KR100762337B1 - Steam device of washing machine and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A steam device of a washing machine and a method for controlling thereof is provided to reduce number of components and to reduce manufacturing costs by ejecting water to a heater unit to generate steam without using an extra heater. A steam device of a washing machine comprises a condensation duct(30), a dry duct(34), a heater unit(36), a water supply pipe(40), a water flow control unit(50), and a steam generator(60). The air flows from a tub(22) to the condensation duct. The dry duct is communicated with the condensation duct and supplying air to the tub. The heater unit is installed at the dry duct and heating air transferred through the condensation duct. The water supply pipe supplies water. The water flow control unit is connected with the water supply pipe and controlling water flow supplied from the water supply pipe. The steam generator ejects water to the heater unit to generate steam. The water is selectively supplied by the water flow control unit.

Description

Steam device of washing machine and control method thereof

1 is a perspective view of a washing machine in which a steam apparatus according to the prior art is installed.

Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a washing machine equipped with a steam apparatus according to the prior art.

3 is a view showing an embodiment of a washing machine equipped with a steam apparatus according to the present invention.

4 is an exploded view illustrating the steam apparatus in FIG. 3.

5 is a view showing a procedure of a control method of a washing machine equipped with a steam apparatus according to the present invention.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

20: cabinet 22: tub

24: drum 26: door

30: condensation duct 32: blowing member

34: drying duct 35,72: through hole

36: heater 40: water supply pipe

42: auxiliary pipe line 44: main pipe line

50: flow control unit 60: steam generator

62: case 64: connector

66: lower side 68: injection hole

69: porous 70: blocking member

80: sensor member

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a steam device using a heater used in the drying mode to reduce the number of parts and the production cost and the control method of the washing machine.

Recently, a washing machine has been introduced with a drying function in addition to a washing function. In general, a drying function is mainly installed in a drum washing machine.

Hereinafter, a drying function of a conventional washing machine will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 is a perspective view of a washing machine with a steam device according to the prior art, Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the washing machine with a steam device according to the prior art.

1 and 2, a general washing machine is provided with a cabinet 1 forming an exterior and a tub 7 installed so as to be suspended by a spring in the cabinet 1 and supported by a damper. do.

The drum (9) is rotatably installed inside the tub (7) to become a space in which washing water and laundry are contained, and the lift (11) protrudes at regular intervals on the inner wall surface of the drum (9). Is installed.

The lift 11 raises the laundry as the drum 9 is rotated and then falls off, thereby improving the washing force.

The drum 9 has a plurality of dehydration holes are formed on the inner wall surface to allow the washing water to flow freely to the drum 9 and the tub 7 side, and to allow the washing water to escape from the laundry by centrifugal force during dehydration.

On the other hand, the front of the drum (9) is opened and closed by a door (3) hinged to the cabinet (1).

A transparent glass 4 protrudes toward the drum 9 inside the door 3, and a rubber gasket 5 is installed between the door 3 and the tub 7 so that the tub ( The water stored in 7) is prevented from leaking into the space between the tub 7 and the drum 9.

At the rear of the tub (7) is connected to the drum (9) is installed a drive motor for rotating the drum (9).

The lower rear side of the tub 7 is connected to the lower end of the condensation duct 19, and the upper end of the condensation duct 19 is connected to the blower member 18.

In addition, a drying duct 15 having a drying heater is connected to the blower member 18, and the drying duct 15 is connected to the front surface of the tub 7.

In addition, a steam heater 13 is mounted below the tub 7 to provide steam to the drum 9.

Looking at the operation of the conventional washing machine configured as described above are as follows.

In the state in which laundry is put into the drum 9, an appropriate amount of washing water is supplied into the tub 7 according to the quantity of laundry.

Then, as the driving source is operated to rotate the drum 9, the lift 11 lifts the laundry to a certain height, and then falls to wash the laundry.

