Laundry treatment apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of laundry treatment apparatuses, and specifically provides a laundry treatment apparatus, aiming at solving the problem of cumbersome operations when users use existing laundry treatment apparatuses to simultaneously handle large and small items of laundry. To this end, the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention comprises a housing, a drying drum and washing drums, wherein the drying drum and the washing drums are both disposed in the housing; there are multiple washing drums, and the volumes of at least two washing drums are different. The described configuration allows users, when handling laundry items, to select an appropriate washing drum on the basis of the size and quantity of the laundry items for washing on the same laundry treatment apparatus. For example, a small-volume washing drum can be selected for small items of laundry, and a large-volume washing drum can be selected for large items of laundry. After washing of the large and small items of laundry is completed, the laundry items can be directly placed into the drying drum for drying, thereby eliminating cumbersome intermediate steps, and greatly improving user experience.

Description

Clothing processing equipment This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. CN2024232196823, filed on December 25, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of clothing processing equipment, and specifically provides a clothing processing device. Background Technology

[0002] In the current technology, in order to improve the washing efficiency of large and small items of clothing, many families choose to buy a combination of a conventional washing machine and a wall-mounted small washing machine. Although this approach can meet the washing needs of different sized clothes to a certain extent, it also brings some problems, especially in terms of user experience and ease of operation.

[0003] When handling both large and small items of clothing simultaneously, users often need to frequently move clothes between a regular washing machine and a wall-mounted washing machine. Typically, users must first put the large items into the regular washing machine and the small items into the wall-mounted washing machine, then remove the clothes one by one after the wash cycle is complete, and finally take both items to the balcony to air dry, manually hanging them on the clothesline. This not only increases the complexity of the operation but also wastes a significant amount of time and effort, severely impacting the user experience.

[0004] Accordingly, there is a need in the field for a new garment processing device to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, namely, to solve the problem that the operation is cumbersome when users use existing clothing processing equipment to process clothing of different sizes at the same time.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a garment processing device, comprising: a housing; a drying drum disposed in the housing; and a washing drum disposed in the housing, wherein the number of washing drums is plurality of, and at least two of the washing drums have different volumes.

[0007] In the optional technical solutions of the above-mentioned clothing processing equipment, each of the washing drums is located at the bottom of the drying drum.

[0008] In the optional technical solution of the above-mentioned clothing processing equipment, the washing drum includes a first washing drum, a second washing drum and a third washing drum. The volume of the first washing drum is greater than the volume of the second washing drum and the volume of the third washing drum. The second washing drum and the third washing drum are arranged side by side on the upper part of the first washing drum.

[0009] In the optional technical solutions of the above-mentioned clothing processing equipment, the volume of the drying drum is greater than the volume of the second washing drum and the volume of the third washing drum; and / or the volumes of the second washing drum and the third washing drum are equal.

[0010] In the optional technical solutions of the above-mentioned clothing processing equipment, the drying drum, the first washing drum, the second washing drum and the third washing drum are all located in the same housing.

[0011] In the optional technical solutions of the above-mentioned clothing processing equipment, a drying system is provided between the upper part of the second washing drum and the third washing drum arranged side by side and the drying drum, and the drying system is used to provide hot air to the drying drum.

[0012] In the optional technical solutions of the above-mentioned clothing processing equipment, the second washing drum and the third washing drum are connected by a first connector.

[0013] In the optional technical solutions of the above-mentioned clothing processing equipment, the second washing drum and the third washing drum, after being connected, are set independently from the first washing drum; or the second washing drum and the third washing drum are both connected to the first washing drum through the second connector.

[0014] In the optional technical solutions of the above-mentioned clothing processing equipment, each of the washing drums is independently supported in the housing of the clothing processing equipment by shock absorbers.

[0015] In the optional technical solutions of the above-mentioned clothing processing equipment, the second washing drum and the third washing drum are located on opposite sides of the line connecting the center of the drying drum and the center of the first washing drum.

[0016] Those skilled in the art will understand that the garment processing device of the present invention includes a housing, a drying drum, and a washing drum, both of which are housed within the housing. The number of washing drums is multiple, with at least two having different volumes. This arrangement allows users to select the appropriate washing drum based on the size and quantity of their garments on the same garment processing device. For example, small items can be washed in a smaller volume drum, while large items can be washed in a larger volume drum. After washing both large and small items, the garments can be directly placed in the drying drum for drying, eliminating cumbersome intermediate steps and greatly improving the user experience. Furthermore, since the garment processing device of the present invention includes both a drying drum and washing drums for different sized garments, there is no need to place conventional washing machines, wall-mounted washing machines, and separate dryers in different locations within the home, thus saving floor space. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the garment processing device of the present invention.

