U.S. patent application number 17/415446 was filed with the patent office on 2022-01-27 for method for controlling artificial intelligence laundry treatment apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Youngjong KIM, Sangwook LEE, Sunho LEE, Byunghyun MOON.
Application Number | 20220025568 17/415446 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220025568 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Sunho ; et al. |
January 27, 2022 |
METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE LAUNDRY TREATMENT
APPARATUS
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for controlling a
clothes treating apparatus, the clothes treating apparatus
comprising: an outer tub for receiving washing water; an inner tub
rotatably disposed in the outer tub and receiving laundry; and a
motor for rotating the inner tub. The method for controlling a
clothes treating apparatus comprises: a dry clothes amount
detection step for detecting the amount of laundry loaded in an
inner tub; a water supply step for supplying washing water to an
outer tub; a wash step for washing and rinsing the laundry; a wet
clothes amount detection step for detecting the moisture content of
the laundry after the wash step; and a spin step for removing
washing water included in the laundry, wherein, in the spin step,
the ending time of the spin step is determined by determining the
clothing material of the laundry.
Inventors: |
LEE; Sunho; (Seoul, KR)
; KIM; Youngjong; (Seoul, KR) ; MOON;
Byunghyun; (Seoul, KR) ; LEE; Sangwook;
(Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG Electronics Inc. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/415446 |
Filed: |
November 28, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
November 28, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2019/016589 |
371 Date: |
June 17, 2021 |
International
Class: |
D06F 34/18 20060101
D06F034/18; D06F 33/40 20060101 D06F033/40 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 18, 2018 |
KR |
10-2018-0164110 |
Claims
1. A method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus including
an outer tub configured to receive washing water therein, an inner
tub rotatably disposed in the outer tub and configured to receive
laundry, and a motor configured to rotate the inner tub, the method
comprising: performing a dry laundry amount sensing operation that
includes determining an amount of laundry received in the inner
tub; supplying washing water to the outer tub; washing and rinsing
the laundry; performing a wet laundry amount sensing operation that
includes determining a moisture content of the laundry; and
performing a dehydration operation that includes removing the
washing water from the laundry, wherein the dehydration operation
terminates at a termination time, the termination time being
determined based on a material of the laundry that is determined in
the dehydration operation.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the dehydration operation
includes a laundry material sensing operation that includes sensing
a material of specific laundry accumulating the washing water in
the laundry.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the laundry material sensing
operation is performed based on a rotation speed of the inner tub
being increased to a dehydration speed in the dehydration
operation.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the laundry material sensing
operation includes determining, based on the determined amount of
laundry and the determined moisture content of the laundry, a water
content percentage of the laundry.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the water content
percentage is based on a reference water content percentage of the
amount of laundry.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein a presence of the specific
laundry that accumulates the washing water among the laundry is
determined through determining the water content percentage.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein the laundry material sensing
operation further includes a notification operation that includes
notifying a user, based on the material of the specific laundry
accumulating the washing water being sensed in the laundry, that
the material of the specific laundry accumulating the washing water
is sensed.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the notification operation
includes terminating, based on the specific laundry that
accumulates the washing water remaining in the inner tub, the
dehydration operation.
9. The method of claim 2, wherein the laundry material sensing
operation includes increasing, based on the material of the
specific laundry accumulating the washing water not being sensed
among the laundry, a rotation speed of the inner tub to a
dehydration speed to activate the dehydration operation.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the dehydration operation
further includes a laundry material sensing operation that includes
(i) increasing a rotation speed of the inner tub to a dehydration
speed and (ii) varying, based on the moisture content of the
laundry after the rotation speed reaches the dehydration speed, the
termination time of the dehydration operation.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the laundry material sensing
operation includes calculating a reference moisture content of the
laundry based on a dry laundry amount sensed in the dry laundry
amount sensing operation and a wet laundry amount sensed in the wet
laundry amount sensing operation.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein calculating the reference
moisture content of the laundry includes sensing a residual
moisture content of the laundry while the rotation speed of the
inner tub is increased to the dehydration speed.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein sensing the residual moisture
content of the laundry is performed after increasing the
dehydration speed of the inner tub to a predetermined speed.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein sensing the residual moisture
content of the laundry includes (i) increasing the dehydration
speed of the inner tub to a predetermined speed, (ii) sensing the
residual moisture content of the laundry while maintaining the
predetermined speed for a certain period of time, and (iii)
reducing the predetermined speed to the dehydration speed.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein sensing the residual moisture
content of the laundry is performed at least once while the
dehydration speed of the inner tub is maintained.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein the dehydration operation is
terminated based on a reference moisture content of the laundry
being less than a residual moisture content.