When the washing stroke is completed as described above, the drain pump connected to the drain pipe is opened to drain the wash water, and then the motor is operated at high speed to wash the drum 9 by centrifugal force by rotating the drum 9 at high speed. Intermittent dehydration proceeds by allowing the water to escape, and the water supply valve is opened again to supply the wash water and at the same time the drum 9 rotates to rinse.

As such, rinsing and intermittent dehydration are repeatedly operated, followed by a dewatering stroke.

Then, when the drying stroke is entered, the blower member 17 is operated to suck the air containing the moisture inside the tub 7 through the condensation duct 13 to remove moisture from the air and send it to the drying duct 15. .

The air passing through the drying duct 15 flows into the front of the tub 7 while being heated by the heater 19 to dry the laundry inside the drum 9.

Meanwhile, in order to provide steam to the drum 9, a steam heater 13, which is a relatively expensive equipment, is separately installed below the tub 7.

Then, a small amount of water is supplied to the lower portion of the tub 7 and the washing water is rapidly heated by the steam heater 13 so that steam is generated.

However, in the method of providing steam to the drum 9 by using the steam heater 13, since the amount of steam generated is weak, the operation performance is reduced, and a separate steam heater 13 is disposed outside the tub 7. If installed, the cost will rise as the number of parts increases. Therefore, there is a need for improvement.

The present invention has been made by the necessity as described above, the object of the present invention is to provide a steam apparatus and a control method of the washing machine for generating steam used for washing with a relatively low production cost in supplying steam into the drum. have.

Steam apparatus of the washing machine according to the present invention; A condensation duct through which air is introduced from the tub, a drying duct installed in communication with the condensation duct to supply the air transferred through the condensation duct to the tub, and air provided in the drying duct and transferred through the condensation duct A steam apparatus of a washing machine having a heater unit for heating a water supply, the water supply pipe for supplying the wash water, and a flow rate control unit for controlling the flow rate of the wash water supplied from the water supply pipe connected to the water supply pipe and selectively supplied by the flow rate control unit It is configured to include a steam generator for spraying the washing water to the heater to generate steam.

Preferably, it is provided between the condensation duct and the drying duct is provided with a blowing member for supplying steam generated in the heater to the tub.

The flow rate control part includes a flow rate control valve.

In addition, the steam generator is provided with a case connected to the water supply pipe receives the wash water, and the injection port is formed to penetrate the case to discharge the wash water to the heater unit, the injection hole is formed in a porous.

And, the drying duct is characterized in that it comprises a nonflammable material.

A blocking member is installed around the drying duct to prevent conduction of heat.

And, the drying duct is equipped with a sensor member for measuring the temperature.

Steam device control method of the washing machine according to the present invention; An input step of determining whether an operation signal is input in a steam mode, a heating step of operating a heater part in a drying duct after the input step, a judgment step of comparing whether the heater part has reached a set temperature after the heating step, and the determination It comprises a steam step of generating steam by spraying the washing water to the heater after the step and a transfer step of supplying the steam generated in the steam step into the tub.

Preferably, a blowing member is provided in the drying duct, and the blowing member is operated in the transfer step.

In the steaming step, an operation signal is transmitted to the flow rate control unit to supply washing water to the heater unit.

In the steaming step, the washing water is sprayed on the heater for a predetermined time.

And, the steam step is repeated as the heater unit is heated to the set temperature within the set end time of the steam mode.

According to the present invention as described above, the production cost of the washing machine is reduced by generating steam by using a heater used for drying the washing machine.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described a preferred embodiment according to the steam apparatus and a control method of the washing machine according to the present invention. For convenience of description, the steam device provided in the drum washing machine will be described as an example. In this process, the thickness of the lines or the size of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of description. In addition, terms to be described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary according to the intention or convention of a user or an operator. Therefore, definitions of these terms should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

3 is a view showing an embodiment of a washing machine equipped with a steam device according to the present invention, Figure 4 is an exploded view of the steam device in Figure 3, Figure 5 is a washing machine equipped with a steam device according to the present invention It is a figure which shows the procedure of a control method.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tub 22 in which the washing water is contained is fixedly installed inside the cabinet 20 forming the outer shape of the washing machine.

A drum 24 connected to the driving motor is rotatably installed inside the tub 22, and a door 26 is installed at the front of the tub 22.

The condensation duct 30 through which air flows from the tub 22 is connected to the tub 22 at a lower side thereof, and a drying duct 34 is installed at an upper side of the condensation duct 30.

A blowing member 32 is provided between the condensation duct 30 and the drying duct 34 to pass air through the condensation duct 30 and to remove moisture from the condensation duct 30 through the drying duct 34. Transfer to.

The air transferred through the condensation duct 30 is heated by the heater unit 36 provided in the drying duct 34.

The heater unit 36 selectively selects an operation of heating air and an operation of generating steam.

The washing machine is provided with a water supply pipe 40 for supplying the wash water, and the water supply pipe 40 is a main pipe path 44 for supplying the wash water to the tub 22 and an auxiliary pipe for supplying the wash water for generating steam. It is divided into (42).

The auxiliary pipe line 42 is branched from the main pipe line 44 is installed to receive the wash water, or directly connected to the water supply source of the outside can be supplied with the wash water.

The auxiliary pipe line 42 is connected to the flow control unit 50, the flow rate of the wash water supplied from the water supply pipe 40 by the flow control unit 50 is controlled.

The flow control unit 50 uses a flow control valve operated by supplying power, and is connected to the control unit to control the flow rate by receiving an operation signal.

A steam generator 60 for generating steam by spraying the washing water selectively supplied by the flow control unit 50 to the heater unit 36 is installed in contact with the heater unit 36.

The steam generator 60 is provided with a case 62 connected to the water supply pipe 40 to form a space for receiving wash water.

The lower surface 66 of the case 62 passes through a plurality of injection holes 68 to discharge the washing water to the heater 36.

The injection hole 68 allows the washing water injected to the heater part 36 to be more finely sprayed because a plurality of small holes porous 69 are formed.

The connection hole 64 is formed at one side of the case 62, so that the washing water passing through the flow control part 50 is introduced into the steam generator 60.

In addition, since the blocking member 70 is installed around the drying duct 34, when the heater 36 is in a high temperature state for steam generation, heat conduction is prevented.

The blocking member 70 can be used in a variety of members for the purpose of preventing the conduction of heat, such as aluminum-coated nonflammable diaphragm, diaphragm mainly made of a material having a low thermal conductivity.

In addition, the drying duct 34 is provided with a sensor member 80 for measuring temperature, thereby measuring the heating degree of the heater 36.

The sensor member 80 may be installed at various places such as the inside or the outside of the drying duct 34, and in one embodiment of the present invention, the sensor member 80 is installed on the left side (based on FIG. 3) of the heater unit 36. Passing (36), the temperature of the heated air is measured.

In addition, the heating duct 36 is heated at a high temperature to generate steam, so that the drying duct 34 is made of a non-flammable material to block a fire hazard.

In addition, through-holes 35 and 72 are formed in the upper side of the drying duct 34 and the upper side of the blocking member 70, the washing water sprayed through the injection hole 68 is sprayed to the heater part 36. It becomes a passage to become.

The steam device control method of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, after power is supplied to the washing machine, the washing machine has an input step of determining whether the operation signal is input in the steam mode during operation of the washing machine.

After the input step, the heater unit 36 in the drying duct 34 has a heating step such that the operation S20 is performed until the set temperature is reached.

Based on the temperature measured by the sensor member 80 has a determination step of comparing (S30) whether the heater unit 36 is above the set temperature.

When it is determined that the heater unit 36 is heated to generate steam, the controller transmits an operation signal to the steam generator 60 to allow the flow of the washing water to the steam generator 60.

The wash water supplied to the case 62 through the connection hole 64 becomes a fine water stream through the pores 69 of the injection hole 68, and the through hole 35 of the drying duct 34 and the blocking member 70 is formed. Water injection (S40Z) is made to the heater unit 36 through 72 to have a steam stage for generating steam.

