U.S. patent application number 11/092628 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-08 for drum-type washing machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Jeong, Ji Deok, Kim, Hyung Gyoon, Ko, Hong Seok.
Application Number | 20050268669 11/092628 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34940389 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050268669 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ko, Hong Seok ; et
al. |
December 8, 2005 |
Drum-type washing machine
Abstract
A drum-type washing machine including at least one lifter for
supplying wash water from the outside of a drum to the inside of
the drum, and a controller for controlling water supply operations
and washing operations based on the angle of rotation of the drum
sensed by an angle sensing device. The controller positions the
lifter under a water supply pipe so that the wash water is directly
supplied from the outside of the drum to the inside of the drum
through the lifter. Thus, laundry loaded in the drum is uniformly
and rapidly wetted with the wash water. The controller also causes
the laundry carried by the lifter to fall from the top position of
the drum to maximize dropping power in a wash mode.
Inventors: |
Ko, Hong Seok; (Hwasung-si,
KR) ; Jeong, Ji Deok; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Kim,
Hyung Gyoon; (Suwon-Si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
34940389 |
Appl. No.: |
11/092628 |
Filed: |
March 30, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/12.05 ;
68/12.19; 68/12.21; 68/140; 68/142; 68/207; 68/24; 68/58 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 2103/24 20200201;
D06F 37/302 20130101; D06F 2105/48 20200201; D06F 33/34 20200201;
D06F 2204/065 20130101; D06F 2202/065 20130101; D06F 37/065
20130101; D06F 2105/02 20200201; D06F 2204/086 20130101; D06F
35/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
068/012.05 ;
068/024; 068/058; 068/140; 068/012.19; 068/012.21; 068/142;
068/207 |
International
Class: |
D06F 033/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 2, 2004 |
KR |
2004-40000 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A drum-type washing machine comprising: a drum; an angle sensing
device which senses the angle of rotation of the drum; a drum motor
rotating the drum; a motor-driving unit driving the drum motor; and
a controller controlling water supply operations and washing
operations based on the angle of rotation of the drum sensed by the
angle sensing device.
2. The drum-type washing machine according to claim 1, comprising:
at least one lifter, wherein the at least one lifter supplies wash
water to the inside of the drum, and wherein the controller
recognizes the position of the at least one lifter using the angle
sensing device and thereby controls the rotational position of the
drum such that the drum can receive the wash water from the at
least one lifter.
3. The drum-type washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the
at least one lifter includes a main body, incoming holes formed
through the main body for receiving the supplied wash water, and
spray holes formed through the main body for spraying the wash
water into the drum.
4. The drum-type washing machine according to claim 1, comprising:
at least one lifter, wherein the at least one lifter carries
laundry loaded in the drum, and wherein the controller recognizes
the position of the laundry carried by the at least one lifter
using the angle sensing device and thereby controls the rotational
speed of the drum.
5. The drum-type washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the
controller decreases the rotational speed of the drum before the
laundry reaches a top position so that the laundry falls from the
top position.
6. The drum-type washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the
angle sensing device is an encoder outputting different pulse
signals based on the rotational position of the drum, and the
encoder outputs a standard pulse signal when the drum is in a
predetermined standard position and outputs another pulse signal
when the drum is not in the predetermined standard position.
7. The drum-type washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the
standard pulse signal has a higher intensity than that of another
pulse signal.
8. The drum-type washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the
angle sensing device is an encoder outputting different pulse
signals based on the rotational position of the drum, and the
encoder outputs a standard pulse signal when the drum is in a
predetermined standard position and outputs another pulse signal
when the drum is not in the predetermined standard position.
9. The drum-type washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the
standard pulse signal has a higher intensity than that of another
pulse signal.
10. A drum-type washing machine comprising: a rotary drum; a motor
rotating the rotary drum; a motor-driving unit driving the motor;
at least one lifter lifting laundry and supplying wash water to the
inside of the drum; a sensing device which detects the position of
the lifter; and a controller that places the lifter at a first
predetermined position to supply the wash water to the inside of
the drum, and reduces the rotational speed of the drum when the
lifter rotated along the rotational direction of the drum reaches a
second predetermined position.
11. The drum-type washing machine according to claim 10, wherein
the lifter includes a main body, incoming holes formed through the
main body for receiving the supplied wash water, and spray holes
formed through the main body for spraying the wash water into the
drum.
12. The drum-type washing machine according to claim 10, wherein
the sensing device is an encoder outputting different pulse signals
based on the rotational position of the drum corresponding to the
position of the lifter, and the encoder outputs a standard pulse
signal when the drum is in a predetermined standard position and
outputs another pulse signal having a lower intensity than that of
the standard pulse signal when the drum is not in the predetermined
standard position.
