KR101139253B1 - Washing machine and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine and a washing control method thereof that can accurately measure the degree of contamination of laundry.

To this end, according to the present invention, the air wash is performed before the washing cycle, the degree of contamination of the laundry is measured after the air wash or after the air wash, and the washing time is adjusted or the washing cycle is added according to the measured degree of contamination.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine and a washing control method thereof, and more particularly, to a washing machine and a washing control method for accurately measuring the degree of contamination of laundry.

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a washing machine (typically, a drum washing machine) includes a drum-type water tank for containing laundry water, and a rotary drum rotatably installed in the water tank for inputting laundry. When the cylindrical rotary drum rotates, And then the washing is performed by the force of falling. Such a washing machine determines the washing quantity in accordance with the weight (load) of the laundry, and supplies a large amount of water to the inside of the water tank including the space between the water tub and the rotary drum according to the determined washing quantity, So that the laundry is washed.

However, since the washing machine according to the weight of the laundry carries out the washing process, the laundry may be damaged due to excessive washing when the laundry is not contaminated, and the laundry may not be cleaned .

In order to solve such a problem, a method of detecting the degree of contamination of the laundry before the washing cycle and automatically performing the washing cycle according to the detected degree of contamination is disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-0049823 (washing machine and washing Method).

The washing machine proposed in the publication measures the degree of contamination of the laundry, and automatically sets the laundry-related administrative information according to the measured degree of contamination to improve the washing performance of the washing machine.

In this method, when measuring the degree of contamination of the laundry, the degree of contamination of the laundry is measured by directly contacting the laundry to be washed with the contamination level sensing unit, so that only a part of the laundry is measured and the degree of contamination can not be accurately measured.

In addition, since the user needs to directly put laundry, there is a problem in that the user can not satisfy the desire for convenience.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method of controlling a washing machine, comprising: advancing an air wash before a washing cycle, measuring a degree of contamination of the laundry during an air wash or an air wash, do.

Here, the pollution degree of the laundry is measured using a turbidity sensor mounted on the drainage flow path.

Also, the degree of contamination of laundry is measured using a sensor mounted in a water tank.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a contamination degree measuring sensor for measuring pollution degree of laundry. The air wash is carried out before the washing cycle and the contamination degree of the laundry is measured after the air wash or after the air wash and the washing time is adjusted or the washing cycle is added according to the measured degree of contamination

Here, the pollution degree measuring sensor is a turbidity sensor mounted on the drainage flow path, and the pollution degree measuring sensor is a sensor mounted in the water tub.

As described above, according to the washing machine and its washing control method of the present invention, contaminant molecules of the laundry are discharged due to rotation of the rotary drum and air supply during the air wash or after the air wash, Therefore, there is an advantage that the pollution degree can be measured more accurately.

In addition, since the pollution degree is automatically measured by the user without directing the laundry to the pollution level measuring unit, the effect of satisfying the desire of the consumer who desires convenience is created.

1, a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a drum-shaped water tank 11 installed inside the body 10 for fresh water of washing water, And a rotary drum 12 provided with a plurality of dewatering holes.

A motor 13 for rotating the rotary drum 12 in the forward or reverse direction is installed in the lower part of the water tub 11 and a water tank 11 is provided in the lower side of the water tub 11, A washing heater 19 for heating the washing water supplied into the washing tub 11 is installed.

An opening 14 is formed in front of the water tub 11 and the rotary drum 12 so that a user can take laundry out of the front of the main body 10. A door for opening and closing the opening 14 is provided in front of the main body 10, (15).

A detergent supply device 18 for supplying detergent into the inside of the water tank 11, a steam generator 30 for supplying steam into the water tank 11, a water tank 11, And a water supply device (20) for supplying water to the steam generator (30).

The detergent supply device 18 has a receiving space for receiving detergent therein and is installed on the front side of the main body 10 so that the user can easily input the detergent.

The water supply device 20 has a water supply pipe 21 for supplying water to the water tub 11 and a water supply valve 22 provided in the water supply pipe 21 for controlling the water supply of the water supply pipe 21. At this time, the water supply pipe (21) is connected to the detergent supply device (18) so that water supplied from the outside can be supplied to the detergent supply device (18). A separate connection pipe 23 is provided between the detergent supply device 18 and the water tub 11 so that water passing through the detergent supply device 18 can be supplied to the water tub 11. This allows the water supplied into the water tub 11 to pass through the detergent supply device 18 so that the detergent in the detergent supply device 18 can be supplied to the water tub 11 in a state that the detergent is dissolved in the water.

The water supply device 20 includes a steam supply pipe 24 for supplying water to the steam generator 30 and a steam valve 24 installed in the steam supply pipe 24 for controlling water supply to the steam generator 30 25).

In the present invention, the water supply valve 22 and the steam valve 25 are separately constructed. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the water supply valve 22 and the steam valve 25 may be connected to each other using a conventional electric three- ) Can be integrally formed.