Although the set temperature of the heater unit 36 is suitable to a temperature of 100 to 150 degrees to generate steam, increase or decrease in the temperature range will be another embodiment of the present invention.

In the steaming step, the washing water is sprayed to the heater unit 36 for a set time, and the set time is determined by the performance of the heater 36 and the injection amount of the washing water.

When steam is generated in the heater unit 36, the blowing member 32 installed in the drying duct 34 is operated (S50), so that the steam supplied from the heater unit 36 is supplied to the inside of the tub 22. You have a step.

The blower member 32 may cool the heater unit 36 while the heater unit 36 is heated, so that the blower member 32 is not operated but is operated after steam is generated.

When the washing water is sprayed by the steam generator 60, the water spray is stopped by controlling the flow rate by sending an operation signal to the flow rate control unit 50 when the set time is more than the set time, and the blowing fan is also stopped (S80). Done.

Then, it is determined whether the operation time of the steam mode has reached the end time initially set in the steam mode (S90), and if the operation time does not reach the end time, the heater unit 36 is operated again, and the operating time When the end time is reached, the steam mode ends (S100).

Therefore, the steam step is repeatedly operated as the heater unit 36 is heated to the set temperature within the set end time of the steam mode to generate steam.

According to the configuration as described above, the present invention is to generate steam by using the heater unit 36 is installed for drying, there is no need to install a separate heater for steam generation, cost savings, The amount of generation is also abundant, thereby providing improved performance.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art to which the art belongs can make various modifications and other equivalent embodiments therefrom. Will understand. Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the claims below.

As described above, the steam device and the control method of the washing machine according to the present invention, unlike the conventional invention to generate steam by using a heater used in the drying mode without using a separate heater for steam generation The production cost is reduced due to the reduction of water and assembly process.

Claims (13)

A condensation duct through which air is introduced from the tub, a drying duct installed in communication with the condensation duct to supply the air transferred through the condensation duct to the tub, and air provided in the drying duct and transferred through the condensation duct In the steam device of the washing machine having a heater for heating the, A water supply pipe for supplying washing water; A flow control unit connected to the water supply pipe to control a flow rate of the washing water supplied from the water supply pipe; And Steam generator for generating a steam by spraying the washing water selectively supplied by the flow control unit to the heater unit; steam device of a washing machine comprising a. The method of claim 1, And a blower member provided between the condensation duct and the drying duct to supply the steam generated from the heater to the tub. The method of claim 1, The flow rate control unit is a steam device of a washing machine, characterized in that it comprises a flow control valve. The method of claim 1, The steam generator is connected to the water supply pipe and the washing machine is supplied with washing water, and the steam device of the washing machine, characterized in that it comprises a spray hole formed to penetrate the case to discharge the washing water to the heater. The method of claim 4, wherein The injection port is a steam device of a washing machine, characterized in that formed in the porous. The method of claim 1, The drying duct is a steam device of a washing machine, characterized in that it comprises a non-combustible material. The method of claim 1, Steaming device of the washing machine, characterized in that the blocking member for preventing the conduction of heat is installed around the drying duct. The method of claim 1, The drying duct is a steam device of a washing machine, characterized in that the sensor member for measuring the temperature is mounted. An input step of determining whether an operation signal is input in a steam mode; A heating step of operating the heater unit in the drying duct after the input step; A determination step of comparing whether the heater part reaches a set temperature after the heating step; A steam step of generating steam by spraying washing water to the heater part after the determining step; And And a transfer step of supplying steam generated in the steam step to the inside of the tub. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein a blowing member is provided in the drying duct, and the blowing member is operated in the conveying step. The method of claim 9, wherein in the steaming step, the operation signal is transmitted to the flow control unit to supply washing water to the heater unit. The method of claim 9, wherein in the steaming step, washing water is sprayed to the heater unit for a predetermined time. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the steam is repeatedly operated as the heater is heated to a set temperature within a set end time of the steam mode.

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