US-12624486-B2 - Washing machine control method for dispensing liquid, and washing machine

US12624486B2US 12624486 B2US12624486 B2US 12624486B2US-12624486-B2

Abstract

A washing machine control method includes receiving an instruction for dispensing laundry treatment agent; controlling a switching valve to be in a preset neutral position where a valve core is not communicated with liquid inlets of a valve body; controlling the valve core of the switching valve to rotate to be communicated with a liquid inlet corresponding to a laundry treatment agent for dispensing; controlling the switching valve to rotate to be in the preset neutral position; determining whether to dispense a laundry treatment agent again; if not, controlling the switching valve to feed water for flushing. After receiving an instruction for dispensing a laundry treatment agent, the switching valve starts to run from a preset neutral position. After a laundry treatment agent is dispensed, the switching valve is again controlled to return to the preset neutral position, and then determining to receive a dispensing instruction.

Inventors

Sheng Xu
Dongsong SUN
Yanfen Lv
Tao Zhang
Chuanrong MA

Assignees

Haier IOC Ecosystem Technologies (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20221118
Priority Date: 20211210

Claims (9)

1 . A washing machine control method for dispensing liquid, including, S 1 , receiving an instruction for dispensing laundry treatment agent; S 2 , controlling a switching valve to be in a preset neutral position where a valve core is not communicated with liquid inlets of a valve body; S 3 , controlling the valve core of the switching valve to rotate to be communicated with a one of the liquid inlets corresponding to a laundry treatment agent for dispensing; S 4 , controlling the switching valve to rotate to be in the preset neutral position; S 5 , determining whether to dispense a laundry treatment agent again; if yes, executing step S 3 ; if not, controlling the switching valve to feed water for flushing, wherein, the washing machine includes the switching valve; the switching valve includes the valve core and the valve body, the valve body is provided with the liquid inlets, the valve core is rotatably installed in the valve body and is configured to be selectively communicated with one of the liquid inlets.
2 . The washing machine control method for dispensing liquid according to claim 1 , wherein, the switching valve includes a stepper motor, the stepper motor is connected with the valve core and is used to drive the valve core to rotate in the valve body, and a limiting component is arranged at the preset neutral position for preventing the valve core from continuing to rotate; wherein, step S 2 includes: S 21 , controlling the switching valve to rotate toward the preset neutral position; S 22 , detecting a current value I of the stepper motor; S 23 , determining whether the current value I of the stepper motor is greater than or equal to a preset value I 0 ; if yes, determining that the switching valve is rotated to the preset neutral position, and controlling the switching valve to stop rotating.
3 . The washing machine control method for dispensing liquid according to claim 1 , wherein, a limiting rib is arranged at the preset neutral position of the valve body, an end of the valve core is provided with a positioning protrusion, and the positioning protrusion is configured to be abutted against the limiting rib to limit a rotation range of the valve core; wherein, step S 2 includes: S 21 , controlling the switching valve to rotate toward the preset neutral position; S 22 , detecting a position of the positioning protrusion relative to the limiting rib; S 23 , determining whether the positioning protrusion is in contact with the limiting rib; if yes, determining that the switching valve rotates to the preset neutral position, and controlling the switching valve to stop rotating.
4 . The washing machine control method for dispensing liquid according to claim 1 , wherein, step S 3 includes: S 31 , obtaining a rotation direction and calculating an amount of rotation steps according to the preset neutral position and a position of one of the liquid inlets corresponding to a laundry treatment agent; S 32 , controlling the stepper motor to rotate according to the rotation direction and the rotation steps; S 33 , dispensing the laundry treatment agent.
5 . The washing machine control method for dispensing liquid according to claim 1 , between step S 3 and step S 4 , including: detecting a volume of flow L 1 of a laundry treatment agent, and determining whether the volume of flow L 1 of the laundry treatment agent is greater than or equal to a preset volume of flow L 1 ; if yes, determining that a process of dispensing the laundry treatment agent is completed, and executing step S 4 .
6 . The washing machine control method for dispensing liquid according to claim 1 , wherein, in step S 5 includes: obtaining whether a laundry treatment agent is dispensed again within a preset time T; if yes, executing step S 3 ; if not, controlling to flush the switching valve with water.
7 . The washing machine control method for dispensing liquid according to claim 6 , wherein, in step S 5 , the preset time T is in a range of 1s≤T≤5s.
8 . The washing machine control method for dispensing liquid according to claim 6 , wherein, the liquid inlets of the valve body include one water inlet for flushing the switching valve with water; in step S 5 , if it is determined that the switching valve is controlled to be flushed with water, the following steps are included: S 51 , obtaining a rotation direction and calculating a amount of rotation steps according to the preset neutral position and a position of the water inlet; S 52 , controlling the stepper motor to run according to the rotation direction and the rotation steps; S 53 , controlling to flush the switching valve with water.
9 . The washing machine control method for dispensing liquid according to claim 6 , wherein, in step S 5 , the preset time T is 3s.

