WO2025237330A1 - Laundry care apparatus and control method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided in the present invention is a laundry care apparatus, comprising an apparatus body, and an inner drum and an outer drum which are arranged in the apparatus body, wherein a door body is provided on one side of the apparatus body, an opening is formed in the outer drum at a position corresponding to the door body, and a water-blocking device for preventing washing water from splashing onto the door body is provided at the opening. Further provided in the present invention is a control method for the laundry care apparatus. In the laundry care apparatus and the control method therefor provided in the present invention, the arrangement of the water-blocking device at the opening of the outer drum prevents water from splashing onto the door body during washing, so as to prevent the formation of water stains on the door body or prevent splashed water from flowing into the apparatus body along the door body.

Description

A washing and care device and its control method

This invention belongs to the field of washing equipment technology, specifically, it relates to a washing and care device and its control method.

Background Technology

Front-loading washing machines are increasingly being accepted and recognized by users due to their advantages of being gentler on clothes, providing better cleaning results, saving water, and allowing for detailed sorting and washing of clothes based on their material.

However, front-loading washing machines are larger than top-loading washing machines of the same washing capacity, and their side-opening design further increases their floor space. To solve this problem, top-loading front-loading washing machines were developed.

The door of a top-loading drum washing machine is located at the top of the cabinet. The top of the outer drum has an opening corresponding to the door, and the inner drum has a clothes loading port, which is sealed by the inner drum cover.

Because the outer drum is open, during the washing process, especially during spin-drying, the water spun out by the high-speed inner drum will splash onto the inner side of the door. When the door is opened, the water inside will flow down the door under the influence of gravity. The dripping water will remain at the junction of the door and the cabinet, or enter the cabinet, causing corrosion, rust, and bacterial growth in the components. In severe cases, it can lead to leakage of live parts, reducing user satisfaction.

For both conventional front-loading and top-loading washing machines, there is also the problem of washing water splashing onto the door. If it is not cleaned in time, water stains will be left on the door, making the door look dirty and untidy.

Summary of the Invention

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a washing and care device and its control method. By setting a water-blocking device at the opening of the outer drum, water is prevented from splashing onto the door during washing, so that water stains are left on the door or the splashed water flows into the cabinet along the door, causing adverse effects.

To achieve the first objective of the invention, the present invention first provides a washing and care device, the technical solution of which is:

A washing and care device includes a housing, an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder disposed within the housing, a door is provided on one side of the housing, and an opening is provided on the outer cylinder corresponding to the door, with a water-blocking device provided at the opening to prevent washing water from splashing onto the door.

Furthermore, the water-blocking device includes a water-blocking curtain and a driving device for driving the water-blocking curtain to close or open the opening, wherein the water-blocking curtain can at least cover the entire opening.

Furthermore, the water-blocking device includes a slide rail, and the water-blocking curtain is slidably connected to the slide rail and moves along the slide rail.

Furthermore, the water-blocking device also includes a locking structure to prevent the water-blocking curtain from automatically resetting during use.

Furthermore, the inner tube has an inner tube cover at the clothing loading port, and the outer tube has an opening module for opening the inner tube cover.

Furthermore, the opening module includes a fixing block and a telescopic rod. The fixing block is set on the outer wall of the outer cylinder. One end of the telescopic rod is fixed to the fixing block, and the other end can be extended and retracted to adjust the length. When the door is opened, the telescopic rod extends and its end abuts against the end of the upper cover, applying force to the upper cover and separating the upper cover and the lower cover.

Furthermore, the water-blocking device is located on the inner side wall of the outer cylinder, and a wiper is provided on the outer cylinder.

Furthermore, the water-blocking device is disposed on the outer side wall of the outer cylinder, and the water-blocking device also includes a guide device for collecting and discharging water adhering to the water-blocking device.

Furthermore, the flow guiding device includes a water collecting plate and a flow guiding pipe. The water collecting plate is located below the water-blocking curtain, and the flow guiding pipe is connected to the drainage device of the washing and care equipment.

This invention further provides a control method for the washing and care equipment described above, employing the following technical solution:

As described above, in a control method for a washing and care device, after the washing program is started, the controller controls the water-blocking device to block the opening of the outer drum, and checks whether the water-blocking device has been locked. If so, the washing program continues; if not, the water-blocking device is controlled to operate again, and the position of the water-blocking device is locked by the locking structure.

