Functional device and household appliance having same

Abstract

The present invention provides a functional device and a household appliance having same. The functional device comprises: at least one slow-release functional unit, wherein the slow-release functional unit comprises an insoluble base frame and a soluble functional portion. Therefore, a functional material required in the use process of the household appliance can be carried by adding the soluble functional portion having a specific function into a space supported by the insoluble base frame.

Description

Functional device and household appliance having the same

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202211523434.0, filed on November 30, 2022, and entitled “A functional device and a household appliance having the same”, and claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202210836418.0, filed on July 15, 2022, and entitled “Sustained-release structure, clothing processing device and cleaning device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of household appliances, and in particular to a functional device and a household appliance having the same. Background Art

[0004] In the prior art, household appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, and floor scrubbers typically add functional materials to their working environments to achieve multiple functions such as deodorization, descaling, and sterilization. These materials include aromatherapy for deodorization, salts for descaling, silver phosphates for sterilization, guanidines for long-lasting antibacterial properties, and healthy natural sterilizers. In order to facilitate use and maintain the long-term effectiveness of these functional materials, these functional materials typically require the use of specially designed carriers for their loading, such as silver phosphates for loading on glass, natural antimicrobial agents and guanidines for loading on plastic matrices, and activated carbon for loading descaling salts. However, these functional materials are essentially randomly dispersed within the matrix, making it difficult to form a stable release pathway. Only the functional materials dispersed on the surface of the matrix can be released to function, while the functional materials within the matrix are difficult to dissolve in water and release, making it difficult to fully utilize the functional materials. Furthermore, the aforementioned solutions require the design of specialized carriers for different types of functional materials, and these carriers lack versatility and scalability, making it difficult for multiple functional materials to function simultaneously on household appliances and failing to meet user needs.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to solve one of the technical problems in the related art at least to a certain extent.

[0007] To this end, one object of the present invention is to propose a functional device for use in household appliances; the functional device includes a sustained-release functional unit that can slowly and completely release functional materials, and the sustained-release functional unit can serve as a universal carrier for different functional materials, providing a good user experience.

[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a functional device. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the functional device includes: at least one sustained-release functional unit; wherein the sustained-release functional unit includes an insoluble base and a soluble functional portion. Thus, in the device for household appliances, by adding a soluble functional portion with a specific function in the space supported by the insoluble base, the functional materials required during the operation of the household appliance can be carried. The sustained-release functional unit can be used as a universal carrying platform for different functional materials, and has good versatility and scalability. Users can choose functional devices with different sustained-release functional units and apply them to household appliances, so as to achieve the effect of slowly and fully releasing functional materials during the use of the household appliances, thereby improving the user experience.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the insoluble scaffold includes a plurality of scaffold branches spaced apart from each other, a gap exists between any two scaffold branches, and at least some of the plurality of gaps are connected to form channels.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the surface of the slow-release functional unit includes an opening, and the opening communicates with the outside of the slow-release functional unit and the channel.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the soluble functional portion includes a soluble base material and a functional material, and the soluble functional portion fills at least a portion of the space of the channel, wherein the functional material is mixed in the soluble base material.

[0012] Thus, the functional material is mixed in the soluble substrate to form a soluble functional part, and the soluble functional part fills at least part of the space of the channel. The channel is defined by a plurality of substrate branches to form an irregular shape and is connected to the outside of the sustained-release functional unit through an opening. The dissolving medium can flow into the channel through the opening to dissolve the soluble functional part, and the functional material is released into the environment outside the insoluble base as the soluble functional part dissolves. Since the channel is an irregular shape, the dissolving medium fully flushes and dissolves the functional material through changes in flow rate and flow direction in the channel. Therefore, as the sustained-release functional unit is used, all functional materials in the channel can be gradually released completely, thereby improving the service life and material utilization rate of the sustained-release functional unit and avoiding waste of functional materials.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sustained-release functional unit includes: 30 to 70 parts by weight of an insoluble base frame; 15 to 60 parts by weight of a soluble base material; and 1 to 35 parts by weight of a functional material.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sustained-release functional unit further comprises: 5 to 10 parts by weight of a chain extender.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the soluble matrix includes at least one of polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, and polyethylene oxide.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the insoluble base comprises at least one of plastic, rubber and fiber.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the functional material includes at least one of metal substances, polymer substances, natural extract substances, scale inhibitor substances, and ionic substances, or a combination thereof.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the household appliance further comprises a water supply device, the water supply device being connected to the aforementioned functional device, and the water supply device being adapted to supply water to the functional device. Thus, during operation of the household appliance, the dissolving medium supply device supplies the dissolving medium to the aforementioned functional device, so that the functional material in the sustained-release functional unit can be released into the environment outside the insoluble base frame as the soluble substrate dissolves in the dissolving medium, thereby meeting the user's needs for multiple functions, extending the usage time of the sustained-release functional unit, and improving material utilization, thereby avoiding waste of functional materials and providing a good user experience.

[0019] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description which follows, or may be learned by practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present application will become apparent and easily understood from the description of the embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0021] FIG1 is a structural diagram of a household appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG2 shows a functional device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG3 is a cross-sectional view of a functional device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a sustained-release functional unit in one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Below, the scheme of the present invention will be explained in conjunction with embodiment.It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the following examples are only used to illustrate the present invention and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of the present invention.In the embodiment, if specific technology or conditions are not indicated, the technology or conditions described in the literature in this area or the product instructions are used.The reagents or instruments used are not indicated by the manufacturer, and are all conventional products that can be obtained by commercial purchase.

[0026] The present invention is described below with reference to specific examples. It should be noted that these examples are merely illustrative and do not limit the present invention in any way.

