KR20190121586A - Dryer and method for clothes - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dryer and a control method thereof. The present invention is as follows: setting a drying time corresponding to an amount of laundry injected into a drum; when the laundry is not dried within the drying time, changing and displaying a drying time; calculating a time error between a real drying time consumed and an initial set drying time; changing a drying time based on the time error or ambient temperatures to dry laundry; and reflecting an error for a real drying time consumed in drying to reflect the same in a drying time, and calculating and displaying an accurate drying time to reduce an error of a drying time. Accordingly, the present invention makes a user easily collect laundry, prevents the laundry from being wrinkled, and can sense malfunction of a dryer based on changes of a drying time, and prevents a dryer from being additionally operated unnecessarily for wrinkle prevention, thereby reducing energy.

Description

Dryer and its control method {Dryer and method for clothes}

The present invention relates to a clothes dryer and a control method thereof.

The dryer is a device for drying laundry by blowing hot air into the drum into which the wet laundry is put while rotating the drum.

The dryer may be classified into an exhaust type dryer and a condensation type dryer according to a method of processing the humid air discharged from the drum after drying the clothes. In addition, the dryer uses a heat pump to reduce energy consumption by using heat energy that is discarded during exhaust or condensation to heat the air.

The dryer is configured to dry the laundry for a predetermined time by setting a drying time according to the type of laundry rather than the amount of the laundry as the laundry is dried using hot air.

By setting the mode to distinguish between heat-sensitive laundry and heat-resistant laundry, the heat-resistant laundry should be dried for a short time to prevent damage to the laundry due to heat, and in the case of heat-resistant laundry, it is dried for a relatively long time to complete drying. .

Prior art JP2017-108870 employs a method of changing the drying time based on the temperature rather than the amount of laundry.

The dryer rotates at a predetermined rotation speed at a predetermined rotation speed. When the drum is operated for a predetermined time, there is a problem in that the dry state of the laundry occurs depending on the amount of laundry to be loaded even if the same type of laundry. In addition, it is possible to improve the drying speed when the temperature is increased, but there is a limit to increasing the temperature because damage to the laundry may occur.

In addition, there is an error in the calculated drying time and the actual drying time may cause a problem that the user can not collect the laundry on time.

If the user does not complete drying when the user wants to collect the laundry on the basis of the initially displayed drying time, it is troublesome to return to the location for collecting the laundry. Thus, the dryer needs to display the drying time more accurately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a dryer and a control method for setting and displaying an accurate drying time corresponding to an amount of laundry to be put into a dryer and an environment in which the dryer is installed in the dryer and the control method thereof.

Dryer according to the present invention, a motor for rotating the drum, a blowing fan for circulating the air passing through the drum, by applying the operating power to the motor to operate or stop the motor, and to control the rotational speed of the motor Set a drying time corresponding to at least one of a driving unit, a temperature sensing unit sensing a temperature, an amount of laundry put into the drum, an ambient temperature sensed by the temperature sensing unit, and a pre-stored time error. A control unit controlling the driving unit to rotate the drum; And an output unit for displaying the drying time, wherein the control unit stores the difference between the actual drying time and the drying time required to dry the laundry as the time error, and corrects the drying time during the next operation. Characterized in that the drying time is output.

The present invention, if the drying operation is set, detecting the amount of laundry put into the drum, setting the drying time corresponding to at least one of the amount of the laundry, the ambient temperature, previously stored time error, the drying time Displaying, drying the laundry by rotating the drum during the drying time, and when the drying is completed, comparing the actual drying time with the drying time to calculate a difference value and storing the time error; And outputting a notification upon completion of drying.

Dryer and control method according to the present invention configured as described above, for the laundry to be put into the dryer, calculate the drying time based on the amount of laundry, correct the drying time based on the stored data correct drying time Can be displayed.

The present invention can display the drying time close to the actual drying time by correcting the drying time by accumulating time error, so that the user can easily collect the laundry.

According to the present invention, when the drying is completed, the user can collect the laundry to display the drying time, thereby preventing wrinkles from occurring in the laundry, and preventing the dryer from further operating to prevent wrinkles, thereby saving energy.

The present invention can detect an abnormality such as a filter clogging based on the change in drying time, and induce a user to clean the filter by outputting a warning thereof.

1 is a perspective view of a dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a view referred to for explaining the air circulation and the refrigerant circulation of the dryer of FIG.
3 is a block diagram schematically showing a control configuration of a dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a block diagram schematically showing the control configuration of the heat pump of the dryer of the present invention.
5 is a view referred to for explaining the signal flow for calculating the drying time of the dryer of the present invention.
6 is a flowchart referred to for explaining the drying time display method of the dryer of the present invention.
7 is a flowchart referred to for explaining a drying time correction method of the dryer of the present invention.
8 is a view showing a change in drying time through the correction of the dryer of the present invention.
9 is a flowchart illustrating an abnormal detection method according to a drying time of the dryer of the present invention.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various forms, and the present embodiments are intended to complete the disclosure of the present invention, and the general knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is provided to inform the person of the scope of the invention, which is to be defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In addition, the control unit and each unit of the present invention may be implemented by one or more processors, may be implemented by a hardware device.

1 is a perspective view of a dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the dryer 1 of the present invention includes a cabinet 10, a drum 30 disposed inside the cabinet, and having laundry (foam) rotated therein.

