Patent Description:
The present invention belongs to the technical field of clothing treatment, and specifically provides a clothing treatment apparatus.

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 also 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. Therefore, the clothing can be washed by atomized air washing. An atomization generator is required to be provided for this kind of washing machine, and the atomization generator needs a driving board for driving. If the driving board and a control panel of the washing machine are installed together, more space of a washing machine tray will be inevitably occupied, and a relatively long wire harness is required to connect the driving board with the atomization generator, which makes it inconvenient to arrange the wire harness; therefore, the kind of washing machine with the atomization generator has significant limitations in actual production.

With the advancement of science and technology, the automation level of human life is becoming higher and higher, and for daily housework, manpower is being gradually replaced by machines. As a common household appliance in daily life, the clothing treatment apparatus has brought great convenience to people's lives. According to the washing mode, the clothing treatment apparatus can be roughly divided into a pulsator washing machine and a drum washing machine. Taking the drum 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 the washing drum at the beginning, the stains on the surface of the clothing will directly enter the lining of the clothing in a state where the 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 order to solve the above problems, the drum washing machine is equipped with an atomization generator and a water tank for supplying water to the atomization generator. For example, Chinese patent publication <CIT> and German patent publication <CIT> all disclose a washing machine comprising an atomization generator. Under the atomization action of the atomization generator, the water is converted into small particles of atomized water droplets to realize a treatment of the clothing by atomized air, which improves the washing effect of the clothing and improves the user experience in use. However, the function of the water tank of the above-mentioned drum washing machine is single, which can only meet the demand of supplying water to the atomization generator, and cannot meet the user's other use demands, which greatly affects the user's experience in use.

In order to solve the above problems, the drum washing machine is equipped with an atomization generator and a water tank for supplying water to the atomization generator. Under the atomization action of the atomization generator, the water is converted into small particles of atomized water droplets to realize a treatment of the clothing by atomized air, which improves the washing effect of the clothing and improves the user experience in use. However, after the atomization is completed in the water tank of the above-mentioned drum washing machine, a small amount of water will remain in the water tank. If this part of water is not discharged, bacteria will grow in the water tank, which will affect the hygienic security of the drum washing machine and greatly affect the user's experience in use.

In the prior art, taking the 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 the washing drum at the beginning, the stains on the surface of the clothing will directly enter the lining of the clothing in a state where the 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 the 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.

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

In order to solve the problem that the function of a water-containing assembly of the existing clothing treatment apparatus is single and it is difficult to meet the various requirements of users, the present disclosure provides an invention of a clothing treatment apparatus as set out in the appended set of claims.

According to the invention, the drum washing machine includes a cabinet and a water-containing assembly, a sprinkling assembly and an atomization generator that are arranged in the cabinet. As compared with the existing technical solution in which the water tank supplies water to the atomization generator, the water-containing assembly of the present invention includes a water tank and a plurality of delivery pipelines. The water tank is connected to the atomization generator through one of the delivery pipelines, and the water tank is connected to the sprinkling assembly through the rest of the delivery pipelines, so that not only the atomization generator can be supplied with water, but also the sprinkling assembly can be supplied with water. Therefore, the drum washing machine has two clothing washing modes, i.e., atomized air washing and sprinkling washing, so that users can flexibly select the corresponding washing method according to their own needs to meet various requirements of users and improve the user experience.

Further, the drum washing machine includes a water supply valve, a water delivery channel and a one-way check structure that are arranged in the cabinet. By connecting the one-way check structure with the water delivery channel, the first water-containing member and the second water-containing member, when the water supply valve is opened, water can be injected into the water delivery channel, the first water-containing member and the second water-containing member, and then when the water supply valve is closed, the one-way check structure communicates with the atmosphere so that the water in the water delivery channel, the first water-containing member and the second water-containing member is sprayed from the atomization generator. 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. 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 drum washing machine and further improving the user experience.

