U.S. patent application number 13/260036 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-16 for laundry machine and control method thereof.
Invention is credited to Jae Won Chang, Sang Wook Hong, Ji Hee Kang, Ki Young Kang, Bou Kwon Koo, Sun Young Park.
Application Number | 20120036650 13/260036 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43050588 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120036650 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hong; Sang Wook ; et
al. |
February 16, 2012 |
LAUNDRY MACHINE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF
Abstract
The laundry machine includes a cabinet (110), a tub (120) in the
cabinet for holding washing water, a drum (130) rotatably mounted
in the tub (120), a heater (115) in the tub for heating the washing
water, and a control unit for controlling the heater and the drum,
wherein the control unit controls heater to operate selectively in
a spinning course for drying washing objects.
Inventors: |
Hong; Sang Wook; (Seoul,
KR) ; Chang; Jae Won; (Seoul, KR) ; Park; Sun
Young; (Seoul, KR) ; Koo; Bou Kwon; (Seoul,
KR) ; Kang; Ki Young; (Seoul, KR) ; Kang; Ji
Hee; (Seoul, KR) |
Family ID: |
43050588 |
Appl. No.: |
13/260036 |
Filed: |
September 11, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
September 11, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2009/005184 |
371 Date: |
September 23, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
8/137 ;
68/12.23 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 33/00 20130101;
D06F 25/00 20130101; D06F 2204/04 20130101; D06F 35/007 20130101;
D06F 39/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
8/137 ;
68/12.23 |
International
Class: |
D06F 21/00 20060101
D06F021/00; D06F 33/00 20060101 D06F033/00; D06F 37/02 20060101
D06F037/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 4, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-039052 |
Claims
1. A laundry machine comprising: a cabinet; a tub provided in the
cabinet for holding washing water; a drum rotatably provided in the
tub; a heater provided in the tub for heating the washing water;
and a control unit controlling the heater and the drum, wherein the
control unit selectively operates the heater in a spinning course
for drying washing objects.
2. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control
unit turns on/off the heater in predetermined periods.
3. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control
unit operates the heater below a predetermined temperature so that
the heater is not overheated.
4. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control
unit rotates the drum higher than a predetermined speed.
5. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control
unit rotates the drum higher than a predetermined speed.
6. he laundry machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an
air-flow device for causing an air flow in the tub.
7. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein the air-flow
device comprises a fan provided in an air flow passage
communicating an inside of the tub with an outside of the tub.
8. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control
unit operates the fan when the heater is operated.
9. A method for controlling a laundry machine having a washing
course, a rinsing course and a spinning course, comprising the
steps of: operating a heater in the spinning course selectively;
and rotating a drum higher than a predetermined speed.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control unit
turns on/off the heater in predetermined periods.
11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the control unit
operates the heater below a predetermined temperature so that the
heater is not overheated.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a laundry machine and a
control method thereof.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In general, in the laundry machine, there are washing
machines for washing, dryers for drying, and washing and drying
machines for washing and drying. The laundry machine, provided with
a washing course, a rinsing course, a spinning or drying course,
processes washing objects.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide a laundry
machine and a control method thereof which can remove moisture from
a washing object more effectively.
Solution to Problem
[0004] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, a laundry machine includes a cabinet, a
tub in the cabinet for holding washing water, a drum rotatably
mounted in the tub, a heater in the tub for heating the washing
water, and a control unit for controlling the heater and the drum,
wherein the control unit controls the heater to operate selectively
in a spinning course for drying washing objects.
[0005] The control unit turns on/off the heater in predetermined
periods, or the control unit controls the heater to operate below a
predetermined temperature so that the heater is not overheated.
[0006] In the meantime, the control unit controls the drum to
rotate higher than a predetermined speed.
[0007] In another aspect of the present invention, a method for
controlling a laundry machine having a washing course, a rinsing
course and a spinning course, includes the steps of driving a
heater in the spinning course selectively, and rotating a drum
higher than a predetermined speed.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION
[0008] The laundry machine and the control method thereof of the
present invention have following advantageous effects.
[0009] The preliminary drying step of the present invention permits
to remove moisture from the washing objects more than a
predetermined amount, thereby permitting drying the washing objects
faster than drying the washing objects naturally, or with a laundry
machine having a drying function.
[0010] Moreover, the laundry machine and the control method thereof
of the present invention enable to remove moisture from the washing
objects without providing heating means to the laundry machine
additionally.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide
further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of
the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the disclosure.
[0012] In the drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a longitudinal section of a laundry
machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a
method for controlling a laundry machine in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a longitudinal section of a laundry
machine in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a
method for controlling a laundry machine in accordance with another
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0017] Reference will now be made in detail to the specific
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to
refer to the same or like parts.
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates a longitudinal section of a laundry
machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, the laundry machine includes a cabinet
110 which forms an exterior of the laundry machine, a tub 120
mounted in the cabinet 110 for holding washing water, a drum 130
rotatably mounted in the tub 120, and a control unit (not shown)
for controlling the laundry machine.