In addition, the dryer 1 includes a drive unit 60 for rotating the drum 30, a heat pump module (not shown) for heating laundry circulating in the drum 30 to dry the laundry, and heating the circulated air; , A blowing fan 64 for circulating the air of the drum 30, a suction duct 68 for sucking air circulated from the drum 30, a heater 69 for heating air introduced into the drum 30, And a circulation passage 66 for guiding the flow of air.

The cabinet 10 forms the exterior of the dryer and provides a space in which the drum 30 and other components are arranged. The cabinet 10 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole.

The cabinet 10 has a door 20 disposed at the front thereof, and the door 20 is rotated in a left and right direction to open and close the inside of the cabinet 10.

The cabinet 10 includes a front cover 11, a top plate 16, side covers 12 and 13, a rear cover 15, and a base 14.

The front cover 11 is provided with an inlet (not shown), and is provided with a door 20 for opening and closing the inlet. The inlet is in communication with the drum 30.

The door 20 is rotatably coupled to the front cover 11 and may include a door glass 22. The door glass 22 is made of a transparent member so that a user can look inside the drum 30 and is convex inward of the drum 30.

The control panel 17 may be disposed above the front cover 11. The control panel 17 includes a display (for example, LCD, LED panel, etc.) indicating the operating state of the dryer, and an operation unit (for example, a button, a dial, a touch screen, etc.) that receives an operation command for the dryer from the user. A speaker (not shown) for outputting a voice guidance, an effect sound, or a warning sound for an operation state is included.

The drum 30 is disposed inside the cabinet 10, and the blower fan 64 and the heat pump module are disposed below the drum 30 to maximize the capacity of the drum 30.

Drum 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape, the front and the back is open and the front surface is in communication with the inlet. In addition, the drum 30 has an inlet (not shown) is formed in the back so that air is introduced, the inlet is connected to the circulation passage for air circulation.

The drum 30 is provided with a lifter 31 therein, the lifter 31 is rotated to lift the laundry therein, and then free fall. The drum is supported by a supporter (not shown) provided in the cabinet.

The drive unit 60 includes a motor fixed to the base 14 of the cabinet 10. The motor provides power for rotating the drum, and is also connected to the blowing fan 64 to rotate the blowing fan. The motor is a biaxial motor, the drum 30 and the blowing fan 64 are connected to each drive shaft.

The motor includes a drive pulley to which the drive belt 164 wound around the drum 30 is caught, on the drive shaft to which the drum is connected. The drum 30 may be rotated in the forward or reverse direction by the rotation of the motor. An idle pulley (not shown) for adjusting the tension of the driving belt may be installed. The driving belt may wrap the outer circumferential surface of the drum 30 in a state of being caught by the driving pulley and the idle pulley. When the motor rotates, the driving belt is transferred by the driving pulley, and the drum 30 is rotated by the friction force acting between the driving belt.

The blowing fan 64 may be rotated by the motor of the driving unit 60. By the rotation of the blowing fan 64, the air in the drum 30 flows into the suction duct 68. The suction duct 68 may be included in the circulation passage 66.

When the blowing fan 64 is rotated, air discharged from the drum 30 is guided to the suction duct 68 and supplied to the blowing fan 64. The suction duct 68 is coupled to the front surface of the front supporter and is in communication with the suction port of the blower fan 64. The blowing fan 64 circulates the air so that the air sucked from the drum is introduced into the drum again through the heat pump module through the circulation passage 66.

When the drum 30 rotates forward, air is introduced into the inside from the rear side, and the air is discharged to the front side. In addition, in the drum, when the reverse rotation of the air flows into the front side, it is possible to discharge the air to the rear side.

The circulation passage 66 may be configured in various ways according to the embodiment. The circulation passage 66 guides the air discharged from the blower fan to flow into the heat pump module, and guides the air discharged from the heat pump module to flow into the drum through the heater. The circulation passage 66 is also provided on the rear side of the drum to guide the heated air to flow into the drum 30.

The circulation passage via the drum 30 may be variously formed. The circulation passage 66 may be connected to the drum to form a closed loop for air circulation. In addition, the circulation passage may be connected to an exhaust duct (not shown) for discharging air and a suction duct (not shown) into which outside air is introduced.

The filter assembly 19 is installed in the inlet to collect lint contained in the air discharged from the drum 30 and introduced into the suction duct.

The heat pump module circulates the refrigerant and operates in a heat pump cycle.

The laundry contained inside the drum is dried by heated air supplied to the drum. The air discharged from the drum is introduced into the circulation passage by moistening the water evaporated from the laundry during the drying process, heated through the heat pump module, and then supplied to the drum again.

2 is a view referred to for explaining the air circulation and the refrigerant circulation of the dryer of FIG.

 As shown in FIG. 2, the air supplied to the drum 30 is heated by heating the laundry and discharging moisture evaporated from the laundry.

Air is circulated by the blower fan 64.

Air flows into the evaporator 53 through a drum by a blowing fan, condenses in the evaporator, and flows into the condenser 52 in a state of low temperature and low humidity. The air is heat-exchanged with the refrigerant in the condenser 52, heated, and then flows back into the drum 30. The air may be further heated through the heater 69 installed on the circulation passage.

