U.S. patent application number 12/847486 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-03 for method of treating laundry.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Youngjong KIM, Sangjun Lee.
Application Number | 20110047713 12/847486 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43622661 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110047713 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Youngjong ; et
al. |
March 3, 2011 |
METHOD OF TREATING LAUNDRY
Abstract
A method of treating laundry is provided, which sequentially
supplies wash water having a temperature higher than a user's setup
temperature and wash water having a temperature lower than the
user's setup temperature to perform a washing cycle, thereby
raising the washing efficiency without increasing the usage of
detergent as well as maintaining the temperature of wash water to
the user's setup temperature.
Inventors: |
KIM; Youngjong;
(Changwon-si, KR) ; Lee; Sangjun; (Changwon-si,
KR) |
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
43622661 |
Appl. No.: |
12/847486 |
Filed: |
July 30, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61230616 |
Jul 31, 2009 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
8/137 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 33/00 20130101;
D06F 35/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
8/137 |
International
Class: |
D06L 1/20 20060101
D06L001/20; D06L 1/16 20060101 D06L001/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 31, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0071051 |
Oct 29, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0103741 |
Claims
1. A method of treating laundry comprising: a first laundry
treating step of supplying first wash water having a temperature
higher than a user's setup temperature to a washing tub to perform
a washing cycle on the laundry; and a second laundry treating step
of additionally supplying second wash water having a temperature
lower than the user's setup temperature to the washing tub to
perform a second washing cycle on the laundry, wherein when the
first wash water and the second wash water are mixed in the washing
tub, a temperature of the mixed wash water in the washing tub is
equal to the user's setup temperature.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wash water is formed by
mixing hot water with cold water, and a temperature of the mixed
first wash water is higher than the user's setup temperature.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first wash water is formed by
mixing the hot water with the cold water in a ratio of 5:5 to
7:3.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first laundry treating step
includes mixing the first wash water with a detergent to perform a
washing cycle on the laundry.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second laundry treating step
includes performing a washing cycle after additionally supplying
the second wash water to the washing tub that contains the first
wash water, the detergent, and the laundry.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein The amount of the first wash
water is equal to 1/4 to 3/4 of the overall amount of wash water
supplied to the washing tub during the first laundry treating step
and the second laundry treating step.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first laundry
treating step and the second laundry treating step includes driving
any one of the washing tub and a pulsator rotating in the washing
tub to perform a washing cycle on the laundry.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first laundry treating step
includes supplying a detergent to the washing tub according to a
ratio of the amount of the first wash water to the overall amount
of wash water that may be stored in the washing tub to perform a
washing cycle.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first laundry treating step
includes supplying such an amount of detergent as corresponding to
the overall amount of the first wash water and the second wash
water to the washing tub to perform a washing cycle.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2009-0071051 filed on Jul. 31, 2009,
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0103741 filed on Oct. 29,
2009 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/230,616 filed on Jul. 31,
2009 in the USPTO, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] This disclosure is directed to a method of treating laundry,
and more specifically, to a method of treating laundry that firstly
perform a washing cycle using hot water having a good washing
effect on the laundry, and then, adds cold water to secondly
perform a washing cycle using the added cold water, thereby
improving the washing efficiency for the laundry as well as
minimizing the usage of detergent.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] A process of treating laundry by a washing machine that
treats laundry to remove unwanted materials from the laundry
generally includes a process of mixing a detergent with wash water,
a process of performing a washing cycle on the laundry using the
wash water mixed with the detergent, a process of supplying wash
water that does not include detergent to a washing tub to rinse the
laundry, and a process of dehydrating the laundry that was
completely laundered. Further, the washing machine may further
perform a process of drying and ironing the laundry to remove the
water from the laundry. However, a process of treating laundry
basically includes a detergent mixing process, a washing process, a
rinsing process, and a dehydrating process.
[0006] The performance of a washing machine may be determined
depending on how much unwanted material may be removed from the
laundry by the washing machine, or how much detergent is needed to
detach the unwanted material from the laundry.
[0007] When the washability of the washing machine is not
satisfactory, a user generally tends to increase the amount of
detergent to raise the washability. However, the washability does
not linearly increase in proportion to the amount of detergent.
Rather, it may cause unnecessary consumption of detergent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a
method of treating laundry that improves washability for laundry
without increasing detergent or wash water that is supplied to a
washing tub.
[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there
is provided a method of treating laundry comprising a first laundry
treating step of supplying first wash water having a temperature
higher than a user's setup temperature to a washing tub to perform
a washing cycle on the laundry, and a second laundry treating step
of additionally supplying second wash water having a temperature
lower than the user's setup temperature to the washing tub to
perform a second washing cycle on the laundry, wherein when the
first wash water and the second wash water are mixed in the washing
tub, a temperature of the mixed wash water in the washing tub is
equal to the user's setup temperature.
[0010] The method of treating the laundry as described above may
improve washability of the washing machine without excessively
supplying detergent, as well as increase washing effects by the
wash water while maintaining the temperature of wash water to the
user's setup temperature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a washing machine
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of
FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating control flow of the
washing machine shown in FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of treating
laundry by a washing machine according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a relationship between the
temperature of wash water and washability.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a process of supplying the
first wash water to the washing tub and a process of supplying the
second wash water to the washing tub when it is assumed that the
amount of water that may be stored in the washing tub is 80
liters.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a washing machine
100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2
is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1.
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the washing machine 100 includes
a cabinet 110, a water container 125 that is arranged in the
cabinet 110 to contain wash water, a washing tub 122 that is
arranged in the water container 125 to contain laundry, a driving
unit 170 that transfers a driving force to the washing tub 122 to
repeatedly rotate the washing tub 122 in alternating directions or
in a single direction, a drainage unit 150 that discharges wash
water from the water container 125 to the outside, and a wash
supply unit 120 that is provided at a side of the cabinet 110 to
supply wash water to the water container 125 and the washing tub
122 from an external source (not shown).
[0019] The cabinet 110 includes a cabinet body 111 having an
opening, a base (not shown) that is connected to the cabinet body
111 under the cabinet body 111, a cover (not shown) that is
connected to the opening, and a control panel 126 that is provided
at a side of the cover and connected to the cabinet body 111. The
cover includes a door 123 that is rotatably connected to the cover
to open and close the opening. The control panel 126 includes an
input unit 116 that allows a user to enter an input signal from an
external source (not shown).
[0020] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating control flow of the
washing machine 100 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart
illustrating a method of treating laundry by a washing machine
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a user puts laundry in the
washing tub 122 and enters a washing cycle through the input unit
116 (S201). When the washing cycle is entered, a controller 190
determines the amount of wash water, the amount of detergent, a
time during which the washing tub rotates, and a rotating method of
the washing tub 122 depending on the washing cycle. And, according
to the determined conditions, the controller 190 sequentially
supplies the detergent and water to the washing tub 122 ("first
water supply") (S202).
[0022] The controller 190 controls the wash supply unit 120 to
supply the washing tub with first wash water that has a temperature
higher than a user's setup temperature. For example, when the
user's setup temperature is 30.degree. C., the temperature of the
first wash water may range from 35.degree. C. to 40.degree. C.
[0023] The amount of the first wash water supplied to the washing
tub 122 may be, for example, 1/4 to 3/4 of the overall amount of
water that may be stored in the washing tub 122. The (overall)
amount of water that may be stored in the washing tub 122 may be
referred to as a "water storage capacity" throughout the
specification.
[0024] Also, a ratio of hot water to cold water in the first wash
water may be, but not limited to, 1:1 to 3:1.
[0025] According to an embodiment, the first wash water may be
obtained by mixing hot water with cold water. As the amount of hot
water used in the first wash water increases, the first wash water
may have a higher temperature than the user's setup temperature.
Accordingly, the temperature of the wash water obtained by mixing
the first wash water with second wash water may be equal or similar
to the user's setup temperature of the wash water.
[0026] In a washing method according to an embodiment of the
present invention, a washing cycle is performed according to a
user's setup temperature unlike a method of simply washing laundry
using hot wash water. Further, wash water supplied to the washing
tub 122 is divided into first wash water and second wash water,
wherein the first wash water is supplied earlier than the second
wash water, and the temperature of the first wash water is set to
be relatively higher than a user's setup temperature, thereby
increasing the washing efficiency and energy efficiency as well as
saving detergent consumption.
[0027] Further, in the washing method according to an embodiment of
the present invention, the second wash water is added to the
washing tub 122 after the temperature of the first wash water is
increased to raise the washing efficiency, thereby further
improving the washing efficiency.
[0028] Next, according to the washing cycle, the controller 190
controls the driving unit 170 to rotate the washing tub 122 and
washes the laundry using rotation of the washing tub 122
(S203).
[0029] The controller 190 may rotate the washing tub 122 or a
pulsator 140 to wash the laundry. To effectively clean the laundry
contained in the washing tub 122, the controller 190 may rotate the
washing tub 122 or the pulsator 140 in a single direction or
alternately in a first direction and a second direction. Further,
the controller 190 may also properly mix the laundry with the
detergent by forcibly rotating the pulsator 140 in the first
direction to generate a climbing water current and dropping the
climbing water current from an upper portion of the washing tub 122
towards the laundry.
[0030] The amount of the first wash water supplied to the washing
tub 122 is smaller than the overall amount of water that may be
stored in the washing tub 122. Since the first wash water is not
fully filled in the washing tub 122, the amount of the detergent
supplied to the washing tub 122 may be similar (or equal) to or
smaller than the amount of detergent that would be supplied to the
washing tub 122 when the washing tub 122 is fully filled with wash
water.
[0031] The first wash water having a temperature higher than the
user's setup temperature may further activate the detergent
supplied to the washing tub 122 and facilitate removal of unwanted
material from the laundry. The higher the temperature of the first
wash water is, the more similar effects to those obtainable by
boiling the laundry may be achieved. Further, not fully filling the
washing tub 122 with the wash water reduces the load on the driving
unit 170 driving the washing tub 122.
[0032] After completion of the first washing cycle using the first
wash water and detergent, the controller 190 secondarily supplies
wash water to the washing tub 122 that is filled with the first
wash water, detergent, and laundry (S204).
[0033] Unlike the first wash water, the wash water secondarily
supplied (hereinafter, referred to as "second wash water") may be
cold water that has a temperature lower than the user's setup
temperature. The second wash water is additively supplied to the
washing tub 122 after the laundry is washed to a certain extent by
the first washing cycle. The second wash water increases the amount
of wash water in the washing tub 122 to improve the efficiency of
washing the laundry.
[0034] Next, based on the washing cycle, the controller 190
controls the driving unit 170 to perform a second washing cycle on
the washing tub 122 containing the first wash water primarily
supplied, the detergent, the laundry, and the second wash water
secondarily supplied (S205). The first wash water, the detergent,
the laundry, and the second wash water may be mingled together in
the washing tub 122 during the second washing cycle. And, the
second washing cycle may be performed with a sufficient amount of
wash water in the washing tub 122.
[0035] The first washing cycle primarily removes unwanted material
from the laundry using hot water, and the second washing cycle
secondarily removes the remaining unwanted material from the
laundry using the sufficient wash water. Accordingly, the method of
treating the laundry according to an embodiment of the present
invention, may provide better washing effects than a method of
washing laundry using wash water having a constant temperature set
by a user.
[0036] Next, after the second washing cycle is complete, the
controller 190 controls the drainage unit 150 to discharge the wash
water from the washing tub 122 (S206). If the washing machine 100
has a function of drying or ironing the laundry, the controller 190
may also perform additional cycles, such as drying or ironing the
laundry, after draining the washing tub 122.
[0037] FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a relationship between the
temperature of wash water and washability.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 5, it can be seen that as the temperature
of the wash water increases, the washability also increases.
Further, it can also be seen that as a time during which the
laundry is washed in the washing tub 122 increases, the washability
increases correspondingly. A significant improvement in washability
may be expected only by increasing the temperature of wash water.
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, as the temperature of the wash
water increases by 10.degree. C., for example, from 30.degree. C.
to 40.degree. C., the washability may increase by 5%. Also, it can
be seen that there is a significant difference in washability
between when the temperature of wash water is less than 25.degree.
C. and when the temperature of wash water is equal to or more than
30.degree. C.
[0039] However, an increase in the temperature of wash water to a
high temperature, such as 90.degree. C. or higher, or an increase
in the washing time may lead to waste of hot water and inefficient
time consumption since the washability does not increase in
proportion to the washing time and the temperature of wash
water.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 5, a difference in washability still
exists between when a washing cycle is performed using wash water
of 40.degree. C. or more for 40 minutes and when a washing cycle is
performed using wash water of 90.degree. C. or more for 70 minutes.
However, the latter is not very efficient considering energy
efficiency according to the washing time and the amount of hot
water.
[0041] FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating a process of supplying the
first wash water to the washing tub 122 and a process of supplying
the second wash water to the washing tub 122 when it is assumed
that the water storage capacity of the washing tub 122 is 80
liters.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 6, the controller 190 supplies about 60
liters of first wash water to the washing tub 122 during the first
water supply. Among them, 37 liters of water is supplied as hot
water and 23 liters of water is supplied as cold water, so that the
overall temperature of the first wash water is set to a temperature
of hot water.
[0043] Although it is described in FIG. 6 that mixed water (first
wash water) of hot water and cold water is primarily supplied to
the washing tub 122 to raise washing efficiency while minimizing
usage of hot water, 60 liters of hot water may be only supplied to
the washing tub 122 as the first wash water, as well. The
temperature of the first wash water primarily supplied may be
higher than a user's setup temperature of wash water or temperature
of the second wash water.
[0044] After the hot water is primarily supplied to the washing tub
122, the controller 190 controls the driving unit 170 to rotate the
washing tub 122 or the pulsator 140 and resultantly the laundry
during a predetermined time by a washing cycle.
[0045] For example, the washing tub 122 may be rotated alternately
in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The controller 190
controls the driving unit 170 so that the laundry performs
alternate rotation in the washing tub 122 during a time according
to the washing cycle (4.5 minutes) and then secondarily supplies
wash water to the washing tub 122.
[0046] Since the washability on the laundry increases as the
temperature of wash water, the washing time, and the amount of
laundry increase, the controller 190 increases the amount of wash
water by supplying the washing tub 122 with the second wash water
colder than the first wash water after the laundry has been washed
to a certain extent by the first wash water that was primarily
supplied to the washing tub 122. Assuming the water storage
capacity of the washing tub 122 is 80 liters, the amount of wash
water as added is on the order of 20 liters. Some of unwanted
materials have been already removed from the laundry by the first
wash water. The second wash water further supplied to the washing
tub 122 may increase the overall amount of wash water to further
improve the washability.
[0047] After the second wash water is supplied to the washing tub
122, the controller 190 controls the driving unit 170 to rotate the
washing tub 122 or the pulsator 140, thus performing another
washing cycle.
[0048] The invention has been explained above with reference to
exemplary embodiments. It will be evident to those skilled in the
art that various modifications may be made thereto without
departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention.
Further, although the invention has been described in the context
its implementation in particular environments and for particular
applications, those skilled in the art will recognize that the
present invention's usefulness is not limited thereto and that the
invention can be beneficially utilized in any number of
environments and implementations. The foregoing description and
drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather
than a restrictive sense.
* * * * *