AU2017101142A4 - Automatic clothes airing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic clothes airing machine is provided, which belongs to the field of home furnishing and solves the technical problem of inconvenient clothes airing in existing 5 technologies. The automatic clothes airing machine provided by embodiments of the present inventio comprise a clothes airing rack and a control system (4), the clothes airing rack comprises a bracket (11), a hook rail (12) arranged on the bracket (11), a suspending component (2) in sliding connection with the hook rail (12) and used for suspending clothes and a storage box (9), the automatic clothes airing machine further comprises a rainfall sensor (5) and a drive 10 device used for driving the suspending component (2) to enter the storage box (9), the rainfall sensor (5) and the drive device are connected to the control system (4), and a gravity sensor (41) in connection with the control system (4) is arranged between the hook rail (12) and the bracket (11). -4

Description

AUTOMATIC CLOTHES AIRING MACHINE

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to clothes airing machines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Clothes airing devices are daily necessities and are of many forms; common clothes airing device includes balcony lifting clothes airing devices, wall-mounted clothes airing devices, floor type clothes airing devices and tension type clothes airing devices. The balcony lifting clothes airing device is a kind of automatic clothes airing machine which is mounted on a balcony and whose clothes airing rod is lowered by hand cranking to hang on clothes and then is raised. Clothes drying racks bring lots of convenience to people's lives. However, existing drying racks also have many drawbacks: when there is no person at home, a sudden rain makes all clothes to be aired wetted; after dark, the moisture at balcony increases, and, if the clothes are not brought in in time, the clothes will get damp. The above background of the invention is intended to place the present invention in an appropriate technical context and to allow is significance to be properly appreciated. Any references to prior art should not be construed as admissions that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the relevant technical field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative. Embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing an automatic clothes airing machine, which realizes intelligent clothes airing.

[0004] Embodiments of the present invention adopt a technical scheme as follows.

[0005] An automatic clothes airing machine includes a clothes airing rack and a control system, the clothes airing rack includes a bracket, a hook rail arranged on the bracket, a suspending component in sliding connection with the hook rail and used for suspending clothes and a storage box, the automatic clothes airing machine further includes a rainfall sensor and a drive device used for driving the suspending component to enter the storage box, the rainfall sensor and the drive device are connected to the control system, and a gravity sensor in connection with the control system is arranged between the hook rail and the bracket.

[0006] Further, the rainfall sensor includes a sensing box arranged outdoors, a circuit board 1 arranged in the sensing box, and an infrared emitter and an infrared receiver that are arranged on the circuit board; the sensing box includes a glass cover and a bottom cover that are connected, an optical filter is arranged between the infrared emitter/the infrared receiver and the top surface of the glass cover, and the circuit board is connected to the control system.

[0007] Further, the rainfall sensor includes a glass shield arranged outdoors, a capacitive sensor arranged inside the glass shield, and a capacitive detection core in connection with the capacitive sensor; and the capacitive detection core is connected to the control system.

[0008] Further, the drive device includes a lead screw, a drive motor driving the lead screw to rotate, and a pushing block in rotation connection with the lead screw; the lead screw is located above the hook rail, a connection hole in connection with the hook rail is arranged on the pushing block, and the drive motor is connected to the control system.

[0009] Further, the suspending component includes a left suspending component, a right suspending component, and a plurality of intermediate suspending components located between the left suspending component and the right suspending component; the storage box is arranged on the lateral part of the left suspending component, the pushing block is fixedly connected on the lateral part of the right suspending component, a connection rope is arranged between adjacent suspending components, and a limiting rope is arranged between the left suspending component and the storage box.

[0010] Further, the suspending component includes a sliding block in sliding connection with the hook rail, a convex sheet is arranged on the bottom part of the sliding block, and a hanging hole used for mounting a hanger is arranged on the convex sheet.

