KR20070050583A - Drum-type washer and tub cleaning method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly to a drum washing machine and a washing method of the drum washing machine that can easily wash the tub.

To this end, the present invention is installed in the cabinet is a tub for washing the water in the inside, rotatably provided in the tub, the laundry is introduced into the drum, the motor for rotating the drum, and the tub inside It provides a drum washing machine comprising a control unit for controlling the rotational speed of the motor so that the wash water supplied to the upper reaches to the inner peripheral surface of the tub to wash the tub inner peripheral surface.

Drum Washer, Tub, Tub Wash, Gasket Wash

Description

Drum-type washer and tub cleaning method of the same}

1 is a schematic view showing a general drum washing machine.

2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a drum washing machine according to the present invention.

3 is an enlarged view illustrating an enlarged portion A of FIG. 2;

** Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawings **

101: cabinet 102: door

103: protrusion 104: motor

106: drum 110: tub

111: friction damper 120: steam supply device

121: steam generator 122: steam supply unit

123: spring 127: through hole

130: lifter 140: gasket

150: washing shaft 170: drainage pump

200: washing water level 300: rinsing water level

400: Gasket cleaning level 500: Full water level

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly to a drum washing machine and a washing method of the drum washing machine that can easily wash the tub.

In general, the drum washing method is a method of washing the laundry using the frictional force of the rotating drum and the laundry and the drop impact of the laundry in a state in which detergent, washing water, and laundry are put in the drum, and the driving force of the motor is received. There is almost no laundry, and the laundry does not get tangled with each other and can give a pounding and scrubbing wash effect.

On the other hand, the washing machine of the pulsator type is provided with a dehydration tank in a storage tank in which washing water is stored, and washing is performed in a state in which laundry is immersed in the washing water supplied to the dehydration tank.

The washing of the pulsator type is performed by the friction between the wash water and the laundry and the action of the detergent by the rotation of the dehydration tank or the rotation of the pulsator provided in the lower portion of the dehydration tank to form a water flow.

That is, in the drum washing machine, since the rotating shaft of the drum is formed to be substantially horizontal with respect to the ground, the tub and the drum are laundered even if only a small amount of washing water is stored, but washing is performed due to the dropping of the washing machine of the pulsator type. Since it is formed substantially perpendicular to the ground, the laundry can be made only when the wash water is supplied so that the laundry is immersed in the wash water.

Meanwhile, in the conventional pulsator type washing machine, the washing water is always locked to the upper portion of the reservoir as described above, and the locking is repeated every time the washing machine is driven. Here, since the reservoir is not driven, contaminants or scales may accumulate on the entire inner circumferential surface as well as the lower side of the reservoir. And, as time goes by, the contaminants and scales decay, causing odors or contaminating laundry.

Therefore, in the conventional pulsator type washing machine, various methods have been proposed for washing the inner circumferential surface of the reservoir, but without using a separate device, the dehydration tank is rotated at a high speed in a state in which the washing water is contained in the reservoir, and the reservoir is formed by fast water. It was not easy to wash.

This is because a heavy load is generated in the motor due to the friction between the wash water and the outer surface of the dehydration tank during the high speed rotation of the dehydration tank, and even if the dewatering tank rotates at a very high speed, the washing water reaches the upper inner circumferential surface of the reservoir. It was a difficult problem.

Due to this problem, in the conventional pulsator type washing machine, the washing of the reservoir tank was inevitably performed by using the action of a large part of the detergent in a general washing or rinsing step using a special detergent.

Therefore, the detergent for washing the reservoir is generally not environmentally friendly because it has a lot of chemical components that cause water pollution in order to have a very strong cleaning power, unlike the detergent for washing in general.

1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a configuration of a conventional drum washing machine, with reference to this will be described the configuration of a conventional drum washing machine.

As shown in FIG. 1, the drum washing machine includes a cabinet 1 having a laundry inlet formed on a front surface thereof, a door 2 installed to be opened and closed at a laundry inlet of the cabinet, and installed to store laundry water inside the cabinet. The tub 10, the motor 4 installed on the tub 10 to generate a driving force, the washing shaft 5 connected to the motor, and the driving force connected to the washing shaft. It comprises a drum (6) for washing the laundry by.

The tub 10 is supported by the damper 11 and the spring 23, and the damper and the spring function to cushion the vibration generated when the motor 4 and the drum 6 rotate.

The motor 4 includes a rotor (not shown) and a stator (not shown).

