DE102006056419A1 - Method for automatically drying the wash load in a domestic front loading horizontal axis washing and drying machine determines a drying duration from water drainage data - Google Patents

Abstract

The washing machine has a wash drum (30) driven by an electric motor (40) and within a tank (10) with a drain pump (16) by which the wash fluids are emptied. A drying system (50) directs heated and then ambient air through the drum to dry the wash load for a period of time determined by the time the final rinse water is drained to achieve a predetermined drum rotation speed and the measured mass of the load (m).

Description

These Application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Applications Nos. 10-2005-0115485, filed on November 30, 2005 and No. 10-2005-0118253, filed on 6 December 2005, hereby incorporated by reference are as if they are complete here would be set out.

The The present invention relates to a washing machine with a drying function and more particularly a method of controlling a washing machine a drying function, which is the operating time of a drying operation shorten can and can further improve the drying performance.

in the Generally, washing machines are household electrical appliances that Impurities from laundry, such as clothes and bed linen, remove, with a detergent emulsification, by the rotation generated friction of the washing water movement and applied to the laundry Used shocks become. The washing machines lead a washing operation, a rinsing operation and a dewatering operation by.

washing machines, which are equipped with a drying device, lead one Drying operation for automatically drying wet clothes as well such as washing, rinsing and drainage operations by.

The Washing, rinsing, drainage and drying operations can be performed sequentially by a predetermined washing program or can be performed independently according to the specification of a user.

Usually is a washing operation a course in which detergent and wash water on laundry, which is to be washed, fed be so through that a chemical action of the detergent contained in the washing water and a physical effect of a drum impurities out the laundry can be removed. A rinse operation is a course in which wash water containing no detergent is supplied to laundry, so that this Detergent and impurities are flushed out of the laundry can.

One Entwässerungsbetrieb is a course in which after completion of the rinsing operation, a drum with high speed is rotated so that moisture is removed from the laundry can be. And a drying operation is a course in which hot air is circulated through the drum, so that the wet laundry dried can be.

A Washing machine with a drying function is equipped with a drying device for drying laundry equipped in a drum. The drying device comprises a Blower fan, the forced outside air sucks and blows the air into the drum, a heater that the of the blower fan heated air is sucked in, the hot one supplying dry air into the drum, and a flow channel, forming an air passage through which the blower fan sucked outside air over the Heating flows into the drum.

With in other words, the drying operation becomes such a manner carried out, that by the operation of the blower fan Outside air in the flow channel is sucked while the heating heat radiates, and the sucked air is heated by the heater and enters the rotated drum. During the drying operation carried out a control unit determines that the drying is completed is and stops the drying operation when the dryness of the objects to be dried reaches a target value.

If a user generally selects a particular operation will the time required to select the operation selected by the user perform, displayed on the display device to the user about the necessary time to inform. Since the drying operation is so it is controlled that he carried out continuously until the dryness of the objects to be dried reaches a target value reached, it is tedious to calculate the exact time required to complete the drying operation perform.

If the drying operation is carried out, Therefore, a washing machine is configured to suitably the amount of laundry indicates a provisional drying time. The provisional drying time refers to the time spent on repeated experiments Measuring the time is determined until the dryness of various laundry groups, which are grouped by volume, reaches a target value.

To the Example is the provisional drying time 120 minutes, 90 minutes and 60 minutes each with respect to a large amount (over 5 kg), an average amount (2 to 5 kg) and a small amount (under 2 kg) of laundry. If the drying operation performed is one of the above exemplary provisional drying times, those of the captured to be dried laundry corresponds, displayed.

If the dehydration of the laundry is low and the laundry to be dried consequently contains a large amount of moisture, it takes much more time than the one determined by the amount of laundry per visual drying time to complete the actual drying operation. Consequently, it is cumbersome to estimate the exact time necessary to perform the drying operation.

Also when the user enters the drying operation time manually, happens it often, that the laundry with low drainage, i.e. the laundry, the one big one Contains amount of moisture inside the manually entered time has not dried to the extent of target dryness can be, wherein the drying performance of the washing machine deteriorates becomes.

consequently the present invention is directed to a method for controlling a Washing machine with a drying function aligned in the significant one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

A The object of the present invention is a method for controlling a washing machine with a drying function available too which can shorten the operating time of a drying operation and can further improve a drying performance.

additional Advantages, objects and features of the invention are partially in the following description and will be for people with ordinary Knowledge of the technique partly after examination of the following obviously or can be learned from the practice of the invention. The tasks and other advantages of the invention can be achieved by the structure those described in this specification and their claims as well like the attached Drawings is particularly pointed out, realized and achieved become.

