KR20080103830A - Washing method with steam for drum type washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A steam washing method of a drum type washing machine can improve the bactericidal performance by sterilizing bacteria and mold of laundry with high temperature steam generated by a washing heater and performing the steam washing once more. A steam washing method of a drum type washing machine comprises a first steam washing step(S115) for performing the steam washing by supplying the steam to laundry, a standard washing step for performing the washing cycle by supplying the washing water to laundry and rotating a drum, a rinsing step for starting the rinsing cycle in order to remove the detergent residue, a second steam washing step(S151) for performing the steam washing by supplying the steam to laundry, a final rinsing step(S157) for performing the final rinsing cycle and completing the rinsing cycle, and a dehydration step(S160) for performing the dehydrating cycle to dehydrate the washing water in laundry.

Description

Washing method with steam for drum type washing machine}

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

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

3 is a flow chart illustrating a steam washing process of the drum washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

-Explanation of symbols on main parts of drawing-

100: cabinet 105: tub

110: drum 115: door

120: support spring 125: damper

130: detergent supply unit 135: water supply valve

140: water supply pipe 145: drum drive motor

150: drainage passage 155: drainage pump

160: heater chamber 165: washing heater

170: lift 200: control unit

210: key input unit 220: water level sensor

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drum washing machine, and more particularly, to a steam washing method of a drum washing machine for washing laundry using steam generated by heating the washing water through a washing heater.

The drum washing machine includes a cabinet in which an opening is formed, and a tub installed inside the opening to receive laundry.

 The drum washing machine is connected to a drum rotatably installed inside the tub, a drum driving motor installed on the tub and connected to the drum, a water supply valve connected to the tub from the outside of the cabinet to supply the washing water, and a water supply valve connected to the detergent. And a detergent receiving portion for receiving.

In addition, the drum washing machine is equipped with a drainage device extending from the tub to the outside of the cabinet, a washing heater installed at the bottom of the tub to heat the washing water, and a steam generator and a steam generator located between the water supply valve and the detergent receiving unit. A steam heater that generates steam by heating the water.

Looking at the steam washing operation of the drum washing machine configured as described above are as follows.

First, the laundry water is supplied to the drum of the drum washing machine, and the washing water is supplied to the drum by operating the steam heater provided in the steam generator.

While the steam is generated by the steam heater, the drum driving motor reversely rotates the drum to perform steam washing while stirring the laundry.

Steam generated by the steam heater during steam washing sterilizes bacteria and molds in the laundry.

After the completion of the steam washing, the washing heater is operated while the washing stroke is performed to heat the washing water inside the tub or the steam heater is operated to supply steam into the tub to improve the washing efficiency.

However, the conventional washing method of the drum washing machine is equipped with a separate steam heater, the steam heater is operated from the beginning to the end of the washing process to supply steam to the laundry, the power consumption is high, washing and rinsing stroke is performed after the steam washing Between the stroke and the rinsing stroke, bacteria or mold are generated or attached to the laundry, thereby reducing the sterilization effect of the steam washing.

The present invention has been made in order to improve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to propose a steam washing method of a drum washing machine, which performs steam washing by supplying steam to laundry between rinsing strokes after completing a washing stroke.

Steam washing method of the drum washing machine of the present invention to achieve the above object is the first steam washing step of supplying steam to the laundry to perform the steam washing, the standard for supplying the washing water to the laundry and rotating the drum to perform the washing stroke A rinsing step of starting a rinsing stroke to remove the washing step, detergent residues, etc., a second steam washing step of supplying steam to the laundry to perform steam washing, a final rinsing step of performing a final rinsing stroke to complete the rinsing stroke, And performing a dehydration stroke.

The steam washing step is characterized in that it comprises a steam water supply step of supplying the wash water and the step of operating the washing heater and the motor to generate steam and to rotate the drum forward and backward.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings an embodiment of the present invention that can specifically realize the above object.

The terms to be described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary depending on the intention or convention of a user or an operator. Therefore, the definitions of these terms should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a block diagram of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the drum washing machine includes a cabinet 100 forming an exterior, and is rotatably coupled to the tub 105 and the tub 105 disposed inside the cabinet 100 to receive wash water. It is provided with a drum (110).

The front of the cabinet 100 is provided with a door 115 for introducing laundry.

Upper and lower portions of the tub 105 are provided with a support spring 120 and a damper 125 for buffering the tub 105.

The upper part of the tub 105 is provided with a detergent supply unit 130 for supplying a detergent, the water supply pipe 140 having a water supply valve 135 for supplying wash water to the tub 105 is connected.

The rear of the tub 105 is provided with a drum driving motor 145 for rotating the drum 110, the bottom of the tub 105 is provided with a drain passage 150 and a drain pump 155 for draining the wash water. do.

The lower portion of the tub 105 is formed with a heater chamber 160 for storing the wash water, and a washing heater 165 for heating the wash water or generating steam is installed in the heater chamber 160.

On the other hand, inside the drum 110, a plurality of lifts 170 are formed which protrude along the radial direction to move the laundry upward and drop the laundry to the lower end and extend along the axial direction.

The control program 200 is provided with a control program to control the overall washing method of the drum washing machine, and the control unit 200 is a water supply valve 135 for supplying the wash water into the tub 105, and the drum reversely rotates. It is electrically connected to the drum drive motor 145 for stirring the laundry.

 The control unit 200 is electrically connected to the drain pump 155 for discharging the washing water to the outside of the cabinet 100 and the washing heater 165 for heating the washing water or generating steam and controlling each component.

