LAUNDRY TREATMENT DEVICE

Abstract

 A laundry treatment device is provided and includes a cabinet, a cover, an inner drum, a control circuit and a filter assembly. The cabinet has an opening, the cover is disposed to the cabinet to open or close the opening, and the inner drum is disposed in the cabinet. The inner drum is provided with an air outlet. The control circuit is provided with a switch configured to switch on or off the control circuit, and the filter assembly is switchable between an installation position and an uninstallation position. When the filter assembly is located at the uninstallation position, the switch is open, and the control circuit is switched off; when the filter assembly is located at the installation position, the filter assembly covers the air outlet and triggers the switch to allow the switch to be closed, and the control circuit is switched on.

Description

FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technical field of household appliances, and more particularly to a laundry treatment device.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In the related art, most clothes dryers have a filtering mesh placed at an air outlet supported by an inner drum. According to instructions for use, after being used for a corresponding period, the filtering mesh needs to be taken out for cleaning debris and flocks thereon, and if not, the efficiency of drying clothes of the clothes dryer will be influenced. However, after cleaning the filtering mesh, some consumers may forget to place the filtering mesh back to its original position, and then the clothes dryer will operate without the filtering mesh during the next operation thereof, such that the debris and flocks enter the interior of the machine along with the airflow, and thus the machine may be prone to malfunction.

SUMMARY

[0003] Embodiments of the present disclosure seek to solve at least one of the problems existing in the related art to at least some extent. For that reason, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a laundry treatment device, which can remind that the filter assembly is forgotten to be installed and has good security.

[0004] The laundry treatment device according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a cabinet having an opening; a cover disposed to the cabinet and configured to open or close the opening; an inner drum disposed in the cabinet and provided with an air outlet; a control circuit disposed in the cabinet and provided with a switch configured to switch on or off the control circuit; and a filter assembly switchable between an installation position and a uninstallation position, in which when the filter assembly is located at the uninstallation position, the switch is open, and the control circuit is switched off; when the filter assembly is located at the installation position, the filter assembly covers the air outlet and triggers the switch to allow the switch to be closed, and the control circuit is switched on.

[0005] In the laundry treatment device according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the control circuit is provided and the fit between the switch and the filter assembly is used to switch on or off the control circuit, i.e. when the filter assembly is located at the uninstallation position, the control circuit is switched off, and thereby the laundry treatment device cannot operate normally. Thus, it may remind that the filter assembly is located at the uninstallation position, so as to avoid machine malfunctions of the laundry treatment device caused by the debris and flocks entering the cabinet due to the filter assembly forgotten to be installed.

[0006] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the switch is configured to be an electromagnetic switch, and the filter assembly is provided with a magnetic element configured to trigger the electromagnetic switch.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the switch is configured to be a mechanical switch, and when the filter assembly is located at the installation position, the filter assembly is configured to push the mechanical switch to allow the mechanical switch to be closed.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, one of the filter assembly and the inner drum is provided with a snap, and the other one thereof is provided with a groove configured to be fitted with the snap.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the control circuit includes: a circuit board; and a detection branch, in which the switch is disposed in the detection branch to switch on or off the detection branch, and the detection branch communicates with the circuit board, when the filter assembly is located at the uninstallation position, the switch is open, the detection branch is switched off and transmits an off signal to the circuit board, and the circuit board does not start the laundry treatment device; when the filter assembly is located at the installation position, the filter assembly triggers the switch to allow the switch to be closed, the detection branch is switched on and transmits an on signal to the circuit board, and the circuit board starts the laundry treatment device.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the filter assembly includes: a first filtering frame provided with a first filtering mesh and having a first end and a second end; a second filtering frame having a first end pivotally connected to the first end of the first filtering frame and a second end engaged with the second end of the first filtering frame, in which a side wall of the second filtering frame facing the first filtering frame is provided with a second filtering mesh, and the first filtering mesh and the second filtering mesh define a filtering cavity having a mouth; and an air intake grid configured to cover the mouth and engaged at the air outlet.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first filtering frame includes: a first annular rim; and a plurality of first ribs, both ends of each first rib being connected with an inner ring of the first annular rim.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the second filtering frame includes: a second annular rim; and a plurality of second ribs, both ends of each second rib being connected with an inner ring of the second annular rim.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, at least one of the first filtering frame and the second filtering frame is configured to be a plastic member.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first filtering frame and the second filtering frame have an identical shape.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the laundry treatment device is configured as a clothes dryer or a washing-drying machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] These and other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following descriptions made with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a laundry treatment device according to embodiments of the present disclosure, in which a filter assembly is located at an installation position;