[0011] Further, the storage box and the bracket are fixedly connected, an opening is arranged on one side of the storage box facing the suspending component, a door plate is arranged on the opening, the door plate includes an upper door plate located above the hook rail and a lower door plate located below the hook rail, an upper groove corresponding to the hook rail is arranged on the bottom surface of the upper door plate, a lower groove corresponding to the hook rail is arranged on the top surface of the lower door plate, a sealing gasket is arranged on the upper groove and the lower groove, an electrical rotating machine is arranged on the storage box, a gear is connected on the electrical rotating machine, two sides of the gear are meshed with an upper rack and a lower rack respectively, the upper rack is connected to the upper door plate, the lower rack is connected to the lower door plate, and the electrical rotating machine is connected to the control system.

[0012] Further, the automatic clothes airing machine further includes a lifting device used for driving the clothes airing rack to lift, the lifting device includes a power motor in connection 2 with the control system, a winder arranged on the power motor, a stay cord wound on the winder, and a fixed pile and a fixed pulley that are fixedly arranged on a wall surface, a hook is arranged on the bracket, and the stay cord is connected with the fixed pile after passing through the fixed pulley and the hook in sequence.

[0013] Further, the automatic clothes airing machine further includes a sunlight illumination collection unit arranged on a wall surface and in connection with the control system, the sunlight illumination collection unit includes a fixed plate in fixed connection with the wall surface, and environmental illumination collectors are arranged on the fixed plate at intervals along the height direction.

[0014] Further, the automatic clothes airing machine further includes an infrared proximity switch arranged at a balcony door, and the infrared proximity switch is connected to the control system.

[0015] Embodiments of the present invention provide the following benefits: [0016] the automatic clothes airing machine of embodiments of the present invention includes a clothes airing rack and a control system, the clothes airing rack includes a bracket, a hook rail arranged on the bracket, a suspending component in sliding connection with the hook rail and a storage box; the suspending component is used for suspending clothes, the storage box is arranged on the bracket, the storage box is located on the lateral part of the hook rail, the automatic clothes airing machine further includes a rainfall sensor and a drive device, the rainfall sensor and the drive device are electrically connected with the control system. The rainfall sensor is arranged outdoors, the rainfall sensor is used for detecting whether it rains, and the drive device is used for driving the suspending component to enter the storage box. During usage, clothes are suspended on the suspending component; when the rainfall sensor detects that it rains outdoors, the rainfall sensor sends a sensing signal to the control system, the control system controls the drive device to act according to the sensing signal of the rainfall sensor, the drive device pushes the suspending component and the clothes on the suspending component to the storage box, the storage box may prevent the clothes from being wetted by rainwater. In this way, the storage of clothes is automatically realized when it rains, and the clothes are prevented from being wetted by rainwater.

[0017] A gravity sensor in connection with the control system is arranged between the hook rail and the bracket. The gravity sensor is used for detecting the total weight of the hook rail and objects on the hook rail. A rated weight is set according to the total weight of the hook rail and the suspending component; when the gravity sensor detects a weight equal to the rated weight, it is indicated that there are no clothes aired, and the control system enters a sleeping state; when the gravity sensor detects a weight greater than the rated weight, the control system starts to work.

[0018] The features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed in detail in following specific implementations and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which the same reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the figures unless otherwise specified, and in which: [0020] FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of an automatic clothes airing machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a rainfall sensor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a door plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of a sunlight illumination collection unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a control schematic diagram in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The technical scheme of embodiments of the present invention are illustrated and described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of embodiments of the present invention; however, the embodiments described hereinafter are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, but not all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the described implementations, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work are intended to be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] Referring to FIG 1 and FIG. 5, the automatic clothes airing machine includes a clothes airing rack and a control system 4, the clothes airing rack includes a bracket 11, a hook rail 12 arranged on the bracket 11, a suspending component 2 in sliding connection with the hook rail 12 and a storage box 9; the suspending component 2 is used for suspending clothes, the storage box 9 is arranged on the bracket 11, the storage box 9 is located on the lateral part of the hook rail 12, the automatic clothes airing machine further includes a rainfall sensor 5 and a drive device, the rainfall sensor 5 and the drive device are electrically connected with the control system 4. The rainfall sensor 5 is arranged outdoors, the rainfall sensor 5 is used for detecting whether it rains, and the drive device is used for driving the suspending component 2 to enter the storage box 9. During usage, clothes are suspended on the suspending component 2; when the rainfall sensor 5 detects that it rains outdoors, the rainfall sensor 5 sends a sensing signal to the control system 4, the control system 4 controls the drive device to act according to the sensing signal of the rainfall sensor 5, the drive device pushes the suspending component 2 and the clothes on the suspending component 2 to the storage box 9, the storage box 9 may prevent the clothes from being wetted by rainwater. In this way, the storage of clothes is automatically realized when it rains, and the clothes are prevented from being wetted by rainwater.

