Flushing structure and control method therefor

Abstract

A flushing structure (1) and a control method therefor, aiming to solve the problem of flushing components in existing heat pump dryers (100) failing to drain smoothly. The flushing structure (1) comprises a water inlet pipe (11) and a drainage assembly (12); the water inlet pipe (11) is connected to a drying air duct (2); a water outlet of the water inlet pipe (11) is arranged opposite to an evaporator (3); the drainage assembly (12) is connected to the drying air duct (2); a connection between the drainage assembly (12) and the drying air duct (2) is located at the lowest position of the drying air duct (2); the drainage assembly (12) is configured such that, when a heat pump dryer (100) is in a drying working state, the drainage assembly (12) is in a sealed state, so as to prevent air in the drying air duct (2) from being discharged to the outside of the heat pump dryer (100) due to the drainage assembly (12) being in a connected state; the drainage assembly (12) is further configured such that, when the heat pump dryer (100) is in a flushing working state, water in the drying air duct (2) can be smoothly discharged to the outside of the heat pump dryer (100) under the action of the drainage assembly (12). The flushing efficiency of heat pump dryers (100) is improved.

Description

Flushing Structure and Control Method

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application CN202411932683.4, filed on December 25, 2024, entitled "Flushing Structure and Control Method Thereof", the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to the field of cleaning technology for washing equipment, and specifically provides a rinsing structure and its control method. Background Technology

[0003] In heat pump dryers, lint will accumulate on the evaporator during the drying process, especially in the area of ​​the evaporator facing the wind. Even if a filter is installed at the air inlet of the drying duct, lint will still adhere to the evaporator, affecting the drying efficiency of the heat pump dryer.

[0004] To address these issues, existing heat pump dryers typically include a rinsing assembly in the drying duct to clean the evaporator. However, due to the large volume of water used in rinsing the evaporator, the water entering the drying duct cannot drain smoothly, resulting in low rinsing efficiency and negatively impacting the user experience.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need in the field for a new flushing structure to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned technical problem, namely, to solve the problem that the rinsing component in the existing heat pump dryer cannot drain water smoothly.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a rinsing structure applied to a heat pump dryer for cleaning the evaporator in the drying duct of the heat pump dryer, the rinsing structure comprising:

[0008] A water inlet pipe, which connects to the drying air duct, has an outlet corresponding to the evaporator, so that water entering the drying air duct through the water inlet pipe can clean the evaporator; and

[0009] A drainage component is connected to the drying duct, and the connection point between the drainage component and the drying duct is located at the lowest point of the drying duct so that water in the drying duct can flow out through the drainage component. The drainage component is configured to be in a sealed state when the heat pump dryer is in the drying operation state, so that all the air in the drying duct can enter the clothes handling drum of the heat pump dryer. The drainage component is also configured to allow water in the drying duct to be smoothly discharged to the outside of the heat pump dryer when the heat pump dryer is in the rinsing operation state.

[0010] In the preferred embodiment of the above-described flushing structure, the drainage assembly includes:

[0011] The first drain pipe is connected to the drying air duct;

[0012] A U-shaped pipe, which is connected to the first drain pipe and located downstream of the first drain pipe, is configured such that water can remain after the heat pump dryer rinses the evaporator, so that the drain assembly is in a sealed state.

[0013] An air guide pipe, the first end of which is connected to the end of the U-shaped pipe near the first drain pipe, and / or to the end of the first drain pipe near the U-shaped pipe, and the second end of the air guide pipe is connected to the drying air duct; and

[0014] The second drain pipe is connected to the U-shaped pipe and located downstream of the U-shaped pipe. The second drain pipe is configured to communicate with the outside of the heat pump dryer and also to communicate with the clothes handling drum.

[0015] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned flushing structure, the second end of the air guide pipe is located between the downstream of the evaporator and the upstream of the condenser.

[0016] In the preferred embodiment of the above-described flushing structure, the drainage assembly further includes:

[0017] The first drain valve is located at the lowest point of the U-shaped pipe; and

[0018] The third drain pipe has its first end connected to the first drain valve and its second end connected to the second drain pipe.

