U.S. patent application number 10/756391 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-17 for method for smoothing wrinkles of laundry in washing machine.
Invention is credited to Jeon, Si-Moon, Kim, Jin-Woong, Oh, Soo-Young, Woo, Kyung-Chul.
Application Number | 20050034248 10/756391 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36918369 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050034248 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oh, Soo-Young ; et
al. |
February 17, 2005 |
Method for smoothing wrinkles of laundry in washing machine
Abstract
A method for smoothing the laundry wrinkled during a washing
process in the washing machine is disclosed. When a command signal
for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in the washing machine is
inputted, water supplied in the washing machine is heated to
generate steam and then the generated steam is injected to the
laundry in the washing machine while rotating a drum of the washing
machine. Thus, wrinkles of the laundry can be smoothed in the
washing machine without causing a trouble of ironing.
Inventors: |
Oh, Soo-Young; (Seoul,
KR) ; Woo, Kyung-Chul; (Seoul, KR) ; Kim,
Jin-Woong; (Gwangmyeong, KR) ; Jeon, Si-Moon;
(Seoul, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
36918369 |
Appl. No.: |
10/756391 |
Filed: |
January 14, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
8/149.3 ;
8/159 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/08 20130101;
D06F 39/008 20130101; D06F 35/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
008/149.3 ;
008/159 |
International
Class: |
D06F 001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 13, 2003 |
KR |
10-2003-0056266 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing
machine comprising: heating water supplied into a washing machine
and generating steam when a command signal for smoothing wrinkles
of the laundry in the washing machine is inputted; and injecting
the generated steam to the laundry in the washing machine while
rotating a drum of the washing machine.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of injecting steam to
the laundry in the washing machine comprises: terminating injection
of steam to the laundry in the washing machine when a first pre-set
time elapses, and rotating the drum for a second pre-set time.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of injecting steam to
the laundry in the washing machine comprises: stopping rotation of
the drum when the second pre-set time elapses, and informing a user
of completion of smoothing wrinkles of the laundry.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein, in the step of injecting steam
to the laundry in the washing machine, an alarm sound is generated
or an LED (Light Emitting Diode) displaying proceeding of a process
of smoothing wrinkles of the laundry is blinked in order to inform
the user of completion of smoothing wrinkles of the laundry.
5. A method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing
machine comprising: supplying water into a steam generator of a
washing machine when a command signal for smoothing wrinkles of the
laundry is inputted by a user's request after a washing process of
the washing machine is completed; heating water by means of a
heater installed in the steam generator to generate steam;
injecting stream generated for a first pre-set time to the laundry
in the drum while rotating the drum of the washing machine; and
stopping steam-injecting when the first pre-set time elapses.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of injecting steam to
the laundry comprises: rotating the drum for a second pre-set time
after terminating injection of steam to the laundry in the washing
machine.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of injecting steam to
the laundry in the washing machine comprises: stopping rotation of
the drum when the second pre-set time elapses, and informing a user
of completion of smoothing wrinkles of the laundry.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein, in the step of injecting steam
to the laundry in the washing machine, an alarm sound is generated
or an LED (Light Emitting Diode) displaying proceeding of a process
of smoothing wrinkles of the laundry is blinked in order to inform
the user of completion of smoothing wrinkles of the laundry.
9. A method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a drum-type
washing machine comprising: supplying water into a steam generator
of a drum-type washing machine when a command signal for smoothing
wrinkles of the laundry is inputted by a user's request after a
washing process of the drum-type washing machine is completed;
heating water by means of a heater installed in the steam generator
to generate steam; injecting stream generated for a first pre-set
time to the laundry in the drum while rotating the drum of the
drum-type washing machine; stopping steam-injecting when the first
pre-set time elapses; rotating the drum for a second pre-set time
after stopping injection of steam to the laundry in the drum-type
washing machine; and stopping rotation of the drum when the second
pre-set time elapses and informing a user of completion of
smoothing wrinkles of the laundry.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein in the step of injecting steam
to the laundry in the washing machine, an alarm sound is generated
or an LED (Light Emitting Diode) displaying proceeding of a process
of smoothing wrinkles of the laundry is blinked in order to inform
the user of completion of smoothing wrinkles of the laundry.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a washing machine and, more
particularly, to a method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in
a drum-type washing machine.
[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0004] In general, a washing machine is a device for washing the
laundry by performing a washing, rinsing and dewatering stroke. The
washing machine is divided into several types according to a
washing method such as a pulsator method, an agitation method, a
drum method, and the like.
[0005] A general drum-type washing machine will now be described
with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a
general drum-type washing machine.
[0006] As shown in FIG. 1, the drum-type washing machine 1 includes
a drum 4 having a plurality of lifts 5 formed therein in order to
wash the laundry; a rotational shaft 3 coupled to the drum 4 to
rotate the drum 4; a motor 6 for transferring a rotational force to
the rotational shaft 3 through a pulley; a tub 2 supporting the
rotational shaft 3 and coupled at an outer side of the drum 4 to
store water; and a heater 7 installed at a lower side of the tub 2
and heating water.
[0007] The general drum-type washing machine is operated as
follows.
