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(11) | EP 4 261 341 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | LAUNDRY TREATING APPARATUS |
| (57) Disclosed is a laundry treating apparatus (10), including: a casing (12); a laundry
treating chamber (14) arranged in the casing (12); and a fragrance assembly (16) capable
of providing a fragrance with an infinitely adjustable concentration to the laundry
treating chamber (14). This may facilitate adjusting the concentration of the fragrance
added by the laundry treating apparatus (10).
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[0002] For existing laundry treating apparatuses, when fragrances are added to the laundry, there is room for improvement in adjusting concentrations of the fragrances added.
[0004] For the above object, embodiments of the present invention relate to a laundry treating apparatus, which includes: a casing, a laundry treating chamber arranged in the casing, and a fragrance assembly capable of providing a fragrance with an infinitely adjustable concentration to the laundry treating chamber.
[0005] This may facilitate adjusting the concentration of the fragrance added by the laundry treating apparatus.
[0006] In some embodiments, the fragrance assembly includes a fragrance module and an adjusting module, the adjusting module being capable of moving relative to the fragrance module to adjust the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance module.
[0007] This may help the fragrance assembly to provide the fragrance with an adjustable concentration.
[0008] In some embodiments, the fragrance module includes a storage component and a diffusing hole, and the adjusting module includes an adjusting component capable of moving relative to the diffusing hole to fully open, partially open, or close the diffusing hole.
[0009] This may facilitate easily and conveniently adjusting the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance module by moving the adjusting component relative to the diffusing hole.
[0010] In some embodiments, the adjusting module includes an actuating component that may be applied with a force to drive the adjusting component to move.
[0011] This may facilitate controlling the adjusting component of the adjusting module to adjust the degree of opening and closing of the diffusing hole of the fragrance module by applying a force to the actuating component, thus facilitating simple adjustment of the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance module.
[0012] In some embodiments, the actuating component moves in a different way than the adjusting component.
[0013] This may facilitate infinitely adjusting the degree of opening and closing of the infinitely adjustable diffusing hole through the adjusting component by applying a force to the actuating component, thus facilitating infinite adjustment of the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance assembly.
[0016] In some embodiments, the adjusting module includes a switching component that connects the actuating component to the adjusting component and moves with the actuating component to drive the adjusting component to move.
[0017] This may help the actuating component to drive the adjusting component to move by the switching component easily.
[0018] In some embodiments, the switching component includes a driving gear fitting with the actuating component, a reversing gear capable of being driven by the driving gear, a rack-and-pinion capable of being driven by the reversing gear, and a rack that connects the rack-and-pinion to the adjusting component.
[0019] This may help the actuating component to drive the adjusting component to move by the switching component easily.
[0020] In some embodiments, the fragrance assembly includes a box assembly in which the fragrance module and the adjusting module are at least partially received, and the switching component includes a rack auxiliary rod that connects the rack to the box assembly.
[0021] This may help the box assembly to protect and support the fragrance module and the adjusting module.
[0022] In some embodiments, the fragrance assembly includes a box assembly, the box assembly including a cover and a box body in which the fragrance module and the adjusting module are at least partially received.
[0023] This may help the cover and the box body together to protect the fragrance module and the adjusting module.
[0024] In some embodiments, the cover includes a front wall capable of abutting against the box body, a receiving component protruding from the front wall toward the box body and a support component adjacent to the receiving component; the fragrance module includes a storage component and a diffusing hole, the storage component fitting with the receiving component; and the adjusting module includes an adjusting component capable of moving relative to the receiving component and the support component to fully open, partially open, or close the diffusing hole.
[0025] This may help the fragrance module and the adjusting module to be easily received at least partially between the cover and the box body, thus facilitating easy and convenient adjustment of the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance module by moving the adjusting component relative to the receiving component and the support component.
[0026] In some embodiments, the adjusting module includes a knob protruding from the front wall in a direction away from the box body and capable of driving the adjusting component to move. This may facilitate moving the adjusting component easily by turning the knob.
[0027] In some embodiments, the knob includes an indication component, and the front wall includes an indication area corresponding to a movement path of the indication component. This may facilitate quantifying the rotation of the knob, thus facilitating precisely adjusting the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance module.
