] Exemplarily, the housing 1 forms the outer shell of the garment processing equipment and can be a hollow cuboid structure. It should be understood that the external shape of the housing 1 can be designed as needed and is not limited herein. The housing 1 is provided with a receiving cavity, which provides installation space for components such as the outer drum 2, the inner drum 4, and the drying air duct 5.

[0124] Furthermore, the box body 1 is provided with a delivery port 11, which can be circular and is located on the front end face of the box body 1; in addition, the delivery port 11 is connected to the receiving cavity, and clothes can be put into the inner drum 4 or taken out of the inner drum 4 through the delivery port 11.

[0125] In addition, a door 12 is installed on the housing 1. The door 12 is movably connected to the housing 1 near the dispensing port 11 via a hinge shaft to open or close the dispensing port 11.

[0126] For example, the outer cylinder 2 is disposed in the receiving cavity of the box body 1. The outer cylinder 2 is a shell structure with an open front end. The opening at the front end of the outer cylinder 2 is the first cylinder opening, which is connected to the inner cavity of the outer cylinder 2 and is disposed opposite to the delivery port 11.

[0127] Optionally, the outer cylinder 2 can be formed by an outer peripheral wall and a rear wall 21. The front end of the outer peripheral wall is provided with a first cylinder opening, and the rear end of the outer peripheral wall is sealed with the rear wall 21, so that the rear wall 21 is arranged opposite to the first cylinder opening.

[0128] In addition, a door seal ring 3 is provided between the first cylinder opening and the inlet 11. The door seal ring 3 is roughly in the shape of a ring and can seal the gap between the first cylinder opening and the inlet 11 to prevent water in the outer cylinder 2 from flowing into the receiving cavity of the tank 1.

[0129] For example, the inner cylinder 4 is disposed in the inner cavity of the outer cylinder 2. The inner cylinder 4 is rotatably connected to the rear wall 21 of the outer cylinder 2 via a rotating shaft 41. The rotating shaft 41 can pass through the rear wall 21 of the outer cylinder 2 from front to back. The inner cylinder 4 and the outer cylinder 2 can be arranged coaxially inside and outside.

[0130] Optionally, the inner drum 4 can be a shell structure with an open front end. A drying chamber 42 is formed inside the inner drum 4, which can hold clothing. The opening at the front end of the inner drum 4 is a second opening, which connects to the drying chamber 42 and is positioned opposite to the first opening. When the door 12 is opened, clothing can be placed into or removed from the drying chamber 42 through the loading port 11, the first opening, and the second opening.

[0131] Furthermore, a condensation cavity 22 is formed between the rear wall of the inner cylinder 4 and the rear wall 21 of the outer cylinder 2. It should be understood that the condensation cavity 22 is part of the inner cavity of the outer cylinder 2; a through hole 43 is provided on the side peripheral wall of the inner cylinder 4, which allows the drying cavity 42 to communicate with the condensation cavity 22.

[0132] During the drying process, hot air can enter the drying chamber 42 of the inner drum 4. In the drying chamber 42, the hot air comes into contact with the wet clothes and exchanges heat. After the heat exchange, the hot air is transformed into humid hot air and flows into the condensation chamber 22 through the through hole 43.

[0133] Please refer to the above. Figures 5 to 7 , Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of an outer cylinder provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a drying circulation loop provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a drying air duct provided in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0134] For example, such as Figures 5 to 7 As shown, the drying air duct 5 is located outside the outer cylinder 2. One end of the drying air duct 5 has a return air inlet 51, and the other end has an air supply inlet 52. The return air inlet 51 is located on the rear wall 21 of the outer cylinder 2 and is situated within and connected to the condensation chamber 22. The drying air duct 5 communicates with the condensation chamber 22 through the return air inlet 51.

[0135] The air outlet 52 of the drying air duct 5 is connected to the inner drum 4. Specifically, the air outlet 52 of the drying air duct 5 is connected to the drying chamber 42 of the inner drum 4. Hot air can be sent into the drying chamber 42 through the air outlet 52 of the drying air duct 5 to dry clothes.

[0136] Through the return air inlet 51 and the supply air inlet 52 of the drying air duct 5, and the through hole 43 opened on the side peripheral wall of the inner cylinder 4, the drying air duct 5, the drying chamber 42, and the condensation chamber 22 form a drying circulation loop. The air circulation direction in the drying circulation loop is as follows: Figure 6 As indicated by the dashed arrow.

[0137] In the drying cycle loop, the drying air duct 5 can supply hot air for drying wet clothes into the drying chamber 42 through the air inlet 52, and draw air for reheating from the condenser chamber 22 through the return air inlet 51.

[0138] Optionally, a heating device 53 and a fan 54 are provided inside the drying air duct 5.

[0139] The heating device 53 can be used to heat the air in the drying duct 5, so that high-temperature air, i.e. hot air, is generated in the drying duct 5.

[0140] The fan 54 can provide airflow so that the hot air in the drying duct 5 can enter the drying chamber 42 of the inner cylinder 4 and dry the clothes in the drying chamber 42. At the same time, under the action of the fan 54, the air in the condensation chamber 22 can also be drawn back to the drying duct 5 through the return air port 51.

[0141] Optionally, an air guide pipe 55 can be installed through the door seal ring 3. The air guide pipe 55 is connected to the air outlet 52 of the drying air duct 5. The air guide pipe 55 is set towards the second cylinder opening of the inner cylinder 4 and can send the hot air in the drying air duct 5 into the drying chamber 42 through the second cylinder opening.

[0142] according to Figure 6 The drying cycle shown in the diagram involves the clothing processing equipment drawing air from the condenser chamber 22 through the return air inlet 51 under the action of the fan 54 in the drying duct 5. The drawn air is heated by the heating device 53 to form hot air. Under the action of the fan 54, the hot air is sent into the drying chamber 42 through the air outlet 52. In the drying chamber 42, the hot air comes into contact with the wet clothes and exchanges heat to form humid hot air. The humid hot air flows out of the drying chamber to the condenser chamber 22 and is then drawn back into the drying duct 5 for heating to be used for the next heat exchange with the clothes. This cycle is repeated to dry the clothes.

[0143] In this process, the dehumidification and drying of wet clothes relies solely on heat exchange with hot air. Since the clothes need to be kept warm to prevent them from being damaged, the hot air needs to be kept within a certain temperature range. Therefore, the amount of heat exchanged between the hot air and the wet clothes is limited each time, which cannot remove the moisture from the wet clothes to a greater extent. It requires a long period of circulating dehumidification to achieve the drying standard of the clothes. The dehumidification time is long and the dehumidification efficiency is low, which cannot meet the need for rapid drying.

[0144] Based on this, in some embodiments, in order to improve the dehumidification and drying efficiency of the clothing processing equipment, a condenser plate can be set in the clothing processing equipment. By cooling and condensing the condenser plate, the moisture in the hot and humid air is removed, which indirectly increases the amount of moisture removed from the wet clothes, thereby improving the dehumidification and drying efficiency of the clothing processing equipment.

[0145] Please refer to the above. Figures 8 to 11 , Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an outer cylinder provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of a condenser plate provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 10 This is a side sectional view of a condenser plate provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 11 This is a side sectional view of another condenser plate provided in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0146] For example, such as Figures 8 to 11 As shown, the garment processing equipment may also include a condenser tray 6, which is disposed on the side of the rear wall 21 of the outer cylinder 2 facing the inner cylinder 4.

[0147] Furthermore, the condenser plate 6 is located inside the condenser chamber 22 and can be used as a condenser. The condenser plate 6 can condense the hot and humid air flowing from the drying chamber 42 of the inner cylinder 4 to the condenser chamber 22, remove the moisture from the hot and humid air, turn the hot and humid air into dry and cold air, and then enter the drying air duct 5 through the return air port 51.

[0148] In other words, the condenser plate 6 can be located in the drying circulation loop. The hot and humid air in the drying circulation loop can exchange heat with the condenser plate 6 in the condenser chamber 22. After the moisture is removed and the temperature is reduced, it becomes dry and cold air and enters the drying air duct 5 from the return air port 51.

[0149] In this process, before the humid air is reheated, it first exchanges heat with the condenser plate 6. The moisture in the humid air is condensed and discharged, and the moisture content of the hot air entering the drying chamber 42 is reduced. In the heat exchange with the wet clothes, more moisture is removed from the clothes compared to the scenario without a condenser plate, thereby improving the dehumidification and drying efficiency of the clothes processing equipment, resulting in a shorter drying time and a better user experience.

[0150] Alternatively, the condenser tray 6 may be made of metal. For example, the condenser tray 6 may be made of stainless steel or aluminum alloy.

[0151] Utilizing the properties of the metal material of the condenser plate 6, its thermal conductivity coefficient is much higher than that of plastic materials, resulting in high heat exchange efficiency. This allows the humid and hot air to be cooled by passing through the metal condenser plate 6, achieving a better dehumidification effect. This improves the heat exchange efficiency with the humid and hot air, thereby enhancing the condensation efficiency of the clothing processing equipment and shortening the drying time.

[0152] It should be understood that the condenser plate 6 can also be made of other materials with high thermal conductivity, and this disclosure does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0153] Optionally, the condenser plate 6 and the rear wall 21 of the outer cylinder 2 can be kept in the same shape and curvature, so that the condenser plate 6 occupies less space inside the outer cylinder 2.

[0154] Optionally, the condenser plate 6 can be in the shape of a circular annular plate or a semi-circular annular plate, and the condenser plate 6 can be laid on the rear wall 21 of the outer cylinder 2.

[0155] In some embodiments, in order to further improve the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate and thus improve the drying efficiency of the garment processing equipment, the condenser plate 6 may also be configured as a composite plate structure filled with a heat transfer medium.

[0156] For example, the condenser plate 6 may include a first plate 61 and a second plate 62. The first plate 61 can be fixed to the rear wall 21 of the outer cylinder 2 facing the inner cylinder 4 by screws. The second plate 62 is disposed opposite to the first plate 61, and a closed condenser pipe 63 is formed between the first plate 61 and the second plate 62. The condenser pipe 63 is filled with a heat transfer medium, which is a medium that can quickly transfer heat.

[0157] For example, the heat transfer medium can be a gas-liquid mixed fluoride, which has a relatively low boiling point, typically less than 20°C. When the condenser plate 6 exchanges heat with the humid air, the heat transfer medium absorbs heat from the humid air and quickly changes from a liquid to a gas, causing the humid air to cool down rapidly. The moisture in the humid air is condensed, and the humid air is quickly transformed into dry and cold air.

[0158] It should be understood that the heat transfer medium can also be other media capable of achieving rapid heat exchange, and this disclosure does not limit this.

[0159] After setting the condenser plate as a composite plate structure filled with the heat transfer medium, when the hot and humid air comes into contact with the surface of the condenser plate, both the condenser plate itself and the heat transfer medium inside the condenser plate can cool and dehumidify the hot and humid air. Compared with an unfilled condenser plate, it can not only speed up the cooling of hot and humid air, but also increase the amount of dehumidification, thereby improving the dehumidification efficiency to a greater extent.

[0160] In some embodiments, condensation pipes 63 can also be formed on the first plate 61 and the second plate 62 by means of inflation.