[0027] A gravity sensor 41 in connection with the control system 4 is arranged between the hook rail 12 and the bracket 11. The gravity sensor 41 is used for detecting the total weight of the hook rail 12 and objects on the hook rail 12. A rated weight is set according to the total weight of the hook rail 12 and the suspending component 2; when the gravity sensor 41 detects a weight equal to the rated weight, it is indicated that there are no clothes aired, and the control system 4 enters a sleeping state; when the gravity sensor 41 detects a weight greater than the rated weight, the control system 4 starts to work.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the rainfall sensor 5 includes a sensing box arranged outdoors, a circuit board 56 arranged in the sensing box, and an infrared emitter 54 and an infrared receiver 55 that are arranged on the circuit board 56; the sensing box includes a glass cover 51 and a bottom cover 53 that are connected, an optical filter 52 is arranged between the infrared emitter 54/the infrared receiver 55 and the top surface of the glass cover 51, and the circuit board 56 is connected to the control system 4. The infrared light emitted by the infrared emitter 54 is incident on the surface of the glass cover 51 with certain angle, and the infrared receiver 55 receives, through the optical filter 52, the infrared light reflected back from the surface of the glass cover 51. In the condition that it does not rain, the infrared light emitted by the infrared emitter 54 is totally reflected by the surface of the glass cover 51, and the infrared receiver 55 receives a constant infrared signal; when it rains outdoors, raindrops make the infrared light generate scattering, the intensity of the infrared light reflected to the infrared receiver 55 from the surface of the glass cover 51 is weakened, the control system 4 judges whether it rains outdoors according to the signal of the infrared emitter 54 and the infrared receiver 55, and then the control system 4 controls the drive device. In other embodiments, the rainfall sensor 5 includes a glass shield arranged outdoors, a capacitive sensor arranged inside the glass shield, and a capacitive detection core in connection with the capacitive sensor; the capacitive detection core is used for detecting the capacitance of the capacitive sensor, and compares the capacitance value with a nominal capacitance value to acquire a rainfall signal, the capacitive detection core is connected to the control system, and the control system controls the drive device to act according to the sensing signal of the rainfall sensor. The latter rainfall sensor is designed based on the great difference in dielectric constant between water and glass; when the glass shield is in a dry state, a dielectric medium is formed between the glass shield and the capacitive sensor. When glass shield gets wetted, the dielectric constant of the capacitive sensor changes differently, so that the control system judges whether it rains.

[0029] Referring to FIG 1 and FIG 5, the adopted drive device includes a lead screw 31, a drive motor 32 driving the lead screw 31 to rotate, and a pushing block 33 in rotation connection with the lead screw 31; the lead screw 31 is located above the hook rail 12, a connection hole in connection with the hook rail 12 is arranged on the pushing block 33, and the drive motor 32 is connected to the control system 4. When the rainfall sensor 5 detects that it rains outdoors, the control system 4 controls the drive motor 32 to act to drive the lead screw 31 to rotate, the pushing block 33 moves along the axial direction of the lead screw 31, and the pushing block 3 pushes the suspending component 2 on the hook rail 12 to move towards the storage box 9.