After the program is completed, the inner drum is positioned, and the motor is controlled to drive the inner drum and pulley to rotate slowly. When the clothing inlet, opening, and door are aligned, the positioning device locks the pulley, so that the inner drum cover faces upward.

The controller resets the water-blocking device.

After the opening device automatically opens the inner cylinder cover, an alarm will alert the user that the program has ended.

In summary, the washing and care equipment and its control method provided by the present invention have the following advantages compared with the prior art:

By installing a water-blocking device at the opening of the outer drum, water is prevented from splashing onto the inner side of the door during the washing process, thus avoiding a series of problems caused by water dripping into the cabinet after the door is opened;

The water-blocking device includes a rollable and stretchable water-blocking curtain, which is simple in structure and does not take up much space when stored.

By setting up a wiper or a deflector, the water splashed onto the water-blocking device is collected into the inner cylinder or discharged, preventing the splashed water from flowing around and ensuring that the inside of the box is dry.

The locking mechanism prevents the water curtain from automatically resetting, ensuring reliable operation.

Attached Figure Description

The accompanying drawings, as part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of the invention are used to explain the invention, but do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative effort. In the drawings:

Figure 1: A cross-sectional schematic diagram of a washing and care device provided by the present invention;

Figure 2: Top view schematic diagram of a washing and care device provided by the present invention;

Figure 3: Schematic diagram of the inner and outer cylinder structures of a washing and care device provided by the present invention;

Figure 4: Schematic diagram of the water-blocking device and outer cylinder fixing structure of a washing and care equipment provided by the present invention;

Figure 5: Schematic diagram of the flow guiding device and water blocking device of a washing and care equipment provided by the present invention;

Figure 6: Schematic diagram of the water-blocking device structure of a washing and care equipment provided by the present invention (fixed frame is set inside the outer cylinder);

Figure 7: Schematic diagram of the water-blocking device structure of a washing and care equipment provided by the present invention (fixed frame is set on the outside of the outer cylinder);

Figure 8: A cross-sectional schematic diagram of a washing and care device provided by the present invention;

The components include: inner cylinder 1, outer cylinder 2, inner cylinder cover 3, upper cover 31, lower cover 32, cover opening module 4, telescopic rod 41, fixing block 42, slide rail 5, connecting plate 51, water blocking device 6, water curtain 61, roller 62, wiper 621, drive device 63, locking structure 64, flow guiding device 65, water collecting plate 651, front baffle 6511, rear baffle 6512, flow guiding pipe 652, fixing frame 66, pulley 7, pulley positioning port 81, and positioning device 8.

It should be noted that these accompanying drawings and textual descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments.

Detailed Implementation

To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are used to illustrate the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

The present invention first provides a washing and care device, including a box body, an inner cylinder 1 and an outer cylinder 2 disposed in the box body, a door body disposed on one side of the box body, and an opening provided at the top of the outer cylinder 2 corresponding to the door body, and a water-blocking device 6 provided at the opening to prevent washing water from splashing onto the door body.

Taking a top-loading drum washing machine as an example, this invention introduces the specific details of a washing and care device and its control method.

As shown in Figures 1 to 7, the top-loading drum washing machine provided by the present invention includes a cabinet and an inner drum 1 and an outer drum 2 disposed within the cabinet. In this embodiment, the axis of the outer drum 2 is horizontal or the opening of the outer drum 2 is slightly inclined upward. A door (the dotted line in Figure 1) is provided at the top of the cabinet, allowing clothes to be placed into and retrieved from the washing drum from the top of the cabinet.

An opening communicating with the door is provided at the top of the outer cylinder 2, corresponding to the position of the door. A clothing inlet is provided on the inner cylinder 1, and an inner cylinder cover 3 is provided at the clothing inlet. During the operation of the inner cylinder 1, the inner cylinder cover 3 is sealed to the clothing inlet, blocking the clothing inlet.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the inner tube cover 3 includes an upper cover 31 and a lower cover 32. The ends of the upper cover 31 and the lower cover 32 are respectively sealed to the inner tube wall around the outer periphery of the clothing inlet, and can rotate around a fixed point to open or close the clothing inlet.

