KR101342376B1 - Laundry machine able to clean inside of steam generator by using acidic water and controlling method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry machine for washing or drying laundry. The washing apparatus according to the present invention supplies acidic water into a steam generator to dissolve the precipitate and discharges it to the outside. This eliminates the problems caused by the precipitate. In addition, the steam generator has an advantage of sterilization due to the killing effect of acidic water.

Washing device, electrolysis device, acid water, steam generator, sediment removal

Description

Washing apparatus for cleaning steam generator with acidic water and its control method {LAUNDRY MACHINE ABLE TO CLEAN INSIDE OF STEAM GENERATOR BY USING ACIDIC WATER AND CONTROLLING METHOD FOR THE SAME}

1 shows a conventional washing machine.

Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a flowchart for an embodiment of a washing machine control method according to the present invention.

Description of the Related Art [0002]

115: Water supply valve 120:

127: Detergent bottle 150: Steam supply device

160: ion filter 170: electrolytic device

171: cathode electrode 172: anode electrode

173: Ion exchange membrane 174: Alkaline water storage

181 to 188: first to eighth channels 191 to 193: first to third valves

The present invention relates to a laundry machine for washing or drying laundry.

The washing machine includes a washing machine for washing laundry and a clothes dryer for drying the laundry. There is also a combined dry washing machine that can combine both washing and drying.

In general, the clothes dryer is a laundry apparatus for automatically drying the laundry in which the washing is completed by hot air. Clothes dryers generally include a heater for heating the air and a blower for causing the heated air to circulate in the drum with the laundry.

Generally, a washing machine is a pulsator-type washing machine that washes by water flow generated by rotating a pulsator, and a drop and friction force of washing water and laundry generated inside a drum by rotating a drum installed in parallel with each other. There is a drum washing machine of the washing method.

On the other hand, in recent years, there has been proposed a washing machine, particularly a drum washing machine, which performs washing using steam. When steam is used for washing and the like, water and electricity can be saved, and washing power can be improved. It is also possible to remove wrinkles, smells, and the like.

Referring to FIG. 1, a drum washing machine using steam will be described as follows.

The drum washing machine includes a cabinet 10 having an outer appearance, a cylindrical tub 20 supported horizontally in the cabinet 10 to store washing water, a drum 30 rotatably installed in the tub 20, And a driving motor (not shown) for driving the drum 30. The cabinet 10 has an inlet 13 communicating with the inside of the drum 30 so that laundry can be put into and withdrawn from the front surface thereof, and a door 11 is provided to open and close the inlet 13. A water supply valve 15 connected to an external water pipe (not shown) for supplying wash water to the tub 20 is provided at one side of the drum washing machine. A water pipe 25a and a cold water pipe 26 are connected between the ordinary detergent container 27 and the water supply valve 15.

Meanwhile, a steam generator 50 for supplying steam to the drum 30 in the tub 20 is provided, and the steam generator 50 has a water supply hose 25 for supplying water and generated steam. Steam supply pipe 53 for supplying the drum 30 is connected. The water supply hose 25 is normally connected to the hot water side of the water supply valve 15. The end of the steam supply pipe 53 is preferably formed in a nozzle shape so that steam can be smoothly injected into the inner space of the drum 30. The end of the steam discharge pipe 53 is connected to the inside of the drum 30 It is preferable to be provided so as to be exposed.

An object of the present invention is to remove precipitates, etc. in a steam generator provided in a washing machine such as a washing machine or a dryer by using acidic water.

In the steam generator, magnesium ions or potassium ions in water may precipitate. Such deposits may contaminate the steam generator but reduce the amount of water that can be contained within the steam generator. In addition, it may stick to the surface of the heater accommodated inside the steam generator to reduce the thermal efficiency.

Since the acidic water has a sterilizing effect, the present invention also has the advantage of sterilizing the steam generator.

Laundry apparatus according to the present invention, the electrolysis device for electrolyzing water; It is connected to the electrolysis device is supplied with acidic water, the steam generating device is provided with a discharge passage to discharge the acidic water; is configured to include.

The precipitate precipitated inside the steam generator is dissolved in acidic water is discharged to the outside through the discharge passage.

The discharge passage may be provided in various forms.

A steam flow passage for supplying steam to the tub may be used as the discharge flow passage. Steam generated from the steam generator is supplied to the tub through the steam flow path, it can be used as the acidic water discharge flow path as the steam flow path.

