Patent Description:
A clothing treatment apparatus is an apparatus capable of washing, drying, sterilizing and/or deodorizing clothing. With the continuous improvement of production level and ongoing growth of users' needs, users have raised higher and higher requirements on the clothing treatment apparatus.

In the prior art, taking a washing machine as an example, the clothing is generally washed by water. The washing process is accompanied by mechanical rotation, so that stains on the clothing are washed away. However, this washing method has a limitation in that if a large amount of water is injected into a washing drum at the beginning, the stains on a surface of the clothing will directly enter a lining of the clothing in a state where a washing liquid is not completely dissolved, so that more time, water amount, washing liquid and mechanical action are required for washing the clothing clean in the subsequent washing process, thus resulting in a poor washing effect. In existing clothing treatment apparatuses, other functions are often added on the basis of a washing machine, such as adding a drying function to become a washing-drying integrated machine, etc. Such an improvement does not significantly improve the washing effect of the washing machine. Moreover, current washing machines still cannot achieve in-depth treatment of clothing made of special materials, such as cashmere, wool and other materials. If the traditional washing by water is used, it is highly possible that fiber structures of the clothing will be damaged, which will cause a very big limitation on an applicable range of the clothing of the washing machine. The publication of <CIT> discloses a washing machine which has a drum for accommodating laundry items to be treated and a water supply system comprising a water supply system, a control apparatus, a water container and a water-drop producer. However, the water-drop producer is connected to a water supply valve through a water channel parallel with the water channel in which a dispensing device is located.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a new clothing treatment apparatus, so as to solve the above problems.

In order to solve the above problems in the prior art, that is, to solve the problems of poor washing effect and very limited applicable range of clothing of existing clothing treatment apparatuses with a washing function, the present invention provides a clothing treatment apparatus as defined in independent claim <NUM> and its dependent claims <NUM>-<NUM>.

It can be understood by those skilled in the art that in the preferred technical solutions of the present invention, by providing a one-way check structure on the connection mechanism, water can be injected into the connection mechanism when the water supply valve is opened, and then the one-way check structure communicates with the atmosphere when the water supply valve is closed, so that the water in the connection mechanism is sprayed from the atomization generator, and the water is converted into small particles of atomized water droplets under the atomization action of the atomization generator, thereby realizing a tender treatment of the clothing by atomized air. Specifically, before washing by water, the clothing can be moistened first by atomized water droplets, so that the stains on the surface of the clothing are removed first, preventing the stains on the surface of the clothing from entering the lining of the clothing. Therefore, less time, water amount, washing liquid and mechanical action can be used to wash the clothing clean in the subsequent washing process so that the washing effect on the clothing is improved and the clothing treatment apparatus is more energy-saving. In addition, the use of this atomized air washing method can treat clothing of special materials such as cashmere, wool, etc., which not only can make the surface of the clothing of this material smoother and softer, but also can quickly remove stains on the clothing without damaging the fiber structures of the clothing, thereby increasing the applicable range of the clothing of the clothing treatment apparatus and further improving the user experience.

Further, the connection mechanism is a connection pipe; with such an arrangement, the atomized air washing of the clothing can be realized through a very simple structure, thereby facilitating the design of the product by the technicians and reducing the cost.

Further, the connection mechanism is the water delivery channel of the dispensing device of the clothing treatment apparatus; that is, the one-way check structure is arranged on the dispensing device, so as to achieve the atomized air washing of the clothing without changing the original structure as much as possible, thereby facilitating the design of the product by the technicians and reducing the cost.

Further, by setting the position where the one-way check structure is arranged at a different height from the position where the outlet of the atomization generator is arranged, a certain liquid level difference is formed, so that the water in the connection mechanism can be smoothly sprayed from the outlet of the atomization generator, which makes it easier to perform the atomized air washing of the clothing and improves the user experience.

It can be understood by those skilled in the art that in the preferred technical solutions of the present invention, a water diversion structure is provided on the water delivery channel, so that when the water supply valve is opened, water can be injected into the water delivery channel, and then when the water supply valve is closed, the water diversion structure communicates with the atmosphere so that a part of the water in the water delivery channel is sprayed from the atomization generator, and the water is converted into small particles of atomized water droplets under the atomization action of the atomization generator, thereby realizing a tender treatment of the clothing by atomized air. Specifically, before washing by water, the clothing can be moistened first by atomized water droplets, so that the stains on the surface of the clothing are removed first, preventing the stains on the surface of the clothing from entering the lining of the clothing. Therefore, less time, water amount, washing liquid and mechanical action can be used to wash the clothing clean in the subsequent washing process so that the washing effect on the clothing is improved and the clothing treatment apparatus is more energy-saving. In addition, the use of this atomized air washing method can treat clothing of special materials such as cashmere, wool, etc., which not only can make the surface of the clothing of this material smoother and softer, but also can quickly remove stains on the clothing without damaging the fiber structures of the clothing, thereby increasing the applicable range of the clothing of the clothing treatment apparatus and further improving the user experience.