[0030] Herein, the suspending component 2 includes a left suspending component 24, a right suspending component 25, and a plurality of intermediate suspending components located between the left suspending component 24 and the right suspending component 25; the storage box 9 is arranged on the lateral part of the left suspending component 24, the pushing block 33 is fixedly connected on the lateral part of the right suspending component 25, preferably, the pushing block 33 and the right suspending component 25 are connected through a bolt, a connection rope 27 is arranged between adjacent suspending components 2, and a limiting rope 26 is arranged between the left suspending component 24 and the storage box 9. During the process of the pushing block 33 moving towards the storage box 9, the suspending component 2 is pushed to enter the storage box 9. When it is needed to air clothes, the drive motor 32 drives the lead screw 31 to rotate reversely, the pushing block 33 moves along the direction far away from the storage box 9, the pushing block 33 drives the right suspending component 25 to move, the right suspending component 25 drives the intermediate suspending components and the left suspending component 24 to move, the limiting rope 26 limits the movement distance of the left suspending component 24, so that each suspending component 24 keeps a space from each other after the clothes are aired, thereby avoiding the clothes on the suspending components 2 being overlapped to impact the airing effect.

[0031] The suspending component 2 includes a sliding block 21 in sliding connection with the hook rail 12, a convex sheet 23 is arranged on the bottom part of the sliding block 21, and a hanging hole 22 used for mounting a hanger is arranged on the convex sheet 23.

[0032] Referring to FIG 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the storage box 9 and the bracket 11 are fixedly connected, an opening is arranged on one side of the storage box 9 facing the suspending component 2, a door plate is arranged on the opening, the door plate includes an upper door plate 92 located above the hook rail 12 and a lower door plate 91 located below the hook rail 12, an upper groove 93 corresponding to the hook rail 12 is arranged on the bottom surface of the upper door plate 92, a lower groove 96 corresponding to the hook rail 12 is arranged on the top surface of the lower door plate 91, a sealing gasket 94 is arranged on the upper groove 93 and the lower groove 96 so as to achieve an excellent sealing waterproof effect. An electrical rotating machine 99 is arranged on the storage box 9, a gear 98 is connected on the electrical rotating machine 99, two sides of the gear 98 are meshed with an upper rack 97 and a lower rack 95 respectively, the upper rack 97 is connected to the upper door plate 92, the lower rack 95 is connected to the lower door plate 91, and the electrical rotating machine 99 is connected to the control system 4. If it rains outdoors, the rainfall sensor 5 sends a sensing signal to the control system 4 when sensing it rains outdoors, the control system 4 controls the drive device to act according to the sensing signal of the rainfall sensor 5, during this process, the control system 4 controls the electrical rotating machine 99 to drive the gear 98 to rotate, the gear 98 drives the lower rack 95 and the upper rack 97 to move away from each other, so that the upper door plate 92 and the lower door plate 91 are opened relatively; after the suspending component 2 enters the storage box 9, the electrical rotating machine 99 drives the gear 98 to rotate reversely, the gear 98 drives the lower rack 95 and the upper rack 97 to approach each other, so that the upper door plate 92 and the lower door plate 91 are closed together, a circular sleeve 34 in connection with the right suspending component 25 is arranged on the pushing block 33, and the sealing gasket 94 is tightened on the circular sleeve 34.

[0033] In order to conveniently hang the cleaned clothes on the clothes airing rack, the automatic clothes airing machine further includes a lifting device used for driving the clothes airing rack to lift, the lifting device includes a power motor 8 in connection with the control system 4, a winder arranged on the power motor 8, a stay cord wound on the winder, and a fixed pile and a fixed pulley that are fixedly arranged on a wall surface, a hook is arranged on the bracket 11, and the stay cord is connected with the fixed pile after passing through the fixed pulley and the hook in sequence. When the power motor 8 rotates positively, the winder winds up the stay cord so that the clothes airing rack rises; when the power motor 8 rotates reversely, the winder releases the stay cord so that the clothes airing rack lowers.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG 5, nowadays, the area of house is small, resulting in a short sun-drying time; in order to make the clothes exposed to sunlight for a longer time, the automatic clothes airing machine further includes a sunlight illumination collection unit 6 arranged on a wall surface and in connection with the control system 4, the sunlight illumination collection unit 6 includes a fixed plate 61 in fixed connection with the wall surface, and a plurality of environmental illumination collectors 62 is arranged on the fixed plate 61 at intervals along the height direction. When the sunlight illumination angle changes on the balcony, the environmental illumination collectors 62 on the fixed plate 61 detect the change condition of the sunlight illumination, and the control system 4 controls the power motor 8 to act according to the signal of the environmental illumination collectors 62, so that the clothes airing rack lifts to be fully exposed to sunlight.