[0027] In one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a household appliance, wherein the household appliance includes a washing machine, a clothes dryer, a dishwasher, a floor scrubber, a water purifier and other optional household appliances. The present invention takes a washing machine as an example. According to an embodiment of the present invention, referring to Figure 1, the washing machine includes an outer barrel 1, an inner barrel with a clothing cavity, a door seal 2, a dispensing device 3 and a water supply device 4. Among them, the outer barrel 1 has an opening on one axial side, and the inner barrel is rotatably arranged in the outer barrel 1. The rotation of the inner barrel drives the movement of clothes, detergent and / or water, thereby treating the clothes. The door seal 2 surrounds the opening of the outer barrel 1, and the door seal 2 is formed with a liquid delivery port 2a and a clothes dispensing port 2b connected to the clothing cavity. The dispensing device 3 is provided with a detergent cavity for placing detergent, and the water supply device 4 is used to provide water to the washing machine. Specifically, the water supply device 4 can be an inlet valve or a circulation pump.

[0028] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a washing machine includes a functional device 5. Functional device 5 is defined as a device that adds functional materials to the washing machine's operating environment to achieve various functions, such as deodorization, descaling, sterilization, care, and decontamination. The present invention does not limit its specific functions. Functional device 5 can be located in various locations within the washing machine and can have various configurations, as long as it is directly or indirectly connected to water supply device 4. For example, functional device 5 can be a container with a cavity, such as the functional device 5 shown in FIG3 , or a groove in the door seal 2 , or a lifting rib in the inner drum. In other words, any structure in the washing machine capable of housing functional materials is an optional configuration for functional device 5, and the present invention does not limit this. Accordingly, functional device 5 can be placed in various locations within the washing machine. For example, if functional device 5 is in the form of a container with a cavity, it can be placed in the dispensing device 3 or in the water inlet line; if functional device 5 is in the form of a groove, it can be placed in the door seal 2 ; and if functional device 5 is in the form of a lifting rib, it can be placed in the inner drum. In other words, functional devices 5 of different configurations can be placed in corresponding locations. In addition, in other types of household appliances, such as dishwashers, floor scrubbers, water purifiers, etc., the shape and setting position of the functional device 5 can be changed according to the characteristics of the household appliances, and the present invention is not limited to this. According to an embodiment of the present invention, taking the form of the functional device 5 as a container with a accommodating cavity and arranged in the dispensing device 3 as an example, referring to Figures 1 to 3, the dispensing device 3 includes a detergent box and a dispenser 31, and the detergent box has a water inlet 32. The water supply device 4 is connected to the water inlet 32, and the water flows into the dispenser 31 through the water inlet 32. The dispenser 31 has a dispenser shell, and a chamber is defined in the dispenser shell. The functional device 5 is arranged in the chamber, and the water entering the dispenser 31 can flow into the functional device 5. The dispensing device 3 and the door seal 2 also have a first drainage pipe 6. The solution in which the functional material is dissolved flows out of the functional device 5 through the first drainage pipe into the door seal 2 and into the inner barrel.

[0029] According to an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to FIG3 , a sustained-release functional unit is defined as a unit capable of slowly releasing a functional material in a dissolving medium (e.g., water, an acidic solution, or an alkaline solution, etc.), and is a solid product formed by processing a plurality of materials through specific process steps. Exemplarily, each sustained-release functional unit can be in the form of solid particles. The functional device 5 may include one or more sustained-release functional units. The plurality of sustained-release functional units may have the same function, or may have a plurality of different functional units, which is not specifically limited by the present invention.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG4 , the sustained-release functional unit includes an insoluble base 10 and a soluble functional portion 20. The insoluble base 10 is insoluble in water or detergent solution, and the soluble functional portion 20 can gradually dissolve in water or detergent solution and gradually release functional materials during the dissolution process to achieve the functions required by the household appliance. In a complete sustained-release functional unit, the insoluble base 10 serves as the main body to support the space where the sustained-release functional unit is located, and the soluble functional portion 20 is formed inside the space where the sustained-release functional unit is located with the insoluble base 10 as the carrier. In a certain cross-section of a complete sustained-release functional unit, as shown in FIG4 , by observing with a microscopic observation device such as an electron microscope, alternating distribution of the insoluble base 10 and the soluble functional portion 20 can be seen. Thus, the sustained-release functional unit can achieve the functions required during the operation of the household appliance by adding a soluble functional portion 20 with a specific function in the space supported by the insoluble base 10 under the action of a dissolving medium. The slow-release functional unit can serve as a universal carrying platform for different functional materials, and has good versatility and scalability. Users can choose functional devices with different slow-release functional units. When the water supply device 4 injects the dissolving medium into the functional device 5, the dissolving medium can dissolve the soluble functional part 20 and slowly release it into the environment outside the insoluble base 10, thereby achieving the effect of slowly and fully releasing the functional material during the clothing processing process, thereby improving the user experience.

[0031] In some embodiments, referring to FIG4 , the insoluble scaffold 10 includes a plurality of scaffold branches (10(1), 10(2), 10(3)), wherein the outer edges of the plurality of scaffold branches (10(1), 10(2), 10(3)) are spaced apart from each other in space, and a gap (30(1), 30(2), 30(3)) is formed between the outer edges of any two scaffold branches (10(1), 10(2), 10(3)). The plurality of gaps (30(1), 30(2), 30(3)) are randomly distributed in any direction in space, that is, in any direction in space, at least some of the gaps (30(1), 30(2), 30(3)) are not in the same plane. Taking the cross section shown in FIG4 as an example, at least some of the gaps (30(1), 30(2), 30(3)) are interconnected to form a channel 30. Since the boundary of each gap (30(1), 30(2), 30(3)) is irregular and multiple gaps are randomly distributed in space, the boundary of channel 30 is an irregular boundary and the path in space is a return path. The movement of the fluid in channel 30 will show frequent changes in flow rate and flow direction, which is conducive to flushing the soluble functional parts 20 carried on each frame branch and promoting the full dissolution of the functional material.

[0032] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG4 , the outer surface of the sustained-release functional unit 100 further includes an opening 32. From a macroscopic perspective, the sustained-release functional unit 5 as a whole presents an object with a certain shape, so it has an outer surface from a macroscopic perspective. From a microscopic perspective, as shown in FIG4 , the various frame branches (10(1), 10(2), 10(3)) are not connected in at least part of the area of ​​the cut edge, so it can be observed that there are several openings 32 on the cut edge 31, that is, these openings 32 also exist on the outer surface 31 from a macroscopic perspective, for connecting the outside of the sustained-release functional unit 100 and the channel 30, and the fluid can enter the flow channel 30 of the sustained-release functional unit 100 from the outside of the sustained-release functional unit 100 through the several openings 32 to dissolve the soluble functional part 20.

[0033] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG4 , the soluble functional portion 20 fills part or all of the space in the channel 30. Preferably, the soluble functional portion 20 is mounted on each of the scaffold branches (10(1), 10(2), 10(3)) of the insoluble scaffold 10 and fills the entire space in the channel 30, thereby increasing the amount of the soluble functional portion 20 that can be carried and the internal space of the sustained-release functional unit 100, thereby extending the service life of the sustained-release functional unit 100.

[0034] In this embodiment, the soluble functional portion 20 fills at least part of the space of the channel 30, and the channel 30 is defined by a plurality of substrate branches (10(1), 10(2), 10(3)) to form an irregular flow channel and is connected to the outside of the sustained-release functional unit 100 through the opening 32. The dissolving medium can flow into the channel 30 through the opening 32 to dissolve the soluble functional portion 20, and the soluble functional portion 20 is released into the environment outside the insoluble base 10 during the dissolution process. Since the channel 30 is an irregular flow channel, the dissolving medium flushes and fully dissolves the functional material through changes in flow rate and flow direction in the channel 30. Therefore, as the sustained-release functional unit 100 is used, all the soluble functional portions 20 in the channel 30 can be gradually released completely, thereby improving the service life and material utilization rate of the sustained-release functional unit 100 and avoiding waste of functional materials.

[0035] In some embodiments, the soluble functional portion 20 includes a soluble base material and a functional material, and the functional material is mixed in the soluble base material.

[0036] In this embodiment, the soluble substrate includes at least one of polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol, and polyethylene oxide. These soluble substrates have good solubility, slowly dissolving in water and not chemically reacting with the functional material upon contact with water, thereby ensuring the stability of the sustained-release functional unit 100. Furthermore, these materials are safe and will not affect clothing after dissolving in water. Furthermore, because different soluble substrates have different solubilities in water, the present invention can also control the dissolution rate of the soluble functional portion 20 by selecting different specific types of soluble substrates to meet the different application requirements and application environments of the sustained-release functional unit 100.

[0037] In some embodiments, the molecular weight of the soluble substrate can be 50,000 to 3,000,000. Soluble substrates with such molecular weights have suitable solubility. Furthermore, the present invention can also control the dissolution rate of the soluble functional portion 20 by controlling the molecular weight of the soluble substrate. If the molecular weight of the soluble substrate is less than 50,000, the soluble functional portion 20 is difficult to form due to excessively high dissolution rates. If the molecular weight of the soluble substrate is greater than 3,000,000, the soluble functional portion 20 has a relatively large limit, making processing difficult and forming a continuous soluble functional portion structure difficult.

[0038] In an embodiment of the present invention, the functional material includes at least one of heavy metal substances, polymer substances, natural extract substances, scale inhibitor substances, and ionic substances, or a combination thereof. Thus, the slow-release functional unit 100 has functions such as water softening, scale removal, sterilization, deodorization, care, and decontamination. Those skilled in the art can flexibly select appropriate functional materials according to the actual conditions of the application environment of the slow-release functional unit 100 to meet the application requirements of the slow-release functional unit 100. Among them, the water softener substance can be a phosphate, a silicate, an imine sulfonate, an amino acid derivative, a hydroxy acid and its derivatives, a polyacrylic acid and its derivatives, etc., the scale inhibitor substance can be a substance such as sodium citrate, sodium polyaspartate, disodium edetate, etc., the metal substance can be a heavy metal substance (such as silver ion, copper ion), a metal compound substance (such as silver nitrate, copper sulfate), etc., the natural extract substance can be an amino acid, lavender oil, tea tree oil, paeonol, etc., the polymer substance can be a polyhexamethylene guanidine, an amino acid type, a quaternary ammonium salt, a polyquaternary ammonium acid, etc. Of course, those skilled in the art may also select other functional materials that can be blended with the soluble substrate without losing effectiveness according to the specific application of the sustained-release functional unit 100 .

[0039] In an embodiment of the present invention, the insoluble matrix 10 comprises at least one of a polymer (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, polylactic acid), rubber, and fiber. The insoluble matrix 10 formed from these materials is relatively stable and is not easily deformed by a certain amount of water flow. Furthermore, it is stable and not easily deteriorated. Furthermore, the insoluble matrix 10 formed from these materials can form a chemical bond with the soluble substrate, thereby improving the stability of the sustained-release functional unit 100.

[0040] In an embodiment of the present invention, the sustained-release functional unit 100 includes: 30 to 70 parts by weight (e.g., 30 parts by weight, 35 parts by weight, 40 parts by weight, 45 parts by weight, 50 parts by weight, 55 parts by weight, 60 parts by weight, 65 parts by weight, 70 parts by weight) of an insoluble base 10; 15 to 60 parts by weight (e.g., 15 parts by weight, 20 parts by weight, 25 parts by weight, 30 parts by weight, 35 parts by weight, 40 parts by weight, 45 parts by weight, 50 parts by weight, 55 parts by weight, 60 parts by weight) of a soluble substrate; and 1 to 35 parts by weight (e.g., 1 part by weight, 5 parts by weight, 10 parts by weight, 15 parts by weight, 18 parts by weight, 20 parts by weight, 23 parts by weight, 25 parts by weight, 28 parts by weight, 30 parts by weight, 32 parts by weight, 34 parts by weight, 35 parts by weight) of a functional material. Thus, the sustained-release functional unit 100 of the above components has an appropriate amount of soluble substrate and functional material, so that the insoluble matrix and the soluble functional part 20 in the sustained-release functional unit 100 have an appropriate volume ratio, ensuring the structural stability of the sustained-release functional unit 100 and the rate and efficacy of the sustained-release functional material; if the amount of the insoluble matrix is ​​too much, that is, the volume fraction of the soluble substrate in the sustained-release functional unit 100 is small, and the volume fraction of the soluble functional part 20 is small, this will relatively reduce the service life of the sustained-release functional unit 100, and the insoluble matrix will be too high. The internal skeleton of the matrix is ​​relatively compact, which makes it difficult for the soluble functional part 20 inside the sustained-release functional unit 100 to come into contact with water, making it difficult to dissolve or the dissolution rate too slow, weakening the effectiveness of the functional material. Conversely, if the amount of the insoluble matrix is ​​too small, that is, the volume fraction of the insoluble matrix in the sustained-release functional unit 100 is small, and the internal soluble functional part 20 is relatively large, the stability between the soluble functional part 20 and the insoluble matrix is ​​relatively poor, and the dissolution rate of the soluble functional part 20 is too fast, which easily leads to material waste. The above-mentioned amount of functional material and soluble matrix can make the functional material more evenly dispersed in the soluble matrix and make the concentration of the functional material in the soluble functional part 20 better, thereby ensuring the functional effect of the sustained-release functional unit 100. Thus, by controlling the dosage of each of the aforementioned components, the dissolution rate of the soluble functional portion 20 can be controlled, thereby satisfying the desired efficacy of the functional material of the sustained-release functional unit 100 while also preventing excessive dissolution of the functional material, which could result in material waste. The specific dosage of the functional material can be set by those skilled in the art within a range of 1 to 35 parts by weight, depending on the specific functional material. For example, for a functional material containing silver ions, the dosage of the functional material can be appropriately reduced.

[0041] In an embodiment of the present invention, the sustained-release functional unit 100 further comprises 5 to 10 parts by weight (e.g., 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 parts by weight) of a chain extender. The addition of the chain extender can modify the insoluble matrix to cause a chemical reaction between the insoluble matrix and the soluble substrate, thereby reducing the water dissolution rate of the soluble functional portion 20, optimizing the sustained-release time, and achieving controllable dissolution rate through both physical and chemical means.

[0042] In an embodiment of the present invention, a reactive chain extender is introduced between the soluble substrate and a portion of the active insoluble base to chemically connect the two. Specifically, the chemical bond is formed by adding a chain extender that reacts with the soluble substrate and the active insoluble base during the melt blending process, thereby causing a chain extension reaction. If the insoluble base is a polyester containing hydroxyl or carboxyl groups, the chain extender can be a material containing epoxy groups. The epoxy groups react with the terminal hydroxyl groups of the soluble substrate and the carboxyl or hydroxyl groups of the insoluble base material, thereby chemically connecting the two. In this way, the bonding force between the soluble functional portion 20 and the insoluble base can be improved, thereby improving the stability of the sustained-release functional unit 100 and preventing the soluble functional portion 20 from falling off the insoluble base, which affects product quality. In addition, the dissolution rate of the soluble substrate can be controlled, thereby controlling the release rate of the functional material in the sustained-release functional unit 100, thereby extending the service life of the sustained-release functional unit 100 while ensuring the effective function of the functional material.

[0043] In an embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG4 , the width d of the soluble functional portion 20 is 50 nanometers to 50 micrometers, for example, d is 50 nanometers, 100 nanometers, 300 nanometers, 500 nanometers, 800 nanometers, 1 micrometer, 5 micrometers, 10 micrometers, 15 micrometers, 20 micrometers, 25 micrometers, 30 micrometers, 35 micrometers, 40 micrometers, 45 micrometers, and 50 micrometers. Thus, the soluble functional portion 20 in the above-mentioned width range can allow water molecules to pass through smoothly, as well as the functional material and soluble substrate after the soluble functional portion 20 is dissolved, without causing blockage. Furthermore, the dissolution rate of the soluble functional portion 20 can be controlled by controlling the width of the soluble functional portion 20, wherein the width of the soluble functional portion 20 can be controlled by factors such as the amount of the insoluble base and the process conditions for preparing the sustained-release functional unit 100. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, as shown in FIG1 , the widths of the soluble functional parts 20 at different positions in the sustained-release functional unit 100 are not completely the same, as long as their widths d are within the range of 50 nanometers to 50 micrometers.

[0044] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for preparing the sustained-release functional unit 100 may include:

[0045] S200: performing a second blending and a second granulation process on the functional masterbatch and the insoluble material in sequence to obtain a sustained-release functional unit 100.

