Laundry treatment device and control method therefor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laundry processing apparatuses face issues with uneven drying and potential damage due to relying solely on drying time or fixed humidity thresholds, which can lead to insufficient or excessive drying, especially when dealing with different materials.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus incorporates a humidity detection system that dynamically adjusts drying operations based on real-time humidity data, using a controller to manage drying duration and alternating steam and hot air delivery based on material type and desired dryness levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high temperature air is used for rapid drying, then drying speed is improved, but drying uniformity deteriorates and laundry damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying speedVSAvoiddrying uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The drying device alternates between high-temperature air blowing and pause phases, creating periodic action that prevents excessive localized drying while maintaining overall drying speed. The controller manages cycles where the drying device operates intermittently rather than continuously, allowing moisture redistribution and preventing damage from sustained high-temperature exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The humidity detection device continuously monitors laundry moisture levels and provides feedback to the controller, which adjusts drying operation duration and intensity. This closed-loop control ensures drying uniformity by responding to actual moisture conditions rather than relying on fixed timing, preventing both over-drying and under-drying of different laundry portions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If fixed drying time is used, then operation simplicity is improved, but drying accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoiddrying accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs humidity detection feedback to dynamically adjust drying operation termination. The controller receives real-time humidity data from the detection device and automatically stops drying when the laundry reaches the target dryness level, eliminating the need for users to manually calculate or estimate drying time while achieving precise drying results.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The drying system performs self-adjustment based on detected laundry humidity levels. The controller autonomously manages drying duration and intensity without requiring user intervention or knowledge of laundry material properties, making the system easy to operate while maintaining high drying accuracy through automatic humidity-based control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If continuous high temperature drying is applied, then drying efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases and laundry damage occurs

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

Solution Approach 1:

The drying device operates in periodic cycles with alternating high-temperature air blowing and pause phases. This periodic operation maintains drying efficiency by periodically removing moisture while preventing damage through intermittent exposure to high temperatures, allowing laundry fibers to recover between heating cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The humidity detection device provides real-time feedback on laundry moisture content, enabling the controller to optimize drying operation duration and temperature application. This feedback control prevents excessive heating and damage by stopping or reducing drying intensity when the laundry approaches the target dryness level, thereby maintaining efficiency while reducing harmful thermal exposure.

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

Ensures thorough and even drying of laundry by adjusting drying cycles and steam/hot air delivery according to material type, preventing damage and improving drying uniformity and care effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a steam generating device (150), wherein the steam generating device (150) is configured to generate high temperature steam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

a drying device (120), wherein the drying device (120) is configured to generate hot air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 3

the drying device (120) is configured to generate hot air... operate the steam generating device and the drying device alternately, so as to alternately deliver the high temperature steam and the hot air into the accommodating space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 4

a humidity detection device (140), wherein the humidity detection device (140) is configured to detect a humidity of the laundry

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHumidity detection: Hygrometer

Data Source

PatentEP4596781A1Laundry treatment device and control method therefor
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 HISENSE(SHANDONG)REFRIGERATOR CO LTD
  • EP4596781A1 patent drawingFigure 1~1B
  • EP4596781A1 patent drawingFigure 1C~2B
  • EP4596781A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a laundry processing apparatus and a control method thereof, including a controller, a humidity detection device and a drying device. The controller is coupled to the humidity monitor device and the drying device. The controller is configured to: turn on a drying device to perform a drying operation on laundry, start timing to obtain a first duration in a case where humidity data of the laundry detected by the humidity detection device is within a humidity threshold range, terminate the drying operation of the drying device if it is determined that the humidity data of the laundry is within a humidity threshold range during the first preset duration, recommence timing for the first duration if it is determined that the humidity data at a certain moment during the first preset duration is outside the humidity threshold range, and terminate the drying operation of the drying device until it is determined that the humidity data of the laundry is within the humidity threshold range during the first preset duration. The first duration is less than or equal to the first preset duration.