Unlike the above washing machine of the pulsator type, the drum washing machine having the above configuration is supplied with washing water such that only the lower side of the tub 10 and the lower side of the drum 6 are locked. Then, only a part of the wash water stored in the lower side of the tub is lifted by the lifter (not shown) inside the drum together with the laundry, and drops.

Therefore, unlike the pulsator type washing machine, the washing water is not immersed in both sides of the inner circumferential surface of the tub and the upper side of the inner circumferential surface of the tub.

Therefore, in the conventional drum washing machine, the possibility that contaminants or scales may accumulate on both sides of the inner circumferential surface of the tub, in particular, on the upper side of the inner circumferential surface of the tub, has not been considered, and therefore, the necessity of cleaning the accumulated contaminants at such a position does not arise. Did.

On the other hand, even if the term tub washing is used in the conventional drum washing machine, this did not mean to wash both sides of the tub inner peripheral surface, in particular the upper side of the tub inner peripheral surface. That is, only the washing of the lower part of the tub inner circumferential surface actually meant.

However, Applicant was able to confirm that contaminants and scales accumulated on both sides and the upper side as well as the lower side of the inner circumferential surface of the tub, resulting in odor or contaminated laundry.

Therefore, a method for easily washing the entire inner circumferential surface of the tub without using a separate tubing cleaning apparatus has been devised.

The present invention is to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine of the drum washing machine and the drum washing machine tub that can easily wash the tub by washing the water along the inner surface of the tub.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is installed in the cabinet tub that the wash water is supplied therein; The tub is rotatably provided in the tub, and the drum into which the laundry is put, the motor for rotating the drum, and the wash water supplied into the tub reach the upper part of the tub, to wash the tub. It provides a drum washing machine comprising a control unit for controlling the rotational speed of the motor so as to.

Here, the control unit preferably controls the rotational speed of the motor so that the wash water supplied into the tub circulates along the inner circumferential surface of the tub.

In addition, the drum washing machine may include an input unit for inputting the tub inner washing surface.

The control unit preferably controls the rotational speed of the drum in a range larger than a speed set during washing or rinsing and smaller than a set speed for dehydration, and the control unit also allows the washing water to circulate along the inner circumferential surface of the tub. It is preferable to control the water level of the wash water supplied into the tub.

Here, the controller is more preferably controlled so that the drum is rotated at a rotational speed approximately 5 times faster than the drum rotational speed at the time of preset washing, the lower the water level of the wash water supplied into the tub the drum It is preferable to control so that the rotational speed of becomes large.

In other words, it is preferable that at least the rotational speed of the drum to allow the washing water to circulate along the outer circumferential surface of the tub and the level of the washing water can be controlled.

In addition, the control unit is preferably controlled in a range higher than the lowest water level, and lower than the full water level circulating some of the wash water inside the drum.

This is because, while preventing the load of the motor due to the excessive water level, the user can see the tub cleaning only when the washing water is circulated inside the drum. Therefore, more preferably, the controller controls the level of the wash water supplied into the drum to be higher than a predetermined level at the time of rinsing.

In addition, the control unit preferably controls the water level of the wash water supplied into the tub and the rotational speed of the drum so that a part of the wash water circulated in the drum flows into the lower side of the gasket to wash the gasket. . This is to clean the contaminants or scales under the gasket.

Here, the drum washing machine may further include a steam supply device for supplying steam at a high temperature and high pressure into the tub and the drum.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention also provides a washing step in which washing water flows into the tub and is stored therein, and the drum rotates at a predetermined rotational speed so that the washing water circulates along the tub inner circumferential surface and washes the tub inner circumferential surface. It provides a tub washing method of the drum washing machine comprising the step.

Here, the water storage step is preferably performed after the input step for the user to input the operation to wash the inner circumferential surface of the tub.

The method may further include a soaking step of supplying a high temperature and high pressure steam into the tub and the drum so that the inside of the tub and the drum is heated and humid at any time before, after or simultaneously with the water storage step. This is preferred.

And, after the washing step may further include a rinsing step of repeating the washing and draining the tub and the inner circumference so that the washed contaminants do not remain in the tub and drum.

On the other hand, in the washing step, the drum is preferably repeated forward and reverse rotation.

Therefore, according to the present invention described above, there is provided a drum washing machine and a tub washing method of the drum washing machine, which can easily wash the entire inner circumferential surface of the tub without using a separate washing device.

