[0001] The present application claims the priority of Chinese Patent Application No.
201610142616.1, filed to the Chinese Patent Office on March 14, 2016, titled "DRYING WASHING MACHINE
HAVING A CLOTHING CARE FUNCTION"; Chinese Patent Application No.
201610142580.7, filed to the Chinese Patent Office on March 14, 2016, titled "CLOTHES CARE METHOD
AND ITS APPARATUS"; Chinese Patent Application No.
2016110142577.5, filed to the Chinese Patent Office on March 14, 2016, titled "WASHING MACHINE HAVING
A CLOTHING CARE FUNCTION"; and Chinese Patent Application No.
201610142697.5, filed to the Chinese Patent Office on March 14, 2016, titled "DRYING WASHING MACHINE
WITH CLOTHING CARE FUNCTION", which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entireties.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to the technical field of clothes care, and more particularly
to a clothes care apparatus, a washing machine, and a drying washing machine.
BACKGROUND
[0003] As the requirements of people on the quality of life are increased gradually, the
requirements of users on functions of a washing machine become higher and higher.
However, due to simple washing, a traditional washing machine is poorer in effect
of removing a peculiar smell from clothes. Particularly, it is difficult to remove
smoke particles remaining on the clothes.
[0004] At present, a steam generator is generally adopted on the market to care the clothes.
The steam generator converts water into steam and then continuously sprays the steam
onto the clothes, the steam may permeate into fibers of the clothes, and the fibers
of the clothes absorb water vapor to make the clothes recover, thereby removing folds.
Moreover, the steam may absorb partial dust and smoke particles on the fibers of the
clothes, thereby achieving a function of removing dust and smoke particles from the
clothes.
SUMMARY
[0005] Embodiments of the present invention provide a clothes care apparatus, a washing
machine, and a drying washing machine, capable of solving the problem of poorer effect
of removing, via a steam generator, dust and smoke particles on clothes in the prior
art.
[0006] To this end, the embodiments of the present invention adopt the following technical
solution.
[0007] Disclosed is a clothes care apparatus, including: a drum; an air channel, communicated
with the drum; a filter apparatus, communicated with the air channel; and a draught
fan, the draught fan being capable of feeding air into the drum to allow the air to
filter clothes in the drum, and guiding smoke-carrying air into the filter apparatus
to filter the air.
[0008] The clothes care apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present invention includes
the drum, the air channel communicated with the drum, the filter apparatus communicated
with the air channel, and the draught fan. After clothes are put into the drum, the
draught fan feeds air into the drum to squeeze out air between the clothes, and dust
or smoke particles attached to the clothes will be taken away when the air flows out,
thereby achieving functions of filtering and cleaning the clothes to be cared. Then,
the smoke-carrying air is guided into the filter apparatus via the air channel, and
after being filtered by the filter apparatus, dust or smoke in the smoke-carrying
air may be absorbed by the filter apparatus to achieve a clean effect. The above-mentioned
filter procedure is carried out for many times till the dust and smoke particles on
the clothes are removed substantially. Therefore, the clothes care apparatus in the
embodiment of the present invention is better in effect of removing the dust and smoke
particles on the clothes.
[0009] Also disclosed is a washing machine having a clothes care function, including the
clothes care apparatus of the above-mentioned technical solution. A drum includes
an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder; a draught fan draws air from the inner cylinder
into an air channel and guides the air into a container; and after being filtered
by water, the air is fed into the inner cylinder via the air channel to form a circulation,
and smoke in clothes is filtered.
[0010] According to the washing machine having a clothes care function, provided by an embodiment
of the present invention, the drum includes the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder;
during the clothes care procedure, clothes are put into the inner cylinder, and under
the action of the draught fan, air in the inner cylinder may be drawn out; due to
extraction of the air between the clothes, negative pressure is generated near the
clothes, such that dust and smoke particles attached to the clothes are separated
from the clothes and mixed into the air, and then the air containing the dust and
smoke particles is guided into the container via the air channel; and since the container
is filled with the water, the dust and smoke particles in the air are dissolved in
the water, clean air is discharged from the container, and the clean air is re-guided
into the inner cylinder so as to form a circulation. Thus, after repeated filtration,
the dust and smoke particles on the clothes may be removed substantially. Therefore,
the washing machine having a clothes care function in the embodiment of the present
invention is better in effect of removing the dust and smoke particles on the clothes.
[0011] Also disclosed is a drying washing machine having a clothes care function, including
the clothes care apparatus of the above-mentioned technical solution. A drum includes
an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder; a draught fan draws air from the inner cylinder
into an air channel and guides the air into a container; and after being filtered
by water, the air is drawn into the inner cylinder via a condenser and a heating apparatus
to form a circulation, smoke in clothes is filtered, and the clothes are dried.
[0012] According to the drying washing machine having a clothes care function, provided
by an embodiment of the present invention, a drum includes an inner cylinder and an
outer cylinder, after clothes are put into the inner cylinder, under the action of
the draught fan, air in the inner cylinder may be drawn out, and due to extraction
of the air between the clothes, negative pressure is generated near the clothes, such
that dust and smoke particles attached to the clothes are separated from the clothes
and mixed into the air, and then the air containing the dust and smoke particles is
guided into the container via the air channel. Since the container is filled with
water, the dust and smoke particles in the air are dissolved in the water to make
the air clean, the clean air enters the condenser and comes into contact with condensing
water in the condenser, heat exchange is performed therebetween, water vapor in the
air is condensed and taken away together with the condensing water, dry cold air is
discharged from the condenser and then heated by the heating apparatus in the air
channel to become high-temperature air, the high-temperature air is re-guided into
the inner cylinder to form a circulation, and the clothes are dried. Thus, after repeated
circulations, the dust and smoke particles on the clothes may be removed substantially.