[0028] In some embodiments, the box body includes an accommodating component for accommodating at least part of the fragrance module and the adjusting module, the accommodating component including an inlet and an outlet respectively aligned with the diffusing hole.
[0029] This may help a gas from outside the box assembly to flow through the diffusing hole of the fragrance module, thus facilitating the fragrance provided by the fragrance module being mixed with the gas from outside the box assembly and flowing out of the box assembly with the gas.
[0030] In some embodiments, the diffusing hole includes an inflow hole near the inlet and an outflow hole near the outlet, the adjusting component includes a first adjusting component capable of extending between the inlet and the inflow hole and a second adjusting component capable of extending between the outlet and the outflow hole.
[0031] This may facilitate adjustment of the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance module through the adjusting module by respectively extending the first adjusting component and the second adjusting component between the inlet and the inflow hole as well as between the outlet and the outflow hole.
[0032] In some embodiments, the laundry treating apparatus includes a support that connects the casing to the laundry treating chamber and is provided with the fragrance assembly.
[0033] This may help the fragrance assembly to provide a fragrance to the laundry treating chamber, thus facilitating the fragrance provided by the fragrance assembly being adsorbed to laundry in the laundry treating chamber.
[0034] In some embodiments, one of the support and the fragrance assembly includes a sealing groove and a sealing strip within the sealing groove, and the other one includes a protrusion protruding into the sealing groove to abut against the sealing strip.
[0036] In some embodiments, the support and the fragrance assembly include mounting components fitting with each other.
[0038] In some embodiments, the fragrance assembly includes a box assembly, and the fragrance module is detachably mounted in the box assembly.
[0040] In some embodiments, the fragrance assembly includes a sealing assembly arranged between the box assembly and the fragrance module.
[0041] This may facilitate mutual sealing and fixing between the fragrance module and the box assembly.
[0042] In some embodiments, the fragrance module includes a storage component, a fragrance stored in the storage component, a volatilizing component in contact with the fragrance, and a diffusing component that clamps the volatilizing component together with the storage component, the diffusing component including a diffusing hole that may be fully opened, partially opened, or closed by the adjusting module.
[0043] This may help the fragrance module to provide the fragrance with an adjustable concentration.
[0044] The technical solutions of the embodiments in the present application can be combined in any way that the technical conditions allow.
[0045] The present application is further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the figures, the same or similar signs may be used to refer to the same or similar components, devices, shapes, and constructions in different embodiments, or descriptions of the same or similar components, devices, shapes, constructions, features, and effects in different embodiments and descriptions of components, devices, shapes, constructions, features, and effects in the prior art may be omitted.
Fig. 1 is a partially schematic perspective view of a laundry treating apparatus according to some embodiments of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic exploded view of a fragrance assembly of the laundry treating apparatus in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a partially schematic sectional view of the laundry treating apparatus in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is another partially schematic sectional view of the laundry treating apparatus in Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a partially schematic perspective view of the laundry treating apparatus in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 3, where arrows show a direction of flow of a gas within a support;
Fig. 7 is a partially schematic sectional view of a laundry treating apparatus according to some other embodiments of the present invention;
Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a fragrance module in Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is a partially schematic sectional view of a laundry treating apparatus according to yet some other embodiments of the present invention; and
Fig. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a fragrance module in Fig. 9.
[0046] Fig. 1 is a partially schematic perspective view of a laundry treating apparatus according to some embodiments of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, according to an aspect, an embodiment of the present invention relates to a laundry treating apparatus 10, which includes a casing 12; a laundry treating chamber 14 arranged in the casing 12; and a fragrance assembly 16 capable of providing a fragrance with an infinitely adjustable concentration to the laundry treating chamber 14.
[0047] This may facilitate adjusting the concentration of the fragrance added by the laundry treating apparatus 10.
[0048] The laundry treating apparatus 10 may be any apparatus suitable for washing, drying and other treatment of laundry, such as a washing machine, a washer-dryer, and a laundry dryer. The casing 12 may be substantially square in shape.
[0049] The laundry treating chamber 14 may be configured to treat laundry therein (not shown in the figure) and may be, for example, drum-shaped.
[0050] The fragrance assembly 16 may have any possible structure as long as it is applicable to the present invention.
[0051] In the process of treating the laundry in the laundry treating chamber 14 within the casing 12 of the laundry treating apparatus 10, the fragrance provided to the laundry treating chamber 14 by the fragrance assembly 16 may be adsorbed to the laundry, causing the laundry to be scented with the fragrance at an added concentration.
[0052] The fragrance assembly 16 may provide the laundry treating chamber 14 with a fragrance of an infinitely adjustable concentration, where the adjustment of the concentration of the fragrance is carried out in a relatively smooth instead of skip manner, allowing for a more precise adjustment of the concentration of the fragrance.
[0053] Fig. 2 is a schematic exploded view of a fragrance assembly of the laundry treating apparatus in Fig. 1. With reference to Fig. 2, in some embodiments, the fragrance assembly 16 includes a fragrance module 18 and an adjusting module 20, the adjusting module 20 being capable of moving relative to the fragrance module 18 to adjust the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance module 18.
[0054] This may help the fragrance assembly 16 to provide the fragrance with an adjustable concentration.
[0055] The fragrance module 18 may be substantially rectangular in shape and the adjusting module 20 may be substantially "Y"-shaped.
[0056] In some embodiments, the fragrance module 18 includes a storage component 22 and a diffusing hole 24, and the adjusting module 20 includes an adjusting component 26 capable of moving relative to the diffusing hole 24 to fully open, partially open, or close the diffusing hole 24.
[0057] This may facilitate easily and conveniently adjusting the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance module 18 by moving the adjusting component 26 relative to the diffusing hole 24.
[0058] The storage component 22 may be configured to store the fragrance and may be, for example, substantially rectangular in shape.
[0059] The diffusing hole 24 may be an opening in the fragrance module 18 adjacent to the storage component 22 and may have any possible shape such as a rectangle.
[0061] The adjusting component 26 moves relative to the diffusing hole 24 so that the diffusing hole 24 is fully open, partially open, or closed. At different degrees of opening and closing of the diffusing hole 24, the fragrance module 18 provides different flows of fragrance through the diffusing hole 24, thereby providing the fragrance at different concentrations.
[0062] In some embodiments, the adjusting module 20 includes an actuating component 28 that may be applied with a force to drive the adjusting component 26 to move.
[0063] This may facilitate controlling the adjusting component 26 of the adjusting module 20 to adjust the degree of opening and closing of the diffusing hole 24 of the fragrance module 18 by applying a force to the actuating component 28, thus facilitating simple adjustment of the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance module 16.
[0064] The actuating component 28 may be located in a different position and have a different structure than the adjusting component 26.
[0065] In some embodiments, the actuating component 28 moves in a different way than the adjusting component 26.
[0066] This may facilitate infinitely adjusting the degree of opening and closing of the diffusing hole 24 through the adjusting component 26 by applying a force to the actuating component 28, thus facilitating infinite adjustment of the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance assembly 16.
[0067] For example, the actuating component 28 may be moved in a rotational manner by a direct manual force from a user, and the adjusting component 26 may be moved linearly by the actuating component 28. In this way, the speed of movement of the adjusting component 26 may be switched manually and smoothly, helping the fragrance assembly 16 to provide the fragrance with an infinitely adjustable concentration.
[0068] The combination of different ways of moving the actuating component 28 and the adjusting component 26 may facilitate a compact structure and rational use of space of the fragrance assembly 16, avoiding oversizing or undersizing in one or more directions or angles.
[0072] In some embodiments, the adjusting module 20 includes a switching component 32 that connects the actuating component 28 to the adjusting component 26 and moves with the actuating component 28 to drive the adjusting component 26 to move.
[0073] This may help the actuating component 28 to drive the adjusting component 26 to move by the switching component 32.
[0074] The switching component 32 may facilitate switching the way of movement of the actuating component 28 and the adjusting component 26.
[0075] In some embodiments, the switching component 32 includes a driving gear 34 fitting with the actuating component 28, a reversing gear 36 capable of being driven by the driving gear 34, a rack-and-pinion 38 capable of being driven by the reversing gear 36, and a rack 40 that connects the rack-and-pinion 38 to the adjusting component 26.
[0076] This may help the actuating component 28 to drive the adjusting component 26 to move by the switching component 32 easily.
[0077] The actuating component 28, when being applied with a force, may drive the driving gear 34 to move, and to further drive the reversing gear 36, the rack-and-pinion 38, the rack 40 and the adjusting component 26 to move accordingly.
[0078] In some embodiments, the fragrance assembly 16 includes a box assembly 42 in which the fragrance module 18 and the adjusting module 20 are at least partially received, and the switching component 32 includes a rack auxiliary rod 44 that connects the rack 40 to the box assembly 42.
[0079] This may help the box assembly 42 to protect and support the fragrance module 18 and the adjusting module 20.
[0081] The rack auxiliary rod 44 may pass through the rack 40, with both ends embedded in the box assembly 42.
[0082] In some embodiments, the fragrance assembly 16 includes a box assembly 42, the box assembly including a cover 46 and a box body 48 in which the fragrance module 18 and the adjusting module 20 are at least partially received.
[0083] This may help the cover 46 and the box body 48 together to protect the fragrance module 18 and the adjusting module 20.
[0084] The cover 46 may be substantially plate-shaped. The box body 48 may be a substantially square-shaped body, with one side opening toward the cover 46.
[0085] In some embodiments, the cover 46 includes a front wall 50 capable of abutting against the box body 48, a receiving component 52 protruding from the front wall 50 toward the box body 48 and a support component 54 adjacent to the receiving component 52; the fragrance module 18 includes a storage component 22 and a diffusing hole 24, the storage component 22 fitting with the receiving component 52; and the adjusting module 20 includes an adjusting component 26 capable of moving relative to the receiving component 52 and the support component 54 to fully open, partially open, or close the diffusing hole 24.
[0086] This may help the fragrance module 18 and the adjusting module 20 to be easily received at least partially between the cover 46 and the box body 48, thus facilitating easy and convenient adjustment of the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance module 18 by moving the adjusting component 26 relative to the receiving component 52 and the support component 54.
[0088] The receiving component 52 may have a hole penetrating the front wall 50, for example, in the shape corresponding to that of the storage component 22.
[0089] The support component 54 may be connected to a rear portion of the receiving component 52 at the front wall 50, corresponding in size.
[0090] The fragrance module 18 may be inserted from the front, and the storage component 22 fits with the receiving component 52 to achieve positioning and supporting. The diffusing hole 24 may be exposed to the rear of the receiving component 52. The adjusting component 26 may correspond to the diffusing hole 24 in position, extending a certain distance backwards from the rear of the receiving component 52 and the support component 54.
[0091] In some embodiments, the adjusting module 20 includes a knob 30 protruding from the front wall 50 in a direction away from the box body 48 and capable of driving the adjusting component 26 to move.
[0093] The knob 30 may be arranged on the outside of the box assembly 42 so as to facilitate operation. The position of the knob 30 may be slightly staggered from that of the receiving component 52 and the support component 54 to avoid mutual influence.
[0094] In some embodiments, the knob 30 includes an indication component 56, and the front wall 50 includes an indication area 58 corresponding to a movement path of the indication component 56.
[0095] This may facilitate quantifying the rotation of the knob 30, thus facilitating precisely adjusting the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance module 18.
[0096] Fig. 3 is a partially schematic sectional view of the laundry treating apparatus in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, in some embodiments, the box body 48 includes an accommodating component 60 for accommodating at least part of the fragrance module 18 and the adjusting module 20, the accommodating component including an inlet 62 and an outlet 64 respectively aligned with the diffusing hole 24.
[0097] This may help a gas from outside the box assembly 42 to flow through the diffusing hole 24 of the fragrance module 18, thus facilitating the fragrance provided by the fragrance module 18 being mixed with the gas from outside the box assembly 42 and flowing out of the box assembly 42 with the gas.
[0098] The accommodating component 60 may be, for example, a substantially square-shaped body, with one side opening toward the cover 46.
[0099] The inlet 62 and the outlet 64 may each be aligned with the position of the diffusing hole 24 and have a corresponding shape, structure and size, for example, each may be a substantially square opening.
[0100] In some embodiments, the diffusing hole 24 includes an inflow hole 66 near the inlet 62 and an outflow hole 68 near the outlet 64, the adjusting component 26 includes a first adjusting component 70 capable of extending between the inlet 62 and the inflow hole 66 and a second adjusting component 72 capable of extending between the outlet 64 and the outflow hole 68. This may facilitate adjustment of the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance module 18 through the adjusting module 20 by respectively extending the first adjusting component 70 and the second adjusting component 72 between the inlet 62 and the inflow hole 66 as well as between the outlet 64 and the outflow hole 68.
[0101] The inflow hole 66 and the outflow hole 68 may be aligned with the inlet 62 and the outlet 64, respectively and have a corresponding shape, structure and size, for example, each may be a substantially square opening.
[0102] The first adjusting component 70 and the second adjusting component 72 may be substantially plate-shaped and extending in parallel, and may be bent at one end to extend in opposite directions to join each other to form a substantially "U"-shape.
[0103] The joint of the first adjusting component 70 and the second adjusting component 72 may be connected to the rack 40. The movement of the rack 40 may drive the first adjusting component 70 and the second adjusting component 72 to adjust the size of the openings of the inflow hole 66 and the outflow hole 68, as well as the inlet 62 and the outlet 64.
[0104] When the adjusting component 26 moves relative to the diffusing hole 24, the first adjusting component 70 and the second adjusting component 72 may fully open, partially open, or close the inlet 62, the inflow hole 66, the outlet 64, and the outflow hole 68, respectively, so that the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance module 18 may be adjusted. Fig. 4 is another partially schematic sectional view of the laundry treating apparatus in Fig. 1. With reference to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, in some embodiments, the laundry treating apparatus 10 includes a support 74 that connects the casing 12 to the laundry treating chamber 14 and is provided with the fragrance assembly 16.
[0105] This may help the fragrance assembly 16 to provide a fragrance to the laundry treating chamber 14, thus facilitating the fragrance provided by the fragrance assembly 16 being adsorbed to laundry in the laundry treating chamber 14.
[0106] In some embodiments, one of the support 74 and the fragrance assembly 16 includes a sealing groove 76 and a sealing strip 78 within the sealing groove 76, and the other one includes a protrusion 80 protruding into the sealing groove 76 to abut against the sealing strip 78.
[0108] For example, the sealing groove 76 may be a substantially circular-arc groove located on the outside of the box body 48 of the fragrance assembly 16. The sealing strip 78 may be a strip seal with a circular cross-section, for example, which may be accommodated in the sealing groove 76.
[0109] Fig. 5 is a partially schematic perspective view of the laundry treating apparatus in Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 5, in some embodiments, the support 74 and the fragrance assembly 16 include mounting components 82 fitting with each other.
[0111] The mounting components 82 may include, for example, screw holes and screws that fit into each other.
[0112] Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 3, where arrows show a direction of flow of a gas within a support. With reference to Fig. 6, in some embodiments, the fragrance assembly 16 includes a box assembly 42, and the fragrance module 18 is detachably mounted in the box assembly 42. This may facilitate separating the fragrance module 18 from the box assembly 42.
[0113] When the fragrance needs to be changed, the fragrance module 18 may be separated from the box assembly 42 and removed so that another fragrance module 18 may be placed into the box assembly 42.
[0114] In some embodiments, the fragrance assembly 16 includes a sealing assembly 84 arranged between the box assembly 42 and the fragrance module 18.
[0115] This may facilitate mutual sealing and fixing between the fragrance module 18 and the box assembly 42.
[0117] In some embodiments, the fragrance module 18 includes a storage component 22, a fragrance 86 stored in the storage component 22, a volatilizing component 88 in contact with the fragrance 86, and a diffusing component 90 that clamps the volatilizing component 88 together with the storage component 22, the diffusing component 90 including a diffusing hole 24 that may be fully opened, partially opened, or closed by the adjusting module 20. This may help the fragrance module 18 to provide the fragrance with an adjustable concentration.
[0119] The volatilizing component 88 may include, for example, a dense porous medium with a substantially "T"-shaped cross-section, which can effectively adsorb a liquid fragrance.
[0120] The diffusing component 90 may be combined with the storage component 22 by means such as welding.