[0008] First, after a user inputs the laundry into the drum 4 of
the drum-type washing machine 4 and depresses a start button, water
is supplied to the drum 4 and at the same time power is applied to
the motor 6. At this time, a rotational force of the motor 6
reaches the rotational shaft 3 by a motor system by means of the
pulley and a belt, and thus, the rotational shaft 3 is rotated
owing to the rotational force of the motor 6. That is, as the drum
4 is repeatedly rotated forwardly and backwardly by virtue of the
rotational shaft 3, the laundry in the drum 4 is washed. In
addition, washing is also performed by impact power generated when
the laundry is lifted up and dropped down by means of the plurality
of lifts 5 formed inside the drum 4 and extension and
contraction.
[0009] According to the drum-type washing method, after a
detergent, water and the laundry are input to the drum, washing is
performed by using a frictional force between the drum 4 rotated
upon receiving the rotational force of the motor 6 and the laundry,
so that the laundry is not hardly damaged nor tangled, and in
addition, a washing effect of pounding and rubbing the laundry can
be obtained.
[0010] Other conventional drum-type washing machines are disclosed
in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,615,619 and 6,612,138.
[0011] However, the conventional drum-type washing machine has a
problem that when a series of washing stroke is completed, the
laundry in the drum-type washing machine is found to have wrinkles.
For example, when the washing machine completes the washing
process, the rinsing process and the dewatering process, the
laundry in the drum-type washing machine wrinkles. Thus, after
taking the wrinkled laundry out of the washing machine, a user
should iron the laundry to get smoothed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
a method for smoothing of the laundry wrinkled during a washing
process in a washing machine without causing a trouble of ironing
after completion of washing.
[0013] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with
the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly
described herein, there is provided a method for smoothing wrinkles
of the laundry in a washing machine including: heating water
supplied into a washing machine and generating steam when a command
signal for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in the washing machine
is inputted; and injecting the generated steam to the laundry in
the washing machine while rotating a drum of the washing
machine.
[0014] To achieve the above object, there is also provided a method
for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine
including: supplying water into a steam generator of a washing
machine when a command signal for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry
is inputted by a user's request after a washing process of the
washing machine is completed; heating water by means of a heater
installed in the steam generator to generate steam; injecting
stream generated for a first pre-set time to the laundry in the
drum while rotating the drum of the washing machine; and stopping
steam-injecting when the first pre-set time elapses.
[0015] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and
advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from
the following detailed description of the present invention when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0017] In the drawings:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a general drum-type
washing machine;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a drum-type washing
machine having a steam generator in accordance with the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a view showing a process of smoothing the laundry
adopted for FIG. 2 in accordance with the present invention;
and
[0021] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for smoothing wrinkles of
the laundry in the drum-type washing machine in accordance with the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0023] A preferred embodiment of a method for smoothing the laundry
wrinkled during a washing process in the drum-type washing machine,
without causing a trouble of ironing the laundry afterward, by
heating water supplied into the washing machine to generate steam
and injecting the generated steam to the laundry in the washing
machine while rotating the drum of the washing machine, will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, a drum-type washing machine having a
steam generator of the present invention includes: a drum 140
rotated by a rotational force of an internal motor (reference
numeral 210 in FIG. 3) of a washing machine to wash the laundry; a
water supply pipe 100 for supplying water into the drum 140; a
detergent box 190 for supplying a detergent into the drum 140; a
steam generator 110 for supplying steam into the drum 140; an
injection nozzle 130 for injecting steam generated from the steam
generator 110 into the drum 140 through a back-current preventing
basin device 120; a drain pipe 150 for draining water from the drum
140; a circulation pimp 160 for pumping water drained from the
drain pipe 150 and circulating it to the back-current preventing
basin device 120 through a cyclic water pipe 170; and an outer
cabinet 180 for protecting the drum 140, the water supply pipe 100,
the detergent box 190, the steam generator 110, the injection
nozzle 130, the drain pipe 150 and the circulation pump 160.
[0025] The drum-type washing machine in accordance with the present
invention is operated as follows.
[0026] First, after a washing process, a rinsing process and a
dewatering process are completed, when a user depresses a button
(not shown) for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry, steam generating
water is supplied into the steam generator 110.
[0027] When steam generating water is supplied as much as a pre-set
water level in the steam generator 110, water supply is stopped and
a heater (not shown) in the steam generator 110 is operated. That
is, the heater converts steam generating water supplied into the
steam generator 110 into steam.
[0028] Thereafter, when steam in the steam storage space of the
steam generator 110 is collected to go beyond a predetermined
pressure, steam is injected into the drum 140 of the washing
machine through the injection nozzle 130. Then, the injected steam
is in contact with the laundry in the drum 140, thereby smoothing
wrinkles. Herein, to make steam be in contact with the laundry
evenly, it is preferred that the drum is rotated for a pre-set
wrinkle-smoothing time (e.g., two minutes) while steam is injected
to the laundry.
[0029] After the operation for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry is
completed, the drum 140 is rotated for a pre-set cooling time
(e.g., one minute). When it reaches the pre-set cooling time, the
drum is stopped from rotating to remove moisture generated as steam
is in contact with the laundry.