The steam generator 30 includes a U-shaped steam heater 31 for instantly heating water passing therethrough to generate steam at a temperature of 100 ° C or more, a steam generator 31 installed on the outer surface of the steam generator 30, A steam temperature sensor 32 for sensing the temperature of the generator 30 and a steam supply pipe 33 for supplying the steam generated from the steam generator 30 to the drying duct 42 to the drying duct 42. [ A steam generating tube 34 whose inlet is connected to the steam supply pipe 24 and whose outlet is connected to the steam supply pipe 33 and an injection nozzle 35 installed at the outlet of the steam supply pipe 33.

Although the present invention has been described by way of example in which the steam heater 31 is installed inside the steam generator 30, the present invention is not limited to this, and the steam heater 31 may be disposed above or below the steam generator 30. [ It is needless to say that the same objects and effects as those of the present invention can also be achieved by providing an external heater to be in contact with the lower outer surface or a structure in which the steam heater 31 surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the steam generator 30.

The present invention also includes a drying device (40) for drying clothes (laundry).

The drying apparatus 40 includes a drying fan 41 installed at an upper portion of the water tub 11, a discharge port 41b of the drying fan 41 and an air inlet 45 formed above the opening 14 of the water tub 11, And a condenser 41 installed at the rear of the water tub 11 so as to connect the air outlet port 46 formed at the rear lower portion of the water tub 11 and the inlet port 41a of the drying fan 41, And duct (43).

 The drying apparatus 40 includes a drying heater 44 installed in the drying duct 42 to supply hot air into the water tub 11 and a drying heater 44 installed inside the rotary drum 12 to detect the dry state of the laundry. A duct temperature sensor 48 installed inside the drying duct 42 to sense the temperature in the drying duct 42 and a wet steam generated by drying of the laundry are supplied to the condensing duct 43, And a condensing device installed in the condensing duct 43 so that water can be condensed and removed in the course of passing the condensing duct 43.

In this configuration, the air blown by the operation of the drying fan 41 is heated through the drying heater 44 and then supplied to the inside of the water tub 11, thereby heating and drying the laundry. So that the moisture in the air can be removed in the process of sucking the wet steam generated through the drying to the drying fan 41 through the condensing duct 43.

The condensing device includes a cooling water injection nozzle 53 installed at an inner upper portion of the condensing duct 43 to inject cooling water into the condensing duct 43 and a water supply device 20 for supplying cooling water to the cooling water injection nozzle 53. [ And a cooling water supply pipe 54 connected to the cooling water supply pipe 54. The construction of such a condensing device allows the cooling water injected from the upper cooling water injection nozzle 53 to flow down to the lower side along the inner surface of the condensing duct 43 so that the contact between the humidifier rising from the lower part and the cooling water is increased, So that it can be improved.

The present invention also includes a drainage device (50) for draining water inside the water tub (11). The drainage device 50 includes a drainage pipe 51 connected to a lower portion of the water tub 11 to guide the water in the water storage tank 11 to the outside and a drainage pump 52 installed in the drainage pipe 51.

In addition, the present invention includes a pollution degree measuring sensor 61 for measuring the pollution degree of water that is installed in the drainage passage, that is, the inside of the water discharge pipe 51. The contamination level measuring sensor 61 is not limited to the inside of the drain pipe 51 but may be provided in the water tank 11 to measure the contaminated molecules in the water tank 11. [

2, the washing machine includes a signal input unit 110, a water level sensing unit 120, a temperature sensing unit 130, a pollution degree measurement unit 130, A sensor 61, a control unit 140, and a driving unit 150.

The signal input unit 110 inputs operation information such as a washing course selected in accordance with the material of the laundry, washing temperature, dehydration rpm, and rinsing to the controller 140. In order to perform an appropriate washing cycle according to the degree of contamination of laundry Select and enter a customized administrative course.

The water level sensing unit 120 senses the level of the wash water supplied to the water tub 11. The temperature sensing unit 130 includes a wash water temperature sensor (not shown) for sensing the wash water temperature inside the water tub 11, A steam temperature sensor 32 for sensing the temperature of the steam generator 30, and the like.

The pollution degree measuring sensor 61 measures the pollution degree of the laundry. For example, the pollution degree measuring sensor 61 measures the turbidity of water discharged using a turbidity sensor mounted on the drainage path. When the air is supplied into the rotary drum 12 using the installed gas sensor, other contaminants are measured by the odor molecules generated when the rotary drum 12 rotates.

Here, the turbidity sensor can measure the turbidity of water drained using a spectrophotometric method. Absorption spectrophotometry is a method in which light such as ultraviolet (UV) or visible light (VIS) is absorbed or scattered This is a method of using the change of intensity.

Further, the gas sensor senses the degree of contamination by using the degree of change of the resistance value by the amount of odor molecules adsorbed on the surface.

The control unit 140 is a microcomputer that controls the washing machine according to the operation information input from the signal input unit 110. When the user selects the customized administrative course, the control unit 140 controls the drying apparatus 40 to supply a large amount of air to the water tub 11. [ And air wash is carried out.

Here, the "air wash" refers to a stroke for finely adjusting the hot air, the temperature control, and the rotation of the washing tub to remove fine dust, odor particles, bacteria and mites in the laundry.