[0121] A gas 73 in the support 74 flows sequentially through the inlet 62, the inflow hole 66, the volatilizing component 88, the outflow hole 68, and the outlet 64 of the fragrance assembly 16 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 6. Specifically, the gas 73 in the support 74 flows from the inlet 62 on the box body 48 of the box assembly 42 into the fragrance assembly 16, and enters the fragrance module 18 via the inflow hole 66 of the diffusing hole 24 on the diffusing component 90; and the fragrance 86 in contact with the volatilizing component 88 can be evaporated into the above-mentioned gas when the fragrance flows through the volatilizing component 88 of the fragrance module 18. A gas 75 containing the fragrance 86 is then returned to the support 74 via the outflow hole 68 of the diffusing hole 24 on the diffusing component 90 and the outlet 64 on the box body 48, and circulated into the laundry treating chamber 14 via a system in the laundry treating apparatus 10. As the gas 75 flows through laundry in the laundry treating chamber 14, the fragrance 86 may be adsorbed to the laundry and scent the laundry. When the degree of opening and closing of the diffusing hole 24 of the diffusing component 90 is adjusted by the adjusting module 20 in a fully open, partially open or closed manner, the fragrance module 18 may provide the fragrance 86 at different concentrations respectively, and the fragrance 86 may be adsorbed to the laundry at different adjustable concentrations.
[0122] Fig. 7 is a partially schematic sectional view of a laundry treating apparatus according to some other embodiments of the present invention. With reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, according to another aspect, an embodiment of the present invention relates to a laundry treating apparatus 10, which includes a casing 12; a laundry treating chamber 14 arranged in the casing 12; and a fragrance assembly 16, which includes a fragrance module 18 capable of adding a fragrance in a customized way.
[0123] This may facilitate supplying a fragrance to laundry through the laundry treating apparatus 10 in a customized way, and facilitate improving the optionality of the type of fragrance added, the user can choose the type of fragrance according to needs and preferences, and can change the type of fragrance in the fragrance module 18 without changing the whole fragrance module 18.
[0124] Fig. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a fragrance module in Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 7 and
[0125] Fig. 8, in some embodiments, the fragrance module 18 includes a storage component 22, a fragrance inlet 92 in communication with the storage component 22, and a switch 94 capable of opening or closing the fragrance inlet 92.
[0127] The shape and structure of the parts of the fragrance inlet 92 and the switch 94 in contact with each other may correspond to each other. The fragrance inlet 92 may have, for example, a substantially square through-hole. The switch 94 may have, for example, a substantially square rubber plug.
[0128] For example, the fragrance module 18 may be removed from the fragrance assembly 16, when the switch 94 is turned on, a desired type of fragrance is added from the fragrance inlet 92, and the fragrance module 18 is reinstalled in the fragrance assembly 16, thus the adding of a fragrance in a customized way is completed.
[0129] In some embodiments, the storage component 22 includes a side wall 96 which includes a fragrance inlet 92.
[0131] The side wall 96 may be located inside the fragrance assembly 16 and may be a wall in contact with the receiving component 52.
[0133] This may facilitate simplifying the structure of the fragrance module 18 and may facilitate a simple and effective opening or closing of the fragrance inlet 92 by the switch 94.
[0134] The rubber plug may have a certain elasticity to facilitate sealing the fragrance inlet 92 and reducing and eliminating the possibility of unexpected leakage of the fragrance 86.
[0135] In some embodiments, the fragrance module 18 includes a volatilizing component 88 which encloses the fragrance 86 together with the storage component 22, and a diffusing component 90 that is in fluid communication with the volatilizing component 88, the diffusing component 90 including a diffusing hole 24.
[0139] For example, the adding of fragrance may be achieved by turning on the switch 94 and pouring the fragrance 86 from the fragrance inlet 92.
[0140] Fig. 9 is a partially schematic sectional view of a laundry treating apparatus according to yet some other embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a fragrance module in Fig. 9. As shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, in some embodiments, the storage component 22 includes a front end 98 having a fragrance inlet 92.
[0142] Unless otherwise specified, the terms indicating orientations such as "front" and "rear" herein may be relative to the user using the laundry treating apparatus 10. For example, those close to the user are the front and those away from the user are the rear.
[0145] For example, the switch 94 may be a cover corresponding to the shape of contact parts of the front end 98 and the fragrance inlet 92 respectively, which can open or close the fragrance inlet 92 by being combined with or separated from the front end 98 and the fragrance inlet 92. In some embodiments, the fragrance module 18 includes a seal 100 between the storage component 22 and the switch 94.
[0146] This may facilitate mutual sealing and stable mounting between the storage component 22 and the switch 94.
[0148] In some embodiments, the storage component 22 includes a rear side portion 102 having a diffusing hole 24.
[0149] This may facilitate diffusing the fragrance stored in the storage component 22 out of the storage component 22.
[0152] This may facilitate a high rate and a good effect of diffusion of the fragrance stored in the storage component 22, particularly when the fragrance is solid.
[0153] In some embodiments, the fragrance assembly 16 includes an adjusting module 20, the adjusting module being capable of moving relative to the fragrance module 18 to adjust the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance module 18.
[0154] This may help the fragrance assembly 16 to provide the fragrance with an adjustable concentration.
[0155] In some embodiments, the fragrance assembly 16 includes an adjusting module 20 that includes an adjusting component 26 capable of moving relative to the diffusing hole 24 to fully open, partially open, or close the diffusing hole 24.
[0156] This may facilitate easily and conveniently adjusting the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance module 18 by moving the adjusting component 26 relative to the diffusing hole 24.
[0157] The adjusting component 26 moves relative to the diffusing hole 24 so that the diffusing hole 24 is fully open, partially open, or closed. At these different degrees of opening and closing of the diffusing hole 24, the fragrance provided by the fragrance module 18 may be of different concentrations through the diffusing hole 24, thereby providing the fragrance at different concentrations.
[0158] In some embodiments, the fragrance assembly 16 includes a box assembly 42 in which the fragrance module 18 and the adjusting module 20 are at least partially received, the box assembly including an inlet 62 and an outlet 64 that are aligned with the diffusing hole 24, respectively.
[0159] This may help a gas from outside the box assembly 42 to flow through the diffusing hole 24 of the fragrance module 18, thus facilitating the fragrance provided by the fragrance module 18 being mixed with the gas from outside the box assembly 42 and flowing out of the box assembly 42 with the gas.
[0161] In some embodiments, the laundry treating apparatus 10 includes a support 74 that connects the casing 12 to the laundry treating chamber 14 and is provided with the fragrance assembly 16, where the support 74 includes a gas path 104 in fluid communication with the inlet 62 and the outlet 64.
[0162] This may help the fragrance assembly 16 to provide a fragrance to the laundry treating chamber 14, thus facilitating the fragrance provided by the fragrance assembly 16 being adsorbed to laundry in the laundry treating chamber 14.
[0163] For example, a gas outside of the fragrance assembly 16 and inside the support 74 may enter the box assembly 42 from the inlet 62 along the gas path 104, flows through the fragrance module 18 via the diffusing hole 24 while carrying the provided fragrance out of the fragrance assembly 16 from the outlet 64 to flow back to the gas path 104, and is circulated into the laundry treating chamber 14 via a system in the laundry treating apparatus 10, so that the provided fragrance is adsorbed to the laundry in the laundry treating chamber 14.
[0164] The various specific embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying drawings are intended to illustrate the present invention only and are not exhaustive. Within the scope of the basic technical concept of the present invention, any form of variations to the present invention by those of ordinary skill in the relevant technical field is within the scope of protection of the present invention.
1. A laundry treating apparatus (10), characterized in that the laundry treating apparatus comprises:
a casing (12);
a laundry treating chamber (14) arranged in the casing (12); and
a fragrance assembly (16) capable of providing a fragrance with an infinitely adjustable concentration to the laundry treating chamber (14).
2. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 1, characterized in that the fragrance assembly (16) comprises a fragrance module (18) and an adjusting module
(20), the adjusting module (20) being capable of moving relative to the fragrance
module (18) to adjust the concentration of the fragrance provided by the fragrance
module (18).
3. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 2, characterized in that the fragrance module (18) comprises a storage component (22) and a diffusing hole
(24), and the adjusting module (20) comprises an adjusting component (26) capable
of moving relative to the diffusing hole (24) to fully open, partially open, or close
the diffusing hole (24).
4. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 3, characterized in that the adjusting module (20) comprises an actuating component (28) which may be applied
with a force to drive the adjusting component (26) to move.
5. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 4, characterized in that the actuating component (28) moves in a different way than the adjusting component
(26).
6. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 4, characterized in that the actuating component (28) comprises a knob (30).
7. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 4, characterized in that the adjusting module (20) comprises a switching component (32) that connects the
actuating component (28) to the adjusting component (26) and moves with the actuating
component (28) to drive the adjusting component (26) to move.
8. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 7, characterized in that the switching component (32) comprises a driving gear (34) fitting with the actuating
component (28), a reversing gear (36) capable of being driven by the driving gear
(34), a rack-and-pinion (38) capable of being driven by the reversing gear (36), and
a rack (40) that connects the rack-and-pinion (38) to the adjusting component (26).
9. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 8, characterized in that the fragrance assembly (16) comprises a box assembly (42) in which the fragrance
module (18) and the adjusting module (20) are at least partially received, and the
switching component (32) comprises a rack auxiliary rod (44) that connects the rack
(40) to the box assembly (42).
10. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 2, characterized in that the fragrance assembly (16) comprises a box assembly (42) that comprises a cover
(46) and a box body (48) in which the fragrance module (18) and the adjusting module
(20) are at least partially received.
11. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 10, characterized in that the cover (46) comprises a front wall (50) capable of abutting against the box body
(48), a receiving component (52) protruding from the front wall (50) toward the box
body (48), and a support component (54) adjacent to the receiving component (52),
the fragrance module (18) comprises a storage component (22) and a diffusing hole
(24), the storage component (22) fitting with the receiving component (52), and the
adjusting module (20) comprises an adjusting component (26) capable of moving relative
to the receiving component (52) and the support component (54) to fully open, partially
open, or close the diffusing hole (24).
12. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 11, characterized in that the adjusting module (20) comprises a knob (30) protruding from the front wall (50)
in a direction away from the box body (48), the knob being capable of driving the
adjusting component (26) to move.
13. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 12, characterized in that the knob (30) comprises an indication component (56), and the front wall (50) comprises
an indication area (58) corresponding to a movement path of the indication component
(56).
14. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 11, characterized in that the box body (48) comprises an accommodating component (60) for accommodating at
least part of the fragrance module (18) and the adjusting module (20), the accommodating
component comprising an inlet (62) and an outlet (64) respectively aligned with the
diffusing hole (24).
15. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 14, characterized in that the diffusing hole (24) comprises an inflow hole (66) near the inlet (62) and an
outflow hole (68) near the outlet (64), the adjusting component (26) comprises a first
adjusting component (70) capable of extending between the inlet (62) and the inflow
hole (66) and a second adjusting component (72) capable of extending between the outlet
(64) and the outflow hole (68).
16. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the laundry treating apparatus comprises a support (74) that connects the casing
(12) to the laundry treating chamber (14) and is provided with the fragrance assembly
(16).
17. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 16, characterized in that one of the support (74) and the fragrance assembly (16) comprises a sealing groove
(76) and a sealing strip (78) within the sealing groove (76), and the other one comprises
a protrusion (80) protruding into the sealing groove (76) to abut against the sealing
strip (78).
18. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 16, characterized in that the support (74) and the fragrance assembly (16) comprise mounting components (82)
fitting with each other.
19. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 2, characterized in that the fragrance assembly (16) comprises a box assembly (42), and the fragrance module
(18) is detachably mounted in the box assembly (42).
20. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 19, characterized in that the fragrance assembly (16) comprises a sealing assembly (84) arranged between the
box assembly (42) and the fragrance module (18).
21. The laundry treating apparatus (10) of claim 19, characterized in that the fragrance module (18) comprises a storage component (22), a fragrance (86) stored
in the storage component (22), a volatilizing component (88) in contact with the fragrance
(86), and a diffusing component (90) that clamps the volatilizing component (88) together
with the storage component (22), the diffusing component (90) comprising a diffusing
hole (24) that may be fully opened, partially opened, or closed by the adjusting module
(20).