17. The method of claim 10, wherein the dehydration operation is
maintained based on a reference moisture content of the laundry
being greater than or equal to a residual moisture content.
18. A laundry treating apparatus comprising: an outer tub
configured to receive washing water therein; an inner tub rotatably
disposed in the outer tub and configured to receive laundry; a
motor configured to rotate the inner tub; a controller configured
to: perform a dry laundry amount sensing operation that includes
determining an amount of laundry received in the inner tub; supply
washing water to the outer tub; wash and rinse the laundry; perform
a wet laundry amount sensing operation that includes determining a
moisture content of the laundry; and perform a dehydration
operation that includes removing the washing water from the
laundry, wherein the dehydration operation terminates at a
termination time, the termination time being determined based on a
material of the laundry that is determined in the dehydration
operation.
19. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 18, wherein the
dehydration operation includes a laundry material sensing operation
that includes sensing a material of specific laundry accumulating
the washing water among the laundry.
20. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 19, wherein: the
laundry material sensing operation includes determining, based on
the determined amount of laundry and the determined moisture
content of the laundry, a water content percentage of the laundry,
and determining the water content percentage is based on a
reference water content percentage of the amount of laundry.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling
an artificial laundry treating apparatus, and particularly, to a
method for controlling an artificial laundry treating apparatus
that may vary a dehydration operation based on a type of
laundry.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Usually, a laundry treating apparatus may be divided into a
laundry treating apparatus and a dryer based on a function of
treating laundry. The laundry treating apparatus performs a washing
operation of removing contaminants from the laundry using washing
water, and the dryer performs a drying process of removing moisture
contained in the laundry. Recently, a laundry treating apparatus
having a drying function by integrating the laundry treating
apparatus and the dryer has also been developed.
[0003] In one example, the laundry treating apparatus may be
classified into a top loading type-laundry treating apparatus in
which an inlet for inserting the laundry is defined in a top face
of a cabinet and a front loading type-laundry treating apparatus in
which the inlet for inserting the laundry is defined in a front
face (or a side face) of the cabinet.
[0004] The top loading type-laundry treating apparatus includes a
cabinet that forms an appearance of the apparatus, an inner tub and
an outer tub disposed inside the cabinet. In this connection, in
the top loading type-laundry treating apparatus, the inner tub and
the outer tub are disposed perpendicular to the ground, and the
inner tub rotates around a rotation axis in a direction
perpendicular to the ground.
[0005] In addition, the laundry inlet through which the laundry may
be inserted is defined in the top face of the cabinet, and a door
that opens and closes the laundry inlet is disposed on the top face
of the cabinet.
[0006] When the top loading type-laundry treating apparatus is
subjected to a dehydration process, a rotation speed of the inner
tub may exceed about 1000 rpm depending on a product. When the
dehydration is performed by rotating the inner tub at a high speed,
there are cases where the inner tub rotates at the high speed in a
state in which the laundry inside the inner tub is not evenly
arranged.
[0007] In other words, there is a case where the inner tub rotates
at the high speed in a state in which the laundry in the inner tub
is eccentrical. In this case, in the process of rotating the inner
tub at the high speed, the inner tub may hit the outer tub and the
cabinet because of the eccentricity of the laundry.
[0008] In addition, recently, clothes of various materials are on
the market, and a user separates the laundry based on a type and a
material of the laundry and independently washes laundry of similar
materials.
[0009] In one example, in recent years, a size of an outdoor
clothing market is also increasing rapidly. Usually, a fabric
having a waterproof function is used for an outdoor clothing
product. When washing such outdoor clothing, washing water may
accumulate inside the waterproof fabric.
[0010] The washing water that has permeated into the outdoor
clothing during the washing process must be discharged through a
dehydration process. However, because of a waterproof function of
the clothing, the washing water may remain inside the outdoor
clothing during the dehydration process.
[0011] In other words, there are cases in which the outdoor
clothing performs a function of a balloon and the washing water
inside is not able to be discharged to the outside like a case in
which water is stored in the balloon (hereinafter, the state in
which the washing water is accumulated in the laundry will be
referred to as a `water balloon phenomenon`).
[0012] In particular, in the case of rotating the inner tub that
accommodates therein the laundry in which the water balloon
phenomenon occurs at the high speed in the dehydration process, as
the water balloon phenomenon is removed for an instant, excessive
eccentricity of the laundry inside the inner tub may occur.
[0013] When the water balloon phenomenon is removed from the
dehydration process as such, excessive vibration of the inner tub
may occur by the eccentricity, which occurs as the water balloon
phenomenon is removed, and the inner tub may collide with the outer
tub by the vibration of the inner tub.
[0014] Particularly, even when the amount of eccentricity occurred
during the dehydration process in which the inner tub is rotated at
the high speed is small, an amount of impact of the inner tub and
the outer tub may be increased by the inner tub rotating at the
high speed. In addition, there is a risk that the door disposed on
the top cover may be separated or the top cover may be separated
from the cabinet by the amount of impact.
[0015] In one example, the outdoor product has been described as an
example of the clothing in which the water balloon phenomenon
occurs, but the water balloon phenomenon may occur in laundry with
the waterproof function or general clothing depending on a washing
condition.
SUMMARY
[0016] The present disclosure was devised to solve the
above-described problems, and has a purpose to provide a method for
controlling a laundry treating apparatus that may determine a type
of laundry based on the type or a material of the laundry and vary
a washing process based on the determined laundry.
[0017] In addition, the present disclosure was devised to solve the
above-described problems, and has a purpose to provide a method for
controlling a laundry treating apparatus that may determine the
type of the laundry based on the type or the material of the
laundry and vary a dehydration process based on the determined
laundry.
[0018] In addition, the present disclosure was devised to solve the
above-described problems, and has a purpose to provide a method for
controlling a laundry treating apparatus that may determine
presence or absence of specific laundry in which a water balloon
phenomenon may occur included in the laundry to prevent
eccentricity of an inner tub in advance.
[0019] In addition, the present disclosure was devised to solve the
above-described problems, and has a purpose to provide a method for
controlling a laundry treating apparatus that may determine the
presence or the absence of the specific laundry in which the water
balloon phenomenon may occur included in the laundry to reduce a
time required for the washing process.
[0020] In addition, the present disclosure was devised to solve the
above-described problems, and has a purpose to provide a method for
controlling a laundry treating apparatus that may determine the
presence or the absence of the specific laundry in which the water
balloon phenomenon may occur included in the laundry to reduce a
time required for the dehydration process.
[0021] It is preferable that a method for controlling a laundry
treating apparatus including an outer tub for accommodating washing
water therein, an inner tub rotatably disposed in the outer tub and
accommodating laundry therein, and a motor for rotating the inner
tub for achieving the above purposes includes a dry laundry amount
sensing operation of sensing an amount of laundry inserted into the
inner tub, a water supply operation of supplying washing water to
the outer tub, a washing operation of washing and rinsing the
laundry, a wet laundry amount sensing operation of sensing a
moisture content of the laundry after the washing operation, and a
dehydration operation of removing the washing water contained in
the laundry, and a termination time point of the dehydration
operation is determined by determining a material of the laundry in
the dehydration operation.
[0022] In this connection, it is preferable that the dehydration
operation includes a laundry material sensing operation of sensing
a material of specific laundry causing a water balloon phenomenon
in the laundry during acceleration for reaching a dehydration speed
of the laundry.
[0023] In addition, it is preferable that the laundry material
sensing operation includes an operation of determining a water
content percentage of the laundry based on a dry laundry amount
sensed in the dry laundry amount sensing operation and a wet
laundry amount sensed in the wet laundry amount sensing operation,
and the material of the specific laundry causing the water balloon
phenomenon in the laundry is sensed based on the water content
percentage and a reference water content percentage of the dry
laundry amount.
[0024] In addition, it is preferable that the laundry material
sensing operation further includes a notification operation of
notifying a user that the material of the specific laundry causing
the water balloon phenomenon is sensed.
[0025] In addition, it is preferable that the notification
operation terminates the dehydration operation when the specific
laundry of the material causing the water balloon phenomenon is not
removed.
[0026] In addition, it is preferable that the laundry material
sensing operation increases a rotation speed of the inner tub to a
dehydration speed to activate the dehydration operation when the
material of the specific laundry causing the water balloon
phenomenon is not sensed.
[0027] In this connection, it is preferable that the dehydration
operation further includes a laundry material sensing operation of
increasing a rotation speed of the inner tub to a dehydration speed
and varying the termination time point of the dehydration operation
based on the moisture content of the laundry after the rotation
speed reaches the dehydration speed.
[0028] In one example, it is preferable that the laundry material
sensing operation includes an operation of calculating a reference
moisture content of the laundry through a dry laundry amount sensed
in the dry laundry amount sensing operation and a wet laundry
amount sensed in the wet laundry amount sensing operation, and an
operation of sensing a residual moisture content of the laundry
while the rotation speed of the inner tub is increased to the
dehydration speed.
[0029] In addition, it is preferable that the operation of sensing
the residual moisture content of the laundry increases the
dehydration speed of the inner tub to a predetermined speed, then
senses the residual moisture content of the laundry while
maintaining the predetermined speed for a certain period of time,
and then reduces the predetermined speed to the dehydration
speed.
[0030] In addition, it is preferable that the operation of sensing
the residual moisture content of the laundry is performed at least
once while the dehydration speed of the inner tube is
maintained.
[0031] In addition, it is preferable that the dehydration operation
is terminated when a reference moisture content of the laundry is
less than a residual moisture content, and the dehydration
operation is maintained when a reference moisture content of the
laundry is greater than a residual moisture content.
[0032] According to the method for controlling the laundry treating
apparatus according to the present disclosure, there is an effect
of determining the type of the laundry based on the type or the
material of the laundry, and varying the washing process based on
the determined laundry.
[0033] In addition, according to the method for controlling the
laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure,
there is an effect of determining the type of the laundry based on
the type or the material of the laundry, and varying the
dehydration process based on the determined laundry.
[0034] In addition, according to the method for controlling the
laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure,
there is an effect of preventing the eccentricity of the inner tub
in advance by determining the presence or the absence of the
specific laundry in which the water balloon phenomenon may occur
included in the laundry.
[0035] In addition, according to the method for controlling the
laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure,
there is an effect of reducing the time required for the washing
process by determining the presence or the absence of the specific
laundry in which the water balloon phenomenon may occur included in
the laundry.
[0036] In addition, according to the method for controlling the
laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure,
there is an effect of reducing the time required for the
dehydration operation by determining the presence or the absence of
the specific laundry in which the water balloon phenomenon may
occur included in the laundry.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] FIG. 1 is a side view of a laundry treating apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0038] FIG. 2 is a flowchart briefly showing a control process of a
laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0039] FIG. 3 is a graph showing a change in a rotation speed of an
inner tub of a laundry treating apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0040] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing first laundry material sensing
of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0041] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing second laundry material
sensing of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] Hereinafter, a method for controlling a laundry treating
apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will
be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0043] In describing the present disclosure, a name of each
component to be defined are defined in consideration of a function
thereof in the present disclosure. Therefore, it should not be
understood as limiting the technical component of the present
disclosure. In addition, each component to which each name is
defined may be called a different name in the art.
[0044] Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to a
following embodiment. A person with ordinary knowledge in the
technical field to which the present disclosure belongs may make
various modifications and variations from such description, and
such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the
present disclosure.
[0045] A laundry treating apparatus to be described below may be
applied to all washing machines having a dehydration function. The
laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may be applied
to both a top loading scheme in which an inlet for inserting
laundry is defined in a top face of a cabinet and a front loading
scheme in which the inlet for inserting the laundry is defined in a
front face (or a side face) of the cabinet.
[0046] In the following, the laundry treating apparatus of the
present disclosure will be described based on a top locating
type-laundry treating apparatus. However, the laundry treating
apparatus of the present disclosure may be applied to a front
loading type-laundry treating apparatus, and may also be applied to
a laundry treating apparatus having the dehydration function, such
as a dehydrator having only the dehydration function, a dryer
having the dehydration function, or the like.
[0047] First, a laundry treating apparatus according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure will be briefly described with
reference to the accompanying drawing. For convenience of
description, same names and same reference numerals are used for
components that are the same as conventional components. In
addition, detailed descriptions of components that are the same as
the conventional components will be omitted, and only portions
related to the present disclosure will be described in detail.
[0048] FIG. 1 is a side view of a laundry treating apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 1, a laundry treating apparatus 100
according to the present disclosure includes a cabinet 110 that
forms an appearance of the apparatus 100 and has an open top, a
cabinet cover 111 disposed on the open top of the cabinet 110 and
defining a laundry inlet through which laundry enters and exits, a
door 114 that opens and closes the laundry inlet, an outer tub 120
that accommodates washing water therein, is suspended in the
cabinet 110 by a support member 120a, and is buffered by a damper
120b, and an inner tub 150 that is disposed inside the outer tub
120, rotates around a vertical axis, and accommodates laundry
therein.
[0050] A plurality of water holes (not shown) are defined in the
inner tub 150 such that the washing water may circulate between the
outer tub 120 and the inner tub 150, and an outer tub cover 123 in
which a laundry inlet 122 is defined such that the laundry may
enter and exit is disposed on a top face of the outer tub 120.
[0051] A pulsator 156 that generates a water current in the washing
water is disposed on a bottom of the inner tub 150, and a motor 160
that generates a rotational force to rotate the inner tub 150
and/or the pulsator 156 is disposed below the outer tub 120.