[0046] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a functional masterbatch is defined as a soluble masterbatch mixed with a functional material, the main body of the functional masterbatch is composed of a soluble substance, and the functional material is dispersed in the soluble substance in a molecular, ionic or atomic state. There are no special requirements for the working temperature of the second blending, and those skilled in the art can flexibly choose according to actual conditions such as the specific type of insoluble material and the specific equipment of the extruder (used for blending). In some embodiments, a twin-screw extruder can be used for blending. When a twin-screw extruder is used, the working temperature of one zone of the twin-screw extruder is about 50°C, and the working temperature of the remaining working zones (such as zones 2 and 3) is 160°C to 190°C.

[0047] According to an embodiment of the present invention, before the second granulation treatment is carried out, the mixture obtained by the second blending is subjected to a second air-cooling treatment in advance. As mentioned above, the temperature of the product obtained after blending by the extruder is relatively high, at about 160°C to 190°C, and it is not easy to shape, so in order to facilitate subsequent granulation, the blended product needs to be subjected to an air-cooling treatment. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the mixture obtained by the second blending is subjected to the second air-cooling treatment to below 50°C. As a result, the product treated with cold air has better hardness, which is convenient for cutting and granulation. Preferably, the particle size of the sustained-release functional unit 100 is 1 to 5 mm.

[0048] In some embodiments, before step S200, the method further includes:

[0049] S100: performing a first blending of the functional material and the soluble base material, and performing a first granulation process on the mixture obtained by the first blending to obtain a functional masterbatch.

[0050] According to an embodiment of the present invention, before the first blending is performed, the soluble substrate is dried in advance. By pre-drying the soluble substrate, the moisture adsorbed by the soluble substrate is removed, so that the soluble substrate can be prevented from being dissolved by water and affecting the stability of the sustained-release functional unit 100. Among them, if the functional material is water-absorbent, the soluble substrate and the functional material can be dried in advance together (of course, if the functional material has poor water absorption, it is not necessary to dry the functional material), thereby preventing the moisture in the functional material from dissolving the soluble substrate and affecting the efficacy of the functional material and the stability of the sustained-release functional unit 100. In some embodiments of the present invention, the temperature of the drying process is 50°C to 80°C, such as 50°C, 60°C, 65°C, 70°C, 75°C, and 80°C. Those skilled in the art can select the drying temperature according to the actual situation such as the specific material type of the soluble substrate and the functional material, so that the moisture adsorbed by the functional material can be quickly removed without affecting the performance of the functional material. Preferably, the drying time is 4 to 8 hours.

[0051] Preferably, the functional material and the soluble substrate may be pre-ground before the first blending to further improve the uniformity of the mixing of the functional material and the soluble substrate. An adhesive may also be added during the first blending to help improve the stability of the functional masterbatch, that is, to improve the stability of the soluble functional portion 20 in the subsequently obtained sustained-release functional unit 100.

[0052] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there are no special requirements for the working temperature of the first blending, and those skilled in the art can flexibly select according to the actual situation such as the specific type of functional materials and soluble substrates and the specific equipment of the extruder (for blending). In some embodiments, a twin-screw extruder can be used for blending. When a twin-screw extruder is used, the working temperature of one zone of the twin-screw extruder is about 50°C, and the working temperature of the remaining working zones (such as zones 2 and 3) is 160°C to 190°C. According to an embodiment of the present invention, before performing the first granulation process, the mixture obtained by the first blending is subjected to a first air-cooling process in advance. As mentioned above, the temperature of the product obtained after blending by the extruder is relatively high, at about 160°C to 190°C, and it is not easy to shape, so in order to facilitate subsequent granulation, it is necessary to pass through the product after air-cooling process. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the mixture obtained by the first blending is subjected to the first air-cooling process to below 50°C. Thus, the product treated by cold air has a better hardness, which is convenient for cutting and granulation.

[0053] Preferably, the particle size of the functional masterbatch is 2-5 mm. Functional masterbatch of this size can be more fully mixed with the insoluble polymer material, which is conducive to the continuous structure of the soluble functional portion 20 and is less likely to agglomerate. If the particle size of the functional masterbatch is less than 2 mm, it is relatively easy to agglomerate, which is not conducive to uniform mixing. If the particle size of the functional masterbatch is greater than 5 mm, it is relatively difficult to improve the uniformity of the subsequent distribution of the soluble functional portion 20 in the sustained-release functional unit 100, affecting the continuity of the soluble functional portion 20.

[0054] According to an embodiment of the present invention, in the above-mentioned preparation method, the functional material and the soluble substrate are first blended and granulated, and then the functional masterbatch and the insoluble material are blended and granulated. Such a method can make the soluble substrate constitute the soluble functional part 20 of the sustained-release functional unit 100, and the functional material is dispersed in the soluble functional part 20. In the sustained-release functional unit 100, the insoluble polymer material forms an insoluble matrix. The soluble functional part 20 is connected to the outside of the insoluble matrix and presents a continuous structure. In this way, the functional material can be released into the environment outside the insoluble matrix as the soluble substrate dissolves in water. Moreover, since the soluble functional part 20 is a continuous structure, as the sustained-release functional unit 100 is used, all functional materials on the surface and inside of the insoluble matrix can be gradually released completely, thereby increasing the service life of the sustained-release functional unit 100, and improving the utilization rate of the material, avoiding waste of functional materials.

[0055] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the functional material, chain extender, and soluble substrate are first blended together; and / or the functional masterbatch, insoluble polymer material, and chain extender are second blended together. Thus, the addition of the chain extender can modify the insoluble polymer material to cause a chemical reaction between the insoluble polymer material and the soluble substrate, thereby reducing the water dissolution rate of the soluble functional portion 20 and achieving controllable dissolution rate through both physical and chemical means.

