U.S. patent application number 11/280185 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-07 for washing machine and suds removal method thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Haeng Maan Jeong.
Application Number | 20060195989 11/280185 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36568693 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060195989 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jeong; Haeng Maan |
September 7, 2006 |
Washing machine and suds removal method thereof
Abstract
A washing machine having a drying device and a suds removal
method thereof. The suds removal method is able to effectively
remove suds, which are excessively generated during a washing cycle
to thereby be introduced into the drying device. The suds removal
method comprises determining whether a drying cycle is selected,
and removing the suds by supplying water into the drying device
when the drying cycle is selected.
Inventors: |
Jeong; Haeng Maan;
(Suwon-Si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP;JIM LIVINGSTON
SUITE 700
1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
36568693 |
Appl. No.: |
11/280185 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
8/158 ; 68/12.01;
68/20; 68/24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 25/00 20130101;
D06F 58/20 20130101; D06F 39/06 20130101; D06F 58/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
008/158 ;
068/012.01; 068/020; 068/024 |
International
Class: |
D06F 33/00 20060101
D06F033/00; D06F 29/00 20060101 D06F029/00; D06F 35/00 20060101
D06F035/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 4, 2005 |
KR |
2005-18279 |
Claims
1. A washing machine having a drying device, comprising: a signal
input unit to select a drying cycle or washing cycle; water supply
means to supply water into the drying device; and a controller to
control the supply of water in order to remove suds present inside
the drying device if the drying cycle or washing cycle is selected
by the signal input unit.
2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the supply of water is
controlled to supply the water into the drying device after the
washing cycle.
3. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the supply of water is
controlled to supply the water into the drying device during a
rinsing cycle.
4. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the supply of water is
controlled to supply the water into the drying device before the
drying cycle.
5. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the drying device
comprises a duct connected to a water tub to circulate heated air
into the water tub.
6. The machine according to claim 5, wherein the water supply means
comprises a water supply valve to supply the water into the
duct.
7. A suds removal method of a washing machine having a drying
device to remove suds present inside the drying device, comprising:
determining whether a drying cycle is selected; and removing the
suds by supplying water into the drying device when the drying
cycle is selected.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the removing of the
suds is performed before the drying cycle is performed.
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the removing of the
suds is an independent cycle to remove suds or foreign substances
present inside the drying device.
10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the removing of the
suds is performed by supplying the water into the drying device for
a predetermined time.
11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the removing of the
suds is performed by supplying the water into the drying device for
a predetermined time for a predetermined number of cycles.
12. A suds removal method of a washing machine having a drying
device comprising: determining whether a washing cycle is
completed; removing suds present inside the drying device by
supplying water into the drying device when the washing cycle is
completed.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the removing of the
suds is an independent cycle to remove the suds or foreign
substances present inside the drying device.
14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the removing of the
suds is performed simultaneously with a rinsing cycle of the
washing machine.
15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the removing of the
suds is performed by supplying the water into the drying device for
a predetermined time.
16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the removing of the
suds is performed by supplying the water into the drying device for
a predetermined time for a predetermined number of cycles.
17. A washing machine having a water tub and a drum, the washing
machine comprising: a drying device to dry laundry placed in the
drum, and comprising a condensation duct mounted at a rear surface
of the water tub, wherein excess suds are removed from the drum via
the condensation duct; and a controller to control an operation of
a supply of condensing water into the condensation duct after a
washing cycle or before a drying cycle of the washing machine to
thereby remove the suds introduced into the condensation duct.
18. The washing machine of claim 17, further comprising an
injection nozzle inserted into an upper portion of the condensation
duct to inject condensing water into the condensation duct to flow
down an inner surface of the condensation duct.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 2005-18279, filed on Mar. 4, 2005 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 washing machine having a
drying device, and, more particularly, to a washing machine and
suds removal method thereof capable of removing suds, which are
excessively generated during a washing cycle, to thereby be
introduced into a drying device.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, a drying device is designed to supply hot air,
heated by a heater, into a drum when the drum is rotated at a low
speed, thereby drying wet laundry contained in the drum. As the
drying device is combined with a washing machine, the washing
machine is able to also be used as a clothes dryer. This type of
washing machine has been recently launched in the form of a
drum-type washing machine, and serves to independently perform a
drying cycle only or to perform a drying cycle after completing
washing, rinsing, and dewatering cycles in this sequence.