Therefore, the drying washing machine having a clothes care function in the embodiment
of the present invention is better in effect of removing the dust and smoke particles
on the clothes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] In order to elaborate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention
or the prior art more clearly, the accompanying drawings needing to be used in descriptions
of the embodiments or the prior art will be simply introduced below. Obviously, the
accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention.
Those of ordinary skill in the art may also obtain other accompanying drawings according
to these accompanying drawings without creative work.
FIG. 1 is a structure principle diagram illustrating that an air channel is a circulating
pipeline in a clothes care apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a structure principle diagram illustrating that an air channel is a non-circulating
pipeline in a clothes care apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a local schematic diagram of an air door at a first position in a clothes
care apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a local schematic diagram of an air door at a second position in a clothes
care apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a local schematic diagram of an air door at a third position in a clothes
care apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a structural schematic diagram of a washing machine according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a structural schematic diagram of another washing machine according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a structural schematic diagram of a container in a washing machine according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a structure principle diagram of a washing machine according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a structural schematic diagram of a condenser in a washing machine according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a first structure principle diagram of a washing machine according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a structural schematic diagram of a container in a washing machine according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a second structure principle diagram of a washing machine according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a structural schematic diagram of a container mounted at an opening in
a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is an A-A sectional view in FIG. 14.
FIG. 16 is a top view of a container in a washing machine according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be described
below clearly and completely in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the
embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only
part of the embodiments of the present invention instead of all of the embodiments.
On the basis of the embodiments in the present invention, all of the other embodiments
obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative work fall within the
scope of protection of the present invention.
[0015] In the descriptions of the present invention, it is important to understand that
locative or positional relations indicated by 'center', 'up', 'down', 'front', 'back',
'left', 'right', 'vertical', 'horizontal', 'top', 'bottom', 'inner', 'outer' and other
terms are locative or positional relations shown in the accompanying drawings, which
are only intended to make it convenient to describe the present invention and to simplify
the descriptions without indicating or implying that the referring apparatus or element
must have a specific location and must be constructed and operated with the specific
location, and accordingly it cannot be understood as limitations to the present invention.
[0016] Terms 'first' and 'second' are only used to describe the purposes, and cannot be
understood as indication or implication of relative importance or implied showing
of quantity of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with 'first' and
'second' may explicitly or implicitly include one or more those features. In the descriptions
of the present invention, unless otherwise noted, 'multiple' means two or more.
[0017] In the descriptions of the present invention, it is important to note that unless
otherwise specified and limited, terms 'mounted', 'connected with' and 'connected'
should be understood in a general conception. For instance, 'connected' may be fixed
connected, detachable connected or integrated connected, or may be direct connected
with, intermediate medium-based indirect connected with, or internal communication
between two elements. Those of ordinary skill in the art may understand specific meanings
of the above-mentioned terms in the present invention according to the specific situations.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an embodiment of the present invention provides a
clothes care apparatus, including a drum 1, an air channel 2, a filter apparatus,
and a draught fan 4. The air channel 2 is communicated with the drum 1. The filter
apparatus is communicated with the air channel 2. The draught fan 4 may feed air into
the drum 1, such that the air filters clothes in the drum 1, and smoke-carrying air
is guided into the filter apparatus and filtered.
[0019] The clothes care apparatus provided by the embodiment of the present invention includes
the drum 1, the air channel 2 communicated with the drum 1, the filter apparatus communicated
with the air channel 2, and the draught fan 4. After clothes are put into the drum
1, the draught fan 4 feeds clean air into the drum 1, such that air pressure in the
drum 1 is increased, air between the clothes is squeezed out, and dust or smoke particles
attached to the clothes will be taken away when the air flows out, thereby achieving
a function of cleaning the clothes to be cared. Then, the air is guided into the filter
apparatus via the air channel 2, and after being filtered by the filter apparatus,
dust or smoke in the air may be absorbed by the filter apparatus to achieve a clean
effect. Thus, the above-mentioned filter procedure is carried out for many times till
the dust and smoke particles on the clothes are removed substantially. Therefore,
the clothes care apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention is better in
effect of removing the dust and smoke particles on the clothes.
[0020] The above-mentioned clothes care apparatus adopts a clothes care method, including
the following steps: putting clothes to be cared into a closed drum 1; feeding air
into the drum 1 by means of a draught fan 4; and filtering the clothes to be cared,
and guiding smoke-carrying air into a filter apparatus to filter the air. However,
the above-mentioned clothes care method not only is applied to this clothes care apparatus,
but also may be applied to other apparatuses.
[0021] The above-mentioned drum 1 includes an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, wherein
the inner cylinder may rotationally move relative to the outer cylinder. The clothes
to be cared are put into the inner cylinder, such that during clothes care, the clothes
may be fully shaken to be loose by means of rotation of the inner cylinder, smoke
on the clothes is quickly separated from the clothes along with shaking of the clothes
to enter the air, and therefore the efficiency of smoke filtration for the clothes
to be cared is improved.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 2, a further embodiment of the present invention provides a clothes
care apparatus, including a housing 14. The above-mentioned drum 1, air channel 2,
filter apparatus and draught fan 4 are all provided within the housing 14. An air
inlet 141 and an air outlet 142 are provided on the housing 14. The air outlet 141
of the housing 14 is communicated with the air channel 2, and the draught fan 4 draws
air outside the housing 14 into the air channel 2 via the air inlet 141, and feeds
the air into the drum 1.
[0023] Optionally, the air outlet 142 of the housing 14 is communicated with an air outlet
of the filter apparatus. Thus, air blown from the drum 1 is filtered by the filter
apparatus and then may be discharged out of the clothes care apparatus from the air
outlet 142.
