Dryer Air-Passage Sensor Rinsing to Prevent Lint Buildup
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Solution Overview
Problem
The accumulation of lint and other debris on detection devices in laundry drying apparatuses affects their accuracy, leading to unreliable control of the drying process, especially in systems where condensate water is not used to rinse the sensors.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a water outlet is mounted near the detection device in the drying air passage, allowing for rinsing of the detection device head, including a ring-shaped passage for uniform water distribution and an anti-backflow device to prevent water from entering public sources, ensuring effective cleaning of both the detection device and the air passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a detection device is mounted on the drying air passage with its head exposed to drying air, then the detection device can detect parameters of circulated air, but lint and other sweeps carried by drying air are easily adhered to the sensor head, causing accumulation that affects detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful function of the detection device head by introducing a cleaning device that actively removes adhered matters (lint, sweeps, foam) from the sensor head surface. This separation allows the detection device to maintain measurement precision while the cleaning device handles the contamination removal, effectively taking out the harmful accumulation effect from the detection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a water outlet as an intermediary element between the drying air passage and the detection device head. Water flows from the outlet to rinse the sensor head, serving as a mediator that removes adhered matters without requiring direct contact between the detection device and complex cleaning mechanisms. This intermediary water flow resolves the contradiction by providing a simple yet effective cleaning action.
2Reliability
If condensate water is sprayed for condensation in a drying apparatus, then condensation occurs, but the sensor may contact condensate water which can affect detection accuracy, so the sensor is disposed at a position where it does not contact condensate water, but then adhered matters cannot be washed away
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a water outlet as an intermediary cleaning mechanism that provides rinsing water to the sensor head. This intermediary water supply enables the sensor to be cleaned of adhered matters without requiring the sensor to be positioned in the condensate water flow path, thus maintaining detection accuracy while enabling self-cleaning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a self-service cleaning system where the detection device is equipped with a dedicated water outlet that automatically rinses the sensor head during operation. This self-service mechanism allows the sensor to clean itself of adhered matters without external intervention, resolving the contradiction between maintaining detection accuracy and enabling easy cleaning operation.
3Device complexity
If a simple drying apparatus without water condensation is used, then no condensate water is sprayed, but there will be a large amount of adhered matters on the sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a water outlet as an intermediary cleaning element that provides rinsing water to the sensor head in simple drying apparatuses without condensation systems. This intermediary water flow removes adhered matters (lint, sweeps) that would otherwise accumulate on the sensor, maintaining measurement precision while keeping the overall drying system simple in structure.
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 solution ensures accurate and reliable detection results by regularly rinsing away adhered matters from the detection device, improving the overall control and efficiency of the laundry drying apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning device is mounted close to the detection device for cleaning the head... the cleaning device is provided for rinsing the head, and includes a water outlet
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A laundry drying apparatus (1) includes a laundry processing space (3, 4) and a drying air passage in communication with the laundry processing space, in which a detection device (10) is mounted on the drying air passage and has a head (11) extending into the drying air passage, and a cleaning device (12) for rinsing the head (11) of the detection device (10) is mounted close to the detection device (10). Since the cleaning device is disposed for rinsing the detection device, adhered matters on the detection device can be rinsed away, thereby ensuring an accurate and reliable detection result.