Laundry treating apparatus and combined laundry treating apparatus

By constructing an air duct at the bottom of the outer cylinder and using an annular seal, the space occupation and airflow leakage problems of the garment processing device were solved, achieving miniaturization of the cabinet and efficient drying, while extending the service life of the seal.

CN224578501UActive Publication Date: 2026-07-31HISENSE(SHANDONG)REFRIGERATOR CO LTD
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
HISENSE(SHANDONG)REFRIGERATOR CO LTD
Filing Date
2025-04-24
Publication Date
2026-07-31

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In existing garment processing devices, the air outlet duct is installed separately on the outer wall of the outer drum in drying mode, which increases the weight of the outer drum and occupies internal space, affecting the miniaturization of the cabinet. In addition, the sealing structure causes air leakage, reducing the drying effect.

Method used

By forming an air duct at the bottom of the outer cylinder and setting an annular seal between the partition and the connecting plate, the air duct is constructed using the local space of the outer cylinder. Combined with the dynamic sealing structure of the annular seal, this ensures that gas can effectively enter the heating chamber for drying.

Benefits of technology

This technology reduces the space occupied by the chamber without increasing the weight of the outer cylinder, improves drying efficiency and effect, reduces energy consumption, and extends the service life of the seals.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

This application discloses a clothing processing device and a combined clothing processing equipment. The clothing processing device includes: a housing; an outer cylinder disposed within the housing, with a water-holding cavity formed inside the outer cylinder; a roller rotatably disposed within the water-holding cavity, with a clothing-accommodating cavity inside the roller; a first recessed portion formed by a partial outward indentation from the bottom of the outer cylinder, the first recessed portion having an air outlet communicating with the outside of the housing, the air outlet being higher than the axis of the outer cylinder in the height direction of the housing; and a partition disposed within the water-holding cavity and connected to the bottom of the outer cylinder, the partition and the first recessed portion forming an air outlet duct, the partition having an air inlet communicating with the air outlet duct, and the air inlet communicating with the clothing-accommodating cavity. Using this solution, an air outlet duct can be formed without increasing the overall weight of the outer cylinder, reducing the space occupied by the air outlet duct inside the housing.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of household appliance technology, and in particular to a clothing processing device and a combined clothing processing equipment. Background Technology

[0002] A laundry detergent is a cleaning appliance that uses electrical energy to generate mechanical action to wash clothes. Currently, with socio-economic development and accelerated urbanization, laundry detergents have become indispensable household appliances.

[0003] In the prior art, in the drying mode, the clothing handling device needs to use a drying airflow to dry the clothes in the drum. The hot and humid gas after drying the clothes needs to be discharged from the outside of the chamber through the air outlet duct. However, the air outlet duct is a separate component installed on the outer wall of the outer drum, which increases the weight of the outer drum and increases the space occupied inside the chamber, which is not conducive to the miniaturization of the chamber. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application discloses a clothing processing device and a combined clothing processing equipment, which can form an air outlet duct without increasing the overall weight of the outer cylinder, thereby reducing the space occupied by the air outlet duct inside the housing.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, in a first aspect, some embodiments of this application provide a clothing handling device, comprising: a housing; an outer cylinder disposed within the housing, the outer cylinder having a water-holding cavity formed therein; a roller rotatably disposed within the water-holding cavity, the roller having a clothing-accommodating cavity; a first recessed portion formed by a partial outward indentation of the bottom of the outer cylinder, the first recessed portion having an air outlet communicating with the outside of the housing, the air outlet being higher than the axis of the outer cylinder in the height direction of the housing; and a partition disposed within the water-holding cavity and connected to the bottom of the outer cylinder, the partition and the first recessed portion forming an air outlet duct, the partition having an air inlet communicating with the air outlet duct, and the air inlet communicating with the clothing-accommodating cavity.

[0006] Thus, the air outlet duct is formed between the first recess of the outer cylinder and the partition. This cleverly utilizes the local space at the bottom of the outer cylinder to construct the air outlet duct, avoiding the need to set up large ventilation ducts or openings on the side wall or other locations of the outer cylinder to achieve the air outlet duct function. This reduces the occupation of other spaces inside the box, making the overall layout more compact and conducive to the miniaturization of the box.

[0007] In some embodiments of this application, the water-holding cavity includes: a main cavity, in which the roller is rotatably disposed; a heating cavity, located at the bottom of the main cavity and communicating with the main cavity; a first through hole is provided at the bottom of the roller, the first through hole communicating with the clothing receiving cavity; the clothing handling device further includes: an air inlet duct structure, disposed on the outer wall of the outer cylinder, the air inlet end of the air inlet duct structure communicating with the outside of the housing, the air outlet end of the air inlet duct structure communicating with the heating cavity, the air inlet end of the air inlet duct structure being higher than the axis of the outer cylinder in the height direction of the housing, and an air inlet duct forming within the air inlet duct structure; a connecting plate, connected to the bottom of the roller and coaxially disposed with the roller, the connecting plate... The disc has a second through hole along the axial direction of the outer cylinder, the second through hole communicating with the first through hole and the air inlet; a driving component, the driving component including: a driving shaft passing through the air inlet and connected to the connecting disc, the driving shaft capable of driving the connecting disc to rotate, thereby driving the roller to rotate; an annular seal, the annular seal being disposed between the partition and the connecting disc and surrounding the driving shaft, the second through hole and the air inlet both being located within the area enclosed by the annular seal, one of the partition and the connecting disc being connected to the annular seal, and the other of the partition and the connecting disc abutting against the annular seal, so as to seal the gap between the partition and the connecting disc when the connecting disc rotates relative to the partition.