[0024] If the quality of the air fed into the drum 1 by the draught fan 4 is poorer, the
clothes to be cared will be secondarily polluted. Optionally, in an embodiment of
the present invention, an air purification apparatus 10 is provided at the air inlet
141 of the housing 14, and the draught fan 4 feeds the air filtered by the air purification
apparatus 10 into the drum 1. Due to better quality of the air, a clothes filtration
care function may be achieved.
[0025] In case of good weather and higher air quality, air may be directly fed into the
drum for filtration. Optionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, the air
inlet 141 of the housing 14 includes a first air inlet 1411 and a second air inlet
1412, both the first air inlet 1411 and the second air inlet 1412 being communicated
with the air channel 2. The air purification apparatus 10 is provided at the first
air inlet 1411, and an air door 11 is provided in the air channel 2. When the air
quality outside the clothes care apparatus is higher, the air door 11 is located at
a first position, and the air door 11 allows the second air inlet 1412 to communicate
with the air channel 2, and allows the first air inlet 1411 to disconnect from the
air channel 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the draught fan 4 may draw the air into the air
channel 2 via the second air inlet 1412. In case of poorer air quality outside the
clothes care apparatus (e.g., hazy weather), the air door 11 is located at a second
position, and the air door 11 allows the first air inlet 1411 communicate with the
air channel 2, and allows the second air inlet 1412 disconnect from the air channel
2. As shown in FIG. 4, the draught fan 4 may draw the air into the first air inlet
1411, and the air is filtered by the air purification apparatus 10 and then fed into
the air channel 2. In case of ordinary air quality (e.g., mild pollution), the air
door 4 may be controlled to move to a third position, and both the first air inlet
1411 and the second air inlet 1412 are communicated with the air channel 2, as shown
in FIG. 5. The clothes care apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention may
select different air inlet modes according to a specific air situation, the effects
of energy conservation and filtration being better. Position switching of the above-mentioned
air door 11 may adopt a rotation mode or other convenient opening modes.
[0026] An air discharge apparatus 12 is connected to the air outlet of the filter apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 2, by opening the air discharge apparatus 12, the air filtered by
the filter apparatus may be more quickly discharged, thereby improving the filter
efficiency. In a specific embodiment, the air discharge apparatus 12 may adopt an
air discharge pump.
[0027] In view of that the air discharged from the filter apparatus is clean air, the air
channel 2 adopted in a further embodiment of the present invention is a circulating
pipeline, the draught fan 4 may draw the air filtered by the filter apparatus into
the drum 1 via the air channel 2 to form a circulation, as shown in FIG. 1. Since
it is unnecessary to provide an additional device to purify the clean air, the structure
of the clothes care apparatus may become simpler.
[0028] The filter apparatus in the clothes care apparatus of the embodiment of the present
invention is a container 7. The container 7 is filled with water used for filtering
smoke in air. The manufacturing process for the container is simple, the cost is low,
and the efficiency of smoke filtration is better. Certainly, in other embodiments
of the present invention, the filter apparatus may be filled with other substances
such as a liquid organic solvent or the like.
[0029] The above-mentioned clothes care apparatus is elaborated below by means of a specific
device applying the above-mentioned clothes care apparatus.
[0030] An embodiment of the present invention provides a washing machine having a clothes
care function, including a housing and a transmission apparatus provided in the housing,
the above-mentioned clothes care apparatus being provided in the housing, the housing
being further internally provided with a drum 1, the drum including an outer cylinder
and an inner cylinder, cylinder covers 103 are provided on the outer cylinder and
the inner cylinder, and the inner cylinder being in transmission connection with the
transmission apparatus. During clothes washing of the washing machine, clothes are
put into the inner cylinder, the transmission apparatus drives the inner cylinder
to rotate, and therefore the clothes may be cleaned.
[0031] The washing machine having a clothes care function may be an impeller washing machine
or may be a drum washing machine. Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 6 and FIG.7, the clothes
care apparatus includes an air channel 2 communicated with the outer cylinder, a container
7 and a draught fan 4 are provided in the air channel 2, the container 7 is filled
with water, the draught fan 4 may draw air within the drum 1 into the container 7,
and after being filtered by the water, the air is drawn into the drum 1 by the air
channel 2 to form a circulation.
[0032] During clothes care, clothes to be cared are put into the inner cylinder of the washing
machine, the clothes may be fully shaken to be loose by means of rotation of the inner
cylinder, smoke on the clothes is quickly separated from the clothes along with shaking
of the clothes to enter the air, the filter period is shortened, and therefore the
filter efficiency is improved.
[0033] If it is also necessary to remove folds from the clothes to be cared, optionally,
the container 7 is filled with high-temperature water, such that air discharged from
an air outlet 72 of the container 7 contains more water vapor, and after the air returns
to the inner cylinder, the water vapor in the air permeates into fibers of the clothes
in the inner cylinder, so as to be capable of removing the folds on the clothes.
[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, an air inlet 71 of the container 7 is
communicated with an air outlet 102 of the drum 1, and the liquid level of the water
in the container 7 may be set to be higher than the air inlet 71, as shown in FIG.
1. Thus, the air drawn from the drum 1 must be filtered by the water in the container
7.
[0035] In order to prevent the water from flowing into the drums 1 through the air outlet
102 of the drum 1 from the air inlet 71 of the container 7 to soak the clothes, optionally,
an embodiment of the present invention is implemented by arranging the air outlet
102 of the drum 1 to be higher than the air inlet 71 of the container 7 and controlling
the liquid level of the water to be lower than the air outlet 102 of the drum 1, or
adopts a technical solution of mounting a one-way valve in a pipeline between the
air inlet 71 of the container 7 and the air outlet 102 of the drum 1. It is necessary
to adopt the one-way valve specially used for guiding air into liquid in the latter
technical solution, this one-way valve being complicated in structure and high in
requirement on processing precision, so the former technical solution is adopted in
the embodiment of the present invention and advantageous in simple structure, easy
manufacture and large in air outlet quantity.
