KR20060062407A - Control method of washing machine with steam generation device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control method of a washing machine equipped with a steam generator, and to supply the hot air first before spraying steam to prevent freezing of the door in the winter, and to smoothly spray steam and remove contaminants attached to clothes. have.

To this end, the present invention, in the control method of the washing machine having a steam generating device for injecting steam into the drum, it is determined whether the steam administration course, if the steam administration course to supply the hot air into the drum, the drum after the hot air supply It is spraying steam inside.

Description

Control method of washing machine with steam generation device

1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a washing machine with a steam generator according to an embodiment of the present invention,

2 is a control block diagram of a washing machine having a steam generator according to the present invention;

3 is an operation flowchart of a washing machine control method having a steam generator according to the present invention;

4 is a detailed operation flowchart of the steam supply process in FIG.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

11: tank 12: rotating drum

24: steam water supply pipe 25: steam valve

30: steam generator 31: steam heater

33: steam supply pipe 40: drying device

41: drying pan 42: drying duct

44: drying heater 48: duct temperature sensor

140: control unit

The present invention relates to a control method of a washing machine having a steam generator, and more particularly, to a control method of a washing machine having a steam generator for supplying hot air first to inject steam smoothly before spraying steam.

In general, a washing machine having a drying function (typically, a drum washing machine) is a device for drying laundry by supplying hot air heated by a drying heater to a laundry which has been washed according to driving of a drying fan. Or in connection with the washing administration is to perform a drying administration after the completion of dehydration.

Washing machine having such a drying function is Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-0435241.

When the washing machine disclosed in the publication performs the drying stroke after the dehydration stroke is completed, the washing machine generates and blows compressed air in a drying fan (blower) while the heater is driven to heat the space inside the chamber.

The injected compressed air passes through the interior space of the chamber and is converted into warm air, and the converted warm air is supplied to the clothes inside the drum to dry the clothes.

However, such a conventional washing machine removes moisture contained in clothing by high temperature heat heated by a heater in a state where the dehydrated clothes are left in the drum, so that the clothes tangled with each other are dried and wrinkled as they are. There was a problem that occurred a lot.

In order to solve this problem, a method of minimizing the wrinkles of clothing by supplying steam having a predetermined humidity to the dried clothing has been proposed in Korean Utility Model Publication No. 0128148.

The washing machine proposed in this publication supplies steam to the clothes even when drying is completed while the clothes are entangled with each other, so that the clothes have a predetermined humidity. The evaporation of clothing can be minimized by evaporation, and the time can be saved because iron does not need to be sprinkled even when ironing to spread the clothes. As it exists, the user has a problem of having to perform a separate ironing operation, and the overall problem that the drying time for the vapor of the clothes to evaporate naturally remains.

In addition, when supplying steam at a low temperature in winter, the door glass may be frosted while the hot steam is injected, and the steam is injected into the duct and drum at the low temperature, and the steam is not discharged into the water without maintaining the form of steam, or the steam is properly formed. Even when sprayed, there is a problem that the door glass is condensed on the cold door surface and flows down in the form of a stream of water when the glass is low temperature, thereby preventing the smooth injection of steam.

Therefore, the present invention is to solve the conventional problems as described above, the object of the present invention, by supplying hot air before the injection of steam to prevent the freezing of the door in the winter in accordance with the steam injection, the smooth injection of steam The present invention provides a control method of a washing machine having an inducing steam generator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control method of a washing machine having a steam generating device having a sterilization effect, which can remove wrinkles without washing by directly spraying high temperature steam on clothes which require little contamination and only remove wrinkles. have.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a control method of a washing machine having a steam generator that supplies hot air before spraying steam to remove dust or dirt attached to clothes.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a control method of a washing machine having a steam generating device capable of removing wrinkles of clothes that have been washed or worn during storage and of course, as well as washing wrinkled clothes using a steam wrinkle removing course. .

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, in the control method of the washing machine equipped with a steam generator for injecting steam into the drum, it is determined whether the steam administration course, if the steam administration course to supply hot air into the drum, hot air After the supply is characterized in that to inject steam into the drum.

When the hot air is supplied, the temperature of the drum is sensed, and if the predetermined temperature is higher than the predetermined hot air supply is characterized in that to stop.