Fig. 2 is a partial view of a laundry treatment device according to embodiments of the present disclosure, in which a filter assembly is located at an installation position;

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a control circuit of a laundry treatment device according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a filter assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure; and

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a filter assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

Reference numerals:

[0017] 

laundry treatment device 100,

cabinet 10, opening 11,

cover 20,

inner drum 30, air outlet 31,

control circuit 40, switch 41, detection branch 42, circuit board 43,

filter assembly 50, magnetic element 51, air intake grid 54, first filtering frame 52, first annular rim 522, first rib 523, second filtering frame 53, second annular rim 532, second rib 533.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Reference will be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiments described herein with reference to drawings are explanatory, illustrative, and used to generally understand the present disclosure. The embodiments shall not be construed to limit the present disclosure.

[0019] In the specification, unless specified or limited otherwise, relative terms such as "front", "rear", "right", "left", "inner", "outer", "lower", "upper", "horizontal", "vertical", "above", "below", "up", "top", "bottom" as well as derivative thereof (e.g., "horizontally", "downwardly", "upwardly", etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the present disclosure be constructed or operated in a particular orientation.

[0020] In addition, terms such as "first" and "second" are used herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance or to imply the number of indicated technical features. Thus, the feature defined with "first" and "second" may comprise one or more of this feature. In the description of the present disclosure, "a plurality of" means two or more than two, unless specified otherwise.

[0021] In the present disclosure, unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," "coupled," "fixed" and the like are used broadly, and may be, for example, fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; may also be mechanical or electrical connections; may also be direct connections or indirect connections via intervening structures; may also be inner communications of two elements, which can be understood by those skilled in the art according to specific situations.

[0022] A laundry treatment device 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in the following with reference to Figs. 1-5.

[0023] As shown in Figs. 1-5, the laundry treatment device 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a cabinet 10, a cover 20, an inner drum 30, a control circuit 40 and a filter assembly 50.

[0024] Specifically, the cabinet 10 has an opening 11, and the cover 20 is disposed to the cabinet 10 and configured to open or close the opening 11. The inner drum 30 is disposed in the cabinet 10 and provided with an air outlet 31, and the control circuit 40 is disposed in the cabinet 10 and provided with a switch 41 configured to switch on or off the control circuit 40. The filter assembly 50 is switchable between an installation position and an uninstallation position. Herein, it should be noted that, the installation position of the filter assembly 50 may refer to a position where the filter assembly 50 is fitted with the inner drum 30 so as to cover the air outlet 31 and simultaneously filter an airflow passing through the air outlet 31, and the uninstallation position of the filter assembly 50 may refer to a position where the filter assembly 50 is not installed to the inner drum 30. When the filter assembly 50 is located at the uninstallation position, the switch 41 is open, and the control circuit 40 is switched off. When the filter assembly 50 is located at the installation position, the filter assembly 50 covers the air outlet 31 and triggers the switch 41 to allow the switch 41 to be closed, and the control circuit 40 is switched on.

[0025] In the laundry treatment device 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the control circuit 40 is provided and a fit between the switch 41 and the filter assembly 50 is used to switch on or off the control circuit 40, i.e. when the filter assembly 50 is located at the uninstallation position, the control circuit 40 is switched off, such that the laundry treatment device 100 cannot operate normally, and thus it may remind that the filter assembly 50 is located at the uninstallation position, so as to avoid machine malfunctions of the laundry treatment device 100 caused by the debris and flocks entering the cabinet due to the filter assembly 50 forgotten to be installed.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in Fig. 2, the switch 41 may be configured to be an electromagnetic switch, and the filter assembly 50 is provided with a magnetic element 51 configured to trigger the switch 41. Thus, when the filter assembly 50 is located at the installation position, the magnetic element 51 controls the electromagnetic switch to be closed, so as to allow the control circuit 40 to be switched on, and thus the laundry treatment device 100 can operate normally; when the filter assembly 50 is located at the uninstallation position, the magnetic element 51 and the filter assembly 50 both are removed, i.e. the magnetic element 51 is away from the electromagnetic switch, and the electromagnetic switch is open without induction of a magnetic field, such that the control circuit 40 is switched off, and also, the laundry treatment device 100 cannot operate normally, thereby avoiding the machine malfunctions of the laundry treatment device 100 caused by the debris and flocks entering the cabinet due to the filter assembly 50 forgotten to be installed. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic element 51 may be configured to be magnet.

