Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/40—Steam generating arrangements
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
  • D06F37/20—Mountings, e.g. resilient mountings, for the rotary receptacle, motor, tub or casing; Preventing or damping vibrations
  • D06F37/24—Mountings, e.g. resilient mountings, for the rotary receptacle, motor, tub or casing; Preventing or damping vibrations in machines with a receptacle rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
  • D06F37/26—Casings; Tubs
  • D06F37/267—Tubs specially adapted for mounting thereto components or devices not provided for in preceding subgroups
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/06—Arrangements for preventing or destroying scum
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F58/00—Domestic laundry dryers
  • D06F58/20—General details of domestic laundry dryers 
  • D06F58/24—Condensing arrangements
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F2103/00—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2103/54—Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers related to blowers or fans

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a venting unit of a washing machine, and more particularly to a washing machine that comprises a washing tub venting unit capable of improving drying efficiency.
• FIG. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a conventional washing machine.
• the conventional washing machine includes a cabinet 10 having an opening 12 to which a door 14 is mounted, a water tub 16 positioned inside the cabinet 10 to contain wash water, a washing tub 18 rotatably positioned inside the water tub 16 to receive laundry, a drive unit 17 mounted to the water tub 16 and connected to the washing drum 18, a water supply device 19 connected externally to the water tub 16 to supply wash water to the water tub 16, and a drainage unit 20 extending from the water tub 16 to an outside of the cabinet 10 to discharge wash water.
• the conventional washing machine discharges the wash water outside the cabinet through a drainage passage constituted by the drainage unit 20, which includes a drainage tube 22 extending from the water tub 16 to outside the cabinet 10 and a drainage valve 24 positioned in the drainage tube 20.
• a washing machine comprising: a cabinet having a door mounted thereon; a water tub installed inside the cabinet; a washing tub installed inside the water tub; and a venting unit installed such that an exterior of the cabinet communicates with an inner space of the washing tub through the venting unit.
• the venting unit may be mounted to the door.
• the venting unit may comprise a through-hole formed within an air-suction block that is disposed in the cabinet.
• the venting unit may further comprise a gate unit mounted on the air- suction block to open or close the through-hole.
• the gate unit may comprise a gate member to open or close the through-hole, a driving section to drive the gate member, and a controller to control the driving section.
• the air-suction block may be formed along an edge of the door.
• the through-hole may be formed in a bent shape.
• the washing machine may further comprise a drainage tube in communication with the water tub, a drainage valve installed in the drainage tube to open or close the drainage tube, and a controller to control the drainage valve depending on an operating mode of the washing machine.
• the washing machine according to the present invention comprises a venting unit through which air is supplied from outside into a water tub and a washing tub in order to prevent a reduction in the pressure of the washing tub due to air discharge through a drainage tube during drying operation, thereby ensuring efficient air circulation and improvement of drying efficiency. Furthermore, unlike the conventional washing machine, the washing machine according to the present invention can improve the drying efficiency without a separate drying device such as a heater. Moreover, since it is possible to improve the drying efficiency without the separate drying device such as the heater, the washing machine according to the present invention has a simple construction with a reduced number of components and thus a lower price.
• FIG. 1 is a sectional side elevation of a conventional washing machine
• FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevation of a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 3 is a detailed view of Part A in Fig. 2, illustrating a cross-section of a venting unit of the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 4 is a plan view of the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a drainage unit of the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a venting unit of a washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the venting unit of the washing machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a venting unit of a washing machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
• the washing machine comprises a cabinet 50 having an opening 52 to which a door 54 is mounted, a water tub 62 positioned inside the cabinet 50 to contain wash water, a washing tub 64 rotatably positioned inside the water tub 62 to receive laundry, a drive unit 66 to drive the water tub 64, a water supply device 68 connected externally to the water tub 62 to supply wash water, a drainage unit 70 extending from the water tub 62 to an outside of the cabinet 50, and a venting unit 80 installed such that the outside of the cabinet communicates with an inner space of the washing tub 64 through the venting unit 80.
• wash water is supplied into the water tub 62 through the water supply device 68 and power is applied to the drive unit 66 to perform a washing operation while rotating the washing tub 64. Then, when the washing and rinsing operations are completed, the drive unit 66 is rotated at high speed to perform a spin drying operation.
• the drainage unit 70 comprises a drainage tube 72 communicating with the water tub 62 and a drainage valve 74 positioned in the drainage tube 72 to open or close the drainage tube 72. Operation of the drainage valve 74 is controlled by a controller 100 described below.
• the drive unit 66 When the spin drying operation is started, the drive unit 66 is rotated at high speed, and, when it is rotated at a predetermined speed or greater, the controller 100 opens the drainage valve 74 in response to such rotation of the drive unit 66.
• the drainage valve 74 When the drainage valve 74 is opened, air drawn into the water tub 62 and the washing tub 64 via a through-hole 82 makes contact with laundry and is then discharged together with moisture contained in the air to outside the cabinet 50 through the drainage tube 72.
• the controller 100 controls the rotational speed and rotational force of the drive unit 66 depending on washing mode. Since such a method of detecting the mode of the washing operation is generally adopted by typical washing machines, detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.
• the venting unit 80 is installed to the door 54 such that air can be drawn towards an upper surface of the washing tub 64.
• the venting unit 80 comprises an air-suction block 84 in which is formed a through-hole 82. Air is drawn through the through-hole 82 from the outside into the washing machine to the inner space of the washing tub 64.
