KR100418892B1 - Method for Preventing Bubbles from Overflowing in Washing Machine Having Drying Function - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for preventing a backwashing foam for a dry washing machine which can prevent backflow of bubbles generated during a washing machine and a washing stroke to a blowing duct for supplying heated air. The present invention provides a method for preventing foam backflow for a dry washing machine comprising supplying water and a detergent to an inner tank to wash laundry in the inner tank, and supplying a predetermined amount of air to the inner tank in the washing step.

Description

Method for Preventing Bubbles from Overflowing in Washing Machine Having Drying Function}

The present invention relates to a dry washing machine, and more particularly, to a foam backflow prevention method for a dry washing machine, which can prevent backflow of bubbles generated during a washing stroke into a blowing duct for supplying heated air.

A washing machine is a device that peels contaminants by applying energy such as impact to laundry, and may be divided into a pulsator type washing machine, a drum type washing machine, and an agitator type washing machine according to a method of applying energy to laundry. That is, the laundry is impacted by a pulsator or agitator, or the laundry is dropped by dropping the laundry by the rotation of the drum to wash the laundry. And the action of the detergent is added to this is done washing.

The above-mentioned washing machines generally have only a function of washing laundry such as clothes. Therefore, the user of the washing machine should take out the laundry from the washing machine after the washing is completed and dry it in the sun.

In recent years, it has been required to be able to artificially dry laundry which has been widely washed in the apartments in a short time due to the widespread use of apartments and changes in living patterns, and a dryer has been developed in response to this demand. The development of the dryer has made it possible to dry laundry which has been washed in a washing machine simply and quickly.

However, in general, a dryer is almost the same size as a washing machine, and therefore, it takes up a lot of space to install each of the washing machine and the dryer, and it is inconvenient to use the laundry having to be removed from the washing machine and put back into the dryer.

Therefore, the development of a washing machine having a drying function has been required. Accordingly, in the drum type washing machine, a washing machine having a drying function capable of being dried directly from a drum without moving laundry after completion of washing has been proposed. In general, however, the washing machine of the pulsator type or agitator type washing machine having a better washing capacity than the drum type has no drying function. Therefore, there has been a demand for the development of a pulsator type washing machine having good washing ability and capable of drying laundry.

In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention, in the pulsator-type dry washing machine that can be washed and dried, it is possible to prevent the bubbles generated during the washing stroke to flow back to the blowing duct for supplying the heated air It is to provide a foam backflow prevention method for a dry washing machine.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a dry washing machine for explaining a method for preventing the backflow of foam drying machine according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

3: outer tank 5: inner tank

7: pulsator 9: driving means

10: water supply valve 11: drain duct

13: drain valve 15: heater

20: circulation duct 22: blowing fan

30: first outside air duct 32: first outside air fan

40: exhaust duct 50: second outdoor duct

52: second external fan 60: connection duct

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a dry washing machine comprising supplying water and detergent to the inner tank to wash the laundry of the inner tank, and supplying a predetermined amount of air to the inner tank in the washing step. Provide a method for preventing bubble backflow.

Here, the air may be supplied to the inner tank during the whole process of the washing step, or may be supplied intermittently to the inner tank at a predetermined time interval in the washing step.

According to the present invention described above, it is possible to prevent the backflow of the foam into the air blowing duct during the washing stroke, it is also possible to break the foam finely to improve the washing efficiency.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a method for preventing the foam backflow for a dry washing machine according to the present invention.

Before explaining the foam backflow prevention method for a dry washing machine according to the present invention, an example of a dry washing machine to which the present invention can be applied will first be described. The dry washing machine is already filed by the applicant.

Referring to Figure 1 dry washing machine as follows.

First, the components for the washing function for washing laundry will be described.

An inner tub 3 for storing the washing water is installed in the washing machine case 1, and an inner tub 5 in which a plurality of through holes 5a are formed is rotatably installed in the tub 3. The pulsator 7 is rotatably installed in the inside of (5). And the inner tank 5 and the pulsator 7 are rotated by the drive means 9 provided in the bottom face of the outer tank 3.