Description

FIELD The application relates to a field of laundry treatment apparatus, and in particular relates to a washing machine control method for dispensing liquid and a washing machine. BACKGROUND With the development of science and technology, there are more and more types of laundry apparatus, and laundry apparatus becomes gradually more and more intellectualized. Automatic dispensing devices in the prior art have greatly facilitated people's lives. A variety of laundry treatment agents need to be separately dispensed by a feeding device with multiple delivery pumps. For a dispensing device, more delivery pumps are needed, the structure is complex, and the cost is high. Chinese Patent Application No. CN201420198178.7 discloses a washing machine and an automatic dispensing system thereof. The automatic dispensing system includes a laundry treatment agent storage box with a plurality of laundry treatment agent storage chambers; an electromagnetic steering valve; and a delivery pump. The electromagnetic steering valve has a plurality of liquid inlets and one liquid outlet, the laundry treatment agent storage box is communicated with the electromagnetic steering valve, and the liquid inlets are connected with the laundry treatment agent storage chambers in one-to-one correspondent. The electromagnetic steering valve is used to selectively connect one of the liquid inlets with the one liquid outlet. The delivery pump has an inlet and an outlet, and the inlet of the delivery pump is connected with the one liquid outlet. The washing machine is controlled to connect the liquid outlet with one of the liquid inlets and disconnected from the other liquid inlets by the electromagnetic steering valve. Although the switching valve can be adjusted, the electromagnetic valve has low precision and cannot be continuously adjusted. In view of this, the present application is proposed. SUMMARY The technical problem to be solved by the present application is how to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art. A control method for dispensing liquid and a washing machine are provided. In dispensing a laundry treatment agent, the valve core of the switching valve is first rotated to a preset neutral position wherein the valve core is not communicated with liquid inlets of the valve body. It is improved in accurately controlling the switching valve. After a laundry treatment agent is dispensed, the switching valve is again controlled to return to the preset neutral position, and then determining to receive a dispensing instruction. So the switching valve is continuously adjusted, and the practicality is increased. Another aspect of the present application is to provide a washing machine. A washing machine can be continuously controlled and be improved in the control accuracy by controlling the state of the switching valve. In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the basic concept of the technical solution in the present application is to provide a washing machine control method for dispensing liquid. A switching valve includes a valve core and a valve body, the valve core is provided with one inlet and one outlet, and the valve body is provided with liquid inlets and one liquid outlet. One of the liquid inlets is as a water inlet. The control method includes: S1, receiving an instruction for dispensing laundry treatment agent;S2, controlling the switching valve to be in a preset neutral position where the valve core is not communicated with the liquid inlets of the valve body;S3, controlling the valve core of the switching valve to rotate to be communicated with a liquid inlet corresponding to a laundry treatment agent for dispensing;S4, controlling the switching valve to rotate to be in the preset neutral position;S5, determining whether to dispense a laundry treatment agent again; if yes, executing step S3; if not, controlling the switching valve to feed water for flushing. In an operation of a washing machine in the present application, after receiving an instruction for dispensing a laundry treatment agent, the switching valve starts to run from the neutral state. It is avoided that the inlet of the valve core of the switching valve is in inaccurate communication with the liquid inlet of the valve body. After dispensing the corresponding laundry treatment agent, the switching valve is controlled to return to the preset neutral position again, and then determine whether to receive a dispensing instruction. So, the switching valve is continuously controlled, it is improved in accurately controlling the switching valve, and it is increased in user's experience. As an embodiment, the switching valve includes a stepper motor. The stepper motor is connected with the valve core and is used to drive the valve core to rotate in the valve body. A limiting component is arranged at the preset neutral position, for preventing the valve core from continuing to rotate. In step S2, the following steps are also included: S21, contr