Further, the water diversion structure is a water diversion port, through which the water in the water delivery channel can be injected into the clothing treatment agent dispensing box when the water supply valve is opened, so that the clothing treatment agent in the clothing treatment agent dispensing box is diluted, and finally flows into the clothing treatment drum. When the water supply valve is closed, the water in the water delivery channel can also be drained since the water diversion port communicates with the atmosphere. A part of the water enters the clothing treatment agent dispensing box, and the other part of the water is converted into atomized water droplets by the atomization generator and sprayed onto the clothing. With such an arrangement, the water can be prevented from remaining in the water delivery channel, thereby avoiding the growth of bacteria in the water delivery channel, so that the user does not need to repeatedly clean the dispensing device and the user experience is improved.

Further, the water diversion structure is a water diversion pipe, through which the water in the water delivery channel can be injected into the clothing treatment agent dispensing box when the water supply valve is opened, so that the clothing treatment agent in the clothing treatment agent dispensing box is diluted, and finally flows into the clothing treatment drum. When the water supply valve is closed, the water in the water delivery channel can also be drained since the water diversion pipe communicates with the atmosphere. A part of the water enters the clothing treatment agent dispensing box, and the other part of the water is converted into atomized water droplets by the atomization generator and sprayed onto the clothing. With such an arrangement, the water can be prevented from remaining in the water delivery channel, thereby avoiding the growth of bacteria in the water delivery channel, so that the user does not need to repeatedly clean the dispensing device and the user experience is improved.

Further, by setting the position where the water diversion structure is arranged at a different height from the position where the outlet of the atomization generator is arranged, a certain liquid level difference is formed, so that the water in the water delivery channel can be smoothly sprayed from the outlet of the atomization generator, which makes it easier to perform the atomized air washing of the clothing and improves the user experience.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are only used to explain the technical principles of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

It should be noted that in the description of the present disclosure, terms indicating directional or positional relationships, such as "in", "above", "below", "inside", "outside" and the like, are based on the directional or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only used for ease of description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed or operated in a specific orientation, and therefore they should not be considered as limitations to the present disclosure.

In addition, it should also be noted that in the description of the present disclosure, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, terms "arrange", "install", "connect" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense; for example, the connection may be a fixed connection, or may also be a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it may be a mechanical connection, or an electrical connection; it may be a direct connection, or an indirect connection implemented through an intermediate medium, or it may be an internal communication between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present disclosure can be understood according to specific situations.

In view of the problems of poor washing effect and very limited applicable range of clothing of existing clothing treatment apparatuses with a washing function, the present disclosure provides an air washing device for a clothing treatment apparatus, and a clothing treatment apparatus, aiming at improving the washing effect of the clothing treatment apparatuses with the washing function on the clothing, increasing the applicable range of the clothing, meeting user's requirements on use, and thereby improving the user experience.

The clothing treatment apparatus of the present disclosure includes a clothing treatment drum. As shown in <FIG>, the air washing device includes a water supply valve <NUM>, a connection mechanism, and an atomization generator <NUM>. The water supply valve <NUM> is connected with the atomization generator <NUM> through the connection mechanism. The connection mechanism is provided with a one-way check structure, and the one-way check structure is arranged to be isolated from the atmosphere when the water supply valve <NUM> is opened and to communicate with the atmosphere when the water supply valve <NUM> is closed. An outlet of the atomization generator <NUM> is arranged facing an inner cavity of the clothing treatment drum. The connection mechanism may be a separate connection pipe, or it may be a water delivery mechanism of the clothing treatment apparatus itself (for example, a dispensing device <NUM> of the drum washing machine). Those skilled in the art may flexibly set the specific structure of the connection mechanism in practical applications, as long as the water can be contained by the connection mechanism. The atomization generator <NUM> may be an ultrasonic atomization generator or a compressed atomization generator. Those skilled in the art may flexibly set the specific structure of the atomization generator <NUM> in practical applications, as long as the atomization generator <NUM> can convert the water in the connection mechanism into atomized water droplets when the one-way check structure communicates with the atmosphere so as to perform atomized air washing of the clothing. In addition, a one-way check valve <NUM> may be used as the one-way check structure, such as the one-way check valve <NUM> in the patent No. <CIT>. The principle of the one-way check valve <NUM> belongs to the prior art, so it will not be described in detail herein. Of course, in the present disclosure, other one-way check structures may also be used. For example, the one-way check structure includes a cylinder, a movable block arranged in the cylinder, and a spring connected between the cylinder and the movable block. The movable block divides an internal cavity of the cylinder into two parts. A top part of the cylinder is provided with an air inlet, a bottom part of the cylinder is provided with a water inlet, and a middle part of the cylinder is provided with an outlet. The spring allows the movable block to move between a top limit position, a middle position and a bottom limit position. When the spring is in its natural state, it enables the movable block to be maintained at the bottom limit position. At this time, the air inlet communicates with the outlet, and the water inlet is isolated from the outlet by the movable block, so as to realize the communication between the one-way check structure and the atmosphere. When water inflows from the water inlet, the water pressure moves the movable block to the top limit position against the force of the spring, so that the water inlet communicates with the outlet, and that the air inlet is isolated from the outlet by the movable block. The one-way check structure allows water to pass through and be isolated from the atmosphere. It should be noted that the above-mentioned top part and bottom part are defined relative to the cylinder, and they do not constitute restrictions to the direction and specific positions of arranging the one-way check structure. Alternatively, the one-way check structure may also be a plug structure. Specifically, an opening is provided at the highest point of the connection mechanism, and a plug is provided at the opening. When water inflows from the water supply valve <NUM>, the opening is closed by the plug, and when the water supply valve <NUM> is closed, the plug is removed and the opening communicates with the atmosphere, so that the water in the connection mechanism is sprayed from the outlet of the atomization generator <NUM>. Those skilled in the art may flexibly set the specific structure of the one-way check structure in practical applications, as long as the one-way check structure can be isolated from the atmosphere when the water supply valve <NUM> is opened and can communicate with the atmosphere when the water supply valve <NUM> is closed.