[0036] In order to shorten the air channel as much as possible to further shorten the filter
circulation period, optionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, the air
outlet 102 of the drum 1 is arranged near the draught fan 4. For instance, according
to the solution shown in FIG. 1, the draught fan 4 is located above the drum 1, the
right upper corner of the drum 1 being closest to the draught fan 4. Thus, the air
outlet 102 of the drum 1 is provided at this position, and oppositely, the air outlet
102 is provided at the right lower corner of the drum 1. The air channel of the clothes
care apparatus is shorter, and because the air outlet 102 is closer to the draught
fan 4, the suction force of the draught fan 4 on air in the drum 1 is larger, thereby
increasing the speed of air at the air outlet 102 of the drum 1.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 8, in an embodiment of the present invention, the container 7 is
provided with a water inlet 73 and a water outlet 74, wherein a water inlet valve
(not shown in the figure) used for controlling the water inlet 73 to be opened or
closed is connected to the water inlet 73, and water may be automatically fed into
the container 7 by controlling the water inlet valve to be opened or closed; a water
drain valve (not shown in the figure) used for controlling the water outlet 74 to
be opened or closed is connected to the water outlet 74, and water may be automatically
drained from the container 7 by controlling the water outlet valve to be opened or
closed; and besides, the water inlet 73 is communicated with a water inlet pipe of
the washing machine, and the water outlet 74 is communicated with a water drain pipe
of the washing machine, such that it is unnecessary to additionally provide a water
inlet pipe specially used for injecting water into the container and a water drain
pipe used for draining the water, thereby saving the cost and making the washing machine
compact structurally.
[0038] In view of limited diameter of the water outlet 74 of the container 7, when the water
quantity of the container 7 is larger, it consumes a longer time under in case that
the water is drained only under the action of gravity. Hence, the water drain valve
is further connected with a water drain pump (not shown in the figure). When it is
necessary to replace the water, drain of the water may be accelerated by opening the
water drain valve and the water drain pump, thereby saving the water drain time.
[0039] A further optional embodiment of the present invention provides a drying washing
machine having caring and drying functions, which is similar to the above-mentioned
washing machine having a clothes care function structurally. The drum washing machine
adopted as the drying washing machine having caring and drying functions is distinguished
from the above-mentioned washing machine in that: referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 9,
a closed drum 1 consists of an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder and a cylinder cover,
wherein the inner cylinder may rotationally move relative to the outer cylinder, a
door seal 104 is provided at a cylinder opening of the outer cylinder, an air inlet
101 of the drum 1 is provided on the door seal 104, an air outlet 102 of the drum
1 is provided on a cylinder wall of the outer cylinder, the air outlet 102 on the
outer cylinder is communicated with the air channel 2, and a heating apparatus 3 is
mounted in the air channel 2, the heating apparatus 3 being located between the air
outlet 72 of the container 7 and the air inlet 101 of the drum 1. Air discharged from
the air outlet 72 of the container 7 is heated, by the heating apparatus 3, to form
high-temperature air, the high-temperature air is fed into the inner cylinder, clothes
may be dried, and therefore a clothes drying function is achieved. The above-mentioned
heating apparatus 3 may adopt a cheap heating wire.
[0040] Optionally, in a clothes care process, the heating apparatus 3 is kept in a closed
state, air blown out of the air outlet 102 of the drum 1 is filtered by water in the
container 7, dust and smoke particles on clothes may be removed, and if it is also
necessary to remove folds from the clothes, the container 7 should be filled with
high-temperature water and the humidity of air returning to the inner cylinder is
improved. Thus, care functions of removing dust or smoke particles as well as folds
on clothes may be achieved. During a drying procedure, the heating apparatus 3 is
opened, after being heated, air in the air channel 2 returns into the inner cylinder,
high-temperature air may dry the clothes, and therefore the drying function of the
washing machine is achieved. Compared with a traditional washing-drying integrated
machine, the above-mentioned washing machine does not need to be provided with an
independent drying system, and thus has a more compact structure as well as a clothes
care function.
[0041] In order to further enhance the clothes drying effect, optionally, in an embodiment
of the present invention, a condenser 5 is provided in the air channel 2, the condenser
5 being located between the air outlet of the container 7 and the heating apparatus
3, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. In a drying process, condensing water is continuously
injected from a water inlet of the condenser 5, heat exchange is carried out between
air discharged from the container 7 and the condensing water in the condenser 5, moisture
in the air is absorbed by the condensing water, air blown out of the condenser 5 and
entering the air channel 2 is dry cold air, after being heated by the heating wire,
the dry cold air becomes high-temperature dry air, and the high-temperature dry air
enters the drum 1 finally. The clothes are dried by using the high-temperature dry
air, so the drying efficiency of the washing machine is higher. The condensing water
in the above-mentioned condenser may be replaced with other coolants such as ethyl
alcohol or glycerin or the like. Optionally, in a clothes care process, the condensing
water is controlled to stop from entering the condenser 5, and the heating wire is
powered off.
[0042] Optionally, the above-mentioned condenser may adopt the structure shown in FIG. 10,
or other air-cooled type condensers directly mounted in the air channel may be adopted.
The embodiment of the present invention adopts the former solution, an air inlet 51
of the condenser 5 is communicated with the air outlet 72 of the container 7, and
an air outlet 52 of the condenser 5 is communicated with the heating apparatus 3.