When acid water is supplied to the steam generator and water is supplied to the steam generator after a certain time has elapsed, the acidic water inside the steam generator is discharged to the tub through the steam flow path.

As another method, a separate discharge passage may be provided in the steam generator. By forming a drain port in the steam generating device, by connecting the drain and the drain flow path of the wash water can be provided with a discharge flow path for discharging the acidic water. A valve is installed in the discharge passage. Thus, when the controller opens the valve, the acidic water may be discharged to the outside through the drainage flow path of the wash water.

Here, the drainage pump may be installed in the wash water drainage passage, in which case, the drainage pump may be assisted when the acidic water is discharged.

In addition, when draining the washing water in the tub to the outside during the operation of the washing course of the washing machine may be to be discharged together with the acidic water in the steam generator. For example, when the washing water is drained after the washing stroke or the rinsing stroke, the valve may be opened to discharge acidic water in the steam generator.

Alternatively, a discharge passage may be provided to directly discharge acidic water in the steam generator to the outside of the washing apparatus. That is, a drain is formed in the steam generator and connected to the drain to connect the pipe to discharge the acidic water to the outside of the washing apparatus.

On the other hand, washing machine control method according to the present invention, the acidic water supply step for supplying the acidic water to the steam generator; Maintaining the acidic water for a predetermined time while accommodated in the steam generator; And a discharging step of discharging the acidic water in the steam generator.

The acidic water supplying step is a step for supplying acidic water from an acidic water source having acidic water.

In the case of having an electrolysis device, the acidic water supplying step may include introducing an acidic water into the steam generator by electrolyzing water into the electrolysis device.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail.

Figure 2 shows a preferred configuration of the present invention can be applied to the drum washing machine as shown in Figure 1 of the washing machine. One embodiment of the drum washing machine according to the present invention can be easily implemented by installing an electrolysis device 170 in the drum washing machine as shown in FIG. 1 and connecting pipes for the flow path of water or steam as shown in FIG. .

The electrolytic apparatus 170 is connected to the water supply valve 115 and the first water channel 181 to receive water. The electrolysis device 170 includes a cathode electrode 171, an anode electrode 172, and an ion exchange membrane 173. Since the electrolytic apparatus 170 itself is well known in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The second water channel 183 and the third water channel 185 are connected so that alkaline water and acidic water can be supplied from the electrolytic apparatus 170 to the steam generator 150. In addition, the fourth water channel 182 and the fifth water channel 184 are connected so that the alkaline water and the acid water as described above can be directly supplied into the tub 120. Here, if necessary, a pump may be provided to help supply the electrolyzed water to the steam generator 150 or the tub 120.

One water channel extends from the alkaline water reservoir 174 of the electrolytic apparatus 170 and branches to the second water channel 183 and the fourth water channel 182. The first valve 191, Respectively. In addition, one water channel extends from the acidic water reservoir and branches to the third water channel 185 and the fifth water channel 184, and a second valve 192 is installed at the branch. Thus, as the first valve 191 is controlled, alkaline water is introduced into the steam generator 150 or directly into the tub 120, and as the second valve 192 is controlled, acidic water is generated from the steam generator. Inflow to 150 or directly to the tub (120).

An ion filter 160 is provided between the electrolytic apparatus 170 and the steam generating apparatus 150. The alkaline water passes through the ion filter 160 before being introduced into the steam generator 150. At this time, cations such as magnesium or potassium in alkaline water are filtered by the ion filter 160.

2, the acidic water also passes through the ion filter 160 before being introduced into the steam generator 150. Alternatively, the acidic water may be configured not to pass through the ion filter 160. The acidic water may not pass through the ion filter 160 because there will be no such cations.

The water supply valve 115 and the tub 120 are connected to the sixth water channel 186 so that the wash water can be supplied from the water supply valve 115 to the direct tub 120. The water supply valve 115 and the steam generator 150 may be connected to each other by the seventh water channel 187 to supply water from the water supply valve 115 to the steam generator 150. At this time, it is possible to control whether the water of the water supply valve 115 is supplied to the tub 120 or the steam generator 150 by controlling the third valve 193 as shown in the figure. The water supplied to the tub 120 through the sixth and seventh channels 186 and 187 is not electrolytic water because it does not pass through the electrolytic device 170.

The water supply valve 115 and the tub 120 are connected to each other by an eighth water passage 188 via the detergent container 127. Water and detergent may be supplied to the tub 120 through the eighth water channel 188.

Here, the eighth channel 188 may take the role of the sixth channel 186. When the eighth water passage 188 passes through the detergent container 127 but the detergent container 127 does not contain any detergent, the sixth water passage 188 substantially functions as the sixth water passage 186.

The washing machine of FIG. 2 may have various washing courses according to the combination of the aforementioned channels. When the user selects the washing course using the detergent, the detergent in the detergent container 127 through the eighth channel 188 is provided. It is supplied to the tub 120. When the user selects a washing course that does not use detergent, the sixth water channel 186 is used without using the eighth water channel 188. However, if there is no detergent in the detergent container 127, the sixth channel 186 may not be needed and the eighth channel 188 may take its place. If necessary, the control unit of the washing machine may output a warning message to the user to confirm that the detergent container 127 has detergent. Thus, when the user confirms that there is no detergent in the detergent container 127 and performs a predetermined action (for example, pressing a predetermined button), the control unit supplies water to the tub 120 through the eighth water channel 188 can do. Even if detergent is present in the detergent container 127, after the water is once supplied to the tub 120 through the eighth water passage 188, the eighth water passage 188 serves as the sixth water passage 186 do. For this reason, the sixth water channel 186 may be replaced by the eighth water channel 188, and the seventh water channel 187 may be branched from the eighth water channel 188.

The drum washing machine of FIG. 2 is configured to have all necessary channels, but in some embodiments it may not have some channels.

The steam supply from the steam generator 150 to the tub 120 may be such that steam is sprayed into the drum 120 of the tub 120 as shown in FIG.

When the washing machine of Fig. 2 is a washing machine combined with drying, electrolytic water steam can be used in a drying course. The drying course may spray electrolyzed water steam while the wet laundry has just been washed. At this time, the spraying of the acidic water steam can further obtain the effect of sterilization. Alternatively, the user can obtain the effects of sterilization, odor removal, and wrinkle removal by spraying and drying steam without washing the clothes once worn. In this case, using alkaline water steam can also obtain a cleaning effect, and acidity Water steam can be used to achieve even better sterilization effects.

Hereinafter, how to remove the precipitate in the steam generator using the acidic water in the washing machine as shown in FIG.

First, the removal of the sediment inside the steam generator 150 using acidic water may be performed automatically, or may be performed by the user pressing a predetermined selection button. In the case where the user selects the washing course using steam, when the use of the steam generator 150 is completed, the controller automatically allows the acidic water to flow into the steam generator 150 and be discharged to the outside. Of course, even if a washing course not using the steam generating device 150 is selected, the inside of the steam generating device 150 can be cleaned by acidic water, if necessary.

For example, after the use of the steam generator 150 is completed, the controller controls the acidic water to flow into the steam generator 150 and discharges it to the outside at an appropriate time. Discharge of the acidic water may be discharged to the tub 120 or the washing water drainage passage at the time of draining the washing step or the rinsing step to drain together. The steam generator 150 may be provided with a discharge passage having a valve. In addition, the discharge passage may be formed to be discharged directly to the outside, or may be connected to be discharged into the tub 120 or to the washing water drainage passage.

Contaminants such as sediment inside the steam generator 150 are dissolved in acidic water and are discharged together.

The process of supplying the acidic water to the steam generator 150 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4.

The control unit opens the water supply valve 115 to supply water to the electrolysis device 170 (S410).

In addition, the controller turns on the electrolysis device 170 to allow the water to be electrolyzed (S420).

When it is determined that the electrolysis is completed in the electrolysis device 170 after a predetermined time, the second valve 192 is controlled to allow the acidic water of the electrolysis device 170 to flow into the steam generator 150 (S430). ).

In this case, a sensor for sensing the Ph concentration may be used to determine whether the electrolysis is completed. In addition, a pump may be used to help supply the acidic water from the electrolysis device 170 to the steam generator 150.

The controller maintains the acidic water for a predetermined time while being accommodated in the steam generator 150 (S440) and then discharges the acidic water to the outside (S450).

In order to discharge the acidic water in the steam generator 150 to the outside, the control unit may open the water supply valve 115 to allow the water to flow into the steam generator 150 through the seventh water passage 187. As a result, the acidic water in the steam generator 150 is overflowed by the water introduced into the steam generator 150 through the seventh channel 187 to the tub 120 through the steam passage, which is a flow path for steam. Will be discharged.