Further, the first water-containing member is provided therein with a water diverting and blocking rib. When water begins to be injected into the water tank, the water diverting and blocking rib enables all the water flowing through the first chamber to flow into the second water-containing member. The water flowing into the second water-containing member is sprayed from the atomization generator, and is converted into small particles of atomized water droplets under the atomization action of the atomization generator. The atomized water droplets can first moisten the clothing so that stains on the surface of clothing are removed first to prevent the stains on the surface of the clothing from entering the lining of the clothing. When the second water-containing member is completely filled with water, the water flowing through the first chamber overflows the water diverting and blocking rib, flows into the second chamber, and flows to the first sprinkling head through the first delivery pipeline. The first sprinkling head sprays water into the inner cylinder, so that less time, water amount, washing liquid and mechanical action can be used to wash the clothing clean in the subsequent washing process, thereby improving the washing effect on the clothing and making the drum washing machine more energy-saving.

Further, the water tank further includes a siphon member, the siphon member is connected to the second sprinkling head through the third delivery pipeline, and when the second water-containing member is completely filled with water, the siphon member can suck out all the water in the second water-containing member by siphoning, so that all the water in the second water-containing member is emptied, which prevents water from remaining in the second water-containing member, thereby preventing the second water-containing member from becoming moldy, deteriorating, and breeding bacteria, and improving the hygienic security of the drum washing machine.

Hereinafter, the clothing treatment apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with a drum washing machine. In the drawings:.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand 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. For example, although the present application is described in conjunction with a drum washing machine, the technical solution of the present disclosure is not limited to this. The water-containing assembly can obviously also be applied to other clothing treatment apparatuses such as a pulsator washing machine, a shoe washing machine, a washing-drying integrated machine, etc., and such changes do not deviate from the principle and scope of the present disclosure.

It should be noted that in the description of the present invention, terms indicating directional or positional relationships, such as "inside", "bottom" 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, the terms "first", "second" and "third" are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

In addition, it should also be noted that in the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, terms "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.

Based on the problem in the prior art pointed out in the "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION", the water tank of the present invention is connected to the atomization generator through one of the delivery pipelines, and the water tank is connected to the sprinkling assembly through the rest of the delivery pipelines, so that not only the atomization generator can be supplied with water, but also the sprinkling assembly can be supplied with water. Therefore, the drum washing machine has two clothing washing modes, i.e., atomized air washing and sprinkling washing, so that users can flexibly select the corresponding washing method according to their own needs to meet various requirements of users and improve the user experience.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, <FIG> is a schematic view of a partial structure of the drum washing machine of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is an exploded view of the water-containing assembly of the present disclosure. The drum washing machine of the present disclosure includes a cabinet and a door, the door is pivotally connected with the cabinet, and a viewing window is provided on the door to facilitate the user to observe a washing condition of the clothing in an inner cylinder. As shown in <FIG>, the drum washing machine also includes an outer cylinder <NUM>, an inner cylinder, a window gasket <NUM>, a water-containing assembly <NUM>, a sprinkling assembly <NUM>, and an atomization generator <NUM>. The outer cylinder <NUM> is arranged in the cabinet, the inner cylinder is rotatably accommodated in the outer cylinder <NUM>, the cabinet is provided with a clothing inlet, and the window gasket <NUM> is arranged between the clothing inlet and the outer cylinder <NUM>; the water-containing assembly <NUM> is arranged in the cabinet, and the water-containing assembly <NUM> is configured to supply water to the sprinkling assembly <NUM> and the atomization generator <NUM>; the sprinkling assembly <NUM> and the atomization generator <NUM> are arranged on the window gasket <NUM>. The sprinkling assembly <NUM> is configured to perform sprinkling washing on the clothing, and the atomization generator <NUM> is configured to perform atomized washing on the clothing. Of course, the positions where the water-containing assembly <NUM>, the sprinkling assembly <NUM>, and the atomization generator <NUM> are actually installed are not limited to the above-exemplified installation positions. Those skilled in the art may flexibly set the positions where the water-containing assembly <NUM>, the sprinkling assembly <NUM>, and the atomization generator <NUM> are actually installed in practical applications, as long as the water-containing assembly <NUM>, the sprinkling assembly <NUM> and the atomization generator <NUM> cooperate to enable the drum washing machine to have two clothing washing modes: atomized air washing and sprinkling washing.