The front end of the upper cover 31 overlaps with the front end of the lower cover 32, with the front end of the upper cover 31 resting on the upper part of the lower cover 32 and sealing the overlap to prevent water leakage.

A positioning device 8 is installed inside the box. The controller controls the drive motor (shown in the figure) to drive the inner drum 1 to rotate through the pulley 7. When the program is about to stop, when the inner drum 3 rotates to the point where the inner drum cover 3 faces upward and the clothing loading port corresponds to the opening on the outer drum 2 and the door on the box, the controller controls the drive motor to stop. The positioning device 8 opens, and the pulley positioning port 71 on the pulley 7 corresponds to the position of the positioning device 8, so that the positioning pin of the positioning device 8 is inserted into the pulley positioning port 71, thereby locking the position of the inner drum 1 and preventing the inner drum from shifting when taking out clothes, which would make it impossible to take out clothes smoothly or cause injury to the user.

A lid-opening module 4 is installed on the drum wall at one end of the opening of the outer drum 2. After washing, the positioning device locks the position of the inner drum 1, and the lid-opening module 4 controls the opening of the inner drum lid 3. Specifically, the lid-opening module 4 includes a fixing block 42 and a telescopic rod 41 installed on the drum wall at one end of the opening of the outer drum 2. The length of the telescopic rod 41 is adjustable and it can rotate around the connection point with the fixing block 42.

After the inner cylinder 1 stops operating, the controller controls the front end of the telescopic rod 41 (towards the inner cylinder cover 3) to extend, and the rear end (the end connected to the fixing block 42) to rotate and press down around the connection with the fixing block 42, as shown in Figure 2, so that the front end of the telescopic rod 41 abuts against the front end face of the upper cover 31, and the body of the telescopic rod 41 contacts the lower cover 32. The front end of the telescopic rod 41 touches the upper cover 31, and the body presses down to touch the lower cover 32, so that the seal between the upper cover 31 and the lower cover 32 fails, thereby opening the inner cylinder cover 3.

During the washing process, especially during spin-drying, the washing water is thrown onto the door by the high-speed rotating inner drum 1. After the door is opened, under the influence of gravity, the water slides down the inner wall of the door into the cabinet, which may corrode the internal components and, in severe cases, cause electrical leakage. Alternatively, the water may accumulate at the connection between the door and the cabinet. If not cleaned in time, bacteria will grow, and the water droplets remaining on the door will leave unsightly water stains after evaporation. To avoid this situation, in this embodiment, a water-blocking device 6 is provided at the opening of the outer drum 2. During the washing process, the water-blocking device 6 blocks the opening, and the water thrown out by the inner drum 1 is intercepted by the water-blocking device 6 and will not splash onto the door.

As shown in Figures 4 to 7, the water-blocking device 6 provided by the present invention can be adopted in the following embodiments:

Example 1

The water-blocking device 6 includes a roller 62 and a water-blocking curtain 61 that can be stretched or wound around the roller 62. One end of the water-blocking curtain 61 is fixed to the roller 62, and the main body is wound around the roller 62. Both ends of the roller 62 are fixed to the outer wall of the opening via mounting brackets. The roller 62 can rotate around the shaft hole on the mounting bracket and automatically reset. The area of the water-blocking curtain 61 is greater than or equal to the area of the opening, so that the water-blocking curtain 61 can at least cover the entire opening.

The water-blocking device also includes a locking structure 64. In this embodiment, the locking structure 64 includes a limiting plate or limiting post disposed on the outer cylinder wall on the other side of the opening opposite to the rotating shaft, and a handle disposed at the other end of the water-blocking curtain 61. Pulling the handle rotates the roller 62, and the water-blocking curtain 61 moves to the opposite side with the handle. The handle cooperates with the limiting plate or limiting post to limit the position of the water-blocking curtain 61.

In this embodiment, a connecting rod is provided at the front end of the water curtain 61 (the end not fixed to the roller 62), the handle is a U-shaped structure, and the ends of the two arms are fixed to the connecting rod or integrally formed.