[0027] In another embodiment the present disclosure, the switch 41 may be configured to be a mechanical switch, and when the filter assembly 50 is located at the installation position, the filter assembly 50 is configured to push the mechanical switch to allow the mechanical switch to be closed. It can be understood that, the switch 41 may be configured to be a mechanical switch which is in a normally open state, and when the filter assembly 50 is switched from the uninstallation position to the installation position, the filter assembly 50 may be used to push the mechanical switch so as to switch the mechanical switch from the normally open state to a closed state.

[0028] When the filter assembly 50 is located at the installation position, the mechanical switch is in the closed state, and at the moment, the control circuit 40 is switched on, such that the laundry treatment device 100 can operate normally; when the filter assembly 50 is located at the uninstallation position, the mechanical switch 41 is in the open state, and at the moment, the control circuit 40 is switched off, such that the laundry treatment device 100 cannot operate normally. Thus, it may remind that the filter assembly 50 is located at the uninstallation position, i.e., the filter assembly 50 is forgotten to be installed, thereby avoiding the machine malfunctions of the laundry treatment device 100 caused by the debris and flocks entering the cabinet due to the filter assembly 50 forgotten to be installed.

[0029] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, one of the filter assembly 50 and the inner drum 30 may be provided with a snap, and the other one thereof may be provided with a groove configured to be fitted with the snap. That is to say, the snap may be disposed on the filter assembly 50 and the inner drum 30 may be provided with the groove configured to be fitted with the snap. Certainly, the inner drum 30 may be provided with the snap and the filter assembly 50 may be provided with the groove configured to be fitted with the snap. Thus, the filter assembly 50 may be easily and steadily arranged on the inner drum 30. Since the filter assembly 50 needs to be mounted and removed frequently for cleaning the flocks and debris therein periodically, a snapping connection is used, thereby providing a simple structure, an easy assembling and a low manufacture cost.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in Fig. 3, the control circuit 40 includes: a circuit board 43 and a detection branch 42. The switch 41 is disposed in the detection branch 42 to switch on or off the detection branch 42, and the detection branch 42 communicates with the circuit board 43. When the filter assembly 50 is located at the uninstallation position, the switch 41 is open, the detection branch 42 is switched off and transmits an off signal to the circuit board 43, and thus the circuit board 43 will not start the laundry treatment device; when the filter assembly 50 is located at the installation position, the filter assembly 50 triggers the switch 41 to allow the switch 41 to be closed, the detection branch 42 is switched on and transmits an on signal to the circuit board 43, and thus the circuit board 43 starts the laundry treatment device. Thus, by the detection branch 42, it may be detected whether the filter assembly 50 is forgotten to be installed, and detection information may be transmitted to the control circuit 40. In the case that the filter assembly 50 is forgotten to be installed, the laundry treatment device 100 cannot operate normally, thereby avoiding an operation of the laundry treatment device 100 with the filter assembly 50 being forgotten to be installed.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the filter assembly 50 includes: a first filtering frame 52, a second filtering frame 53 and an air intake grid 54. The first filtering frame 52 is provided with a first filtering mesh (not shown in the drawings), and has a first end and a second end. A first end of the second filtering frame 53 is pivotally connected to the first end of the first filtering frame 52, and a second end of the second filtering frame 53 is engaged with the second end of the first filtering frame 52. A side wall of the second filtering frame 53 facing the first filtering frame 52 is provided with a second filtering mesh (not shown in the drawings), and the first filtering mesh and the second filtering mesh define a filtering cavity having a mouth. The air intake grid 54 covers the mouth and is engaged at the air outlet 31.

[0032] Thus, when the laundry treatment device 100 operates, the flocks and debris may be collected in the filtering cavity, thereby preventing the flocks and debris from influencing a work performance of the machine and even resulting in the machine malfunctions.

[0033] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first filtering frame 52 may include: a first annular rim 522 and a plurality of first ribs 523, and both ends of each first rib 523 are connected with an inner ring of the first annular rim 522. Likewise, the second filtering frame 53 includes: a second annular rim 532 and a plurality of second ribs 533, and both ends of each second rib 533 are connected with an inner ring of the second annular rim 532. Thus, on one hand, such above structure facilitates ventilation while ensuring a structural strength of the filtering assembly 50; on the other hand, it is convenient to clamp the first filtering mesh and the second filtering mesh between the first filtering frame 52 and the second filtering frame 53.

[0034] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one of the first filtering frame 52 and the second filtering frame 53 is configured to be a plastic member. Thus, an overall weight of the filter assembly 50 may be reduced, thereby facilitating the assembling and disassembling of the filter assembly 50. On the other hand, the plastic member provides an easy manufacturing and a low cost. Further, the first filtering frame 52 and the second filtering frame 53 may have an identical shape, thus facilitating the manufacturing, and thereby reducing the production cost.

[0035] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the laundry treatment device 100 may be configured as a clothes dryer or a washing-drying machine. The laundry treatment device 100 according to above embodiments of the present disclosure has a function of preventing the filter assembly 50 from being forgotten to be installed, so as to avoid the machine malfunctions due to the filter assembly 50 forgotten to be installed, thereby improving the overall performance of the product and enhancing the market competitiveness of the product.

[0036] The laundry treatment device 100 according to a specific embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 1-4. It should be understood that, the following descriptions are just explanatory and illustrative, and should not be construed to limit the present disclosure.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 1, the laundry treatment device 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes the cabinet 10, the cover 20, the inner drum 30, the control circuit 40 and the filter assembly 50.

[0038] The cabinet 10 has the opening 11, and the cover 20 is disposed to the cabinet 10 to open or close the opening 11. The inner drum 30 is disposed in the cabinet 10 and is provided with the air outlet 31, and the air outlet 31 is located at a position close to the opening 11. The filter assembly 50 is provided with the snap, and the inner drum 30 is provided with the groove configured to be fitted with the snap, such that the filter assembly 50 may be steadily installed at the air outlet 31 by the fit between the snap and the groove.

[0039] The filter assembly 50 includes: the first filtering frame 52, the second filtering frame 53 and the air intake grid 54. The first filtering frame 52 is provided with the first filtering mesh (not shown in the drawings), the first end of the second filtering frame 53 is pivotally connected to the first end of the first filtering frame 52, and the second end of the second filtering frame 53 is engaged with the second end of the first filtering frame 52. The side wall of the second filtering frame 53 facing the first filtering frame 52 is provided with the second filtering mesh (not shown in the drawings), and the first filtering mesh and the second filtering mesh define a filtering cavity having an mouth. The air intake grid 54 covers the mouth and is engaged at the air outlet 31. That is, the airflow may enter the filtering cavity through the air intake grid 54, and the first filtering mesh and the second filtering mesh in the filtering cavity may filter the airflow, so as to intercept the flocks and debris mixed in the airflow in the filtering cavity.

[0040] The first filtering frame 52 includes the first annular rim 522 and the plurality of first ribs 523, and both ends of each first rib 523 are connected with the inner ring of the first annular rim 522. Likewise, the second filtering frame 53 includes the second annular rim 532 and the plurality of second ribs 533, and both ends of each second rib 533 are connected with the inner ring of the second annular rim 532. Both the first filtering frame 52 and the second filtering frame 53 are configured as the plastic member.

[0041] The control circuit 40 is disposed in the cabinet 10, as shown in Fig. 3, and the control circuit 40 includes the circuit board 43 and the detection branch 42. The detection branch 42 is provided with an electromagnetic switch used to switch on or off the detection branch 42. The filter assembly 50 is provided with a magnetic element 51 configured to trigger the electromagnetic switch. The magnetic element 51 may be a magnet and embedded in the first filtering frame 52 or the second filtering frame 53. The detection branch 42 communicates with the circuit board 43. When the filter assembly 50 is located at the uninstallation position, the electromagnetic switch is in an open state without induction of the magnetic field, the detection branch 42 is switched off and transmits the off signal to the circuit board 43, and at the moment, the laundry treatment device 100 cannot operate normally. When the filter assembly 50 is located at the installation position, the filter assembly 50 covers the air outlet 31, the magnetic element 51 triggers the electromagnetic switch to allow the electromagnetic switch to be closed, the detection branch 42 is switched on and transmits the on signal to the circuit board 43, and at the moment, the laundry treatment device 100 may operate normally.