[0161] Optionally, the condenser pipe 63 can be a single-sided expansion structure, that is, in the first direction, the condenser pipe 63 protrudes from the second plate 62 on the side facing the rear wall of the inner cylinder 4; or, in the first direction, the condenser pipe 63 protrudes from the first plate 61 on the side facing the rear wall 21 of the outer cylinder 2; wherein, the first direction refers to the axial direction of the rotating shaft 41.

[0162] Alternatively, the condenser pipe 63 can be configured as a double-sided expansion structure, that is, in the first direction, the side of the condenser pipe 63 facing the rear wall of the inner cylinder 4 protrudes from the second plate 62, and the side of the condenser pipe 63 facing the rear wall 21 of the outer cylinder 2 protrudes from the first plate 61.

[0163] Setting the condenser pipe 63 to a single-sided expansion structure or a double-sided expansion structure can increase the heat exchange area of ​​the condenser plate 6. When the humid air exchanges heat with the condenser plate 6, the condenser plate area in contact with the humid air is larger, which can condense more moisture in the humid air. Compared with the condenser plate with no increase in heat exchange area, more moisture in the humid air is condensed and discharged, thereby further improving the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate.

[0164] It should be noted that when the condenser pipe 63 is set as a single-sided expansion structure or a double-sided expansion structure, sufficient dimensions need to be reserved in the first direction between the condenser pipe 63 and the rear wall of the inner cylinder 4, and between the condenser pipe 63 and the rear wall 21 of the outer cylinder 2, to ensure the heat exchange space of the condenser plate 6, thereby ensuring the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate 6.

[0165] After the condenser plate 6 is set in the drying circulation loop, when the clothing processing equipment dries the clothes, the heating device 53 of the drying air duct 5 heats the air drawn into the drying air duct 5, such as dry and cold air, into hot air. Then, under the action of the fan 54, the hot air is sent into the drying chamber 42. In the drying chamber 42, the hot air exchanges heat with the wet clothes, taking away the moisture on the clothes and forming humid hot air. The humid hot air enters the condenser chamber 22 through the through hole 43 on the inner cylinder 4. In the condenser chamber 22, the humid hot air comes into large-area contact with the condenser plate 6 to exchange heat, so that the moisture in the humid hot air is condensed and removed on the condenser plate 6. After condensation and dehumidification by the condenser plate 6, the humid hot air becomes low-temperature dry air (i.e., dry and cold air). Under the action of the fan 54, the dry and cold air is drawn back into the drying air duct 5 from the return air port 51, and is reheated into hot air before being sent into the drying chamber 42. This cycle is repeated many times to dry the clothes.

[0166] During the dehumidification process of the condenser plate 6, the temperature of the condenser plate 6 rises after exchanging heat with the humid air. In order to ensure the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate 6, cooling measures need to be taken for the condenser plate 6.

[0167] Please refer to the above. Figure 5 and Figure 12 , Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of another drying cycle loop provided in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0168] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, an inlet 23 can also be provided on the rear wall 21 of the outer cylinder 2, and a drain 24 can be provided at the bottom of the outer cylinder 2; wherein, both the inlet 23 and the drain 24 are connected to the condensation chamber 22.

[0169] Coolant can be injected into the condensing chamber 22 through the liquid inlet 23 to cool the condensing plate 6 and improve its condensing efficiency; the liquid in the condensing chamber 22 can be discharged to the outside of the clothing processing equipment through the liquid outlet 24.

[0170] Optionally, the inlet 23 can also be connected to the inlet pipe to guide the coolant delivered by the inlet pipe to the condensing chamber 22 and exchange heat with the condensing plate 6 to cool the condensing plate 6. After the coolant flows through the condensing plate, it can be discharged through the drain port 24.

[0171] Optionally, the liquid inlet 23 can be located at the top of the condenser plate 6, so that the coolant can fall from the top of the condenser plate 6 to the bottom of the condenser plate 6 by its own gravity. During this process, there is a larger heat exchange area between the coolant and the condenser plate 6, which can improve the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate 6.

[0172] Alternatively, the coolant may be relatively cool tap water or other pure liquid or mixture suitable for cooling the condenser plate 6, and this disclosure does not limit this.

[0173] It should be noted that the coolant can also directly exchange heat with the humid air in the condensation chamber 22, condensing and dehumidifying the humid air.

[0174] Optionally, an inlet valve 7 can also be connected to the inlet port 23; the inlet valve 7 can control the injection of coolant or stop the injection of coolant.

[0175] It should be noted that this disclosure does not impose any restrictions on the connection method between the inlet valve 7 and the inlet port 23.

[0176] like Figure 12 As shown, an inlet 23 is provided on the rear wall 21 of the outer cylinder 2, and an outlet 24 is provided at the bottom of the outer cylinder 2. During the drying process, the drying air duct 5, under the action of the fan 54, draws air from the condenser chamber 22 through the return air inlet 51. The air drawn into the drying air duct 5 is heated into hot air by the heating device 53. Then, under the action of the fan 54, the hot air is sent into the drying chamber 42. In the drying chamber 42, the hot air exchanges heat with the wet clothes, removing moisture from the wet clothes and forming humid hot air. Air enters the condenser chamber 22 through the through hole 43 on the inner cylinder 4. Inside the condenser chamber 22, the hot and humid air comes into large-area contact with the condenser plate 6 to exchange heat, so that the moisture in the hot and humid air is condensed and removed on the condenser plate 6. After being dehumidified by the condenser plate 6, the hot and humid air becomes low-temperature dry air (i.e., dry and cold air). Under the action of the fan 54, the dry and cold air is drawn back into the drying air duct 5 from the return air port 51, and is reheated into hot air before being sent into the drying chamber 42. This cycle continues, and after multiple cycles, the clothes can be dried.