In addition, the controller 140 controls the degree of contamination of the laundry during the air wash or after the air wash. When the degree of contamination of the laundry is measured, the controller 140 adjusts the washing time or adds a washing cycle according to the measured degree of contamination.

The driving unit 150 drives the motor 13, the washing heater 19, the water supply valve 22, the steam valve 25, the steam heater 32, the drying fan 41, The drying heater 44, the drain pump 52, and the like.

Hereinafter, the control process of the washing machine constructed as above will be described.

FIG. 3 is a control flowchart for explaining the control process of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, when the user inserts laundry into the rotary drum 12 and then selects a customized stroke course , And the operation information selected by the user is inputted to the control unit 140 through the signal input unit 110 (300).

At this time, the laundry put into the rotary drum 12 may be a laundry with little contamination, a laundry partially contaminated with a large amount, or laundry largely contaminated as a whole.

The control unit 140 controls the drying device 40 to advance the air wash for supplying the air to the inside of the rotary drum 12 during the set time (310).

More specifically, the operation of the motor 13 causes the rotary drum 12 to slowly rotate at a predetermined set RPM and a set operation rate so that the laundry in the rotary drum 12 falls. When the drying fan 41 operates in this state, the air inside the water tub 11 is sucked into the drying fan 41 through the condensing duct 43 and then flows into the inside of the water tub 11 through the drying duct 42 As shown in Fig.

At this time, the air of the drying duct 42 flows into the rotary drum 12 while being heated by the drying heater 44,

The control unit 140 determines whether or not the air-wash is completed (320). When the air-wash is completed, the controller 140 measures the degree of contamination of the water discharged using the turbidity sensor, which is the pollution degree measuring sensor 61 mounted on the drainage flow path.

After measuring the degree of contamination of the water to be drained, the controller 140 adjusts the time of the washing cycle or adds a washing cycle according to the degree of contamination of the measured water (340).

If the air wash is not completed in step 320 and the air wash is in progress, the controller 140 controls the air in the rotary drum 12 using the pollution degree measuring sensor 61 mounted in the water tub 11, (350). ≪ / RTI >

Since the rotation of the rotary drum 12 and the supply of air during the air wash or after the air wash can measure the overall contamination degree of the laundry, the contamination degree can be more accurately measured.

After measuring the degree of contamination of the air in the water tub 11, the controller 140 adjusts the washing time or adds a washing cycle according to the degree of contamination of the measured air (360).

More specifically, when washing laundry having a higher contamination level than the reference contamination degree is to be washed, the control unit 140 may set the washing time to be longer or perform a washing process by adding a washing cycle or a rinsing cycle. In addition, the controller 140 can set the washing time to be shorter when washing laundry having a contamination degree lower than the reference contamination degree is washed. In addition, the washing process can be automatically performed according to the contamination degree by using various methods.

As described above, the control unit 140 classifies the washing cycles by the degree of contamination of the laundry, determines which level the measured degree of contamination corresponds to, and controls the optimal washing cycle to proceed.

1 is a sectional view showing the construction of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a control block diagram of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a control process of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Related Art [0002]

11 ... water tank 12 ... rotary drum

41 ... Drying fan 44 ... Drying heater

61 ... Pollution degree measuring sensor 110 ... Signal input section

140 ... control unit

Claims (10)

A washing control method for a washing machine which performs washing in the order of a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, and a dewatering cycle, If a customized stroke course for advancing the washing stroke according to the contamination degree of the laundry is selected, air wash is performed before the washing stroke, Measuring the degree of contamination of the laundry during the air wash or after the air wash, And controlling the time of the washing cycle or adding the washing cycle according to the measured degree of contamination. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the degree of contamination of the laundry is measured using a turbidity sensor mounted on the drainage flow path. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the degree of contamination of the laundry is measured using a gas sensor mounted in a water tank. A pollution degree measuring sensor mounted in the drainage passage or the water tub to measure the pollution degree of the laundry; The air washing process is performed before the washing process and the contamination degree of the laundry measured by the pollution degree measuring sensor is inputted during the air washing or after the air washing and the time of the washing process is adjusted according to the contamination degree of the laundry And a controller for adding the washing cycle. 5. The method of claim 4, Wherein the contamination level measuring sensor is a turbidity sensor mounted on the drainage channel. 5. The method of claim 4, Wherein the contamination level measuring sensor is a gas sensor mounted in the water tub. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the air wash is a stroke for regulating the supply of hot air to the inside of the rotary drum and the rotation of the rotary drum to shake contaminants and germs in the laundry. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the air wash is performed by supplying hot air into the rotary drum while rotating the rotary drum at a setting RPM and a set operation rate during a set time. 5. The method of claim 4, Wherein the air wash is a stroke for regulating the supply of hot air to the inside of the rotary drum and the rotation of the rotary drum to remove contaminants and germs from the laundry. 5. The method of claim 4, A motor for rotating the rotary drum in a forward direction or a reverse direction; And Further comprising a drying device for drying the laundry, Wherein the controller controls the motor and the drying device during a set time to rotate the rotary drum at a set operation rate with the set RPM while supplying warm air into the rotary drum to perform the air wash.

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