Around to achieve the tasks and other benefits, and according to the purpose of the invention as embodied and comprehensively described herein has a method for controlling a washing machine with a Drying function, a drum and a drying device for drying the laundry by feeding from hotter dry air into the drum, on: a) dewatering the laundry, if from a user, a command to execute a drying operation is entered; and b) drying the laundry after the dewatering step a).

Preferably The command can only execute a command for independent execution be the drying operation.

Preferably can the drainage step a) rotating the drum at a predetermined speed (V1) for a predetermined time (T1).

Preferably can the drainage step a) measuring: measuring the time until a rotational speed of Drum reaches a predetermined speed (V2); To calculate a laundry amount based on the measured time; Determining a drainage rate (V3) and drainage time (T2) according to the calculated amount of laundry; and turning the drum with the drainage speed (V3) for the drainage time (T2).

Preferably can the drainage step a) Rotate the drum while the drying device is in a non-operating state.

Preferably can the drainage step a) Rotate the drum while driving the Drying apparatus.

Preferably the drying device can be a blower fan, the outside air Forcibly sucked and blows the air into the drum, and a Heating, by the blower fan heated air is sucked in, to hot To feed air into the drum, exhibit. The drying step b) may comprise: hot air drying the laundry by running the heater and the fan fan to the hot air to feed into the drum, until the dryness of the wash reaches a predetermined target dryness; and if the dryness the laundry reaches the predetermined target dryness, cold air drying the Laundry, by stopping the operation of the heater during the operation of the fan fan is maintained for a predetermined time (T3) low-temperature air into the drum supply.

To Another aspect of the present invention is a method to control a washing machine with a drying function, which is a Drum and a drying device for drying laundry through Respectively of hot air available in the drum provided, comprising: a) dewatering the laundry, if by a user a command to perform the drying operation is input; b) Unraveling the laundry, the while the dewatering step a) was devoured; and c) drying the laundry after the disentangling step b).

Preferably The command can only execute a command for independent execution be the drying operation.

Preferably, the dewatering step a) comprises: rotating the drum with a predetermined speed (V1) for a predetermined time (T1).

Preferably can the drainage step a) measuring: measuring the time until a rotational speed of Drum reaches a predetermined speed (V2); To calculate a laundry amount based on the measured time; Determining a drainage rate (V3) and a drainage time (T2) according to the calculated amount of laundry; and turning the drum with the drainage speed (V3) for the drainage time (T2).

Preferably can the drainage step a) Rotate the drum while the drying device is in a non-operating state.

Preferably can the drainage step a) Rotate the drum while driving the Drying apparatus.

Preferably the disentangling step b) may comprise: distributing the laundry through alternately rotating the drum in a given direction of rotation and in a reverse direction.

Preferably For example, the drying device can be a forced blower fan outside air sucks and blows the air into the drum, and a heater that the sucked by the blower fan Heated air, to hot To feed air into the drum, exhibit. The drying step c) may include: hot air drying the laundry by running the heater and the fan fan to the hot air to feed into the drum, until the laundry reaches a predetermined target dryness; and if the dryness the laundry the predetermined target dryness achieved by cold air drying of the laundry Stop operation of the heater while operating the fan fan is maintained for a predetermined time (T3) low-temperature air in the To feed drum.

It is understood that both the previous general description as well as the following Detailed description of the present invention by way of example and explanatory are and for that are thought, another explanation of the invention as claimed.

The attached Drawings that are included to further understand the To provide invention, and incorporated in this application are and form part of it, represent an embodiment (s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

1 Fig. 15 is a side sectional view showing an overall construction of a washing machine with a drying function to which a control method according to the present invention is applied;

2 is a building block diagram of an in 1 pictured washing machine; and

3 FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a washing machine having a drying function according to the present invention. FIG.

Now will be described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention Invention, leading to a method for controlling a washing machine belong with a drying function and for which in the attached Drawings examples are shown. Whenever possible, be sure about the Drawings the same reference numbers used to themselves to the same or similar To purchase parts.

1 Fig. 11 is a sectional side view showing an overall construction of a washing machine with a drying function to which a control method according to the present invention is applied, and Figs 2 is a building block diagram of an in 1 pictured washing machine.

As in 1 and 2 As shown, a washing machine having a drying function according to the present invention has a cabinet 2 , a Zuber or a tub 10 , a drum 30 , a motor 40 and a drying device 50 on.

The housing 2 is on its front surface with a laundry insertion hole 4 trained, and a door 6 is pivotable with the front surface of the housing 2 connected to the laundry insertion hole 4 to open and close.

Also, the case 2 with a control panel 7 at its front upper portion or the upper surface, via which the user inputs an automatic washing sequence for successively performing the washing, rinsing, dewatering and drying operations or independently enters the washing operation, the rinsing operation, the dewatering operation and the drying operation.

The Zuber 10 is by a spring 11 and a shock absorber 12 shock absorbing in the housing 2 assembled.

The Zuber 10 is formed with: a water supply hole 15 in its upper section, with the one water supply device 14 with a water supply valve 13 connected, and a derivation hole 18 in its lower section, with which a discharge device 17 with a drainage pump 16 connected is.

The Zuber 10 is on its front surface with an opening 19 formed by a user washing m into the drum 30 enters / out of her, with the laundry insertion hole 4 of the housing 2 opposite.

The Zuber 10 is on its rear surface with an air outlet hole 21 formed, which with the drying device 50 communicates so that air in the Zuber 10 in the drying device 50 can flow.

The Zuber 10 is on its front upper surface with an air inlet hole 22 formed, which with the drying device 50 communicates so that through the drying device 50 passing air through the Zuber 10 in the drum 30 can flow.

The rotatable in the Zuber 10 mounted drum 30 acts as a receiving part for receiving the laundry m to perform the washing, rinsing, dewatering and drying operations. The drum 30 is horizontal or oblique at a predetermined angle in the tub 10 arranged. And the drum 30 is on its front surface with a laundry entry hole 31 formed, wherein the laundry insertion hole 4 of the housing 2 opposite.

The drum 30 is with several through holes 32 formed by which during washing or rinsing operation on an inner lower portion of the drum 10 collected water in the drum 30 in the dewatering operation, water removed from the washing m flows out of the drum 30 is pumped out and during the drying operation hot air passing through the drying device 50 go, in the drum 30 flows.

A lifter 33 for lifting and then dropping the laundry m by the rotation of the drum 30 is in the drum 30 mounted, whereby the movement of the laundry m is increased and the washing and rinsing performance is improved.

The motor 40 has a stator (not shown) attached to a rear portion of the tub 10 is mounted, and a rotor 42 which is rotated by the interaction with the stator, whereby the rotational force to the drum 30 is transmitted.

The drying device 50 includes one over the tub 10 mounted drying channel 56 in which a heating 52 and a blower fan 54 are arranged to bring hot air into the drum 30 supply, a condensation channel 58 , one end of which with the air outlet hole 21 the Zuber 10 connected and the other end to the drying channel 56 connected to the Zuber 10 in the direction of the drying channel 56 to condense flowing air with a water-cooling method, and a condensed water supply device 60 , the condensed water C in the condensation channel 58 supplies.

A blower motor 55 for turning the blower fan 54 is at the drying channel 56 assembled.

The condensed water supply device 60 includes a condensed water valve 62 that with an outer tube 61 connected to control the distribution of condensed water, and a condensed water hose 64 that by the condensed water valve 62 going condensation in the condensation channel 58 passes.

An unwritten reference numeral 66 refers to a dryness sensor attached to an inner front lower portion of the drum 30 is mounted to detect the dryness of the laundry m.

Preferably, the dryness sensor 66 be performed by an electrode sensor having a pair of metal plates arranged parallel to each other, which will now be described.

Of the Electrode sensor outputs a voltage signal by making a difference used between the impedances corresponding to both end electrodes the one in the wash contained amount of moisture can be generated when the laundry at the same time comes in contact with the pair of metal plates. By such Electrode sensor, the dryness of the laundry can be detected.

The washing machine of the present invention further includes a laundry volume sensor 68 for measuring the amount of laundry in the drum 30 during the respective operations.

Preferably, the laundry volume sensor 68 through a Hall sensor to measure a speed of the motor 40 be executed. The amount of laundry is determined by measuring the time until the rotational speed of the drum as measured by the Hall sensor 30 reaches a predetermined target value, calculated.

In other words, it takes a longer time until the rotational speed of the drum 30 reaches the target value when the amount of laundry is greater. Based on this principle, the amount of laundry can be measured.

The washing machine with a drying function according to the present invention further comprises a control unit 70 on which the operations of the water supply valve 13 , the drainage pump 16 , of the motor 40 and the drying device 50 responsive to at least one signal from the control panel 7 , the dryness sensor 66 and the laundry volume sensor 68 controls.