As shown in FIG. 9, the manufacturing cost is low, and the structure is simple.
[0043] Generally, the condensing water in the condenser of the washing machine may be directly
drained from a water outlet (not shown in the figure) of the condenser 5. In view
of that air entering the condenser 5 is relatively clean, the condensing water in
the condenser 5 is in contact with the clean air for heat exchange, and then the water
quality of the drained condensing water is better. Optionally, in an embodiment of
the present invention, the water outlet of the condenser is eliminated or blocked,
the air inlet 51 is provided at the bottom of the condenser 5, and the air inlet 51
of the condenser 5 is communicated with the air outlet 72 of the container 7, such
that the condensing water subjected to heat exchange in the condenser 5 flows into
the container 7 through the air outlet 72 of the container 7 from the air inlet 51
of the condenser 5 and is used as the water in the container 7. The above-mentioned
solution achieves secondary utilization of the condensing water, reduces the consumption
of water for clothes care of the washing machine, and saves water resources.
[0044] Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present invention, a reversing valve is adopted
to control both the water inlet 73 of the container 7 and the water inlet 53 of the
condenser 5 to be opened and closed. When the drying procedure of the washing machine
is started, the reversing valve switches, the water inlet 53 of the condenser 5 is
opened, the water inlet 73 of the container 7 is closed, new condensing water enters
the condenser 5, the condensing water in the condenser 5 and the air carry out heat
exchange, and then the condensing water continuously flows into the container 7 via
the air inlet 51 of the condenser 5. When the water in the container 7 reaches a first
set water level, a controller of the washing machine controls the water drain valve
to be opened, and controls the water drain pump to work, the water in the container
7 is quickly discharged from the water outlet 74 under the action of the water drain
pump, then the controller controls the water drain pump to stop working, the reversing
valve switches, the water inlet 73 of the container 7 is opened, the water inlet 53
of the condenser 5 is closed, and new water is injected into the container 7 from
the water inlet 73 of the container 7 till the condensing water in the container 7
reaches a second set water level (the first set water level is higher than the second
set water level). In conclusion, the washing machine controls the reversing valve
and the water drain pump to cooperatively work, thereby making the water level of
the condensing water in the container 7 within a certain range all the time, and ensuring
the stability of the effect of filtering dust and smoke particles on clothes by the
washing machine. Moreover, the water in the container 7 is replaced to prevent the
problems of poor filter effect of the water, deterioration of the water and pollution
of the container caused by the fact that the water cannot be replaced for a long time
and impurities in the water are continuously accumulated.
[0045] Certainly, both of the water inlet 73 of the above-mentioned container 7 and the
water inlet 53 of the condenser 5 may be independently controlled. In a further embodiment
of the present invention, a first water inlet valve is provided at the water inlet
73 of the container 7, and a second water inlet valve is provided at the water inlet
53 of the condenser 5. During the drying process of the washing machine, the first
water inlet valve is closed to stop feeding water into the container while the second
water inlet valve is opened to feed water into the condenser; and when the water in
the container is replaced, the first water inlet valve is opened to supplement the
water in the container while the second water inlet valve is closed to stop feeding
water to the condenser.
[0046] Optionally, in the embodiment of the present invention, the air inlet 71 of the container
7 is connected with the air outlet 102 on the outer cylinder by means of a third flexible
connecting pipe 6, and the third flexible connecting pipe 6 may be made from polyamide,
polyethylene or polypropylene or the like, and is low in price and convenient to mount
and dismount. The air outlet 72 of the container 7 is connected with the air inlet
51 of the condenser 5 by means of a fourth flexible connecting pipe 8, and the fourth
flexible connecting pipe 8 and the third flexible connecting pipe 6 may be made from
identical or different materials. In an embodiment of the present invention, the fourth
flexible connecting pipe 8 and the third flexible connecting pipe 6 are made from
polyamide, low in price, and easy to process and operate.
[0047] Due to a long distance between the draught fan 4 and the container 7, in order to
quickly discharge air in the container 7 from the container 7, it is necessary to
increase the discharge speed of air at the air outlet 72 of the container 7, and the
pipe diameter of an end, connected with the container 7, of the fourth flexible connecting
pipe 8 is designed to be smaller than that of an end, connected with the condenser
5, of the fourth flexible connecting pipe 8. Thus, the air speed of the air outlet
72 of the container 7 is increased to a certain extent, and because the pipe diameter
of the end, connected with the condenser 5, of the fourth flexible connecting pipe
8 is larger, air resistance of the air inlet 51 of the condenser 5 may be reduced.
[0048] Yet a further embodiment of the present invention provides a drying washing machine
of which caring and drying air channels in a container are independent of each other.
The drying washing machine is similar to the above-mentioned drying washing machine
having caring and drying functions structurally. The difference therebetween lies
in that: referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the air inlet 71 of the container 7 includes
a first air inlet 711 and a second air inlet 712, both the first air inlet 711 and
the second air inlet 712 are communicated with the air outlet 102 of the drum 1, and
these three components may be connected with each other by a three-way pipe 60. The
liquid level of the water in the container 7 is higher than the first air inlet 711
and lower than the second air inlet 712, and a first valve for controlling the flow
direction of airflow is provided at a position, between the air outlet 102 of the
drum 1 and the air inlet 71 of the container 7, on the air channel 2. Thus, in a care
procedure, the first valve is controlled to open the first air inlet 711, air discharged
from the drum 1 enters the container 7 via the first air inlet 711, dust and smoke
particles in the air are taken away by the water, and a clothes care function is achieved.