13. The drum-type washing machine according to claim 12, wherein
the first determined position is a top position of the drum having
the highest level in the drum, and the second determined position
is a position of a level lower than that of the top position.
14. A drum-type washing machine comprising: a drum; means for
sensing the angle of rotation of the drum; a drum motor for
rotating the drum; means for driving the drum motor; and means for
controlling water supply operations and washing operations based on
the angle of rotation of the drum sensed by the angle sensing
means.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 2004-40000, filed Jun. 2, 2004, in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a drum-type washing machine
and, more particularly, to a drum-type washing machine having an
improved water supply structure, in which laundry drops from a top
position in a drum.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A drum-type washing machine washes laundry using the
frictional force between a drum and the laundry by operating a drum
motor to rotate the drum containing detergent, wash water and the
laundry.
[0006] The drum-type washing machine is constructed such that the
wash water filling a tub is supplied to the laundry in the drum
through holes located in the drum. Since the wash water first fills
a gap between the inner circumference of the tub and the outer
circumference of the drum before the wash water wets the laundry in
the drum, it takes a long time to uniformly wet the laundry in the
drum.
[0007] Lifters formed in a longitudinal direction of a rotary shaft
are installed on the inner circumference of the drum. The lifters
lift the laundry in a rotational direction of the drum during the
rotation of the drum. The laundry is allowed to drop by force of
gravity when the laundry reaches the upper part of the drum,
thereby achieving the washing of the laundry.
[0008] Since the conventional drum-type washing machine sets the
rotational speed of the drum based on the weight of the laundry and
then operates the drum based on the set rotational speed, the
laundry carried by the lifters drops either before or after the
laundry reaches the top position of the drum. Accordingly, when
compared to the case in which the laundry drops from the top
position of the drum, the conventional drum-type washing machine
has a low dropping power, thereby reducing the washing effect and
requiring a long time to wash the laundry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Therefore, an aspect of the invention is to provide a
drum-type washing machine having an improved water supply
structure, in which laundry put into a drum is uniformly and
rapidly wetted with wash water, and a rotational speed of the drum
is controlled so that the laundry drops from the top position of
the drum.
[0010] In accordance with one aspect, the present invention
provides a drum-type washing machine comprising: a drum containing
laundry; angle sensing means for sensing the angle of rotation of
the drum; a drum motor for rotating the drum; a motor-driving unit
for driving the drum motor; and a controller for controlling the
water supply operations and washing operations based on the angle
of rotation of the drum sensed by the angle sensing means.
[0011] At least one lifter for supplying wash water, for washing
the laundry, from the outside of the drum to the inside of the drum
may be installed in the drum, and the controller may recognize the
position of the lifter using the angle sensing means and thereby
control the rotational position of the drum such that the drum can
receive the wash water from the lifter.
[0012] The lifter may include a main body, incoming holes formed
through the main body for receiving the supplied wash water, and
spray holes formed through the main body for spraying the wash
water into the drum.
[0013] At least one lifter for carrying the laundry may be
installed in the drum, and the controller may recognize the
position of the laundry carried by the lifter using the angle
sensing means and thereby control the rotational speed of the
drum.
[0014] The controller may decrease the rotational speed of the drum
before the laundry reaches the top position of the drum so that the
laundry drops from the top position of the drum.
[0015] The angle sensing means may be an encoder outputting
different pulse signals based on the rotational position of the
drum, and the encoder may output a standard pulse signal when the
drum is in a predetermined standard position and output another
pulse signal when the drum is not in the predetermined standard
position.
[0016] The standard pulse signal may have a higher intensity than
that of another pulse signal.
[0017] In accordance with another aspect, the present invention
provides a drum-type washing machine comprising: a rotary drum; a
motor for rotating the rotary drum; a motor-driving unit for
driving the motor; at least one lifter, for lifting laundry and
supplying wash water from the outside of the drum to the inside of
the drum, installed in the rotary drum; sensing means for detecting
the position of the lifter; and a controller for placing the lifter
at a first predetermined position in a stopped state, in a water
supply mode, to supply the wash water to the inside of the drum and
for reducing the rotational speed of the drum when the lifter,
rotated along the rotational direction of the drum, reaches a
second predetermined position in a wash mode.
[0018] The lifter may include a main body, incoming holes formed
through the main body for receiving the supplied wash water, and
spray holes formed through the main body for spraying the wash
water into the drum.