[0052] A control panel 116 that receives a command from a user for
overall operations of the laundry treating apparatus 100 is
disposed on the cabinet cover 111. Inside the cabinet cover 111, a
detergent box 118 in which detergent may be accommodated, and a
detergent box housing 119 that accommodates therein the detergent
box in an extendable manner, and defines a flow channel such that
the washing water introduced from a water supply hose 174 is
supplied into the inner tub 150 via the detergent box 118 are
disposed. A distribution hole (not shown) may be defined in the
detergent box housing 119 such that the washing water introduced
from the water supply hose 174 is distributed to the detergent box
118. A drain hose 184 and a drain pump 182 drain the washing water
from the outer tub 120.
[0053] The motor 160 selectively rotates the inner tub 150 or the
pulsator 156. The motor 160 includes a stator 162 on which a coil
is wound, and a rotor 164 that rotates by generating an
electromagnetic interaction with the coil. The stator 162 includes
multiple wound coils and has an internal resistance. The rotor 164
includes multiple magnets that generates the electromagnetic
interaction with the coils. The rotor 164 rotates by the
electromagnetic interaction between the coil and the magnet.
[0054] The motor 160 includes a hall sensor 166 that measures a
location of the rotor 164. The hall sensor 166 generates on/off
signals by the rotation of the rotor 164. A rotation speed and the
location of the rotor 164 are estimated through the on/off signals
generated by the hall sensor 166.
[0055] Hereinafter, a control process of the laundry treating
apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure as described
above will be described in detail.
[0056] FIG. 2 is a flowchart briefly showing a control process of a
laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 2, the laundry treating apparatus 100
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a
dry laundry amount sensing operation (S110) of sensing an amount of
laundry to set a water supply amount of washing water, a water
supply operation (S120) of supplying the washing water to the
laundry based on the set water supply amount, a washing operation
(S130) of washing contaminated laundry using detergent or the like,
a rinsing operation (S140) of removing the detergent or the like
from the laundry for which the washing operation (S130) has been
completed, a wet laundry amount sensing operation (S150) of sensing
an amount of laundry containing the washing water to set a
reference dehydration time of the laundry for which the rinsing
operation (S140) has been completed, and a dehydration operation
(S200) of removing moisture from the laundry based on the set
reference dehydration time.
[0058] The dry laundry amount sensing operation (S110) may be
largely classified into a method for sensing the amount of laundry
using a magnitude of inertia of the motor and a method for sensing
the amount of laundry using an electrode sensor.
[0059] In this connection, the method of using the magnitude of
inertia uses characteristics in which the larger the amount of
laundry in the inner tub 150, the greater the inertia, and the
larger the inertia, the more power or current and time required to
accelerate or decelerate the inner tub 150.
[0060] As another example, an amount of current required to
accelerate the inner tub 150 with a constant acceleration may be
measured. In this connection, the amount of current may be measured
for a certain period of time. Characteristics in which an amount of
power consumed to accelerate the inner tub 150 with the constant
acceleration is large when the amount of laundry in the inner tub
150 is large and the amount of power consumed is small when the
amount of laundry is small may be used.
[0061] Because various embodiments of the dry laundry amount
sensing operation (S110) are possible, a detailed description
thereof will be omitted.
[0062] In one example, the water supply operation (S120) receives
the washing water from an external water source (not shown) through
a water supply valve 172 and a water supply hose 174 and supplies
the washing water to the outer tub 120.
[0063] In addition, the washing operation (S130) is a process of
removing contaminants from the contaminated laundry using the
washing water. Specifically, the washing operation (S130) may
include a washing process and a drainage process.
[0064] In this connection, the washing process is an operation of
removing the contaminants from the laundry by rotating the inner
tub 150 or the pulsator 156. In the washing process, the inner tub
150 or the pulsator 156 may separate the contaminants from the
laundry while rotating in a forward or reverse direction. In
addition, in the washing process, the detergent or the like may be
supplied into the inner tub through the detergent box 118. The
detergent or the like functions to separate the contaminants from
the laundry.
[0065] In one example, when the washing process is terminated, the
drainage process of discharging the washing water to the outside of
the laundry treating apparatus 100 is performed. The drainage
process may drain the washing water in the outer tub to the outside
using the drain pump 182.
[0066] In one example, the rinsing operation (S140) is a process of
removing the detergent, the washing water, and the contaminants
from the laundry for which the washing operation (S130) has been
completed. Specifically, the rinsing operation (S140) may include a
separate water supply process, a rinsing process, and a drainage
process.