Hereinafter, with reference to Figure 2 will be described in detail the configuration of the drum washing machine according to the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view briefly showing a configuration of a drum washing machine according to the present invention, and detailed descriptions of the overlapping matters will be omitted.

In this specification, both the washing water for washing and the washing water for washing the tub are referred to as washing water.

As shown in FIG. 2, the drum washing machine according to the present invention includes a tub 110, a drum 106, a motor 104 for rotating the drum, and washing water supplied into the tub to an upper portion of the inner circumferential surface of the tub. It includes a control unit 160 for controlling the rotational speed of the motor to reach and wash the tub inner circumferential surface.

2 illustrates a direct drive structure in which the motor 104 is directly connected to the washing shaft 150 to drive the drum 106, but is not necessarily limited thereto. Similarly, although the controller 160 is provided in the control panel provided in the front of the cabinet 101, the present invention is not limited thereto.

The tub 110 is installed through the spring 123 and the friction damper 111 in the cabinet 101 to supply wash water therein. That is, the tub is not driven separately.

The tub 110 is provided with a drum 106 rotatably provided inside the tub and into which laundry is introduced. In addition, a lifter 130 is provided inside the drum 106 to lift and drop a part of laundry or laundry water when the drum rotates.

In addition, a plurality of through holes 126 are formed on the side wall of the drum, through which the drum and the tub communicate.

The driving force for the rotation of the drum is generated by the motor 104, the driving force is transmitted to the drum through the washing shaft 150.

On the other hand, the front of the cabinet 101 is provided with a door 102 for selectively communicating the inside and outside of the drum. That is, the user can put the laundry into the drum by opening or closing the door, or can remove the laundry from the drum.

Here, the protrusion 103 may be formed on the drum side of the door, which serves to allow laundry to be washed only inside the drum.

In addition, a gasket 140 is provided between the door and the tub to prevent a leak.

On the other hand, the drum washing machine according to the present invention may include a steam supply device 120 for supplying a high temperature and high pressure steam into the tub and the drum. The steam supply device may include a steam generator 120 for generating steam and a steam supply 122 for supplying the generated steam to a tub and a drum.

By supplying a high temperature and high pressure steam into the drum through such a steam supply device, the environment inside the tub and the drum can be made hot and humid.

In addition, the drum washing machine according to the present invention may be separately provided with an input unit 161 for inputting the tub washing operation. That is, a general drum washing machine is provided with a rotary knob or buttons on the control panel to input the operation of the drum washing machine. Therefore, the rotary knob may be provided with an input unit for tub cleaning or a separate button.

Of course, when the conventional operating mode is entered, the tub may be also able to be cleaned.

The drum washing machine according to the present invention includes a control unit 160 for controlling the operation of the drum washing machine. Here, the controller 160 controls the driving of the motor for driving the drum, in particular, the rotational speed of the motor. That is, the drum is controlled to rotate at a preset rotational speed according to the washing, rinsing or dehydration operation according to the input operation condition.

However, the controller of the drum washing machine according to the present invention controls the rotational speed of the drum in a rotational speed region different from the rotational speed of the drum described above, and the washing water must reach the upper portion of the inner circumferential surface of the tub in the rotational speed region. do. That is, the controller controls the drum to rotate at a speed greater than a preset rotational speed during washing or rinsing so that the washing water reaches the inner circumferential surface of the tub by centrifugal force and frictional force.

Of course, the control unit will be preferable to control the rotational speed of the drum so that the washing water can reach the upper side of the inner peripheral surface of the tub to be circulated again.

That is, if the wash water is continuously circulated along the inner circumferential surface of the tub, contaminants or scales on the inner circumferential surface of the tub may be washed through the fast water.

On the other hand, the control unit will be preferable to control the rotational speed of the drum to be less than the rotational speed at the time of dehydration to wash the tub in order to prevent overload.

Here, the optimum condition may be a problem for the rotational speed of the drum for cleaning the tub. In other words, the value of the rotational speed of the drum capable of cleaning the tub most effectively is a problem. Of course, this optimum condition will be most related to the water level of the wash water supplied inside the tub, and considering the noise and the load of the motor, it should be smaller than the rotational speed during dehydration.

In other words, in order to find the optimum conditions in the drum rotational speed during washing or rinsing and the drum rotational speed during dehydration, in the experiment, the present inventors effectively applied the tub at about 4 to 5 times the rotational speed during washing or rinsing. It can be seen that can be washed.

In other words, if the drum rotational speed during washing or rinsing is 40 to 50 RPM, the optimal rotational speed for tub cleaning could be expected at about 250 RPM at about 250 RPM.

Hereinafter, the water level control for washing the tub of the drum washing machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating the tub and the lower part of the drum of the drum washing machine shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper dotted line indicates the full water level 500. That is, the high water level here refers to a level where the tub and drum may be washed with water and overflow into the gasket 140. The remaining dashed lines indicate the gasket washing level 400, the rinsing level 300, and the washing level 200, respectively, and do not indicate an absolute level but a relative level.

This relative level will also appear relatively in the case of a tilting-type drum washing machine in which the rotating shaft is inclined at an angle to the ground, rather than the drum washing machine in which the rotating shaft shown in FIG. 3 is formed horizontally with respect to the ground. . Of course, in this case, as the front part of the drum is positioned higher relative to the ground than the rear part, the height at which the front and rear parts of the drum are locked at each level will vary.

Here, the control unit 160 must be controlled in a range higher than the minimum water level, and lower than the full water level in which some washing water is circulated in the drum. This allows the wash water to circulate along the tub inner circumference and the load of the motor.

First, the level of wash water supplied into the tub for tub cleaning or for efficient washing should be at least equal to or greater than the washing level 200. This is because, as shown in the drawing, even if the lower part of the drum is not immersed in the wash water, only the drum rotates regardless of the magnitude of the rotation speed of the drum.

Therefore, the controller 160 must control the level of the wash water supplied to the inside so that the wash water can circulate along the inner circumferential surface of the tub.

In addition, there is a high risk of water leakage due to the washing water is pushed toward the door at the high water level, and the friction force between the drum and the washing water is increased. In addition, overload of the motor may occur. The level of the wash water for tub cleaning is preferably controlled to be smaller than the full water level.

On the other hand, the rinse water level 300 is generally higher than the washing water level 200. This is because you have to rinse any detergent or contaminants in the laundry.

In the case where the wash water circulates along the inner circumferential surface of the tub at the rinsing water level 300, effective tub washing is possible as described above. In this case, however, it is a matter of washing water circulating inside the drum. This is because if there is no washing water inside the drum during the tub washing, that is, when the user sees the drum through the door, there is a problem that the user cannot visually check whether the tub washing is performed.

Therefore, it is preferable that the washing level is controlled so that some washing water is circulated inside the drum.

In addition, the control unit controls the water level of the wash water so that the washing water circulated in the drum or the washing water that is lifted in accordance with the rotation of the drum but is not circulated along the inner circumferential surface of the tub to wash the gasket 140. desirable.

As shown in FIG. 3, the gasket 140 includes a door side portion 141 and a tub side portion 142, and the tub side portion 141 is formed to be concave to accumulate detergent residue, contaminants or scales. Since it is easy to see and not easily seen by the user, these contaminants were left to cause odor or contamination of laundry.

Therefore, there is a need to wash these contaminants, according to the present invention, it is possible to clean the gasket as well as tub cleaning without a device for a separate cleaning.

That is, in order to wash the gasket, a part of the washing water circulating inside the drum during the tub washing should be controlled higher than the rinsing level described above so that the gasket is circulated to the gasket. It must be controlled.

Therefore, the lower part of the gasket may be washed by rapid water flow due to the circulation of the wash water.

Hereinafter, a tub washing method of the drum washing machine according to the present invention will be described.

First, a water storage step is performed in which washing water for washing the tub is introduced into the tub and stored. Then, a washing step of washing the tub by rotating the drum is performed during the inflow of the washing water or after the water storage step is completed.

Here, in the washing step, the wash water circulates along the inner circumferential surface of the tub to wash the inner circumferential surface of the tub. That is, a fast water is formed to wash the tub inner circumferential surface. At this time, the rotational speed of the drum should be more than the rotational speed such that the wash water can circulate the tub inner circumferential surface.

On the other hand, the water storage step may be made after the input step for the user to input the operation to wash the inner circumferential surface of the tub. That is, in the state provided with an input means for cleaning a separate tub is for washing the tub separately from other operations.

In addition, the tub washing method of the drum washing machine according to the present invention may include a soaking step for applying moisture and heat to the pollutants or scales so that the pollutants or scales are activated and easily washed.

This soaking step may be done by specifically supplying steam into the tub and drum.