[0006] Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-435241 discloses
an example of the washing machine having the drying device. In this
washing machine, when a drying cycle is performed after completion
of washing, rinsing, and dewatering cycles, a heater is operated to
heat the interior space of a duct of the washing machine. Also, a
drying fan (i.e. blower) is operated to generate and inject
compressed air into the duct.
[0007] The injected compressed air is converted into hot air while
passing through the interior space of the duct. Therefore, when the
hot air is supplied to a drum of the washing machine, wet laundry
contained in the drum can be dried.
[0008] In using the conventional washing machine mentioned above,
when a detergent beyond a standard amount is used or a detergent
tends to generate a large amount of suds, an excess of suds is
generated during the washing cycle to thereby be pushed upward into
the duct.
[0009] However, since the conventional washing machine is not
capable of removing the suds introduced into the duct, the suds are
inevitably left inside the duct. This is problematic since the
residual suds inside the duct may be introduced into the drum when
the hot air is circulated during the drying cycle, resulting in
contamination of the washed laundry.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to
provide a washing machine and suds removal method thereof capable
of removing suds, which are excessively generated during a washing
cycle to thereby be introduced into a drying device.
[0011] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a
washing machine and suds removal method thereof, which can
effectively remove suds or foreign substances present in a drying
device by performing a suds removal cycle after a washing cycle or
before a drying cycle, thereby improving cleanliness of the washing
machine.
[0012] 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.
[0013] The foregoing and/or other aspects may be achieved by
providing a washing machine having a drying device, the washing
machine including a signal input unit to select a drying cycle or
washing cycle, water supply means to supply water into the drying
device, and a controller to control the supply of water in order to
remove suds present inside the drying device when the drying cycle
or washing cycle is selected by the signal input unit.
[0014] The supply of water is controlled to supply the water into
the drying device after the washing cycle, during a rinsing cycle,
or before the drying cycle.
[0015] The drying device includes a duct connected to a water tub
to circulate heated air into the water tub, and the water supply
means includes a water supply valve to supply the water into the
duct.
[0016] Another aspect of the present invention is achieved by
providing a suds removal method of a washing machine to remove suds
present inside a drying device, the method including determining
whether a drying cycle is selected, and removing the suds by
supplying water into the drying device when the drying cycle is
selected.
[0017] The removing of the suds may be performed before the drying
cycle.
[0018] Another aspect of the present invention is achieved by
providing a suds removal method of a washing machine having a
drying device, the method including determining whether a washing
cycle is completed, removing suds present inside the drying device
by supplying water into the drying device when the washing cycle is
completed.
[0019] It is an aspect of the present invention, that the removing
of the suds is an independent cycle to remove the suds or foreign
substances present inside the drying device.
[0020] It is another aspect of the present invention that the
removing of the suds is performed simultaneously with a rinsing
cycle.
[0021] It is yet another aspect of the present invention that the
removing of the suds is performed by supplying the water into the
drying device for a predetermined time, or by supplying the water
into the drying device for a predetermined time for a predetermined
number of cycles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention
will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the
following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, of which:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a washing machine
having a drying device according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the washing machine having the
drying device of FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view illustrating a
condensation duct of the drying device according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the condensation
duct of the drying device of FIG. 3;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a control block diagram illustrating a suds
removal system of the washing machine according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an operational sequence
of a suds removal method of the washing machine according to a
first embodiment of the present invention; and
[0029] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an operational sequence
of a suds removal method of the washing machine according to a
second embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to
like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to
explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a washing machine
having a drying device according to an embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the washing machine having
the drying device of FIG. 1.
[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washing machine having a
drying device of the present invention comprises a drum-shaped
water tub 11 mounted in a body 10 to contain wash water therein,
and a rotating drum 12 rotatably mounted in the water tub 11 and
having a plurality of dewatering holes.
[0033] A motor 13 is mounted underneath the water tub 11 to rotate
the rotating drum 12 forward or in reverse to perform washing,
rinsing and dewatering cycles. Openings 14 are provided at
respective front ends of the water tub 11 and the rotating drum 12
to put laundry into the rotating tub 12 or to take the laundry out
of the rotating tub 12 at a front side of the body 10. A door 15 is
mounted at the front side of the body 10 to open and close the
openings 14.
[0034] A detergent supply device 24 to supply a detergent and
fabric softener into the water tub 11, and a water supply device 20
to supply water into the detergent supply device 24 are provided
above the water tub 11.