In addition, the present invention is a control method of a washing machine equipped with a steam generating device for injecting steam to the clothes, it is determined whether the wrinkle removal course, if the wrinkle removal course by supplying hot air to the clothes to remove the contaminants, and remove the contaminants It is characterized by removing steam by spraying steam on.

The wrinkle removal course is characterized in that the wrinkle removal course for removing only wrinkles of clothing or wrinkle removal administration course for removing wrinkles of the finished clothing.

When the hot air supply is detected by the temperature is characterized in that the hot air supply is stopped if the predetermined temperature or more.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a washing machine with a steam generator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In Figure 1, the washing machine equipped with a steam generator of the present invention is a drum-type water tank 11 is installed inside the main body 10 for the fresh water of the wash water, rotatably installed inside the water tank (11) And a rotating drum 12 in which a plurality of dehydration holes are formed.

The lower part of the tank 11 is provided with a motor 13 for rotating the rotating drum 12 in the forward or reverse direction to perform the washing, rinsing and dehydration operation, and select the user's water temperature in the lower side of the tank 11. The laundry heater 19 for heating the wash water supplied into the city tank 11 is installed.

An opening 14 is formed in front of the water tank 11 and the rotating drum 12 so that a user can take out clothing from the front of the main body 10, and opens and closes the opening 14 in front of the main body 10. The door 15 is installed.

In the upper part of the water tank 11, a washing supply supply device 18 for supplying detergent to the inside of the water tank 11, a steam generator 30 for supplying steam to the water tank 11, and the water tank ( 11) and a water supply device 20 for supplying water to the steam generator 30 is installed.

The detergent supply device 18 has an accommodation space for accommodating 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 includes a water supply pipe 21 for supplying water toward the water tank 11 and a water supply valve 22 installed in the water supply pipe 21 to control 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 toward the detergent supply device 18. In addition, a separate connection pipe 23 is installed between the detergent supply device 18 and the water tank 11 so that water passing through the detergent supply device 18 can be supplied to the water tank 11. This allows the water supplied into the water tank 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 tank 11 in a state in which the detergent is dissolved in water.

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

Meanwhile, in the present invention, the water supply valve 22 and the steam valve 25 are separately configured, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the water supply valve 22 and the steam valve 25 may be formed using a conventional electric three-way valve or a four-way valve. ) Can be configured integrally.

The steam generator 30 is installed inside the U-shaped steam heater 31 and instantaneous heating of the water passing through to generate a high temperature steam of more than 100 ℃, and installed on the outer surface of the steam generator 30 And a steam temperature sensor 32 for sensing a temperature of the steam generator 30, and a steam supply pipe for supplying steam generated by extending toward the drying duct 42 from the steam generator 30 to the drying duct 42. (33), the steam production pipe 34, the inlet is connected to the steam water supply pipe 24 and the outlet is connected to the steam supply pipe 33, and the injection nozzle 35 is installed at the outlet of the steam supply pipe (33) Include.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, the steam heater 31 is described as an example mounted inside the steam generator 30, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the steam heater 31 is located above the steam generator 30. Alternatively, even if an external heater is installed to contact the lower outer surface or the steam heater 31 is installed in a structure surrounding the outer circumferential surface of the steam generator 30, the same purpose and effect as the present invention can be achieved.

In addition, the present invention includes a drying apparatus 40 for drying clothes (laundries). The drying apparatus 40 includes a drying fan 41 installed on the top of the water tank 11, an air inlet 45 formed above the discharge port 41b of the drying fan 41 and the opening 14 of the water tank 11. Condensation mounted on the rear of the water tank 11 to connect between the drying duct 42, the air outlet 46 formed in the rear lower portion of the water tank 11 and the inlet 41a of the drying fan 41 to connect between And a duct 43.

The drying device 40 is a drying heater 44 installed inside the drying duct 42 to supply hot air to the inside of the water tank 11, and inside the rotating drum 12 to detect a dry state of the clothes. Drying sensor 47 installed in the duct, the duct temperature sensor 48 installed inside the drying duct 42 to detect the temperature in the drying duct 42 when hot air is supplied, and the wet steam generated by drying the clothes condensation duct It includes a condenser installed in the condensation duct 43 so that water can be condensed and removed in the course of passing through (43).