Pull the handle to make the water curtain 61 pass over the opening, and the limiting plate or limiting post is inserted into the space enclosed by the handle and the connecting rod, thereby limiting the position of the water curtain 61; after washing, let the handle disengage from the limiting plate or limiting post, and under the action of the automatically reset roller 62, the water curtain 61 automatically retracts and rewinds onto the roller 62, opening the opening.

In this embodiment, the opening is blocked by manually pulling the water curtain 61, and the water curtain 61 is automatically reset by the self-resetting roller 62. The locking structure 64 prevents the water curtain 61 from automatically resetting during use. The structure is simple, easy to implement, requires no power drive, and saves costs. The structure of the water curtain 61 and roller 62 is a common roller shutter structure, which will not be described in detail.

Preferably, two parallel slide rails 5 are provided on the outer cylinder wall, and the two ends of the connecting rod are slidably connected to the slide rails 5 respectively. When the water curtain 61 is pulled, the end of the connecting rod slides along the slide rails 5 to prevent the water curtain 61 from deforming and shifting, and also to make the movement of the water curtain 61 smoother.

Example 2

The water-blocking device 6 includes a roller 62 and a retractable or rollable water-blocking curtain 61, a drive device 63, and a drive unit 63. One end of the water-blocking curtain 61 is fixed to the roller 62, and the main body can be wound around the roller 62. Both ends of the roller 62 are fixed to the outer wall of the outer cylinder opening via mounting brackets, and the roller 62 can rotate around the shaft hole on the mounting bracket. The area of the water-blocking curtain 61 is greater than or equal to the area of the opening, so that the water-blocking curtain 61 can at least cover the entire opening.

The drive device 63 can be a motor or a pneumatic mechanism, which is fixed to the outer cylinder wall directly or through a fixed seat. A connecting rod is provided at the free end of the water curtain 61 (the end not fixed to the roller 62), and the connecting rod is connected to the drive shaft of the drive device 63.

Normally, the drive shaft is in a retracted state, and the water curtain 61 is wound around the roller 62. During washing, the drive shaft of the drive device 63 extends, driving the water curtain 61 past the top of the opening to block it. After washing, the drive shaft retracts, pulling the water curtain 61 back to its original position and rewinding it around the roller 62.

Similarly, the water-blocking device also includes a locking structure 64, which includes a locking tongue disposed at the connecting rod and a locking member disposed on the outer cylinder wall opposite the roller 62. The drive shaft drives the water-blocking curtain 61 to move, and the locking tongue is connected to the locking member to limit the position of the water-blocking curtain 61.

A sensor is installed at the locking structure 64. When the latch is connected to the locking element, the sensor is activated, and the sensor sends a signal to the controller. The controller then controls the drive device 63 to stop operating, or the sensor directly sends a stop signal to the drive device 63. In practical applications, other sensors, such as displacement sensors or infrared sensors, can be used to detect whether the water curtain 61 has moved into place.

Similarly, two parallel slide rails 5 are provided on the outer cylinder wall. The two ends of the connecting rod are slidably connected to the slide rails 5 respectively. When the water curtain 61 is driven, the end of the connecting rod slides along the slide rails 5 to prevent the water curtain 61 from deforming and shifting.

Example 3

The water-blocking device includes a water-blocking curtain 61 and a driving device 63. The water-blocking curtain 61 includes a curtain and a fixing frame 66. The fixing frame 66 has the same curvature as the outer cylinder, and its structural shape is similar to that of the opening. Moreover, its area is larger than that of the opening, so that the water-blocking curtain 61 can at least completely cover the opening.

A slide rail 5 is provided on the outer cylinder wall, and a fixed frame 66 is slidably connected to the slide rail 5. The drive shaft of the drive device 63 is directly connected to one end of the water curtain 61 or connected through a connecting rod, which can drive the water curtain 61 to move along the slide rail 5.

The length of the slide rail 5 is greater than or equal to the length of the side of the fixed frame 66 (the side connected to the slide rail 5). Under normal conditions, the drive shaft is in a retracted state, and the water curtain 61 is stored in the side of the outer drum, leaving the opening open. During washing, the drive shaft drives the water curtain 61 to move along the slide rail 5 toward the opening and across the opening, sealing it.

Similarly, the water-blocking device also includes a locking structure 64 as described in Embodiment 2 to limit the position of the water-blocking curtain 61 and prevent it from automatically resetting during the washing process.