On the other hand, the upper part of the case 1 is provided with a water supply valve 10 for supplying water for washing and rinsing, the water supply valve 10 is a water supply duct (not shown) for supplying water to the inner tank (5) Connected. A drain duct 11 for discharging the dirty laundry water after the completion of washing to the outside of the washing machine is connected to the bottom of the outer tub 3, and a drain valve 13 is installed at a predetermined position of the drain duct 11. . Unexplained reference numeral 1a denotes a washing machine cover.

Next, the components for drying the laundry will be described.

The inner tank 5 is connected with a blowing duct for supplying heated air for drying the laundry. In this embodiment, as an example of the blower duct, a blower duct (hereinafter referred to as a circulating duct) having a structure in which the heated air is circulated back to the inner tank 5 without being discharged to the outside after being heat-exchanged with the laundry will be described as an example. .

In detail, a circulation duct 20 is provided between the upper and lower portions of the outer tub 3 to supply heated air for drying the laundry in the inner tub 5. Of course, a predetermined position of the circulation duct 20 is provided with a heater 15 for heating the air and a blowing fan 22 for forcibly circulating the air.

On the other hand, the upper portion of the inner tank (5) is preferably installed in close to the inner cover (3a) to prevent the leakage of air, the end of the circulation duct 20 is preferably connected to the inner cover (3a).

On the other hand, the first outside air duct 30 for supplying the outside air is connected to a predetermined position of the circulation duct 20, the first outside air fan for generating a suction force for sucking the outside air to the inlet of the first outside air duct ( 32) is preferably installed. Because, drying the clothes in the inner tank (5) and the air discharged back to the circulation duct 20 is a high temperature and high humidity, and when the high temperature and high humidity air circulated in that state, the drying efficiency is lowered, which contains air This is because it is desirable to remove moisture. That is, when the outside air is supplied to the circulation duct 20, the relatively low temperature outside air and the high temperature and high humidity circulation air are exchanged to remove moisture.

On the other hand, in order to facilitate drying, it is preferable to discharge the humidified steam formed in the upper part of the inner tank 5 to some extent to the outside. Therefore, for this purpose, the exhaust duct 40 is preferably installed on the upper portion of the outer tub 3. In addition, the exhaust duct 40 also serves to discharge it to the outside when the washing water overflows during the washing process.

In addition, the humid air is not good to be discharged to the outside as it is through the exhaust duct 40, so it is good to discharge the temperature and humidity of the humid air to the outside to some extent. Therefore, it is preferable that a second outside air duct 50 for introducing outside air is connected to a predetermined position of the exhaust duct 40, and a second outside air fan 52 is installed at the inlet of the second outside air duct 50. Do.

On the other hand, the connection duct 60 is preferably provided between the lower end of the circulation duct 20 and the drain duct (11). The connection duct 60 is a passage through which the water condensed in the circulation duct 20 flows into the drain duct 11.

Referring to the operation of the dry washing machine as described above are as follows.

First, the washing function will be described as follows. The washing function is substantially the same as the operation of a conventional washing machine. That is, the washing stroke, the rinsing stroke and the dehydrating stroke are sequentially performed to wash the laundry. The washing water overflowing the upper portion of the inner tank 5 at the time of washing is discharged to the outside through the exhaust duct 40.

The drying process begins when washing and dehydration are complete. When the drying process starts, the outside air is sucked by the first outside air fan 32, and the sucked outside air is supplied to the circulation duct 20 through the first outside air duct 30. Of course, the air inside the inner tank 5 is also supplied to the circulation duct (20).

The outside air supplied to the circulation duct 20 flows upward by the blowing fan 22 and is heated by the heater 15 to be supplied to the inner tank 5. Heated air supplied to the inner tank (5) heats the laundry to dry the laundry, the temperature is relatively low and the humidity is increased.

Part of the humid air circulates through the circulation duct 20, and part of the humid air is discharged to the outside through the exhaust duct 40. At this time, the humid air formed in the upper portion of the inner tank 5 is mainly discharged to the outside through the exhaust duct 40, the air in the lower portion is circulated through the circulation duct 20.

