CN112796071A

CN112796071A - Laundry device and control method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN112796071A
Application number: CN201911110254.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 全眞汉; 苏永兴; 郑丽君; 张仲海; 匡慧
Original assignee: Bo Xihua Electric Jiangsu Co Ltd; BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: Bo Xihua Electric Jiangsu Co Ltd; BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2019-11-14
Filing date: 2019-11-14
Publication date: 2021-05-14

Abstract

A laundry device (10) and a control method (50) thereof, the laundry device (10) comprising: an outer tub (12); and an inner barrel (14), said inner barrel (14) being located within said outer barrel (12) and being rotatably connected with said outer barrel (12), said inner barrel (14) comprising a rear wall (16), a front wall (18) opposite said rear wall (16), side walls (20) connecting said rear wall (16) and said front wall (18), and a cavity (22) defined by said rear wall (16), said front wall (18) and said side walls (20), at least one of said rear wall (16), said front wall (18) and said side walls (20) comprising a surface (24) being deformable relative to said cavity (22). In this way, it is possible to help prevent the laundry from adhering to the inner tub (14), to help avoid damage to the laundry, and to help improve the drying capacity of the laundry device (10), reduce the energy consumption thereof, and the like.

Description

Laundry device and control method thereof

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of household appliances, in particular to a washing device and a control method thereof.

Background

The operation of a laundry device generally includes a spin-drying process in which the laundry device spins the laundry at a high speed so that moisture is centrifugally separated from the laundry while the laundry is centrifugally distributed in the laundry device.

When the capacity of the washing machine is large and the number of the clothes therein is large, the clothes may adhere to the washing machine due to a relatively large centrifugal force during the spin-drying process, more energy may be required to complete the drying, and the clothes may be damaged due to overheating, excessive rotation, excessive drying, and the like, so that the drying performance of the washing machine has a space for improving.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims to solve at least one of the problems described above, for example.

In view of the above objects, an aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a laundry device, including: an outer tub; and an inner barrel positioned within and rotatably connected to the outer barrel, the inner barrel including a rear wall, a front wall opposite the rear wall, a side wall connecting the rear wall and the front wall, and a cavity defined by the rear wall, the front wall, and the side wall, at least one of the rear wall, the front wall, and the side wall including a surface deformable relative to the cavity. Thus, it may be helpful to prevent the laundry from being adhered to the inner tub, to avoid damage to the laundry, to reduce energy consumption of the washing machine, to improve drying performance thereof, and the like.

Optionally, the surface comprises at least one of a dielectrically active polymer actuator, an electrical linear actuator, a pneumatic artificial muscle, an air bellows actuator. At least one of the dielectric electroactive polymer actuator, the electrical linear actuator, the pneumatic artificial muscle, and the air bellows actuator may help the surface to deform, prevent the laundry from adhering to the inner tub, may help avoid damage to the laundry, may help reduce energy consumption of the laundry device, improve drying performance thereof, and the like.

Optionally, the surface is driven by at least one of electricity and fluid to deform and protrude into the cavity of the inner barrel. Thus, it is possible to help control the deformation of the surface by controlling the driving of at least one of the power and the fluid, prevent the laundry from adhering to the inner tub, avoid damage to the laundry, reduce energy consumption of the washing machine, improve drying performance of the washing machine, and the like.

Optionally, the outer tub comprises a bearing and the inner tub comprises a shaft rotatably supported by the bearing. The outer tub may support the inner tub to rotate therein, developing a washing process of the laundry.

Optionally, the shaft comprises a first wire electrically connected to the surface. Electrical power may be transmitted through the shaft, the first wire, and to the surface to drive deformation of the surface.

Optionally, at least one of the rear wall, the front wall and the side walls comprises a second wire electrically connecting the first wire with the surface. Electric power may be transmitted to the surface via the first and second conductors to drive deformation of the surface.

Optionally, at least one of the rear wall, the front wall and the side walls includes an inner surface and a plurality of lifting ribs projecting from the inner surface toward the cavity, the second conductor being located on at least one of the inner surface and within the lifting ribs. The second lead may be disposed on an inner surface of at least one of the rear wall, the front wall, and the side wall, serving to electrically connect the first lead and the surface. When the second wire is located in the lifting rib, it may help to reduce mutual friction between the second wire and the laundry.

