U.S. patent application number 14/858083 was filed with the patent office on 2016-01-07 for washing machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Kyo Soon CHOI, Hyun Bae KIM, Hyun Sook KIM, Seung Hoon KIM, Seung Jun LEE, Sung Mo LEE.
Application Number | 20160002841 14/858083 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40886864 |
Filed Date | 2016-01-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160002841 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Seung Hoon ; et
al. |
January 7, 2016 |
WASHING MACHINE
Abstract
A washing machine includes a drum; a door to open and close the
drum; a valve to supply water to the door; and a controller to
control the valve, during a spin-drying operation, to perform a
process to remove residual bubbles from the door.
Inventors: |
KIM; Seung Hoon; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; KIM; Hyun Bae; (Yongin-si, KR) ; LEE;
Seung Jun; (lncheon, KR) ; KIM; Hyun Sook;
(Suwon-si, KR) ; LEE; Sung Mo; (Gunpo-si, KR)
; CHOI; Kyo Soon; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
40886864 |
Appl. No.: |
14/858083 |
Filed: |
September 18, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12314526 |
Dec 11, 2008 |
9169592 |
|
|
14858083 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/12.19 ;
68/23.4; 68/23.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/06 20130101;
D06F 39/088 20130101; D06F 37/26 20130101; D06F 23/02 20130101;
D06F 39/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 39/06 20060101
D06F039/06; D06F 23/02 20060101 D06F023/02; D06F 39/08 20060101
D06F039/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 22, 2008 |
KR |
10-2008-0037294 |
Claims
1. A washing machine comprising: a drum; a door to open and close
the drum; a valve to supply water to the door; and a controller to
control the valve, during a spin-drying operation, to perform a
process to remove residual bubbles from the door.
2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the valve
comprises a water supply valve or a steam valve.
3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the
spin-drying operation comprises an intermediate spin-drying
operation or a final spin-drying operation.
4. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a
water supply unit; and a speed detector to detect a rotating speed
of the drum, wherein when the rotating speed of the drum reaches a
predetermined speed, the controller controls the water supply unit
to supply water to the door.
5. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a
circulation unit to circulate water in the drum, wherein when a
washing or rinsing operation has been completed, the controller
controls the circulation unit to remove residual bubbles from the
door.
6. The washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the controller
drives the circulation unit for a predetermined time before the
commencement of a draining operation after the completion of the
washing or rinsing operation to supply water to the door.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 12/314,526 filed on Dec. 11, 2008, which
claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.
10-2008-0037294, filed on Apr. 22, 2008 in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, the disclosures of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The present invention relates to a washing machine and a
method of controlling the same, and, more particularly, to a
washing machine and a method of controlling the same that are
capable of removing bubbles from a door after washing.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, a washing machine (typically, a drum type washing
machine) is an apparatus, including a water tub to store water
(wash water or rinse water), a cylindrical drum rotatably installed
in the water tub to receive laundry, and a motor to generate a
drive force necessary to rotate the drum, to lift the laundry in
the drum along the inner wall of the drum and drop the lifted
laundry, during the rotation of the drum, thereby washing the
laundry. In front of the drum is installed a door, normally made of
glass, to allow laundry to be put into the drum or taken out of the
drum therethrough.
[0006] The washing machine performs washing through a series of
operations, such as a washing operation to separate contaminants
from laundry with water containing a detergent (specifically, wash
water), a rinsing operation to rinse bubbles or residual detergent
from the laundry with water containing no detergent (specifically,
rinse water), and a spin-drying operation to spin-dry the
laundry.
[0007] In the washing machine, however, when a general detergent
(not a drum-exclusive detergent) is used, or an excessive amount of
the detergent is used, during washing, a large number of bubbles
are generated, and the bubbles remain at the glass surface, the
edge, and the inside of a door. Even after rinsing, the residual
bubbles are not completely removed, with the result that the door
glass is stained. In this case, a user may recognize that the
rinsing has not been proper, which leads to the user's
dissatisfaction with respect to the rinsing performance of the
washing machine. In addition, it is inconvenient for the user to
periodically clean the door to remove the stains from the door.
[0008] In order to solve these problems, conventional measures have
been suggested to modify the structure of a detergent box or add a
door cleaning hose. However, these measures require a change in
structure of the washing machine and the addition of an additional
device.
SUMMARY
[0009] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to
provide a washing machine and a method of controlling the same that
are capable of supplying water to a door glass through a water
supply valve or a steam valve, during spin-drying, thereby
effectively removing residual bubbles from a door without any
structural change.
[0010] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a
washing machine and a method of controlling the same that are
capable of supplying water to the door glass through a circulation
pump before drainage after washing or rinsing, thereby removing
residual bubbles from the door without any structural change.
[0011] Additional aspects and/or advantages 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 of the present invention
may be achieved by providing a method of controlling a washing
machine including a drum and a door to open and close the drum, the
method including determining whether a current operation of the
washing machine is a spin-drying operation, and, supplying water to
the door to remove residual bubbles from the door if determined
that the current operation is the spin-drying operation.
[0013] The supplying water to the door to remove residual bubbles
from the door may include controlling the water to flow to the door
through a valve to supply water into the drum.
[0014] The supplying water to the door to remove residual bubbles
from the door may include driving the valve for a predetermined
time to remove residual bubbles from the door.
[0015] The valve may include a water supply valve or a steam
valve.
[0016] The method may further include, when the present operation
is the spin-drying operation, detecting a rotating speed of the
drum, and the supplying water to the door to remove residual
bubbles from the door includes supplying water to the door when the
rotating speed of the drum reaches a predetermined speed.
[0017] The spin-drying operation may include an intermediate
spin-drying operation after washing or rinsing.
[0018] The spin-drying operation may include a final spin-drying
operation.
[0019] In accordance with another aspect, the present invention may
include a method of controlling a washing machine including a drum
and a door to open and close the drum, the method including
determining whether a washing or rinsing operation has been
completed, and, when the washing or rinsing operation has been
completed, supplying water to the door to remove residual bubbles
from the door.
[0020] The supplying water to the door to remove residual bubbles
from the door may be performed before the commencement of a
draining operation after the completion of the washing or rinsing
operation.
[0021] The supplying water to the door to remove residual bubbles
from the door may include controlling the water to flow to the door
through a circulation unit to circulate water into the drum.
[0022] The supplying water to the door to remove residual bubbles
from the door may include driving the circulation unit for a
predetermined time before the commencement of the draining
operation to remove residual bubbles from the door.
[0023] The method may further include, after removing residual
bubbles from the door, performing a draining operation, determining
whether a spin-drying operation is entered into after the draining
operation, and, after the entry of the spin-drying operation,
supplying water to the door to remove residual bubbles from the
door.
[0024] The supplying water to the door to remove residual bubbles
from the door after the entry of the spin-drying operation may
include controlling water to flow to the door through a valve to
supply water into the drum.
[0025] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
may be achieved by providing a washing machine including a drum, a
door to open and close the drum, a valve to supply water to the
door, and a controller to control the valve, during a spin-drying
operation, to perform a process to remove residual bubbles from the
door.
[0026] The washing machine may further include a speed detector to
detect a rotating speed of the drum, and, when the rotating speed
of the drum reaches a predetermined speed, the controller controls
a water supply unit to supply water to the door.
[0027] The washing machine may further include a circulation unit
to circulate water in the drum, and, when a washing or rinsing
operation has been completed, the controller controls the
circulation unit to remove residual bubbles from the door.
[0028] The controller may drive the circulation unit for a
predetermined time before the commencement of a draining operation
after the completion of the washing or rinsing operation to supply
water to the door.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] These and/or other aspects and advantages will become
apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, of which:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating a washing
machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the washing machine
according to the embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a first removal of bubbles
from a door of the washing machine according to the embodiment of
the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a second removal of bubbles
from a door of the washing machine according to the embodiment of
the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating the change in rotating speed
of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present
invention during spin-drying; and
[0035] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of controlling
a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0036] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements
throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the
present invention by referring to the figures.
[0037] FIG. 1 is a constructional view schematically illustrating a
washing machine according to an embodiment of the present
invention. The washing machine includes a machine body 10, a drum
20, a water tub 30, a circulation pump 41, a circulation pipe 42, a
steam generator 50, a steam supply pipe 51, an inlet port 60, a
door 70, and a water supply unit 80 (FIG. 2).
[0038] The machine body 10 forms the external appearance of the
washing machine. The inlet port 60, through which laundry is put
into the drum 20 and taken out of the drum 20, is formed at the
machine body 10. The door 70 is installed at the region where the
inlet port 60 of the machine body 10 is formed to open and close
the inlet port 60.
[0039] The drum 20 is rotatably installed in the machine body. The
open side of the drum 20 is directed to the inlet port 60 of the
machine body 10 such that the laundry is put into the drum 20
through the door 70.
[0040] The drum 20 is provided at the circumference thereof with a
plurality of holes through which water (wash water or rinse water)
is introduced into the drum 20.
[0041] The water tub 30 is constructed in a shape corresponding to
that of the drum 20. The water tub 30 is installed outside the drum
20. The open side of the water tub 30 is directed to the inlet port
60. Water (wash water or rinse water) is received in the water tub
30.
[0042] A diaphragm 31 to seal between the door 70 and the inlet
port 60 is installed at the inner circumference of the water tub
30.
[0043] The diaphragm 31 is made of a material exhibiting elasticity
and flexibility, such as rubber. The diaphragm 31 is connected to
the inlet port 60 disposed in front of the machine body 10 to
prevent the leakage of water supplied into the water tub 30 out of
the door 70.
[0044] The diaphragm 31 is provided at the inner circumference
thereof with holes (not shown) through which the circulation pipe
42, the steam supply pipe 51, and a water supply pipe 83 are
inserted such that, when water is supplied through the circulation
pipe 42, the steam supply pipe 51, and a water supply pipe 83, the
water can be introduced into the drum 12.
[0045] A circulation unit 40 pumps the water in the water tub 30
out of the water tub 30 and resupplies the pumped water to the
water tub 30 and the drum 20. That is, the circulation unit 40
circulates water in the water tub 30 and the drum 20.
[0046] The circulation unit 40 includes the circulation pump 41 to
pump the water discharged to the bottom of the water tub 30 and the
circulation pipe 42 to suction the water discharged to the bottom
of the water tub 30 and redischarge the suctioned water to the
outside of the circulation pump 41 such that the water can be
introduced into the drum 20.
[0047] That is, the circulation pump 41 performs a pumping action
to redischarge the introduced water. The water discharged from the
circulation pump 41 rises along the circulation pipe 42, and is
resupplied to the side of the drum 20, with the result that the
laundry put in the drum 20 is uniformly wetted, and, at the same
time, the water is saved.
[0048] In addition to its original function, the circulation unit
40 drives the circulation pump 41 for a first predetermined time
before a draining operation after a washing or rinsing operation,
such that the water pumped through the circulation pipe 42 flows
along the side of the door 70, to remove residual bubbles from a
door glass 72.
[0049] The steam generator 50 is installed inside the machine body
10 and outside the water tub 30. The steam generator 50 drives a
steam valve 52 to receive water from a pipe 53 diverging from the
water supply unit 80, heats the supplied water, and supplies steam
into the drum 20 through the steam supply pipe 51 to heat the
laundry and water during a washing operation or a rinsing
operation.
[0050] In addition to its original function, the steam generator 50
drives the steam valve 52 for a second predetermined time, when the
speed of the drum 20 reaches a predetermined speed (approximately
150 rpm) during an intermediate spin-drying operation or a final
spin-drying operation, to receive a small amount of water from the
pipe 53 diverging from the water supply unit 80 such that the water
can flow from the upper end to the lower end of the door glass
72.
[0051] Also, the steam generator 50 drives the steam valve 52
before a draining operation after a washing or rinsing operation to
receive a small amount of water from the pipe 53 diverging from the
water supply unit 80 such that the water can flow from the upper
end to the lower end of the door glass 72.
[0052] The steam supply pipe 51 is inserted through the diaphragm
31 to supply water to the door glass 72 through the diaphragm
31.
[0053] The door 70 opens and closes the inlet port 60. The door 70
includes a ring-shaped frame 71 and the glass 72 installed at the
inner circumference of the frame 71. The glass 72 is formed in the
shape of a transparent container.
[0054] When the door 70 is closed, the inner circumference of the
glass 72 comes into contact with the diaphragm 31 to prevent the
leakage of water to the outside during washing or rinsing. However,
as the inside lower end of the door glass 72 comes into contact
with the diaphragm 31, bubbles generated during the washing or the
rinsing remain between the inside lower end of the door glass 72
and the diaphragm 31.
[0055] The water supply unit 80 is connected to an external water
pipe to supply water into the drum 20 and the water tub 30 during a
washing operation or a rinsing operation. The water supply unit 80
includes the water supply pipe 83 along which water flows during
the washing operation or the rinsing operation and a water supply
valve 82 to allow or interrupt the supply of water.
[0056] The water supply pipe 83 is connected to a detergent box 81
such that a detergent can be supplied along with water during a
washing operation or a rinsing operation.
[0057] The water supply unit 80 further includes the pipe 53
diverging from the water supply unit 80. The diverging pipe 53 is
connected to the steam generator 50.
[0058] In addition to its function to supply water into the drum 20
and the water tub 30 during a washing operation or a rinsing
operation, the water supply unit 80 opens the water supply valve
82, during a spin-drying operation, such that water can flow to the
door glass 72 through the water supply pipe 83.
[0059] Also, the water supply unit 80 drives the water supply valve
82 before a draining operation after a washing or rinsing operation
such that supplied water can flow from the upper end to the lower
end of the door glass 72.
[0060] The water supply pipe 83 is inserted through the diaphragm
31 to supply water to the door glass 72 through the diaphragm
31.
[0061] Also, the water supply unit 80 supplies water to the
diverging pipe 53, when the steam valve 52 is opened during a
spin-drying operation, such that the water can flow from the upper
end to the lower end of the door 70 through the steam generator
50.
[0062] FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the washing machine
according to the embodiment of the present invention. The washing
machine includes the circulation unit 40, the steam generator 50,
the water supply unit 80, a controller 90, and a speed detector
100.
[0063] The circulation unit 40 drives the circulation pump 41 for a
first predetermined time before a draining operation after a
washing or rinsing operation, such that water flows along the side
of the door glass 72 through the circulation pipe 42 of the
circulation unit 40, as shown in FIG. 3, to remove residual bubbles
from the door glass 72.
[0064] The steam generator 50 opens the steam valve 52 for a second
predetermined time, as shown in FIG. 4, when the rotating speed of
the drum 20 reaches a predetermined speed (approximately 150 rpm)
during a spin-drying operation, such that a small amount
(approximately 0.3 L) of water can flow from the upper end to the
lower end of the door glass 72.
[0065] Also, the steam generator 50 opens the steam valve 52 before
a draining operation after a washing or rinsing operation such that
a small amount of water can flow from the upper end to the lower
end of the door glass 72.
[0066] The water supply unit 80 opens the water supply valve 82 for
a second predetermined time, when the rotating speed of the drum 20
reaches a predetermined speed during a spin-drying operation, such
that water can flow from the upper end to the lower end of the door
glass 72.
[0067] Also, the water supply unit 80 opens the water supply valve
82 before a draining operation after a washing or rinsing operation
such that a small amount of water can flow from the upper end to
the lower end of the door glass 72.
[0068] The controller 90 determines the points of time when a
washing operation, a rinsing operation, and a spin-drying operation
are performed and the point of time when water is drained after the
washing operation and the rinsing operation.
[0069] That is, the controller 90 determines the point of time when
the washing or rinsing operation is completed and controls the
operation of the circulation pump 41 of the circulation unit 40
before a draining operation after the completion of the washing or
rinsing operation to drive the circulation pump 41 for a first
predetermined time to remove residual bubbles from the inside of
the door glass 72.
[0070] In this embodiment, the controller 90 controls the driving
of the circulation pump 41 to remove residual bubbles from the door
glass 72 with the water used to wash or rinse without additional
supply of water. Alternatively, the controller 90 may control the
driving of the water supply valve 82 or the steam valve 52, such
that a small amount of water can further flow to the door 70, to
remove residual bubbles from the inside of the door glass 72.
[0071] After determining the point of time when a spin-drying
operation is performed, the controller 90 drives the water supply
valve 82 or the steam valve 52 during the spin-drying operation,
such that water can flow to the door glass 72, to remove residual
bubbles from the inside of the door glass 72.
[0072] At this time, the controller 90 may control the driving of
the water supply valve 82 of the water supply unit 80 and/or the
steam valve 52 of the steam generator 50 to remove residual bubbles
from the door glass 72.
[0073] The controller 90 receives the rotating speed of the drum
from the speed detector 100 during the spin-drying operation and
compares the received rotating speed of the drum 20 with a
predetermined speed.
[0074] When the current rotating speed of the drum 20 reaches the
predetermined speed, the controller 90 controls the water supply
valve 82 or the steam valve 52 such that water can flow to the door
70.