[0019] The angle sensing means may be an encoder outputting
different pulse signals based on the rotational position of the
drum corresponding to the position of the lifter, and the encoder
may output a standard pulse signal when the drum is in a
predetermined standard position and output another pulse signal
having a lower intensity than that of the standard pulse signal
when the drum is not in the predetermined standard position.
[0020] The first determined position may be the top position having
the highest level in the drum, and the second determined position
may be a position of a level lower than that of the top
position.
[0021] Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will
be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part,
will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by
practice of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention
will be readily apparent and appreciated from the following
description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, of which:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a drum-type
washing machine in accordance with the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lifter of the drum-type
washing machine in accordance with the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the drum-type washing machine
in accordance with the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a water supplying
operation of the drum-type washing machine in accordance with the
present invention;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a washing operation
of the drum-type washing machine in accordance with the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating the relation between angle of
rotation a drum and rotational speed of the drum of the drum-type
washing machine in accordance with the present invention; and
[0029] FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating the relation between output
signal of an encoder and rotational speed of the drum of the
drum-type washing machine in accordance with the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING, ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF
THE INVENTION
[0030] Reference will now be made in detail to an embodiment of the
present invention, an example of which is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the
like elements throughout. The exemplary embodiment is described
below to explain the present invention by referring to the
figures.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a drum-type washing machine in
accordance with the present invention comprises a housing 1 having
a nearly cubic shape defining an external appearance, a tub 2 for
containing wash water, a drum 3 rotatably installed in the tub 2
and provided with a plurality of through holes 4 formed
therethrough, and a drum motor 5 for rotating the drum 3 to wash
laundry. The drum motor 5 includes a stator 5a and a rotor 5b.
[0032] Openings 2a and 3a are respectively formed through the front
surfaces of the tub 2 and the drum 3, and a door 6 for opening and
closing the openings 2a and 3a is hinged to a front surface of the
housing 1.
[0033] A water supply pipe 7, for supplying wash water from the
outside to the washing machine, and a detergent container 8, for
mixing a detergent with the wash water supplied through the water
supply pipe 7, are installed in an upper part of the housing 1, and
a drain pump 9 and a drain hose 10, for discharging the wash water
to the outside of the housing 1 after the washing operation is
completed, are installed on a lower part of the housing 1.
[0034] The drum 3 is upwardly inclined at a designated angle toward
the front surface of the housing 1, and the tub 2 is also upwardly
inclined at the same angle as that of the drum 3.
[0035] A plurality of lifters 11, 12 and 13 (FIG. 5) are installed
on the inner circumference of the drum 3 such that the lifters 11,
12 and 13 are spaced from each other by designated intervals. The
lifters serve to lift the laundry loaded in the drum 3 together
with the wash water to a designated height. The laundry then drops
due to the rotation of the drum 3, thereby allowing the laundry to
be washed.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lifter of the drum-type
washing machine in accordance with the present invention.
[0037] The lifter 11 includes a main body 11a having a trapezoidal
shape for defining an external appearance, incoming holes 11b
formed through the upper surface of the main body 11a in a
longitudinal direction for receiving the supplied wash water, a
plurality of spray holes 11c formed through the lower and side
surfaces of the main body 11a for spraying the wash water into the
drum 3 to wet the laundry, and connection holes 11d formed through
the upper surface of the main body 11a for connecting the lifter 11
to the drum 3 using screws 11e.
[0038] When the incoming holes 11b are disposed under the water
supply pipe 7, the majority of the wash water supplied through the
water supply pipe 7 falls into the incoming holes 11b and is
supplied to the inside of the drum 3 through the spray holes 11c.
The remainder of the wash water, which does not fall into the
incoming holes 11b, falls along the outer circumference of the drum
3 and fills the drum 3 from the bottom. As described above, the
drum-type washing machine consistent with the present invention
sprays the wash water directly from the upper part of the drum 3,
thereby allowing the laundry contained in the drum 3 to be
uniformly and rapidly wetted by the wash water.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the drum-type washing machine consistent
with the present invention further comprises a controller 20 for
controlling the overall operation including the water supply mode
and the wash mode.
[0040] The controller 20 controls a motor-driving unit 22 to drive
the drum motor 5 based on input instructions from a user through an
input unit 21, thereby transmitting the driving force of the drum
motor 5 to the drum 3 and then rotating the drum 3 at a designated
speed.
[0041] A speed sensor 23 senses the rotational speed of the drum
motor 5 and supplies the sensed speed to the controller 20.