Optionally, the laundry device includes a slip ring joint electrically connected to the first wire. The slip ring joint may facilitate providing power to the first conductor.

Optionally, the shaft comprises a first fluid channel in fluid communication with the surface. A fluid such as a gas, liquid or the like may be passed through the first fluid channel to the surface to assist in driving the surface to deform.

Optionally, at least one of the rear wall, the front wall and the side walls comprises a second fluid channel in fluid communication with the first fluid channel and the surface. Fluid such as gas, liquid and the like can reach the surface through the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel to help drive the surface to deform.

Optionally, at least one of the rear wall, the front wall and the side walls comprises an inner surface and a plurality of lifting ribs projecting from the inner surface towards the cavity, the second fluid channel being located at least one of on the inner surface and within the lifting ribs. The second fluid channel may be disposed on an inner surface of at least one of the rear wall, the front wall and the side wall, serving to electrically connect the first fluid channel and the second surface. When the second fluid passage is located within the lifting rib, it may help to reduce possible interaction between the second fluid passage and the laundry.

Optionally, the laundry device comprises a slip joint in fluid communication with the first fluid passage. The slip joint may assist in controlling the supply of fluid, such as liquid, gas, etc., to the first fluid passage.

Optionally, the surface deformable with respect to the cavity is disposed on at least one of the rear wall, the front wall, an end of the side wall close to the rear wall, and an end of the side wall close to the front wall. The surface of at least one of the rear wall, the front wall, the end of the side wall close to the rear wall and the end of the side wall close to the front wall deforms relative to the cavity, so that clothes are prevented from being adhered to the inner barrel, and/or a load ring formed by the clothes adhered to the inner barrel is damaged, so that the clothes in the load ring are scattered and separated from being adhered to the inner barrel.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a laundry device as described above, including a spin-drying process in which the inner tub is rotated at a high speed to centrifugally separate moisture from laundry while the laundry is centrifugally distributed in the inner tub, and a control device for deforming the surface after the spin-drying process.

Optionally, after the spin-drying process, the control device detects a state that the clothes are stuck to the barrel, and when the clothes are judged to be stuck to the barrel, the surface is deformed. The deformation may help to change the laundry from adhering to the inner tub, reducing the adherence of the laundry to the inner tub.

Optionally, the control device controls the supply of at least one of power, fluid, thereby driving the surface to deform convexly into the cavity of the inner barrel. The deformation of the surface may be actively controlled by the control means.

Optionally, the control means intermittently controls the supply of at least one of electric power, fluid, so that the deformation of the surface is dynamically varied. The dynamically changing deformation helps to better change the laundry drum state.

The subject matter of any independent claim above may be combined with any subject matter or combination of subject matter of any dependent claims as may be permitted under the circumstances of technology to form new claimed subject matter.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar reference numerals may be used to refer to the same or similar elements in different embodiments, and the description of the same or similar elements in different embodiments may be omitted.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a partially sectional schematic view of a laundry device according to an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is another partial cross-sectional view of the laundry device of fig. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an inner tub of the washing apparatus of FIG. 1;

fig. 4 is a partial sectional view schematically illustrating a laundry device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a partial sectional view schematically illustrating a laundry device according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an inner tub of the washing apparatus of FIG. 5;

fig. 7 is a partial sectional view schematically showing a laundry device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is another partial cross-sectional view of the laundry device of fig. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an inner tub of the washing apparatus of FIG. 7;

fig. 10 is a partial sectional view schematically showing a laundry device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 11 is a partial sectional view schematically showing a laundry device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an inner tub of the washing apparatus of FIG. 11; and

fig. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a laundry device according to another aspect of the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

As shown in fig. 1 to 12, an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention provides a laundry device 10 including: an outer tub 12; and an inner barrel 14, said inner barrel 14 being located within said outer barrel 12 and rotatably connected to said outer barrel 12, said inner barrel 14 including a rear wall 16, a front wall 18 opposite said rear wall 16, a side wall 20 connecting said rear wall 16 and said front wall 18, and a cavity 22 defined by said rear wall 16, said front wall 18 and said side wall 20, at least one of said rear wall 16, said front wall 18 and said side wall 20 including a surface 24 deformable relative to said cavity 22. In this way, it may help prevent laundry (not shown) from adhering to the inner tub 14, may help prevent damage to the laundry, and may help reduce energy consumption of the washing machine 10, improve drying performance thereof, and the like.