One Method for controlling the washing machine with a drying function, which is structured as above, will be described hereinafter, if the drying operation is independent carried out becomes.

3 FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a washing machine having a drying function according to the present invention. FIG.

When a user puts the laundry m in the drum 30 enters and through the control panel 7 In step S1, a command for independently performing only the drying operation is inputted to the control unit 70 not immediately the drying operation, but performs in step S2 first through the dewatering step.

This serves to do the laundry m in the drying operation in shorter Time to effectively dry by prior to the drying operation of the dewatering operation carried out is to pre-remove moisture from the laundry m.

The dewatering operation is performed in such a manner that the engine 40 for a predetermined time T1 (for example, 5 minutes) at a predetermined speed (for example, 1000 rpm). At this time, it is preferable that the above predetermined rotational speed is a maximum rotational speed that can be adapted to the dehydrating operation.

Alternatively, the dewatering operation may be performed based on the dewatering rate and the dewatering time corresponding to that of the laundry volume sensor 68 measured amount of laundry be determined.

Since in the dewatering operation by a centrifugal force due to the rotation of the drum 30 a large amount of moisture is removed from the laundry m, the laundry m can be dried more easily in the following drying operation.

In the dewatering operation, a normal dewatering program or a hot air dewatering program may be performed. The normal program is made such that only the drum 30 is turned and the heater 52 and the blower fan 54 not be driven. The Heißluftentwässerungsprogramm is made such that the drum 30 is turned, and at the same time the heater 52 and the blower fan 54 be driven to get hot air into the drum 30 supply.

In the case where the hot air dewatering program for driving the drying apparatus including the heater 52 and the blower fan 54 is carried out, a pre-drying effect can be achieved in the dewatering operation. Consequently, the hot air dewatering program can further reduce the drying time compared to the normal dewatering program.

When the operation time in the dehydration operation goes beyond the predetermined time T1 or the dehydration time determined by the amount of the laundry m, the control unit ends 70 the dewatering operation in step S3.

After completion of the dewatering operation, the control unit performs 70 in step S4, a laundry entangling operation to untangle the laundry m which has been entangled during the dehydration step. The laundry entangling operation is performed by the drum 30 for a predetermined time T2 is alternately rotated in a given direction of rotation (eg clockwise) and in a reverse direction (eg counterclockwise).

The laundry disordering operation serves to increase the drying efficiency in the following drying operation by washing the laundry m which has been entangled during the dehydrating operation or on a wall of the drum 30 stuck, is distributed.

When the predetermined time T2 has elapsed, the control unit ends 70 the laundry aberration operation. Then the control unit measures 70 the amount of laundry through the laundry volume sensor 68 and determines the time required to perform the drying operation, ie, the provisional drying time corresponding to the measured laundry volume. And the provisional drying time is displayed on the display device.

After that the drying operation for drying the laundry m is performed.

During the drying operation, the engine becomes 40 driven at a lower speed than during the dewatering operation, so that the laundry m freely in the drum 30 can move.

Also drives the control unit 70 the heating system 52 and the blower fan 54 during drying operation and opens the condensate water valve 62 whereby the laundry m is hot air dried in step S5.

By the rotation of the blower fan 54 the air A comes in the drum 30 in contact with the laundry m and becomes moist by absorbing moisture from the laundry m. The humid air A flows through the through holes 32 the drum 30 in the direction of a space between the Zuber 10 and the drum 30 and runs through the condensation channel 58 , While passing through the condensation channel 58 running, the humid air A exchanges heat with the heat in the condensation channel 58 supplied condensate. The moisture contained in the air A is condensed by the condensed water, and the air A is dried. The dry air is supplied by the blower fan 54 in the drying channel 56 blown.

The in the drying channel 56 blown air is from the heater 52 warmed up to be transformed into the hot dry air. The hot dry air flows through the tub 10 in the drum 30 ,

As described above, the drum m is moved by the air A in the drum 30 which circulates while being repeatedly condensed and heated, dried.

There the laundry m further in the dewatering operation sufficiently drained was, the drying time is shortened, and the drying performance is elevated.

During the drying operation, the control unit detects 70 regularly through the dryness sensor 66 the dryness of the laundry and determines in step S6 whether the dryness of the laundry reaches the predetermined target value.

If the control unit 70 determines that the dryness of the laundry does not reach the predetermined target value, sets the control unit 70 continue the drying operation described above.

If the control unit 70 on the other hand determines that the dryness of the laundry reaches the predetermined target value, the control unit switches 70 in step S7, the heating 52 to stop the drying operation.