Either one of the heat pump module and the heater 69 can be selectively operated, and can be operated simultaneously.

The air moves in the order of the drum 30, the evaporator 53, and the condenser 52.

The refrigerant is discharged to the condenser 52 in a state of high temperature and high pressure by the compressor 51, heat exchanged with air in the condenser, and then flows into the evaporator 53 and evaporates. The valve 59 is installed between the condenser and the evaporator. The valve 59 expands and transfers the condensed refrigerant of low temperature and high pressure to the evaporator. The expanded refrigerant is evaporated in the evaporator 53, flowed into the compressor 50 in a state of low temperature and low pressure, and then discharged into the condenser 52 in a state of high temperature and high pressure.

The heat pump module includes a compressor 50, a condenser 52, an evaporator 53, and a valve.

In the heat pump module, the compressor 50, the condenser 52, and the evaporator 53 are connected to the refrigerant pipe so that the heated air is supplied to the drum through the circulation of the refrigerant, and the heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air in the condenser and the evaporator. do. In some cases, the heat pump module may exchange heat through a medium other than a refrigerant.

The evaporator 53 recovers the heat amount of the discharged air by heat-exchanging the refrigerant and the air introduced from the drum 30 through the blower fan 64. In addition, the evaporator 53 condenses moisture impregnated in the introduced air.

The condenser 52 heat-exchanges the refrigerant having passed through the evaporator 53 with the refrigerant, and discharges the heated air to the drum. The low temperature and low humidity air passing through the evaporator flows into the condenser and is heat-exchanged with the refrigerant to be supplied to the drum in the state of high temperature and low humidity.

The refrigerant discharged from the condenser passes through the evaporator and is recovered to the compressor. The compressor 50 compresses the evaporated refrigerant and discharges it to the condenser, and the expansion valve expands the refrigerant condensed in the condenser 52 in the evaporator.

The condenser 52 and the evaporator 53 are heat exchangers.

Since the hot and humid air discharged from the drum 30 has a higher temperature than the refrigerant of the evaporator 53, the heat amount of air is condensed and cooled by heat exchange with the refrigerant while passing through the evaporator. The hot humid air is thus dehumidified and cooled by the evaporator. Condensate generated during the air condensation may be collected and drained to a separate condensate housing (not shown).

In addition, the heat pump module may further include an auxiliary heat exchanger 54 and a cooling fan 58.

3 is a block diagram schematically showing a control configuration of a dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the dryer 1 is configured as described above, and in order to control its operation, the operation unit 170, the output unit 175, the communication unit 190, the driving unit 160, It includes a power supply unit 150, a heat pump module 120, a pump 185, a heater 69, a sensor unit 130, a memory 140, a power supply unit 150, a control unit 110 for controlling the overall operation of the dryer. do.

The operation unit 170 includes input means such as at least one button, a switch, and a touch pad installed in the control panel 17. The operation unit 170 inputs an operation setting including a power input, an operation mode, and a type of laundry. When the type of the laundry is selected and the power key is input, the operation unit 170 inputs data on operation setting to the controller.

The output unit 175 displays the information on the operation setting input by the operation unit 170, and includes a display for outputting the operating state of the dryer, the speaker or buzzer for outputting voice guidance, a predetermined sound effect or warning sound Include. The display may include a menu screen for operation setting and operation control of the dryer, and may output a guide message or a warning composed of at least one combination of letters, numbers, and images with respect to the operation setting or the operation state.

The memory 140 stores control data for operation control of the dryer, input operation setting data, data on an operation mode, and reference data for determining an error of the dryer. In addition, the memory 140 stores data sensed or measured during operation of the dryer and data transmitted / received through the communication unit. The memory 140 may be a storage device such as a ROM, a RAM, an EPROM, a flash drive, a hard drive, or the like in hardware.

The communication unit 190 transmits and receives data by wire or wirelessly. The communication unit 190 may be connected to a network formed in a building or a predetermined distance, for example, a home network, to transmit and receive data, and may be connected to an external server such as the Internet, and may communicate with a terminal equipped with a control function. Can be. The communication unit 270 transmits an operation state or a drying progress state of the dryer and receives a command for the dryer. The communication unit 270 transmits and receives data including communication modules such as Wi-Fi and WiBro, as well as short-range wireless communication such as Zigbee and Bluetooth.

The power supply unit 150 supplies operating power by converting commercial power supplied. The power supply unit cuts off the overcurrent, rectifies and smoothes the supplied power to supply the operation power of a predetermined size.

The sensor unit 130 includes a plurality of sensors to measure the voltage or current of the dryer, detects the rotational speed, temperature, and humidity of the motor and inputs the same to the controller 110.

The sensor unit 130 includes a door detector 131, a laundry detector 132, a temperature detector 133, a humidity detector 134, and a current detector 135. The sensor unit 130 may further include a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure of the refrigerant of the heat pump module 120, a temperature sensor, a speed detecting unit for detecting a rotational speed of a motor or a drum of the driving unit.

The temperature sensing unit 133 may sense a temperature inside the drum, a refrigerant temperature of the heat pump module 120 or a temperature of a heat exchanger, a temperature of the heater 69, and a temperature inside the control circuit. In addition, the temperature sensing unit is provided with a plurality of sensors, each installed in a different position to sense the temperature.

