TWM655048U - Clothes treatment device with drying function - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a clothes processing device with a drying function, which comprises: a drum and a drying module arranged in a shell of the clothes processing device; wherein the drum has at least one drum air inlet and at least one drum air outlet; the drying module is used to dry clothes and is arranged above the drum; the drying module comprises at least one first air outlet, at least one first air inlet, , which is connected with the drum air outlet through at least one first air inlet, and at least one first air outlet is connected with the drum air inlet, so as to form a wet and hot air circulation, so as to form a circulating moisture-absorbing air flow between the drum and the drying module; a shell upper cover plate structure is arranged above the drying module, and the shell upper cover plate structure includes a frame and a cover plate surrounded by the frame, and the cover plate includes at least one heat insulation layer.

Description

Clothes treatment device with drying function

The invention relates to the field of household electrical appliance technology, and in particular to a clothes processing device with a drying function.

As a common household appliance, washing machines have entered thousands of households. With the improvement of user experience requirements, washing machines are becoming more and more intelligent. Currently, many washing machines on the market have automatic drying functions.

The existing drying function usually dries the heated water-containing air through a condensation structure, but the structure is prone to aging and has a short service life.

Therefore, the existing drying components can no longer meet the needs of consumers, and it is necessary to propose a new drying structure and improve the structure of the existing clothing processing device.

This application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 202320222943.3, filed on January 17, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

This invention proposes a clothes processing device with a drying function, in which a drying module and an air outlet and an air inlet for air circulation with a drum are arranged above the drum, and the upper panel of the washing machine housing arranged above the drying module has a heat insulation structure. The arrangement method can make full use of the upper space of the drum, and is also conducive to air circulation between the air inlet, the air outlet and the drum, making the overall arrangement of the clothes processing device very compact.

This work solves the technical problems by adopting the following technical solutions:

A clothes processing device with a drying function, comprising: a drum and a drying module arranged in a housing of the clothes processing device; wherein the drum has at least one drum air inlet and at least one drum air outlet; the drying module is used to dry clothes and is arranged above the drum; the drying module comprises at least one first air outlet and at least one first air inlet, which passes through the first air outlet and the second air inlet. The at least one first air inlet is connected to the air outlet of the drum, and the at least one first air outlet is connected to the air inlet of the drum to form a wet and hot air circulation to form a circulating moisture-absorbing air flow between the drum and the drying module; a shell upper cover plate structure is arranged above the drying module, and the upper cover plate structure includes a frame and a cover plate surrounded by the frame, and the cover plate includes at least one heat insulation layer.

In one embodiment, the drying module includes: a first drying module shell, a second drying module shell and a moisture absorption and dehumidification component, the first drying module shell and the second drying module shell are cooperatively connected, and the moisture absorption and dehumidification component is arranged in the space formed by the first drying module shell and the second drying module shell.

In one embodiment, the second drying module shell has a second moisture absorption and discharge component accommodating area, and in the second moisture absorption and discharge component accommodating area, at least two second partitions are arranged along the radial direction of the second drying module shell to divide the second moisture absorption and discharge component accommodating area into a dehumidification area and a regeneration area.

In one embodiment, the dehumidification zone and the regeneration zone are roughly fan-shaped.

In one embodiment, at least a portion of the moisture absorption and discharge member periodically passes through the dehumidification zone and the regeneration zone.

In one embodiment, a circulating fan is further provided between the first air inlet of the drying module and the air outlet of the drum.

In one embodiment, the cover plate structure further includes a protective layer disposed above the thermal insulation layer.

In one embodiment, the cover plate structure further includes an insulating layer below the thermal insulation layer.

In one embodiment, the frame body includes an inner frame and an outer frame, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs are arranged between the inner frame and the outer frame.

In one embodiment, the heating component is at least one of a heating wire, a PTC heater, and a heating tube.

Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are:

By arranging the drying module above the drum and arranging a heat insulating layer in the outer casing panel of the washing machine above the drying module, the arrangement method can make full use of the upper space of the drum, so that the overall layout of the clothing processing device is very compact.