[0067] In this connection, the water supply process receives the
washing water from the water source and supplies the washing water
to the outer tub 120. In addition, the rinsing process rotates the
inner tub 150 and the pulsator 156 to separate the detergent, the
washing water, and the contaminants from the laundry by centrifugal
force. In the rinsing process, the inner tub 150 may separate the
detergent, the laundry, and the contaminants from the laundry while
rotating in the forward or reverse direction.
[0068] In addition, in the rinsing operation (S140), a softener or
the like may be supplied into the outer tub 120 through the
detergent box 118. When the rinsing process is terminated, the
drainage process of draining the washing water to the outside of
the laundry treating apparatus 100 is performed. The drainage
process may drain the washing water in the outer tub to the outside
using the drain pump 182 and the drain hose 184.
[0069] In this connection, the above-described water supply
operation (S120), washing operation (S130), and rinsing operation
(S140) may be repeatedly performed at least once depending on the
amount of laundry or a degree of contamination of the laundry.
[0070] In one example, the wet laundry amount sensing operation
(S150) calculates a reference dehydration time that may be consumed
in the dehydration operation (S200) by determining the amounts of
laundry for which the rinsing operation (S140) has been completed
and washing water contained in the laundry.
[0071] In this connection, the reference dehydration time is a time
for dehydrating wet laundry without additional conditions based on
the amount of wet laundry determined in the wet laundry amount
sensing operation, which may substantially correspond to a maximum
dehydration time.
[0072] Such reference dehydration time may increase or decrease
based on results of a first laundry material sensing operation
(S210) and a second laundry material sensing operation (S220)
included in the dehydration operation S200 to be described
later.
[0073] In one example, the dehydration operation (S200) is a
process of removing the moisture from the laundry. The dehydration
operation (S200) rotates the inner tub 150 at the high speed to
remove the moisture from the laundry using the centrifugal
force.
[0074] In this connection, the dehydration operation (S200) may
include the first laundry material determination operation (S210)
and the second laundry material determination operation (S220) for
determining the material of the laundry.
[0075] In one example, the first laundry material determination
operation (S210) determines a water content percentage of the
laundry when increasing a rotation speed of the inner tub 150 to
start the dehydration operation (S200), and determines whether
specific laundry such as tarpaulin that may cause the water balloon
phenomenon is included in the laundry based on the water content
percentage of the laundry.
[0076] The second laundry material determination operation (S220)
starts the dehydration operation (S200), then increases the
rotation speed of the inner tub 150 to a normal dehydration speed,
then temporarily increases the rotation speed of the inner tub 150
to a speed higher than the normal dehydration speed, and then
reduces the rotation speed of the inner tub 150 to determine the
water content percentage of the laundry. In this connection, the
dehydration time may be varied by determining the material of the
laundry based on the water content percentage determined in the
laundry.
[0077] Hereinafter, the first laundry material determination
operation (S210) will be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawing.
[0078] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing first laundry material sensing
of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0079] As shown in FIG. 4, the first laundry material determination
operation (S210) according to the embodiment of the present
disclosure is to sense laundry made of a material that may cause a
`water balloon phenomenon` and notify the user of the same, or
terminate the dehydration operation (S200) when the laundry in
which the water balloon phenomenon may occur is not removed.
[0080] First, the first laundry material determination operation
(S210) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
calculates the water content percentage to determine the material
of the laundry that causes the water balloon phenomenon based on
the water content percentage of the laundry (S211).
[0081] In other words, laundry made of a material with a high water
content percentage means laundry that may contain a relatively
large amount of moisture. High water content percentage laundry may
be laundry made of cotton fabrics such as towels. Conversely, in a
case of a low water content percentage laundry means laundry that
may contain a relatively small amount of moisture.
[0082] Thereafter, the calculated water content percentage is
compared with a reference water content percentage to determine
whether the laundry is the low water content percentage laundry
with the low water content percentage (S212).
[0083] In one example, when the laundry is determined to be the low
water content percentage laundry with the water content percentage
lower than the reference water content percentage in the water
content percentage determination operation (S212), in order to
perform the dehydration operation (S200), the rotation speed of the
inner tub is increased (S214).
[0084] In addition, when the laundry is determined to be the high
water content percentage laundry with the water content percentage
higher than the reference water content percentage in the water
content percentage determination operation (S212), a first laundry
material removal operation (S213) is performed.
[0085] When the laundry includes the specific laundry that causes
the water balloon phenomenon, the water content percentage will be
measured high by a water balloon formed inside the laundry. When
the laundry does not include the specific laundry that causes the
water balloon phenomenon, the water content percentage will be
measured low.
[0086] Therefore, whether the laundry includes the specific laundry
that causes the water balloon phenomenon may be determined using
the water content percentage.
[0087] In one example, the water content percentage used as a
determination criterion in the water content percentage
determination operation (S212) means a degree to which the laundry
may retain the moisture. That is, the higher the water content
percentage, the higher the ability of laundry to absorb and retain
the moisture, and the lower the water content percentage, the lower
the ability to absorb and retain the moisture.
[0088] In one example, the water content percentage may be defined
as a ratio of an initial amount of laundry and an amount of laundry
to be dehydrated. In this connection, the initial amount of laundry
means a dry laundry amount without the moisture, and is calculated
in the above-described dry laundry amount sensing operation
(S110).
[0089] In addition, the amount of laundry to be dehydrated means an
amount of supersaturated laundry that has been sufficiently wetted
in the washing water after the drainage process of the rinsing
operation (S140) is completed, and is calculated in the
above-described wet laundry amount sensing operation (S150).
[0090] That is, when the amount of laundry to be dehydrated is
greater than the initial amount of laundry, the water content
percentage is high. In addition, when the amount of laundry to be
dehydrated is smaller than the dry laundry amount, the water
content percentage is low. In the case of the laundry such as the
towels, the water content percentage may be high. Alternatively, in
a case of underwear made of cotton, the water content percentage
may be high.
[0091] In the above description, the water content percentage is
defined as the ratio of the initial amount of laundry and the
amount of laundry to be dehydrated, but any numerical value capable
of measuring the degree to which the laundry may contain the
moisture may be used.
[0092] Therefore, the case in which the water content percentage is
lower than the reference water content percentage in the water
content percentage determination operation (S212) may be determined
as a case in which that laundry does not include the specific
laundry made of the material that causes the water balloon
phenomenon. In this case, the rotation speed of the inner tub is
increased in order to proceed with the dehydration operation
(S214).
[0093] In addition, the case in which the water content percentage
is higher than the reference water content percentage in the water
content percentage determination operation (S212) may be determined
as a case in which that laundry includes the specific laundry made
of the material that causes the water balloon phenomenon.
[0094] In this case, an error message may be transmitted to the
user through the control panel 116. When the laundry made of the
material that causes the water balloon phenomenon is not removed,
the dehydration operation (S200) may be terminated (S215).
[0095] Hereinafter, the second laundry material determination
operation (S220) will be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawing.
[0096] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing second laundry material
sensing of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure.
[0097] As shown in FIG. 5, the second laundry material
determination operation (S220) according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure is to vary a termination time of the dehydration
operation based on a residual moisture content of the laundry after
the rotation speed of the inner tub 150 is increased to a
dehydration speed of the dehydration operation (S200) by passing
the first laundry material sensing operation (S210).
[0098] Such second laundry material sensing operation (S220) may be
performed at least once while the dehydration speed of the
dehydration operation (S200) is maintained. Accordingly, a duration
of the dehydration speed of the dehydration operation (S200) may be
varied.
[0099] First, based on the dry laundry amount sensed in the dry
laundry amount sensing operation (S110) and the wet laundry amount
sensed in the wet laundry amount sensing operation (S150), the
second laundry material sensing operation (S220) according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure calculates a reference
moisture content of the laundry (S221). In this connection, the
reference moisture content may be calculated in a separate table
where the reference moisture content based on the dry laundry
amount and the wet laundry amount is defined.
[0100] Thereafter, after entering the dehydration operation (S200),
the rotation speed of the inner tub 150 is increased to the
dehydration speed of about 840 rpm for dehydration of the laundry
(S214). In this connection, the dehydration speed varies based on
the dry laundry amount sensed in the dry laundry amount sensing
operation or the wet laundry amount sensed in the wet laundry
amount sensing operation. In addition, the dehydration time is also
varied based on the dry laundry amount or the wet laundry
amount.
[0101] Thereafter, as the dehydration operation (S200) proceeds,
the residual moisture content is calculated by sensing the amount
of laundry in the inner tub after the rotation speed of the inner
tub 150 is increased to the dehydration speed (S223). In this
connection, the rotation speed of the inner tub 150 that has
reached the dehydration speed has a relatively high rpm. Thus, it
is very difficult to sense the amount of laundry using the hall
sensor of the motor 160 or the change in the current value of the
motor 160.
[0102] Accordingly, the amount of laundry inside the inner tub 150
rotated at the dehydration speed may calculate a laundry amount
constant Jm using a torque T of the motor 160 that rotates the
inner tub 150, a coefficient of friction B of the motor 160, and a
rotation speed Wm of the motor 160, and calculate the amount of
laundry in the inner tub and the residual moisture content based on
the calculated laundry amount constant Jm.
[0103] A formula for calculating the laundry amount constant Jm
described above is as follows.
Jm = T e - .times. B .omega. m d .times. .times. .omega. m dt [
Formula .times. .times. 1 ] ##EQU00001##
[0104] In this connection, the residual moisture content may be
calculated through a separate table based on the dry laundry amount
calculated in the dry laundry amount sensing operation (S110) and
the amount of laundry in the inner tub rotating at the dehydration
speed in the dehydration operation (S200).
[0105] In other words, based on the calculated laundry amount
constant Jm, laundry (e.g., functional clothing, cotton clothing,
jeans/fall jumpers, winter jumpers/quilts, and the like) made of
materials corresponding to the laundry amount constant and the
residual moisture contents are defined to correspond to a washing
course and the amount of laundry based on the material of the
laundry. The residual moisture content in consideration of the
laundry material may be calculated based on the calculated laundry
amount constant Jm.
[0106] In one example, in order to sense the amount of laundry in
the inner tub 150 whose rotation speed has reached the dehydration
speed and the residual moisture content, a regular dehydration
speed may be maintained. However, the residual moisture content may
be calculated by temporarily increasing the rotation speed of the
inner tub 150, then maintaining the rotation speed for a certain
period of time, and then reducing the rotation speed.
[0107] In the case of [Formula 1] described above, as the rotation
speed of the motor 160 increases, the value of the laundry amount
constant may increase. Thus, the laundry amount constant Jm may be
calculated by temporarily increasing the rotation speed of the
motor 160 that temporarily rotates the inner tub 150 to be higher
than the dehydration speed.
[0108] That is, an inner tub accelerating/decelerating operation
(S222) of temporarily increasing the rotation speed of the inner
tub 150 during the operation at the dehydration speed, maintaining
the rotation speed for the certain period of time, and then
reducing the rotation speed in which the rotation speed of the
inner tub 150 is maintained for the certain period of time in the
state of being higher than the dehydration speed is further
performed to calculate a laundry amount constant Jm of when the
rotation speed of the inner tub is maintained for the certain
period of time in the state of being increased to be higher than
the dehydration speed. The residual moisture content may be
calculated from the table based on the calculated laundry amount
constant.
[0109] Thereafter, the reference moisture content calculated in the
reference moisture content calculation operation (S221) by the dry
laundry amount sensed in the dry laundry amount sensing operation
(S110) and the wet laundry amount sensed in the wet laundry amount
sensing operation (S150) is compared with the residual moisture
content calculated in the state in which the rotation speed has
reached the dehydration speed to determine termination and progress
of the dehydration operation (S224).
[0110] That is, when the residual moisture content calculated from
the dehydration speed is less than the reference moisture content,
there is a high possibility that the dehydration will not proceed
any more in the laundry dehydrated in the inner tub 150. Thus, when
the residual moisture content calculated from the dehydration speed
is less than the reference moisture content, the dehydration
operation may be terminated (S225).
[0111] In addition, a case in which the residual moisture content
calculated from the dehydration speed is greater than the reference
moisture content means that there is moisture that may be
dehydrated remaining in the laundry that is being dehydrated in the
inner tub 150, so that a current dehydration speed is
maintained.
[0112] The operation (S222) of accelerating and then decelerating
the inner tub, the deceleration operation (S222), the residual
moisture content calculation operation (S223), and the operation
(S224) of comparing the reference moisture content with the
residual moisture content described above are repeatedly performed.
The dehydration operation may be terminated based on the comparison
result of the operation (S224) of comparing the reference moisture
content with the residual moisture content, or the dehydration
operation may be terminated as the set dehydration time is
terminated.
[0113] As described above, according to the present disclosure, the
type of the laundry may be determined based on the type or the
material of the laundry, and the washing process may be varied
based on the determined laundry.
[0114] In addition, the type of the laundry may be determined based
on the type or the material of the laundry, and the dehydration
process may be varied based on the determined laundry.
[0115] In addition, the eccentricity of the inner tub may be
prevented in advance and the time required for the washing and
dehydration operations may be reduced by determining the presence
or the absence of the specific laundry in which the water balloon
phenomenon may occur included in the laundry.
[0116] As described above, although the preferred embodiment of the
present disclosure has been described in detail, one with ordinary
knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure
belongs will be able to implement the present disclosure in various
ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure defined in the appended claims. Therefore, future
changes of the embodiments of the present disclosure will not be
able to depart from the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure.
INDUSTRIAL AVAILABILITY
[0117] Included in the detailed description.
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