[0008] Thus, when the garment handling device is in drying mode, the drive unit rotates the connecting plate, causing the drum to rotate relative to the outer drum. The drying principle of the garment handling device is to dry the clothes inside the drum with high-temperature gas. The gas enters the heating chamber through the air inlet duct, is heated in the heating chamber, and then enters the drum to dry the clothes. The dried, high-temperature, humid gas passes through the first through hole, the second through hole, and the air inlet in sequence before entering the air outlet duct formed by the partition and the first recess. However, there is a gap between the partition and the connecting plate, and the space between the partition and the bottom of the outer drum is also part of the main cavity. Since the heating chamber is connected to the main cavity, the gas entering the heating chamber from the air inlet duct may flow into the main cavity. Then, the gas will enter the air outlet duct through the gap between the partition and the connecting plate, causing some of the airflow in the air inlet duct to leak directly into the air outlet duct through the gap between the partition and the connecting plate, reducing the airflow for drying the clothes and resulting in poor drying effect.

[0009] In this embodiment, by setting an annular seal between the partition and the connecting plate, a dynamic seal between the partition and the connecting plate is achieved. This prevents the gas entering the heating chamber from the air inlet duct from flowing into the air outlet duct through the gap between the partition and the connecting plate. This ensures that the gas in the air inlet duct can enter the heating chamber and be heated to dry the clothes, thus ensuring the drying effect of the clothes processing device.

[0010] In some embodiments of this application, the outer cylinder includes two outer cylinders, which are arranged side by side at a distance in the horizontal direction within the housing; the roller includes two rollers, which are respectively arranged within the main cavities of the two outer cylinders.

[0011] In this way, the two outer drums and two inner drums can process two batches of clothes simultaneously, improving processing efficiency when multiple items of clothing need to be processed at the same time. Furthermore, users can process different types of clothing separately according to their needs, achieving simultaneous washing through the two outer drums and two inner drums, thus meeting the requirement of washing different types of clothing separately.

[0012] In some embodiments of this application, the partition has a first annular extension at one end facing the connecting disc, and the connecting disc has a second annular extension at one end facing the partition. The second annular extension and the first annular extension are opposite each other along the radial direction of the roller, and the annular seal is located between the first annular extension and the second annular extension along the radial direction of the roller.

[0013] This provides a more uniform sealing effect. When the drum rotates, the annular seal is arranged radially to better adapt to the movement of the drum, providing a dynamic sealing effect, reducing wear caused by the drum rotation, and extending the service life of the annular seal.

[0014] In some embodiments of this application, the first annular extension is provided with an annular groove, and the annular seal includes: a main body portion, which is engaged in the annular groove; and an abutment portion, which is connected to the outer periphery of the main body portion and located outside the annular groove, and the abutment portion is used to abut against the second annular extension portion.

[0015] Thus, when the main body of the annular seal is engaged within the annular groove, the contact between the annular seal and the partition is more uniform and sufficient, preventing displacement or loosening of the annular seal during use, thereby improving the sealing effect. Furthermore, the contact between the abutting part and the second annular extension of the connecting disc ensures a tight fit between the abutting part and the connecting disc, reducing gas leakage during the rotation of the roller relative to the outer cylinder.

[0016] In some embodiments of this application, the annular groove is disposed on the end face of the first annular extension facing the connecting disk.

[0017] This ensures the stability of the annular seal after installation, reduces gas leakage caused by displacement or loosening of the annular seal, and thus improves the sealing effect.

[0018] In some embodiments of this application, the end face of the first annular extension facing the connecting disc is further provided with a stop portion, the stop portion being opposite to the groove opening of the annular groove, so as to prevent the main body of the annular seal from coming out of the groove opening of the annular groove.

[0019] In this way, the stop portion can block the main body of the annular seal, preventing it from coming out of the annular groove and ensuring the sealing reliability of the annular seal after installation.

[0020] In some embodiments of this application, the stop portion includes a plurality of stops, which are spaced apart circumferentially along the annular groove.

[0021] In this way, multiple stops can block the main body of the annular seal in the circumferential direction, preventing a situation where part of it is blocked in the annular groove while another part comes out of the annular groove, resulting in seal failure.

[0022] In some embodiments of this application, the abutting portion is disposed around the outer periphery of the main body portion, and the outer edge of the abutting portion is inclined toward the side away from the connecting disc.

[0023] In this way, during the wear process, the outer edge of the abutting part remains in contact with the second annular extension due to the elastic effect, preventing gaps from appearing between the abutting part and the second annular extension due to wear, thus ensuring the sealing effect of the annular seal.

[0024] In some embodiments of this application, the included angle between the abutting portion and the main body portion is 30° to 40°.

[0025] In this way, the contact area between the abutment and the second annular extension can be made uniform, thereby improving the sealing performance, and the friction between the abutment and the second annular extension can be reduced, thereby reducing wear and extending the service life of the annular seal.