This configuration is such that the air blown by the operation of the drying fan 41 is heated through the drying heater 44 and then supplied to the interior of the water tank 11 to heat-dry the clothes inside, In the process of the wet steam generated through the drying is sucked toward the drying fan 41 through the condensation duct 43 to remove the moisture in the air.

The condenser is installed on the inner upper portion of the condensation duct 43 and the cooling water injection nozzle 51 for injecting the cooling water into the condensation duct 43 and the water supply device 20 to supply the cooling water to the cooling water injection nozzle 51. Cooling water supply pipe 52 is connected to the. The condenser has a dehumidifying effect by allowing the cooling water injected from the upper cooling water injection nozzle 51 to flow down to the lower portion along the inner surface of the condensing duct 43 so that the contact of the humid air rising from the lower portion with the cooling water is increased. It is to be improved.

In addition, the present invention is provided with a drainage device 50 for draining the water in the water tank (11). The drainage device 50 includes a drain pipe 51 connected to the lower part of the water tank 11 to guide the water in the water tank 11 to the outside, and a drain pump 52 installed on the water drain pipe 51.

The operation of the washing machine equipped with the steam generator as described above is as follows.

If the washing machine is operated while the clothes are put inside the rotating drum 12 and the detergent is supplied to the detergent supply device 18, the water supply valve 22 of the water supply device 20 opens and water is supplied toward the detergent supply device 18. Is done. The detergent in the detergent supply device 18 is dissolved by the wash water supplied to the water tank 11 via the detergent supply device 18 and supplied to the water tank 11.

After the water supply operation is completed, the washing heater 19 is operated to wash the washing water filled in the water tank 11, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the washing drum 19 is heated to the temperature required for washing. Rotate in the forward or reverse direction by driving.

At this time, the clothes are flowed by the lift formed on the inside of the rotating drum 12, the clothes are washed by the friction force with the rotating drum 12 and the decomposition force of the detergent.

After the washing is completed, the rinsing operation is performed to repeat dehydration and water supply. The water supplied to the inside of the water tank 11 while performing the rinsing is made through the water supply pipe 21 while the water supply valve 22 is opened, and drainage of the water tank 11 is performed by the operation of the drain pump 52. 51).

In addition, when performing the final dehydration after rinsing drainage pump 52 is operated, the rotating drum 12 is rotated at a high speed for a predetermined time to allow the dehydration of the garment.

As such, when the drying operation is performed in the state in which the clothes are dehydrated, the rotating drum 12 is gradually rotated by the operation of the motor 13 so that the clothes inside the rotating drum 12 fall. When the drying fan 41 operates in this state, the air in the water tank 11 is sucked toward the drying fan 41 through the condensation duct 43, and then again the water tank 11 through the drying duct 42. The circulation discharged to the inside is repeated.

At this time, the air of the drying duct 42 is introduced into the rotary drum 12 in a heated state by the drying heater 44, and the clothing inside the rotary drum 12 is dried while heated by hot air.

2 is a control configuration diagram of a washing machine having a steam generator according to the present invention, the signal input unit 100, the water level detecting unit 110, the temperature detecting unit 120, the drying detecting unit 130, the control unit 140 and the driving unit And 150.

The signal input unit 100 inputs driving information such as washing course and washing temperature, dehydration rpm, rinsing addition, etc., which are selected according to the material of the garment, to the controller 140, and the steam administration course using steam (for example, Choose the stroke that requires steam supply when washing or drying), and the wrinkle removal course using steam (a wrinkle removal course for removing only wrinkles of clothing or a wrinkle removal administration course for removing wrinkles of washed clothes). Enter it.

The water level detecting unit 110 detects the water level of the wash water supplied to the water tank 11, and the temperature detecting unit 120 detects the washing water temperature inside the water tank 11 (not shown). ), A steam temperature sensor 32 for detecting the temperature of the steam generating device 30, the duct temperature sensor 48, etc. for detecting the internal temperature (drum temperature) of the drying duct 42, the drying detection unit 130 ) Is composed of a drying sensor 47 for detecting the temperature and humidity of the clothing to detect the drying state of the clothing.