During the drying procedure, the first valve is controlled to open the second air
inlet 712, and air discharged from the drum 1 enters the container 7 via the second
air inlet 712, directly enters the condenser 5 from the air outlet 72 of the container
7 without being filtered by the water, and is condensed. The staying time of the air
in the container 7 is short, the drying time is shortened as compared to embodiment
2, and the drying efficiency of the washing machine is improved.
[0049] The above-mentioned first valve for controlling the flow direction of airflow at
the position, between the air outlet 102 of the drum 1 and the air inlet 71 of the
container 7, on the air channel 2 may specifically adopt a solenoid valve, an internally
piloted valve, an electrically operated valve or the like. Optionally, the solenoid
valve is adopted in the embodiment of the present invention. That is because a valve
rod of the internally piloted valve usually stretches out, a valve core is controlled
to rotate or move by means of electric, pneumatic and hydraulic actuating mechanisms,
and external leakage easily occurs due to dynamic seal of the valve rod; and internal
leakage easily occurs due to improper torque control of the electrically operated
valve. The solenoid valve exerts an electromagnetic force on an iron core sealed in
a flux-insulation casing, dynamic seal does not exist, external leakage is easy to
stop, and the structural internal leakage is also easy to control; moreover, and a
control system of the solenoid valve is simple, sensitive in reaction, and high in
control precision. In an application occasion of the embodiment of the present invention,
the adopted solenoid valve is a two-position three-way solenoid valve, and controls
only a single path of the first air inlet 711 or the second air inlet 712 to be communicated
at the same time, thereby implementing switching of the clothes care function and
drying function of the washing machine.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 13, in an embodiment of the present invention, a direct-through
pipeline 13 is provided between the drum 1 and the condenser 5, the air outlet 102
of the drum 1 is communicated with an air inlet 131 of the direct-through pipeline
13 and the air inlet 71 of the container 7 respectively, the air inlet 51 of the condenser
5 is communicated with an air outlet 132 of the direct-through pipeline 13 and the
air outlet 72 of the container 7 respectively, and a second valve (not shown in the
figure) is provided at the air outlet 102 of the drum 1, the second valve being used
for controlling the air outlet 102 of the drum 1 to be communicated with the air inlet
71 of the container 7 or communicated with the air inlet 51 of the condenser 5. In
this solution, the second valve controls air discharged from the drum 1 to enter the
direct-through pipeline 13, so the drying function of the washing machine may be achieved;
and the second valve controls air discharged from the drum 1 to enter the container
7, the air may be filtered, and the clothes care function of the washing machine is
achieved. Besides, the second valve may also adopt the solenoid valve. In a specific
application occasion, the adopted solenoid valve is a two-position three-way solenoid
valve, controls only a single path of the air inlet 131 of the direct-through pipeline
13 or the air inlet 71 of the container 7 to be communicated at the same time, thereby
implementing switching of the clothes care function and drying function of the washing
machine.
[0051] Optionally, in an embodiment of the present invention, caring and drying air channels
in the container are separated. A specific structure is that: a partition board 75
is provided in the container 7, the partition board 75 may partition the container
7 into a filter chamber 78 and an air outlet chamber 79, and the air outlet 72 of
the container 7 includes a first air outlet 721 and a second air outlet 722, wherein
the first air inlet 711 and the first air outlet 721 are located on the filter chamber
78, the filter chamber 78 is communicated with the air inlet 51 of the condenser 5
via the first air outlet 721, the second air inlet 712 and the second air outlet 722
are located on the air outlet chamber 79, the air outlet chamber 79 is communicated
with the air inlet 51 of the condenser 5 via the second air outlet 722, and the position
of the first air outlet 721 is higher than the liquid level of the water and lower
than the position of the second air outlet 722, as shown in FIG. 12. Thus, the caring
and drying air channels are divided into two independent air channels, and the caring
procedure and filtering procedure of the washing machine do not interfere with each
other.
[0052] Optionally, the water inlet 73 of the container 7 is located on the filter chamber
78 and is arranged to be higher than the first air inlet 711; and the condensing water
in the condenser 5 may enter the container 7 from the first air outlet 721, thereby
improving the utilization rate of the condensing water.
[0053] Optionally, the first air outlet 721 of the container 7 is connected with the air
inlet 51 of the condenser 5 by means of a first flexible connecting pipe 801, the
second air outlet 722 of the container 7 is connected with the air inlet 51 of the
condenser 5 by means of a second flexible connecting pipe 802, and the first flexible
connecting pipe 801 and the second flexible connecting pipe 802 may be made from polyamide,
polyethylene or polypropylene or the like, and are low in price and convenient to
mount and dismount.
[0054] Due to a long distance between the draught fan 4 and the container 7, in order to
quickly discharge air in the container 7 from the container 7, it is necessary to
increase the discharge speed of air at the air outlet 72 of the container 7. Optionally,
in the embodiment of the present invention, the pipe diameter of an end, connected
with the container 7, of the first flexible connecting pipe 801 is smaller than that
of an end, connected with the condenser 5, of the first flexible connecting pipe,
and the pipe diameter of an end, connected with the container 7, of the second flexible
connecting pipe 802 is smaller than that of an end, connected with the condenser 5,
of the second flexible connecting pipe. Thus, the air speeds of air discharged from
the first air outlet 721 and second air outlet 722 of the container 7 are increased
to a certain extent, and since the pipe diameters of the ends, connected with the
condenser 5, of the first flexible connecting pipe 801 and the second flexible connecting
pipe 802 are larger, air resistance of the air inlet 51 of the condenser 5 may be
reduced.
[0055] Yet a further embodiment of the present invention provides a washing machine including
the above-mentioned clothes care apparatus and a detachable container. The container
may be detached and cleaned conveniently and periodically. The washing machine is
similar to the above-mentioned drying washing machine having a clothes care function
structurally. The difference therebetween lies in that: referring to FIG. 14 to FIG.
16, the container 7 in the embodiment of the present invention includes a housing
76 and a water storage drawer 77 detachably mounted within the housing 76, the housing
76 is provided with an opening, the water storage drawer 77 may be pulled out from
or pushed into the housing via the opening, a first seal ring 761 is provided between
the opening and the water storage drawer 77, and the first seal ring 761 may prevent
the problem of abrasion caused by impact between the water storage drawer 77 and the
opening of the housing 76 when the water storage drawer 77 is pushed in. The air inlet
71 and air outlet 72 of the container 7 are both provided on the housing 76, a second
seal ring 762 is provided at the air inlet 71 of the container 7, a joint 771 is provided
at a position, opposite to the air inlet 71, on a sidewall of the water storage drawer
77, and an end, located outside the water storage drawer 77, of the joint 771 is an
outer end of the joint 771. When the water storage drawer 77 is pushed into the housing
76, the outer end of the joint 771 may be adaptively inserted into the second seal
ring 762, and the first seal ring 761 may seal a clearance between the water storage
drawer 77 and the opening, thereby implementing connection between the air inlet 71
and a corresponding pipeline on the outer side of the container 7. Because the second
seal ring 762 is provided at the air inlet 71 of the container 7, the sealing performance
of the air inlet 71 is better, and air is hardly to leak. Moreover, arrangement of
the first seal ring 761 seals the clearance between the water storage drawer 77 and
the opening, so as to prevent from influencing the sealing performance of connection
between the container and the corresponding pipeline due to accumulation of dust in
the second seal ring 762 after entering the container 7 from the clearance. Besides,
a connecting seal structure for the air outlet 72 of the container 7 on the housing
76 and the water storage drawer 77 may be identical to the above-mentioned connecting
seal structure for the air inlet 71 and the water storage drawer 77.
[0056] When the water storage drawer 77 is pushed into the housing 76, if the joint 771
is of a structure in which all parts in radial direction are identical in size, after
the joint 771 is inserted into the second seal ring 762 in a process of pushing the
water storage drawer 77 into the housing 76, the insertion size is inconstant, and
the container 7 is easy to shake in the second seal ring 762. Particularly, if the
washing machine shakes, when the joint 771 is completely inserted into the second
seal ring 762, the water storage drawer 77 will hit against the housing 76 to cause
abrasion. Therefore, in order to prevent occurrence of the above-mentioned situation,
the outer end of the joint 771 is made into a necking structure, as shown in FIG.
15. When the water storage drawer 77 is pushed into the housing 76, only the necking
structure of the outer end of the joint 771 may be inserted into the second seal ring
762. Thus, a certain distance is always kept between the water storage drawer 77 and
the housing 76, thereby avoiding the occurrence of the above-mentioned situation.
Moreover, the necking joint may accelerate flow of airflow into the container 7 or
discharge from the container.
[0057] Optionally, an air inlet pipe 772 is connected to an end, located in the water storage
drawer 77, of the joint 771, an air outlet end of the air inlet pipe 772 extends into
the water storage drawer 77 and is lower than the joint 771, and the liquid level
of the water in the container 7 is controlled to be higher than the air outlet end
of the air inlet pipe 772. In order to prevent water from flowing out of the air inlet
71 of the container 7, the liquid level of the water in the container 7 is controlled
to be lower than the air inlet 71. Correspondingly, the liquid level of the water
in the container 7 is required to be lower than the air outlet 72 of the container
7 to prevent water from flowing out of the air outlet 72 of the container 7. Therefore,
the water in the container may be directly and manually replaced without provision
of a water inlet and a water outlet on the housing.
[0058] In order to make it convenient to pull out the container, when the water storage
drawer 77 is located at a mounting position (i.e., the water storage drawer 77 is
located within the housing 76), a container handle 9 is provided on a sidewall of
a position, located at the opening of the housing 76, on the water storage drawer
77, thereby facilitating hand grip and force application. The container handle 9 in
the embodiment of the present invention is a hand grip portion provided into the sidewall,
which belongs to a hidden structure, thus the container handle slightly influences
the appearance of the washing machine.
[0059] As for the impeller washing machine, the air inlet 101 and air outlet 102 of the
drum 1 are both provided on the outer cylinder, air discharged from the inner cylinder
flows through an area between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and is discharged
from the air outlet 102 provided on the outer cylinder of the drum 1, and after being
filtered by the container 7, the air passes through the air channel 2 and then returns
into the inner cylinder from the air inlet 101 on the outer cylinder through the area
between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder.
[0060] The above is only the specific implementation modes of the present invention. However,
the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled
in the art may easily think of variations or replacements within the disclosed technical
scope of the present invention. These variations or replacements shall fall within
the scope of protection of the present invention. Thus, the scope of protection of
the present invention shall refer to the scope of protection of the claims.
1. A clothes care apparatus, comprising: a drum (1); an air channel (2), communicated
with the drum (1); a filter apparatus, communicated with the air channel (2); and
a draught fan (4), being capable of feeding air into the drum (1), and guiding the
air into the filter apparatus.
2. The clothes care apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the air channel (2) is a circulating pipeline, and the draught fan (4) is able to
draw the air filtered by the filter apparatus into the drum (1) via the air channel
(2) to form a circulation.
3. The clothes care apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the filter apparatus is a container (7), water used for filtering smoke in the air
is provided in the container (7), and the container (7) is provided with an air inlet
(71) and an air outlet (72); a heating apparatus (3) is also provided in the air channel
(2), and the heating apparatus (3) is located between the air outlet (72) of the container
(7) and an air inlet (101) of the drum (1); a condenser (5) is further provided in
the air channel (2), and the condenser (5) is located between the air outlet (72)
of the container (7) and the heating apparatus (3).
4. The clothes care apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the condenser (5) is provided with an air inlet (51) and an air outlet (52), the
air inlet (51) of the condenser (5) is communicated with the air outlet (72) of the
container (7), and the air outlet (52) of the condenser (5) is communicated with the
heating apparatus (3).
5. The clothes care apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the air inlet (51) of the condenser (5) is provided at the bottom of the condenser
(5), the air inlet (51) of the condenser (5) is communicated with the air outlet (72)
of the container (7), and condensing water in the condenser (5) is able to flow into
the container (7) via the air inlet (51) of the condenser (5).
6. The clothes care apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the air inlet (71) of the container (7) comprises a first air inlet (711) and a second
air inlet (712), both the first air inlet (711) and the second air inlet (712) are
communicated with an air outlet (102) of the drum (1), the liquid level of water in
the container (7) is higher than the first air inlet (711) and lower than the second
air inlet (712), and a first valve for controlling the flow direction of airflow is
provided at a position, between the air outlet (102) of the drum (1) and the air inlets
(71) of the container (7), on the air channel (2).
7. The clothes care apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that a partition board (75) is also provided in the container (7), the partition board
(75) is able to partition the container (7) into a filter chamber (78) and an air
outlet chamber (79), the first air inlet (711) is located on the filter chamber (78)
and communicated with the air inlet (51) of the condenser (5) via a first air outlet
(721), the second air inlet (712) is located on the air outlet chamber (79) and communicated
with the air inlet (51) of the condenser (5) via a second air outlet (722), and the
position of the first air outlet (721) is higher than the liquid level of the water
and lower than the position of the second air outlet (722).
8. The clothes care apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the container (7) comprises a housing (76) and a water storage drawer (77) detachably
mounted within the housing (76), the housing (76) is provided with an opening, the
water storage drawer (77) is able to be pulled out from or pushed into the housing
(76) via the opening, a first seal ring (761) is provided between the opening and
the water storage drawer (77), the air inlet (71) and air outlet (72) of the container
(7) are both provided on the housing (76), a second seal ring (762) is provided at
the air inlet (72) of the container (7), a joint (771) is provided at a position,
opposite to the air inlet (71) of the container (7), on a sidewall of the water storage
drawer (77), when the water storage drawer (77) is pushed into the housing (76), an
outer end of the joint (771) is able to be adaptively inserted into the second seal
ring (762), and the first seal ring (761) is able to seal a clearance between the
water storage drawer (77) and the opening.
9. The clothes care apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the container (7) comprises a water inlet (73) and a water outlet (74), a water inlet
valve used for controlling the water inlet (73) to be opened or closed is connected
to the water inlet (73), the water inlet (73) is communicated with a water inlet pipe
of a washing machine, a water drain valve used for controlling the water outlet (74)
to be opened or closed is connected to the water outlet (74) of the container (7),
and the water outlet (74) is communicated with a water drain pipe of the washing machine.
10. The clothes care apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that an air inlet pipe (772) is connected to an end, located in the water storage drawer
(77), of the joint (771), an air outlet end of the air inlet pipe (772) extends into
the water storage drawer (77) and is lower than the joint (771), and the liquid level
of the water is lower than the air inlet (71) of the container (7) and higher than
the air outlet end of the air inlet pipe (772).
11. The clothes care apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the air inlet (71) of the container (7) is communicated with the air outlet (102)
of the drum (1), the air outlet (102) of the drum (1) is higher than the air inlet
(71) of the container (7), and the liquid level of the water is higher than the air
inlet (71) of the container (7) and lower than the air outlet (102) of the drum (1).
12. The clothes care apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the first air outlet (721) of the container (7) is connected with the air inlet (51)
of the condenser (5) by means of a first flexible connecting pipe (801), the pipe
diameter of an end, connected with the container (7), of the first flexible connecting
pipe (801) being smaller than that of an end, connected with the condenser (5), of
the first flexible connecting pipe (801); and the second air outlet (722) of the container
(7) is connected with the air inlet (51) of the condenser (5) by means of a second
flexible connecting pipe (802), the pipe diameter of an end, connected with the container
(7), of the second flexible connecting pipe (802) being smaller than that of an end,
connected with the condenser (5), of the second flexible connecting pipe (802).
13. A washing machine having a clothes care function, comprising the clothes care apparatus
according to claim 3, a drum (1) comprising an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder,
wherein a draught fan (4) draws air from the inner cylinder into an air channel (2)
and guides the air into a container (7); and after being filtered by water, the air
is fed into the inner cylinder via the air channel (2) to form a circulation.
14. A drying washing machine having a clothes care function, comprising the clothes care
apparatus according to claim 3, a drum (1) comprising an inner cylinder and an outer
cylinder, wherein a draught fan (4) draws air from the inner cylinder into an air
channel (2) and guides the air into a container (7); and after being filtered by water,
the air is fed into the inner cylinder via a condenser (5) and a heating apparatus
(3) to form a circulation.
15. The drying washing machine having a clothes care function according to claim 14, characterized in that an air outlet (102) communicated with the air channel (2) is provided on a cylinder
wall of the outer cylinder,
an air inlet (71) of the container (7) is connected with the air outlet (102) on the
outer cylinder by means of a third flexible connecting pipe (6), an air outlet (72)
of the container (7) is connected with an air inlet (51) of the condenser (5) by means
of a fourth flexible connecting pipe (8), and the pipe diameter of an end, connected
with the container (7), of the fourth flexible connecting pipe (8) is smaller than
that of an end, connected with the condenser (5), of the fourth flexible connecting
pipe (8).