The humidity sensing unit 134 senses the internal humidity of the drum or the humidity of circulating air.

The laundry detection unit 132 contacts the laundry accommodated in the drum and detects the degree of moisture contained in the laundry. The laundry detection unit may be included in the humidity detection unit and may be installed separately from the humidity detection unit.

The current sensing unit 135 senses a current applied to the motor of the driving unit 160 and inputs the sensed current value to the control unit 110.

The door detector 131 detects whether the door 20 is opened or closed. The door detector 131 detects an open / closed state of the door and inputs a detection signal to the controller before performing an operation according to a setting. In addition, the door detection unit 131 detects whether the laundry is jammed.

The heater 69 heats the air supplied to the drum to reach a predetermined temperature.

The heater driving unit (not shown) supplies the operating power to the heater 69, controls the heater to operate or stop, and also controls the heating temperature of the heater. The heater driving unit may control the heaters differently for the case in which the heater 69 operates alone and the case in which the heater 69 operates simultaneously with the heat pump module 120.

The pump 185 is operated by a pump driver (not shown) to discharge condensate to the outside. The pump 185 condenses the water contained in the air recovered from the drum in the evaporator and discharges the condensed water contained in the condensate housing to the outside.

The driving unit 160 controls the driving of the motor so that the motor rotates. The motor is connected to the drum 30 to provide power for the drum to rotate. In addition, the motor is connected to the blowing fan 64 to rotate the blowing fan.

As the drum and the blowing fan are connected to one motor, the driving unit 160 simultaneously controls the drum and the blowing fan through motor control. The drum is connected to the motor and the drive belt, and as the drum is connected through the pulley, the rotational speed of the motor relative to one rotation of the drum has a predetermined ratio. The rotational speed of the motor is different from the rotational speed of the drum. For example, the drive pulley may be installed so that the motor rotates 40 to 60 while the drum rotates once. The blowing fan may rotate at the same speed as the rotational speed of the motor according to the connection structure with the drive shaft of the motor.

The blowing fan 64 controls the flow of air inside the dryer. The blowing fan 64 allows the heated air to be supplied to the drum 30, and sucks air containing moisture from the drum to flow into the heat pump module 120.

The heat pump module 120 includes a compressor 50 and a heat exchanger to remove moisture from the air circulated through heat exchange with the refrigerant and to heat the air.

The control unit not only determines the degree of drying, but also controls various electrical components constituting the dryer 1. The control unit may include a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory for storing data in a form readable by the central processing unit. The controller may be composed of one processor or a plurality of processors.

The controller 110 stores the operation setting input from the operation unit 170 in the memory 140, processes data transmitted and received through the communication unit 190, and the operation setting and operation state of the dryer output the output unit 175. Control to output through. The controller may control the communication unit to load the dryer control application and to transmit data of the dryer to the terminal when there is a terminal (not shown) connected to the dryer wirelessly.

The controller 110 controls the operation of the drum and the blowing fan through the driving unit 160 according to the operation setting input from the operation unit 170, and variably controls the operation according to the detected value of the sensor unit 130. The controller 110 controls the heat pump module 120 during operation to heat the circulated air, and either one of the heater and the heat pump module operates, or both the heater and the heat pump module operate to supply the drum. The temperature of the air being controlled.

The control unit 110 controls a series of processes for drying the laundry put into the drum.

The controller 110 detects the amount of laundry to be put in the drum and sets a drying time according to the amount of laundry.

When the controller 110 detects the amount of laundry (capacity), when the motor rotates by the driving unit 160, the motor reaches the set rotation speed, and then stops after maintaining the set rotation speed for a predetermined time. The control command is applied to the driver 160.

The control unit 110 causes the heat pump module 120 to stop operation while detecting the amount of laundry (capacity), and when the amount of the laundry is detected, causes the heat pump module to operate according to a setting.

The controller 110 may repeatedly stop the drum after a predetermined rotation to operate according to a predetermined pattern, thereby detecting the amount of laundry based on a current value detected while the drum is rotating. In addition, when the controller 110 detects the amount of laundry, the drum 30 rotates for a predetermined time, stops, and rotates again for a predetermined time, until the drum's rotational speed reaches a predetermined rotational speed. The amount of laundry can be detected by measuring the time.

As a method of detecting the amount of such laundry, various methods may be applied, but are not limited thereto.

The controller 110 corrects the drying time calculated according to the amount of laundry based on the drying time according to the amount of laundry and the data stored in the previous drying operation.

The controller 110 displays the corrected drying time through the output unit 175.

In addition, the control unit 110 may recalibrate the drying time during the drying operation to correct the drying time. If the drying time is changed, the controller 110 displays the changed drying time through the output unit.

The controller 110 ends the drying operation based on the degree of drying of the laundry detected by the laundry detecting unit and a preset drying time. The controller 110 may determine that the dryness of the laundry is greater than or equal to a set value and the drying is completed when the drying time reaches a preset drying time. Meanwhile, the controller 110 may add a drying time when the dryness of the laundry reaches a preset drying time but is less than the set value.

When the drying is completed, the control unit 110 calculates the error between the actual drying time and the initial drying time, and stores the data as data.

In the next drying operation, the controller 110 corrects the drying time based on an error of the previously stored drying time so that the corrected drying time is displayed.