[0056] According to an embodiment of the present invention, specific types of cleaning equipment include but are not limited to washing machines, washer-dryers, dishwashers and other cleaning equipment that require water cleaning. Those skilled in the art can select specific types of functional materials according to the specific uses of the cleaning equipment to achieve cleaning effects for different purposes.

[0057] Example

[0058] Example 1

[0059] Polyethylene oxide (PEO, soluble substrate) and polyhexamethyleneguanidine (functional material) were dried at 50°C for 6 h.

[0060] Polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyhexamethylene guanidine are first blended using a twin-screw extruder. The operating temperatures of the twin-screw extruder are: zone 1 temperature is 50° C., zone 2 temperature is 150° C., zone 3 temperature is 170° C., zone 4 temperature is 175° C., zone 5 temperature is 175° C., zone 6 temperature is 175° C., and the die temperature is 160° C.; the mixture obtained by the first blending is first air-cooled to below 50° C.

[0061] The mixture that has undergone the first air cooling treatment is subjected to a first granulation treatment to obtain a functional masterbatch, wherein the particle size of the functional masterbatch is 2 to 5 mm;

[0062] The functional masterbatch and polyethylene (PE, insoluble polymer material) are blended for the second time using a twin-screw extruder. The operating temperature of the twin-screw extruder is: the temperature of zone 1 is 150°C, the temperature of zone 2 is 160°C, the temperature of zone 3 is 170°C, the temperature of zone 4 is 170°C, the temperature of zone 5 is 170°C, the temperature of zone 6 is 170°C, and the die temperature is 160°C.

[0063] The mixture obtained by the second blending is subjected to a first air cooling treatment to below 50° C.

[0064] The mixture that has undergone the first air cooling treatment is subjected to a second granulation treatment to obtain a sustained-release functional unit 100. In the sustained-release functional unit 100, the width d of the soluble functional portion 20 is between 50 nanometers and 50 micrometers.

[0065] In the above preparation method, the amount of the insoluble polymer material is 60 parts by weight, the amount of the soluble substrate is 20 parts by weight, and the amount of the functional material is 20 parts by weight.

[0066] Example 2

[0067] The polyethylene oxide (PEO) was dried at 50°C for 4 hours.

[0068] Polyethylene oxide (PEO) and silver phosphate (Ag3PO4) are first blended using a twin-screw extruder. The operating temperatures of the twin-screw extruder are: zone 1 temperature is 50°C, zone 2 temperature is 150°C, zone 3 temperature is 170°C, zone 4 temperature is 175°C, zone 5 temperature is 175°C, zone 6 temperature is 175°C, and the die temperature is 160°C.

[0069] The mixture obtained by the first blending is subjected to a first air cooling treatment to below 50° C.

[0070] The mixture that has undergone the first air cooling treatment is subjected to a first granulation treatment to obtain a functional masterbatch, wherein the particle size of the functional masterbatch is 2 to 5 mm;

[0071] The functional masterbatch is blended with polypropylene (PP) for the second time using a twin-screw extruder. The operating temperature of the twin-screw extruder is: the temperature of zone 1 is 160°C, the temperature of zone 2 is 170°C, the temperature of zone 3 is 180°C, the temperature of zone 4 is 180°C, the temperature of zone 5 is 180°C, the temperature of zone 6 is 180°C, and the die temperature is 170°C.

[0072] The mixture obtained by the second blending is subjected to a second air cooling treatment to below 50° C.

[0073] The mixture that has undergone the second air cooling treatment is subjected to a second granulation treatment to obtain a sustained-release functional unit 100. In the sustained-release functional unit 100, the width d of the soluble functional portion 20 is between 50 nanometers and 50 micrometers.

[0074] In the above preparation method, the amount of the insoluble polymer material is 60 parts by weight, the amount of the soluble substrate is 39 parts by weight, and the amount of the functional material is 1 part by weight.

[0075] Example 3

[0076] Polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyhexamethylene guanidine were dried at a temperature of 50°C and a drying time of 6 h;

[0077] Polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyhexamethylguanidine are first blended using a twin-screw extruder. The operating temperatures of the twin-screw extruder are: zone 1 temperature is 50°C, zone 2 temperature is 150°C, zone 3 temperature is 170°C, zone 4 temperature is 175°C, zone 5 temperature is 175°C, zone 6 temperature is 175°C, and the die temperature is 160°C.

[0078] The mixture obtained by the first blending is subjected to a first air cooling treatment to below 50° C.

[0079] The mixture that has undergone the first air cooling treatment is subjected to a first granulation treatment to obtain a functional masterbatch, wherein the particle size of the functional masterbatch is 2 to 5 mm;

[0080] The functional masterbatch is blended with polypropylene (PP) for the second time using a twin-screw extruder. The operating temperature of the twin-screw extruder is: the temperature of zone 1 is 160°C, the temperature of zone 2 is 170°C, the temperature of zone 3 is 180°C, the temperature of zone 4 is 180°C, the temperature of zone 5 is 180°C, the temperature of zone 6 is 180°C, and the die temperature is 170°C.

[0081] The mixture obtained by the second blending is subjected to a second air cooling treatment to below 50° C.

[0082] The mixture that has undergone the second air cooling treatment is subjected to a second granulation treatment to obtain a sustained-release functional unit 100. In the sustained-release functional unit 100, the width d of the soluble functional portion 20 is between 50 nanometers and 50 micrometers.

[0083] In the above preparation method, the amount of the insoluble polymer material is 60 parts by weight, the amount of the soluble substrate is 20 parts by weight, and the amount of the functional material is 20 parts by weight.

[0084] Example 4

[0085] The polyethylene oxide (PEO) was dried at a temperature of 50°C for 6 hours.

