U.S. patent application number 11/319156 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-26 for washing machine having rinse agent dispenser and control method thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Dong Hyun Choi, Won Seok Choi, Woon Gu Hur.
Application Number | 20060236468 11/319156 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36646173 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060236468 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Choi; Won Seok ; et
al. |
October 26, 2006 |
Washing machine having rinse agent dispenser and control method
thereof
Abstract
A washing machine having a rinse agent dispenser and control
method thereof. The rinse agent dispenser is directly connected
with a water tub to automatically dispense a rinse agent into the
water tub via an adjustment of a level of wash water contained in
the water tub without requiring a separate water supply device. The
washing machine includes the water tub, the rinse agent dispenser
connected with the water tub to dispense the rinse agent into the
water tub via an adjustment of the level of the wash water
contained in the water tub, water supply means to supply the wash
water into the water tub, drainage means to drain the wash water
from the water tub, and a controller to control the supply and
drainage of the wash water by the water supply means and drainage
means, thereby adjusting the level of the wash water in the water
tub.
Inventors: |
Choi; Won Seok; (Suwon-Si,
KR) ; Hur; Woon Gu; (Suwon-Si, KR) ; Choi;
Dong Hyun; (Gunpo-Si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
SUITE 700
1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics, Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
36646173 |
Appl. No.: |
11/319156 |
Filed: |
December 28, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
8/158 ; 68/12.18;
68/17R; 68/207; 8/159 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 33/00 20130101;
D06F 37/26 20130101; D06F 2202/085 20130101; D06F 37/267 20130101;
D06F 39/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
008/158 ;
008/159; 068/017.00R; 068/207; 068/012.18 |
International
Class: |
D06F 39/08 20060101
D06F039/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 22, 2005 |
KR |
2005-33741 |
Claims
1. A washing machine comprising: a water tub to contain wash water
therein: and a rinse agent dispenser connected with the water tub
to dispense a rinse agent into the water tub via adjustment of a
level of the water contained in the water tub.
2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the rinse
agent dispenser is connected with the water tub via connection
tubes thereof.
3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the rinse
agent dispenser is mounted outside of the water tub at a position
higher than a middle position of the water tub by a predetermined
height.
4. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the
predetermined height is at least 3 cm.
5. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising:
water supply means to supply the wash water into the water tub;
drainage means to drain the wash water from the water tub; and a
controller to control water supply and drainage operations of the
water supply means and drainage means, thereby adjusting the level
of the wash water contained in the water tub.
6. The washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the controller
determines whether a remaining cycle is a rinsing cycle, wherein
when the remaining cycle is the rinsing cycle, the controller
controls the supply of the wash water so that the wash water
reaches a predetermined rinse agent dispensing level.
7. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the rinsing
cycle is a final rinsing cycle.
8. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the
predetermined rinse agent dispensing level is higher than a
predetermined rinsing level.
9. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein after
completion of the supply of the wash water, the controller controls
the drainage of the wash water so that the wash water reaches the
predetermined rinsing level.
10. A method of controlling a washing machine having a water tub
and a rinse agent dispenser connected with the water tub to receive
a rinse agent, the method comprising: controlling the supply of
wash water when a remaining cycle is a rinsing cycle, thereby
introducing the wash water into the rinse agent dispenser; and
controlling the drainage of the wash water after the wash water is
introduced into the rinse agent dispenser, thereby allowing the
rinse agent to be dispensed into the water tub.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the rinsing cycle is
a final rinsing cycle.
12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the controlling of
the supply of the wash water is performed to supply the wash water
into the water tub to reach a predetermined rinse agent dispensing
level.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined
rinse agent dispensing level is higher than a predetermined rinsing
level.
14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the controlling of
the drainage of the wash water is performed to drain the wash water
from the water tub to reach the predetermined rinsing level.