[0019] In the preferred embodiment of the above-described flushing structure, the drainage assembly further includes:

[0020] The fourth drain pipe has its first end connected to the second drain pipe and its second end connected to the clothes handling drum.

[0021] The fifth drain pipe has its first end connected to the second drain pipe and its second end connected to the outside of the heat pump dryer; and

[0022] A valve assembly, which is connected to the fourth drain pipe and the fifth drain pipe, is configured to connect the fifth drain pipe to the second drain pipe and close the fourth drain pipe to the second drain pipe when the heat pump dryer is in the rinsing operation state, and is also configured to close the fifth drain pipe to the second drain pipe and connect the fourth drain pipe to the second drain pipe when the heat pump dryer is in the washing operation state.

[0023] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned flushing structure, the valve assembly includes:

[0024] A three-way valve, which is connected to the second drain pipe, the fourth drain pipe, and the fifth drain pipe respectively; or

[0025] A second drain valve is provided on the fourth drain pipe, allowing the fourth drain pipe to switch between an open state and a closed state; and

[0026] A third drain valve is provided on the fifth drain pipe, which allows the fifth drain pipe to switch between a connected state and a closed state.

[0027] In a second aspect, the present invention also provides a control method for a rinsing structure, the control method being applied to the aforementioned rinsing structure, the control method comprising the following steps:

[0028] The operating mode of the heat pump dryer is obtained, including drying mode, washing mode, or wash-then-dry mode;

[0029] When the operating mode is the drying mode or the washing mode, the heat pump dryer is controlled to enter the rinsing working state;

[0030] After the heat pump dryer finishes the rinsing operation, the heat pump dryer is controlled to enter the drying operation or the washing operation.

[0031] When the operating mode is the wash-then-dry mode, the heat pump dryer is controlled to enter the rinsing working state;

[0032] After the heat pump dryer finishes the rinsing operation, the heat pump dryer is controlled to enter the washing operation.

[0033] After the heat pump dryer finishes the washing operation, it is controlled to enter the drying operation.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment of the control method for the above-mentioned flushing structure, the control method further includes:

[0035] When the heat pump dryer enters the rinsing working state, the state of the drainage component is adjusted so that the water entering the drying air duct can be discharged to the outside of the heat pump dryer by the drainage component;

[0036] When the heat pump dryer enters the washing operation state, the state of the drainage component is adjusted so that the water entering the drying air duct can enter the clothes processing drum.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment of the control method for the above-mentioned flushing structure, the control method further includes:

[0038] After the heat pump dryer finishes the drying process, the drainage component is switched from the sealed state to the open state.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment of the control method for the above-mentioned flushing structure, the control method further includes:

[0040] After the drainage component switches from the sealed state to the open state, the fan in the drying duct continues to run for a preset drying time.

[0041] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention can control the drainage component to be in a sealed state when the heat pump dryer is in the rinsing working state, so as to avoid the situation where air in the drying air duct is discharged to the outside of the heat pump dryer due to the drainage component being in a connected state, thus ensuring the drying efficiency of the heat pump dryer. In addition, the drainage component is also configured to allow water that enters the drying air duct when in the rinsing working state to be quickly discharged from the drying air duct, thereby improving the rinsing efficiency of the heat pump dryer and improving user satisfaction. Attached Figure Description

[0042] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drum washing machine and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0043] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a drum washing machine equipped with the washing structure of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 2 is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the roller structure of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 3 is a flowchart of one embodiment of the control method for the flushing structure of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 4 is a flowchart of another embodiment of the control method of the flushing structure of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 5 is a flowchart of another embodiment of the control method of the flushing structure of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 6 is a flowchart of another embodiment of the control method of the flushing structure of the present invention.

[0049] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0050] 100. Heat pump dryer; 1. Washing structure; 11. Water inlet pipe; 12. Drainage assembly; 121. First drain pipe; 122. Air duct; 123. U-shaped pipe; 124. Second drain pipe; 125. First drain valve; 126. Third drain pipe; 127. Fourth drain pipe; 128. Valve assembly; 1281. Three-way valve; 129. Fifth drain pipe; 2. Drying air duct; 3. Evaporator; 4. Condenser; 5. Clothes handling drum. Detailed Implementation

[0051] 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. For example, although the specification is described in conjunction with a heat pump dryer, it is clearly applicable to other drying equipment that employs evaporators and condensers.