[0035] The water supply device 20 comprises water supply pipes 23
to supply water into the water tub 11, and water supply valves 21
and 22 mounted to the respective water supply pipes 23 to control
the supply of water via the water supply pipes 23.
[0036] Among the water supply valves 21 and 22, the water supply
valve 21 is an electrically operated three-way valve. The water
supply valve 21 is connected to a cool water supply hose (not
shown) to supply water in three directions for preliminary washing,
main washing and drying cycles. The water supply pipes 23 are
connected with the detergent supply device 24 to supply water from
an external water source (not shown) into the detergent supply
device 24.
[0037] A connection pipe 25 is mounted between the detergent supply
device 24 and the water tub 11 to supply the water, having passed
through the detergent supply device 24, into the water tub 11.
Supplying the water into the water tub 11 by way of the detergent
supply device 24 allows the fabric softener liquid, contained in
the detergent supply device 24, to be supplied into the water tub
11 in a mixed state with the water.
[0038] The detergent supply device 24 is internally sectionalized
into a plurality of chambers. Also, the detergent supply device 24
is mounted at the front side of the body 10 to facilitate input of
the detergent or fragrant fabric softener into the respective
chambers.
[0039] The washing machine further comprises a drainage device 30
to drain the water contained in the water tub 11. The drainage
device 30 comprises a drainage pipe 31 connected with a bottom of
the water tub 11 to guide the water from the water tub 11 to the
outside of the body 10, and a drainage pump 32 mounted to the
drainage pipe 31.
[0040] The washing machine further comprises a drying device 40 to
dry laundry. The drying device 40 comprises a drying fan 41 mounted
at an upper side of the water tub 11, a drying duct 42 connected
between a discharge port 41b of the drying fan 41 and an air inlet
hole 45 formed at a top of the opening 14 of the water tub 11, and
a condensation duct 43 mounted at a rear surface of the water tub
11 to be connected between an air outlet hole 46 formed at a lower
end of the rear surface of the water tub 11 and a suction port 41a
of the drying fan 41.
[0041] The drying device 40 further comprises a drying heater 44
mounted in the drying duct 42 to supply hot air into the water tub
11, and a condenser mounted in the condensation duct 43, to
condense and remove moisture contained in water vapor that is
produced during the drying of laundry and rises along the
condensation duct 43.
[0042] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view illustrating the
condensation duct of the drying device according to an embodiment
of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating
the condensation duct of the drying device of FIG. 3.
[0043] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the condensation duct 43 defines
a channel extended between the air outlet hole 46 formed at the
lower end of the rear surface of the water tub 11 and the suction
port 41a of the drying fan 41 mounted at the upper side of the
water tub 11. The condensation duct 43 is curved by a predetermined
curvature, and is opened at a surface thereof to be closely coupled
with the rear surface of the water tub 11 and the suction port 41a
of the drying fan 41.
[0044] The condenser, mounted in the condensation duct 43,
comprises an injection nozzle 51 inserted into an upper portion of
the condensation duct 43 to inject condensing water, i.e. cool
water, into the condensation duct 43, and a condensing water supply
pipe 52 connected between the injection nozzle 51 and the water
supply valve 21. The condensing water is injected from the
injection nozzle 51 mounted in the upper portion of the
condensation duct 43 to flow down along an inner surface of the
condensation duct 43. Contact efficiency increases between the
rising water vapor and the cool condensing water, resulting in
improved dehumidification.
[0045] The condensation duct 43 comprises a discharge branch 43a at
a lower end thereof, to discharge the condensed water. An end of
the discharge branch 43a is connected with the drainage pipe 31. In
the present invention, a water temperature sensor 47 is mounted
between the air outlet hole 46 and the discharge branch 43a. Since
the water supply valve 21 is operated so that an amount of water to
be gathered in a lower region of the condensation duct 43 is
greater than an amount of water to be discharged from the
condensation duct 43 via the discharge branch 43a by a
predetermined rate, the water temperature sensor 47 is immersed in
the water gathered in the condensation duct 43 and is adapted to
sense a temperature of the water, thereby providing the sensed
water temperature information to a controller 130 (shown in FIG.
5). In this way, the controller 130 is able to determine an ending
point of the drying cycle based on the temperature of the condensed
water.
[0046] FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of a suds removal system
provided in the washing machine according to an embodiment of the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the suds removal system
comprises a signal input unit 100, a water level sensor 110, a
temperature sensor 120, a controller 130, and a drive unit 140.
