Laundry Dryer Filter Flushing Control to Reduce Thread Scrap Clogging

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Solution Overview

Problem

In combined laundry washing and drying machines, the drying and filtering device often becomes clogged with thread scraps, hindering air circulation and reducing drying efficiency due to the different operating processes of the washing and drying components, leading to resource wastage and inefficient drying.

Innovation Solution

A control method for a laundry treatment apparatus that flushes the drying and filtering device based on the operating states of the washing and drying devices, synchronizing the flushing with drainage stages to clear debris and maintain air circulation, thereby improving drying efficiency and reducing energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the drying and filtering device is shared by both laundry treatment devices, then device complexity is reduced and manufacturing cost is lowered, but thread scraps accumulate on the device causing harmful effects on air circulation and drying performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidthread scraps accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the drying and filtering device from the shared configuration and dedicates it to the laundry dryer only. This separation eliminates the accumulation of thread scraps that occurs when both washing and drying devices share the same filtering system, thereby resolving the harmful effects on air circulation and drying performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the laundry treatment system into independent washing and drying modules, each with dedicated filtering and drying components. This segmentation prevents cross-contamination of thread scraps between washing and drying operations, maintaining optimal air circulation in the drying device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of stationary object

If the laundry dryer capacity is smaller than the washing machine, then space occupation is reduced, but multiple drying cycles are required increasing loss of time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelaundry dryer volumeVSAvoiddrying time
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by enabling the washing machine to perform pre-drying of laundry before it is transferred to the laundry dryer for final drying. This pre-drying step removes excess moisture and reduces the drying time required in the laundry dryer, compensating for its smaller capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If the roll washing machine capacity is limited to accommodate drying function, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity is decreased due to long washing and drying duration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice integrationVSAvoidlaundry processing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the laundry treatment system into separate washing and drying machines with independent capacities. This allows each device to be optimized for its specific function without the capacity limitations imposed by integrated drying, thereby improving overall productivity while maintaining manageable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The washing machine performs pre-drying as a preliminary action before laundry is transferred to the dedicated laundry dryer. This reduces the moisture content of laundry entering the dryer, accelerating the drying process and improving overall productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If thread scraps adhere to the drying and filtering device after drying, then air circulation is hindered reducing drying efficiency, but frequent cleaning increases loss of time and energy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoidcleaning frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the drying and filtering device from shared use by washing and drying operations, dedicating it exclusively to the laundry dryer. This eliminates the accumulation of thread scraps from washing operations, maintaining consistent air circulation and drying efficiency without requiring frequent cleaning interruptions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The solution effectively clears debris from the drying and filtering device, enhancing drying efficiency and reducing energy usage by synchronizing flushing with the operating states of the laundry treatment devices, ensuring clean operation and improved drying performance.

Implementation Method 1

controls the flushing water passage to flush the drying and filtering device according to operating states of the two laundry treatment devices

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentEP3971336B1Control method for clothes processing device
Publication Date: 2024.02.07 QINGDAO JIAONAN HAIER WASHING MACHINE CO LTD
  • EP3971336B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3971336B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Disclosed is a control method of a laundry treatment apparatus. The laundry treatment apparatus includes a first laundry treatment device (2), a second laundry treatment device (3), a drying and filtering device (6) and a flushing water passage (4) for flushing the drying and filtering device (6). The control method includes that the laundry treatment apparatus, according to operating states of the two laundry treatment devices (2, 3), controls the flushing water passage (4) to flush the drying and filtering device (6). The laundry treatment apparatus is configured to match the operating states of the two laundry treatment devices (2, 3) to select time suitable for flushing the drying and filtering device, thereby achieving the purposes of facilitating drainage of flushing water, saving time and energy and improving the flushing and laundry drying effects.