15. A method of controlling a washing machine having a water tub
and a rinse agent dispenser directly connected with the water tub
to receive a rinse agent, the method comprising: determining
whether the washing machine is at a final rinsing cycle; supplying
a predetermined amount of wash water into the water tub above a
half level of the water tub and allowing the wash water to be
introduced into the rinse agent dispenser and mixed with the rinse
agent; stopping and draining the predetermined amount of wash water
to the half level of the water tub while dispensing the rinse agent
into the water tub; and performing a final rinsing cycle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 2005-33741, filed on Apr. 22, 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 drum-type washing machine
having a dispenser for a rinse agent, such as fabric softener. More
particularly, to a washing machine having a rinse agent dispenser
to dispense a rinse agent into a water tub via an adjustment of a
level of water contained in the water tub without requiring a
separate water supply device, and a control method thereof.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, a washing machine, specifically, a drum-type
washing machine, washes laundry contained in a cylindrical rotating
drum by raising and dropping the laundry through rotation of the
drum. The drum-type washing machine reduces clothes damage and
water consumption as compared to a conventional pulsator-type
washing machine, although it has a long wash time. Thus, the demand
for drum-type washing machines is increasing.
[0006] The washing machine includes a detergent container, which is
internally sectionalized into a plurality of chambers to receive a
detergent, a rinse agent, etc., respectively. As water is supplied
into the detergent container according to an operation of a water
supply valve upon a final rinsing cycle, the rinse agent is
dispensed into a water tub along with the water based on a siphon
phenomenon that is caused in a gap between the detergent container
and a container cap.
[0007] However, the washing machine requires a separate water
supply device, which includes the water supply valve to dispense
the rinse agent into the water tub and a water supply hose to
supply water into the detergent container. Also, the detergent
container has a limitation of an installation position thereof
because it must be mounted close to a water supply pipe connected
to an external water source, and is complex in structure.
[0008] In addition, dispensing the rinse agent requires a large
number of parts, resulting in long production time and increasing a
probability of malfunction, such as leakage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to
provide a washing machine having a rinse agent dispenser, which is
directly connected with a water tub to dispense a rinse agent into
the water tub via an adjustment of a level of water contained in
the water tub without requiring a separate water supply device, and
a control method of the washing machine.
[0010] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a
washing machine having a rinse agent dispenser, which can
automatically dispense a rinse agent into a water tub via an
adjustment of a level of water contained in the water tub, thereby
achieving a simplified structure and high productivity, and a
control method of the washing machine.
[0011] 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.
[0012] The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by a washing
machine including a water tub to contain wash water therein, and a
rinse agent dispenser connected with the water tub to dispense a
rinse agent into the water tub via an adjustment of a level of the
water contained in the water tub.
[0013] The rinse agent dispenser is connected with the water tub by
means of connection tubes thereof.
[0014] The rinse agent dispenser is mounted outside of the water
tub at a position higher than a middle position of the water tub by
a predetermined height. The predetermined height may be at least 3
cm.
[0015] The washing machine further includes water supply means to
supply the wash water into the water tub, drainage means to drain
the wash water from the water tub, and a controller to control
water supply and drainage operations of the water supply means and
drainage means, thereby adjusting the level of the wash water
contained in the water tub.
[0016] The controller may determine whether a remaining cycle is a
rinsing cycle, whereby, when the remaining cycle is the rinsing
cycle, the controller controls the supply of the wash water so that
the wash water reaches a predetermined rinse agent dispensing
level.
[0017] The rinsing cycle may be a final rinsing cycle, and the
predetermined rinse agent dispensing level is higher than a
predetermined rinsing level.
[0018] After completion of the supply of the wash water, the
controller may control the drainage of the wash water so that the
wash water reaches the predetermined rinsing level.
[0019] The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by a method
of controlling a washing machine having a water tub and a rinse
agent dispenser connected with the water tub to receive a rinse
agent, the method including controlling the supply of wash water
when a remaining cycle is a rinsing cycle, thereby introducing the
wash water into the rinse agent dispenser, and controlling a
drainage of the wash water after the wash water is introduced into
the rinse agent dispenser, thereby allowing the rinse agent to be
dispensed into the water tub.
[0020] The controlling of the supply of the wash water is performed
to supply the wash water into the water tub to reach a
predetermined rinse agent dispensing level.
[0021] The controlling of the drainage of the wash water is
performed to drain the wash water from the water tub to reach the
predetermined rinsing level.
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 sectional view illustrating a washing machine
having a rinse agent dispenser according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the
rinse agent dispenser of FIG. 1, which is mounted to the washing
machine;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A' of FIG.
2;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the washing machine
having the rinse agent dispenser according to the embodiment of the
present invention;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an operational sequence
of a rinse agent dispensing process of the washing machine
according to the embodiment of the present invention; and
[0028] FIGS. 6A to 6C are sectional views illustrating a sequential
rinse agent dispensing operation of the washing machine according
to the embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiment of
the present invention, an example of which is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to
like elements throughout. The embodiment is described below to
explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
[0030] FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a washing machine
having a rinse agent dispenser according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, the washing machine having a rinse agent
dispenser according to the embodiment 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.
[0032] The water tub 11 is generally tilted relative to a washing
machine mounting plane by a predetermined inclination a so that a
front surface 11a thereof formed with an opening 11b, is positioned
higher than a rear surface 11c thereof. In the same manner as the
water tub 11, the rotating drum 12, mounted in the water tub 11, is
tilted so that a front surface 12a thereof formed with an opening
12b, is positioned higher than a rear surface 12c thereof.
[0033] That is, the rotating drum 12 is mounted so that a rotating
center axis A thereof is tilted relative to the washing machine
mounting plane by the predetermined inclination a to thereby allow
the front surface 12a thereof formed with the opening 12b to face
up and to the front. The rotating drum 12 comprises a rotating
shaft 13, which is coupled with the center of the rear surface 12c
of the rotating drum 12 to be rotatably supported at the center of
the rear surface of the water tub 11. Through rotation of the
rotating shaft 13, the rotating drum 12 is rotatable inside the
water tub 11.
[0034] A plurality of through-holes 12d is formed at a
circumferential wall of the rotating drum 12. Also, a plurality of
lifters 14 is mounted at an inner surface of the rotating drum 12
to raise and drop laundry upon rotation of the rotating drum
12.
[0035] A motor 15 is mounted at an outside of the rear surface 11c
of the water tub 11 and serves as a drive unit to rotate the
rotating shaft 13 connected to the rotating drum 12. The motor 15
comprises a stator 15a affixed to the rear surface 11c of the water
tub 11, a rotor 15b rotatably disposed around the stator 15a, and a
rotating plate 15c to connect the stator 15a with the rotating
shaft 13.
[0036] The body 10 is formed at a front surface thereof with an
opening 16 at a position corresponding to the openings 12b and 11b
of the rotating drum 12 and the water tub 11 to put laundry into
the rotating tub 12 or to take the laundry out of the rotating tub
12. A door 17 is mounted at the opening 16 to open and close the
opening 16.
[0037] A detergent supply device 18 and a water supply device 20
are provided above the water tub 11, and a drainage device 19 is
mounted underneath the water tub 11 to drain water contained in the
water tub 11. The drainage device 19 comprises a drainage pipe 19a,
a drainage valve 19b, and a drainage motor 19c.
[0038] The detergent supply device 18 internally defines a
detergent receiving chamber. The detergent supply device 18 is
mounted at the front surface of the body 10 to facilitate the input
of a detergent therein.
[0039] The water supply device 20 comprises cool and hot water
supply pipes 21 and 22, respectively, to supply cool water and hot
water, and water supply valves 23 and 24 mounted to the respective
cool and hot water supply pipes 21 and 22 to control the supply of
water via the pipes 21 and 22.
[0040] The cool and hot water supply pipes 21 and 22 are connected
with the detergent supply device 18 to supply water from an
external source (not shown) into the detergent supply device 18. A
separate water supply pipe 25 is mounted between the detergent
supply device 18 and the water tub 11 to supply the water, having
passed through the detergent supply device 18, into the water tub
11. A water supply nozzle 26 is mounted at an outlet of the water
supply pipe 25. Supplying the water into the water tub 11 by way of
the detergent supply device 18 allows the detergent inside the
detergent supply device 18 to be supplied into the water tub
11.
[0041] A rinse agent dispenser 30 is mounted at the outside of the
water tub 11 to dispense a rinse agent into the water tub 11. The
rinse agent dispenser 30 is coupled with the water tub 11 to
directly dispense a rinse agent into the water tub 11. To
facilitate easy input of the rinse agent, the rinse agent dispenser
30 is positioned on a side of the door 17.
[0042] FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the rinse
agent dispenser of FIG. 1, which is mounted to the washing machine.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A' of FIG. 2.
[0043] The rinse agent dispenser 30 is positioned at a height
higher than a middle position of the water tub 11 by approximately
3 cm. The height of the rinse agent dispenser 30 is slightly higher
than a level of water during a rinsing cycle (i.e., a rinsing
level). The rinsing level is half-full level of the water tub 11.
Positioning the rinse agent dispenser 30 at the above height allows
the rinse agent to be automatically dispensed into the water tub 11
using a siphon phenomenon caused by adjustment of the level of
water contained in the water tub 11 without assistance of the water
supply device 20.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 3, the rinse agent dispenser 30 internally
defines a rinse agent receiving chamber 31. To allow the water
contained in the water tub 11 to be introduced into the rinse agent
dispenser 30 and the water introduced into the rinse agent
dispenser 30 to be returned to the water tub 11, the rinse agent
dispenser 30 comprises first and second connection tubes 32 and 33.
Also, a cover 34 is provided at an upper side of the receiving
chamber 31.
[0045] The first and second connection tubes 32 and 33 are fitted
in holes 11d and 11e formed at the water tub 11 to guide the flow
of water between the water tub 11 and the rinse agent dispenser 30.
As the water contained in the water tub 11 is introduced into the
rinse agent dispenser 30, the rinse agent contained in the rinse
agent dispenser 30 can be introduced into the water tub 11.
[0046] FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the washing machine
having the rinse agent dispenser according to the embodiment of the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, a control 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, such as a desired wash course, a
temperature of wash water, revolutions per minute for spin-drying,
and addition of a rinsing operation, to the controller 130. The
water level sensor 110 senses a level of wash water supplied to the
water tub 11. The temperature sensor 120 senses a temperature of
wash water supplied to the water tub 11.
[0048] The controller 130 is a micro-computer to control the
washing machine based on the operational information inputted by
the signal input unit 100. The controller 130 controls operation of
the water supply valves 23 and 24, drainage valve 19b, and drainage
pump 19c depending on the water level sensed by the water level
sensor 110 during a final rinsing cycle, in order to adjust the
level of water inside the water tub 11. Adjustment of the water
level inside the water tub 11 enables the rinse agent filled in the
rinse agent dispenser 30 to be automatically dispensed into the
water tub 11.
[0049] The drive unit 140 is adapted to drive the motor 15,
drainage valve 19b, drainage pump 19c, and water supply valves 23
and 24 according to drive control signals of the controller
130.
[0050] Now, the washing machine having the rinse agent dispenser
configured as stated above and the operational sequence and effects
of the control method of the washing machine will be explained.
[0051] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an operation of a rinse
agent dispensing process of the washing machine according to the
embodiment of the present invention.
[0052] In operation 100, laundry is put into the rotating drum 12,
and various operational information, such as a desired wash course,
a temperature of wash water, revolutions per minute for
spin-drying, and addition of a rinsing operation, is selected.
Then, the selected operational information is inputted to the
controller 130 via the signal input unit 100.
[0053] According to the inputted operational information from the
signal input unit 100, the controller 130 progresses a washing
cycle and a rinsing cycle in this sequence. The washing and rinsing
cycles are identical to those of a general washing machine, and
thus, a description thereof will be omitted hereinafter. The
following description is based on only a rinse agent dispensing
process using the rinse agent dispenser 30.
[0054] As an initial condition of operation according to the
present invention, it is assumed that the rinse agent dispenser 30
is filled with the rinse agent (See FIG. 6A).
[0055] After completion of the washing and rinsing cycles except
for a final rinsing cycle in operation 100, the process moves to
operation 110 where the controller 130 determines whether a
remaining cycle is the final rinsing cycle.
[0056] When the remaining cycle is the final rinsing cycle in
operation 110, the process moves to operation 120 where the
controller 130 switches on the water supply valves 23 and 24 to
supply wash water into the detergent supply device 18 via the water
supply pipes 21 and 22. The wash water, specifically, rinsing
water, supplied to the detergent supply device 18, is further
supplied to the water tub 11 via the water supply pipe 25.
[0057] As the wash water is supplied to the water tub 11, a level
of the water inside the water tub 11 gradually rises to a rinsing
level that is equal to the half-full level of the water tub 11. In
the present invention, the water is continuously supplied beyond
the rinsing level to reach a predetermined level. Here, the
predetermined level is a level to allow the wash water, contained
in the water tub 11, to be introduced into the rinse agent
dispenser 30 to thereby dissolve the rinse agent present therein.
The predetermined level varies depending on an installed position
of the rinse agent dispenser 30.
[0058] When the wash water is supplied beyond the rinsing level,
the wash water inside the water tub 11 is introduced into the
receiving chamber 31 of the rinse agent dispenser 30 by way of the
first and second connection tubes 32 and 33 connected to the holes
11d and 11e of the water tub 11 (See FIG. 6B).
[0059] During the supply of the wash water into the water tub 11 in
operation 120, the process moves to operation 130 where the water
level sensor 110 senses a level Ws of the wash water inside the
water tub 11 . From operation 130, the process moves to operation
140 where the controller 130 determines whether the sensed level Ws
of the wash water exceeds a predetermined rinse agent dispensing
level W1. Here, the predetermined rinse agent dispensing level W1
is set to be higher than the rinsing level to allow the wash water
contained in the water tub 11 to be introduced into the rinse agent
dispenser 30.
[0060] When it is determined that the sensed level Ws of the wash
water is lower than the predetermined rinse agent dispensing level
W1 in operation 140, the process returns to operation 120 where the
wash water is continuously supplied until it reaches the
predetermined rinse agent dispensing level W1.
[0061] When the sensed level Ws of the wash water is higher than
the predetermined rinse agent dispensing level W1 in operation 140,
the process moves to operation 150, where the controller 130
switches off the water supply valves 23 and 24 to stop the supply
of the wash water into the water supply pipes 21 and 22.
[0062] Next, prior to performing a rinsing cycle, the process moves
to operation 160 where the controller 130 operates the drainage
valve 19b and the drainage pump 19c to allow the wash water inside
the water tub 11 to be drained via the drainage pipe 19a.
[0063] As the wash water is drained from the water tub 11, the
level of the wash water gradually decreases. In the present
invention, the drainage of the wash water is continued until the
water reaches the rinsing level that is the half full level of the
water tub 11. During the drainage of the wash water, the rinse
agent present inside the rinse agent dispenser 30 is able to be
dispensed into the water tub 11 along with the wash water.
[0064] That is, as the level of the wash water inside the water tub
11 is lowered by the drainage of the wash water, a siphon
phenomenon is caused, thereby allowing the rinse agent present
inside the rinse agent dispenser 30 to be introduced into the water
tub 11 by way of the first and second connection tubes 32 and 33,
connected to the holes 11d and 11e of the water tub 11, along with
the wash water (See FIG. 6C).
[0065] During the drainage of the wash water in operation 160, the
process moves to operation 170 where the water level sensor 110
senses a level of the wash water Wd inside the water tub 11, and
from operation 170, the process moves to operation 180 where the
controller 130 determines whether the sensed water level Wd is
lower than a predetermined rinsing level W2. Here, the
predetermined rinsing level W2 is equal to the half-full level of
the water tub 11.
[0066] When the sensed water level Wd is higher than the
predetermined rinsing level W2 in operation 170, the process
returns to operation 160 where the wash water is continuously
drained until it reaches the predetermined rinsing level W2.
[0067] When the sensed water level Wd is lower than the
predetermined rising level W2 in operation 180, the process moves
to operation 190 where the controller 130 switches off the drainage
valve 19b and the drainage pump 19c to stop the drainage of the
wash water to the drainage pipe 19a.
[0068] After completion of the dispensing operation of the rinse
agent, the process moves to operations 200 and 210 where the motor
15 is operated under a control of the controller 130 to rotate the
rotating drum 12 to thereby perform a final rinsing cycle and
spin-drying cycle, successively.
[0069] Although the embodiment of the present invention exemplifies
the rinse agent, such as fabric softener, which is filled in the
rinse agent dispenser 30 to be dispensed into the water tub 11
during the final rising cycle, it should be understood that the
present invention is not limited thereto and a detergent may be
filled in the rinse agent dispenser 30 to be automatically
dispensed into the water tub 11.
[0070] As apparent from the above description, the present
invention provides a washing machine having a rinse agent
dispenser, which is directly connected to a water tub to
automatically dispense a rinse agent into the water tub via
adjustment of the level of water contained in the water tub without
requiring a separate water supply device, and control method
thereof. Using the rinse agent dispenser as stated above simplifies
the overall structure of the washing machine, resulting in improved
productivity.
[0071] Further, differently from conventional rinse agent
dispensers, the rinse agent dispenser of the embodiment of the
present invention eliminates the necessity of an expensive water
supply valve, for example, a three-way valve, and reduces the
number of parts, thereby achieving a reduction of manufacturing
costs. Also, the rinse agent dispenser has a simplified structure
and requires fewer connecting parts, resulting in a reduction of
malfunction, such as leakage.
[0072] Although the embodiment of the present 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.
* * * * *