[0047] The signal input unit 100 serves to input various
operational information to the controller 130. Here, the
operational information comprises a desired wash course, such as an
independent washing cycle, independent drying cycle, or a combined
washing and drying cycle, a temperature of wash water, a
revolutions per minute for dewatering, addition of a rinsing
operation, etc. The water level sensor 110 serves to sense the
level of wash water supplied in the water tub 11. The temperature
sensor 120 comprises the water temperature sensor 47 to sense a
temperature of the water gathered in the lower region of the
condensation duct 43 and other sensor to sense a temperature of
wash water inside the water tub 11.
[0048] The controller 130 is a micro-computer to control an
operation of the water supply valve 21 to supply the condensing
water into the condensation duct 43 after a washing cycle or before
a drying cycle to thereby remove suds introduced into the
condensation duct 43. The controller 130 comprises a timer (not
shown) to calculate a supply time and the number of supply times of
the condensing water into the condensation duct 43 opened by the
water supply valve 21, and a read-only memory (ROM) table to store
various data, such as the supply time and the number of supply
times of water depending on a selected wash course, a capacity of
the washing machine, and a size of the rotating drum 12.
[0049] The drive unit 140 is adapted to drive the motor 13, water
supply valves 21 and 22, drainage pump 32, drying fan 41, and
drying heater 44 according to drive control signals of the
controller 130.
[0050] Now, an operational sequence and effects of a suds removal
method of the washing machine having the drying device configured
as stated above will be described.
[0051] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating an operational sequence
of a suds removal method of the washing machine according to a
first embodiment of the present invention. In the present
invention, a suds removal cycle may be performed as an independent
cycle after completion of a washing cycle or may be performed
simultaneously with a rinsing cycle. Therefore, the suds removal
cycle may be set to a default value to be automatically performed
after completion of a washing cycle, or may be set to be
selectively performed only when a user pushes a separate option
key.
[0052] First, in a state wherein laundry is put into the rotating
drum 12 and a detergent is filled in the detergent supply device
24, operational information, such as a desired wash course (for
example, a combined washing and drying cycle), a temperature of
wash water, a revolutions per minute for dewatering, and addition
of a rinsing operation, is selected. In operation 100, the selected
operational information is inputted to the controller 130 via the
signal input unit 100
[0053] Based on the inputted operational information in operation
100, the process moves to operation 110 where the controller 130
switches "on" the water supply valves 21 and 22 to supply water
into the detergent supply device 24 via the water supply pipes 23.
As the water is supplied into the detergent supply device 24, the
detergent contained in the detergent supply device 24 dissolves in
the supplied water, thereby being supplied into the water tub 11
via the connection pipe 25.
[0054] After a predetermined amount of the water is supplied into
the water tub 11 via the connection pipe 25, the controller 130
switches "off" the water supply valves 21 and 22 to stop the supply
of the water into the water supply pipes 23. After completion of
the water supply operation, the rotating drum 12 is rotated by
operation of the motor 13 according to a control of the controller
130, thereby performing a washing cycle of the selected wash
course.
[0055] When the detergent is excessively used beyond a standard
amount, or the detergent tends to generate a large amount of suds,
an excess of suds is generated during the washing cycle. The
generated suds pass through the air outlet hole 46 (shown in FIG.
2) formed at the lower end of the rear surface of the water tub 11,
thereby being pushed upward into the condensation duct 43 mounted
at the rear surface of the water tub 11.
[0056] The suds, introduced into the condensation duct 43, may be
further pushed upward into the drying duct 42 connected to the
condensation duct 43 to thereby be circulated therein under an
influence of a pneumatic pressure of circulating air during a
drying cycle. Therefore, to prevent the circulation of the suds,
the present invention is intended to remove the suds introduced
into the condensation duct 43 after the washing cycle or before the
drying cycle.
[0057] FIG. 6 exemplifies a method of automatically performing the
suds removal cycle after the washing cycle. However, the order in
which to complete the suds removal cycle is not limited thereto,
and may vary, as necessary.
[0058] After completion of the washing cycle in operation 110, the
process moves to operation 120 where the controller 130 switches
"on" the water supply valve 21 connected with the condensation duct
43 to open the condensation duct 43 in order to remove the suds
introduced into the condensation duct 43.