[0035] In order to prevent the clothes airing rack influencing the walking of people after the clothes airing rack lowers, the automatic clothes airing machine further includes an infrared proximity switch 7 arranged at a balcony door, and the infrared proximity switch 7 is connected to the control system 4. When a user walk to the balcony, the infrared proximity switch 7 is triggered, then the control system 4 controls the power motor 8 to act to raise the clothes airing rack to the top; when the user walks back to the room, the infrared proximity switch 7 is triggered again, then the control system 4 controls the power motor 8 to act to enable the clothes airing rack to lower to the previous height.

[0036] Throughout this specification, including the claims, the words “comprise”, “comprising”, and other like terms are to be construed in an inclusive sense, that is, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”, and not in an exclusive or exhaustive sense, unless explicitly stated otherwise or the context clearly requires otherwise.

[0037] It is appreciated that the aforesaid embodiments are only exemplary embodiments adopted to describe the principles of the present invention, and the present invention is not merely limited thereto. Various variants and modifications can be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, and these variants and modifications are also covered within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it is appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention can be embodied in many other forms. It is also appreciated by those of ordinary skill the art that the features of the various examples described can be combined in other combinations. 8

Claims (5)

1. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: Claims

   1. An automatic clothes airing machine, comprising a clothes airing rack and a control system (4), characterized in that: the clothes airing rack comprises a bracket (11), a hook rail (12) arranged on the bracket (11), a suspending component (2) in sliding connection with the hook rail (12) and used for suspending clothes and a storage box (9), the automatic clothes airing machine further comprises a rainfall sensor (5) and a drive device used for driving the suspending component (2) to enter the storage box (9), the rainfall sensor (5) and the drive device are connected to the control system (4), and a gravity sensor (41) in connection with the control system (4) is arranged between the hook rail (12) and the bracket (11).
2. 2. The automatic clothes airing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: the rainfall sensor (5) comprises a sensing box arranged outdoors, a circuit board (56) arranged in the sensing box, and an infrared emitter (54) and an infrared receiver (55) that are arranged on the circuit board (56); the sensing box comprises a glass cover (51) and a bottom cover (53) that are connected, an optical filter (52) is arranged between the infrared emitter (54)/the infrared receiver (55) and the top surface of the glass cover (51), and the circuit board (56) is connected to the control system (4).
3. 3. The automatic clothes airing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: the drive device comprises a lead screw (31), a drive motor (32) driving the lead screw (31) to rotate, and a pushing block (33) in rotation connection with the lead screw (31); the lead screw (31) is located above the hook rail (12), a connection hole in connection with the hook rail (12) is arranged on the pushing block (33), and the drive motor (32) is connected to the control system.
4. 4. The automatic clothes airing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: the suspending component (2) comprises a left suspending component (24), a right suspending component (25), and a plurality of intermediate suspending components located between the left suspending component (24) and the right suspending component (25); the storage box (9) is arranged on the lateral part of the left suspending component (24), the pushing block (33) is fixedly connected on the lateral part of the right suspending component (25), a connection rope (27) is arranged between adjacent suspending components (2), and a limiting rope (26) is arranged between the left suspending component (24) and the storage box (9).
5. 5. The automatic clothes airing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: the automatic clothes airing machine further comprises a lifting device used for driving the clothes airing rack to lift, the lifting device comprises a power motor (8) in connection with the control system (4), a winder arranged on the power motor (8), a stay cord wound on the winder, and a fixed pile and a fixed pulley that are fixedly arranged on a wall surface, a hook is arranged on the bracket (11), and the stay cord is connected with the fixed pile after passing through the fixed pulley and the hook in sequence.