Below, exemplary embodiments according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments can be implemented in a variety of different forms and should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiments described herein. It should be understood that these embodiments are provided to make the disclosure of the present invention thorough and complete, and to fully convey the concepts of these exemplary embodiments to those of ordinary skill in the art.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the present invention provides a clothing processing device 1. The clothing processing device 1 includes a drum 2 and a drying module 3 arranged in a clothing processing device housing. The drum 2 has a storage space for storing laundry such as clothes. The drum 2 includes an inner drum and an outer drum, and preferably, further includes a drum driving part that is transmission-connected to the inner drum of the drum 2 to drive the inner drum of the drum 2 to rotate. In addition, the drum 2 has at least a drum air inlet and a drum air outlet. The drying module 3 is arranged above the drum 2, and includes a first air outlet 32 and a first air inlet 33, and is connected to the drum air outlet through the first air inlet 33, and is connected to the drum air inlet through the first air outlet 32. Based on this, the drying module 3 and the drum 2 form a circulation passage, thereby achieving drying of the humid hot air circulating therein. In the drying mode, the humid hot air is guided from the drum 2 to the drying module 3 through the first air inlet 33 of the drying module 3, and the drying module 3 dehumidifies and heats the humid air flow from the drum 2, and then guides the dry hot air flow back to the drum 2 through the first air outlet 32 of the drying module 3, and the cycle is repeated in this way, thereby achieving drying of clothes.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG3 , the drying module 3 includes a first drying module shell 310, a second drying module shell 320, and a moisture absorption and discharge component 300. The first drying module shell 310 is provided with a first moisture absorption and discharge component storage area, and the second drying module shell 320 is provided with a second moisture absorption and discharge component storage area. The first drying module shell 310 and the second drying module shell 320 are matched and installed and connected to form a moisture absorption and discharge component 300 storage cavity between the first moisture absorption and discharge component storage area and the second moisture absorption and discharge component storage area. There is a gap between the top surface of the moisture absorption and discharge component 300 and a part of the top wall of the first drying module shell 310 to form a first airflow channel; there is a gap between the bottom surface of the moisture absorption and discharge component 300 and a part of the bottom wall of the second drying module shell 320 to form a second airflow channel; the second airflow channel, the moisture absorption and discharge component 300 and the first airflow channel form a circulation passage.

The second drying module housing 320 may include a bottom plate and a peripheral side wall protruding from the bottom plate, and the recessed portion formed is the second moisture absorption and dehumidification component storage area. In the second moisture absorption and dehumidification component storage area, two second partitions 321 are arranged along the second drying module housing 320 radially to divide the second moisture absorption and dehumidification component storage area into a dehumidification area and a regeneration area, and the dehumidification area and the regeneration area are divided into a fan shape; therefore, it is beneficial for the moisture absorption and dehumidification component 300 to circulate through the dehumidification area and the regeneration area during the rotation process, and continuously absorb and desorb moisture, so that the moisture absorption and dehumidification component 300 always has a good water absorption capacity, thereby improving the efficiency and effect of moisture absorption. Preferably, the dehumidification area and the regeneration area are roughly fan-shaped.

The first drying module housing 310 may be provided with a first moisture absorption and dehumidification component accommodating area, and the first moisture absorption and dehumidification component accommodating area is composed of the top wall, the circumferential side wall, and the radial side wall of the upper housing corresponding to the positions of the two second partitions 321 of the first drying module housing 310, and two first partitions 311 are formed to divide the first moisture absorption and dehumidification component accommodating area into a dehumidification area and a regeneration module installation area; the first drying module housing 310 10 is arranged opposite to the recessed structure of the second drying module shell 320. When the first drying module shell 310 and the second drying module shell 320 are connected in cooperation, the first moisture absorption and discharge component accommodating area and the second moisture absorption and discharge component accommodating area can form a turntable accommodating cavity. Since air flows through the turntable accommodating cavity, the first drying module shell 310 and the second drying module shell 320 can be set to be sealed. The moisture absorption and dehumidification component 300 is located between the first partition 311 and the second partition 321. In order to prevent the wet circulating airflow discharged from the drum from mixing with the regeneration airflow, the second partition 321 and the first partition 311 can form a dynamic sealing effect with the moisture absorption and dehumidification component 300, so that the moisture absorption and dehumidification component 300 can continuously absorb water and dehydrate and dry it during the rotation process through the dehumidification zone and the regeneration zone, so that the moisture absorption and dehumidification component 300 always has a good water absorption capacity, thereby improving the efficiency and effect of moisture absorption. Preferably, the dehumidification zone and the regeneration module installation zone are roughly fan-shaped.