[0052] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, terms such as "inner" and "outer," indicating directional or positional relationships, are based on the directional or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. This is merely for ease of description and does not indicate or imply that the device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation; therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation of this invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and "fifth" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and "fifth" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0053] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" 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 mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0054] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a drum washing machine equipped with a rinsing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the rinsing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a flowchart of one embodiment of the control method for the rinsing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a flowchart of another embodiment of the control method for the rinsing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 is a flowchart of another embodiment of the control method for the rinsing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 is a flowchart of another embodiment of the control method for the rinsing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] As shown in Figure 1, and also referring to Figure 2, to address the problem of inefficient drainage in the rinsing components of existing heat pump dryers, this invention provides a rinsing structure 1. The rinsing structure 1 is applied to a heat pump dryer 100 and is used to rinse the evaporator 3 in the drying duct 2 of the heat pump dryer 100. Specifically, the rinsing structure 1 is installed inside the drum washing machine. The rinsing structure 1 includes a water inlet pipe 11 and a drain assembly 12. The water inlet pipe 11 is connected to the drying duct 2, and the outlet of the water inlet pipe 11 is positioned corresponding to the evaporator 3, so that water entering the drying duct 2 through the water inlet pipe 11 can clean the evaporator 3. The drainage component 12 is connected to the drying duct 2, and the connection point between the drainage component 12 and the drying duct 2 is located at the lowest point of the drying duct 2, so that water in the drying duct 2 can flow out of the drying duct 2 through the drainage component 12. The drainage component 12 is configured to be in a sealed state when the heat pump dryer 100 is in the drying working state, so that all the air in the drying duct 2 can enter the clothes handling drum 5. The drainage component 12 is also configured to allow water in the drying duct 2 to be smoothly discharged through the drainage component 12 when the heat pump dryer 100 is in the rinsing working state, thereby improving the rinsing efficiency of the heat pump dryer 100, shortening the drying cycle of the heat pump dryer 100, and improving the user experience.

[0056] As one possible implementation, as shown in Figure 1 and also in Figure 2, the drainage assembly 12 includes a first drain pipe 121, a U-shaped pipe 123, an air guide pipe 122, and a second drain pipe 124. The first drain pipe 121 is connected to the drying duct 2. The U-shaped pipe 123 is connected to the first drain pipe 121 and is located downstream of the first drain pipe 121. Specifically, the U-shaped pipe 123 is arranged in the front of the drying duct 2, so that after the heat pump dryer 100 finishes the rinsing operation, water can remain inside the arc-shaped pipe of the U-shaped pipe 123, so that the U-shaped pipe 123 is in a sealed state. In this way, after the heat pump dryer 100 enters the drying operation state from the rinsing operation state, the air in the drying duct 2 can enter the clothes processing drum 5 under the action of the water seal of the U-shaped pipe 123, so as to ensure the drying efficiency of the heat pump dryer 100. The first end of the air guide pipe 122 is connected to the end of the U-shaped pipe 123 near the first drain pipe 121, and the second end of the air guide pipe 122 is connected to the drying air duct 2. This allows the air guide pipe 122 to guide the air between the inlet of the first drain pipe 121 and the arc-shaped pipe of the U-shaped pipe 123 into the drying air duct 2 when the heat pump dryer 100 enters the rinsing working state and the water rinsing the evaporator 3 is blocked at the inlet of the first drain pipe 121. This allows the water in the drying air duct 2 to smoothly enter the first drain pipe 121, thus allowing the water rinsing the evaporator 3 to flow smoothly out of the drying air duct 2, thereby improving the drainage efficiency of the drying air duct 2 and improving user satisfaction.

[0057] Furthermore, through the above-described configuration, when the heat pump dryer 100 transitions from the rinsing state to the drying state, water remains in the U-shaped tube 123, meaning the U-shaped tube 123 is in a sealed state. This ensures that even if air from the drying duct 2 enters the first drain pipe 121, it can still enter the drying duct 2 through the air guide pipe 122, preventing air from the drying duct 2 from being discharged from the heat pump dryer 100 through the drain assembly 12, thus guaranteeing the drying efficiency of the heat pump dryer 100. The second drain pipe 124 is connected to the U-shaped tube 123 and located downstream of the U-shaped tube 123, used to drain the water discharged from the U-shaped tube 123 into the clothes handling drum 5 or to the outside of the heat pump dryer 100.