It should be noted that by using the one-way check structure, the present disclosure enables the atomization generator <NUM> to smoothly generate atomized water droplets. This is because when the water supply valve <NUM> is always open, it is very difficult for the atomization generator <NUM> to form atomized water droplets under the action of water pressure. Therefore, the water supply valve <NUM> can be opened to accumulate water in the connection mechanism, and then the water supply valve <NUM> can be closed. At this time, the water in the connection mechanism can be sprayed onto the clothing in the form of atomized water droplets from the atomization generator <NUM> according to the principle of atmospheric communication, so as to ensure that the atomization generator <NUM> can perform atomized air washing of the clothing.

In addition, it should be noted that the clothing treatment apparatus of the present disclosure may be a drum washing machine, a pulsator washing machine, a washing-drying integrated machine, a clothing care machine, etc., and those skilled in the art may flexibly set the application objects of the technical solutions of the present disclosure. Such adjustments and changes to the application objects do not deviate from the principle of the present disclosure, and should be defined within the scope of protection of the present disclosure. The technical solutions of the present disclosure will be further explained below in conjunction with a drum washing machine.

Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the drum washing machine of the present disclosure includes a cabinet, a drum <NUM> arranged in the cabinet, and a window gasket <NUM> connected between an outer cylinder of the drum <NUM> and the cabinet. The atomization generator <NUM> is preferably arranged on the window gasket <NUM>, and an outlet of the atomization generator <NUM> is arranged facing an inner cavity of the drum <NUM>. Of course, the atomization generator <NUM> may also be arranged on the outer cylinder of the drum <NUM>, as long as it can spray atomized water droplets onto the clothing in an inner cylinder of the drum <NUM> so as to perform atomized air washing. In addition, the drum washing machine also includes a dispensing device <NUM> arranged on the cabinet. The dispensing device <NUM> includes a clothing treatment agent dispensing cavity, and a water box arranged on a top of the clothing treatment agent dispensing cavity. A water delivery channel <NUM> is formed in the water box to deliver water. A water inlet end of the water delivery channel <NUM> is connected to the water supply valve <NUM> arranged outside of the dispensing device <NUM>, and a water outlet end of the water delivery channel <NUM> is connected to the atomization generator <NUM>. The water outlet end of the water delivery channel <NUM> may be directly connected to the atomization generator <NUM> through a pipe, or a water tank <NUM> may also be arranged between the water delivery channel <NUM> and the atomization generator <NUM>. That is, the water outlet end of the water delivery channel <NUM> is first connected to the water tank <NUM> through a pipe, and the water tank <NUM> is then connected to the atomization generator <NUM> through another pipe. The water tank <NUM> has a function of accumulating water, and the one-way check valve <NUM> is arranged on the water delivery channel <NUM>. For example, the one-way check valve <NUM> may be arranged close to the water inlet end of the water delivery channel <NUM>. Of course, the one-way check valve <NUM> may also be arranged at other positions of the water delivery channel <NUM>, and those skilled in the art may flexibly set the position where the one-way check valve <NUM> is arranged on the water delivery channel <NUM> in practical applications. Such adjustments and changes to the position where the one-way check valve <NUM> is arranged do not constitute restrictions to the present disclosure, and should be defined within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

Claim 1:
A clothing treatment apparatus comprising a clothing treatment drum and an air washing device, wherein the air washing device comprises a water supply valve (<NUM>), a connection mechanism and an atomization generator (<NUM>); the water supply valve (<NUM>) is connected with the atomization generator (<NUM>) through the connection mechanism, the atomization generator (<NUM>) being an ultrasonic atomization generator or a compressed atomization generator,
characterized in that the connection mechanism is provided with a one-way check structure (<NUM>), the one-way check structure (<NUM>) is arranged to be isolated from the atmosphere when the water supply valve (<NUM>) is opened and to communicate with the atmosphere when the water supply valve (<NUM>) is closed, and an outlet of the atomization generator (<NUM>) is arranged facing an inner cavity of the clothing treatment drum,
wherein when the water supply valve is opened, water is accumulated in the connection mechanism, and when the water supply valve is closed, the accumulated water can be sprayed into the clothing treatment drum (<NUM>) in the form of atomized water droplets from the atomization generator (<NUM>).