In practical applications, other sensors, such as displacement sensors and infrared sensors, can be used to detect whether the water curtain 61 has moved into place.

A protective cover is installed at slide rail 5 to prevent water from splashing onto slide rail 5, causing it to be corroded and rusted by the washing water, which would affect the movement of the water curtain 61 and contaminate the washing water.

Example 4

The structure of the water curtain 61 described in Embodiment 3 is different in that a rack is provided at the slide rail 5, and a gear is provided at the connection between the fixed frame 66 and the slide rail 5. The gear meshes with the rack, and the shaft of the drive device 63 is connected to the rack, which can drive the rack to move along the slide rail 5, thereby causing the water curtain 61 to move along the slide rail 5.

Example 5

The water-blocking device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is used. The water-blocking device is disposed on the outer side wall of the outer cylinder and further includes a flow guiding device 65.

As shown in Figure 5, the flow guiding device 65 is disposed between the housing and the outer cylinder 2, including a water collecting plate 651 and a flow guiding pipe 652. The water collecting plate 651 is disposed at the roller 62. Specifically, when the roller 62 is provided, the water collecting plate 651 is located below the roller 62, and the main structure is semi-enclosed below the roller 62 to collect the water dripping from the roller 62. It can be attached to the outer cylinder wall, and the front end of the water collecting plate 651 is flush with the edge of the opening or leaves a certain distance from the edge of the opening. Furthermore, the water collecting plate 651 is located at the bottom of the slide rail 7, and the front end of the water collecting plate 651 is connected to the slide rail 7.

The end of the water collection plate 651 is connected to the front end of the guide pipe 652, and the end of the guide pipe 652 is connected to the drain device of the washing machine, or to the drain hole reserved on the bottom plate of the cabinet at the end of the guide pipe 652.

Specifically, when the water-blocking device includes a roller 62, as shown in the figure, a water-collecting plate 651 is set at the roller 62, including a rear baffle 6512 and a front baffle 6511. The rear baffle 6512 is an arc-shaped plate with a curvature similar to that of the roller 62, intercepting water droplets thrown off at the roller 62 by the rapidly resetting water curtain 61. One end of the front baffle 6511 is located below the roller 62 and has a curvature similar to that of the roller 62, while the other end is attached to the outer wall of the outer cylinder and extends towards the opening.

When a slide rail 7 is provided, a connecting plate 51 is provided between the bottom of the slide rail 7 and the outer cylinder 2, as shown in Figure 5. The connecting plate 51 is provided between the slide rail 7 and the outer cylinder 2, with one end flush with the edge of the opening or slightly at a distance from the edge of the opening; the other end extends along the gap between the outer cylinder 2 and the roller 62 towards the front baffle 6511 and overlaps with the top of the front baffle 6511 (as shown in Figure 5).

Furthermore, the connecting plate 51 extends towards the housing, with the end of the extension closer to the housing relative to the longitudinal line where the center point of the roll 62 is located. The top surface of the front baffle 6511 overlaps with the bottom surface of the extension of the connecting plate 51, and the extension of the connecting plate 51 extends into the space between the front baffle 6511 and the rear baffle 6512.

The connecting plate 51 is roughly Z-shaped with smooth connections at each corner. When the water curtain 61 moves along the slide rail 7, the vibration caused by the movement causes water droplets to fall from the water curtain onto the connecting plate 51 and then along the connecting plate into the guide pipe 652, where they are eventually discharged.

There is a certain overlap between the connecting plate 51 and the front baffle 5111. The extended end of the connecting plate 51 extends into the space between the front baffle 6511 and the rear baffle 6512, so that the water on the connecting plate 51 can drip directly into the guide pipe 652 and will not seep down along the gap between the connecting plate 51 and the front baffle 6511.

The flow guiding pipe 652 is located between the box body and the outer cylinder, and can be a flat pipe. The ends of the front baffle 6511 and the rear baffle are respectively connected to the top of the flow guiding pipe 652, so that the cross-section of the flow guiding device 65 is roughly Y-shaped.