[0177] During the above cycle, the temperature of the condenser plate 6 rises after exchanging heat with the humid air. To ensure the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate 6, coolant can be injected into the condensation chamber 22 through the liquid inlet 23. After the coolant is sprayed onto the condenser plate 6, the condenser plate 6 cools down rapidly. When it exchanges heat with the humid air again, the condenser plate 6 is in a low temperature state again, which ensures efficient dehumidification of the humid air and thus improves the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate 6.

[0178] However, when injecting coolant into the condensing chamber 22, if there is too much coolant, when the hot and humid air comes into contact with the condensing plate 6 for heat exchange, it is easy to carry away a lot of moisture from the coolant. The hot air recirculated into the inner drum 4 has a higher moisture content, and the air in the inner drum 4 is more likely to reach saturated vapor pressure, which is not conducive to the evaporation of moisture from the clothes, prolonging the drying time and failing to meet the demand for rapid drying, resulting in a poor user experience. On the other hand, if there is insufficient coolant, the condensation efficiency of the condensing plate 6 will decrease. When the hot and humid air comes into contact with the condensing plate 6 for heat exchange, the moisture condensed from the hot and humid air will be less. The hot air recirculated into the inner drum 4 will also have a high moisture content, which is not conducive to the evaporation of moisture from the clothes, failing to meet the demand for rapid drying, and also resulting in a poor user experience.

[0179] It is evident that the timing of injecting coolant into the condensing chamber 22 is crucial. It must be based on the cooling requirements of the condensing plate 6. When the condensing plate 6 needs cooling, coolant should be injected promptly, while when the condensing plate 6 does not need cooling, the injection of coolant should be stopped immediately. Otherwise, it is easy to cause too much or too little coolant, which will reduce the condensing efficiency of the condensing plate 6, fail to meet the requirements of rapid drying, and affect the user experience.

[0180] In order to improve the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate 6 more efficiently, the embodiments of this disclosure provide a more effective control method to control the injection of coolant more efficiently, thereby improving the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate 6 more efficiently.

[0181] Please refer to the above. Figures 13 to 15 , Figure 13 A schematic diagram of another drying cycle loop provided in an embodiment of this disclosure; Figure 14 This is a schematic flowchart of a cooling control method provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 15 This is a schematic flowchart of another cooling control method provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0182] In some embodiments, such as Figure 13 As shown, a temperature detection device, referred to as the first temperature detection device 8, can also be installed on the condenser plate 6; the temperature of the condenser plate surface can be detected in a timely manner through the first temperature detection device 8.

[0183] Since the second plate 62 of the condenser plate 6 is closer to the inner cylinder 4 than the first plate 61, the hot and humid air flowing out of the inner cylinder 4 comes into contact with the second plate 62 first. Therefore, the temperature change of the surface of the second plate can more accurately reflect the temperature change of the surface of the condenser plate. Based on this, the first temperature detection device 8 can be set on the second plate 62.

[0184] Optionally, the first temperature detection device 8 can be a temperature sensor or a thermometer, etc., and this disclosure does not limit it.

[0185] In addition, a controller 9 can be installed in the garment processing equipment, and the controller 9 is connected to the first temperature detection device 8 to obtain the temperature of the condenser plate surface from the first temperature detection device 8.

[0186] Since the temperature change on the surface of the condenser plate can accurately reflect the cooling requirements of the condenser plate 6, controlling the injection of coolant based on the temperature of the condenser plate surface can effectively improve the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate 6.

[0187] Based on this, in some embodiments, this disclosure provides a cooling control method, in which the controller 9 controls the injection of coolant, which can effectively improve the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate 6.

[0188] like Figure 14 As shown, the cooling control method may include the following steps S101 to S102, wherein,

[0189] In step S101, after the clothing processing equipment enters the drying mode, the controller obtains the first detection value from the first temperature detection device.

[0190] The drying mode refers to the drying process from the start of drying clothes by the clothing processing equipment to the end of drying. The drying process can include two stages: the drying stage and the cooling stage. The drying stage is the stage from the start of drying clothes until the clothes meet the drying standards. The cooling stage is the stage from the start of drying clothes until the clothes are cooled to a temperature less than or equal to a preset temperature threshold.

[0191] The preset temperature threshold is less than or equal to the upper limit of human body safe temperature. When the temperature is less than or equal to the upper limit of human body safe temperature, there is no risk of burns. In addition, according to the standards set in the relevant technology, when the moisture content of clothing is less than or equal to 3%, it means that the clothing meets the drying standard.

[0192] For example, if the garment handling device is a dryer, the start of the dryer indicates that the garment handling device has entered the drying mode; if the garment handling device is a washer-dryer combo, the start of the washer-dryer combo indicates that the garment handling device has entered the drying mode.

[0193] In addition, other methods can be used to determine whether clothes meet the drying standards. In some embodiments, the humidity of the dry and cold air can be used to determine whether clothes meet the drying standards. Specifically, a humidity threshold can be set according to the moisture content requirements of the clothes. If the humidity of the dry and cold air is less than or equal to the humidity threshold, it means that the clothes meet the drying standards.

[0194] In some embodiments, the drying standard can be determined based on the temperature change of the dry, cold air.

[0195] For example, such as Figure 13 As shown, a temperature detection device, referred to as the second temperature detection device 10, can also be installed at the connection between the condenser chamber 22 and the return air vent 51. The temperature of the dry and cold air returning to the drying air duct 5 through the return air vent 51 can be detected by the second temperature detection device 10.

[0196] The controller 9 is connected to the second temperature detection device 10. After the clothing processing equipment enters the drying mode, the controller 9 can also obtain the second detection value of the second temperature detection device 10.

[0197] Optionally, the controller 9 may actively read the second detection value from the second temperature detection device 10; or, the second temperature detection device 10 may report the second detection value to the controller 9, and this disclosure does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0198] Optionally, the controller 9 can acquire a second detection value at a certain acquisition frequency, at intervals of a second preset time; wherein the specific value of the second preset time can be set according to the needs of the actual application scenario.

[0199] For example, if more precise control of coolant injection is required, the second preset duration can be set to a relatively small value, such as 0.1 seconds; or, if the performance requirements of the controller and temperature detection device are to be reduced, the second preset duration can be set to a relatively large value, such as 10 seconds.

[0200] It should be noted that the second detection value of the second temperature detection device 10 is a variable, that is, the specific value of the second detection value may be the same or different at different detection times.

[0201] If the second detection value meets the drying conditions, the controller 9 can determine that the clothes meet the drying standard and the drying stage ends; wherein, the drying conditions may include: the second detection value is within a preset temperature range at each detection moment within the first preset time period, that is, at each detection moment within the first preset time period, the detected second detection value is within the preset temperature range.

[0202] The preset temperature range can be set according to the needs of the actual application scenario. For example, a preset temperature range that meets the drying standard can be set according to the material of the clothing. Furthermore, a temperature range can be set for different clothing materials. Then, during actual drying, the controller can select the corresponding temperature range according to the clothing material selected by the user and determine the temperature range as the preset temperature range.

[0203] During the drying process of the clothing processing equipment, the wet clothes are continuously heated and dehumidified. When the moisture in the clothes is basically removed, the heat consumption during the heat exchange between the hot air and the clothes tends to be stable and can be basically ignored. The temperature of the humid hot air flowing into the condenser chamber 22 tends to be stable. Correspondingly, the temperature of the dry cold air formed after heat exchange with the condenser plate 6 also tends to be stable and can be maintained within a certain temperature range for a certain period of time.

[0204] In view of this, the second temperature detection device 10 detects the temperature of the dry and cold air in a timely manner, and then uses the condition that the second detection value of the second temperature detection device 10 is within the preset temperature range at each detection time within the first preset time as the criterion for determining the end of the drying stage. This method has high accuracy and can accurately end the drying of clothes without causing over-drying or under-drying, resulting in a better user experience.

[0205] Similarly, the first detection value of the first temperature detection device 8 is also a variable, that is, at different detection times, the specific value of the first detection value may be the same or different.

[0206] Optionally, the controller 9 may actively read the first detection value from the first temperature detection device 8; or, the first temperature detection device 8 may report the first detection value to the controller 9, and this disclosure does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0207] Optionally, the controller 9 can acquire a first detection value at a certain acquisition frequency, every second preset time interval.

[0208] In step S102, before the drying stage of the drying mode ends, the controller controls the opening or closing of the liquid inlet valve based on the first detection value of the first temperature detection device.

[0209] In other words, after the clothing processing equipment enters the drying mode, before the drying stage of the drying mode ends, the controller 9 can acquire the first detection value of the first temperature detection device 8 according to the preset acquisition frequency, and control the opening or closing of the liquid inlet valve 7 according to the first detection value.

[0210] After the clothing processing equipment enters the drying mode, during the drying process, hot air exchanges heat with wet clothes to form humid hot air. This humid hot air then comes into large contact with the surface of the condenser plate 6 and exchanges heat, causing the surface temperature of the condenser plate to rise. After the condenser plate 6 is cooled down using coolant, the surface temperature of the condenser plate drops accordingly.

[0211] If the temperature of the condenser plate surface rises to the upper limit of the condensation requirement, it indicates that the condenser plate 6 itself has insufficient condensation performance and cannot meet the condensation requirements. Cooling is required by using coolant. In this case, if the controller 9 opens the liquid inlet valve 7 in time, coolant can be injected into the condensation chamber 22 in time to cool the condenser plate 6, thereby avoiding the problem of reduced condensation efficiency of the condenser plate 6 due to insufficient coolant.

[0212] Conversely, if the temperature of the condenser plate surface drops to the lower limit of the condensation requirement after the coolant is injected, it means that the condenser plate 6 itself is sufficient to meet the condensation requirements, and there is no need to continue cooling the condenser plate 6 with coolant. In this case, if the controller 9 closes the inlet valve in time, it can ensure the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate 6 while preventing the dry and cold air entering the return air vent 51 from carrying too much moisture, thereby avoiding the problem of reduced condensation efficiency. At the same time, it can also reduce the consumption of coolant and avoid causing large energy consumption.

[0213] As can be seen from the above analysis, controlling the opening or closing of the liquid inlet valve 7 based on the first detection value can avoid the problem of too much or too little coolant being injected into the condensing chamber 22. This allows for effective control of coolant injection based on the cooling requirements of the condensing plate 6, thereby effectively improving the condensing efficiency of the condensing plate 6. This significantly reduces the moisture content in the hot air re-entering the drying chamber 42, allowing it to remove more moisture from the wet clothes during heat exchange, shortening the drying time, and achieving the goal of quickly drying the clothes.

[0214] In practical applications, the controller 9 controls the opening or closing of the inlet valve 7 based on the first detection value, and there are several ways to achieve this, for example:

[0215] In some embodiments, the controller 9 controls the opening or closing of the inlet valve 7 based on a first detection value, which can be implemented in the following manner:

[0216] After the garment processing equipment enters the drying mode, before the drying stage of the drying mode ends, if the first detection value is greater than the first temperature threshold, the liquid inlet valve 7 is opened; if the first detection value is less than the second temperature threshold, the liquid inlet valve 7 is closed.

[0217] In other words, after the garment processing equipment enters the drying mode, before the drying stage of the drying mode ends, if the first detection value is detected to be greater than the first temperature threshold at any detection time, the controller 9 will control the liquid inlet valve 7 to open; if the first detection value is detected to be less than the second temperature threshold at any detection time, the controller 9 will control the liquid inlet valve 7 to close.

[0218] The first temperature threshold and the second temperature threshold can be set according to the performance of the condenser plate 6 in the actual application scenario. For example, the upper limit of the surface temperature of the condenser plate corresponding to meeting the condensation requirements can be determined according to the performance of the condenser plate 6 in the clothing processing equipment, and then this upper limit of temperature can be set as the first temperature threshold.

[0219] Similarly, based on the condensation performance of the condensation tray 6 in the garment processing equipment, the lower limit of the surface temperature of the cooling tray corresponding to the condensation requirement can be determined, and then this lower limit can be set as the second temperature threshold.

[0220] For example, the first temperature threshold can be set to any value between 30 degrees Celsius and 70 degrees Celsius (°C); for example, the second temperature threshold can be set to any value between 10 degrees Celsius and 20 degrees Celsius.

[0221] After setting a first temperature threshold and a second temperature threshold according to the needs of actual application scenarios, when the first detection value is greater than the first temperature threshold, the liquid inlet valve 7 is opened. This allows for timely injection of coolant to cool the condenser plate 6 if its condensation performance cannot meet the actual condensation requirements, ensuring that the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate 6 does not decrease due to insufficient coolant. Similarly, when the first detection value is less than the second temperature threshold, the liquid inlet valve 7 is closed. This allows for timely stopping of coolant injection when the condensation performance of the condenser plate 6 is sufficient to meet the condensation requirements, preventing excessive moisture content in the hot air re-entering the drying chamber 42 due to too much coolant, which would prolong the drying time and fail to meet the requirements for rapid drying.

[0222] In other words, according to the above implementation method, after setting an appropriate first temperature threshold and second temperature threshold based on the needs of the actual application scenario, the injection of coolant can be effectively controlled according to the condensation requirements of the condensing plate 6 based on the relationship between the first detection value and the first temperature threshold and the second temperature threshold, thereby effectively improving the condensation efficiency of the condensing plate 6, shortening the drying time of the clothing processing equipment, and achieving the requirement of rapid drying.

[0223] In some embodiments, a temperature detection device, referred to as the third temperature detection device 11, may be provided at the connection between the air outlet 52 of the drying duct 5 and the inner cylinder 4; the temperature of the hot air sent into the drying chamber 42 of the inner cylinder 4 can be detected by the third temperature detection device 11.

[0224] Optionally, the third temperature detection device 11 can be a temperature sensor or a thermometer, etc., and this disclosure does not limit it.

[0225] In addition, the controller 9 is connected to the third temperature detection device 11. After the clothing processing equipment enters the drying mode, the controller 9 can also obtain a third detection value from the third temperature detection device 11, that is, obtain the temperature of the hot air.

[0226] Optionally, the controller 9 may actively read the third detection value from the third temperature detection device 11; or, the third temperature detection device 11 may also report the third detection value to the controller 9, and this disclosure does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0227] Optionally, the controller 9 can acquire a third detection value at a certain acquisition frequency, every second preset time interval.

[0228] It should be understood that the third detection value of the third temperature detection device 11 is also a variable, that is, at different detection times, the specific value of the third detection value may be the same or different.

[0229] like Figure 15 As shown, the controller 9 controls the opening or closing of the inlet valve 7 based on the first detection value. That is, when the controller executes step S102, it can also be implemented in the following manner:

[0230] Step S201: After the clothing processing equipment enters the drying mode, the third detection value of the third temperature detection device is obtained.

[0231] After the clothing processing equipment enters the drying mode, in addition to obtaining the first detection value of the first temperature detection device 8 and the second detection value of the second temperature detection device 10, it will also obtain the third detection value of the third temperature detection device 11.

[0232] Optionally, the controller 9 can acquire a first detection value, a second detection value, and a third detection value at a certain acquisition frequency and at a second preset time interval.

[0233] Step S202: When the third detection value is greater than the third temperature threshold and the first detection value is greater than the first temperature threshold, the liquid inlet valve is opened for the first time.

[0234] The third temperature threshold is the upper limit temperature of the hot air. If the actual temperature of the hot air is higher than this upper limit temperature, there is a risk of scalding the clothes. Furthermore, different materials of clothing have different temperatures corresponding to the risk of scalding (referred to as scalding temperature). Therefore, different scalding temperatures can be set for different clothing materials. When the controller 9 executes step S202, it can first determine the target material of the clothes to be dried based on the user's operation, and then select the scalding temperature corresponding to the target material as the third temperature threshold when the controller 9 executes step S202.

[0235] Step S203: After the inlet valve is opened for the first time, before the second detection value meets the drying conditions, if the first detection value is less than the second temperature threshold, the inlet valve is closed; if the first detection value is greater than the first temperature threshold, the inlet valve is opened.

[0236] After the clothing processing equipment enters the drying mode, the temperature of the drying air duct 5 sent into the drying chamber 42 gradually increases. As the temperature of the hot air increases, the temperature of the humid hot air and the temperature of the condenser plate surface also increase. In other words, only when the temperature of the hot air rises to a certain level can the temperature of the condenser plate surface rise to a level that cannot meet the condensation requirements. When the temperature of the hot air is relatively low, the temperature of the condenser plate surface usually will not rise to a level that cannot meet the condensation requirements first.

[0237] Therefore, during the cooling control of the condenser plate 6, when the third detection value is greater than the third temperature threshold and the first detection value is greater than the first temperature threshold, the liquid inlet valve 7 is opened for the first time. This can avoid the problem of the condenser plate 6's condensation efficiency decreasing due to the false detection of the first detection value causing the liquid inlet valve 7 to open incorrectly. This allows for more effective control of the coolant injection, ensuring the condensation efficiency of the condenser plate 6, thereby improving drying efficiency, shortening drying time, and meeting the need for rapid drying. In addition, it can also reduce water consumption and save energy.

[0238] In some embodiments, after the second detection value meets the drying conditions, the drying stage ends and the garment processing equipment enters the cooling stage of the drying mode. In the cooling stage, in order to further shorten the drying time, the controller 9 can control the liquid inlet valve 7 to remain in the normally open state. That is, after the second detection value meets the drying conditions, the liquid inlet valve 7 is opened, and the liquid inlet valve 7 is closed when the drying mode ends. This can quickly cool the temperature of the garment to a state where there is no risk of burns, shorten the running time of the entire drying mode, and achieve the purpose of rapid drying.

[0239] Alternatively, to further reduce water consumption, after the second detection value meets the drying conditions, the liquid inlet valve 7 can be opened at a preset opening frequency. For example, the liquid inlet valve 7 can be opened intermittently at a frequency of 10 seconds and then closed for 50 seconds. Then, when the drying mode ends, the liquid inlet valve 7 is closed. By cooling the clothes to a level where there is no risk of burns, the injection of coolant can be reduced, thereby reducing energy consumption.

[0240] Furthermore, since the temperature of both the clothes and the drying chamber 42 is relatively high when the clothes are being dried, the clothes and the drying chamber 42 must be cooled down before the door 12 of the clothes handling equipment can be opened and the clothes removed; otherwise, there is a risk of burns. Therefore, during the cooling stage, the drying chamber 42 and the dried clothes need to be cooled down to avoid the problem of burns from high-temperature gases when removing the clothes from the drying chamber 42.

[0241] Based on this, in some embodiments, after the controller 9 determines that the second detection value meets the drying conditions, in addition to opening the liquid inlet valve 7 normally or intermittently, it also needs to determine whether the third detection value is less than or equal to the fifth temperature threshold, wherein the fifth temperature threshold is less than or equal to the upper limit of human body safe temperature; if the third detection value is less than or equal to the fifth temperature threshold, the temperature of the drying chamber 42 and the temperature of the clothes are both less than or equal to the upper limit of human body safe temperature, and there is no risk of burns, so the cooling stage can be ended, that is, the drying mode can be ended.

[0242] During the cooling phase of the clothes, the heating device 53 stops heating, and the temperature of the air sent into the drying chamber 42 by the drying duct 5 gradually decreases. The temperature of the air inside the drying chamber 42 also decreases accordingly. Therefore, the temperature of the air sent into the drying chamber 42 by the drying duct 5 can be used as a reference standard for the end of the drying mode.

[0243] Therefore, using the third detection value as the criterion for ending the drying mode, and determining that the drying mode ends when the third detection value is less than or equal to the fifth temperature threshold, can ensure that the human body will not be burned after the door of the clothing processing equipment is opened, making it safer to use and providing a better user experience.

[0244] In some embodiments, in order to further reduce energy consumption, the heating device 53 can be turned on or off based on changes in the third detection value.

[0245] For example, after the garment processing equipment enters the drying mode, before the second detection value meets the drying conditions, that is, before the drying stage ends, if the third detection value is less than the fourth temperature threshold, the controller 9 can turn on the heating device 53; if the third detection value is greater than the third temperature threshold, the controller 9 can turn off the heating device 53; then, after the second detection value meets the drying conditions, that is, after the drying stage ends and the cooling stage begins, the heating device 53 is turned off, and the heating device 53 is kept in a normally closed state.

[0246] When drying clothes, if the temperature of the hot air entering the drying chamber 42 is too high, it may scald the clothes. If the temperature of the hot air entering the drying chamber 42 is too low, the heat exchange between the hot air and the wet clothes will be reduced, and the amount of moisture removed from the wet clothes will be less, thus reducing the drying efficiency and failing to meet the demand for rapid drying. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain the temperature of the hot air within a suitable temperature range so as not to scald the clothes and to ensure the drying efficiency.

[0247] Therefore, during the drying stage, the heating device 53 is turned on or off based on changes in the third detection value. When the third detection value is less than the fourth temperature threshold, the heating device 53 is turned on to ensure efficient drying even when the hot air temperature is relatively low and affects drying efficiency. Conversely, when the third detection value is greater than the third temperature threshold, the heating device 53 is turned off to prevent the hot air temperature from exceeding the scalding temperature for an extended period, thus avoiding actual burns. This achieves the goal of ensuring drying efficiency while minimizing the risk of burns, resulting in a better user experience.

[0248] In addition, in some embodiments, after the garment processing equipment enters the drying mode, the controller 9 controls the fan 54 to turn on until the drying mode ends and then turns off the fan 54. That is, when the garment processing equipment is running in the drying mode, the fan 54 remains in a normally open state.

[0249] Throughout the drying process, keeping the fan 54 constantly on can enhance the power of air circulation during the drying cycle. Under the action of the fan 54, the dry and cold air formed in the condensation chamber 22 can be drawn back into the drying duct 5 more quickly. Also, under the action of the fan 54, the hot air formed in the drying duct 5 can be sent into the drying chamber 42 more quickly. This can greatly shorten the drying time, improve the drying efficiency, and achieve the goal of rapid drying.

[0250] As can be seen from the foregoing embodiments of this disclosure, according to the cooling control method provided in the embodiments of this disclosure, after the clothing processing equipment enters the drying mode, the controller 9 first turns on the fan 54 and obtains the first detection value of the first temperature detection device 8, the second detection value of the second temperature detection device 10, and the third detection value of the third temperature detection device 11.

[0251] Then, during the drying stage of the drying mode, the controller 9 can control the liquid inlet valve 7 to open or close based on the change of the first detection value; or, the controller 9 can open the liquid inlet valve 7 for the first time based on the changes of the first and third detection values, and then control the liquid inlet valve 7 to open or close based on the change of the first detection value.

[0252] In addition, during the drying stage, the controller 9 can also control the heating device 53 to turn on or off based on the change of the third detection value.

[0253] After the drying stage ends and the cooling stage of the drying mode begins, the controller 9 controls the heating device 53 to remain in a normally closed state and controls the liquid inlet valve 7 to remain in a normally open state or to open the liquid inlet valve 7 intermittently until the drying mode ends and the liquid inlet valve 7 is closed, and the fan 54 is turned off.

[0254] The specific implementation process and the technical effects that can be achieved can be referred to the content of the foregoing embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0255] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this disclosure, and not to limit them. Although this disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims and specification of this disclosure. This disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A garment processing device, characterized in that, include: The outer cylinder has a liquid inlet on its rear wall; An inner cylinder is disposed inside the outer cylinder; a condensation cavity is formed between the rear wall of the inner cylinder and the rear wall of the outer cylinder; The inner drum is configured to exchange heat with the clothes inside the inner drum through hot air supplied into the inner drum, and to discharge the humid and hot air formed by the heat exchange to the condensation chamber. A drying air duct, wherein the return air inlet of the drying air duct is connected to the condensation chamber, and the air outlet of the drying air duct is connected to the inner cylinder; The drying air duct is configured to draw dry, cold air from the condensation chamber through the return air inlet, heat the dry, cold air to form hot air, and then send it into the inner cylinder. A condenser plate, disposed in the condenser chamber, is configured to exchange heat with the humid and hot air to form dry and cold air; A liquid inlet valve, connected to the liquid inlet, is configured to spray coolant onto the condenser pan through the liquid inlet when in the open state. A first temperature detection device is disposed on the condenser plate and configured to detect the temperature of the surface of the condenser plate; The controller, connected to the first temperature detection device, is configured as follows: After the clothing processing equipment enters the drying mode, it obtains the first detection value from the first temperature detection device. Before the drying stage of the drying mode ends, the liquid inlet valve is controlled to open or close based on the first detection value.

2. The garment processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The controller is configured to control the liquid inlet valve to open or close based on the first detection value before the drying stage of the drying mode ends, including: The controller is configured to: Before the drying stage ends, the liquid inlet valve is opened if the first detection value is greater than the first temperature threshold; the liquid inlet valve is closed if the first detection value is less than the second temperature threshold.

3. The garment processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A second temperature detection device is located at the connection between the condensation chamber and the return air vent, and is configured to detect the temperature of the dry, cold air; the second temperature detection device is connected to the controller; The controller is also configured to: After the clothing processing equipment enters the drying mode, it acquires the second detection value from the second temperature detection device. If the second detection value meets the drying conditions, the drying stage is determined to be over; The drying conditions include: the second detection value is within a preset temperature range at each detection time within a first preset time period.

4. The garment processing equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, Also includes: A third temperature detection device is installed at the connection between the air outlet and the inner cylinder, and is configured to detect the temperature of the hot air. The third temperature detection device is connected to the controller; The controller is configured to control the liquid inlet valve to open or close based on the first detection value before the drying stage of the drying mode ends, including: After the clothing processing equipment enters the drying mode, it acquires the third detection value of the third temperature detection device. The liquid inlet valve is opened for the first time when the third detection value is greater than the third temperature threshold and the first detection value is greater than the first temperature threshold. After the inlet valve is opened for the first time, before the second detection value meets the drying conditions, if the first detection value is less than the second temperature threshold, the inlet valve is closed; if the first detection value is greater than the first temperature threshold, the inlet valve is opened.

5. The garment processing equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to: After the second detection value meets the drying conditions, the liquid inlet valve is opened; The inlet valve is closed when the drying mode ends.

6. The garment processing equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to: After the second detection value meets the drying conditions, the liquid inlet valve is opened according to the preset opening frequency; The inlet valve is closed when the drying mode ends.

7. The garment processing equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, The drying air duct is also equipped with a heating device, which is configured to heat the dry and cold air to form the hot air. The controller is also configured to: After the clothing processing equipment enters the drying mode, before the second detection value meets the drying conditions, the heating device is turned on when the third detection value is less than the fourth temperature threshold. If the third detection value is greater than the third temperature threshold, the heating device shall be turned off. Once the second detection value meets the drying conditions, the heating device is turned off.

8. The garment processing equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, A fan is also installed in the drying air duct. The fan is configured to draw dry and cold air from the condensation chamber into the drying air duct through the return air inlet, and to send hot air into the inner cylinder through the air outlet. The controller is also configured to: After the garment processing equipment enters the drying mode, the fan is turned on; The fan is turned off when the drying mode ends.

9. The garment processing equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, The controller is further configured to: after the second detection value meets the drying conditions, determine the end of the drying mode if the third detection value is less than or equal to the fifth temperature threshold.

10. The garment processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The condenser plate includes: The first plate is fixed to the rear wall of the outer cylinder on the side facing the inner cylinder; The second plate is disposed opposite to the first plate, and a closed condensation pipe is formed between the second plate and the first plate; A heat transfer medium is used to fill the condenser pipe.

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