The controller 140 is a microcomputer that controls the washing machine according to the driving information input from the signal input unit 100. When the steam administration course or the wrinkle removal course is selected, the controller 140 increases the initial temperature of the rotating drum 12 before spraying steam. In order to control the driving of the steam generator 30 and the drying apparatus 40 to inject the hot air at a set temperature (for example, 40 ~ 60 ℃) to facilitate the injection of steam.

The driving unit 150 is a motor 13, washing heater 19, water supply valve 22, steam valve 25, steam heater 32, drying fan 41 in accordance with the drive control signal of the control unit 140. The drying heater 44 and the drain pump 52 are driven.

Hereinafter, an operation process and an effect of the washing machine control method having the steam generator configured as described above will be described.

3 is an operation flowchart of a washing machine control method having a steam generator according to the present invention, in which S denotes a step (STEP).

When the user inputs the garment to the rotating drum 12 and then selects the steam administration course or wrinkle removal course, the operation information selected by the user is input to the control unit 140 through the signal input unit 100 (S100).

At this time, the clothing put into the rotary drum 12 may be a garment that requires less contamination and only wrinkle removal occurred during wearing or storage, and may be laundry to be washed.

When the steam administration course or wrinkle removal course is selected, the controller 140 controls the drying apparatus 40 to hot air inside the rotating drum 12 at a set temperature (temperature at which steam can be smoothly sprayed; about 40 to 60 ° C.). Performs a process for supplying (S200).

The hot air supply process will be described in more detail as follows.

By the operation of the motor 13, the rotating drum 12 gradually rotates at a predetermined set RPM and a set operation rate. When the drying fan 41 operates in this state, the air in the water tank 11 is sucked toward the drying fan 41 through the condensation duct 43, and then again the water tank 11 through the drying duct 42. The circulation discharged to the inside is repeated.

At this time, the air of the drying duct 42 is introduced into the rotary drum 12 in a heated state by the drying heater 44, the temperature inside the rotary drum 12 and the clothing inside the rotary drum 12 is hot air Is heated by.

As described above, the present invention increases the internal temperature of the rotating drum 12 by supplying hot air before spraying steam to the garment, thereby preventing freezing of the door 15 in winter, and drying duct 42 and the door ( It is possible to spray the steam smoothly with the temperature rise of 15) and supply hot air to the clothes to separate and remove the dust or dirt attached to the clothes.

During the hot air supply process, the set RPM and operation rate of the rotating drum 12 are values set by the designer according to the experimental data, and can be changed according to the capacity or design conditions of the product. It may not be rotated.

During the hot wind supply process, since the internal temperature of the rotating drum 12 starts to rise due to the hot air injected into the rotary drum 12 through the drying duct 42, the internal temperature D _T of the drying duct 42 is increased. Is detected by the temperature sensing unit 120 and output to the control unit 140 (S300).

The controller 140 compares the internal temperature D _{T of} the drying duct 42 input from the temperature sensing unit 120 with the set temperature ((D _TS ; temperature at which steam can be smoothly sprayed, about 40 to 60 ° C.)). It is determined whether the internal temperature D _T is equal to or greater than the set temperature D _TS (S400).

If the internal temperature D _T is equal to or higher than the set temperature D _TS (YES), the controller 140 determines that the internal temperature of the rotating drum 12 is high enough to allow the steam to be injected smoothly, and stops supplying the hot air. do.

After the hot air supply is completed, the control unit 140 controls the steam generating device 30 to perform a process for supplying steam into the rotating drum 12 for a set time (S500).

The steam supply process will be described in more detail as follows.

By the operation of the motor 13 so that the clothes inside the rotating drum 12 fall, the rotating drum 12 is set at a predetermined set RPM and a set operation ratio (on / off ratio, for example, 20 seconds on / 2 seconds off). To rotate slowly. In this state, the steam valve 25 is opened and water is supplied to the steam generator 30 through the steam water supply pipe 24, and the water supplied to the steam generator 30 is momentarily heated by the steam heater 31. Generates steam at a temperature higher than 100 ° C. The high temperature steam is supplied into the water tank 11 through the steam supply pipe 33 and the drying duct 42 to be directly injected into the clothes.

As such, the present invention can directly remove steam by spraying steam directly on the inner garment of the water tank 11 to act on the rearrangement of crosslinks in the fiber, and antiseptic effect of the garment can also be expected.