Figure 3 is another embodiment of a washing apparatus according to the present invention. In the washing apparatus of FIG. 3, the discharge passage for discharging the acidic water is different from that of FIG.

3 includes a main body 300, a tub 301, a drum 302, an electrolysis device, a steam generator 340, and a control unit (not shown).

The main body 300 forms an exterior of the washing apparatus.

In the main body 300, an eighth water channel 310 for guiding the washing water from the water supply valve 311 to flow into the tub 301, and water flows from the water supply valve 321 to the steam generator 340. Guiding second and third channels 320 are provided.

Each of the water supply valves 111 and 121 selectively opens and closes each of the water channels 310 and 320.

The eighth water channel 310 is formed such that the wash water passes through the detergent box 330 to supply water into the tub 301.

In addition, the tub 301 is provided in the main body 300, and a drum 302 is rotatably mounted therein.

In addition, the steam generator 340 is provided on any one space in the main body 300, and serves to generate steam by evaporating the water supply.

The steam generator 340 includes a case, a heater, a water level sensor, and a steam flow path 343. Steam generated by the steam generator 340 is supplied to the tub 301 through the steam flow path (343). Since the steam generator 340 itself is well known in the art, further description thereof will be omitted.

As the water supply valve 321 is opened, water is introduced into the electrolysis device 360 to be electrolyzed. In addition, the acidic water obtained by electrolysis in the electrolysis device 360 flows into the steam generator 340 to dissolve the precipitate.

The steam generator 340 is provided with a discharge passage 342 as shown. The discharge passage 342 has a valve 344 and is connected to the wash water drain passage 351. Thus, as the valve 344 is opened, water in the steam generator 340 is discharged to the outside of the washing machine through the washing water drainage passage 351.

The controller controls the water supply valve 321 and the heater so that steam is generated and supplied to the tub. In addition, the controller controls the valve 344 to allow the water inside the steam generator 340 to be discharged to the outside.

The control unit operates the drain pump 350 when draining the wash water in the tub 301 after the washing stroke, the rinsing stroke, or the dehydration stroke is completed. In this case, the controller opens the valve 344 to allow the water inside the steam generator 340 to be discharged to the outside together.

The washing machine according to the present invention is not limited to the type of washing machine as described above. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in various forms without departing from the scope of the present invention.

According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively remove deposits and the like in the steam generator using acidic water.

The sediment in the steam generator is removed to eliminate problems caused by the sediment. In addition, since acidic water has a sterilizing effect, it also has the advantage of sterilizing the steam generator.

Claims (10)

An electrolytic apparatus for electrolyzing water; A steam generator connected to the electrolysis device to receive acidic water and having a discharge passage to discharge the acidic water; And a controller configured to discharge the acidic water to the outside after maintaining the acidic water accommodated in the steam generator for a predetermined time. Washing apparatus, characterized in that the precipitate is removed in the steam generator by the acidic water and the steam generator is sterilized. The laundry machine according to claim 1, wherein the discharge passage is a steam passage for supplying steam to a tub. The washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge passage is connected to a drain passage of the wash water. The washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge passage is provided to directly discharge the acidic water to the outside of the washing apparatus. An acidic water supply step for supplying the acidic water to the steam generator; An acidic water holding step of maintaining a predetermined time while the acidic water is contained in the steam generating device to remove deposits in the steam generating device and sterilizing the steam generating device; A discharge step of discharging the acidic water in the steam generator; Washing device control method comprising a. The method according to claim 5, wherein the acidic water supplying step includes electrolyzing water with an electrolysis device to introduce acidic water into a steam generator. The method of claim 5, Washing apparatus control method further comprising the step of instructing the user to perform the acidic water supply step, the acidic water holding step and the discharge step by pressing a predetermined selection button before the acidic water supply step. The method of claim 5, When the use of the steam generating device is completed, the control unit automatically performs the acidic water supply step, the acidic water maintaining step and the discharge device control method characterized in that the discharge step. The method of claim 5, In the discharging step, the acidic water is discharged to the tub or the washing water drainage at the time of draining the washing step or the rinsing step of the washing machine, characterized in that the drainage drainage. The method of claim 5, Washing apparatus control method characterized in that the water is introduced into the steam generating device in the discharge step is overflowed by the water introduced the acid water is discharged to the tub through the steam flow path.

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