Laundry treatment device and steam generator

Abstract

A laundry treatment device and a steam generator. The steam generator comprises a housing (401), a water pump (402) and a heater (404), wherein the housing (401) is provided with a water inlet (401a) and a steam outlet (401b); the water pump (402) is arranged outside the housing (401), the water pump (402) being connected to the water inlet (401a); and the heater (404) is located in a cavity (403a) of the housing (401), the heater (404) being configured to heat liquid water entering the housing (401) through the water inlet (401a), so as to generate a mixture of steam and liquid water; a heating channel (404a) is formed inside the heater (404), the heating channel (404a) has a first channel opening (404b) and a second channel opening (404c) that are in communication with each other, the first channel opening (404b) being in communication with the steam outlet (401b).

Description

Clothing handling device and steam generator

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202510465734.5, filed on April 14, 2025; the entire contents of the aforementioned Chinese patent application are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] Some embodiments of this application relate to the field of home appliance technology, and in particular to a clothing treatment device and a steam generator. Background Technology

[0004] To provide garment care, washing machines or dryers use steam to treat clothes.

[0005] In related technologies, a steam generator is installed inside the housing of the garment processing device. A heater is embedded inside the housing of the steam generator, which heats the housing of the steam generator, thereby heating the liquid water inside the housing into steam, which is then ejected from the steam outlet.

[0006] However, when the steam generator sprays steam, it carries a lot of liquid water, which affects the steam treatment effect. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Some embodiments of this application provide a garment treatment device and a steam generator that can reduce the liquid water carried in the steam and improve the steam care effect.

[0008] In a first aspect, some embodiments of this application provide a garment processing apparatus comprising:

[0009] Box;

[0010] The cylindrical body is rotatably disposed within the box.

[0011] A steam generator is disposed within the housing; the steam generator comprises:

[0012] The shell is used to form a cavity and is provided with a water inlet and a steam outlet, the steam outlet being connected to the cylinder;

[0013] A water pump is disposed outside the housing and connected to the water inlet. The water pump is used to inject liquid water into the cavity from the water inlet.

[0014] A heater, located within the cavity, is configured to heat the liquid water entering the housing from the inlet to generate a mixture of steam and the liquid water; wherein,

[0015] The heater has a heating channel inside, which has a first channel opening and a second channel opening that are connected to each other. The first channel opening is connected to the steam outlet. The liquid water entering through the water inlet is heated by passing through the outer wall of the heater, then enters the heating channel through the second channel opening for reheating, and is discharged to the cylinder through the steam outlet.

[0016] In the above technical solution, when the steam generator of the garment treatment device is working, the water pump injects liquid water into the cavity from the water inlet. The liquid water entering from the water inlet is heated once by the outer wall of the heater, and then enters the heating channel from the second channel for secondary heating. The heating channel can extend the heating path, which can reduce the amount of liquid water carried in the steam ejected from the steam outlet of the shell, thereby improving the steam care effect.

[0017] In some embodiments of this application, the water inlet of the housing is located near the steam outlet relative to the second channel port.

[0018] The above technical solution allows the liquid water entering from the inlet to pass through the outer wall of the heater before entering the heating channel from the second channel, forming a longer path. This can improve heating efficiency, reduce the amount of liquid water entering the heating channel from the second channel, and reduce the amount of liquid water carried in the steam ejected from the steam outlet of the shell, thereby improving the steam treatment effect.

[0019] In some embodiments of this application, in the operating state of the steam generator, a gap is formed between the outer wall of the heater and the lower shell of the housing.

[0020] In the above technical solution, during the heating process of liquid water entering through the inlet and passing through the outer wall of the heater, the first gap can deposit insufficiently heated liquid water, which can reduce the amount of insufficiently heated liquid water entering the heating channel through the second channel, and reduce the amount of liquid water carried in the steam ejected from the steam outlet of the shell.

[0021] In some embodiments of this application, in the operating state of the steam generator, a gap is formed between the outer wall of the heater and the upper shell of the housing, and the water inlet is formed on the upper shell.

[0022] The second gap in the above-mentioned technical solution can be used to form a heating space before the liquid water entering the cavity enters the heating channel. After being heated once in the heating space, the liquid water entering the cavity through the inlet enters the heating channel for secondary heating through the second channel opening.

[0023] In some embodiments of this application, in the operating state of the steam generator, the end section of the heater forming the second channel opening is parallel to the vertical direction.