In addition, the key input unit 210 for transmitting the user's key input signal to the control unit 200 and the water level sensor 220 for detecting the water level in the tub 105 when the wash water is supplied to the tub 105. do.

3 is a flow chart illustrating a washing process of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to this, a steam washing method of the drum washing machine will be described as follows.

In the washing process of the drum washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the user inputs laundry into the drum 110 and selects the steam washing through the key input unit 210 (S100), the control unit 200 receives a control signal. Output the water supply valve 135 to open.

Accordingly, the washing water is supplied into the tub 105 by the steam level set to perform the steam washing (S103).

When the wash water reaches the set steam level in the heater chamber 160 formed at the bottom of the tub 105 and the water level sensor 220 detects it (S106), the controller 200 closes the water supply valve 135 and drives the drum. The motor 145 is operated to reversely rotate the drum 110 to stir the laundry introduced into the drum 110.

In addition, by operating the washing heater 165 to heat the washing water to a set temperature to generate steam (S109 ~ S112) to perform the first steam washing (S115).

In order to smoothly generate steam while steam washing is performed, the washing water 165 intermittently washes water through the feed valve 135 while the washing heater 165 heats the washing water to generate steam.

Using a high temperature steam generated by the washing heater 165 has a sterilization effect to steam sterilization of the mold and bacteria of the laundry.

In addition, steam can be visually confirmed to be steamed by steaming in the see-through window of the washing machine door 115 by steam during the washing.

When the first steam washing is completed (S115), the control unit 200 opens the water supply valve 135 to perform the washing stroke and supplies the wash water with the detergent stored in the detergent supply unit 130 into the tub 105. Start washing water (S121).

When the washing water reaches the washing water level set in the tub 105 and the water level sensor 220 detects this, the water supply valve 135 is closed to stop the washing water supply (S124).

Thereafter, the washing water is heated to the set temperature using the washing heater 165 and the drum driving motor 145 is operated to reversely rotate the drum 110 to stir the laundry introduced into the drum 110 (S127). Perform the administration (S130).

When the washing stroke is completed, the operation of the washing heater 165 and the drum driving motor 145 is stopped (S133).

When the washing stroke is completed (S133), a rinsing stroke is performed to remove detergent residues (S136).

In the rinsing stroke, the water supply valve 135 is opened in accordance with a control signal of the controller 200 to supply washing water to the tub 105, and the drum driving motor 145 is operated to reverse and reverse the drum 110 to rotate the drum 110. ) By stirring the laundry in

The rinse stroke is performed more than once and the last rinse stroke performed among the rinse strokes performed is called the final rinse stroke.

Before the final rinse stroke is performed, that is, between the rinse strokes, the second steam washing is performed and after the second steam washing is completed, the final rinse stroke is performed to complete the rinsing stroke.

When the second steam washing is started, the water supply valve 135 is opened to start steam water supply to supply the washing water into the tub 105 at the set steam level (S139).

When the wash water reaches the steam level set in the tub 105 by washing the water, and the water level sensor 220 detects the water (S142), the control unit 200 closes the water supply valve 135 and closes the drum driving motor 145. The drum 110 is rotated forward and backward to agitate the laundry introduced into the drum 110.

In addition, the washing heater 165 is operated to heat the washing water to a set temperature to generate steam (S145 to S148) to perform the second steam washing (S151).

While the washing heater 165 heats the washing water to generate steam, the washing heater 165 intermittently supplies the washing water through the water supply valve 135 to maintain the steam level and to generate steam smoothly.

The steam washing method of the drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention sterilizes the bacteria generated or adhered to the laundry during sterilization and rinsing by performing steam washing once more after the washing stroke is completed and before the final rinsing stroke is performed. Improve the effect.

In addition, it does not have a separate steam heater to use the washing heater for steam generation and does not generate steam during the washing stroke to reduce power consumption.

When the second steam washing is completed (S154), the final rinsing stroke is performed (S157) so that the effect of the fabric softener used in the rinsing stroke by steam washing is not reduced by performing the final rinsing stroke after the steam washing is completed. do.

The final rinsing stroke is performed to complete the rinsing stroke, and the washing process is completed by performing the dehydration stroke (S160).

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and as can be seen in the appended claims, modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention.

Drum washing machine steam washing method according to the present invention has the following effects.

First, there is a sterilization effect of steam sterilization of bacteria and mold of laundry by generating high temperature steam using a laundry heater.

Second, steam washing is performed once more after washing and rinsing to sterilize bacteria and molds formed or attached to the laundry during washing and rinsing to improve sterilization effect.

Third, the steam generated during the steam washing may cause the steam washing in the see-through window of the washing machine door to visually confirm the steam washing performance.

Fourth, it does not have a separate steam heater to use the washing heater for steam generation and does not generate steam during the washing stroke to reduce power consumption.

Claims (2)

A first steam washing step of supplying steam to laundry to perform steam washing; A standard washing step of supplying the washing water to the laundry after the first steam washing step and performing a washing stroke by rotating the drum; A rinsing step of starting a rinsing stroke to remove detergent residues after the standard washing step; A second steam washing step of performing steam washing by supplying steam to laundry after the rinsing step; A final rinsing step of completing a rinsing stroke by performing a final rinsing stroke after the second steam washing step; And And a dehydration step of performing a dehydration step of dehydrating the wash water from the laundry after the final rinsing step. The method of claim 1, The steam washing step is a steam water supply step of supplying the wash water; And The steam washing method of the drum washing machine comprising the step of generating steam by operating the washing heater and the motor after the steam water supply step.

Images