It should be noted that the partitions referred to herein refer to each individual partition radially connected from the inner wall of the first drying module shell 310 or the second drying module shell 320 to the center of the shell. The at least two first partitions 311 and the at least two second partitions 321 can be formed as one piece or manufactured and installed separately, and the manufacturing method does not affect the definition of the partitions.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG3 , the drying module 3 further includes: a regeneration module 31, which is connected to the first drying module housing 310, and a regeneration module accommodating portion which is roughly fan-shaped is formed on the first drying module housing 310; the regeneration module 31 is installed in the regeneration module accommodating portion, and the regeneration module 31 is located above the moisture absorption and dehumidification component 300, and the regeneration module 31 is used, for example, to heat the regeneration airflow to desorb the moisture absorbed by the moisture absorption and dehumidification component 300. The regeneration module 31 may include a heating component for heating the regeneration airflow, and the moisture absorption and dehumidification component 300 passes through the dehumidification zone and the regeneration zone during the rotation process, thereby continuously performing a cycle of adsorbing and desorbing moisture. Preferably, the heating component can adopt a heating element such as a heating wire, a PTC heater, etc.

In one embodiment, as shown in FIG3 , at least one flow divider 322 is further provided on the first drying module housing 310 or the second drying module housing 320, and the flow divider 322 is configured to divide the wet circulating airflow entering the space. Specifically, one or more flow dividers 322 may be provided. When there are two or more flow dividers 322, they may be provided in parallel, thereby dividing the space into a plurality of flow divider areas. By arranging a diverter 322 on the inner wall of the first drying module shell 310 or the second drying module shell 320, the wet circulating airflow flowing into the circulation path can be diverted, with one part entering the area close to the center of the circle and the other part entering the area close to the periphery of the moisture absorption and discharge component 300, so that the wet circulating airflow flowing into the circulation path is more evenly distributed, the airflow and the moisture absorption and discharge component 300 can be in contact with a larger area, and the moisture absorption efficiency of the moisture absorption and discharge component 300 is improved.

In one embodiment, the area of the dehumidification zone is greater than or equal to the area of the regeneration zone. Preferably, the ratio of the area of the dehumidification zone to the area of the regeneration zone is approximately 5:1 to 1:1.

In another embodiment, the second drying module housing 320 may include a bottom plate and a peripheral side wall protruding from the bottom plate, and the recessed portion formed is the second moisture absorption and dehumidification component accommodating area. Three second partitions 321 are arranged in the second moisture absorption and dehumidification component accommodating area to divide the second moisture absorption and dehumidification component accommodating area into a dehumidification area, a cooling area, and a regeneration area (not shown in the figure). Correspondingly, the first drying module shell 310 may be provided with a first moisture absorption and dehumidification component accommodating area, and the first moisture absorption and dehumidification component accommodating area is composed of the top wall, the circumferential side wall of the first drying module shell 310, and the three first partitions 311 formed by the radial side wall of the upper shell corresponding to the positions of the three second partitions 321, so as to divide the first drying module shell 310 into a dehumidification area, a cooling area, and a regeneration module installation area (not shown in the figure). The recessed structures of the first drying module shell 310 and the second drying module shell 320 are arranged opposite to each other, so that the first drying module shell 310 and the second drying module shell 320 are sealed and connected. The moisture absorption and dehumidification component 300 is used to absorb moisture from the circulating airflow in the dehumidification zone during the rotation process, cool the moisture absorption and dehumidification component 300 in the cooling zone, and discharge the moisture absorbed in the dehumidification zone through the dehumidification airflow in the regeneration zone. Preferably, the dehumidification zone, cooling zone, regeneration zone and regeneration module installation zone are roughly fan-shaped. Similarly, the regeneration module installation zone in the embodiment is installed with a regeneration module 31, and the structure and installation method of the regeneration module 31 are the same as those described above, and will not be repeated here.

In one embodiment, the area of the dehumidification zone is greater than or equal to the area of the cooling zone and the area of the regeneration zone. Preferably, the ratio of the area of the dehumidification zone to the area of the cooling zone and the area of the regeneration zone is approximately 4:1:1 to 1:1:1.

In one embodiment, a circulating fan is further provided between the first air inlet 33 of the drying module 3 and the air outlet of the drum 2, which can accelerate the flow speed of the circulating moisture-absorbing airflow. Preferably, the rotation speed of the circulating fan can be adjusted according to the drying process. More preferably, the rotation speed of the circulating fan can be adjusted according to the airflow temperature at the first air outlet 32 of the drying module 3.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the drying module 3, the first air inlet 33 and the first air outlet 32 are all located at the top of the clothing processing device 1. This layout can make full use of the upper space of the drum 2, making the overall layout of the clothing processing device 1 very compact.

Fig. 4 to Fig. 5 schematically show a preferred embodiment of the upper cover plate structure 4 provided by the present invention. The upper cover plate structure 4 includes a frame body 41 and a cover plate 42 surrounded by the frame body 41, and the cover plate 42 includes a heat insulating layer 421, a protective layer 422 arranged above the heat insulating layer 421, and an insulating layer 423 arranged below the heat insulating layer 421. The frame body 41 includes an inner frame 411, an outer frame 412, and a connecting surface 413 connecting the inner frame 411 and the outer frame 412. Preferably, a plurality of reinforcing ribs (not shown in the figure) may also be provided between the inner frame 411 and the outer frame 412.

It can be understood that the upper cover plate structure 4 can also be integrally formed by the cover plate 42 and the fixing parts around the cover plate 42. The cover plate 42 can also include only the heat insulating layer 421, or the heat insulating layer 421 and the protective layer 422 arranged above the heat insulating layer 421, or the heat insulating layer 421 and the insulating layer 423 arranged below the heat insulating layer 421, or the heat insulating layer 421, the protective layer 422 arranged above the heat insulating layer 421, and the insulating layer 423 arranged below the heat insulating layer 421.

The technical features of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-mentioned embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification. In other words, the non-conflicting parts in the above-mentioned embodiments can replace or supplement each other to form new embodiments.

The above-mentioned implementation methods only express the implementation methods of this creation, and the description is relatively specific and detailed, but it cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the patent of this creation. It should be pointed out that for those with ordinary knowledge in this field, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of this creation, and these all belong to the protection scope of this creation. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent should be based on the attached claims.

1: Clothes processing device 2: Drum 3: Drying module 300: Moisture absorption and dehumidification component 31: Regeneration module 310: First drying module housing 311: First partition 32: First air outlet 320: Second drying module housing 321: Second partition 322: Diverter 33: First air inlet 4: Upper cover structure 41: Frame 411: Inner frame 412: Outer frame 413: Connecting surface 42: Cover 421: Insulation layer 422: Protective layer 423: Insulation layer

[Figure 1] is a three-dimensional diagram of the clothing treatment device of the present invention. [Figure 2] is a partial cross-sectional diagram of the clothing treatment device of the present invention. [Figure 3] is an exploded structural schematic diagram of a drying module of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] is a structural schematic diagram of an upper cover plate of an optional embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an upper cover plate of an optional embodiment of the present invention.

1: Clothes processing device

2: Roller

3: Drying module

31: Regeneration module

32: First air outlet

33: First air inlet

Claims (9)

A clothes processing device with a drying function, comprising: a drum and a drying module arranged in a shell of the clothes processing device; wherein, the drum has at least one drum air inlet and at least one drum air outlet; the drying module is arranged above the drum; the drying module comprises a first air outlet and a first air inlet, which is connected to the drum air outlet through the first air inlet, and the first air outlet is connected to the drum air inlet to form a wet and hot air circulation; a shell upper cover plate structure is arranged above the drying module, the shell upper cover plate structure comprises a frame and a cover plate surrounded by the frame, and the cover plate comprises at least one heat insulation layer. A clothing processing device as described in claim 1, wherein the drying module comprises: a first drying module shell, a second drying module shell and a moisture absorption and discharge component, the first drying module shell and the second drying module shell are cooperatively connected, and the moisture absorption and discharge component is arranged in a space formed by the first drying module shell and the second drying module shell. A clothing processing device as described in claim 2, wherein the second drying module shell has a second moisture absorption and discharge component accommodating area, and in the second moisture absorption and discharge component accommodating area, at least two second partitions are radially arranged along the second drying module shell to divide the second moisture absorption and discharge component accommodating area into a dehumidification area and a regeneration area. A clothes treating device as described in claim 3, wherein the dehumidification zone and the regeneration zone are roughly fan-shaped. A clothes treating apparatus as described in claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the moisture absorption and discharge member periodically passes through the dehumidification zone and the regeneration zone. A clothes processing device as described in claim 1, wherein a circulation fan is further arranged between the first air inlet of the drying module and the air outlet of the drum. A clothes processing device as described in claim 1, wherein the cover plate structure further includes a protective layer arranged above the insulation layer. A clothes treating device as described in claim 7, wherein the cover plate structure further includes an insulating layer below the thermal insulation layer. A clothes processing device as described in claim 1, wherein the frame includes an inner frame and an outer frame, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs are arranged between the inner frame and the outer frame.