After completion of the drying operation, the control unit closes 70 the condensed water valve 62 and drying the laundry m in step S8 for a predetermined time T3 with cold air.

The cold air drying operation is performed by only the blower fan 54 is operated while the heater 52 is switched off and the condensate water valve 62 closed is. During the cold air drying operation, outside air circulates through the tub 10 , the drum 30 , the condensation channel 38 and the drying channel 56 , whereby the temperature of the laundry m is gradually lowered.

The control unit 70 determines in step S9 whether the predetermined time T3 has expired or not. If the control unit 70 determines that the predetermined time T3 has expired, terminates the control unit 70 in step S10, the cold air drying operation. As a result, the independent drying operation is completed.

As from the above description, the method has for controlling the washing machine with a drying function according to the present invention Invention the following results.

There through the implementation of the dewatering operation remove moisture from the laundry before drying can, the operating time, which is required to the drying operation perform, shortened and energy consumption can be reduced.

By the implementation of laundry disorder operation for even distribution the laundry in the drum after the dewatering operation and before the drying operation, the drying performance can also elevated become.

For professionals The technique becomes obvious that various modifications and changes can be made to the present invention, without to leave the spirit or scope of the inventions. consequently It is intended that the present invention the modifications and variations of this invention, provided they are within the scope of the appended claims or their equivalents fall, covering.

Claims (15)

A method of controlling a washing machine having a drying function, comprising a drum and a drying device for drying laundry by supplying hot air to the drum, the method comprising: a) dewatering the laundry when a user performs a command to perform a drying operation is entered; and b) drying the laundry after the dewatering step a). The method of claim 1, wherein the instruction is a command to the independent Carry out only the drying operation is. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the dewatering step a) comprising: rotating the drum at a predetermined speed (V1) for a predetermined time (T1). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the dewatering step a) has: Measuring the time until a rotational speed the drum reaches a predetermined speed (V2); To calculate a laundry amount based on the measured time; Determining a drainage rate (V3) and drainage time (T2) according to the calculated amount of laundry; and Rotate the drum with the drainage speed (V3) for the drainage time (T2). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the dewatering step a) rotating the drum while the drying device is in a non-operating state. A method according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the dewatering step a) comprises rotating the drum and simultaneously driving the drying device. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drying device a blower fan, the outside air Forcibly sucks and blows the air into the drum, and a heater that heats the air taken in by the blower fan to name is To supply air to the drum, in which the drying step b) comprises: Hot air drying of the wash through Operating the heater and blower fan to remove the hot air to feed into the drum, until the dryness of the wash reaches a predetermined target dryness; and, when the dryness the laundry reaches the predetermined target dryness, cold air drying the Washing by the operation of the heater is stopped while the fan fan is operating is maintained for a predetermined time (T3) low-temperature air in the To feed drum. Method for controlling a washing machine with a Drying function, a drum and a drying device for drying laundry by feeding from hotter Air into the drum, the method comprising: a) Drain the laundry, when a user commands to perform the drying operation is entered; b) Unwrap the laundry during the dewatering step a) was devoured; and c) drying the laundry after the unraveling step b). The method of claim 8, wherein the instruction is a command to the independent Carry out only the drying operation is. A method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the dewatering step a) comprising: rotating the drum at a predetermined speed (V1) for a predetermined time (T1). A method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the dewatering step a) has: Measuring the time until a rotational speed the drum reaches a predetermined speed (V2); To calculate a laundry amount based on the measured time; Determining a drainage rate (V3) and a drainage time (T2) according to the calculated amount of laundry; and Rotate the drum with the drainage speed (V3) for the drainage time (T2). A method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the dewatering step a) rotating the drum while the drying device is in a non-operating state. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the dewatering step a) comprises rotating the drum and simultaneously driving the drying device. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the disentangling step b) comprises: Distribute the laundry by alternately rotating the drum in a given direction of rotation and in a reverse direction. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 14, wherein the drying device comprises a blower fan forcibly sucking in outside air and blowing the air into the drum, and a heater for heating the air sucked by the blower fan to supply hot air to the drum; wherein the drying step c) comprises: hot air drying the laundry by operating the heater and the blower fan to supply the hot air into the drum until the laundry reaches a predetermined target dryness; and, when the dryness of the laundry reaches the predetermined target dryness, cold air drying the laundry by stopping the operation of the heater while maintaining the operation of the blower fan to supply low-temperature air into the drum for a predetermined time (T3).