Drying control method and apparatus, and clothes processing device and storage medium

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Solution Overview

Problem

Clothes dryers often fail to accurately determine the drying duration due to unknown load weight and water content, necessitating multiple detection devices, which are costly.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that alternately turns on and off the heating device based on a predetermined rule, using a single temperature sensor to estimate the drying duration by alternately heating and cooling the load, ensuring the detected temperature closely matches the actual load temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high-temperature drying is used to reduce drying time, then productivity is improved, but fabric damage and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying speedVSAvoidfabric damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the temperature parameter dynamically during the drying process. It uses high temperature initially to evaporate bulk water quickly, then reduces temperature for the finishing stage to prevent fabric damage. This parameter variation allows the system to achieve high productivity without causing harmful effects to the fabric.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The drying process is divided into multiple periodic stages with different temperature characteristics. The system alternates between high-temperature rapid drying phases and lower-temperature finishing phases, creating a periodic action pattern that maintains productivity while preventing fabric damage through temperature modulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If high-temperature drying is used to reduce drying time, then productivity is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying speedVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the temperature parameter throughout the drying cycle. By using high temperature only when necessary for rapid water evaporation and then reducing temperature for the remainder of the process, the system achieves high productivity while minimizing total energy consumption compared to sustained high-temperature drying.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary high-temperature drying to remove the majority of water content quickly, then transitions to lower-temperature finishing. This preliminary action approach allows the system to achieve most of the drying effect with minimal energy input, improving overall energy efficiency while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If drying temperature is increased to improve drying efficiency, then productivity is improved, but color fading and deformation occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoidfabric dimensional stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the temperature parameter in response to detected fabric state. When the fabric approaches the finishing stage, the system reduces temperature to prevent color fading and deformation, while maintaining high productivity through the initial high-temperature phase. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between efficiency and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The drying control system uses feedback from sensors to monitor fabric moisture content and temperature. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts the drying temperature to prevent color fading and deformation while maintaining high drying efficiency. The feedback mechanism ensures manufacturing precision is maintained throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enhances the accuracy of estimating the drying duration, reduces the need for multiple sensors, and lowers product costs while improving drying efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a heating unit configured to heat the air in the drying chamber to a predetermined temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a blowing fan configured to blow the air in the drying chamber onto clothes hung inside the drying chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP4299822B1Drying control method and apparatus, and clothes processing device and storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 WUXI LITTLE SWAN ELECTRIC CO LTD
  • EP4299822B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4299822B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4299822B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Provided are a drying control method and apparatus, a laundry treatment device, and a storage medium. The method includes: controlling a heating device (103) to be alternately turned on or off based on a predetermined drying rule; obtaining a drying temperature detected by a temperature sensor (105), and determining a drying duration required for drying a load; and controlling a current drying procedure to end based on the drying duration. By alternately turning on or off the heating device (103), the load is alternately heated and cooled, enabling the temperature detected by the temperature sensor (105) to be closer to an actual temperature of the load. Accuracy of estimating the drying duration based on the detected temperature is very high. Moreover, the drying duration may also be estimated by estimating an initial water content of the load, to solve a problem of low drying determination accuracy caused by unknown initial water content. By alternately turning on or off the heating device (103), only one temperature sensor (105) is used to accurately estimate the drying duration, which lowers a product cost and improves a drying effect.