• the through-hole 82 is formed in a bent shape such that, when drawn into the through-hole 82, air can flow into the water tub 62 and the washing tub 64, but foreign matter can be collected at an inner wall of the through-hole 82 while flowing through the through-hole 82.
• air inside the washing tub 64 moves towards the water tub 62.
• one end 92 of the through-hole 82 is formed to open toward the inner space of the washing tub 64 to obtain smooth circulation of air within the washing machine.
• the through-hole 82 extends from an upper surface of the air- suction block 84 in a downward direction, is bent primarily, extends a predetermined distance in a lateral direction, and is bent secondarily in the downward direction.
• foreign matter passes through the primarily bent section 86 of the through-hole 82 and becomes accumulated in a laterally extending section 90 of the through-hole 82, the laterally extending section 90 residing between the primarily bent section 86 and the secondarily bent section 88.
• the air-suction block 84 having the through-hole 82 formed therein, is mounted to the door 54 or the cabinet 50.
• the air-suction block 84 is disposed corresponding to the shape of the door 54.
• the air-suction block 82 is disposed in a curved shape along a circular edge of the door 52.
• the air-suction block 84 is provided as a separate member from the door 54 or the cabinet 50 in this embodiment, various modifications of the air-suction block can be made, for example, by integrating a function of the air-suction block within the door 54 or the cabinet 50.
• wash water is supplied into the washing tub 64 and the water tub 62 through the water supply device 68, and after finishing water supply, power is applied to the drive unit 66 to perform a washing operation with wash water rotated in the washing tub 18.
• washing and rinsing operations are repeated several times, and then the wash water is discharged to the outside through the drainage unit 70 and the drive unit 66 is rotated at high speed to perform a spin drying operation.
• Such a series of operations is controlled by the controller 100.
• rotation speed of the drive unit 66 is detected by the controller 100.
• the controller 100 opens the drainage valve 74 based on the judgment that the washing machine is performing the spin drying operation. Then, air is drawn from the exterior into the water tub 62 and the washing tub 64 through the through-hole 82, and contacts the laundry to absorb moisture from it.
• the spin drying operation is performed while air, including absorbed moisture therein, is discharged outside the cabinet 50 through the drainage tube 72.
• air since air is drawn from the exterior into the water tub 62 through the through-hole 82, it is possible to prevent reduction in a discharge rate of air due to pressure decrease within the water tub 62 by discharge of the air through the drainage tube 72.
• the washing machine of the present invention has improved drying efficiency.
• inventors of the present invention carried out a test to compare the drying rates of an inventive washing machine according to the first embodiment compared with those of a conventional washing machine.
• Table 2 shows various drying rates of an inventive washing machine according to the first embodiment compared with those of a conventional washing machine.
• the drying ratios shown in Table 2 were obtained by spin drying test clothes using the conventional washing machine and the inventive washing machine.
• standard clothes, cotton trousers, a dress shirt, and the group consisting of cotton trousers, a dress shirt, a cotton tee shirt, underclothes, and socks were adopted as the test clothes.
• FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a venting unit of a washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention
• Fig. 7 is a block diagram of the venting unit of the washing machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
• the washing machine according to the second embodiment comprises a modified venting unit.
• the venting unit 180 of the washing machine according to the second embodiment comprises a through-hole 182, an air-suction block 184 having the through-hole 182 formed therein, and a gate unit 90 to open and close the through-hole 182.
• the gate unit 90 comprises a gate member 92 to open and close the through- hole 182, and a driving section 94 to drive the gate member 92.
• the controller 100 is used to control the driving section 94.
• the controller 100 when detecting the spin drying operation of the washing machine, the controller 100 sends an open signal to the drainage valve 74 of the washing machine to open the drainage valve 74. Air is drawn into the washing tub 64 through the through- hole 182 and absorbs moisture from laundry in the washing tub 64, and is then discharged outside the cabinet 50 through the drainage tube 72.
• the gate member 92 is constituted by a panel wound around a gear wheel, and opens or closes the through-hole 182 depending on operation of the driving section 94.
• the gate member 92 opens or closes the through-hole 182 in response to the rotation of the power transmission member.
• FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a venting unit of the washing machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
• the third embodiment is similar to the second embodiment in that a gate unit 190 is provided to open and close a through-hole 282.
• the venting unit 280 of the washing machine according to the third embodiment does not include a drive unit for opening and closing a gate member 192, but instead provides a gate member 192 that is opened or closed manually.
• the gate member 192 is constituted by a panel installed such that it can be slidably moved inward and outward through a through-hole 282.
• an air- suction block 284 is formed with a guide 194 such that the gate member 192 can slide stably along the guide 194 between a first position obstructing the through hole 282 and a second position in which it is received within the air-suction block 284 leaving the through hole 282 substantially unobstructed.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)
• Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=39825770

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Families Citing this family (4)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 2007
  • 2007-11-13 EP EP07833989A patent/EP2140055A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-11-13 CN CN2007800524575A patent/CN101680148B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2007-11-13 WO PCT/KR2007/005682 patent/WO2008123646A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2007-11-13 JP JP2010500810A patent/JP4959839B2/ja active Active
  • 2007-12-14 TW TW096148047A patent/TWI350870B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2007-12-18 US US11/959,064 patent/US20080245111A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2008
  • 2008-04-07 KR KR1020080032258A patent/KR101461379B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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