[0026] In some embodiments of this application, the garment processing device further includes: a second recess, which is formed by a partial outward recess from the bottom of the outer cylinder, and the second recess and the partition form the air inlet duct.

[0027] This means that the air intake duct structure is integrated into the bottom structure of the outer cylinder, eliminating the need for a separate air intake duct structure inside the housing. This avoids the additional space occupied by a separate air intake duct structure and improves the overall space utilization within the housing. Furthermore, the air intake duct is formed by the second recess and the partition, simplifying the structure of the garment handling device and reducing manufacturing costs to some extent.

[0028] In some embodiments of this application, the material of the annular seal includes polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

[0029] Therefore, choosing polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as the material for the annular seal results in a low coefficient of friction, reducing the friction between the second annular extension of the connecting disc and the annular seal. This allows the roller in the garment handling device using the annular seal to rotate easily during operation without overcoming excessive friction, thus reducing the energy consumption of the garment handling device. Furthermore, choosing PTFE as the material for the annular seal reduces wear and extends its service life, enabling the annular seal to meet the sealing requirements during the rotation of the connecting disc for a longer period.

[0030] Secondly, some embodiments of this application provide a combined garment processing device, including: a first garment processing device; and a second garment processing device, wherein the second garment processing device is the garment processing device described in the first aspect above, and the second garment processing device is detachably disposed on the top of the first garment processing device.

[0031] Thus, the combined garment processing equipment that adopts a second garment processing device, when the second garment processing device is in drying mode, the gap between the connecting plate and the partition of the second garment processing device is sealed by an annular seal, preventing the airflow for drying from leaking into the air outlet duct from the gap between the connecting plate and the partition, thereby ensuring the drying effect of the second garment processing device and meeting the user's needs. Attached Figure Description

[0032] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the clothing processing device disclosed in the embodiments of this application under one state;

[0034] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the clothing handling device disclosed in the embodiments of this application under another state;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a front view of the garment processing apparatus disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0036] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Sectional view at point AA;

[0037] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the clothing processing device (partial box omitted) disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0038] Figure 6 This is a front view of the outer cylinder disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0039] Figure 7 This is a front view of the outer cylinder and roller assembled separately according to an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the outer cylinder structure disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0041] Figure 9 This is an exploded view of the roller and connecting disc disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0042] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the partition structure disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0043] Figure 11 This is an exploded view of the connecting plate and partition disclosed in an embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 12 for Figure 4 A magnified view of a portion of point A in the middle;

[0045] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the annular seal disclosed in the embodiments of this application;

[0046] Figure 14 for Figure 4 Another magnified view of point A in the middle;

[0047] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the combined garment processing device disclosed in the embodiments of this application.

[0048] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0049] 100 - Clothing handling device;

[0050] 1-Box body; 11-Front panel; 11a-Opening;

[0051] 2-Outer cylinder; 21-Water-containing cavity; 21a-Main cavity; 21b-Heating cavity; 22-First recess; 22a-Air outlet; 221-Air outlet duct; 23-Second recess;

[0052] 3-Roller; 3a-First through hole;

[0053] 4-Air inlet duct structure; 4a-Air inlet end; 4b-Air outlet end; 41-Air inlet duct;

[0054] 5-Connecting disc; 5a-Second through hole; 51-Second annular extension;

[0055] 6-Partition plate; 6a-Air inlet; 61-First annular extension; 611-Annular groove; 612-Stop;

[0056] 7-Drive component; 71-Drive shaft

[0057] 8-Annular seal; 81-Main body; 82-Abutment part;

[0058] 300 - Modular garment processing equipment; 301 - First garment processing device. Detailed Implementation

[0059] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0060] In this application, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "rear," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "vertical," "horizontal," "lateral," and "longitudinal" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this application and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated device, element, or component to having a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation.

[0061] Furthermore, in addition to indicating location or positional relationship, some of the aforementioned terms may also have other meanings. For example, the term "above" may also be used in some cases to indicate a certain dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0062] Furthermore, the terms "installation," "setup," "equipped with," "connection," and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; 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, or an internal connection between two devices, components, or parts. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0063] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are primarily used to distinguish different devices, elements, or components (which may be the same or different in specific type and construction), and are not intended to indicate or imply the relative importance or quantity of the indicated devices, elements, or components. Unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0064] The field of home appliance technology encompasses a wide range of product categories, including but not limited to refrigerators, laundry detergents, air conditioners, microwave ovens, dishwashers, and vacuum cleaners. The technological development trends of these products primarily focus on smart technology, energy conservation and environmental protection, optimized user experience, and the application of new materials. Optimized user experience is achieved through design innovation and functional enhancement to meet consumers' needs for health, convenience, and personalization.

[0065] As an important household appliance, garment handling devices greatly reduce people's housework burden. However, existing single-drum garment handling devices typically have a small washing capacity, requiring multiple washes to clean large loads of laundry, and they cannot perform separate washing for different types of clothing. If the drum of a single-drum garment handling device is designed to be too large, it is not only inconvenient to install and transport but also results in poor washing performance. If the drum is designed to be too small, it can hold too few clothes, leading to low washing efficiency.

[0066] Therefore, multi-drum laundry units have unique advantages. For example, some families need to wash different types of clothing separately, such as baby clothes needing to be washed separately from adult clothes, and underwear needing to be washed separately from outerwear. Multi-drum laundry units can meet these needs simultaneously, with different washing modes set for different drums.