Preferably, the atomization generator <NUM> may be an ultrasonic atomization generator <NUM> or a compressed atomization generator <NUM>. 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 water-containing assembly <NUM> into atomized water droplets so as to perform atomized air washing of the clothing.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the water-containing assembly <NUM> includes a water tank <NUM>, a first delivery pipeline <NUM>, a second delivery pipeline <NUM>, and a third delivery pipeline <NUM>; an outlet of the water tank <NUM> is connected to the sprinkling assembly <NUM> through the first delivery pipeline <NUM> and the third delivery pipeline <NUM>, so as to supply water to the sprinkling assembly <NUM>, and an outlet of the water tank <NUM> is connected to the atomization generator <NUM> through the second delivery pipeline <NUM>, so as to supply water to the atomization generator <NUM>. Those skilled in the art can understand that the actual installation positions and number of the delivery pipelines are not limited to the above-exemplified installation positions and number, and those skilled in the art may flexibly set the actual installation positions and number of the delivery pipelines in practical applications, as long as the delivery pipelines can supply water to both the atomization generator <NUM> and the sprinkling assembly <NUM>.

Preferably, as shown in <FIG>, the sprinkling assembly <NUM> includes a first sprinkling head <NUM> and a second sprinkling head <NUM>, and both the first sprinkling head <NUM> and the second sprinkling head <NUM> are arranged on the window gasket <NUM>. The first sprinkling head <NUM> is configured to spray water into the inner cylinder to perform sprinkling washing on the clothing; and the second sprinkling head <NUM> is configured to spray water on the viewing window to wash away the washing water splashed onto the viewing window, so that the user can clearly observe a washing condition of the clothing in the inner cylinder.

As shown in <FIG>, the water tank <NUM> includes a first water-containing member <NUM> and a second water-containing member <NUM>, the first water-containing member <NUM> and the second water-containing member <NUM> communicate with each other, and an outlet of the first water-containing member <NUM> is connected to the first sprinkling head <NUM> through the first delivery pipeline <NUM>, so as to deliver the water in the first water-containing member <NUM> to the first sprinkling head <NUM>; a first outlet of the second water-containing member <NUM> is connected to the atomization generator <NUM> through the second delivery pipeline <NUM> so as to deliver the water in the second water-containing member <NUM> to the atomization generator <NUM>; and a second outlet of the second water-containing member <NUM> is connected to the second sprinkling head <NUM> through the third delivery pipeline <NUM> so as to deliver the water in the second water-containing member <NUM> to the second sprinkling head <NUM>.

In order to make the atomization generator <NUM> smoothly generate atomized water droplets, as shown in <FIG> and with reference to <FIG>, the drum washing machine further includes a water supply valve (not shown in the figure), a water delivery channel <NUM> and a one-way check structure <NUM> that are arranged in the cabinet; the water supply valve is connected to a water inlet end of the water delivery channel <NUM>, a water outlet end of the water delivery channel <NUM> is connected to the inlet of the first water-containing member <NUM>, the first water-containing member <NUM> and the second water-containing member <NUM> communicate with each other, the second water-containing member <NUM> is connected with the atomization generator <NUM>, the one-way check structure <NUM> is connected with the water delivery channel <NUM> and the first water-containing member <NUM> respectively, and the one-way check structure <NUM> is arranged to be isolated from the atmosphere when the water supply valve is opened and to communicate with the atmosphere when the water supply valve is closed. Specifically, when the water supply valve 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 can be opened to accumulate water in the water delivery channel <NUM>, the first water-containing member <NUM> and the second water-containing member <NUM>; then the water supply valve is closed. At this time, the water in the water delivery channel <NUM>, the first water-containing member <NUM> and the second water-containing member <NUM> 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. If it is required to inject a large amount of water into the inner cylinder, the atomization generator <NUM> is closed at this time so as to keep the water supply valve always open and ensure that the first delivery pipeline <NUM> is in a communicated state, thereby achieving continuous water injection into the inner cylinder.