The controller 110 may correct the drying time based on the sensed temperature. Heat pump module has a difference in drying efficiency depending on the environment in which the dryer is installed. That is, even if the same amount of laundry is dried for the same time, the difference in the dryness of the laundry may occur when operating in the image 10 degrees and operating in the image 1 degree.

Accordingly, the controller 110 may correct the drying time corresponding to the temperature of the location where the dryer is installed.

In addition, even if the drying time is corrected, the controller 110 may output an error by determining that the filter is replaced or the filter is abnormal when the drying time error of a predetermined size is repeated a predetermined number of times.

The control unit sets the drying time or the rotational speed of the drum according to the amount of laundry so that the drying operation is performed.

 The controller 110 determines whether drying of laundry is normally performed based on data input and detected by a plurality of sensors of the sensor unit 130 during a drying operation. The control unit 110 may change the drying time or the rotational speed of the drum according to the dry state of the laundry detected by the laundry detection unit.

In addition, the controller 110 may output an error through the output unit 240 when an abnormality occurs during the drying operation, and control the dryer to stop the operation according to the abnormality.

4 is a block diagram schematically showing the control configuration of the heat pump of the dryer of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the heat pump module 120 includes a heat pump control unit 121, a heat pump driving unit 122, a compressor 50, a valve 59, a cooling fan 58, and a pressure sensor 128. ), A temperature sensor 129, a condenser 52, evaporator 53. In addition, the heat pump module 120 further includes an auxiliary heat exchanger.

The heat pump controller 121 controls the compressor 50 to operate according to the control command of the controller 110. The operating frequency of the compressor of the heat pump control unit 121 is set, the compressor is variably controlled according to the data sensed by the pressure sensor 128 and the temperature sensor 129, and the rotational speed of the cooling fan 58 is controlled. .

The heat pump driver 122 controls the driving so that the compressor 50, the valve 59, and the cooling fan 58 operate. The heat pump driver 122 may be divided into a compressor driver, a valve driver, and a fan driver, respectively.

The heat pump driver 122 supplies operating power to operate the compressor 50 according to the setting of the heat pump controller 121. The heat pump driver 122 may include an inverter (not shown). The heat pump driver 122 controls the opening and closing of the valve 59 that controls the flow of the refrigerant. For example, the heat pump driver 122 controls the four-way valve to change the flow path of the refrigerant, and controls the opening and closing of the valve 59 with respect to the refrigerant discharged from the condenser so that the refrigerant is expanded and evaporated in the evaporator 53. .

The heat pump driver 122 supplies operating power to the fan motor so that the cooling fan 58 rotates. The cooling fan 58 rotates at a constant rotational speed by driving the fan motor. The cooling fan 58 may be provided in the auxiliary heat exchanger 54. The auxiliary heat exchanger 54 is constituted by a separate condensing module separated from the condenser 52, and is installed in the refrigerant pipe connected to the expansion valve in the condenser based on the flow direction of the refrigerant to cool the refrigerant discharged from the condenser. . The cooling fan 58 blows the outside air or the inside air into the auxiliary heat exchanger to cool the auxiliary heat exchanger.

The refrigerant in the condenser 52 and the evaporator 53 exchanges heat with air circulating the drum. The condenser and the evaporator do not have a separate fan, and heat exchange with air circulated by the blower fan 64.

The refrigerant flows in the order of the compressor 50, the condenser 52, and the evaporator 53, and the air circulates in the order of the drum, the evaporator, and the condenser. Air may pass through the heater 69 before being supplied to the drum from the condenser.

The compressor 50 discharges the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant, and the condenser 52 condenses and discharges the refrigerant. At this time, as the refrigerant dissipates in the condenser, the air passing through the condenser is heated by the heat dissipated from the condenser.

The refrigerant discharged from the condenser 52 evaporates in the evaporator by the expansion valve. Since the evaporator generates an endothermic reaction that absorbs the surrounding heat during vaporization of the refrigerant, the air passing through the evaporator is cooled and the moisture contained is condensed to produce condensed water.

As the water cooled and moistened in the evaporator 53 is generated as condensed water, air is dehumidified and supplied to the condenser. The air passing through the condenser is heated and fed to the drum.

5 is a view referred to for explaining the signal flow for calculating the drying time of the dryer of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, the controller 110 calculates a drying time based on a plurality of data to display a drying time (initial drying time) through an output unit.

When the drying operation is set, the controller 110 detects the amount of laundry and calculates a drying time (basic drying time) based on the amount of laundry. The controller 110 may set a drying time (basic drying time) according to the amount of laundry on the basis of previously stored drying time data. The drying time data is data including information on drying time according to the amount of laundry.

For example, the controller 110 may set the drying time to A1 when the amount of laundry is very small, A2 for a small amount, A3 for a heavy weight, A4 for a large amount, and A5 for a large amount.

In addition, when the control unit is integral with the washing machine or when receiving the dehydration information from the washing machine, it can set the drying time according to the dehydration strength as shown in Table 1.

Capacity | Dewatering about medium River Strongest
thimbleful A1 + 7 A1 + 5 A1 A1-5
handful A2 + 7 A2 + 5 A2 A2-5
weight A3 + 10 A3 + 7 A3 A3-7
Heavy A4 + 15 A3 + 10 A4 A4-10
much A5 + 20 A3 + 15 A5 A5-15

That is, if the dehydration proceeds to 'weak' strength, the water content in the laundry is high, so the drying time is added, and if the strength of the dehydration proceeds to 'strongest', the drying time can be reduced.

In Table 1, the dehydration intensity is described as based on the case of 'strong', but it is only an example, and depending on the setting, the dehydration intensity may be set based on the 'medium'.

If there is no dehydration information, the controller sets a drying time according to the amount of laundry (capacity) as described above.

The controller 110 may correct the drying time based on the location where the dryer is installed and the ambient temperature according to the space. The controller 110 corrects the drying time based on the ambient temperature of the dryer detected by the temperature detector. In this case, the controller may set the initial drying time by correcting by increasing or decreasing the time to the basic drying time corresponding to the ambient temperature.

Since the heat pump module has a difference in heat exchange performance depending on the ambient temperature, condensation of moisture in the air, and heating the air to supply the drum may cause a performance difference depending on the ambient temperature. Accordingly, the control unit may correct the drying time based on the ambient temperature because a difference occurs in the actual drying time according to the performance conversion of the heat pump module by the ambient temperature.

In addition, the controller 110 may classify the detected temperature value into sections and correct the drying time according to each section.

For example, when the time set according to the quantity is referred to as reference time A0, when the ambient temperature of the dryer is lower than the first set temperature, the drying time is increased by about 35 minutes (A0 + 35), and the ambient temperature is set by the first setting. When the temperature is higher than or equal to the second preset temperature, the reference time A0 is maintained. When the ambient temperature is equal to or greater than the second preset temperature, the drying time may be set by decreasing the drying time by 10 minutes (A0-10).

In the above-described Table 1, when the amount of laundry is a weight and the drying time is A3, the controller increases or decreases the time in A3 according to the ambient temperature to correct the drying time according to the ambient temperature. For example, if the amount of laundry is heavy and the ambient temperature is less than the first set temperature, the drying time is set to A3 + 35. If the ambient temperature is more than the first set temperature and less than the second set temperature, A3 is set to the drying time. .

In addition, the controller 110 corrects the drying time based on the drying time error. That is, with respect to the basic drying time, the initial drying time can be set by increasing or decreasing the time based on the drying time error.

When the drying operation is completed, the controller 110 calculates an error between the actual drying time (actual drying time) and the initial drying time, and stores the drying time error as data. The controller may correct the drying time based on the drying time error accumulated and stored in this manner.

For example, the controller may classify the drying time error based on the amount of laundry and calculate the average of the error time to correct the drying time.

For example, if the error of the actual drying time is an average of 10 minutes as a result of operating the drying time of A3 with respect to the weight of laundry, the control unit calculates the drying time error to A3 + 10 for the weight of laundry when calculating the next drying time. You can set the drying time by calibrating.

In addition, the control unit may classify and analyze the drying time error by adding information on the amount of laundry and the ambient temperature.

For example, for heavy laundry, when the ambient temperature is less than the first set temperature, the error is an average of 20 minutes, and if the error is more than the first set temperature and less than the second set temperature, the error is an average of 5 minutes. You can correct it.

In addition, the controller may change and apply a correction value according to the ambient temperature based on previously stored data.

As such, the controller 110 may calculate a drying time based on the amount of laundry (amount of laundry) and the drying time data, and may correct the drying time in consideration of an ambient temperature or a drying time error.

In addition, the controller 110 may calculate a drying time by giving a weight to a temperature or a drying time error. The weight may be changed according to a setting, may be applied to at least one of a quantity, a temperature, and a time error, and may be changed according to an environment in which a dryer is installed.

For example, in a region where the temperature change is within a predetermined temperature range during the year, the difference in FMS drying time is small depending on the ambient temperature. Therefore, the drying time can be set based on the amount of laundry and the drying time error, except for the ambient temperature. . On the other hand, in a region where the temperature change is large during the year, the drying time can be set by weighting the ambient temperature.

When the drying operation is set, the controller 110 calculates the drying time (initial drying time) as above and displays the result through the output unit.

In addition, the control unit 110 may change the drying time according to the dryness of the laundry when the set time elapses during the drying operation, and may display the changed drying time. In addition, the control unit may display the changed drying time by recalculating the drying time based on the state of the laundry when the set time elapses.

For example, in the case of wet laundry and laundry which is also partially dried, a difference occurs in the amount of laundry, and thus the drying time may be corrected by detecting the amount of laundry.

The output unit may selectively display either the total drying time or the remaining time, and may also simultaneously display the total drying time and the remaining time. The remaining time displayed decreases as the drying operation proceeds.

6 is a flowchart referred to for explaining the drying time display method of the dryer of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the dryer 1, laundry is input to the drum 30, and a mode according to a drying operation is input by the operation unit 170 (S310). For example, the dryer 1 may set a mode by dividing silk, cotton, etc. according to the type of laundry, in particular, the material through the operation unit 170.

The control unit 110 controls the driving unit 160 to detect the amount of laundry (capacity) (S320).

The driving unit drives the motor according to the control command of the controller, and the drum rotates accordingly. The driving unit repeatedly performs a predetermined number of times of stopping the drum and then stops the drum to perform a capacity detection operation.