[0086] Polyethylene oxide (PEO) and copper sulfate (CuSO4) are first blended using a twin-screw extruder. The operating temperatures of the twin-screw extruder are: zone 1 temperature is 50°C, zone 2 temperature is 150°C, zone 3 temperature is 170°C, zone 4 temperature is 175°C, zone 5 temperature is 175°C, zone 6 temperature is 175°C, and the die temperature is 160°C.

[0087] The mixture obtained by the first blending is subjected to a first air cooling treatment to below 50° C.

[0088] The mixture that has undergone the first air cooling treatment is subjected to a first granulation treatment to obtain a functional masterbatch, wherein the particle size of the functional masterbatch is 2 to 5 mm;

[0089] The functional masterbatch is blended with polypropylene (PP) for the second time using a twin-screw extruder. The operating temperature of the twin-screw extruder is: the temperature of zone 1 is 160°C, the temperature of zone 2 is 170°C, the temperature of zone 3 is 180°C, the temperature of zone 4 is 180°C, the temperature of zone 5 is 180°C, the temperature of zone 6 is 180°C, and the die temperature is 170°C.

[0090] The mixture obtained by the second blending is subjected to a second air cooling treatment to below 50° C.

[0091] The mixture that has undergone the second air cooling treatment is subjected to a second granulation treatment to obtain a sustained-release functional unit 100. In the sustained-release functional unit 100, the width d of the soluble functional portion 20 is between 50 nanometers and 50 micrometers.

[0092] In the above preparation method, the amount of the insoluble polymer material is 60 parts by weight, the amount of the soluble substrate is 20 parts by weight, and the amount of the functional material is 20 parts by weight.

[0093] Example 5

[0094] Polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyhexamethylene guanidine were dried at a temperature of 50°C and a drying time of 6 h;

[0095] Polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyhexamethylguanidine, and chain extender ADR are first blended using a twin-screw extruder. The operating temperatures of the twin-screw extruder are: zone 1 temperature is 50°C, zone 2 temperature is 150°C, zone 3 temperature is 170°C, zone 4 temperature is 175°C, zone 5 temperature is 175°C, zone 6 temperature is 175°C, and the die temperature is 160°C.

[0096] The mixture obtained by the first blending is subjected to a first air cooling treatment to below 50° C.

[0097] The mixture that has undergone the first air cooling treatment is subjected to a first granulation treatment to obtain a functional masterbatch, wherein the particle size of the functional masterbatch is 2 to 5 mm;

[0098] The functional masterbatch and polylactic acid (PLA) were blended for the second time using a twin-screw extruder. The operating temperature of the twin-screw extruder was: zone 1 temperature was 170°C, zone 2 temperature was 180°C, zone 3 temperature was 180°C, zone 4 temperature was 185°C, zone 5 temperature was 185°C, zone 6 temperature was 180°C, and the die temperature was 170°C.

[0099] The mixture obtained by the second blending is subjected to a second air cooling treatment to below 50° C.

[0100] The mixture that has undergone the second air cooling treatment is subjected to a second granulation treatment to obtain a sustained-release functional unit 100. In the sustained-release functional unit 100, the width d of the soluble functional portion 20 is between 50 nanometers and 50 micrometers.

[0101] In the above preparation method, the amount of insoluble polymer material is 50 parts by weight, the amount of soluble substrate is 30 parts by weight, the amount of functional material is 10 parts by weight, and the amount of chain extender is 10 parts by weight.

[0102] Example 6

[0103] Polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyhexamethylene guanidine were dried at a temperature of 50°C and a drying time of 6 h;

[0104] Polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyhexamethylene guanidine, and sodium citrate are first blended using a twin-screw extruder. The operating temperatures of the twin-screw extruder are: zone 1 temperature is 50° C., zone 2 temperature is 150° C., zone 3 temperature is 170° C., zone 4 temperature is 175° C., zone 5 temperature is 175° C., zone 6 temperature is 175° C., and the die temperature is 160° C.

[0105] The mixture obtained by the first blending is subjected to a first air cooling treatment to below 50° C.

[0106] The mixture that has undergone the first air cooling treatment is subjected to a first granulation treatment to obtain a functional masterbatch, wherein the particle size of the functional masterbatch is 2 to 5 mm;

[0107] The functional masterbatch is blended with polyethylene (PE) for the second time using a twin-screw extruder. The operating temperature of the twin-screw extruder is: the temperature of zone 1 is 150°C, the temperature of zone 2 is 160°C, the temperature of zone 3 is 170°C, the temperature of zone 4 is 170°C, the temperature of zone 5 is 170°C, the temperature of zone 6 is 170°C, and the die temperature is 160°C.

[0108] The mixture obtained by the second blending is subjected to a second air cooling treatment to below 50° C.

[0109] The mixture that has undergone the second air cooling treatment is subjected to a second granulation treatment to obtain a sustained-release functional unit 100. In the sustained-release functional unit 100, the width d of the soluble functional portion 20 is between 50 nanometers and 50 micrometers.

[0110] In the above preparation method, the amount of the insoluble polymer material is 60 parts by weight, the amount of the soluble substrate is 20 parts by weight, the amount of polyhexamethylene guanidine is 10 parts by weight, and the amount of sodium citrate is 10 parts by weight.

[0111] Example 7

[0112] Polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyhexamethylene guanidine were dried at a temperature of 50°C and a drying time of 6 h;

[0113] Polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyhexamethylene guanidine, and polyaspartic acid are first blended using a twin-screw extruder. The operating temperatures of the twin-screw extruder are: zone 1 temperature is 50° C., zone 2 temperature is 150° C., zone 3 temperature is 170° C., zone 4 temperature is 175° C., zone 5 temperature is 175° C., zone 6 temperature is 175° C., and the die temperature is 160° C.