Preferably, the one-way check structure <NUM> is a one-way check valve. Of course, the one-way check structure <NUM> is not limited to the above-exemplified structures, and other combined structures of a one-way check valve and pipelines can also be used. For example, the one-way check valve is connected to the water delivery channel <NUM> through a first connection pipeline, and the one-way check valve is connected to the inlet of the first water-containing member <NUM> through a second connection pipeline. Alternatively, a combined structure of a plug and pipelines may be used. Any structure can be adopted, as long as the one-way check structure <NUM> can be isolated from the atmosphere when the water supply valve is opened and can communicate with the atmosphere when the water supply valve is closed.

Preferably, the position where the one-way check valve is arranged is at a different height from the position where the outlet of the atomization generator <NUM> is arranged, so that when the one-way check valve communicates with the atmosphere, a certain liquid level difference is formed between the one-way check valve and the outlet of the atomization generator <NUM>. Therefore, the water accumulated in water delivery channel <NUM> and the water tank <NUM> can be more easily sprayed onto the clothing in the form of atomized water droplets from the atomization generator <NUM>.

Further, since the position where the water delivery channel <NUM> is arranged is generally higher than the position where the outer cylinder <NUM> is arranged in the drum washing machine, the position where the one-way check valve is arranged is set to be higher than the position where the outlet of the atomization generator <NUM> is arranged, thereby making full use of the original structure of the drum washing machine.

In order that the second water-containing member <NUM> is completely filled with water first when water is injected, as shown in <FIG>, a water diverting and blocking rib <NUM> is provided in the first water-containing member <NUM>, and the water diverting and blocking rib <NUM> divides an internal space of the first water-containing member <NUM> into a first chamber and a second chamber; an inlet of the first water-containing member <NUM> is arranged in the first chamber, and the outlet of the first water-containing member <NUM> is arranged in the second chamber. When the water begins to be injected into the water tank <NUM>, the water diverting and blocking rib <NUM> enables all the water flowing through the first chamber to flow into the second water-containing member <NUM>, and the water flowing into the second water-containing member <NUM> is sprayed from the atomization generator <NUM>, and is converted into small particles of atomized water droplets under the atomization action of the atomization generator <NUM>. The atomized water droplets can first moisten the clothing so that stains on the surface of clothing are removed first to prevent the stains on the surface of the clothing from entering the lining of the clothing. When the second water-containing member <NUM> is completely filled with water, the water flowing through the first chamber overflows the water diverting and blocking rib <NUM>, flows into the second chamber, and flows to the first sprinkling head <NUM> through the first delivery pipeline <NUM>. The first sprinkling head <NUM> sprays water into the inner cylinder, so that less time, water amount, washing liquid and mechanical action can be used to wash the clothing clean in the subsequent washing process, thereby improving the washing effect on the clothing and making the drum washing machine more energy-saving.

Preferably, the water diverting and blocking rib <NUM> is arranged in a direction from the inlet of the first water-containing member <NUM> to the inlet of the second water-containing member <NUM>.

Preferably, a height of a bottom of the first water-containing member <NUM> is larger than a height of a bottom of the second water-containing member <NUM>, so that a large amount of water can be injected into the second water-containing member <NUM>, which can provide enough water for the atomization generator <NUM> to meet the requirement of atomized washing of the clothing.

Preferably, a height of a bottom of the first chamber is the same as a height of a bottom of the second chamber, and only when the liquid level in the second water-containing member <NUM> reaches the bottom of the first chamber or the bottom of the second chamber will the water in the first chamber be able to overflow the water diverting and blocking rib <NUM> and flow into the second chamber, so that a sufficient amount of water can be injected into the second water-containing member <NUM>.

In order to discharge all the water in the second water-containing member <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, the water tank <NUM> further includes a siphon member <NUM>, which is connected to the second sprinkling head <NUM> through the third delivery pipeline <NUM>. The siphon member <NUM> is configured to suck out all the water in the second water-containing member <NUM> by siphoning, which prevents water from remaining in the second water-containing member <NUM>, thereby preventing the second water-containing member <NUM> from becoming moldy, deteriorating, and breeding bacteria, and improving the hygienic security of the drum washing machine.