And, in more detail, the soaking step supplies hot and high pressure steam to the tub and drum to contaminate the tub and drum at high temperature and high humidity at any time before, after or simultaneously with the water storage step. It may be.

In addition, the tub washing method of the drum washing machine according to the present invention may include a rinsing step to completely discharge the contaminants washed in the washing step.

In particular, the rinsing step may be to repeat washing after draining and intubating the tub so that the washed contaminants do not remain inside the tub and drum after the washing step.

Finally, in the tub washing method of the drum washing machine according to the present invention, the drum may be rotated forward and reverse. In other words, by changing the direction of the fast water will be able to achieve a more effective cleaning of the inner surface of the tub or gasket.

The present invention has been described with reference to a drum washing machine, the rotating shaft of the drum is formed substantially horizontal to the ground. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above.

In addition, the present invention is similarly applied to a tilting drum washing machine in which the rotational axis of the drum is inclined at an angle with respect to the ground, and is modified by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains as can be seen in the appended claims. It is possible and such variations are within the scope of the present invention.

As described above, the drum washing machine tub structure of the present invention has the following effects.

First, according to the present invention provides an effect that can wash the contaminants or scale accumulated in the entire inner circumferential surface of the tub.

Second, according to the present invention provides an effect that can be easily washed tub without having a separate tub cleaning device.

Third, there is no need to use a special detergent for washing the tub, even if necessary, it can provide an effect that can be environmentally friendly tub washing because it can achieve an effective tub washing with a small amount of detergent.

Fourth, it provides an effect that can easily wash the gasket at the same time as the tub cleaning.

Claims (16)

A tub installed inside the cabinet to supply washing water therein; A drum rotatably provided inside the tub and into which laundry is inserted; A motor for rotating the drum; And And a controller configured to control a rotational speed of the motor so that the washing water supplied into the tub reaches an upper portion of the inner circumferential surface of the tub and washes the inner circumferential surface of the tub. The method of claim 1, The control unit is a drum washing machine, characterized in that for controlling the rotational speed of the motor so that the wash water supplied into the tub circulates along the inner circumferential surface of the tub. The method of claim 2, Drum washing machine further comprises an input for inputting the operation to clean the inner surface of the tub. The method of claim 3, wherein The controller is a drum washing machine characterized in that for controlling the rotational speed of the drum in a range larger than the speed set during washing or rinsing, and less than the set speed for dehydration. The method of claim 4, wherein The control unit is a drum washing machine, characterized in that for controlling the water level of the wash water supplied into the tub so that the wash water can be circulated along the inner peripheral surface of the tub. The method of claim 5, The control unit is a drum washing machine, characterized in that for controlling the drum to rotate at a rotational speed of about 4 to 5 times faster than the drum rotational speed during the preset washing. The method of claim 6, The control unit is a drum washing machine, characterized in that the lower the water level of the wash water supplied to the tub so that the rotational speed of the drum increases. The method of claim 7, wherein The control unit is a drum washing machine, characterized in that the higher than the minimum level of the wash water is circulated in some of the drum, and lower than the full water level. The method of claim 8, The control unit is a drum washing machine characterized in that a portion of the washing water circulated in the drum flows into the lower side of the gasket to control the water level of the wash water supplied into the tub and the rotational speed of the drum. The method of claim 8, The control unit is a drum washing machine, characterized in that for controlling the water level of the wash water supplied into the drum higher than a predetermined level at the time of rinsing. The method of claim 2, And a steam supply device for supplying steam at a high temperature and high pressure into the tub and the drum. A water storage step in which washing water flows into the tub and is stored; And And a washing step of rotating the drum at a predetermined rotational speed to circulate the washing water along the inner circumferential surface of the drum tub and to wash the inner circumferential surface of the tub. The method of claim 12, The water storage step is a tub washing method of the drum washing machine, characterized in that the user is made after the input step to input the operation to wash the inner circumferential surface of the tub. The method of claim 13, And a soaking step of supplying high-temperature, high-pressure steam into the tub and the drum so that the inside of the tub and the drum is hot and humid at any time before, after, or simultaneously with the water storage step. Tub washing method of the drum washing machine. The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, After the washing step further comprises a rinsing step of repeating the washing and draining and the inner circumferential tub so that the washed contaminants do not remain inside the tub and drum. The method of claim 12, The drum washing method of the tub washing machine, characterized in that for repeating the forward and reverse rotation in the washing step.

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