[0114] The mixture obtained by the first blending is subjected to a first air cooling treatment to below 50° C.

[0115] The mixture that has undergone the first air cooling treatment is subjected to a first granulation treatment to obtain a functional masterbatch, wherein the particle size of the functional masterbatch is 2 to 5 mm;

[0116] The functional masterbatch is blended with polyethylene (PE) for the second time using a twin-screw extruder. The operating temperature of the twin-screw extruder is: the temperature of zone 1 is 150°C, the temperature of zone 2 is 160°C, the temperature of zone 3 is 170°C, the temperature of zone 4 is 170°C, the temperature of zone 5 is 170°C, the temperature of zone 6 is 170°C, and the die temperature is 160°C.

[0117] The mixture obtained by the second blending is subjected to a second air cooling treatment to below 50° C.

[0118] The mixture that has undergone the second air cooling treatment is subjected to a second granulation treatment to obtain a sustained-release functional unit 100. In the sustained-release functional unit 100, the width d of the soluble functional portion 20 is between 50 nanometers and 50 micrometers.

[0119] In the above preparation method, the amount of the insoluble polymer material is 60 parts by weight, the amount of the soluble substrate is 20 parts by weight, the amount of polyhexamethylene guanidine is 10 parts by weight, and the amount of polyaspartic acid is 10 parts by weight.

[0120] Comparative Example 1

[0121] Polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyhexamethylene guanidine were dried at a temperature of 50°C and a drying time of 6 h;

[0122] Polyethylene (PE), polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyhexamethylene guanidine are blended using a twin-screw extruder. The operating temperatures of the twin-screw extruder are: zone 1 temperature is 150°C, zone 2 temperature is 160°C, zone 3 temperature is 170°C, zone 4 temperature is 170°C, zone 5 temperature is 170°C, zone 6 temperature is 170°C, and the die temperature is 160°C.

[0123] The blended mixture is air-cooled to below 50°C;

[0124] The mixture after air cooling is granulated to obtain a functional composite material.

[0125] In the above preparation method, the amount of the insoluble polymer material is 60 parts by weight, the amount of the soluble substrate is 20 parts by weight, and the amount of the functional material is 20 parts by weight.

[0126] Table 1

[0127] 20 g of each of the sustained-release functional unit 100 prepared in Examples 1 to 7 and the functional composite material prepared in Comparative Example 1 were weighed, and then the symmetrically taken samples were flushed with water for a certain period of time at a flow rate of 7 L / min. After flushing, they were dried (50 degrees Celsius) and weighed. Then, they were flushed with water for a certain period of time, dried, and weighed again. This cycle was repeated for several times until the functional material released slowly and the effect was not obvious. The above flushing time refers to the time during which the functional material can function normally. If the flushing is continued, the functional material is released slowly and the function of the sustained-release functional unit 100 is not obvious. The utilization rate of the functional material = (initial weight of the sustained-release functional unit 100 - weight of the sustained-release functional unit 100 after flushing and drying) / initial weight of the sustained-release functional unit 100 * 100%.

[0128] As can be seen from Table 1, the sustained-release functional units 100 prepared in Examples 1 to 7 have a longer sustained-release time and a higher utilization rate of the functional material than Comparative Example 1. In Comparative Example 1, the utilization rate of the functional material remains low even during long flushing periods.

[0129] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like to indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0130] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature identified as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present invention, "plurality" means more than two, unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0131] In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "connect," "fixed," etc. should be understood broadly. For example, they may refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection or electrical connection; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal communication between two components or interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on specific circumstances.

[0132] In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, when a first feature is "above" or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediary. Furthermore, when a first feature is "above," "above," or "above" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. When a first feature is "below," "below," or "below" a second feature, it may mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0133] In the description of this specification, the reference terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" mean that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and combine different embodiments or examples described in this specification and features of different embodiments or examples without contradiction.

[0134] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it will be understood that the above embodiments are illustrative and are not to be construed as limitations on the present invention. A person skilled in the art may change, modify, replace and modify the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A functional device for household appliances, characterized in that: include: at least one sustained-release functional unit; Wherein, the sustained-release functional unit comprises an insoluble frame and a soluble functional part.

2. The functional device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The insoluble frame includes a plurality of frame branches spaced apart from each other, a gap is provided between any two of the frame branches, and at least a portion of the plurality of gaps are connected to form a channel.

3. The functional device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The surface of the sustained-release functional unit includes an opening, and the opening communicates with the outside of the sustained-release functional unit and the channel.

4. The functional device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The soluble functional part includes a soluble substrate and a functional material, and the soluble functional part fills at least a portion of the space of the channel, wherein the functional material is mixed in the soluble substrate.

5. The functional device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The sustained-release functional unit comprises: 30 to 70 parts by weight of the insoluble matrix; 15 to 60 parts by weight of the soluble substrate; and 1 to 35 parts by weight of the functional material.

6. The functional device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The sustained-release functional unit further comprises: 5 to 10 parts by weight of a chain extender.

7. The functional device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that: The soluble substrate includes at least one of polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol and polyethylene oxide.

8. The functional device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The insoluble matrix includes at least one of plastic, rubber and fiber.

9. The functional device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that: The functional material includes at least one or a combination of metal substances, polymer substances, natural extract substances, antiscalant substances, and ionic substances.

10. A household appliance, comprising a water supply device and a functional device as claimed in claims 1 to 9, wherein: The water supply device is connected to the functional device, and the water supply device is suitable for supplying water to the functional device.

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