Fig. 1 and 7 show the surface 24 in the rear wall 16. Fig. 3 and 9 show the surface 24 on at least one of the rear wall 16 and the front wall 18. Fig. 4 and 10 show the surface 24 in the front wall 18. Fig. 5, 6, 11, 12 show the surface 24 in the side wall 20. The deformation of the surface 24 may comprise projections and depressions in the direction indicated by the arrow F in fig. 1, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11.

Optionally, the surface 24 comprises at least one of a dielectrically active polymer actuator, an electrical linear actuator, a pneumatic artificial muscle, an air bellows actuator. At least one of the dielectric electroactive polymer actuator, the electrical linear actuator, the pneumatic artificial muscle, and the air bellows actuator may help deform the surface 24, prevent laundry from adhering to the inner barrel 14, may help avoid damage to the laundry, may help reduce energy consumption of the washing apparatus 10, improve drying performance thereof, and the like.

The dielectrically active polymer actuators may include stacked dielectrically active polymer actuators, rolled dielectrically active polymer actuators, ferroelectric active polymer actuators, electroactive polymer actuators, and the like.

The electro-linear actuators may include small linear actuators, micro linear actuators, etc. based on simple slider-crank mechanisms, which may move from rotation to translation.

The pneumatic artificial muscle may comprise a single/matrix type small pneumatic muscle actuator such as a wheat basic (McKibben) pneumatic artificial muscle.

The air bellows actuator may comprise a paper-folded pneumatic actuator.

Optionally, the surface 24 is driven by at least one of electricity and fluid to deform and protrude into the cavity 22 of the inner barrel. Thus, it is possible to actively control the deformation of the surface 24 by controlling the driving of at least one of electricity and fluid, prevent the laundry from adhering to the inner tub 14, prevent the laundry from being damaged, reduce the power consumption of the washing machine 10, improve the drying performance thereof, and the like. The fluid may comprise a liquid such as water or may comprise a gas such as air.

The surface 24, including the dielectrically active polymer actuator, the electrical linear actuator, etc., may be deformed by electrical actuation. The surface 24, including the pneumatic artificial muscle, the air bellows actuator, etc., may be driven to deform by a fluid, such as a gas.

Referring to fig. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, the outer tub 12 includes a bearing 26, and the inner tub 14 includes a shaft 28 rotatably supported by the bearing 26. The outer tub 12 may support the inner tub 14 to rotate therein, developing a washing process of the laundry.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the shaft 28 includes a first wire 30 electrically connected to the surface 24. Power may be transmitted to the surface 24 via the shaft 28, the first wire 30 to drive deformation of the surface 24.

Referring to fig. 1, 3-6, optionally, at least one of the rear wall 16, the front wall 18, and the side walls 20 includes a second wire 32 electrically connecting the first wire 30 and the surface 24. Power may be transmitted to the surface 24 via the first and

second conductors

30, 32 to drive deformation of the surface 24.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 1 and 3, the second wire 32 may be positioned on the rear wall 16 when the surface 24 is positioned on the rear wall 16. In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 3 and 4, when the surface 24 is located on the front wall 18, the second wire 32 may extend from the rear wall 16, the side walls 20, and the front wall 18. In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 5 and 6, when the surface 24 is located on the side wall 20, the second conductive line 32 may extend from the rear wall 16 and the side wall 20.

Optionally, at least one of the rear wall 16, the front wall 18, and the side walls 20 includes an inner surface 34 and a plurality of lifting ribs 36 protruding from the inner surface 34 toward the cavity 22, the second wire 32 being located on at least one of the inner surface 34 and within the lifting ribs 36. The second wire 32 may be disposed on an inner surface 34 of at least one of the rear wall 16, the front wall 18, and the side wall 20, and functions to electrically connect the first wire 30 and the surface 24. When the second wire 32 is positioned within the lifting rib 36, it may help to reduce the mutual friction between the second wire 32 and the laundry.

As shown in fig. 1, 4 and 5, the laundry device 10 may optionally include a slip ring connector 38 electrically connected to the first wire 30. The slip ring joint 38 may facilitate providing power to the first conductor 30. The slip ring joint 38 may include a slip ring rotor 48 rotatable with the shaft 28 in electrical communication with the first conductor 30 and a slip ring stator 50 fixed relative to the slip ring rotor 48 in electrical communication with the slip ring rotor 48.

Referring to fig. 7, 8, 10, and 11, in other embodiments, the shaft 28 includes a first fluid passage 40 in fluid communication with the surface 24. A fluid, such as a gas, liquid, etc., may be passed through the first fluid passage 40 to the surface 24 to help drive the surface 24 into shape.

As shown in fig. 7, 9-12, optionally, at least one of the rear wall 16, the front wall 18, and the side walls 20 includes a second fluid passage 42 in fluid communication with the first fluid passage 40 and the surface 24. A fluid such as a gas, liquid, etc. may be passed through the first fluid channel 40, the second fluid channel 42, etc. to the surface 24 to help drive the surface 24 to deform.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 7 and 9, the second fluid passageway 42 may be located in the rear wall 16 when the surface 24 is located in the rear wall 16. In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 9 and 10, when the surface 24 is located on the front wall 18, the second fluid passage 42 may extend between the rear wall 16, the side walls 20, and the front wall 18. In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 11 and 12, when the surface 24 is located on the side wall 20, the second fluid passage 42 may extend from the rear wall 16 to the side wall 20.

Optionally, at least one of the rear wall 16, the front wall 18, and the side walls 20 includes an inner surface 34 and a plurality of lifting ribs 36 projecting from the inner surface 34 toward the cavity 22, the second fluid passageway 42 being located at least one of on the inner surface 34 and within the lifting ribs 36. The second fluid channel 42 may be disposed on the inner surface 34 of at least one of the rear wall 16, the front wall 18, and the side wall 20, and functions to electrically connect the first fluid channel 40 and the second surface 24. When the second fluid passage 42 is located within the lifter bar 36, it may help to reduce possible interaction between the second fluid passage 42 and laundry (not shown).

Referring to fig. 7, 10 and 11, optionally, the washing device 10 includes a sliding joint 44 in fluid communication with the first fluid passage 40. The slip joint 44 may help control the supply of fluid, such as liquid, gas, etc., to the first fluid passage 40. The slip joint 44 may be in fluid communication with an air or water pump 52. Fluid can reach the surface 24 through the air or water pump 52, the first fluid channel 40, and the second fluid channel 42 in the direction indicated by the arrow G.

Optionally, the surface 24 deformable with respect to the cavity 22 is provided on at least one of the rear wall 16, the front wall 18, an end of the side wall 20 adjacent to the rear wall 16, and an end of the side wall 20 adjacent to the front wall 18. The deformation of the surface 24 of at least one of the rear wall 16, the front wall 18, the end of the side wall 20 adjacent to the rear wall 16, and the end of the side wall 20 adjacent to the front wall 18 relative to the cavity 22 may help prevent the adhesion of the laundry to the inner tub 14, and/or break a load ring formed by the laundry adhered to the inner tub 14, so as to disperse the laundry in the load ring, thereby reducing the adhesion to the inner tub 14.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a control method 50 of the laundry apparatus 10 according to another aspect of the embodiment of the present invention. The control method 50 includes: a, a main washing process; b, rinsing process; c, a spin-drying process; d, detecting and judging whether the barrel is pasted or not; and e, enabling the deformable surface to generate a deformation process. During the spin-drying process c, the inner tub 14 is rotated at a high speed to centrifugally separate moisture from the laundry while the laundry is centrifugally distributed within the inner tub 14, and after the spin-drying process c, the control device 46 (fig. 1, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11) deforms the surface 24.

Alternatively, after the spin-drying process c, the control device 46 detects the state of the laundry being stuck to the tub, and deforms the surface 24 when it is determined that the laundry is stuck to the tub. The deformation may help to change the laundry from adhering to the inner tub 14, reducing the adhesion of the laundry to the inner tub.

Alternatively, the control device 46 controls the supply of at least one of power and fluid to drive the surface 24 to deform convexly into the cavity 22 of the inner barrel 14. The control device 46 may be coupled to the slip ring coupling 38, the air pump or water valve 52, and may be directly or indirectly controlled to directly or indirectly control the supply of at least one of electrical power and fluid. The deformation of the surface 24 can be actively controlled by the control means 46.

Optionally, the control device 46 intermittently controls the supply of at least one of electrical power and fluid, thereby dynamically varying the deformation of the surface 24. The dynamically changing deformation helps to better change the laundry drum state.