[0058] It should be noted that although the first end of the air guide tube 122 described above in conjunction with Figures 1 and 2 is connected to the end of the U-shaped tube 123 near the first drain tube 121, this is not limiting. In other embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art may also configure the first end of the air guide tube 122 to be connected to the end of the first drain tube 121 near the U-shaped tube 123, but this is also not limiting. In other embodiments of the present invention, the first end of the air guide tube 122 may also be connected to both the first drain tube 121 and the U-shaped tube 123. Such adjustments do not deviate from the basic principles of the present invention, and therefore all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0059] Furthermore, during the development of this invention, the inventors discovered that existing heat pump dryers 100 with a rinsing evaporator 3 function typically have a solenoid valve installed inside the drain channel of the drying duct 2. When the heat pump dryer 100 is in rinsing mode, the solenoid valve is open, allowing water in the drying duct 2 to drain out. When the heat pump dryer 100 is in drying mode, the solenoid valve is closed, allowing all air in the drying duct 2 to enter the clothes handling drum 5. However, after long-term operation, lint accumulates at the opening of the solenoid valve, affecting its sealing and stability. This necessitates periodic replacement or cleaning of the solenoid valve in the drain channel, impacting the user experience.

[0060] The drainage component 12 of the present invention forms a water seal with the water stored in the U-shaped pipe 123, so that when the heat pump dryer 100 is in the drying operation state, the air in the drying duct 2 cannot be discharged through the U-shaped pipe 123. When the heat pump dryer 100 is in the rinsing or washing operation state, even if there is water in the U-shaped pipe 123, the water in the drying duct 2 can still be discharged through the U-shaped pipe 123. Furthermore, when the heat pump dryer 100 is in the rinsing or washing operation state, the water flowing through the U-shaped pipe 123 can clean the inner wall of the pipe, so that the lint in the drainage component 12 can flow out as much as possible, ensuring the usability of the drainage component 12, reducing the cleaning frequency of the drainage component 12, and improving user satisfaction.

[0061] Furthermore, although the drainage assembly 12 described above in conjunction with FIG1 includes a first drain pipe 121, a U-shaped pipe 123, an air guide pipe 122, and a second drain pipe 124, this is not limiting. In other embodiments of the present invention, the drainage assembly 12 may also include a drainage channel, a vacuum pump, and a vacuum valve. The vacuum pump and vacuum valve are located in the drainage channel, with the vacuum valve located upstream of the vacuum pump. When it is necessary to drain water from the drying duct 2 through the drainage assembly 12, the vacuum valve switches from a closed state to an open state. At this time, the vacuum pump operates to draw water out of the drying duct 2, allowing the water in the drying duct 2 to be drained quickly, thereby improving the drainage speed of the drying duct 2 and thus improving the working efficiency of the heat pump dryer 100. However, this is not restrictive. Without departing from the basic principles of the present invention, those skilled in the art can flexibly choose the specific configuration of the drainage component 12 according to the specific application scenario, as long as the drainage component 12 can smoothly discharge the water in the drying air duct 2. For example, a water pump can also be connected to the drainage channel to accelerate the water flow speed in the drainage channel. Such adjustments do not deviate from the principles of the present invention and therefore will also fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0062] As one possible implementation, in a specific embodiment of the present invention, the second end of the air guide pipe 122 is located between the downstream of the evaporator 3 and the upstream of the condenser 4. With the above arrangement, when the heat pump dryer 100 is in the drying working state, the air that enters the first drain pipe 121 and flows through the air guide pipe 122 can enter the drying air duct 2 upstream of the condenser 4. This allows all the air in the drying air duct 2 to flow through the condenser 4, improving the heating efficiency of the condenser 4 on the air in the drying air duct 2, thereby ensuring the drying efficiency of the heat pump dryer 100.

[0063] As one possible implementation, as shown in FIG1, in a specific implementation of the present invention, the drainage assembly 12 further includes a first drain valve 125 and a third drain pipe 126. The first drain valve 125 is located at the lowest point of the U-shaped pipe 123 so that water in the U-shaped pipe 123 can be discharged through the first drain valve 125. The first end of the third drain pipe 126 is connected to the first drain valve 125, and the second end of the third drain pipe 126 is connected to the second drain pipe 124. With the above arrangement, when the first drain valve 125 discharges water from the U-shaped pipe 123, the third drain pipe 126 can discharge the water discharged from the U-shaped pipe 123 into the second drain pipe 124, so that the second drain pipe 124 can discharge the water discharged from the U-shaped pipe 123 into the clothes handling drum 5 or to the outside of the heat pump dryer 100.

[0064] As one possible implementation, as shown in FIG1, the drainage assembly 12 further includes a fourth drain pipe 127, a fifth drain pipe 129, and a valve assembly 128. The first end of the fourth drain pipe 127 is connected to the second drain pipe 124, and the second end of the fourth drain pipe 127 is connected to the clothes handling drum 5, so that the fourth drain pipe 127 can drain the water discharged from the second drain pipe 124 into the clothes handling drum 5. The first end of the fifth drain pipe 129 is connected to the second drain pipe 124, and the second end of the fifth drain pipe 129 is connected to the outside of the heat pump dryer 100, so that the fifth drain pipe 129 can drain the water discharged from the second drain pipe 124 to the outside of the heat pump dryer 100. Valve assembly 128 is connected to the fourth drain pipe 127 and the fifth drain pipe 129. Specifically, valve assembly 128 is configured such that when the heat pump dryer 100 is in the rinsing operation state, valve assembly 128 connects the fifth drain pipe 129 to the second drain pipe 124 and closes the fourth drain pipe 127 to the second drain pipe 124. This allows valve assembly 128 to control the connection and closure of the fourth drain pipe 127 and the fifth drain pipe 129 when the heat pump dryer 100 is in the rinsing operation state, so that water in the second drain pipe 124 can be discharged to the outside of the heat pump dryer 100. The valve assembly 128 is also configured to close the fifth drain pipe 129 and the second drain pipe 124 and connect the fourth drain pipe 127 and the second drain pipe 124 when the heat pump dryer 100 is in the washing operation state. This allows the valve assembly 128 to control the connection and closure of the fourth drain pipe 127 and the fifth drain pipe 129 when the heat pump dryer 100 is in the washing operation state, so that water in the second drain pipe 124 can be discharged into the clothes handling drum 5. When the heat pump dryer 100 is in the rinsing operation state, the valve assembly 128 can be controlled to discharge the water used to rinse the evaporator 3 to the outside of the heat pump dryer 100.

[0065] With the above-described configuration, when the heat pump dryer 100 enters the washing state after the rinsing operation, the water flowing through the evaporator 3 can be allowed to enter the clothes handling drum 5 by controlling the valve assembly 128. This ensures that all water entering the heat pump dryer 100 can flow through the evaporator 3, achieving the rinsing operation of the evaporator 3. Furthermore, when there is a lot of lint on the evaporator 3, i.e., when the heat pump dryer 100 is in the rinsing operation state, the water flowing through the evaporator 3 is discharged to the outside of the heat pump dryer 100. This avoids the problem that excessive lint in the water from rinsing the evaporator 3 could cause lint to adhere to the surface of the clothes inside the clothes handling drum 5, thus affecting the cleaning ability of the heat pump dryer 100. Moreover, after the rinsing operation state is completed, i.e., when there is less lint on the evaporator 3, the heat pump dryer 100 of the present invention allows water flowing through the evaporator 3 to enter the clothes handling drum 5 by controlling the valve assembly 128, thereby reducing the risk of lint from the evaporator 3 adhering to the clothes inside the clothes handling drum 5.

[0066] As one possible implementation, as shown in FIG1, the valve assembly 128 includes a three-way valve 1281, which is connected to the second drain pipe 124, the fourth drain pipe 127 and the fifth drain pipe 129 respectively. Specifically, the three-way valve 1281 is an electromagnetic three-way directional valve.

[0067] It should be noted that although the valve assembly 128 described above in conjunction with Figure 1 is a three-way valve 1281, this is not limiting. In specific embodiments of the present invention, the valve assembly 128 may further include a second drain valve and a third drain valve. The second drain valve is disposed on the fourth drain pipe 127, enabling the fourth drain pipe 127 to switch between an open state and a closed state. The third drain valve is disposed on the fifth drain pipe 129, enabling the fifth drain pipe 129 to switch between an open state and a closed state. The second and third drain valves may be solenoid valves.

[0068] In this invention, the rinsing structure 1 further includes a controller (not shown), which is connected to the first drain valve 125, the valve assembly 128, and the control chip of the heat pump dryer 100, respectively. This allows the controller to adjust the connection state of the first drain valve 125 and the valve assembly 128 according to the operating state of the heat pump dryer 100, thereby enabling the rinsing, drying, and washing operations of the heat pump dryer 100. It should be noted that the controller can be a control chip inherent in the heat pump dryer 100 itself, a control module specifically designed to execute the control method of this invention, or a functional unit of the control module.

[0069] The possible implementations of the control method for the flushing structure of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 3 to 6.

[0070] As shown in Figure 3, in one possible implementation, the control method for the flushing structure of the present invention may include the following steps:

[0071] S101: Obtain the operating mode of the heat pump dryer, including drying mode, washing mode and wash-then-dry mode;

[0072] S102: If the operating mode is drying mode or washing mode, control the heat pump dryer to enter the rinsing working state;

[0073] S103: After the heat pump dryer finishes rinsing, control the heat pump dryer to enter the corresponding drying or washing state.

[0074] S104: If the operating mode is wash-then-dry mode, control the heat pump dryer to enter the rinsing working state;

[0075] S105: After the heat pump dryer finishes rinsing, control the heat pump dryer to enter the washing state.

[0076] S106: After the heat pump dryer finishes washing, control the heat pump dryer to start drying.

[0077] In S101, the controller obtains the operating mode of the heat pump dryer. The operating mode includes the drying mode, washing mode, or wash-then-dry mode input by the user. Specifically, the operating mode can be input by the user through the control panel set on the main body of the heat pump dryer. However, this is not limiting. In the specific implementation of the present invention, the control command can also be input by the user through a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal can be a remote control, mobile phone, tablet or computer or other device capable of inputting control commands.

[0078] In S102, when the operating mode is drying mode or washing mode, the heat pump dryer is controlled to enter the rinsing working state so that the evaporator in the drying air duct can be rinsed before the heat pump dryer performs drying or washing operations, so as to reduce the amount of lint on the evaporator during the drying or washing operations, and thus ensure the drying efficiency of the heat pump dryer.

[0079] In S103, after the heat pump dryer finishes the rinsing operation, the heat pump dryer is controlled to enter the corresponding drying operation or washing operation. That is, when the operating mode is drying mode, the heat pump dryer is controlled to enter the drying operation after the heat pump dryer finishes the rinsing operation, or when the operating mode is washing mode, the heat pump dryer is controlled to enter the washing operation after the heat pump dryer finishes the rinsing operation.

[0080] In S104, when the operating mode is wash-then-dry mode, the heat pump dryer is controlled to enter the rinsing working state so that the evaporator in the drying air duct can be rinsed before the heat pump dryer performs the washing operation, so as to reduce the amount of lint on the evaporator during the washing operation and ensure the drying efficiency of the heat pump dryer.

[0081] In S105, after the heat pump dryer finishes rinsing, it controls the heat pump dryer to enter washing mode.

[0082] In S106, after the heat pump dryer finishes washing, it is controlled to enter the drying state.

[0083] As shown in Figure 4, in one possible implementation, the control method for the flushing structure of the present invention may include the following steps:

[0084] S201: When the heat pump dryer enters the rinsing working state, adjust the state of the drain assembly so that the water entering the drying air duct can be discharged to the outside of the heat pump dryer through the drain assembly.

[0085] S202: When the heat pump dryer enters the washing operation state, adjust the state of the drainage component so that the water entering the heat pump dryer can enter the clothes handling drum of the heat pump dryer.

[0086] In S201, when the heat pump dryer enters the rinsing working state, the state of the drain component is adjusted so that the water entering the drying air duct can be discharged to the outside of the heat pump dryer through the drain component. Through the above setting, the water used to rinse the evaporator of the heat pump dryer can be discharged to the outside of the heat pump dryer, reducing the risk of lint adhering to the evaporator entering the clothes handling drum during the drying and washing operations, and ensuring the cleaning effect of the heat pump dryer.

[0087] In S202, when the heat pump dryer enters the washing operation state, the state of the drainage component is adjusted so that the water entering the drying air duct can enter the clothes processing drum. Through the above-mentioned setting, the heat pump dryer of the present invention can utilize the flushing pipeline, which reduces the complexity and number of pipelines of the heat pump dryer and reduces the cost of the heat pump dryer.

[0088] As shown in Figure 5, in one possible implementation, the control method for the flushing structure of the present invention may include the following steps:

[0089] S301: Obtain the operating status of the heat pump dryer;

[0090] S302: After the heat pump dryer finishes drying, control the drainage component to switch from a sealed state to a connected state.

[0091] In the specific implementation of this invention, after the heat pump dryer has finished drying, the controller controls the drainage component to switch from a sealed state to a connected state so that the drainage component can be connected to the outside, thereby reducing the humidity inside the drainage component and thus reducing the risk of bacteria growing in the drainage component due to moisture.

[0092] Specifically, when the drainage assembly includes a U-shaped tube, after the heat pump dryer has finished drying, the controller controls the first drain valve to switch from the closed state to the open state, so that the water in the U-shaped tube can be discharged through the third drain pipe. This switches the U-shaped tube from the sealed state to the open state, which allows the drainage assembly's pipes to be connected to the clothes handling drum, thereby reducing the humidity inside the drainage assembly's pipes and reducing the risk of bacteria growth due to moisture.

[0093] As shown in Figure 6, in one possible implementation, the control method for the flushing structure of the present invention may include the following steps:

[0094] S401: Obtain the status of the drainage component;

[0095] S402: After the drainage component switches from a sealed state to a connected state, continue to control the fan in the drying duct to run for the preset drying time.

[0096] In the specific implementation of this invention, after the drainage component is switched from a sealed state to a connected state, the fan in the drying duct is controlled to run for a preset drying time so that the air entering the drying duct can enter the drainage component and the clothes processing drum, thereby drying the drainage component and accelerating the drying speed of the drainage component, so as to further reduce the risk of bacteria growing inside the drainage component.

[0097] It should be noted that the preset drying time can be determined by the designer based on experience, experiments, calculations, etc. For example, the preset drying time is 1 minute. In this way, during the 1 minute that the controller controls the first drain valve to switch from the closed state to the open state, the air flowing in the drying duct can dry the pipes of the exhaust component, thereby reducing the risk of bacteria growing inside the exhaust component.

[0098] Those skilled in the art will understand that although some embodiments herein include certain features included in other embodiments but not others, combinations of features from different embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention and form different embodiments. For example, in the claims of the invention, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

[0099] It should be noted that although the detailed steps of the method of the present invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art can combine, split, and change the order of the above steps without departing from the basic principles of the present invention. Such modified technical solutions do not change the basic concept of the present invention and therefore also fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0100] 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 flushing structure, characterized by, The rinsing structure (1) is applied to a heat pump dryer (100) for cleaning the evaporator (3) in the drying duct (2) of the heat pump dryer (100). The rinsing structure (1) includes: A water inlet pipe (11) is connected to the drying air duct (2), and the outlet of the water inlet pipe (11) is provided corresponding to the evaporator (3) so that the water entering the drying air duct (2) through the water inlet pipe (11) can clean the evaporator (3); and A drainage component (12) is connected to the drying duct (2). The connection between the drainage component (12) and the drying duct (2) is located at the lowest point of the drying duct (2) so that water in the drying duct (2) can flow out through the drainage component (12). The drainage component (12) is configured to be in a sealed state when the heat pump dryer (100) is in the drying working state, so that all the air in the drying duct (2) can enter the clothes handling drum (5) of the heat pump dryer (100). The drainage component (12) is also configured to allow water in the drying duct (2) to be smoothly discharged to the outside of the heat pump dryer (100) under the action of the drainage component (12) when the heat pump dryer (100) is in the rinsing working state.

2. The irrigation structure of claim 1, wherein, The drainage assembly (12) includes: The first drain pipe (121) is connected to the drying air duct (2); A U-shaped pipe (123) is connected to the first drain pipe (121) and located downstream of the first drain pipe (121), configured such that water can remain after the heat pump dryer (100) rinses the evaporator (3) so that the drain assembly (12) is in a sealed state. An air guide pipe (122) has its first end connected to the end of the U-shaped pipe (123) near the first drain pipe (121), and / or connected to the end of the first drain pipe (121) near the U-shaped pipe (123), and its second end connected to the drying air duct (2); and A second drain pipe (124) is connected to the U-shaped pipe (123) and located downstream of the U-shaped pipe (123). The second drain pipe (124) is configured to communicate with the outside of the heat pump dryer (100) and also to communicate with the clothes handling drum (5).

3. The irrigation structure of claim 2, wherein, The second end of the air guide pipe (122) is located between the downstream of the evaporator (3) and the upstream of the condenser (4).

4. The irrigation structure of claim 2, wherein, The drainage assembly (12) also includes: A first drain valve (125) is located at the lowest point of the U-shaped pipe (123); and The third drain pipe (126) has its first end connected to the first drain valve (125) and its second end connected to the second drain pipe (124).

5. The irrigation structure of claim 2, wherein, The drainage assembly (12) also includes: The fourth drain pipe (127) has its first end connected to the second drain pipe (124) and its second end connected to the clothes handling tube (5); The fifth drain pipe (129) has its first end connected to the second drain pipe (124) and its second end connected to the outside of the heat pump dryer (100); and A valve assembly (128) is connected to the fourth drain pipe (127) and the fifth drain pipe (129). The valve assembly (128) is configured to connect the fifth drain pipe (129) to the second drain pipe (124) and close the fourth drain pipe (127) to the second drain pipe (124) when the heat pump dryer (100) is in the rinsing operation state. It is also configured to close the fifth drain pipe (129) to the second drain pipe (124) and connect the fourth drain pipe (127) to the second drain pipe (124) when the heat pump dryer (100) is in the washing operation state.

6. The irrigation structure of claim 5, wherein, The valve assembly (128) includes: A three-way valve (1281) is connected to the second drain pipe (124), the fourth drain pipe (127), and the fifth drain pipe (129); or A second drain valve, located on the fourth drain pipe (127), allows the fourth drain pipe (127) to switch between an open state and a closed state; and A third drain valve is provided on the fifth drain pipe (129) to switch the fifth drain pipe (129) between a connected state and a closed state.

7. A control method of a flush structure characterized by, The control method for the flushing structure is applied to the flushing structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and the control method includes the following steps: The operating mode of the heat pump dryer is obtained, including drying mode, washing mode, or wash-then-dry mode; When the operating mode is the drying mode or the washing mode, the heat pump dryer is controlled to enter the rinsing working state; After the heat pump dryer finishes the rinsing operation, the heat pump dryer is controlled to enter the drying operation or the washing operation. When the operating mode is the wash-then-dry mode, the heat pump dryer is controlled to enter the rinsing working state; After the heat pump dryer finishes the rinsing operation, the heat pump dryer is controlled to enter the washing operation. After the heat pump dryer finishes the washing operation, it is controlled to enter the drying operation.

8. The control method according to claim 7, characterized by, The control method further includes: When the heat pump dryer enters the rinsing working state, the state of the drainage component is adjusted so that the water entering the drying air duct can be discharged to the outside of the heat pump dryer by the drainage component; When the heat pump dryer enters the washing operation state, the state of the drainage component is adjusted so that the water entering the drying air duct can enter the clothes processing drum.

9. The control method according to claim 7, characterized by, The control method further includes: After the heat pump dryer finishes the drying process, the drainage component is switched from the sealed state to the open state.

10. The control method according to claim 9, characterized by, The control method further includes: After the drain assembly is switched from the sealed state to the communicated state, the fan in the drying air duct is continuously controlled to run for a preset drying time.

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