[0020] The cabinet 110 has a body 111 which forms sides, a rear and
a bottom of the laundry machine, a front plate 112 which forms a
front of the laundry machine, and a top plate 113 coupled to a top
of the body 111 to form a top surface of the body. The front plate
112 which forms the front of the cabinet 110 has a laundry opening
112a for introduction of laundry therethrough. The laundry opening
112a is provided with a door for opening/closing the laundry
opening 112a.
[0021] Mounted to one side of the cabinet 110, there may be an
input unit 180 for user's operation of the laundry machine. The
user can input a desired course of the laundry machine through the
input unit 180. Moreover, the input unit 180 has a display unit
(not shown) for displaying information on the laundry machine.
[0022] In the meantime, the tub 120, mounted in the cabinet, 110
has an upper portion suspended from an upper side of an inside of
the cabinet 110 by springs 121, and a lower portion supported on a
damper 122. The springs 121 and the dampers 122 support the tub 120
and attenuate vibration from the drum 130 to the tub 120 when the
drum 130 rotates at a high speed.
[0023] The drum 130 is mounted in the tub 120 so as to be rotatable
in a regular or reverse direction. The control unit makes the drum
130 to rotate for progressing washing, rinsing, and spinning.
Mounted on an inside circumference of the drum 130, there may be
lifters 131 for lifting the laundry introduced to the drum 130 to a
predetermined position. The drum 130 has a plurality of pass
through holes 132 formed therein, for the washing water to enable
to move in/out of the drum 130 in a washing course, and rinsing
course.
[0024] Mounted in the cabinet 110, there are a water supply hose
140 for supplying water to the tub 120 from an external water
supply source, a water supply valve 141 mounted to the water supply
hose 140 for controlling in/out of the water, and a detergent
supply unit 142 for holding detergent therein such that the water
being supplied through the water supply hose 140 is introduced to
the inside of the tub 120 together with the detergent. The washing
water or rinsing water is supplied from the water supply source to
the inside of the tub 120 through the detergent supply unit 142
following the water supply hose 140. Also, mounted in the cabinet
110, there are a drain hose 150 and a drain pump 151 for draining
the washing water used in the washing course or the rinsing course
to an outside of the laundry machine.
[0025] In the meantime, mounted in a rear or the tub 120, there is
a driving unit 160, such as a motor. The driving unit 160 coupled
to the drum 130 through a rotation shaft 165, for rotating the drum
130.
[0026] In a case the washing course and the rinsing course are
carried out by using the laundry machine, the course may be
progressed by using water heated by selection of the user or a
course selected by the user. In a case heated water is required
thus, a heater 125 may be provided to the inside of the tub 120 for
heating the water. Moreover, a temperature sensor (not shown) may
be mounted to the inside of the tub 120 for measuring a temperature
of the washing water, additionally. Accordingly, the control unit
puts the heater 125 into operation to heat the water in the tub 120
if heated water is required, and measures the temperature of the
water with the temperature sensor, for heating the water to a
desired temperature.
[0027] In general, the laundry machine having above system washes
the washing objects by introducing the washing objects into the
drum 130, supplying the washing water and the detergent into the
drum 130 and the tub 120, and rotating the drum 130. Upon finishing
the washing course, the washing objects are rinsed in the rinsing
course to remove residual detergent from the washing objects, and
moisture is removed from the washing objects in the spinning
course, firstly.
[0028] However, even if the moisture is removed from the washing
objects in the spinning course, the user can not put on the washing
objects, the clothes, at once, but the user can put on the clothes
only after the clothes is passed through a drying step. The drying
step can be made outdoors naturally by sunshine or wind, or by a
laundry machine having a drying function on the drying objects
taken out of the laundry machine after finishing the spinning
course. In a case the drying step is made outdoors naturally,
though it has advantage in that no energy is consumed together with
a sterilizing effect, it has disadvantage in that comparatively
long drying time period is required. Therefore, if the moisture is
removed from the washing objects before the drying step, the drying
time period can be shortened even in the case the drying step is
made naturally, which will be described in detail.
[0029] The present invention includes a preliminary drying step for
removing a predetermined amount of moisture from the drying objects
before starting the drying step of the drying objects. As described
before, the drying step includes the drying made in outdoors
naturally and the drying made at the laundry machine having a
drying function.
[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a
method for controlling a laundry machine in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, the control method includes a washing
course S210, a rinsing course S230, and a spinning course, and in
the spinning course, the preliminary drying step is performed at
the same time S250.
[0032] Since the washing course and the rinsing course are similar
to the related art laundry machine, detailed description of this
will be omitted.
[0033] In detail, the preliminary drying step can be performed in
the spinning course. If the preliminary drying step is performed in
the spinning course, since no separate rotation of the drum 130 is
required in the preliminary drying step in addition to the spinning
course, it is favorable in view of energy saving.
[0034] Upon finishing draining at an end of the rinsing course, the
control unit puts the heater 125 into operation. In this case,
since there is almost no washing water remained in the tub 120
after the rinsing is almost finished, if the heater 125 is kept
turned on for a long time period, the heater 125 is likely to be
overheated to malfunction. Therefore, it is preferable that the
control unit controls the heater 125 such that the heater 125 is
turned on/off in predetermined periods for preventing the heater
125 from overheating.
[0035] If the heater 125 is turned on/off in predetermined periods,
is possible to heat environmental air of the heater 125 while
preventing the heater 125 from overheating.
[0036] Then, the control unit makes the drum 130 to rotate at a
speed higher than a predetermined speed for performing the spinning
course. If the drum 130 is rotated at the speed higher than a
predetermined speed, the moisture is removed from the washing
objects by centrifugal force, firstly. Moreover, the rotation of
the drum 130 generates an air flow in the drum 130. According to
this, the air heated by the heater 125 can flow following the
rotation of the drum 130 and can be supplied to the washing
objects. As the heated air is supplied to the washing objects, the
moisture remained at the washing objects can be removed,
secondly.
[0037] In the meantime, FIG. 3 illustrates a longitudinal section
of a laundry machine in accordance with another preferred
embodiment of the present invention. The laundry machine in FIG. 3
is different from the foregoing laundry machine in that the laundry
machine in FIG. 3 includes an air flow passage 170 which makes an
inside and an outside of the tub 120 into communication.
[0038] Accordingly, the laundry machine of the embodiment may be
provided with a fan 172 mounted to the air flow passage 170 for
causing an air flow in the tub 120 and the drum 130. That is, it is
possible that the heater is put into operation for heating the air,
and the fan on the air flow passage 170 is put into operation to
cause the air flow in the drum 130. By this, it is made possible
that the heated air is supplied to the washing objects.
[0039] Eventually, the laundry machine of the present invention
does not remove the moisture from the washing objects merely by
centrifugal force owing to rotation of the drum like the spinning
course in the related art, but, in addition to this, removes the
moisture from the washing objects more effectively by supplying the
heated air to the washing objects.
[0040] In the meantime, the preliminary drying step can be
performed before or after the spinning course.
[0041] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a
method for controlling a laundry machine in accordance with another
preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 illustrates
an embodiment in which the preliminary drying step is performed
after finishing the spinning course. For an example, according to
the user's course selection, a course can be set such that the
preliminary drying step is performed at an end of the course after
the spinning course is finished, automatically. Or, the preliminary
drying step may be performed according to user's selection after a
selected course is finished. The user can select to perform the
preliminary drying step at the input unit 180.
[0042] Thus, if the preliminary drying step is added to an end of
the selected course, the preliminary drying step can be performed
while the drum is rotating by inertia after the spinning course is
finished. In this case, the drum 130 can rotate at a predetermined
speed, for an example, 40 to 100 RPM. Though the drum 130 rotates
at a rotation speed of the spinning course since the preliminary
drying step is performed in the middle of the spinning course in
the foregoing embodiment described with reference to FIG. 2, since
the preliminary drying step is performed after finishing the
spinning course in the embodiment described with reference to FIG.
4, the rotation speed of the drum 130 can be lower than the
rotation speed of the spinning course.
[0043] In the meantime, if temperature control of the heater 125
provided to the laundry machine is possible, it is also possible
that the heater 125 can heat the air while the heater 125 is kept
turned on below a predetermined temperature at which the heater 125
is overheated. Even in a case the heater 125 is kept turned on
below the predetermined temperature, it is preferable that the
heater 125 is turned off periodically in a case the heater 125 is
kept turned on more than a certain time period for preventing the
heater 125 from overheating.
[0044] In the meantime, instead of rotating the drum 130 for
generating the air flow in the preliminary drying step, a flow
generating member may be provided at one side of the tub 120
adjacent to the heater 125 which can generate the air flow. It is
preferable that the flow generating member is of a screw type that
can be submerged in water taking that the washing water is held in
the tub 120.
[0045] Though the foregoing embodiment suggests heating the air
with the heater which heats the washing water, the preliminary
drying step of the present invention is not limited to the
foregoing embodiment. For an example, since a laundry machine
having a drying function is provided with a hot air supply unit in
the laundry machine for supplying hot air to the inside of the tub,
the preliminary drying step can be made by supplying the hot air by
using the hot air supplying unit.
[0046] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0047] The preliminary drying step of the present invention permits
to remove moisture from the washing objects more than a
predetermined amount, thereby permitting drying the washing objects
faster than drying the washing objects naturally, or with a laundry
machine having a drying function.
[0048] Moreover, the laundry machine and the control method thereof
of the present invention enable to remove moisture from the washing
objects without providing heating means to the laundry machine
additionally.
* * * * *