The controller may detect the amount of laundry based on the current applied to the motor in response to the rotation of the drum, and may also detect the amount of laundry based on the time until the rotation speed of the drum reaches a predetermined speed. .

When the amount of the laundry is detected, the controller 110 calculates a drying time based on the amount of the laundry. In addition, the controller 110 corrects the drying time calculated based on the stored drying time error and the temperature detected by the temperature sensing unit. At this time, the controller 110 may assign a weight to at least one of the amount of laundry, drying time error, temperature.

The controller 110 applies the calculated drying time (initial drying time) to the output unit, and the output unit displays the drying time on the display (S330).

The output unit may selectively display either the total drying time or the remaining time in correspondence with the setting through the operation unit, and may simultaneously display the total drying time and the remaining time with respect to the setting of the displayed drying time.

The control unit 110 applies a control command to the drive unit to rotate the drum continuously so that the drying operation starts. The driver controls the motor accordingly.

In the dryer 1, laundry is flowed in the drum by the rotation of the drum, air is circulated by the blower fan, and the laundry is dried as moisture in the air is condensed by the heat pump module (S340).

The controller 110 counts the time at the same time as the drying operation is started.

While the drying operation is being performed, the laundry detector detects the dryness of the laundry through the moisture content of the laundry contacting the electrode and inputs it to the controller.

The controller may change the rotation speed of the drum in response to the dryness and the elapsed time of the laundry. In the case of changing the rotational speed, the driving unit changes the rotational speed of the motor according to the control command of the controller.

In addition, the control unit may change the drying time in response to the detected dryness of the laundry.

When the initial drying time is reached, the control unit determines that the operation ends, and the drum is stopped by the driving unit (S350).

The controller may end the drying before reaching the preset drying time if the dryness of the laundry is greater than or equal to the set value, and add the drying time if the dryness is less than the predetermined value.

The output unit outputs an alarm according to completion of drying in response to a control command of the controller 110.

The control unit 110 calculates the difference (drying time error) between the time counted at the same time that the drying operation is started, that is, the actual drying time and the initially calculated drying time (S380).

At this time, the initial drying time calculated is the drying time displayed on the output unit as the compensated drying time.

The control unit stores the calculated drying time error as data (S370).

The controller analyzes the stored drying time error and corrects the drying time during the next drying operation based on the amount of laundry.

The dryer performs a drying operation during the corrected drying time.

On the other hand, after the laundry is finished drying, if the laundry is not collected within a predetermined time, the dryer may further perform an anti-wrinkling operation to prevent the wrinkle of the laundry. The control unit checks whether the door is opened through the door detection unit, and determines that the laundry is not collected if the door is not opened within a predetermined time.

The control unit controls the driving unit to perform the wrinkle prevention operation when the laundry is not collected within a predetermined time.

Accordingly, in setting the initial drying time, by correcting the drying time based on the ambient temperature or drying time error as well as the drying time by the amount of laundry, by setting the initial drying time, the accuracy of the drying time is improved, Accordingly, the laundry of the user can be easily collected.

In addition, when the laundry is collected after the drying operation is completed, it is possible to save unnecessary energy use as the dryer is not further operated.

7 is a flowchart referred to for explaining a drying time correction method of the dryer of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, the dryer 1 detects an amount (amount of laundry) of the laundry (S410), and the control unit 110 measures the drying time based on the calculated amount, the detected temperature, and the drying time error previously stored. It calculates and displays it through an output part (S420).

The dryer 1 starts a drying operation based on the drying setting through the operation unit (S430).

The driving unit rotates the drum according to the control command of the controller, circulates the air in the blower fan, and the heat pump module condenses the moisture in the air.

The control unit 110 counts the time, and when the setting time is reached during the drying operation (S440),

Re-detect the amount of laundry to correct the drying time. In addition, as described above, the drying time may be increased or decreased in response to the dryness of the laundry detected by the laundry detection unit.

When the drying time is corrected, the controller 110 displays the corrected drying time through the output unit.

Until the drying is completed (S460), the control unit 110 corrects the drying time at a set time period, so that the displayed drying time is updated (S430 to S460).

When the drying is completed, the output unit outputs a notification according to the completion of drying.

In addition, as described above, the controller compares the initial drying time with the actual drying time, calculates a drying time error, and stores the drying time error as data.

8 is a view showing a change in drying time through the correction of the dryer of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, the dryer 1 corrects the drying time calculated corresponding to the amount of laundry, and the drying time S1 initially set is changed to approach the actual drying time T1.

When setting the drying time based on the amount of laundry, the same drying time is always set for the same amount of laundry.

For example, when the amount of laundry is heavy, the controller may always set a second time as a drying time for the laundry of weight.

The control unit sets the drying time by correcting the drying time according to the amount of laundry according to the calculated drying time error and the ambient temperature.

For example, with respect to the weight of laundry, if the dry time error of the pre-stored average -5 minutes, the control unit may set the drying time to a time reduced by 5 minutes in the second time (T2).

As the above process is repeated, data on drying time errors are accumulated, and the drying time is corrected based on the amount of laundry as well as the ambient temperature, so that the drying time is closer to the average of the actual drying time (T1). Can be set.

Accordingly, the dryer may dry the laundry at the initial drying time without changing the drying time in the middle. In addition, as the accuracy of the initial displayed drying time is improved, the user can correctly collect laundry only by the initial displayed dry time.

9 is a flowchart illustrating an abnormal detection method according to a drying time of the dryer of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 9, the dryer 1 performs a drying operation according to an initially set drying time.

When the drying is completed (S510), the controller 110 calculates the drying time error and stores it as data (S520).

The controller 110 determines whether the drying time error is greater than or equal to the set value (S530). If the drying time error is more than the set value, increase the number of times.

When the initial drying time is set, the drying time is corrected based on the drying time error or the ambient temperature. When the drying time error is more than the set value, the controller may determine that an abnormality has occurred.

The controller may increase the drying time due to a temporary problem, and count the number of times, and determine that the abnormality occurs when the number is greater than or equal to the set number of times (S550).

The control unit generates a filter error when a filter in which foreign substances such as dust generated during drying is clogged, may cause an air circulation failure and cause an increase in drying time.

The output unit outputs a guide message or a warning sound to guide cleaning of the filter of the filter assembly 19 in response to the filter error (S560).

On the other hand, when the drying time error is more than the set value and the number of times is counted, and the drying time error is less than the set value before the number reaches the set number of times, the control unit initializes the number of times (S570). The controller may initialize the number of times by determining that the drying time has increased due to a temporary problem.

Accordingly, the present invention can detect an abnormality such as a filter clogging based on a change in drying time, and induce a user to clean the filter by outputting a warning thereof.

In addition, in the dryer of the present invention, the laundry may be dried at an initially set drying time without changing the drying time in the middle. In addition, as the accuracy of the initial displayed drying time is improved, the user can correctly collect laundry only by the initial displayed dry time.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make various modifications and changes without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

1: dryer 10: cabinet
30: drum 50: compressor
52: condenser 53: evaporator
60, 160: drive unit 64: blowing fan
69: heater
110: control unit 120: heat pump module
132: laundry detection unit 135: current detection unit

Claims (20)

A motor for rotating the drum;
A blowing fan circulating air passing through the drum;
A driving unit which applies an operating power to the motor to operate or stop the motor and controls a rotational speed of the motor;
A temperature sensing unit sensing a temperature;
A control unit which controls the driving unit to rotate the drum during a drying time set according to the amount of laundry put into the drum; And
An output unit for displaying the drying time,
The controller determines whether the laundry is dried before reaching the drying time, and changes the drying time to output through the output unit. The method of claim 1,
And the control unit calculates a basic drying time corresponding to the amount of laundry from the drying time data including time information according to the amount of laundry. The method of claim 1,
The control unit counts the number of times the drying time is changed before reaching the drying time,
And a filter error is generated when the number reaches the set number of times. The method of claim 3, wherein
The blower fan further comprises a filter assembly for collecting foreign matter in the air circulated from the drum to the circulation passage,
And the output unit outputs a guide message or a warning sound for guiding the cleaning of the filter assembly in response to a filter error. The method of claim 3, wherein
The controller counts the number of times when the drying time is different from the set value, and initializes the number of times when drying is completed within the drying time before the number reaches the set number of times. . The method of claim 1,
When the drying is not completed within the drying time, the controller calculates a time error between the initially set drying time and the actual drying time, and at the next operation, adjusts the drying time corresponding to at least one of the previously stored time errors. Dryer, characterized in that for changing. The method of claim 6,
The control unit accumulates and stores the time error, and calculates the average of the time error to change the drying time. The method of claim 1,
The controller is characterized in that for changing the drying time corresponding to the ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensing unit. The method of claim 8,
The control unit, characterized in that for changing the drying time by increasing or decreasing the drying time corresponding to the ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensing unit. The method of claim 1,
The control unit is characterized in that for changing the drying time based on at least one of the ambient temperature and time error. The method of claim 10,
And the control unit sets the modified drying time by weighting at least one of the ambient temperature and the time error. The method of claim 1,
The control unit, characterized in that when the dehydration information is input, changing the drying time according to the dehydration information. If the drying operation is set, detecting the amount of laundry put into the drum;
Setting a drying time corresponding to the amount of laundry;
Displaying the drying time;
Rotating the drum during the drying time to dry the laundry;
Changing the drying time according to the degree of drying of the laundry before reaching the drying time; And
Control method of the dryer comprising the step of displaying the changed drying time. The method of claim 13,
Counting the number of times the drying time is changed;
Generating a filter error when the number reaches a set number; Control method of the dryer further comprising. The method of claim 14,
And in response to the filter error, outputting a guide message or a warning sound for guiding the cleaning of the filter assembly for collecting lint. The method of claim 13,
When the drying is completed, comparing the actual drying time required and the drying time to store a time error; control method of a dryer. The method of claim 16,
The setting of the drying time may include calculating an average of the time errors;
And changing the drying time corresponding to the average of the time errors. The method of claim 13,
Setting the drying time,
Sensing ambient temperature; And
And changing the drying time by increasing or decreasing a time corresponding to the ambient temperature. The method of claim 13,
The setting of the drying time may further include changing the drying time by assigning a weight to at least one of an ambient temperature and a time error. The method of claim 13,
Setting the drying time,
Inputting dehydration information; And
And controlling the drying time according to the dehydration information.

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