KR101484038B1 - Washing machine and method for controlling of it - Google Patents

Abstract

The washing machine according to the present invention comprises a rotating tub having a tub and a laundry room in which the laundry is received and rotatably installed in the tub, a drying device for supplying hot air to the laundry room, And the water supply device separates the laundry from the inner wall of the rotary tub by supplying water to the laundry during the dewatering or drying process to increase the weight of the laundry. In the washing machine according to the present invention, since the drying process is performed in a state where the laundry is separated from the inner wall of the rotating tub by supplying water to the laundry after the dewatering process, the drying efficiency is improved.

Washing machine, rotating tank, water supply device, dehydration, drying

Description

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

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine having a drying function and a control method thereof.

BACKGROUND ART Generally, a washing machine is a pulsator that is rotatably installed on a floor inside a tub, and a pulsator washing machine for washing the laundry and rotating the laundry to perform washing, an agitator protruding in the center of the tub, A drum washing machine for washing the laundry while repeating the operation of rotating the drum by rotating the drum to rotate the drum to rotate the laundry, have.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Recently, a washing machine equipped with a drying function capable of drying a laundry to be washed after a washing cycle has been released. The washing machine having such a drying function is advantageous in that it can dry the washed laundry immediately by supplying hot air to the inside of the tub containing the laundry. In order to perform the drying function, a duct connected to the tub for supplying hot air to the inside of the tub, a heater for heating the air flowing through the duct to the tub, and a blower for forcedly blowing air in the duct are required Do.

Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-15294 (published on Mar. 02, 2007) discloses a drum washing machine as an example of a washing machine having a drying function.

In the washing machine disclosed in the above publication, a drum is rotatably installed inside a tub, and a drying device for supplying hot air to the inside of the tub is provided outside the tub. The drying apparatus includes a drying duct connected to the tub, a heater installed inside the drying duct for heating the air, and a blowing fan for forcedly blowing air. When the drying cycle is started after the dewatering process, the drum is rotated and the blower fan and the heater are operated, and the heated air is supplied to the inside of the drum. When hot air is supplied to the inside of the drum, the moisture contained in the laundry is evaporated due to the contact of hot air to the laundry. Then, the evaporated water is discharged to the outside of the drum together with the air exiting the drum.

However, in the conventional washing machine, when the laundry is adhered to the inner wall of the drum during the dewatering process, the laundry is dried in the state that the laundry adheres to the inner wall of the drum. When the laundry is adhered to the inner wall of the drum, the hot air is not smoothly supplied to the inside of the drum. In addition, since the hot air contacts only a part of the laundry, the drying efficiency is lowered. A problem that is wrinkled occurs. This problem is more serious when the laundry is small in size, such as a towel, and adheres well to the inner wall of the drum during the dehydration run.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem [8] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine and a washing machine which are capable of improving drying efficiency and preventing wrinkling of the laundry by separating the laundry from the inner wall of the rotary tub, And a control method thereof.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine comprising a tub, a washing tub having a washing tub, a drying tub rotatably installed inside the tub, a drying device for supplying hot air to the washing tub, And a water supply device for supplying water to the laundry contained in the rotary tub, wherein the water supply device supplies water to the laundry during a dewatering or drying cycle to increase the weight of the laundry, And the water supply device supplies water to the laundry contained in the rotary tub while the rotary tub is stopped.

Here, the water supply device may be a water supply device for supplying washing water to the inside of the rotary tub.

The water supply device may be a steam supply device for supplying steam to the inside of the rotary tub.

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The water supply device supplies moisture to the laundry contained in the washing chamber after the driving motor for rotating the washing tub is turned off for dewatering.

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According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine including a tub, a washing tub having a washing chamber in which laundry is received, a rotatable tub rotatably installed in the tub, a drying device for supplying hot air to the washing tub, , A drive motor for rotating the rotary tub, a moisture supply device for supplying moisture to the laundry contained in the rotary tub, and a control unit for controlling the moisture supply device in relation to the operation of the drive motor and the drying device And the water supply device supplies moisture to the laundry contained in the rotary tub while the rotary tub is rotated.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a washing machine, the method comprising: a dewatering step of dewatering the laundry by rotating a rotary tub containing a laundry by a driving motor; A moisture supplying step of supplying moisture to the laundry; and a drying step of drying the laundry by supplying hot air into the rotating tub while rotating the rotary tub with the driving motor.

Here, the water supply step may be performed while the rotating tub is rotating.

The water supply step may be performed while the rotating tub is stopped.

Also, the moisture supply step may be performed while the rotating tub is rotated without the driving force of the driving motor after the driving motor is turned off in the dehydrating step.

The water supply step may be performed in a state where the rotating tub is stopped after the driving motor is turned off during the dehydrating step.

Also, the moisture supply step may be performed at the beginning of the drying step.

The washing machine according to the present invention can separate the laundry from the inner wall of the rotary tub by supplying moisture to the laundry to be attached to the inner wall of the rotary tub to increase the weight of the laundry before the drying cycle is completed. Therefore, since the drying process is performed in a state where the laundry is separated from the inner wall of the rotary tub, the drying efficiency is improved and the wrinkling of the laundry can be reduced.

Hereinafter, a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 4 schematically show a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1, a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a washing machine main body 11 having an external appearance, a tub 15 fixedly installed inside the washing machine main body 11, A water drainage device 25 for discharging the washing water in the tub 15 and a rotary tub 16 rotatably installed inside the tub 15 for supplying washing water to the inside of the tub 15, A drying device 34 for supplying hot air to the inside of the tub 15, a steam supply device 41 for supplying steam to the inside of the tub 15, (39).

The front center of the washing machine main body 11 is opened for the entrance and exit of the laundry L and the opened portion is opened and closed by the door 12 hinged to the front surface of the washing machine main body 11. A detergent supply device 13 for supplying a detergent and / or a finishing agent and a control panel 14 for user operation are installed on the front of the washing machine main body 11.

The tub 15 has a hollow cylindrical shape and its front center is opened to correspond to the front open portion of the washing machine body 11. [ A washing water supply pipe 24 for supplying wash water is connected to the upper part of the tub 15 and a drainage device 25 for discharging washing water inside the tub 15 is connected to the lower part of the tub 15 . The washing water supply pipe 24 is connected to the detergent supply unit 13 and the detergent supply unit 13 is connected to the water supply unit 21. The washing water supplied from the detergent supply device 13 is introduced into the detergent supply device 13 and then supplied to the tub 15 via the washing water supply pipe 24 together with the detergent or the finishing agent contained in the detergent supply device 13. [ As shown in FIG. The water supply device 21 includes a water supply valve 22 and a water supply pipe 23 provided between the water supply valve 22 and the detergent supply device 13. The drainage device 25 includes a drainage pipe 26 connected to one side of the lower portion of the tub 15 and a drainage valve 27 connected to the drainage pipe 26. The water supply valve 22 and the drain valve 27 are controlled by the control unit 39. [

The rotary tub 16 is rotatably installed inside the tub 15, and a laundry room 19 for accommodating the laundry L is provided therein. The front center of the rotary tub 16 is opened to correspond to the front open portion of the tub 15 and the space between the tub 15 and the rotary tub 16 and the space between the rotary tub 16 and the rotary tub 16, And a plurality of through holes 17 for communicating the inside laundry room 19 are provided. A plurality of lifters 18 are provided on the inner wall of the rotary tub 16 for lifting the laundry L upwards in order to flow the laundry L using a drop. The rotary tub 16 rotates in the forward direction or the reverse direction by the driving device 31. The driving device 31 includes a driving motor 32 for generating a driving force and a driving belt 33 for transmitting the driving force of the driving motor 32 to the rotating tank 16. [ The drive motor 32 is controlled by the control unit 39. [

The drying device 34 includes a hot air supply duct 35 provided at the outside of the tub 15 and connected at one end to one side of the tub 15 for supplying hot air into the tub 15, A heater 36 installed inside the hot air supply duct 35 for blowing hot air into the hot air supply duct 35 for blowing air from the hot air supply duct 35 for forced air blow, And a condensing duct 38 for condensing moisture. The condensing duct 38 is connected to a water supply tube 28 for supplying water into the condensing duct 38. The air heated by the heater 36 is supplied to the inside of the tub 15 by the air blowing device 37 and the air inside the tub 15 is discharged through the condensing duct 38. [ Water is supplied to the inside of the condensing duct 38 while the air flows through the condensing duct 38 so that water contained in the air passing through the condensing duct 38 is condensed and water in the condensing duct 38 is condensed And discharged to the drain pipe (26) through the connection pipe (29). The air with moisture removed from the condensing duct 38 flows into the hot air supply duct 35 and is reheated and then supplied to the inside of the tub 15 again.

The steam supply device 41 includes a steam supply pipe 43 connected to one side of the tub 15 to receive water from the water supply device 21 through the water supply pipe 42 and supply steam to the inside of the tub 15, Respectively. The steam supply device 41 heats the water supplied through the water supply pipe 42 to produce steam at a high temperature and supplies the steam to the laundry room 19 of the rotary tub 16, And improves the drying efficiency of the laundry L.

The control unit 39 receives the operation signal from the control panel 14 operated by the user and controls the drive motor 32, the water supply valve 22, the drain valve 27, the heater 36, the blower unit 37, And controls the overall operation of the washing machine.

The control unit 39 of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention controls the rotation of the rotary tub 16 in such a manner that the laundry L contained in the laundry 19 is discharged from the rotary tub 16 between the off- The water supply device 21 or the steam supply device 41 supplies moisture to the laundry L contained in the laundry room 19 by operating the water supply device 21 or the steam supply device 41 Thereby performing the function of the supplying water supplying device.

The water supply device 21 supplies a certain amount of washing water to the laundry L accommodated in the laundry room 19 or the steam supply device 41 moves the laundry L contained in the laundry room 19, The weight of the laundry L is increased as moisture is absorbed by the laundry L. When the rotary tub 16 rotates while the weight of the laundry L is increased, the laundry L adhering to the inner wall of the rotary tub 16 is dropped by its weight.

Hereinafter, the operation of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 3 shows a case in which the water supply device 21 operates as a water supply device.

When the dewatering process is started after the washing cycle, the control unit 39 controls the driving motor 32 to rotate the rotating tub 16 at a high speed for a predetermined time (S10). At this time, the laundry L of the laundry 19 receives centrifugal force and is brought into close contact with the inner wall of the rotary tub 16, and the moisture contained in the laundry L is repelled out of the rotary tub 16 by the centrifugal force .

The control unit 39 checks whether the drive motor 32 is turned off at step S20 and controls the water supply unit 21 to operate for a predetermined time before the drive motor 32 is turned off, (S30). When the wash water is supplied to the laundry room 19, water is absorbed into the laundry L contained in the laundry room 19, thereby increasing the weight of the laundry L. Thereafter, the control unit 39 controls the driving motor 32 to operate the drying apparatus 34 while rotating the rotary tub 16 at a low speed (S40). At this time, the laundry L adhering to the inner wall of the rotary tub 16 drops from the inner wall of the rotary tub 16 due to its weight when the rotary tub 16 rotates to bring the laundry L to the upper position.

Here, if the laundry L is excessively supplied, the drying efficiency may be lowered. Therefore, a small amount of washing water is supplied so that only a part of the laundry L is wetted. Even if the weight of the laundry L to be weighed increases only a part of the laundry L is separated from the inner wall of the rotary tub 16, the remaining portion can be easily separated.

The controller 39 operates the heater 36 and the blower 37 to supply hot air to the laundry room 19 while supplying water to the inside of the condensing duct 38 through the water supply tube 28. During the drying stroke, the rotary tub 16 rotates in the forward or reverse direction. The hot air supplied to the inside of the laundry chamber 19 evenly contacts the entirety of the laundry L flowing inside the rotating rotary tub 16 to evaporate moisture contained in the laundry L. The moisture evaporated in the laundry L is discharged to the condensing duct 38 together with the air, and when the air containing the moisture passes through the condensing duct 38, the moisture is condensed and removed. The moisture-removed air flows into the hot air supply duct 35, is heated by the heater 36, and then supplied to the laundry room 19 again.

Then, the control unit 39 determines whether the drying is completed (S50). When the drying is completed, the controller 39 turns off the driving motor 32 and the drying unit 34. [

The washing machine according to the present invention can easily separate the laundry L from the inner wall of the rotary tub 16 by supplying moisture to the laundry L accommodated in the washing chamber 19 and increasing its weight after the dewatering process . Therefore, the drying efficiency is improved because the drying process is performed in a state where the laundry L is separated from the inner wall of the rotary tub 16.

In the present invention, the operation of supplying water to the laundry L adhering to the inner wall of the rotary tub 16 is performed at any time after the driving motor 32 is turned off and the drying stroke is completed, . That is, the operation of supplying water to the laundry L may be performed immediately after the drive motor 32 is turned off, may be performed while the rotary tub 16 is stopped, or may be performed at the beginning of the drying cycle . Since the drying efficiency may be lowered when water is supplied to the laundry L after a certain degree of the drying stroke has progressed, the water supply to the laundry L may be started at the beginning of the drying stroke (for example, 5 to 10 minutes ).

The control unit 39 controls the driving motor 32 so that the laundry L is fed to the rotary tub 16 before the drying stroke is performed, when the rotary unit 16 is stopped and the moisture is supplied to the laundry L. [ It is possible to rotate the rotary tub 16 so as to be able to quickly fall off from the inner wall of the rotary tub 16. At this time, the rotation of the rotary tub 16 may be either in one direction or alternatively in a rotating direction. Further, the rotational speed of the rotary tub 16 may be constant or variable while the rotary tub 16 is rotating. The detailed operation of the washing machine for separating the laundry L may be appropriately changed according to various conditions such as the type and amount of the laundry L. [

On the other hand, FIG. 4 shows a case in which the steam supply device 41 operates as a moisture supply device.

If the drive motor 32 is turned off while the dewatering process is finished, the controller 39 activates the steam supply device 41. At this time, steam is supplied to the laundry L adhered to the inner wall of the rotary tub 16, and moisture is absorbed into the laundry L. When the laundry L is absorbed into the laundry L as described above, the weight of the laundry L is increased and the laundry L is increased in weight by the weight of the laundry L, And is easily separated from the inner wall of the rotary tub 43.

In this way, when the steam supply device 41 operates as a water supply device, the operation of supplying water to the laundry L is performed in the same manner as when the water supply device 21 operates as a water supply device It can be performed any time after the drive motor 32 is turned off until the drying stroke is completed.

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

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

3 is a front sectional view showing a case where the water supply device operates as a water supply device in a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a control flowchart showing a control operation of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a front sectional view showing a case where the steam supply device operates as a moisture supply device in a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

 Description of the Related Art [0002]

11 ... Washing machine body 12 ... Door

13 ... detergent supply device 15 ... tub

16 ... Rotating trough 19 ... Laundry room

21 ... water supply device 22 ... water supply valve

25 ... drainage 27 ... drain valve

31 ... drive device 32 ... drive motor

34 ... dryer 35 ... hot air supply duct

36 ... heater 37 ... blower

39 ... control unit 41 ... steam supply unit

Claims (13)

And a drying device for supplying hot air to the laundry room, the washing machine comprising: a washing tub having a tub and a laundry room in which the laundry is accommodated, And a water supply device for supplying moisture to the laundry contained in the rotary tub, wherein the water supply device supplies water to the laundry during a dewatering or drying stroke to increase the weight of the laundry, Is separated from the inner wall of the rotary tub, and the water supply device supplies water to the laundry contained in the rotary tub while the rotary tub is stopped. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the water supply device is a water supply device for supplying wash water to the inside of the rotary tub. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the water supply device is a steam supply device for supplying steam to the inside of the rotary tub. delete delete The method according to claim 1, Wherein the water supply device supplies water to the laundry contained in the washing chamber after the driving motor for rotating the washing tub is turned off for dewatering. A washing machine comprising a washing machine for washing laundry, a washing machine for washing laundry, a washing machine for washing laundry, a washing machine for washing laundry, As a result, Further comprising a water supply device for supplying moisture to the laundry contained in the rotary tub and a control part for controlling the water supply device in relation to the operation of the driving motor and the drying device, Wherein the water supply unit supplies water to the laundry contained in the rotary tub in a rotated state. A dewatering step of dewatering the laundry to be washed by rotating a rotary tub containing the laundry, A moisture supplying step of supplying moisture to the laundry to increase the weight of the laundry; And a drying step of drying the laundry by supplying hot air into the rotary tub while rotating the rotary tub with the driving motor. 9. The method of claim 8, Wherein the water supply step is performed while the rotating tub is rotating. 9. The method of claim 8, Wherein the water supply step is performed while the rotating tub is stopped. 9. The method of claim 8, Wherein the water supplying step is performed while the rotating tub is rotated without driving force of the driving motor after the driving motor is turned off in the dehydrating step. 9. The method of claim 8, Wherein the water supply step is performed while the rotating tub is stopped after the driving motor is turned off during the dewatering step. 9. The method of claim 8, Wherein the water supply step is performed at the beginning of the drying step.

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