Preferably, as shown in <FIG>, the water-containing assembly <NUM> further includes a cover <NUM> arranged above the water tank <NUM>; the siphon member <NUM> includes a siphon cap <NUM> and a siphon tube <NUM>, the siphon cap <NUM> is arranged on the cover <NUM>, the siphon tube <NUM> is arranged in the second water-containing member <NUM>, and the siphon tube <NUM> communicates with the second outlet of the second water-containing member <NUM>. When the cover <NUM> is closed with the water tank <NUM>, the siphon cap <NUM> can be sleeved over the siphon tube <NUM>. A siphon channel is formed between the siphon cap <NUM> and the siphon tube <NUM>. When the second water-containing member <NUM> is completely filled with water or a siphon liquid level is reached, the water in the second water-containing member <NUM> can be sucked out through the siphon channel, and the sucked-out water flows to the second sprinkling head <NUM> through the third delivery pipeline <NUM>, and is sprayed onto the viewing window through the second sprinkling head <NUM>.

Preferably, a height of the siphon cap <NUM> is slightly smaller than a height of the second water-containing member <NUM>, so that there is a gap between a bottom of the siphon cap <NUM> and a bottom of the second water-containing member <NUM>, thus enabling the water in the second water-containing member <NUM> to be siphoned into the siphon channel through the gap.

Preferably, a height of the siphon tube <NUM> is slightly smaller than the height of the second water-containing member <NUM>, and when the siphon cap <NUM> can be sleeved over the siphon tube <NUM>, there is a gap between a top of the siphon tube <NUM> and a top of the siphon cap <NUM>, so that the water siphoned into the siphon channel can flow into the siphon tube <NUM> through the gap, flow into the third delivery pipeline <NUM> through the outlet of the first water-containing member <NUM>, and be delivered to the second sprinkling head <NUM> through the third delivery pipeline <NUM>.

Preferably, as shown in <FIG>, a positioning post <NUM> is provided in the first water-containing member <NUM>, and a positioning hole <NUM> is provided on the cover <NUM>. When the cover <NUM> is connected to the water tank <NUM>, the positioning post <NUM> passes through the positioning hole <NUM> to position the cover <NUM>, thereby preventing the cover <NUM> from falling off the water tank <NUM>.

Of course, the structure of the siphon member <NUM> is not limited to the above-exemplified structure. Those skilled in the art may flexibly set the structure of the siphon member <NUM> in practical applications, as long as the siphon member <NUM> can suck out all the water in the second water-containing member <NUM> by siphoning.

Claim 1:
A clothing treatment apparatus, comprising a cabinet, and a water-containing assembly (<NUM>), a sprinkling assembly (<NUM>) and an atomization generator (<NUM>) that are arranged in the cabinet;
wherein the water-containing assembly (<NUM>) comprises a water tank (<NUM>) and a plurality of delivery pipelines, the water tank (<NUM>) is connected to the atomization generator (<NUM>) through one of the delivery pipelines, and the atomization generator (<NUM>) is configured to perform atomized washing on the clothing; the water tank (<NUM>) is connected to the sprinkling assembly (<NUM>) through the rest of the delivery pipelines, and the sprinkling assembly (<NUM>) is configured to perform sprinkling washing on the clothing,
characterized in that:
the water tank (<NUM>) comprises a first water-containing member (<NUM>) and a second water-containing member (<NUM>) that communicate with each other, and the plurality of delivery pipelines comprise a first delivery pipeline (<NUM>), a second delivery pipeline (<NUM>), and a third delivery pipeline (<NUM>); and
an outlet of the first water-containing member (<NUM>) is connected to the sprinkling assembly (<NUM>) through the first delivery pipeline (<NUM>), a first outlet of the second water-containing member (<NUM>) is connected to the atomization generator (<NUM>) through the second delivery pipeline (<NUM>), and a second outlet of the second water-containing member (<NUM>) is connected to the sprinkling assembly (<NUM>) through the third delivery pipeline (<NUM>).