[0042] An encoder 24 senses the angle of rotation of the drum 3 and
supplies the sensed angle to the controller 20. The encoder 24 is
installed in the tub 2 such that the encoder 24 generates a
designated pulse signal by means of a magnetic force generated from
magnets (not shown) installed on the outside the drum 3 when the
drum 3 is rotated. A magnet having a comparatively large magnetic
force, as compared to the other magnets installed on the drum 3, is
installed at a predetermined standard position. Thus, the intensity
of a standard pulse signal outputted from the encoder 24 by means
of the comparatively large magnetic force of the above magnet is
higher than the intensities of the pulse signals outputted from the
encoder 24 by means of the magnetic force of the other magnets.
Although, in this embodiment, the encoder outputs a plurality of
standard pulse signals, based on the standard position, to
respectively correspond to the plurality of lifters during one
revolution of the drum, the encoder may output only one standard
pulse signal, based on the standard position, to correspond to any
one lifter of the plurality of lifters per one revolution of the
drum.
[0043] Hereinafter, the operation of the drum-type washing machine
consistent with the present invention will be described in
detail.
[0044] When a user inputs washing instructions through the input
unit 21, as shown in FIG. 4, the controller 20 controls the
motor-driving unit 22 to drive the drum motor 5 so that the
incoming holes 11b of the lifter 11 are disposed under the water
supply pipe 7. That is, the controller 20 controls the angle of
rotation of the drum 3 based on the standard pulse signal outputted
from the encoder 24. When the wash water is supplied to the inside
of the drum under the condition that the incoming holes 11b of the
lifter 11 is aligned with the water supply pipe 7 in a straight
line, the wash water supplied through the water supply pipe 7 falls
into the incoming holes 11b of the lifter 1 and is sprayed into the
drum 3 through the spray holes 11c.
[0045] When the washing machine is operated in the wash mode, as
shown in FIG. 5, the drum 3 is rotated in the clockwise direction
(R) and the lifter reaches a predetermined position (B). Then, the
rotational speed of the drum 3 is suddenly decreased.
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the rotation of the drum 3
is started from the condition that the lifter 11 is disposed at a
start position (A), the controller 20 operates the drum 3 at a
first rotational speed (S1). Here, the encoder 24 outputs a pulse
signal having a low intensity (M2). When the lifter 11 reaches the
predetermined position (B), i.e., the angle of rotation of the drum
3 is a first predetermined angle (P1), the encoder 24 outputs a
standard pulse signal having a high intensity (M1) and then the
controller 20 reduces the rotational speed of the drum 3. When the
drum 3 is rotated so that the lifter 11 reaches a top position (C),
the rotational speed of the drum 3 has reduced from the first
rotational speed (S1) to a second rotational speed (S2), which is
lower than the first rotational speed (S1). The rotational speed of
Laundry (L) carried by the lifter 11 is now reduced, and Laundry
(L) drops in the gravitational direction (F) from the top position
(C), which deviates from the predetermined position (B) by a
designated angle (a). Then, while the lifter 11 passes through the
top position (C), the controller 20 increases the rotational speed
of the drum 3 to the first rotational speed (S1) and maintains the
first rotational speed (S1) of the drum 3.
[0047] Whenever the subsequent lifter 12 or 13 reaches the
predetermined position (B), that is, the angle of rotation of the
drum 3 reaches a second predetermined angle (P2) or a third
predetermined angle (P3), the rotational speed of the drum 3 is
decreased to the second rotational speed (S2). When the lifter 12
or 13 passes through the top position (C), the rotational speed of
the drum 3 is increased to the first rotational speed (S1) and
maintained at the first rotational speed (S1). Whenever the drum 3
turns one revolution, the above-described process is repeated.
[0048] Similarly, when the drum 3 is rotated in the
counterclockwise direction and the lifter 11 reaches a
predetermined position before the top position (C) by a designated
angle, the controller 20 decreases the rotational speed of the drum
3 and allows the laundry carried by the lifter 11 to drop from the
top position (C).
[0049] As described above, the drum of the washing machine
consistent with the present invention is rotated alternately in the
clockwise and counterclockwise directions during the wash mode, and
whenever a lifter reaches the top position, the laundry carried by
the lifter is allowed to fall by the force of gravity, thereby
maximizing falling power.
[0050] As apparent from the above description, the present
invention provides a drum-type washing machine having an improved
water supply structure, in which a lifter is placed under a water
supply pipe so that wash water is directly supplied from the
outside of the drum to the inside of the drum to allow laundry
loaded in the drum to be uniformly and rapidly wetted with the wash
water, thereby shortening wash time. Further, the drum-type washing
machine of the present invention controls the rotational speed of
the drum based on the position of the laundry so that the laundry
carried by the lifters can fall from the top position of the drum
to maximize the falling power, thereby improving the washing
effect.
[0051] Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been
shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in
the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *