Automatic feeding device, control method thereof and multi drum washing machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional washing machines lack an efficient automatic feeding system for additives, leading to manual placement and uneven distribution, which hinders fully-automatic washing processes and fails to precisely control additive amounts, especially in multi-drum washing machines with multiple water tubs.
Innovation Solution
An automatic feeding device with a water supply pipeline, pumping structure, and flushing pipeline that uses negative pressure to deliver additives to specific water tubs, featuring control valves and reversing valves for precise control and distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If additives are manually placed into the washing machine, then the structure is simple, but the automation level cannot be improved and manual operation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The additive feeding device automatically feeds additives to water tubs using inlet water flow without manual intervention. The system uses the washing machine's own inlet water to drive the feeding process through the venturi tube's negative pressure effect, achieving self-service automation while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hydraulic principles by utilizing inlet water flow through a venturi tube to generate negative pressure that automatically draws additives from the additive box and delivers them to water tubs. This pneumatic-hydraulic mechanism enables automation without complex mechanical moving parts
2Measurement precision
If additives are flushed into water tubs by inlet water through an additive box, then automation is improved, but the additive amount cannot be precisely controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates flow rate sensors that detect the flow rate of inlet water and provide feedback to the control unit. The control unit adjusts the feeding process based on this feedback to ensure precise additive amount control while maintaining automatic operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow rate parameter of inlet water to control the negative pressure generated by the venturi tube, thereby precisely controlling the amount of additives fed. By adjusting flow rate, the system achieves precise measurement and control of additive delivery while maintaining automation
3Device complexity
If a single inlet water flow is used to feed additives to multiple water tubs, then the device complexity is reduced, but the control precision for different water tubs decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The single water supply pipeline serves multiple functions by being able to deliver water to different water tubs sequentially through reversing valves. This multi-functional design reduces device complexity while the control unit manages the distribution logic to maintain precise control over which tub receives additives
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses reversing valves that dynamically change the connection configuration between the water supply pipeline and different water tubs. This dynamic switching allows a single pipeline to serve multiple tubs while the control unit dynamically controls the valve positions to ensure precise additive delivery to the correct tub at the correct time
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
Enables precise and automatic feeding of additives to multiple water tubs using a single inlet water flow, ensuring consistent and controlled additive distribution, enhancing the automation level of washing machines and improving washing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a pumping structure, capable of generating a negative pressure by virtue of a water flow flowing through the water supply pipeline to pump out the additives in the liquid storage parts
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic feeding device includes a water supply pipeline with at least two outlets and capable of controllably delivering a water flow to one of the water outlets; liquid storage parts containing additives used when clothes are treated; and a pumping structure for pumping out the additives in the liquid storage parts to the water supply pipeline. A multi-drum washing machine includes at least two water tubs; and is provided with the automatic feeding device, wherein each of the water outlets of the automatic feeding device communicates with the water tubs in a one-to-one correspondence way. The additives in the liquid storage parts are pumped out by virtue of a negative pressure generated when the water flow passes through the pumping structure, and are flushed into the corresponding water tubs with an inlet water flow of the washing machine.