[0067] When the garment handling unit is in drying mode, the drum rotates relative to the outer drum, using heated gas to dry the clothes inside. The hot, humid gas after drying needs to be exhausted to the outside of the unit through an air outlet duct. In related technologies, the air outlet duct is manufactured as a separate component and installed on the outer wall of the outer drum, connecting to the water-filled cavity of the outer drum to exhaust the hot, humid gas to the outside of the unit. However, this increases the number of components inside the unit, occupies more internal space, and increases the weight of the outer drum, hindering the miniaturization of the unit.

[0068] Based on this, embodiments of this application provide a clothing processing device and a combined clothing processing equipment, which can form an air outlet duct without increasing the overall weight of the outer cylinder, thereby reducing the space occupied by the air outlet duct inside the housing.

[0069] The present technical solution will be further described below with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0070] Please see Figure 1 The first aspect of this application provides a garment handling device 100, which includes a housing 1. The housing 1 serves as the external structure of the garment handling device 100 and is typically made of metal or plastic. It protects the internal components of the garment handling device 100 and provides stable support. The housing 1 consists of a frame and an outer shell, and its design takes into account durability, heat dissipation, noise control, safety, and maintainability.

[0071] See Figure 2 The housing 1 includes a front panel 11, which is a decorative panel located on the front side of the garment handling device 100. An operable display screen is mounted on the front panel 11, allowing the user to select the operating mode of the garment handling device 100. The front panel 11 is also part of the outer shell of the housing 1, which includes a back panel, a left side panel, a right side panel, and a top panel. The outer shell is composed of the front panel 11, back panel, left side panel, right side panel, and top panel. The outer shell may also include a bottom panel, which is designed according to specific requirements.

[0072] like Figure 3 As shown, the front panel 11 has two openings 11a, which are spaced apart along the width direction of the housing 1. The user can observe the interior of the housing 1 through these two openings 11a. The width direction of the housing 1 is... Figure 3 The direction from left to right or from right to left.

[0073] It should be noted that the width direction of box 1 is... Figure 2 The direction of the X-axis is [missing information], and the depth direction of box 1 is [missing information]. Figure 2 The direction of the Y-axis is such that the height direction of box 1 is... Figure 2 The direction of the Z-axis.

[0074] like Figure 6 As shown, the garment handling device 100 also includes an outer drum 2, and a water-holding cavity 21 is formed inside the outer drum 2. When the garment handling device 100 is in washing mode, the water-holding cavity 21 is used to hold water for washing the garments.

[0075] The water-holding cavity 21 includes a main cavity 21a and a heating cavity 21b. The heating cavity 21b is located at the bottom of the main cavity 21a and communicates with the main cavity 21a. A heater is installed in the heating cavity 21b for heating the water in the water-holding cavity 21.

[0076] like Figure 4 and Figure 7 As shown, the garment handling device 100 also includes a roller 3, which is rotatably disposed in the main cavity 21a of the outer cylinder 2. The roller 3 has a garment receiving cavity for receiving garments that need to be washed. The roller 3 is provided with a garment inlet, which is connected to the opening 11a of the front panel 11. The user puts the garments that need to be washed into the garment receiving cavity of the roller 3 through the garment inlet.

[0077] like Figure 6 and Figure 8 As shown, the garment handling device 100 also includes a first recess 22, which is formed by a partial outward indentation from the bottom of the outer drum 2. The first recess 22 has an air outlet 22a, which communicates with the outside of the housing 1. The air outlet 22a is higher than the axis of the outer drum 2 in the height direction of the housing 1. The position of the air outlet 22a above the axis of the outer drum 2 effectively prevents water from entering the air outlet 22a due to excessively high water levels during washing or spin-drying, thus avoiding backflow.

[0078] like Figure 6 and Figure 10 As shown, the clothing handling device 100 also includes a partition 6, which is disposed in the water-holding cavity 21 of the outer cylinder 2 and connected to the bottom of the outer cylinder 2. The partition 6 and the first recess 22 form an air outlet duct 221. The partition 6 is provided with an air inlet 6a that communicates with the air outlet duct 221. The air inlet 6a communicates with the clothing receiving cavity of the drum 3. When the clothing handling device 100 is in the drying mode, the high-temperature and humid gas in the drum 3 enters the air outlet duct 221 from the clothing receiving cavity through the air inlet 6a, and then exits the housing 1 through the air outlet duct 221.

[0079] In related technologies, the air outlet duct 221 is a separately manufactured component that is installed onto the outer wall of the outer cylinder 2 during assembly. This increases the volume and weight of the outer cylinder 2 after installation, leading to more components inside the housing 1 and increasing the space occupied within the housing 1, which is detrimental to the miniaturization of the housing 1. In this embodiment, however, the air outlet duct 221 is formed between the first recess 22 of the outer cylinder 2 and the partition 6. This cleverly utilizes the local space at the bottom of the outer cylinder 2 to construct the air outlet duct 221, avoiding the need for additional large ventilation ducts or openings on the side walls or other locations of the outer cylinder 2 to achieve the air outlet function. This reduces the space occupied within the housing 1, resulting in a more compact overall layout and facilitating the miniaturization of the housing 1.