[0042] Thus, the control circuit 40 is provided and the fit between the switch 41 and the filter assembly 50 is used to switch on or off the control circuit 40, i.e. when the filter assembly 50 is located at the uninstallation position, the control circuit 40 is switched off, and thereby the laundry treatment device 100 cannot operate normally. Thus, it may remind that the filter assembly 50 is located at the uninstallation position, i.e., the filter assembly 50 is forgotten to be installed, so as to avoid the machine malfunctions of the laundry treatment device 100 caused by the debris and flocks entering the cabinet due to the filter assembly 50 forgotten to be installed.

[0043] Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "one embodiment", "another example," "an example," "a specific example," or "some examples," means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases such as "in some embodiments," "in one embodiment", "in an embodiment", "in another example," "in an example," "in a specific example," or "in some examples," in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0044] Although explanatory embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments cannot be construed to limit the present disclosure, and changes, alternatives, and modifications can be made in the embodiments without departing from spirit, principles and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A laundry treatment device (100), comprising:

a cabinet (10) having an opening (11);

a cover (20) disposed to the cabinet (10) and configured to open or close the opening (11);

an inner drum (30) disposed in the cabinet (10) and provided with an air outlet (31);

a control circuit (40) disposed in the cabinet (10) and provided with a switch (41) configured to switch on or off the control circuit (40); and

a filter assembly (50) switchable between an installation position and a uninstallation position,

wherein when the filter assembly (50) is located at the uninstallation position, the switch (41) is open, and the control circuit (40) is switched off;

when the filter assembly (50) is located at the installation position, the filter assembly (50) covers the air outlet (31) and triggers the switch (41) to allow the switch (41) to be closed, and the control circuit (40) is switched on.

2. The laundry treatment device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the switch (41) is configured to be an electromagnetic switch and the filter assembly (50) is provided with a magnetic element (51) configured to trigger the electromagnetic switch.

3. The laundry treatment device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the switch (41) is configured to be a mechanical switch,
wherein when the filter assembly (50) is located at the installation position, the filter assembly (50) is configured to push the mechanical switch to allow the mechanical switch to be closed.

4. The laundry treatment device (100) according to claim 1, wherein one of the filter assembly (50) and the inner drum (30) is provided with a snap and the other one thereof is provided with a groove configured to be fitted with the snap.

5. The laundry treatment device (100) according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the control circuit (40) comprises:

a circuit board (43); and

a detection branch (42), wherein the switch (41) is disposed in the detection branch (42) to switch on or off the detection branch (42), and the detection branch (42) communicates with the circuit board (43),

wherein when the filter assembly (50) is located at the uninstallation position, the switch (41) is open, the detection branch (42) is switched off and transmits an off signal to the circuit board (43), and the circuit board (43) does not start the laundry treatment device (100); when the filter assembly (50) is located at the installation position, the filter assembly (50) triggers the switch (41) to allow the switch (41) to be closed, the detection branch (42) is switched on and transmits an on signal to the circuit board (43), and the circuit board (43) starts the laundry treatment device (100).

6. The laundry treatment device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the filter assembly (50) comprises:

a first filtering frame (52) provided with a first filtering mesh and having a first end and a second end;

a second filtering frame (53) having a first end pivotally connected to the first end of the first filtering frame (52) and a second end engaged with the second end of the first filtering frame (52), wherein a side wall of the second filtering frame (53) facing the first filtering frame (52) is provided with a second filtering mesh, and the first filtering mesh and the second filtering mesh define a filtering cavity having a mouth; and

an air intake grid (54) configured to cover the mouth and engaged at the air outlet (31).

7. The laundry treatment device (100) according to claim 6, wherein the first filtering frame (52) comprises:

a first annular rim (522); and

a plurality of first ribs (523), both ends of each first rib (523) being connected with an inner ring of the first annular rim (522).

8. The laundry treatment device (100) according to claim 6, wherein the second filtering frame (53) comprises:

a second annular rim (532); and

a plurality of second ribs (533), both ends of each second rib (533) being connected with an inner ring of the second annular rim (532).

9. The laundry treatment device (100) according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the first filtering frame (52) and the second filtering frame (53) is configured to be a plastic member.

10. The laundry treatment device (100) according to claim 6, wherein the first filtering frame (52) and the second filtering frame (53) have an identical shape.

11. The laundry treatment device (100) according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the laundry treatment device (100) is configured to be a clothes dryer or a washing-drying machine.

Drawing