[0059] That is, as the water supply valve 21 opens the condensation
duct 43, the condensing water (i.e. cool water) is supplied via the
condensing water supply pipe 52 to be injected into the
condensation duct 43 from the injection nozzle 51, thereby rinsing
and removing the suds introduced in the condensation duct 43.
[0060] From operation 120, the process moves to operation 130,
where the controller 130 calculates the supply time of the
condensing water into the condensation duct 43 (i.e. the opening
time of the water supply valve 21) and determines whether the
calculated time exceeds a predetermined suds removal time T1, which
is a sufficient time to remove the suds introduced in the
condensation duct 43.
[0061] When the calculated time exceeds the predetermined suds
removal time T1 in operation 130, the process moves to operation
140 where the water supply valve 21 connected to the condensation
duct 43 is closed to stop the supply of the condensing water into
the condensation duct 43. Then, the remaining rinsing, dewatering,
and drying cycles are partially or completely performed based on
the selected operational information, completing the selected wash
course.
[0062] However, when the calculated time does not exceed the
predetermined suds removal time T1 in operation 130, the process
returns to operation 120 where water is continuously supplied into
the condensation duct 43 until the calculated time exceeds the
predetermined suds removal time T1 in operation 130.
[0063] Next, a method of independently performing a suds removal
cycle before a drying cycle regardless of a washing cycle will be
explained with reference to FIG. 7.
[0064] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating an operational sequence
of a suds removal method of the washing machine according to a
second embodiment of the present invention. In the present
invention, the suds removal cycle may be set to a default value to
be automatically performed simultaneously with a drying cycle
regardless of a washing cycle. The present invention is not limited
thereto, and is applicable in other various manners.
[0065] First, in operation 200, when a desired wash course, for
example, an independent drying cycle, is selected in a state
wherein laundry is put into the rotating drum 12, the process moves
to operation 210 where the controller 130 determines whether a
drying cycle is selected. When the drying cycle is selected in
operation 210, the process moves to operation 220 where the
controller 130 switches "on" the water supply valve 21 to open the
condensation duct 43 in order to remove foreign substances,
including suds, present in the condensation duct 43 or to keep the
condensation duct 43, as a air circulation path, in a clean
state.
[0066] As the water supply valve 21 opens the condensation duct 43,
the condensing water (i.e. cool water) is supplied via the
condensing water supply pipe 52 to be injected into the
condensation duct 43 from the injection nozzle 51, thereby removing
the foreign substances inside the condensation duct 43 and keeping
the condensation duct 43 in a clean state.
[0067] From operation 220, the process moves to operation 230 where
the controller 130 calculates the supply time of the condensing
water into the condensation duct 43 (i.e. the opening time of the
water supply valve 21) and determines whether the calculated time
exceeds a predetermined foreign substance removal time T2, which is
a sufficient time to remove the foreign substances inside the
condensation duct 43.
[0068] The predetermined foreign substance removal time T2 may be
equal to or different from the suds removal time T1 (shown in FIG.
6). However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may
vary based on a design of the washing machine taking into
consideration a capacity of a washing machine or a selected wash
course.
[0069] When the calculated time exceeds the predetermined foreign
substance removal time (T2) in operation 230, the water supply
valve 21 connected to the condensation duct 43 is closed to stop
the supply of the water into the condensation duct 43. Then the
process moves to operation 240 where the drying cycle is performed,
completing the wash course.
[0070] Meanwhile, the present invention determines a suds or
foreign substance removal time point based on the supply time of
the condensing water into the condensation duct 43, but is not
limited thereto. The present invention is able to determine the
suds or foreign substance removal time point by supplying the
condensing water for a predetermined time a predetermined number of
times (approximately two or three times).
[0071] Also, the embodiment of the present invention exemplifies a
drum-type washing machine having a drying function, but is not
limited thereto, and is applicable to any type of washing machines
having a drying function or refresh function. Here, the refresh
function is to remove bad smell and dust of clothing.
[0072] As is apparent from the above description, the present
invention provides a washing machine and suds removal method
thereof capable of removing suds, which are excessively generated
during a washing cycle to thereby be introduced into a drying
device. This is effective to eliminate a risk of contamination of
laundry. By performing a suds removal cycle after the washing cycle
or before a drying cycle, it is possible to effectively remove
suds, including foreign substances, present inside the drying
device, resulting in improved cleanness of the washing machine.
[0073] Although few embodiments of the present invention have been
shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in
the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *