Filtering and self-cleaning device and washing and drying all-in-one machine

Abstract

The utility model discloses a filtering and self-cleaning device and a washing and drying all-in-one machine, the filtering and self-cleaning device comprises a filtering assembly and a recycling assembly, the filtering assembly is installed in a drying channel, and the recycling assembly is installed at the bottom of the drying channel; the filter assembly comprises a frame, a first-stage filter screen, a second-stage filter screen and a third-stage filter screen, the first-stage filter screen, the second-stage filter screen and the third-stage filter screen are sequentially arranged on the frame at intervals, two through grooves are formed in the bottom of the frame, and the two through grooves are formed under gaps between every two adjacent filter screens respectively; the recycling assembly is correspondingly arranged below the two through grooves. A plurality of piezoelectric ceramic pieces are arranged on the outer wall face of the frame, and the piezoelectric ceramic pieces generate vibration after being powered on so as to drive the frame to vibrate. Reasonable combination application of effective filtering and automatic cleaning of the washing and drying all-in-one machine is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of washer-dryer combos, and more particularly to a filter self-cleaning device and a washer-dryer combo. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of clothing cleaning, washer-dryer combos have gradually become a popular home appliance in modern homes and commercial spaces due to their convenience in combining washing and drying functions. However, with the long-term and frequent use of washer-dryer combos, the problem of clogged internal filters has become increasingly prominent, seriously affecting the normal operation of the equipment and the user experience.

[0003] During the operation of a washer-dryer combo, both the washing and drying stages generate a significant amount of lint and other debris. During washing, friction between garments and collisions with the inner drum wall cause fibers to detach, while dust and hair attached to the clothes are also removed. In the drying stage, the high-temperature airflow rapidly evaporates moisture from the clothes, and some fine fibers and impurities are dispersed with the airflow. Some of this lint and debris is discharged through the drainage system, but a considerable portion remains trapped on the filter.

[0004] Over time, lint and other debris accumulate on the filter, gradually causing blockages. Filter blockage leads to a series of serious problems. First, it affects the drying performance of the washer-dryer combo. Due to the blockage, hot air cannot circulate properly, resulting in longer drying times, increased energy consumption, and potentially failing to achieve the desired drying level. Clothes may also dry unevenly, with some items remaining damp. Second, filter blockage negatively impacts the washing function. During drainage, the clogged filter hinders the smooth flow of wastewater, potentially causing poor drainage and leaving wastewater residue in the drum. This residue can breed bacteria and produce odors, affecting not only the cleanliness of clothes but also potentially posing a health risk to the user. Furthermore, a long-term clogged filter increases the operating load on the washer-dryer combo, accelerating wear and tear and shortening its lifespan. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this application is to provide a filter self-cleaning device and a washer-dryer combo to solve the problems in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] On one hand, a self-cleaning filter device is provided, comprising: a filter assembly and a recovery assembly. The filter assembly is installed inside a drying channel, and the recovery assembly is installed at the bottom of the drying channel. The filter assembly includes a frame, a primary filter, a secondary filter, and a tertiary filter. The primary, secondary, and tertiary filters are sequentially spaced on the frame. The bottom of the frame has two through slots, one directly below the gap between the primary and secondary filters, and the other directly below the gap between the secondary and tertiary filters. The recovery assembly is correspondingly located below the two through slots. The outer wall of the frame is provided with multiple piezoelectric ceramic plates. When energized, the piezoelectric ceramic plates vibrate, thereby causing the frame to vibrate.

[0008] Furthermore, the primary filter screen is provided with multiple first through holes with a diameter of Φ1, and the secondary filter screen is provided with multiple second through holes with a diameter of Φ2, wherein 4≤Φ1 / Φ2≤2.

[0009] Furthermore, the three-stage filter is a nanofiber filter membrane, and it has multiple third through holes with a pore size of 0.1-0.3μm.

[0010] Furthermore, the drying channel is provided with an installation groove that fits with the frame through a gap.

[0011] Furthermore, a shock-absorbing spring is provided between the mounting groove and the frame.

[0012] Furthermore, the recycling assembly includes a conical guide shroud and a recycling box. The conical guide shroud is connected to the bottom of the drying channel, and its top communicates with the through groove. The recycling box is connected to the bottom of the conical guide shroud.

[0013] Furthermore, an anti-backflow baffle is provided at the entrance of the recycling box.

[0014] Furthermore, the bottom of the conical air guide extends outward to form a folded edge, and the folded edge is provided with a plurality of snap-fit ​​positions, and the top of the recycling box is provided with a buckle that engages with the snap-fit ​​positions.

[0015] Furthermore, a weighing sensor is installed at the bottom of the recycling box. The weighing sensor can be electrically connected to an external electronic communication device. When the weight of the filtered material recycled by the recycling box exceeds a preset threshold, an alarm signal is issued.

[0016] On the other hand, a washer-dryer combo is also provided, including the filter self-cleaning device as described above.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows: First, the multi-stage filtration structure design greatly improves the filtration effect. The primary, secondary, and tertiary filters sequentially filter lint and debris in the drying airflow, which can more effectively intercept impurities of different particle sizes, ensuring that the airflow entering other components of the washer-dryer is cleaner, reducing damage to other components from impurities, and extending the service life of the equipment.

[0018] Secondly, the self-cleaning mechanism, which uses piezoelectric ceramic discs to vibrate the frame, automatically removes lint and debris from the filter screen, eliminating the tedious manual cleaning process and improving user convenience. Simultaneously, this self-cleaning method promptly cleans the filter screen, preventing long-term clogging that could affect drying and washing performance, thus ensuring the washer-dryer combo operates efficiently.

[0019] Furthermore, the recycling components allow for the centralized collection of lint and debris, facilitating subsequent processing and preventing these items from scattering randomly inside the washer-dryer, thus maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of the equipment's interior. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The present application will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the filter self-cleaning device described in the embodiments of this application;

[0022] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the filtering component and the recycling component described in the embodiments of this application;

[0023] Figure 3 The three-dimensional representation of the filtering component described in the embodiments of this application Figure 1 ;

[0024] Figure 4 The three-dimensional representation of the filtering component described in the embodiments of this application Figure 2 ;

[0025] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the recycling component described in the embodiments of this application;

[0026] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the conical fairing described in the embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the recycling box described in the embodiments of this application.

[0028] In the diagram: 1. Filter assembly; 101. Frame; 102. Primary filter screen; 103. Secondary filter screen; 104. Tertiary filter screen; 105. Piezoelectric ceramic disc; 106. Shock-absorbing spring; 107. Through groove; 2. Recycling assembly; 201. Conical guide shroud; 202. Recycling box; 203. Buckle; 2011. Folded edge; 2012. Snap-fit ​​position; 3. Drying channel. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the technical problems solved by this application, the technical solutions adopted, and the technical effects achieved clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application are further described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0030] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connected," "linked," and "fixed" 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 application based on the specific circumstances.

[0031] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being 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 includes the first feature being 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.

[0032] like Figures 1 to 7As shown, this embodiment provides a self-cleaning filter device, including: a filter assembly 1 and a recovery assembly 2. The filter assembly 1 is installed inside a drying channel 3, and the recovery assembly 2 is installed at the bottom of the drying channel 3. The filter assembly 1 includes a frame 101, a primary filter 102, a secondary filter 103, and a tertiary filter 104. The primary filter 102, the secondary filter 103, and the tertiary filter 104 are sequentially spaced on the frame 101. The bottom of the frame 101 is provided with two through slots 107, which are respectively located directly below the gap between the primary filter 102 and the secondary filter 103, and directly below the gap between the secondary filter 103 and the tertiary filter 104. The recovery assembly 2 is correspondingly located below the two through slots 107. The outer wall surface of the frame 101 is provided with a plurality of piezoelectric ceramic plates 105. When the piezoelectric ceramic plates 105 are energized, they vibrate, thereby causing the frame 101 to vibrate.

[0033] Based on the above scheme, during the drying operation of the washer-dryer combo, a high-temperature airflow carrying lint and other impurities is generated in the drying channel 3. This airflow first passes through the filter assembly 1, which consists of a frame 101 and a primary filter 102, a secondary filter 103, and a tertiary filter 104 arranged sequentially on the frame 101. When the airflow passes through the primary filter 102, larger particles of lint and impurities are intercepted and adhere to the primary filter 102. Next, the airflow continues to pass through the secondary filter 103, where some smaller particles of impurities are captured. Finally, the airflow after the first two stages of filtration passes through the tertiary filter 104, which further filters out even finer particles, thereby achieving multi-stage filtration of lint and impurities in the drying airflow.

[0034] As filtration continues, lint and debris accumulate on the primary filter 102, secondary filter 103, and tertiary filter 104. When this accumulation reaches a certain level, multiple piezoelectric ceramic plates 105 mounted on the outer wall of the frame 101 begin to function. When energized, the piezoelectric ceramic plates 105 vibrate, causing the entire frame 101 to vibrate. This vibration, in turn, causes the primary filter 102, secondary filter 103, and tertiary filter 104 mounted on it to vibrate as well. Under this vibration, the lint and debris adhering to the filter screens gradually loosen and fall off.

[0035] Because the bottom of the frame 101 has two channels 107, which are located directly below the gap between the primary filter 102 and the secondary filter 103, and directly below the gap between the secondary filter 103 and the tertiary filter 104, respectively, and the recycling component 2 is correspondingly located below the two channels 107, when lint and debris fall off the filter screens, they will fall through the channels 107 into the recycling component 2 below, thereby achieving automatic recycling of lint and debris and preventing them from accumulating on the filter screens and causing clogging.

[0036] Overall, the multi-stage filtration structure greatly improves the filtration effect, effectively intercepts impurities, reduces damage to other components, and extends the service life of the equipment. The self-cleaning mechanism, which drives the frame 101 to vibrate due to the piezoelectric ceramic disc 105, avoids the tediousness of manually cleaning the filter screen, cleans the filter screen in time, prevents filter screen blockage from affecting the drying effect and washing function, and ensures the efficient operation of the washer-dryer combo. The setting of the recycling component 2 allows for the centralized collection of fallen debris, which is convenient for subsequent processing and prevents it from being scattered randomly inside the equipment, further maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of the equipment.

[0037] Furthermore, the primary filter 102 has multiple first through holes with a diameter of Φ1, and the secondary filter 103 has multiple second through holes with a diameter of Φ2, wherein 4 ≤ Φ1 / Φ2 ≤ 2. When the drying airflow passes through the filter assembly 1, the primary filter 102, with its larger pore size (Φ1), initially intercepts lint and debris in the airflow. Larger particles with a size greater than or equal to Φ1 are directly blocked on the primary filter 102, achieving coarse filtration. Subsequently, the airflow continues to pass through the secondary filter 103. Since the pore size (Φ2) of the secondary filter 103 is relatively smaller, it can further intercept smaller particles with a size between Φ2 and Φ1, achieving fine filtration. This combination of filters with different pore sizes forms a more refined graded filtration mechanism. Its beneficial effects are significant. On the one hand, graded filtration can more efficiently separate impurities of different sizes, significantly improving the filtration effect, ensuring that the airflow entering the subsequent components of the washer-dryer is cleaner, reducing the wear and damage of impurities to other internal components of the equipment, and helping to extend the service life of the equipment. On the other hand, a reasonable pore size ratio setting (4≤Φ1 / Φ2≤2) ensures that each level of filter screen can effectively perform its filtering function, while avoiding problems such as low filtration efficiency or easy clogging of the filter screen due to excessive or insufficient pore size differences. This enables the filter component 1 to maintain stable filtration performance during long-term use, further improving the reliability and operating efficiency of the washer-dryer combo.

[0038] Furthermore, the tertiary filter 104 is a nanofiber filter membrane with multiple third through-holes having a pore size of 0.1-0.3 μm. During the operation of the washer-dryer combo, the airflow after being filtered by the primary filter 102 and the secondary filter 103 may still contain extremely fine particulate impurities. At this time, the airflow reaches the tertiary filter 104 composed of a nanofiber filter membrane. The nanofiber filter membrane has a unique microstructure, with small fiber diameters, large specific surface areas, and extremely fine third through-holes with a pore size of 0.1-0.3 μm. When the airflow passes through these tiny pores, fine particles larger than 0.1-0.3 μm are effectively intercepted by the nanofiber filter membrane, while relatively clean airflow can pass through smoothly. This fine filtration mechanism further supplements and improves the first two stages of filtration, forming a multi-stage filtration system from coarse to fine.

[0039] In terms of filtration efficiency, the high-precision filtration of nanofiber membranes significantly enhances the interception of fine particulate impurities, resulting in a purer airflow into the washer-dryer combo, virtually free of such impurities. This effectively reduces wear and corrosion on the delicate internal components, greatly extending the machine's lifespan. Regarding drying performance, the nanofiber membrane filters out more fine particles, preventing them from re-adhering to clothes during the drying process. This results in cleaner, fluffier clothes after drying, improving overall drying quality. Furthermore, the nanofiber membrane itself possesses excellent breathability and stability, ensuring efficient filtration without significantly increasing airflow resistance, thus guaranteeing efficient operation of the washer-dryer combo and reducing energy consumption.

[0040] Furthermore, the drying channel 3 is provided with a mounting groove that fits with the frame 101 with a clearance, and a shock-absorbing spring 106 is installed between the mounting groove and the frame 101. When the washer-dryer is in operation, the filter assembly 1 is subjected to the impact of the drying airflow and the force caused by the vibration of the piezoelectric ceramic sheet 105. Under the action of these forces, the frame 101 will vibrate and displace to a certain extent. The clearance fit between the mounting groove and the frame 101 provides a certain amount of room for movement for the frame 101, while the shock-absorbing spring 106 between the mounting groove and the frame 101 plays a crucial role in buffering and shock absorption. When the frame 101 vibrates due to external forces, the shock-absorbing spring 106 will undergo elastic deformation, absorbing and buffering the vibration energy of the frame 101, effectively controlling the vibration amplitude of the frame 101, preventing the frame 101 from colliding with the drying channel 3 or other components due to excessive vibration, and ensuring that the filter assembly 1 can be stably installed in the drying channel 3.

[0041] This design brings several beneficial effects. First, in terms of stability, the damping spring 106 significantly improves the stability of the filter assembly 1 within the drying channel 3. Even when the piezoelectric ceramic plate 105 vibrates, causing the frame 101 to vibrate, and when impacted by the drying airflow, the filter assembly 1 maintains a relatively stable position, ensuring normal filtration and preventing poor filtration or equipment malfunction due to displacement of the filter assembly 1. Second, from an equipment protection perspective, the damping spring 106 effectively buffers the vibration of the frame 101, reducing direct collisions and friction between the frame 101 and the drying channel 3 or other components, lowering the risk of wear and damage to equipment parts, and extending the service life of the washer-dryer combo. Furthermore, in terms of noise control, the damping spring 106 absorbs some vibration energy, reducing noise generated by the vibration of the frame 101 and providing a quieter operating environment for users.

[0042] In some embodiments, the recycling assembly 2 includes a conical guide hood 201 and a recycling box 202. The conical guide hood 201 is connected to the bottom of the drying channel 3, and its top communicates with the through groove 107. The recycling box 202 is connected to the bottom of the conical guide hood 201. When lint and debris on the filter assembly 1 fall off under the vibration of the piezoelectric ceramic sheet 105, these debris will fall through the through groove 107 at the bottom of the frame 101. Since the conical guide hood 201 is connected to the bottom of the drying channel 3, and its top communicates with the through groove 107, the detached lint and debris will directly enter the conical guide hood 201 along the through groove 107. The unique shape design of the conical guide hood 201, which is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom, allows debris to slide smoothly down the inner wall of the guide hood under the action of gravity and its own inertia, and finally collect in the recycling box 202 connected to the bottom of the conical guide hood 201.

[0043] The design of this recycling component 2 brings many significant benefits. In terms of debris collection efficiency, the direct connection between the conical guide hood 201 and the through channel 107 ensures that detached lint and debris can quickly and smoothly enter the recycling component 2, preventing debris from scattering throughout the drying channel 3 and greatly improving collection efficiency. Its conical structure guides debris along a specific path, reducing obstruction during the flow process and allowing it to enter the recycling box 202 more quickly and accurately.

[0044] In terms of cleaning and maintenance, the recycling bin 202 allows for the centralized storage of collected lint and debris, making it convenient for users to clean regularly. Users can easily dispose of the debris simply by removing the recycling bin 202, eliminating the need for complex disassembly and cleaning of the entire washer-dryer combo, greatly reducing cleaning difficulty and maintenance costs.

[0045] Meanwhile, an anti-backflow baffle is installed at the inlet of the recycling box 202. When lint and debris on the filter assembly 1 are dislodged by the vibration of the piezoelectric ceramic sheet 105, enter the conical guide shroud 201 along the channel 107, and finally slide into the recycling box 202, the anti-backflow baffle plays a crucial role. During normal debris collection, the anti-backflow baffle is in the appropriate position, allowing debris to smoothly enter the recycling box 202 from the conical guide shroud 201. However, when the washer-dryer experiences shaking, vibration, or is in an abnormal operating state, debris in the recycling box 202 may tend to flow back upwards due to inertia or other external forces. At this time, the anti-backflow baffle acts like a "gate," using its special structure and position to prevent debris from flowing back into the conical guide shroud 201 or even the drying channel 3.

[0046] Specifically, the bottom of the conical air deflector 201 extends outward to form a folded edge 2011, and the folded edge 2011 is provided with multiple snap-fit ​​positions 2012. The top of the recycling box 202 is provided with a buckle 203 that engages with the snap-fit ​​positions 2012. When installing the recycling assembly 2, align the buckle 203 on the top of the recycling box 202 with the snap-fit ​​positions 2012 on the folded edge 2011 of the conical air deflector 201, and then gently press the recycling box 202 so that the buckle 203 accurately snaps into the snap-fit ​​position 2012. This snap-fit ​​method utilizes the mechanical structural features of the buckle 203 and the snap-fit ​​position 2012 to achieve a stable connection between the recycling box 202 and the conical air deflector 201. When it is necessary to disassemble the recycling box 202 for cleaning, simply pull the recycling box 202 downwards to disengage the buckle 203 from the snap-fit ​​position 2012, and the recycling box 202 can be easily removed.

[0047] It is worth noting that a weighing sensor is installed at the bottom of the recycling box 202. This weighing sensor can be electrically connected to an external electronic communication device. When the weight of the filtered material collected by the recycling box 202 exceeds a preset threshold, an alert signal is issued. During the operation of the washer-dryer combo, the recycling box 202 continuously collects lint and debris that detaches from the filter assembly 1. As the collected amount increases, the weight of the filtered material in the recycling box 202 gradually rises. The weighing sensor senses the weight change of the filtered material in the recycling box 202 in real time and converts the weight data into an electrical signal. When the weight of the filtered material in the recycling box 202 exceeds the preset threshold, the weighing sensor transmits this signal to an external electronic communication device electrically connected to it, such as a mobile app or smart display. After receiving the signal, the external electronic communication device notifies the user in the form of an alert signal, such as displaying a notification message on the mobile phone screen or issuing an audible alarm.

[0048] On the other hand, a washer-dryer combo is also provided, including the filter self-cleaning device as described above.

[0049] In the description herein, it should be understood that the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and other orientations or positional relationships are used only for ease of description and simplification of operation, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used merely for descriptive distinction and have no special meaning.

[0050] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "an embodiment," "example," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example.

[0051] Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative style of the specification is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0052] The technical principles of this application have been described above with reference to specific embodiments. These descriptions are merely for explaining the principles of this application and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this application in any way. Based on this explanation, those skilled in the art can readily conceive of other specific embodiments of this application without inventive effort, and these embodiments will all fall within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A filter self-cleaning device, characterized in that, include: The system includes a filter assembly and a recovery assembly. The filter assembly is installed inside the drying channel, and the recovery assembly is installed at the bottom of the drying channel. The filter assembly includes a frame, a primary filter, a secondary filter, and a tertiary filter. The primary, secondary, and tertiary filters are sequentially spaced on the frame. The bottom of the frame has two through slots, one directly below the gap between the primary and secondary filters, and the other directly below the gap between the secondary and tertiary filters. The recovery assembly is correspondingly located below the two through slots. The outer wall of the frame is provided with multiple piezoelectric ceramic plates. When energized, the piezoelectric ceramic plates vibrate, thereby causing the frame to vibrate.

2. The filter self-cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The primary filter screen has multiple first through holes with a diameter of Φ1, and the secondary filter screen has multiple second through holes with a diameter of Φ2, wherein 4≤Φ1 / Φ2≤2.

3. The filter self-cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The three-stage filter is a nanofiber filter membrane with multiple third through holes having a pore size of 0.1-0.3μm.

4. The filter self-cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drying channel is provided with a mounting groove that fits the frame with a clearance.

5. The filter self-cleaning device according to claim 4, characterized in that, A shock-absorbing spring is provided between the mounting slot and the frame.

6. The filter self-cleaning device according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The recycling assembly includes a conical flow guide and a recycling box. The conical flow guide is connected to the bottom of the drying channel and its top communicates with the through groove. The recycling box is connected to the bottom of the conical flow guide.

7. The filter self-cleaning device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The recycling box is equipped with a backflow prevention baffle at its entrance.

8. The filter self-cleaning device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The bottom of the conical air deflector extends outward to form a folded edge, and the folded edge is provided with multiple snap-fit ​​positions. The top of the recycling box is provided with a buckle that engages with the snap-fit ​​positions.

9. The filter self-cleaning device according to claim 6, characterized in that, A weighing sensor is installed at the bottom of the recycling box. The weighing sensor can be electrically connected to an external electronic communication device. When the weight of the filtered material recycled by the recycling box exceeds a preset threshold, an alarm signal is issued.

10. A washer-dryer combo, characterized in that, Includes the filter self-cleaning device as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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