[0030] Accordingly, after the washing process, wrinkles of the
laundry can be smoothed in the washing machine without causing a
trouble of ironing afterwards.
[0031] The process of smoothing wrinkles of the laundry of the
present invention will now be described in detail with reference to
FIG. 3.
[0032] FIG. 3 is a view showing a process of smoothing the laundry
adopted for FIG. 2 in accordance with the present invention.
[0033] First, when a command signal for smoothing wrinkles of the
laundry is inputted by a user's request, a controller opens a water
supply value (not shown) and supplies steam generating water as
much as a pre-set water level in the steam generator 110. The steam
generator 110 communicates with the drum 140 accommodating the
laundry, and a header (not shown) is installed inside the steam
generator 110.
[0034] When the command signal for smoothing wrinkles of the
laundry is inputted, the header is operated by a control signal of
the controller to heat the steam generating water supplied in the
steam generator 110 and generate steam.
[0035] Thereafter, when steam generated in the steam generator 110
reaches a pressure above a predetermined level, steam is injected
to the laundry 200 in the drum 140 while the motor 210
communicating with the drum 140 is driven to rotate the drum 140
for a pre-set wrinkle-smoothing time, whereby the wrinkled laundry
can be smoothed in the drum-type washing machine after completion
of the washing without a necessity of ironing.
[0036] When the pre-set wrinkle-smoothing time is terminated, the
heater in the steam generator is stopped to discontinue generation
of steam and the drum 140 is rotated for a pre-set cooling time
(e.g., one minute) to remove moisture remaining in the laundry.
When the pre-set cooling time elapses, that is, when the time for
smoothing wrinkles of the laundry is terminated, the user is
informed accordingly.
[0037] The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in the
drum-type washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment
of the present invention will now be described with reference to
FIG. 4.
[0038] First, when the command signal for smoothing wrinkles of the
laundry is inputted by a user's request (step S40), the controller
opens the water supply valve according to the wrinkle-removing
command signal and supplies steam generating water into the steam
generator 110 (step S41).
[0039] While the steam generating water is supplied into the steam
generator 110, a water level sensor (not shown) determines whether
a water level of the steam generating water reaches a pre-set water
level in the steam generator 110 (step S42). In this respect,
preferably, the pre-set water level is set at an uppermost position
of the heater of the steam generator 110.
[0040] Thereafter, when the water level of the steam generating
water reaches the pre-set water level in the steam generator 110,
the heater is driven (step S43) to generate steam. At this time,
steam is generated for a pre-set steam generating time (e.g., two
minutes.about.four minutes), and when the pre-set steam generating
time elapses (step S44), the generated steam is injected to the
laundry 200 in the drum.
[0041] While steam is injected to the laundry 200 inside the drum,
the drum rotation motor 210 is driven (step S45) to rotate the drum
with the laundry received therein. Accordingly, as the generated
steam is injected to the laundry inside the drum and the drum is
rotated according to driving of the drum-rotating motor, steam is
in contact with the laundry evenly, whereby wrinkles of the laundry
generated after completion of the washing process can be
smoothed.
[0042] The process of injecting steam to the laundry and
simultaneously rotating the drum 140 by driving the drum-rotating
motor 210 is performed for the pre-set wrinkle-smoothing time
(e.g., two minutes), and then, when the pre-set wrinkle-smoothing
time elapses (step S46), the heater of the steam generator 110 is
stopped to discontinue generation of steam (step S47).
[0043] After the heater of the steam generator 110 is stopped from
operating (step S47), the drum is kept rotating for a pre-set
cooling time (e.g., one minute) to cool the heat generated to the
laundry as steam has been injected to the laundry. When the pre-set
cooling time elapses (step S48), the drum-rotating motor 210 is
stopped to stop rotation of the drum (step S49). Accordingly, by
rotating the drum after injecting steam to the laundry to smooth
wrinkles of the laundry, the wrinkles of the laundry is smoothed
and the laundry is dewatered.
[0044] After the laundry is dewatered in the step S49, the user is
informed of the completion of smoothing of wrinkles of the laundry
(steps S50-1 and S50-2), power supply to the washing machine is
automatically cut off (step S51), and the present invention is
terminated. There can be diverse methods of informing the user of
completion of the operation of smoothing wrinkles of the laundry.
For example, preferably, an alarm sound can be generated (step
S50-1) or an LED (Light Emitting Diode) displaying that the process
of smoothing wrinkles of the laundry is being performed can be
blinked (step S50-2), to inform the user of completion of smoothing
the wrinkles of the laundry.
[0045] As so far described, the method for smoothing wrinkles of
the laundry in a drum-type washing machine in accordance with the
present invention has the following advantage.
[0046] That is, for example, after the washing stroke is completed,
the drum is rotated while steam is injected to the laundry
positioned in the drum, whereby the laundry wrinkled during the
washing process can be smoothed and thus the user may not be
troubled by ironing the laundry.
[0047] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms
without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described
embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing
description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be
construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the
appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that
fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of
such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the
appended claims.
* * * * *