The air introduced into the circulation duct 20 moves upward and exchanges heat with outside air supplied from the first outdoor air duct 30 to remove moisture. Water dehumidified in the circulation duct 20, that is, condensate is discharged to the outside of the washing machine via the connection duct 60 and the drain duct 11 at the lower portion of the circulation duct 20. The dehumidified air having relatively low temperature and humidity is again heated by the heater 15 and supplied to the inner tank 5. As described above, the heated air circulates the inner tank 5 to dry the laundry in the inner tank 5, and the drying process is completed after a predetermined time cycle.

On the other hand, in the washing process, detergent and water are mixed to generate bubbles. In addition, there is a fear that the foam generated during the washing process flows back to the circulation duct 20. In this case, the flow of bubbles flows back to the circulation duct 20, and when air flows to the circulation duct 20 during the drying process, the detergent powder containing the foam flows back into the inner tank 5 along with the air flowing. There is concern. Therefore, it is preferable to prevent the foam generated in the washing process from flowing into the circulation duct 20.

It is conceivable to use a separate non-return valve or the like in the circulation duct 20 to prevent the backflow of the foam. However, in this manner, the number of parts to be used is increased, so it is desirable to prevent bubble backflow without using a separate part to prevent backflow of the foam.

Referring to the foam backflow prevention method for a dry washing machine according to the present invention.

In the drying process, the blowing fan 22 installed in the circulation duct 20 must operate to circulate the air, and in the washing process, the blowing fan 22 does not have to be circulated.

However, in the washing process, when the blower fan 22 is operated to supply air to the inner tank 5, bubbles can be easily prevented from flowing back to the circulation duct 20 without a separate part. At this time, since the air supplied to the circulation duct 20 may be at least minimal to prevent bubble backflow, it is preferable in terms of energy efficiency to drive the blower fan 22 slowly or with little power as compared to the drying process.

In addition, although air may be supplied to the inner tank 5 during the whole process of the washing step, it is of course also possible to supply air to the inner tank 5 intermittently with a predetermined time interval in the washing step.

On the other hand, as described above, when the blower fan 22 is driven during the washing process, the air discharged from the circulation duct 20 hits the bubbles of the inner tank 5, thereby additionally obtaining the effect of breaking the bubbles. have. The smaller the foam, the better the washing efficiency.

Although the structure of the circulation duct 20 is illustrated and described as an example of the ventilation duct in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the principle according to the present invention can of course be applied to a duct having a function of supplying outside air to the inner tank 5 instead of the circulation duct 20.

In addition, the above-mentioned foam backflow prevention method for a dry washing machine is suitable for a pulsator type dry washing machine, but is not limited thereto, and of course, it is also possible to apply to a drum type washing machine.

Referring to the effect of the foam backflow prevention method for a dry washing machine according to the present invention described above are as follows.

First, according to the present invention, it is possible to effectively prevent the backflow of the foam in the circulation duct in the washing process has the advantage that the washing performance can be improved.

Second, according to the present invention has the advantage that the washing efficiency can be increased because the foam can be broken finely during the washing process.

Claims (3)

A washing machine case, an outer tub installed inside the case to store wash water, an inner tub rotatably installed in the inner tub, a pulsator rotatably installed inside a lower end of the inner tub, and a lower portion of the outer tub. A drainage duct installed to extend outside the case to guide the discharge of water in the outer tank to the outside of the case, and a circulation duct installed at both ends of the outer tank to communicate with the upper and lower portions of the outer tank to circulate air for drying A blowing fan installed inside the circulation duct to force and circulating air, a heater installed inside the circulation duct to heat the air, and one end of which communicates with an upper portion of the outer tub, and the other end of which communicates with the drain duct. In the pulsator type dry washing machine including the exhaust duct installed so that, Washing the laundry of the inner tank by supplying water and detergent to the inner tank; And rotating the blower fan in the washing step to supply a predetermined amount of air to the inner tank. The method of claim 1, wherein the blowing fan rotates during the whole process of the washing step and supplies air to the inner tank. The method of claim 1, wherein the blower fan is intermittently rotated at a predetermined time interval in the washing step to supply air to the inner tank.