[0080] In some embodiments, the bottom of the drum 3 is provided with a first through hole 3a, which communicates with the clothing receiving cavity. When the clothing handling device 100 is in drying mode, the high-temperature and humid gas inside the drum 3 is discharged through the first through hole 3a at the bottom of the drum 3.

[0081] like Figure 6 and Figure 8 As shown, the clothing handling device 100 also includes an air inlet duct structure 4, which is disposed on the outer wall of the outer cylinder 2. The air inlet end 4a of the air inlet duct structure 4 is connected to the outside of the housing 1, and the air outlet end 4b of the air inlet duct structure 4 is connected to the heating chamber 21b. The air inlet end 4a of the air inlet duct structure 4 is higher than the axis of the outer cylinder 2 in the height direction of the housing 1, and an air inlet duct 41 is formed inside the air inlet duct structure 4.

[0082] like Figure 9 As shown, the garment processing device 100 also includes a connecting plate 5, which is connected to the bottom of the roller 3 and is coaxially arranged with the roller 3. The connecting plate 5 is provided with a second through hole 5a, which is connected to the first through hole 3a along the axial direction of the outer cylinder 2, and is also connected to the air inlet 6a.

[0083] Combination Figure 4 and Figure 5 The garment handling device 100 also includes a drive unit 7, which provides power for the rotation of the drum 3. The drive unit 7 includes a drive shaft 71, which passes through the air inlet 6a and is connected to the connecting plate 5. The drive shaft 71 can drive the connecting plate 5 to rotate, thereby driving the drum 3 to rotate. When the garment handling device 100 is in washing mode, the drive unit 7 drives the connecting plate 5 to rotate, thereby driving the drum 3 to rotate relative to the outer drum 2, and the clothes inside the drum 3 are washed. When the garment handling device 100 is in drying mode, the drive unit 7 drives the connecting plate 5 to rotate, thereby driving the drum 3 to rotate relative to the outer drum 2, and the clothes inside the drum 3 are dried. The high-temperature gas after drying passes through the first through hole 3a, the second through hole 5a and the air inlet 6a in sequence and is then discharged through the air outlet duct 221.

[0084] like Figure 11 and Figure 12 As shown, the garment handling device 100 also includes an annular seal 8, which is disposed between the partition 6 and the connecting plate 5 and surrounds the drive shaft 71. The second through hole 5a and the air inlet 6a are both located within the area enclosed by the annular seal 8. One of the partition 6 and the connecting plate 5 is connected to the annular seal 8, and the other of the partition 6 and the connecting plate 5 abuts against the annular seal 8 to seal the gap between the partition 6 and the connecting plate 5 when the connecting plate 5 rotates relative to the partition 6.

[0085] When the garment handling device 100 is in drying mode, the drive component 7 drives the connecting plate 5 to rotate, thereby causing the drum 3 to rotate relative to the outer drum 2. The drying principle of the garment handling device 100 is to dry the clothes in the drum 3 with high-temperature gas. The gas enters the heating chamber 21b through the air inlet duct 41, and then enters the drum 3 to dry the clothes after being heated in the heating chamber 21b. The dried high-temperature humid gas passes through the first through hole 3a, the second through hole 5a and the air inlet 6a in sequence before entering the air outlet duct 221 formed by the partition 6 and the first recess 22. However, there is a gap between the partition 6 and the connecting plate 5, and the space between the partition 6 and the bottom of the outer cylinder 2 is also part of the main cavity 21a. Since the heating cavity 21b is connected to the main cavity 21a, the gas entering the heating cavity 21b from the air inlet duct 41 may flow into the main cavity 21a. Then the gas will enter the air outlet duct 221 through the gap between the partition 6 and the connecting plate 5, causing some of the airflow in the air inlet duct 41 to leak directly into the air outlet duct 221 through the gap between the partition 6 and the connecting plate 5, reducing the airflow for drying clothes and resulting in poor drying effect.

[0086] In related technologies, a labyrinth-type sealing structure is adopted between the partition 6 and the connecting plate 5. That is, by utilizing the structural characteristics of the partition 6 and the connecting plate 5, many tortuous small spaces are formed between the connecting plate 5 and the partition 6, and the gap between the connecting plate 5 and the partition 6 is controlled to be less than 0.5mm. This sealing method has very high requirements for the assembly precision between the connecting plate 5 and the partition 6. Even a slight assembly error will lead to seal failure, thus making it impossible to solve the technical problem.

[0087] In this embodiment, by setting an annular seal 8 between the partition 6 and the connecting plate 5, a dynamic seal between the partition 6 and the connecting plate 5 is achieved. This prevents the gas entering the heating chamber 21b from the air inlet duct 41 from flowing into the air outlet duct 221 through the gap between the partition 6 and the connecting plate 5. This ensures that the gas in the air inlet duct 41 can enter the heating chamber 21b and be heated to dry the clothes, thus ensuring the drying effect of the clothes processing device 100.

[0088] It should be noted that the driving component 7 that drives the connecting disc 5 to rotate is a motor. The motor can directly output driving force to the connecting disc 5, making the connecting disc 5 drive the roller 3 to rotate more efficiently.