In other embodiments, the control method 50 may also comprise c only, d after a single spin-drying process of the spin-drying process, e, deforming the surface when detecting that the laundry is stuck to the inner tub 14 and detecting that the laundry is stuck to the tub. Alternatively, the control method 50 may include only b, the rinsing process and c, c of the spin-drying process, and the above operations after the spin-drying process, i.e., d, detecting the sticking of the laundry to the tub (adhering to the inner tub 14), e, deforming the surface.

The various embodiments described above and shown in the drawings are illustrative of the invention and are not exhaustive of the invention. Any modification of the present invention by a person of ordinary skill in the related art within the scope of the basic technical idea of the present invention is within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A laundry appliance (10) comprising:

an outer tub (12); and

an inner barrel (14), said inner barrel (14) being located within said outer barrel (12) and being rotatably connected with said outer barrel (12), said inner barrel (14) comprising a rear wall (16), a front wall (18) opposite said rear wall (16), side walls (20) connecting said rear wall (16) and said front wall (18), and a cavity (22) defined by said rear wall (16), said front wall (18) and said side walls (20), at least one of said rear wall (16), said front wall (18) and said side walls (20) comprising a surface (24) deformable relative to said cavity (22).

2. A laundry appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface (24) comprises at least one of a dielectric electroactive polymer actuator, an electrical linear actuator, a pneumatic artificial muscle, an air bellows actuator.

3. A laundry appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface (24) is adapted to be deformed and project into the cavity (22) of the inner tub by at least one of electrical power and fluid.

4. A laundry appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer tub (12) comprises a bearing (26) and the inner tub (14) comprises a shaft (28) rotatably supported by the bearing (26).

5. A laundry appliance (10) as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the shaft (28) includes a first conductor (30) which is electrically connected to the surface (24).

6. A laundry appliance (10) as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that at least one of the rear wall (16), the front wall (18) and the side walls (20) includes a second conductor (32) electrically connecting the first conductor (30) with the surface (24).

7. A laundry appliance (10) as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that at least one of the rear wall (16), the front wall (18) and the side walls (20) comprises an inner surface (34) and a plurality of lifting ribs (36) projecting from the inner surface (34) towards the cavity (22), the second conductor (32) being located on at least one of the inner surface (34) and within the lifting ribs (36).

8. A laundry appliance (10) as claimed in claim 5, comprising a slip ring connection (38) electrically connected to the first conductor (30).

9. A laundry appliance (10) as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the shaft (28) includes a first fluid passage (40) in fluid communication with the surface (24).

10. A laundry appliance (10) as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that at least one of the rear wall (16), the front wall (18) and the side wall (20) includes a second fluid passage (42) in fluid communication with the first fluid passage (40) and the surface (24).

11. A laundry appliance (10) as set forth in claim 10 wherein at least one of said rear wall (16), said front wall (18), and said side walls (20) includes an inner surface (34) and a plurality of lifting ribs (36) projecting from said inner surface (34) toward said cavity (22), said second fluid passageway (42) being located at least one of on said inner surface (34) and within said lifting ribs (36).

12. A laundry appliance (10) as claimed in claim 9, comprising a slip joint (44) in fluid communication with the first fluid passage (40).

13. A laundry appliance (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface (24) which is deformable relative to the cavity (22) is provided on at least one of the rear wall (16), the front wall (18), an end of the side wall (20) adjacent the rear wall (16), and an end of the side wall (20) adjacent the front wall (18).

14. A control method (50) of a laundry appliance (10) according to any of claims 1-13, comprising a spin-drying process (c) in which the inner tub (14) is rotated at high speed to centrifugally separate moisture from laundry while the laundry is centrifugally distributed within the inner tub (14), characterized in that: -a control device (46) deforms the surface (24) after the spin-drying process (c). .

15. The control method (50) of claim 14, wherein after said spin-drying process (c), said control means (46) detects a laundry drum condition and deforms said surface (24) when a laundry drum condition is determined to exist.

16. The control method (50) according to claim 14, wherein said control device (46) controls the supply of at least one of electric power and fluid to drive said surface (24) to deform convexly into said cavity (22) of said inner barrel (14).

17. The control method (50) according to claim 16, wherein the control device (46) intermittently controls the supply of at least one of electric power, fluid, and so that the deformation of the surface (24) is dynamically varied.