When the water curtain 61 resets, as the water droplets splashed on it wrap around the roller 62, some droplets drip from the bottom surface of the water curtain 61 onto the water collection plate 651 during the reset process. Some droplets are separated towards the rear baffle 6512 under the action of centrifugal force during the rapid reset process and are intercepted by the rear baffle 6512. Some droplets that are still adsorbed on the water curtain 61 are squeezed and discharged from both ends after the water curtain 61 wraps around the roller 62, and are finally discharged into the drainage device through the guide pipe 652 or directly discharged outside the box, preventing the water on the water curtain 61 from dripping randomly inside the box.

Furthermore, a wiper 621 is provided at the spool 62. The wiper is parallel to the spool 62 but relatively close to the opening. The bottom surface of the water curtain 61 (the side facing the inner cylinder) abuts against the top surface of the wiper 621, so that when the water curtain 61 is reset, the wiper 621 first scrapes off the water droplets attached to the bottom surface of the water curtain 61, and the water droplets drip down the wiper 621 onto the water collection plate 651 and are discharged.

Implementation of 6

Similar to the structure used in Embodiment 5, the difference is that the water-blocking device provided in Embodiments 1 to 3 is set on the inner wall of the outer cylinder, and the water collecting plate 651 and the guide pipe 652 are set between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. The water droplets collected by the water collecting plate 651 flow into the space between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder through the guide pipe 652 and are eventually discharged.

Example 7

Similar to the structure used in Embodiment 5, the difference lies in that the water-blocking device provided in Embodiments 1 to 3 is located on the inner wall of the outer cylinder, and the wiper 621 is only installed at the roller 62. The wiper 621 is directly fixed to the outer cylinder wall or connected to the roller 62. When the water-blocking curtain 61 is reset, the wiper 621 is used to remove the water on the water-blocking curtain 61, which drips onto the outer wall of the inner cylinder, slides down the outer wall of the inner cylinder, and is eventually discharged.

Example 8

The water-blocking device described in Embodiment 4 can be installed on the inner wall or outer wall of the outer cylinder. When installed on the inner wall of the outer cylinder, it is recommended to install it on the outer cover side.

When installed on the outer wall of the outer cylinder, a flow guiding device 65 is provided on the outer wall of the outer cylinder. The flow guiding device 65 includes a water collecting plate 651 and a flow guiding pipe 652. The flow guiding pipe 652 is located between the tank body and the outer wall and communicates with the drainage device or the outside of the tank body. The rear baffle 6512 of the water collecting plate 651 is located below the reset water curtain 61 and faces the tank body. The end of the front baffle 6511 is located below the reset water curtain 61, and the front end extends upward along the outer cylinder wall to the opening or to a certain distance from the opening. Preferably, a wiper (not shown in this embodiment) can be provided at the front end of the front baffle 6511.

When the water-blocking device is installed on the inner wall of the outer cylinder, the flow guiding device 65 is installed between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder, or a scraper is installed only on the outer cylinder near the opening to remove water droplets on the water-blocking device and allow them to drip freely between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and finally be discharged.

It should be noted that if the door has a viewing window, the water curtain 61 described in embodiments one to eight can be made of transparent material.

The preceding text uses a top-loading drum washing machine as an example to introduce the specific structure of the water-blocking device provided by this invention and other supporting structures. In practical applications, the water-blocking device described above is also applicable to conventional drum washing machines and pulsator washing machines. When the water-blocking device is applicable to a conventional drum washing machine, it is vertically installed at the front opening of the washing drum. When the water-blocking device is applicable to a pulsator washing machine, it can be horizontally installed at the top of the balance ring and the washing drum. The water-blocking device can be adapted to the structure of the washing and care equipment.

The present invention further provides a control method for the washing and care equipment described above.

After the program starts, it first checks whether the water-blocking device is locked in place. The sensor at the locking structure 64 detects whether the water curtain 61 is connected to the locking structure 64 (mutually locked), or other types of sensors, such as displacement sensors and infrared sensors, detect whether the water-blocking device has moved into place. If not, the control drive device 63 extends and locks the water-blocking device. If it is detected that the device is not locked in place, and the control drive device 63 extends and locks the device but it still does not detect that the device is locked in place, the process repeats a predetermined number of times, and an alarm is triggered. For water-blocking devices that require manual operation, if the device is not detected to be locked in place, an alarm will be triggered directly.