[0089] In some embodiments, the outer cylinder 2 includes two outer cylinders 2, which are arranged side by side and spaced apart in the box 1 along the horizontal direction (i.e., the width direction of the box 1), and the openings of the two outer cylinders 2 are respectively connected to the two openings 11a of the front panel 11. The roller 3 includes two rollers 3, which are respectively arranged in the main cavity 21a of the two outer cylinders 2.

[0090] In other words, the garment handling device 100 is a twin-drum garment handling device. This allows the two outer drums 2 and two inner drums 3 to handle two batches of garments simultaneously, improving processing efficiency when multiple garments need to be processed at the same time. Furthermore, users can process different types of garments separately according to their needs; the two outer drums 2 and two inner drums 3 enable simultaneous washing, meeting the requirement of washing different types of garments separately.

[0091] It should be noted that the horizontal direction refers to the width direction of box 1. Figure 3 The X-axis direction in the diagram.

[0092] In some embodiments, such as Figure 11 and Figure 12 As shown, the partition 6 has a first annular extension 61 at one end facing the connecting disc 5, and the connecting disc 5 has a second annular extension 51 at one end facing the partition 6. The second annular extension 51 and the first annular extension 61 are opposite each other along the radial direction of the roller 3, and the annular seal 8 is located between the first annular extension 61 and the second annular extension 51 along the radial direction of the roller 3.

[0093] Wherein, the radial direction of the roller is... Figure 4 The Z-axis direction in the middle is also... Figure 12 The direction from top to bottom or from bottom to top.

[0094] Because radial sealing better adapts to the relative movement between the roller 3 and the outer cylinder 2, it ensures that the annular seal 8 fits tightly at different positions, thereby preventing gas from leaking from the gap between the connecting plate 5 and the partition 6 into the air outlet duct 221. Therefore, the annular seal 8, arranged radially between the first annular extension 61 and the second annular extension 51 of the roller 3, provides a more uniform sealing effect. Furthermore, when the roller 3 rotates, the radial arrangement of the annular seal 8 better adapts to the movement of the roller 3, providing a dynamic sealing effect, reducing wear on the annular seal 8 caused by the rotation of the roller 3, and extending the service life of the annular seal 8.

[0095] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 10 and Figure 12 The first annular extension 61 is provided with an annular groove 611, and the annular seal 8 includes a main body 81, which is engaged in the annular groove 611.

[0096] The annular seal 8 also includes an abutment portion 82, which is connected to the outer periphery of the main body portion 81 and located outside the annular groove 611. The abutment portion 82 is used to abut against the second annular extension portion 51.

[0097] When the main body 81 of the annular seal 8 is engaged in the annular groove 611, the contact between the annular seal 8 and the partition 6 is more uniform and sufficient, which can prevent the annular seal 8 from shifting or loosening during use, thereby improving the sealing effect. The contact between the abutting part 82 and the second annular extension 51 of the connecting plate 5 means that the abutting part 82 and the connecting plate 5 are tightly fitted, which can reduce gas leakage during the rotation of the roller 3 relative to the outer cylinder 2.

[0098] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 10 and Figure 11 An annular groove 611 is provided on the end face of the first annular extension 61 facing the connecting disc 5. At this time, after the main body 81 of the annular seal 8 is engaged with the annular groove 611, the annular groove 611 limits the radial position of the main body 81 of the annular seal 8, ensuring that the radial position of the main body 81 of the annular seal 8 does not change during the rotation of the roller 3 relative to the outer cylinder 2. This ensures the stability of the annular seal 8 after installation, reduces gas leakage caused by displacement or loosening of the annular seal 8, and thus improves the sealing effect.

[0099] It should be noted that, in addition to the annular groove 611 being provided on the first annular extension 61 as described in the above embodiments, the annular groove 611 can also be provided on the second annular extension 51, and disposed on the end face of the second annular extension 51 facing the partition 6. This embodiment does not specifically limit this. In this case, the main body 81 of the annular seal 8 is engaged in the annular groove 611, and the abutting part 82 abuts against the first annular extension 61.

[0100] In some embodiments, such as Figure 10 As shown, the first annular extension 61 has a stop 612 on its end face facing the connecting plate 5. The stop 612 is positioned opposite the opening of the annular groove 611 to prevent the annular seal 8 from coming out of the groove. During the rotation of the roller 3 relative to the outer cylinder 2, the roller 3 vibrates, which is transmitted to the outer cylinder 2, causing the partition 6 to vibrate. This can cause the annular seal 8 in the annular groove 611 to move axially, potentially coming out of the groove and causing the seal between the connecting plate 5 and the partition 6 to fail. Therefore, in this embodiment, the stop 612 can block the main body 81 of the annular seal 8, preventing it from coming out of the annular groove 611 and ensuring the sealing reliability of the annular seal 8 after installation.

[0101] In some embodiments, such as Figure 10 As shown, the stop portion 612 includes multiple stops, which are spaced apart circumferentially along the annular groove 611. In this way, the multiple stops 612 can block the main body 81 of the annular seal 8 circumferentially, preventing a situation where part of it is blocked in the annular groove 611 while another part comes out of the annular groove 611, resulting in seal failure.

[0102] It should be noted that "stop portion 612 includes multiple" means that there are two or more stop portions 612, that is, there can be two, three, four or more stop portions 612. In this embodiment, as shown... Figure 10 As shown, there are five stop portions 612, which are evenly spaced along the circumferential interval of the annular groove 611.

[0103] In some embodiments, such as Figure 12 and Figure 13 As shown, the abutment portion 82 is arranged around the outer periphery of the main body portion 81, and the outer edge of the abutment portion 82 is inclined towards the side away from the connecting disk 5. The annular seal 8 itself has a certain degree of elasticity. If the outer edge of the abutment portion 82 is perpendicular to the main body portion 81, or if the outer edge of the abutment portion 82 faces the connecting disk 5, after the connecting disk 5 rotates for a period of time, a portion of the abutment portion 82 will be worn away, resulting in a gap between the abutment portion 82 and the connecting disk 5, leading to gas leakage. In this embodiment, because the outer edge of the abutment portion 82 is inclined towards the side away from the connecting disk 5, after the connecting disk 5 rotates for a period of time, a portion of the outer edge of the abutment portion 82 is worn away. At this time, under the elastic force, the outer edge of the abutment portion 82 continues to abut against the second annular extension portion 51. That is to say, during the wear process of the outer edge of the abutment portion 82, due to the elastic force, the abutment portion 82 continues to abut against the second annular extension portion 51. This prevents gaps from forming between the abutting portion 82 and the second annular extension 51 due to wear, thus ensuring the sealing effect of the annular seal 8.

[0104] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 13 and Figure 14 The included angle α between the contact portion 82 and the main body portion 81 is 30° to 40°.

[0105] When the included angle α between the abutting part 82 and the main body part 81 is greater than 40°, the local pressure at the contact portion between the abutting part 82 and the second annular extension 51 is too large, which causes the wear of the abutting part 82 to intensify during the wear process, and the abutting part 82 cannot maintain the contact with the second annular extension 51 under the action of elasticity.

[0106] When the included angle α between the abutting part 82 and the main body part 81 is less than 30°, the contact area between the abutting part 82 and the second annular extension 51 may be reduced, making the abutting between the abutting part 82 and the second annular extension 51 unstable, thereby reducing the sealing performance.

[0107] Therefore, in this embodiment, the included angle α between the abutting portion 82 and the main body portion 81 is 30° to 40°. This ensures that the contact area between the abutting portion 82 and the second annular extension portion 51 is uniform, thereby improving the sealing performance. It also reduces friction between the abutting portion 82 and the second annular extension portion 51, thereby reducing wear and extending the service life of the annular seal 8. For example, if the included angle α between the abutting portion 82 and the main body portion 81 is 35°, the abutting portion 82 can withstand friction for a longer period and maintain prolonged contact with the second annular extension portion 51, ensuring the sealing performance of the annular seal 8.

[0108] In some embodiments, combined with Figure 6 and Figure 10 The garment processing device 100 also includes a second recess 23, which is formed by a partial outward indentation from the bottom of the outer cylinder 2. The second recess 23 and the partition 6 together form an air inlet duct 41. This means that the air inlet duct structure 4 is integrated into the bottom structure of the outer cylinder 2, eliminating the need for a separate air inlet duct structure 4 inside the housing 1. This avoids the additional space occupied by a separate air inlet duct structure 4 inside the housing 1, thus improving the overall space utilization rate inside the housing 1. Furthermore, the air inlet duct 41 formed by the second recess 23 and the partition 6 simplifies the structure of the garment processing device 100 and reduces manufacturing costs to some extent.

[0109] In some embodiments, the annular seal 8 is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

[0110] Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a polymer material produced by the polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene monomers. Its molecular chains have a linear structure, resulting in high stability and a low melting point. This allows PTFE to maintain good mechanical properties at high temperatures, making it difficult to decompose or melt. Furthermore, the weak intermolecular forces within PTFE molecular chains facilitate chain sliding, thereby reducing the material's coefficient of friction.

[0111] Secondly, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) has a very low surface energy, meaning that under the same conditions, it more easily forms a lubricating film when in contact with other substances. This lubricating film effectively reduces friction between the two objects, thus reducing wear. Simultaneously, because PTFE is a non-polar material with a relatively uniform surface charge distribution, it does not easily attract dust, grease, or other impurities, thus exhibiting good anti-adhesion properties. This helps protect the lubricating film on the PTFE surface, further reducing wear.

[0112] Therefore, choosing polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as the material for the annular seal 8 results in a lower coefficient of friction, reducing the friction between the second annular extension 51 of the connecting disc 5 and the annular seal 8. This allows the garment handling device 100 using the annular seal 8 to rotate the roller 3 easily during operation without overcoming excessive friction, thus reducing the energy consumption of the garment handling device 100. Furthermore, choosing PTFE as the material for the annular seal 8 reduces wear and extends its service life, enabling it to meet the sealing requirements during the rotation of the connecting disc 5 for a longer period.

[0113] It should be noted that the material of the annular seal 8 can be polytetrafluoroethylene as described in the above embodiments, or it can be polyoxymethylene (POM), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), epoxy resin (EP), polyurethane (PU) or polyimide (PI), etc. This embodiment does not make specific limitations on this.

[0114] For example, when the annular seal 8 is made of polyoxymethylene (POM), POM has a low coefficient of friction due to its self-lubricating and fatigue-resistant properties. Furthermore, POM has high bond energy and high cohesive energy, resulting in good wear resistance. When the annular seal 8 is made of polyimide, polyimide has a low coefficient of friction and good self-lubricating properties, reducing friction and wear during the rotation of the connecting disc 5, thus facilitating the rotation of the connecting disc 5.

[0115] Please see Figure 15 Secondly, this application discloses a combined garment processing device 300, which includes a first garment processing device 301 and a second garment processing device. The second garment processing device is the garment processing device 100 described in the first aspect, and is detachably mounted on top of the first garment processing device 301. The first garment processing device 301 can be a drum washing machine, dryer, washer-dryer combo, etc., and can be selected according to different user needs. This allows the combined garment processing device 300 to perform categorized washing or separate washing and drying functions. For example, the first garment processing device 301 can be used to wash large items such as blankets, quilts, or coats, while the second garment processing device is used to wash small garments; or, the first garment processing device 301 can be used for washing, and the second garment processing device can be used for both washing and drying.

[0116] It should be noted that the widths of the first garment processing device 301 and the second garment processing device stacked vertically in the combined garment processing equipment 300 are equal, making the combined garment processing equipment 300 look neater and more aesthetically pleasing.

[0117] The combined garment processing equipment 300 employs a second garment processing device. When the second garment processing device is in drying mode, the gap between the connecting plate 5 and the partition 6 of the second garment processing device is sealed by the annular seal 8, preventing the airflow for drying from leaking from the gap between the connecting plate 5 and the partition 6 into the air outlet duct 221, thereby ensuring the drying effect of the second garment processing device and meeting the user's needs.

[0118] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application 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. Such 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 application.

Claims

1. A laundry treating apparatus, characterized by, include: Box; An outer cylinder is disposed inside the box body, and a water-holding cavity is formed inside the outer cylinder; A roller, which is rotatably disposed within the water-holding cavity, has a clothing-accommodating cavity inside the roller; The first recess is formed by a partial outward indentation of the bottom of the outer cylinder. The first recess has an air outlet that communicates with the outside of the housing. The air outlet is higher than the axis of the outer cylinder in the height direction of the housing. A partition is disposed in the water-holding cavity and connected to the bottom of the outer cylinder. The partition and the first recess form an air outlet duct. The partition is provided with an air inlet that communicates with the air outlet duct and the air inlet communicates with the clothing-holding cavity. 2.The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein The water-containing cavity includes: The main cavity, in which the roller is rotatably disposed; A heating chamber, which is located at the bottom of the main cavity and communicates with the main cavity; The bottom of the roller is provided with a first through hole, which communicates with the clothing receiving cavity. The clothing processing device further includes: An air inlet duct structure is provided on the outer wall of the outer cylinder. The air inlet end of the air inlet duct structure is connected to the outside of the housing, and the air outlet end of the air inlet duct structure is connected to the heating cavity. The air inlet end of the air inlet duct structure is higher than the axis of the outer cylinder in the height direction of the housing, and an air inlet duct is formed inside the air inlet duct structure. A connecting plate is connected to the bottom of the drum and is coaxially arranged with the drum. The connecting plate is provided with a second through hole along the axial direction of the outer cylinder. The second through hole communicates with the first through hole and is also connected to the air inlet. The driving element includes; A drive shaft passes through the air inlet and is connected to the connecting plate. The drive shaft can drive the connecting plate to rotate, thereby driving the roller to rotate. An annular seal is disposed between the partition and the connecting disc and surrounds the drive shaft. The second through hole and the air inlet are both located within the area enclosed by the annular seal. One of the partition and the connecting disc is connected to the annular seal, and the other of the partition and the connecting disc abuts against the annular seal to seal the gap between the partition and the connecting disc when the connecting disc rotates relative to the partition. 3.The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 2, wherein The partition plate has a first annular extension at one end facing the connecting disc, and the connecting disc has a second annular extension at one end facing the partition plate. The second annular extension and the first annular extension are opposite each other along the radial direction of the roller, and the annular seal is located between the first annular extension and the second annular extension along the radial direction of the roller. 4.The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 3, wherein The first annular extension is provided with an annular groove, and the annular seal includes: The main body is snapped into the annular groove; The abutting portion is connected to the outer periphery of the main body and located outside the annular groove. The abutting portion is used to abut against the second annular extension. 5.The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 4, wherein The first annular extension is further provided with a stop portion on the end face facing the connecting plate. The stop portion is positioned opposite to the groove opening of the annular groove to prevent the main body of the annular seal from coming out of the groove opening of the annular groove. 6.The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, The abutting portion is disposed around the outer periphery of the main body, the outer edge of the abutting portion is inclined toward the side away from the connecting plate, and / or the included angle between the abutting portion and the main body is 30°~40°. 7.The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 2, wherein The garment processing device further includes: The second recess is formed by a partial outward indentation at the bottom of the outer cylinder, and the second recess and the partition form the air inlet duct.

8. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer cylinder includes two cylinders, which are arranged side by side with a horizontal gap in the box. The rollers include two rollers, which are respectively disposed in the main cavities of the two outer cylinders.

9. The clothes treating apparatus of any one of claims 2-8, wherein, The material of the annular seal includes polytetrafluoroethylene. 10.A combination laundry treatment apparatus, characterized in that, include: First garment processing device; The second garment processing device is the garment processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and the second garment processing device is detachably disposed on the top of the first garment processing device.