[0019] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0020] 1-Machine casing; 2-Drying drum; 3-Washing drum; 31-First washing drum; 32-Second washing drum; 33-Third washing drum; 4-First connecting piece. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the invention. Those skilled in the art can make adjustments as needed to adapt to specific applications.

[0022] It should be noted that, in the description of this invention, the terms "upper" and "lower" refer to the upper and lower parts of the garment processing equipment in its operational state, based on the height direction. "Front" refers to the direction near the door based on the horizontal direction of the garment processing equipment in its operational state, and "rear" refers to the direction near the back of the garment processing equipment based on the horizontal direction of the garment processing equipment in its operational state.

[0023] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0024] This invention provides a garment processing device, as shown in Figure 1, comprising a housing 1, a drying drum 2, and a washing drum 3. Both the drying drum 2 and the washing drum 3 are housed within the housing 1. There are multiple washing drums 3, with at least two having different volumes. This arrangement allows users to select the appropriate washing drum 3 based on the size and quantity of their garments within the same garment processing device. For example, small items can be washed in a smaller volume washing drum 3, while large items can be washed in a larger volume washing drum 3. After washing both large and small items, the garments can be directly placed into the drying drum 2 for drying, eliminating cumbersome intermediate steps and greatly improving the user experience. Furthermore, since this garment processing device includes both a drying drum 2 and washing drums 3 for handling garments of different sizes, it eliminates the need to place conventional washing machines, wall-mounted washing machines, and separate dryers in different locations within the home, thus saving floor space.

[0025] In one possible implementation, each washing drum 3 is located at the bottom of the drying drum 2. Since the washing drum 3 requires the addition of washing water during operation, it is typically quite heavy. Therefore, placing each washing drum 3 at the bottom of the drying drum 2 lowers the center of gravity of the garment processing equipment, reducing vibration or tilting caused by instability and thus improving the overall stability of the equipment. Furthermore, placing the washing drums 3 at the bottom, rather than the top, allows the bottom structure to bear more weight without excessive pressure on the upper area. This avoids structural deformation or equipment damage due to excessive stress on the upper part, further enhancing the overall stability of the equipment.

[0026] In one possible implementation, the washing drum 3 includes a first washing drum 31, a second washing drum 32 and a third washing drum 33. The volume of the first washing drum 31 is greater than the volume of the second washing drum 32 and the volume of the third washing drum 33. The second washing drum 32 and the third washing drum 33 are arranged side by side on the upper part of the first washing drum 31.

[0027] The second washing drum 32 and the third washing drum 33 are arranged side-by-side above the first washing drum 31 and below the drying drum 2. This arrangement makes more efficient use of the vertical space of the garment processing equipment, resulting in a compact overall structure, clear functional division, and maximum space utilization. Furthermore, the first washing drum 31, located at the bottom, is heavier and thus increases stability, reducing vibration during washing. The second and third washing drums 32 and 33, positioned side-by-side at the top, are relatively lighter and provide more washing space without increasing the overall center of gravity. The drying drum 2, located at the top, also helps maintain balance, preventing instability caused by a high center of gravity. In short, this layout enhances the overall stability of the garment processing equipment. The first washing drum 31, with its larger volume, can hold more clothes and is suitable for large-volume washing tasks; the second and third washing drums 32 and 33, being smaller, are suitable for handling smaller loads or performing specialized washing operations.

[0028] In one possible implementation, the volume of the drying drum 2 is greater than the volumes of the second washing drum 32 and the third washing drum 33, thereby ensuring that the drying drum 2 has sufficient space to dry clothes from each of the washing drums 3. Specifically, the volume of the drying drum 2 can be greater than the sum of the volumes of the second washing drum 32 and the third washing drum 33.

[0029] As one possible implementation, the second washing drum 32 and the third washing drum 33 have equal volumes. Equal volumes in the second and third washing drums 32 and 33 can evenly distribute the load of the clothes, ensuring a balanced load during operation, thereby improving the stability of the equipment and avoiding equipment vibration, noise, or mechanical failure caused by excessive load on one side.

[0030] In one possible implementation, the second washing drum 32 and the third washing drum 33 are located on opposite sides of the line connecting the centers of the drying drum 2 and the first washing drum 31. That is, they are located on opposite sides of the line connecting the axes of the drying drum 2 and the first washing drum 31. This effectively balances the machine's center of gravity, reducing unbalanced loads and vibrations during operation.

[0031] In one possible implementation, the drying drum 2, the first washing drum 31, the second washing drum 32, and the third washing drum 33 are all located within the same housing 1. This arrangement allows all washing and drying functions to be concentrated in the same housing 1, helping to save space and making the equipment more compact. Furthermore, this arrangement requires only a single housing 1, avoiding seams and connection points between multiple housings 1, reducing hard-to-clean areas and making cleaning and maintenance more convenient. In addition, the unified housing 1 design enhances the overall structural strength of the equipment, making it more stable during operation, reducing noise and mechanical failures caused by vibration or imbalance, and extending the equipment's service life. On the other hand, when the second washing drum 32 and / or the third washing drum 33 operate simultaneously with the drying drum 2, the drying drum 2 generates a large amount of heat. The smaller volume of the second washing drum 32 and the third washing drum 33 within the same housing 1 can effectively utilize the heat dissipated by the drying drum 2 to heat the washing water in the second washing drum 32 and the third washing drum 33, thereby improving the washing efficiency of the second washing drum 32 and the third washing drum 33.

[0032] In one possible implementation, a drying system is provided between the upper parts of the second washing drum 32 and the third washing drum 33, which are arranged side by side, and the drying drum 2. This drying system provides hot air to the drying drum 2. Possibly, the drying system includes a circulating air duct, an evaporator, a condenser, a compressor, and a throttling element. The evaporator and condenser are sequentially spaced within the circulating air duct along the airflow direction. The compressor, evaporator, throttling element (such as a throttling valve or capillary tube), and condenser are connected via refrigerant pipes to form a closed loop. A fan can be installed within the circulating air duct to promote airflow circulation. Both ends of the circulating air duct can be connected to the drying drum 2; for example, one end can extend into the drying drum 2 from its opening, and the other end can communicate with the side wall or bottom wall of the drying drum 2. Alternatively, the air inlet of the circulating air duct can communicate with the outside air, and the air outlet of the circulating air duct can communicate with the drying drum 2. As long as hot air is provided to the drying drum 2, any specific adjustments do not deviate from the principles of this invention and are within the scope of protection of this invention. A bracket can be installed in the casing 1. At least the evaporator and condenser of the heat pump system are mounted on the upper side of the bracket to effectively support the heat pump system. Each washing drum 3 is located at the lower part of the bracket. The drying drum 2 is fixed to the casing 1 in the existing way or in a future possible way. For example, bearings are installed at both ends of the drying drum 2. The bearings can be fixed to the casing 1 by a support structure (e.g., a metal frame) to ensure that the drying drum 2 can rotate smoothly. Regarding the driving method for the rotation of the drying drum 2, an electric motor can transmit power to the drying drum 2 through a belt or gear to make it rotate. Of course, the drying drum 2 can also be directly fixed to the casing 1, and its non-rotational manner does not deviate from the principle of the present invention and is also within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0033] The drying system is directly installed between the side-by-side washing drum 3 and drying drum 2, which can combine the space that originally required two separate systems (washing and drying) into a compact unit, eliminating unnecessary space and reducing the overall volume.

[0034] In one possible implementation, the second washing drum 32 and the third washing drum 33 are connected by a first connecting member 4. This invention does not limit the specific manner in which the second washing drum 32 and the third washing drum 33 are connected by the first connecting member 4, as long as they can be connected together. For example, the first connecting member 4 is located between the second washing drum 32 and the third washing drum 33, and is integrally formed with both the second and third connecting drums. Alternatively, the first connecting member 4 can be bolted to both the second washing drum 32 and the third washing drum 33, etc. The first connecting member 4 can be plate-shaped or block-shaped, etc., and this invention does not impose specific limitations on this.

[0035] During operation of the garment processing equipment, especially during the washing process, the washing drum 3 may experience some shaking or vibration due to the impact of water flow and the tumbling of clothes. The connection between the second washing drum 32 and the third washing drum 33 via the first connector 4 effectively limits any potential relative displacement between them, preventing collisions or friction with other components due to excessive relative displacement. Since the second and third washing drums 32 and 33 have equal volumes, their connection via the first connector 4 facilitates a more even distribution of the garment load between the two drums 3 during washing. Even in cases of uneven garment loading, the first connector 4 provides some adjustment, ensuring that the second and third washing drums 32 and 33 share the load, preventing vibration, noise, or mechanical failures caused by excessive load on one side, thus effectively improving the stability and performance of the equipment.

[0036] As one possible implementation, the connected second washing drum 32 and third washing drum 33 are independently set up from the first washing drum 31. That is, the third washing drum 33 is not connected to either the first washing drum 31 or the second washing drum 32. This arrangement allows the first washing drum 31 to more independently and precisely adjust its operating parameters, such as rotation speed, according to its own load conditions, thereby achieving more optimized load balance and reducing vibration and instability caused by uneven load.

[0037] As an alternative implementation, both the second washing drum 32 and the third washing drum 33 are connected to the first washing drum 31 via a second connector (not shown in the figure). Since the first washing drum 31 is typically heavier and located at the bottom, it is a key factor in stabilizing the equipment's center of gravity. Connecting the second washing drum 32 and the third washing drum 33 to the first washing drum 31 further optimizes the equipment's center of gravity, preventing tipping or excessive shaking during operation due to a shift in the center of gravity. The connection method between the second connector and the first washing drum 31 and the second washing drum 32, as well as the connection method between the second connector and the first washing drum 31 and the third washing drum 33, can be integrally formed or detachably connected using methods such as bolts or snap-fits. The second connector can be plate-shaped or block-shaped, etc., and this invention does not impose specific limitations on this.

[0038] In one possible implementation, the first washing drum 31, the second washing drum 32, and the third washing drum 33 are all independently supported within the housing 1 of the garment processing equipment by shock absorbers. That is, the first washing drum 31, the second washing drum 32, and the third washing drum 33 are all independently supported within the housing 1 by shock absorbers. For example, the bottom of the first washing drum 31 can be connected to the base of the housing 1 by multiple shock absorbers, which can be installed at the four corners of the bottom of the washing drum 3, or arranged in a triangular pattern. The bottom of the second washing drum 32 on the side closest to the housing 1 can be connected to the crossbeam of the housing 1 by shock absorbers; similarly, the bottom of the third washing drum 33 on the side closest to the housing 1 can also be connected to the crossbeam of the housing 1 by shock absorbers. However, this connection is not restrictive; as long as each washing drum 3 is independently supported within the housing 1 of the garment processing equipment by shock absorbers, any adjustments to the specific arrangement do not deviate from the principles of this invention and are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0039] Because each washing drum 3 is supported by an independent shock absorber, the vibrations generated by each drum can be effectively dispersed and absorbed, preventing the transmission of vibrations between them. This makes the overall equipment more stable during operation, especially when multiple drums are working simultaneously, reducing the possibility of mutual interference. In addition, the shock absorber of each washing drum 3 can be adjusted independently to optimize shock absorption according to the load changes generated during the washing process, thereby reducing the intensity of vibration and effectively reducing the vibration and noise generated by the washing drum 3 under high-speed rotation and centrifugal force.

[0040] Alternatively, each washing drum 3 may also be suspended in the housing 1 by a spring assembly to further ensure the stability of the garment processing equipment during operation.

[0041] Possibly, the first washing drum 31, the second washing drum 32, and the third washing drum 33 described above are all outer drums, with a rotatable inner drum inside each washing drum 3. The specific implementation of rotatably disposed inner drums inside outer drums is well-established and will not be elaborated further. Alternatively, the inner drum can be omitted. In this case, the first washing drum 31, the second washing drum 32, and the third washing drum 33 can also be closed washing drums 3, etc. These adjustments do not deviate from the principles of this invention and are all within the protection scope of this invention.

[0042] The technical solution of the present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of the present invention is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principles of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after such changes or substitutions will all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A garment processing device, comprising: Casing (1); Drying cylinder (2), the drying cylinder (2) is disposed in the housing (1); A washing drum is disposed in the housing (1), and there are multiple washing drums, with at least two washing drums having different volumes.

2. The garment processing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the washing drums is located at the bottom of the drying drum (2).

3. The garment processing equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The washing tub includes a first washing tub (31), a second washing tub (32) and a third washing tub (33). The volume of the first washing tub (31) is greater than the volume of the second washing tub (32) and the volume of the third washing tub (33). The second washing tub (32) and the third washing tub (33) are arranged side by side on the upper part of the first washing tub (31).

4. The garment processing equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The volume of the drying drum (2) is greater than the volume of the second washing drum (32) and the volume of the third washing drum (33); and / or The second washing drum (32) and the third washing drum (33) have the same volume.

5. The garment processing equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The drying drum (2), the first washing drum (31), the second washing drum (32) and the third washing drum (33) are all located in the same housing (1).

6. The garment processing equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that, A drying system is provided between the upper part of the second washing drum (32) and the third washing drum (33) arranged side by side and the drying drum (2), the drying system being used to provide hot air to the drying drum (2).

7. The garment processing equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The second washing drum (32) and the third washing drum (33) are connected by a first connector (4).

8. The garment processing equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that, The connected second washing tub (32) and the third washing tub (33) are independently set from the first washing tub (31); or The second washing tub (32) and the third washing tub (33) are both connected to the first washing tub (31) via a second connector.

9. The garment processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, Each of the washing drums is independently supported in the housing (1) of the garment processing equipment by shock absorbers.

10. The garment processing equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, The second washing drum (32) and the third washing drum (33) are located on opposite sides of the line connecting the center of the drying drum (2) and the first washing drum (31).

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