During the steam supply process, the set RPM and the operation rate of the rotary drum 12 may be varied according to the capacity or design conditions of the product as in the hot air supply process, and are generally larger than the hot air supply process.

Thereafter, the process returns to perform the post process of the washing machine according to the selected stroke (S600).

Next, the steam supply process in the washing machine control method with the steam generator of Figure 3 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

In order to supply a large amount of steam at a high temperature of 100 ° C. or more to the water tank 11, the control unit 140 preheats the steam heater 31 installed inside the steam generator 30 (S510).

This is to supply the water tank 11 of 100% of the steam generator 30 does not mix the water at room temperature (23 ~ 24 ℃) during the initial operation.

The temperature S _T of the steam generator 30 according to the preheating of the steam heater 31 is detected by the temperature detecting unit 120 and output to the control unit 140 (S520), and the control unit 140 detects the temperature. Comparing whether the temperature (S _T ) of the steam generating device 30 input from the unit 120 is above a predetermined reference temperature (S _TS ; steam heater is heated to generate the lowest temperature, about 100 ℃) (S530).

As a result of the comparison, when the temperature S _T of the steam generating device 30 is equal to or higher than the reference temperature S _TS (YES), the steam valve 25 is turned on (ON) under the control of the controller 140 (S540). .

When the steam valve 25 is turned on, water is supplied to the steam generator 30 through the steam water supply pipe 24, and water supplied to the steam generator 30 is momentarily heated by the steam heater 32. Generates steam at a temperature higher than 100 ° C.

The high temperature steam is supplied into the water tank 11 through the steam supply pipe 33 and the injection nozzle 35 to directly spray the clothes to be wrinkled.

Subsequently, when a predetermined time (T3; time for generating 100% steam and about 2 seconds, about 2 seconds) has elapsed according to the ON operation of the steam valve 25 (S550), the steam valve in the controller 140 (25) is turned off (S560).

When the off time of the steam valve 25 is checked and a predetermined time (T4; time for raising the temperature of the steam generator to a high temperature of 100 ° C. or more, about 10 seconds) has elapsed (S570), the fixed time (T4) The steam valve 25 is turned on again until it elapses and the above process is repeated.

On the other hand, in one embodiment of the present invention has been described using a dry drum washing machine as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, of course, can be applied to any washing machine or dryer capable of supplying steam and hot air.

What has been described above is just one embodiment for implementing a control method of a washing machine having a steam generating device according to the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, it is within the technical scope of the present invention Various modifications are possible by those skilled in the art.

As described above, according to the control method of the washing machine equipped with a steam generating device according to the present invention, by supplying hot air first before spraying steam to prevent the freezing of the door in the winter in accordance with the steam injection, to smoothly spray the steam It is effective to remove dust and dirt attached to clothes.

In addition, the present invention can directly remove the wrinkles without washing by spraying a high temperature steam directly to the clothing that is less pollution and only wrinkle removal and has a sterilizing effect.                     

In addition, the present invention has the effect of removing the wrinkles of the clothes generated during wear or storage, as well as wrinkles of the laundry is finished in the wrinkle removal course using steam.

Claims (5)

In the control method of the washing machine having a steam generator for injecting steam into the drum, Judging by the steam administration course, If the steam administration course, supply the hot air into the drum, Control method of a washing machine having a steam generator, characterized in that for spraying steam into the drum after hot air supply. The method of claim 1, The control method of the washing machine having a steam generating device, characterized in that for detecting the temperature of the drum during hot air supply and to stop the hot air supply if the predetermined temperature or more. In the control method of the washing machine having a steam generator for injecting steam to clothes, Determine if it is a wrinkle removal course, The wrinkle removal course supplies hot air to clothing to remove contaminants, Control method of a washing machine having a steam generating device, characterized in that to remove the wrinkles by spraying steam to the clothes from which contaminants have been removed. The method of claim 3, wherein The wrinkle removal course is a control method for a washing machine having a steam generating device, characterized in that the wrinkle removal course for removing only wrinkles of clothing or the wrinkle removal administration course for removing wrinkles of the finished clothing. The method of claim 3, wherein The control method of the washing machine having a steam generating device, characterized in that for detecting the temperature at the time of supplying the hot wind and stopping the hot wind supply if the predetermined temperature or more.

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