[0075] At this time, the predetermined speed is approximately 150
rpm, as shown in FIG. 5, which is a speed at which a probability of
the drum 20 being filled with water is low, and therefore, even
when water is supplied to the door 70, the drum 20 is not filled
with water.
[0076] The speed detector 100 detects the rotating speed of the
drum 20 during a spin-drying operation and transmits the detected
speed to the controller 90.
[0077] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method of controlling
a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present
invention. The method of controlling the washing machine will be
described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0078] When a user puts laundry into the drum 20 and inputs a
course to perform a washing operation, water sufficient to wet the
laundry is introduced into the drum 20 and the water tub 30 through
the water supply pipe 83 of the water supply unit 80 according to a
control signal of the controller 90, and a washing or rinsing
operation is commenced according to the inputted course.
[0079] During the washing or rinsing operation, the supplied water
is circulated through the circulation pump 41 and the circulation
pipe 42 of the circulation unit 40.
[0080] After the washing or rinsing operation is completed (201),
bubbles remain inside the door glass 72 at the inside lower end of
the door 70.
[0081] Accordingly, the circulation pump 41 of the circulation unit
40 is driven for a first time (approximately 10 seconds) before
drainage after the completion of the washing or rinsing operation
(202), such that the water pumped through the circulation pump 42
can flow along the side of the door 70, to remove residual bubbles
from the inside of the door glass 72.
[0082] At this time, the circulation pump 41 is operated before the
drainage since it is required for the drum 20 to be filled with
water.
[0083] When the first time to drive the circulation pump 41 elapses
(203), the driving of the circulation pump 41 is stopped and a
draining operation is performed (204). Subsequently, an
intermediate or final spin-drying operation is performed (205).
[0084] During the intermediate or final spin-drying operation, the
rotating speed of the drum 20 is detected by the speed detector 100
(206), and it is determined whether the rotating speed of the drum
20 has reached a predetermined speed (207).
[0085] At this time, the predetermined speed is approximately 150
rpm, which is a speed at which a probability of the drum 20 being
filled with water is low, and therefore, even when water flows to
the door 70, the drum 20 is not filled with water.
[0086] When the rotating speed of the drum 20 reaches the
predetermined speed, the steam valve 52 of the steam generator 50
or the water supply valve 82 of the water supply unit 80 is opened
for a second time (approximately 60 seconds), such that a small
amount (approximately 0.3 liters) of water can flow to the door
glass 72, to remove residual bubbles from the inside of the door 70
(208).
[0087] After the second time elapses (which water flows to the door
70) (209), the driving of the steam valve 52 or the water supply
valve 82 is stopped to interrupt the supply of water (210), and a
spin-drying operation is controlled to be performed for a
predetermined spin-drying time (211).
[0088] In this way, the circulation pump 41 is driven, before the
commencement of the draining operation after the completion of the
washing or rinsing operation, such that water can flow along the
side of the door 70 through the circulation pipe 42, to primarily
remove residual bubbles from the door glass 72.
[0089] In this embodiment, the circulation pump 41 is driven to
remove residual bubbles from the door glass 72 with the water used
to wash or rinse without additional supply of water. However, the
present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. For
example, a small amount of water may be controlled to further flow
to the door 70 through the water supply valve 82 of the steam valve
52 to remove residual bubbles from the inside of the door glass
72.
[0090] When the rotating speed of the drum 20 reaches a
predetermined speed, during the intermediate or final spin-drying
operation after the drainage, the water supplied through the water
supply valve 82 or the steam valve 52 is controlled to flow to the
door 70 to secondarily remove residual bubbles from the lower end
of the door glass 72.
[0091] At this time, the rinsing or the intermediate spin-drying
operation is repeatedly performed according to the course inputted
by the user. The removal of bubbles during a washing operation may
be achieved by one or several rinsing operations.
[0092] To achieve the removal of bubbles, one or several
intermediate spin-drying operations or a final spin-drying
operation may be performed.
[0093] As apparent from the above description, it is possible to
supply water to the door glass through the water supply valve or
the steam valve, during spin-drying, such that the water can flow
from the upper end to the lower end of the door glass.
Consequently, the embodiment of the present invention has the
effect of effectively removing residual bubbles from the door
without any structural change. Also, it is possible to supply water
to the door glass through the circulation pump before drainage
after washing or rinsing, such that the water can flow along the
side of the door glass, to remove residual bubbles from the door
without any structural change.
[0094] Although a few embodiments 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.
* * * * *