[0024] The above technical solution can prevent the second channel opening from facing the upper shell of the shell, so that steam can enter the heating channel from the second channel opening. At the same time, it can reduce the amount of unheated liquid water entering the heating channel from the second channel opening, thereby reducing the amount of liquid water carried in the steam ejected from the steam outlet of the shell.

[0025] In some embodiments of this application, the gap between the end of the heater that forms the second channel opening and the inner wall of the housing is greater than 0.5 mm and less than 3 mm.

[0026] If the gap distance of the above technical solution is less than 0.5mm, the gap between the end of the second channel opening and the inner wall of the shell will be too small, causing the mixture of steam and liquid water generated during heating to enter the heating channel unevenly. If the gap distance is greater than 3mm, the distance between the second channel opening and the inner wall of the shell will be too large, causing a large amount of the mixture of steam and liquid water generated during heating to enter the heating channel. By limiting the gap distance between the end of the second channel opening and the inner wall of the shell, the mixture of steam and liquid water generated during heating can enter the heating channel in a small amount and evenly.

[0027] In some embodiments of this application, the heater includes:

[0028] Two electrodes, partially disposed outside the housing;

[0029] A heating element, at least partially disposed within the housing; the heating element comprises:

[0030] A heating element, electrically connected to the two electrodes, wherein the heating element has:

[0031] An external heating wall is disposed on the outside of the heating part;

[0032] An internal heating wall is disposed within the heating channel.

[0033] In the above-described technical solution, when the steam generator of the garment treatment device is operating, water controlled by a water pump enters the cavity through the inlet. The outer heating wall of the heater's heating section heats the liquid water entering the housing to generate a mixture of steam and liquid water. The inner heating wall of the heater's heating section heats the mixture, reducing the amount of liquid water carried in the steam ejected from the housing's steam outlet, thereby improving the steam treatment effect.

[0034] In some embodiments of this application, the heating element further includes:

[0035] A first non-heating part is connected to the heating part, and the first non-heating part is connected to the side wall of the housing;

[0036] The first channel opening is located on the first non-heated part.

[0037] The above technical solution allows the heating element to be connected to the shell through a non-heated part, so that the heating element does not heat the shell 1, so that all the heat of the heater can be used to heat the liquid water in the shell, so that the energy consumption of the heater can be reduced, and so that the safety of the steam generator can be improved.

[0038] In some embodiments of this application, the heating element further includes:

[0039] A second non-heating part is disposed on the side of the heating part away from the first non-heating part, and the second non-heating part is connected to the heating part;

[0040] The second channel opening is located on the second non-heated part.

[0041] The above technical solution allows the heating element to approach the shell through a non-heated part on the side of the heating section away from the first non-heated section, so that the heating element does not heat the shell, so that all the heat of the heater can be used to heat the liquid water in the shell, so that the energy consumption of the heater can be reduced, and so that the safety of the steam generator can be improved.

[0042] Secondly, some embodiments of this application provide a steam generator, including:

[0043] The shell, used to form a cavity, is provided with a water inlet and a steam outlet;

[0044] A water pump is disposed outside the housing and connected to the water inlet. The water pump is used to inject liquid water into the cavity from the water inlet.

[0045] A heater, located within the cavity, is configured to heat the liquid water entering the housing from the inlet to generate a mixture of steam and the liquid water; wherein,

[0046] The heater has a heating channel inside, which has a first channel opening and a second channel opening that are connected to each other. The first channel opening is connected to the steam outlet. The liquid water entering through the water inlet is heated by passing through the outer wall of the heater, then enters the heating channel through the second channel opening for reheating, and is discharged through the steam outlet.

[0047] In the above-described technical solution, when the steam generator of the garment treatment device is operating, water controlled by a water pump enters the housing from the outlet. The outer heating wall of the heater's heating section heats the liquid water entering the housing to generate a mixture of steam and liquid water. The inner heating wall of the heater's heating section heats the mixture, reducing the amount of liquid water carried in the steam ejected from the housing's steam outlet, thereby improving the steam treatment effect.

[0048] In some embodiments of this application, the water inlet of the housing is located near the steam outlet relative to the second channel port.

[0049] The above technical solution allows the liquid water entering from the inlet to pass through the outer wall of the heater before entering the heating channel from the second channel, forming a longer path. This can improve heating efficiency, reduce the amount of liquid water entering the heating channel from the second channel, and reduce the amount of liquid water carried in the steam ejected from the steam outlet of the shell, thereby improving the steam treatment effect.

[0050] In some embodiments of this application, in the operating state of the steam generator, a gap is formed between the outer wall of the heater and the lower shell of the housing.

[0051] In the above technical solution, during the heating process of liquid water entering through the inlet and passing through the outer wall of the heater, the first gap can deposit insufficiently heated liquid water, which can reduce the amount of insufficiently heated liquid water entering the heating channel through the second channel, and reduce the amount of liquid water carried in the steam ejected from the steam outlet of the shell. Attached Figure Description

[0052] To more clearly illustrate the implementation methods in the embodiments of this application or related technologies, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0053] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a clothing processing device provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0054] Figure 2 is an enlarged view of point A in Figure 1;

[0055] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a steam generator provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0056] Figure 4 is an exploded view of the steam generator in Figure 3;

[0057] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the steam generator shell, thermostat and heater in Figure 3 after installation;

[0058] Figure 6 is an exploded view of the steam generator housing, thermostat, and heater shown in Figure 3;

[0059] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the steam generator shell, thermostat and heater in Figure 3 after installation;

[0060] Figure 8 is an enlarged view of point B in Figure 7;

[0061] Figure 9 is a first-view schematic diagram of the lower casing of a steam generator provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0062] Figure 10 is a second-view schematic diagram of the lower casing of a steam generator provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0063] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a heater provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0064] Figure 12 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the heater in Figure 11;

[0065] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the installed structure of the housing, thermostat and heater of a steam generator provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0066] Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of the steam generator shell, thermostat and heater in Figure 13 after installation;

[0067] Figure 15 is an enlarged view of point C in Figure 14.

[0068] Reference numerals: 200-cylinder; 300-nozzle; 400-steam generator; 401-shell; 4011-lower shell; 4012-upper shell; 401a- 401-Water inlet; 401b-Steam outlet; 401c-First sidewall; 401d-Second sidewall; 401e-First edge; 401f-Second edge; 402-Water pump; 403-Thermostat; 403a-Cavity; 403b-First gap; 403c-Second gap; 403d-Third gap; 404-Heater; 4041-Electrode; 4042-Heating element; 404a-Heating channel; 404b-First channel opening; 404c-Second channel opening; 404e-Heating part; 404f-Outer heating wall; 404g-Inner heating wall; 404h-First non-heating part; 404i-Second non-heating part; 405-Protective shell; 4051-First shell; 4052-Second shell. Detailed Implementation

[0069] The exemplary embodiments of this application will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described exemplary embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.

[0070] It should be noted that the brief descriptions of terms in this application are only for the convenience of understanding the embodiments described below, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this application. Unless otherwise stated, these terms should be understood in their ordinary and common meaning.

[0071] Furthermore, the terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, are intended to cover but not exclusively include, for example, a product or device that includes a series of components is not necessarily limited to those that are explicitly listed, but may include other components that are not explicitly listed or that are inherent to such product or device.

[0072] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0073] 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 technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0074] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly 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 between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0075] When a steam generator emits steam, it carries a high amount of liquid water, which affects the effectiveness of steam treatment. The inventors discovered that this problem arises because, due to the limited size of the steam generator and its short heating path, water tends to boil during heating, causing the liquid water to be ejected along with the steam, resulting in a high liquid water content in the steam and negatively impacting the steam treatment effect.

[0076] To address the aforementioned issues, some embodiments of this application provide a garment treatment device and a steam generator. The heater is equipped with a heating channel. Liquid water entering the housing is heated by the outer wall of the heater and can then enter the heating channel for secondary heating. The heating channel extends the heating path, which reduces the amount of liquid water carried in the steam ejected from the steam outlet of the housing, thereby improving the steam care effect.

[0077] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0078] This application provides a garment processing apparatus in some embodiments. The garment processing apparatus may include devices such as washing machines or dryers capable of steam-treating garments. Figure 1 shows the garment processing apparatus as a dryer, and the structure of the dryer is described below.

[0079] It should be noted that the steam generators provided in some embodiments of this application can be used not only in clothing processing devices, but also in household appliances such as garment steamers.

[0080] Referring to Figure 1, some embodiments of this application provide a garment handling device including a housing (not shown in the figure). The housing can be configured as the outer shell of the garment handling device. The housing can typically have a hollow cuboid structure. It should be noted that in other embodiments, the external shape of the housing can be designed as needed, and is not limited here. The interior of the housing can be used to provide installation space.

[0081] In some embodiments, referring to FIG1, the garment handling apparatus may further include a drum body 200. The drum body 200 is rotatably disposed within the housing.

[0082] In some examples, clothes to be dried can be placed inside the drum 200.

[0083] In some embodiments, the garment handling apparatus may further include a condensate tray. The condensate tray can store condensate generated during the garment drying process.

[0084] In some embodiments, the garment handling apparatus may further include a steam generator 400. The steam generator 400 can be used to generate steam.

[0085] As exemplarily shown in Figures 1 and 2, a steam generator 400 may be connected to a nozzle 300. The steam generator 400 may be located between a condensate tank and a drum 200. The nozzle 300 may be located inside the drum 200. Liquid water in the condensate tank may flow to and enter the steam generator 400. The steam generator 400 may generate steam. The steam may enter the drum 200 through the nozzle 300, and the steam may be used to iron the clothes in the drum 200 at a high temperature, thereby smoothing out wrinkles in the clothes.

[0086] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the steam generator 400 may include a housing 401. The housing 401 may have a hollow structure to form a cavity 403a (see Figure 6). The housing 401 may be provided with a water inlet 401a and a steam outlet 401b. The steam outlet 401b may communicate with the cylinder 200.

[0087] In some embodiments of this application, the first direction of the housing 401 can be the X-axis direction. The second direction of the housing 401 can be the Y-axis direction. The third direction of the housing 401 can be the Z-axis direction. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are perpendicular to each other.

[0088] The dimension of housing 401 in a first direction may be greater than the dimension of housing 401 in other directions. For example, the dimension of housing 401 in the first direction may be greater than the dimension of housing 401 in a second direction. The dimension of housing 401 in the first direction may be greater than the dimension of housing 401 in a third direction.

[0089] In some embodiments, the steam generator 400 may further include a water pump 402. The water pump 402 may be disposed outside the housing 401. The water pump 402 may have an outlet, which may be connected to the inlet 401a of the housing 401. The water pump 402 is used to inject liquid water from the inlet 401a into the cavity 403a.

[0090] For example, water pump 402 can be connected to a condensate box. Water pump 402 can pump liquid water from the condensate box into cavity 403a.

[0091] In some embodiments, the steam generator 400 may further include a thermostat 403. The thermostat 403 may be connected to the housing 401. The thermostat 403 may be used to detect the temperature inside the housing 401.

[0092] The number of thermostats 403 can be one or more, without any specific limitation. For example, the number of thermostats 403 can be two.

[0093] In some embodiments, the steam generator 400 may further include a protective housing 405. The housing 401, water pump 402, thermostat 403, and heater 404 may be housed within the protective housing 405. This arrangement, by placing the protective housing 405 on the outside of the steam generator 400, prevents users from contacting the internal components of the steam generator 400, reducing the risk of burns. It also improves the overall appearance of the steam generator 400.

[0094] For example, the protective shell 405 may include a first shell 4051 and a second shell 4052. The first shell 4051 may be engaged with the second shell 4052.

[0095] In some embodiments, referring to FIG6, the steam generator 400 may further include a heater 404. The heater 404 may be located in the cavity 403a. The heater 404 may be configured to heat liquid water entering the housing 401 from the inlet 401a to generate a mixture of steam and liquid water.

[0096] Steam, or gaseous water, is the state in which water molecules exist as independent gaseous forms.

[0097] Liquid water refers to water in a liquid state. Liquid water is composed of H2O linked by hydrogen bonds.

[0098] In some examples, liquid water exists between 0 and 100°C under standard atmospheric pressure. Under standard atmospheric pressure, liquid water needs to reach 100°C to vaporize into steam. Under standard atmospheric pressure, steam can condense into liquid water upon contact with components or gases below 100°C.

[0099] The arrows in Figure 7 represent the path through which water turns into steam.

[0100] In some embodiments, referring to Figures 7 and 8, a heating channel 404a may be formed inside the heater 404. The heating channel 404a may have a first channel opening 404b and a second channel opening 404c that are connected. The first channel opening 404b may be connected to the steam outlet 401b of the housing 401.

[0101] Liquid water entering through inlet 401a is heated by the outer wall of heater 404, then enters heating channel 404a through second channel 404c for reheating, and is discharged to cylinder 200 through steam outlet 401b. With this configuration, when the steam generator 400 of the garment treatment device is operating, water pump 402 injects liquid water into cavity 403a through inlet 401a. The liquid water entering through inlet 401a is heated once by the outer wall of heater 404, then enters heating channel 404a through second channel 404c for secondary heating. Heating channel 404a extends the heating path, reducing the amount of liquid water carried in the steam ejected from steam outlet 401b of housing 401, thereby improving the steam care effect.

[0102] In some examples, the heating channel 404a may be circular. In other embodiments, the heating channel 404a may also be other shapes, such as square.

[0103] In some embodiments of this application, the heating channel 404a may be elongated. In other embodiments, the heating channel 404a may also be curved, such as S-shaped.

[0104] In some examples, the heating channel 404a may extend along a first direction of the housing 401. The second channel opening 404c may be located at one end of the heating channel 404a in the extending direction of the heating channel 404a. The first channel opening 404b may be located at the other end of the heating channel 404a in the extending direction of the heating channel 404a. That is, the first channel opening 404b and the second channel opening 404c are arranged opposite to each other in the extending direction of the heating channel 404a.

[0105] In some embodiments of this application, the water inlet 401a of the housing 401 is positioned closer to the steam outlet 401b than the second channel port 404c. This arrangement allows the liquid water entering from the water inlet 401a to have a longer path for heating via the outer wall of the heater 404 before entering the heating channel 404a from the second channel port 404c, thus improving heating efficiency. It also reduces the amount of liquid water entering the heating channel 404a from the second channel port 404c, thereby reducing the amount of liquid water carried in the steam ejected from the steam outlet 401b of the housing 401 and improving the steam treatment effect.

[0106] In some embodiments of this application, the housing 401 may include a lower housing 4011 and an upper housing 4012 (see Figures 5 and 6). The upper housing 4012 may be connected to the lower housing 4011. The upper housing 4012 and the lower housing 4011 may form a cavity 403a.

[0107] For example, the upper housing 4012 can be connected to the lower housing 4011 on one side in the +Z axis direction. That is, the upper housing 4012 can be connected to the top side of the lower housing 4011.

[0108] In some examples, the water inlet 401a can be located on the upper housing 4012. The steam outlet 401b can be located on the lower housing 4011. With this configuration, when the steam generator 400 of the garment treatment device is operating, water controlled by the water pump 402 enters the cavity 403a from the water inlet 401a on the upper housing 4012. The heater 404 can heat the liquid water entering the cavity 403a to generate a mixture of steam and liquid water. This mixture can enter the heating channel 404a of the heater 404, and the heating channel 404a can reheat the mixture entering the heating channel 404a. This reduces the amount of liquid water carried in the steam ejected from the steam outlet 401b on the lower housing 4011, thereby improving the steam care effect.

[0109] The upper housing 4012 can be made of stainless steel. The lower housing 4011 can be formed by casting aluminum inside the stainless steel component.

[0110] In some embodiments of this application, when the steam generator 400 is in operation, a first gap 403b can be formed between the outer wall of the heater 404 and the lower shell 4011 of the housing 401. With this configuration, during the heating process of liquid water entering through the inlet 401a via the outer wall of the heater 404, insufficiently heated liquid water can be deposited in the first gap 403b. This reduces the amount of insufficiently heated liquid water entering the heating channel 404a through the second channel port 404c, and consequently reduces the amount of liquid water carried in the steam ejected from the steam outlet 401b of the housing 401.

[0111] In some embodiments of this application, the water inlet 401a may be formed on the upper housing 4012. When the steam generator 400 is in operation, a second gap 403c may be formed between the outer wall of the heater 404 and the upper housing 4012 of the housing 401. This configuration allows the second gap 403c to form a heating space before the liquid water entering the cavity 403a enters the heating channel 404a. The liquid water entering the cavity 403a through the water inlet 401a undergoes initial heating in the heating space, and then enters the heating channel 404a through the second channel opening 404c for secondary heating.

[0112] In some embodiments of this application, when the steam generator 400 is in operation, the end section of the heater 404 forming the second channel opening 404c is parallel to the vertical direction (i.e., the Z-axis direction). This arrangement prevents the second channel opening 404c from facing the upper housing 4012 of the housing 401, allowing steam to enter the heating channel 404a from the second channel opening 404c. Simultaneously, it reduces the amount of insufficiently heated liquid water entering the heating channel 404a from the second channel opening 404c, thereby reducing the amount of liquid water carried in the steam ejected from the steam outlet 401b of the housing 401.

[0113] In some embodiments of this application, a third gap 403d may be formed between the end of the heater 404 where the second channel opening 404c is formed and the inner wall of the housing 401. It is understood that the end of the second channel opening 404c does not contact the inner wall of the housing 401.

[0114] Among them, the gap distance of the third gap 403d can be L.

[0115] For example, referring to Figures 7 to 10, the housing 401 may have a first sidewall 401c and a second sidewall 401d in the X-axis direction. The first sidewall 401c and the second sidewall 401d are disposed opposite to each other. The first sidewall 401c may have a first edge 401e and a second edge 401f in the Z-axis direction. The center point of the first edge 401e may be d1. The center point of the second edge 401f may be d2. A line connecting the center points of the first edge 401e and the second edge 401f forms a first line C1. The center point of the first line C1 is d3. The second channel opening 404c may be circular. The center point of the second channel opening 404c is d4. A line connecting the center point of the first line C1 and the center point of the second channel opening 404c may form a second line C2. The second line C2 extends along the X-axis direction.

[0116] The gap distance of the third gap 403d can be the dimension of the second line C2 in the X-axis direction, and the dimension of the second line C2 in the X-axis direction can be L.

[0117] In some examples, L is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm and less than or equal to 3 mm. For example, the value of L can be 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, 0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.9 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, or 3 mm, etc. Of course, L can also be other values, and those skilled in the art can choose according to their needs. This embodiment does not limit this. If L is less than 0.5 mm, the gap between the end of the second channel opening 404c and the inner wall of the housing 401 will be too small, which will cause the mixture of steam and liquid water generated by heating in the heating space to enter the heating channel unevenly. If L is greater than 3 mm, the distance between the second channel opening 404c and the inner wall of the housing 401 will be too large, which will cause a large amount of the mixture of steam and liquid water generated by heating in the heating space to enter the heating channel 404. By limiting the gap between the end of the second channel opening 404c and the inner wall of the housing 401, the mixture of steam and liquid water generated by heating in the heating space can enter the heating channel 404 in a small amount and evenly.

[0118] It should be noted that in related technologies, in order to ensure that the liquid water inside the shell is heated evenly, the heater is buried inside the shell, and the part of the heater that is heated is in contact with the shell. The heater heats the shell, and the inner surface of the shell heats the liquid water inside the shell. The heat from the outer surface of the shell is dissipated to the outside of the shell. In this way, some energy is not used to heat the water, resulting in energy waste.

[0119] In some embodiments of this application, a gap is provided between the portion of heater 404 used to heat the liquid water inside the housing 401 and the inner wall of the housing 401. It is understood that the portion of heater 404 used to heat the liquid water inside the housing 401 does not contact the inner wall of the housing 401. This arrangement, compared to heating methods in related technologies, allows heater 404 to not heat the housing 401, ensuring that all the heat from heater 404 is used to heat the liquid water inside the housing 401. This reduces energy waste, lowers the energy consumption of heater 404, and improves the safety of the steam generator 400.

[0120] In some embodiments of this application, referring to Figures 11 and 12, the heater 404 may include two electrodes 4041. The two electrodes 4041 may be partially disposed outside the housing 401.

[0121] The two electrodes 4041 can be connected to the internal power supply of the garment handling device. The power supply can then supply power to the heater 404 through the two electrodes.

[0122] In some examples, heater 404 may also include heating element 4042. Heating element 4042 may be at least partially disposed within housing 401. It is understood that heating element 4042 may be partially disposed within housing 401 and partially disposed outside housing 401. Alternatively, heating element 4042 may be entirely disposed within housing 401.

[0123] For example, the heating element 4042 may be disposed within the cavity 403a. The heating element 4042 may include a heating section 404e. The heating section 404e may be electrically connected to two electrodes 4041. When the heater 404 is energized, the heating section 404e can heat the liquid water inside the housing 401. It is understood that the portion of the heater 404 used to heat the liquid water inside the housing 401 is the heating section 404e of the heating element 4042.

[0124] In some examples, the heating element 404e may be entirely located within the housing 401.

[0125] In some examples, the heating element 404e may have an external heating wall 404f. The external heating wall 404f may be disposed on the outside of the heating element 404e. When the steam generator 400 of the clothing treatment device is in operation, water controlled by the water pump 402 enters the cavity 403a from the water inlet 401a, and the external heating wall 404f of the heating element 404e of the heater 404 can heat the liquid water entering the housing 401 to generate a mixture of steam and liquid water.

[0126] The heating unit 404e may also have an inner heating wall 404g. The inner heating wall 404g may be disposed within the heating channel 404a. When the steam generator 400 of the garment treatment device is operating, and the mixture generated by the heating of liquid water in the housing 401 by the outer heating wall 404f of the heating unit 404e enters the heating channel 404a from the second channel opening 404c, the inner heating wall 404g of the heating unit 404e of the heater 404 can heat the mixture, thereby reducing the amount of liquid water carried in the steam ejected from the steam outlet 401b of the housing 401, thus improving the steam care effect.

[0127] In some embodiments of this application, the heating element 4042 may further include a first non-heating part 404h. The first non-heating part 404h may be connected to the heating part 404e. The first non-heating part 404h may be connected to the side wall of the housing 401. When the heater 404 is energized, the first non-heating part 404h may not heat the liquid water inside the housing 401. It is understood that the first non-heating part 404h may be a non-heated portion of the heater 404. With this configuration, the heating element 4042 can be connected to the housing 401 through a non-heated portion, the heating element 4042 may not heat the housing 401, all the heat from the heater 404 can be used to heat the liquid water in the housing 401, the energy consumption of the heater 404 can be reduced, and the safety of the steam generator 400 can be improved.

[0128] In some examples, the first non-heated part 404h may be disposed on the side of the heating part 404e in the +X axis direction. The first channel port 404b may be disposed on the first non-heated part 404h.

[0129] In some examples, the first non-heating part 404h may be entirely located within the housing 401 (see Figure 7). In other examples, the first non-heating part 404h may be partially located within the housing 401 and partially located outside the housing 401 (see Figures 13 to 15). It should be noted that the arrows in Figure 14 represent the path of liquid water turning into steam.

[0130] In some embodiments of this application, the heating element 4042 may further include a second non-heating part 404i. The second non-heating part 404i may be disposed on the side of the heating element 404e opposite to the first non-heating part 404h. The second non-heating part 404i may be connected to the heating element 404e. When the heater 404 is energized, the second non-heating part 404i may not heat the liquid water inside the housing 401. It is understood that the second non-heating part 404i may be a non-heated portion of the heater 404. With this arrangement, the heating element 4042 can approach the housing 401 through a non-heated portion on the side of the heating element 404e opposite to the first non-heating part 404h, which allows the heating element 4042 to not heat the housing 401, allowing all the heat from the heater 404 to be used to heat the liquid water in the housing 401, reducing the energy consumption of the heater 404, and improving the safety of the steam generator 400.

[0131] In some examples, the second non-heated part 404i may be disposed on the same side of the heating part 404e in the -X axis direction. A third gap 403d is formed between the second non-heated part 404i and the inner wall of the housing 401, that is, the second non-heated part 404i does not contact the inner wall of the housing 401.

[0132] In some examples, the second channel port 404c can be located on the second non-heating part 404i.

[0133] In some examples, the second non-heating part 404i may be entirely located within the housing 401.

[0134] In some embodiments of this application, the cross-sectional area of ​​the heating part 404e can be larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second non-heating part 404i in a plane perpendicular to the extending direction of the heating channel 404a, i.e., in the plane defined by the Y-axis and Z-axis. This arrangement reduces the material used in the second non-heating part 404i of the heating body 4042, lowering the overall production cost of the heating body 4042, thereby reducing the production cost of the steam generator 400, and consequently, reducing the production cost of the clothing processing device.

[0135] In some examples, the heating element 4042 may be cylindrical. The diameter of the heating part 404e may be larger than the diameter of the second non-heated part 404i. With this configuration, in a plane perpendicular to the extending direction of the heating channel 404a, the cross-sectional area of ​​the second non-heated part 404i may be smaller than that of the heating part 404e, thereby reducing the amount of material used in the second non-heated part 404i and saving material costs.

[0136] In some examples, the axis of the heating part 404e coincides with the axis of the second non-heating part 404i. In the extending direction of the heating channel 404a, the length of the heating part 404e may be greater than the length of the second non-heating part 404i.

[0137] In other embodiments of this application, as shown in Figures 13 to 15, the housing 401 can be a single, integral structural component. The housing 401 can be made of stainless steel, meaning that cast aluminum is not used. This design eliminates the need for an additional aluminum casting process, reducing material usage and production costs, thereby lowering the production costs of the steam generator 400 and ultimately the garment processing device.

[0138] In some embodiments of this application, the garment handling apparatus may further include a controller. The controller is electrically connected to the water pump 402, the heater 404, and the thermostat 403, respectively. The controller may be configured to control the start and stop of the heater 404 based on the temperature detected by the thermostat 403.

[0139] For example, the controller has a preset temperature. When the temperature detected by the thermostat 403 reaches the preset temperature, the heater 404 is turned off. When the temperature detected by the thermostat 403 is lower than the preset temperature, the heater 404 is turned on. This setting can prevent damage to the steam generator 400 or potential safety hazards caused by excessively high temperatures inside the housing 401.

[0140] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

[0141] For ease of explanation, the above description has been provided in conjunction with specific embodiments. However, the above exemplary discussion is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the specific forms disclosed above. Various modifications and variations can be obtained based on the above teachings. The selection and description of the above embodiments are for the purpose of better explaining the principles and practical applications, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better utilize the described embodiments and various different variations of embodiments suitable for specific use considerations.

Claims

1. A garment processing device, comprising: Box; The cylindrical body (200) is rotatably disposed within the box body; A steam generator (400) is installed inside the housing; The steam generator (400) includes: The shell (401) is used to form a cavity (403a) and is provided with a water inlet (401a) and a steam outlet (401b), the steam outlet (401b) being in communication with the cylinder (200); A water pump (402) is disposed outside the housing (401), the water pump (402) is connected to the water inlet (401a), and the water pump (402) is used to inject liquid water from the water inlet (401a) into the cavity (403a); A heater (404), located in the cavity (403a), is configured to heat the liquid water entering the housing (401) from the inlet (401a) to generate a mixture of steam and the liquid water; wherein, The heater (404) has a heating channel (404a) inside. The heating channel (404a) has a first channel opening (404b) and a second channel opening (404c) that are connected. The first channel opening (404b) is connected to the steam outlet (401b). The liquid water entering through the water inlet (401a) is heated by the outer wall of the heater (404), then enters the heating channel (404a) through the second channel opening (404c) for reheating, and is discharged to the cylinder (200) through the steam outlet (401b).

2. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the water inlet (401a) of the housing (401) is located near the steam outlet (401b) relative to the second channel opening (404c).

3. In the clothing treatment device according to claim 1, when the steam generator (400) is in operation, a gap is formed between the outer wall of the heater (404) and the lower shell (4013) of the housing (401).

4. The garment processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein in the working state of the steam generator (400), a gap is formed between the outer wall of the heater (404) and the upper shell (4012) of the housing (401), and the water inlet (401a) is formed on the upper shell (4012).

5. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, in the operating state of the steam generator (400), the end section of the heater (404) forming the second channel opening (404c) is parallel to the vertical direction.

6. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the gap between the end of the heater (404) forming the second channel opening (404c) and the inner wall of the housing (401) is greater than 0.5 mm and less than 3 mm.

7. The garment handling apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the heater (404) comprises: Two electrodes (4041) are partially disposed outside the housing (401); A heating element (4042) is at least partially disposed within the housing (401); the heating element (4042) comprises: A heating element (404e) is electrically connected to the two electrodes (4041), and the heating element (404e) has: An external heating wall (404f) is provided on the outside of the heating part (404e); An inner heating wall (404g) is disposed within the heating channel (404a).

8. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the heating element (4042) further comprises: A first non-heated part (404h) is connected to the heated part (404e), and the first non-heated part (404h) is connected to the side wall of the housing (401); The first channel opening (404b) is disposed on the first non-heated part (404h).

9. The garment handling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the heating element (4042) further comprises: A second non-heating part (404i) is disposed on the side of the heating part (404e) opposite to the first non-heating part (404h), and the second non-heating part (404i) is connected to the heating part (404e); The second channel opening (404c) is disposed on the second non-heated part (404i).

10. A steam generator (400), comprising: The housing (401) is used to form a cavity (403a) and is provided with a water inlet (401a) and a steam outlet (401b); A water pump (402) is disposed outside the housing (401), the water pump (402) is connected to the water inlet (401a), and the water pump (402) is used to inject liquid water from the water inlet (401a) into the cavity (403a); A heater (404), located in the cavity (403a), is configured to heat the liquid water entering the housing (401) from the inlet (401a) to generate a mixture of steam and the liquid water; wherein, The heater (404) has a heating channel (404a) inside. The heating channel (404a) has a first channel opening (404b) and a second channel opening (404c) that are connected. The first channel opening (404b) is connected to the steam outlet (401b). The liquid water entering through the water inlet (401a) is heated by the outer wall of the heater (404), then enters the heating channel (404a) through the second channel opening (404c) for reheating, and is discharged through the steam outlet (401b).

11. The steam generator (400) according to claim 10, wherein the water inlet (401a) of the housing (401) is located close to the steam outlet (401b) relative to the second channel port (404c).

12. The steam generator (400) according to claim 10, wherein in the working state of the steam generator (400), a gap is formed between the outer wall of the heater (404) and the lower shell of the housing (401).

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