After the program is completed, as shown in Figure 8 and the previous text, the inner tube 1 is positioned. The control motor (not shown in the figure) drives the inner tube 1 and the pulley 7 to rotate slowly. After the positioning position is found, the positioning device 8 locks the pulley 7, so that the inner tube cover faces upward and the center point of the clothing inlet, the opening and the door are collinear.

The control drive device 63 drives the water curtain 61 to retract and reset, then controls the telescopic rod of the lid opening module to automatically open the inner drum lid, then an alarm is triggered, and the washing program ends.

It should be noted that the water-blocking device provided by the present invention can not only be used to prevent water from splashing onto the door during washing, especially spin-drying, but also during the drying process. On the one hand, it can effectively keep the temperature warm and prevent heat loss from the opening of the outer drum 2. On the other hand, it can reduce the temperature and probability of hot air inside the drum coming into contact with the door, thus preventing condensation from forming on the door.

In summary, the washing and care equipment and its control method provided by the present invention have the following advantages compared with the prior art:

By installing a water-blocking device at the opening of the outer drum, water is prevented from splashing onto the inner side of the door during the washing process, thus avoiding a series of problems caused by water dripping into the cabinet after the door is opened;

The water-blocking device includes a rollable and stretchable water-blocking curtain, which is simple in structure and does not take up much space when stored.

By setting up a wiper or a deflector, the water splashed onto the water-blocking device is collected into the inner cylinder or discharged, preventing the splashed water from flowing around and ensuring that the inside of the box is dry.

The locking mechanism prevents the water curtain from automatically resetting, ensuring reliable operation.

The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-described technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. The implementation schemes in the above embodiments can also be further combined or replaced. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

A washing and care device includes a housing, an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder disposed within the housing, and a door is provided on one side of the housing. The device is characterized in that: the outer cylinder has an opening corresponding to the door, and a water-blocking device is provided at the opening to prevent washing water from splashing onto the door. A washing and care device as described in claim 1, characterized in that: the water-blocking device includes a water-blocking curtain and a driving device for driving the water-blocking curtain to close or open the opening, wherein the water-blocking curtain can at least cover the entire opening. A washing and care device as described in claim 2, characterized in that: the water-blocking device includes a slide rail, and the water-blocking curtain is slidably connected to the slide rail and moves along the slide rail. The washing and care equipment as described in claim 2 is characterized in that: the water-blocking device further includes a locking structure to prevent the water-blocking curtain from automatically resetting during use. The washing and care device as described in claim 2 is characterized in that: an inner tube cover is provided at the clothing loading port of the inner tube, and an opening module for opening the inner tube cover is provided at the outer tube. The washing and care equipment as described in claim 5 is characterized in that: the opening module includes a fixing block and a telescopic rod, the fixing block is set on the outer wall of the outer cylinder, one end of the telescopic rod is fixed to the fixing block, and the other end can be telescopically adjusted in length. When the door is opened, the telescopic rod extends out and its end abuts against the end of the upper cover, applying force to the upper cover and separating the upper cover and the lower cover. The washing and care equipment as described in claim 1 is characterized in that: the water-blocking device is disposed on the inner side wall of the outer cylinder, and a squeegee is disposed on the outer cylinder. The washing and care equipment as described in claim 1 is characterized in that: the water-blocking device is disposed on the outer side wall of the outer cylinder, and the water-blocking device further includes a guide device for collecting and discharging water adhering to the water-blocking device. A washing and care device as described in claim 8, characterized in that: the flow guiding device includes a water collecting plate and a flow guiding pipe, the water collecting plate is located below the water curtain, and the flow guiding pipe is connected to the drainage device of the washing and care device. A control method for a washing and care device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: after the washing program is started, the controller controls the water-blocking device to seal the opening of the outer drum. Check if the water-blocking device is locked. If yes, continue the washing program; if not, re-control the water-blocking device and lock its position using the locking mechanism. After the program is completed, the inner drum is positioned, and the motor is controlled to drive the inner drum and pulley to rotate slowly. When the clothing inlet, opening, and door are aligned, the positioning device locks the pulley, so that the inner drum cover faces upward. The controller resets the water-blocking device, and the lid-opening device automatically opens the inner cylinder lid before prompting the user that the program has ended.