CN1957131B - Method of controlling water supply in washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus of controlling water supply in a washing machine is provided. The apparatus includes a key-input part, a controller, a heater, and a pulsator. A user inputs a washing condition using thekey-input part. The controller controls a washing cycle to be performed according to a washing course selected through the key-input part and controls washing water to be supplied over a multi-step during a water-supply cycle. The heater heats the washing water according to a control signal of the controller. The pulsator performs an agitatioon motion according to a control signal of the controller. Also, a method of controlling water supply in a washing machine is provided. According to the method, a washing condition is inputted. Washing water is supplied over a multi-step. The heater and thepulsator operate during the water supply. When the water supply is completed, a washing cycle is performed according to a selected course.

Description

Method of controlling water supply in washing machine

technical field

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling water supply in a washing machine capable of minimizing power consumption and improving washing efficiency by operating a heater and an agitator when washing water reaches a predetermined temperature.

Background technique

In general, a washing machine is an electronic product for washing clothes by sequentially performing a water supply cycle, a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, and a spinning cycle according to a set program.

Because the washing machine in the related art uses room temperature washing water directly supplied from the water pipe, not only the temperature of the washing water is low and the detergent is not effectively dissolved in the washing water, but also the clothes with long-lasting dirt cannot be effectively washed. Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a heater is installed at a lower portion of the washing tub to heat wash water to a predetermined temperature using heat generated therefrom, so that detergent is completely dissolved and clothes can be effectively washed.

However, in the case of having a heater in the washing machine, the user should keep the heater operating from the initial stage of the water supply cycle in order to supply and heat the water to the temperature set by the washing process selected by the user, which results in a large amount of work. consumption.

In addition, the washing machine of the related art performs heating without performing a washing operation while the heater operates during a water supply cycle, so that washing efficiency deteriorates.

Contents of the invention

technical problem

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for controlling water supply in a washing machine, which can be performed by allowing the water supply cycle to be performed in multiple steps and allowing the heater to be heated when the temperature of the wash water supplied to the water storage tub reaches a predetermined temperature operation to minimize power consumption.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for controlling the water supply in a washing machine, which not only can completely dissolve the detergent contained in the wash water, but also can completely dissolve the cleaning agent contained in the washing water by allowing the agitator and the heater to operate simultaneously during the water supply cycle. Perform a micro wash cycle before the main wash cycle starts.

technical solution

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling water supply in a washing machine, comprising: receiving washing conditions through an operation key input part; receiving an operation command through the operation key input part; performing simultaneous supply of cold water and hot water to the water storage tub performing a primary water supply operation inside the water storage bucket until the water temperature in the water storage bucket reaches the first set temperature; performing a secondary water supply operation in which only hot water is supplied to the inside of the water storage bucket until the water level in the water storage bucket reaches the set water level; and The heating operation of heating the water in the water storage bucket is performed until the temperature of the water in the water storage bucket reaches the second set temperature.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling water supply in a washing machine, the method comprising: receiving washing conditions; supplying washing water in a plurality of steps so as to reach a set temperature according to a selected course; The heater and the agitator are operated; and when the supply of wash water is completed, a wash cycle is performed according to a selected course.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method of controlling water supply in a washing machine, the method comprising: receiving washing conditions through the operation key input part; receiving an operation command through the operation key input part; supplying to the inside of the water storage tub; secondly supplying only hot water and stopping the supply of cold water; and controlling the operation of the heater and/or the agitator according to the temperature of the wash water stored in the water storage tub.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method of controlling water supply in a washing machine, wherein during a water supply cycle for washing, cold water and hot water are simultaneously supplied before the water reaches an initial set temperature or an initial set water level, Then only hot water is supplied until the water reaches the final set water level; and when the water supply is completed, the operation of the heater and/or the agitator is controlled depending on whether the temperature of the wash water reaches the final set temperature.

Beneficial effect

According to the above apparatus and method for controlling water supply in a washing machine, wash water is supplied in multiple steps, and a heater is controlled to operate when the wash water reaches a predetermined temperature, so as to reduce power consumption required to operate the heater.

In addition, since the heater and the agitator are simultaneously operated, the detergent is quickly dissolved and micro-washing is performed before the main washing cycle, so that washing efficiency is improved.

In addition, since the wash water is supplied in multiple steps and the heater is operated at a predetermined point, the time required for the wash water to reach a set temperature is reduced, which shortens the washing time.

Description of drawings

The above objects, other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

1 is a block diagram of an apparatus for controlling water supply in a washing machine according to the present invention;

2 is a diagram illustrating water supply processing according to a method of controlling water supply in a washing machine according to the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for controlling water supply in a washing machine according to the present invention.

Detailed ways

In order to achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention embodied and broadly described, there is provided an apparatus for controlling water supply in a washing machine, comprising: an operation key input section for inputting washing conditions; The course selected by the operation key input part controls the washing cycle to be performed, and controls the supply of washing water in a plurality of steps during the water supply cycle; the heater for heating the washing water according to the control signal of the controller; and the agitator for The stirring motion is performed according to the control signal of the controller.

invention model

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus for controlling water supply in a washing machine according to the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, the equipment for controlling water supply includes: an operation key input part 100, which is used to allow the user to input washing conditions and select a washing process; a water level detection part 201, which is used to detect the water level according to the amount of water; The process selected by the key input part 100 detects the water temperature; the controller 300 is used to control the relevant cycle to be executed according to the process selected by the operation key input part 100; the load driver 500 is used to control the heating according to the control signal of the controller 300 The operation of the controller 600 and the motor 700; the display part 800 for displaying the operation state according to the control signal of the controller 300; and the storage device 400 for storing various reference values. In detail, the controller 300 controls the temperature of the wash water by allowing the wash water to be supplied in multiple steps so as to reach the temperature set by the course selected by the user. When controlling the heater to operate during the water supply operation, the controller 300 simultaneously performs a stirring motion by simultaneously driving the motor 700 to control the stirrer (not shown).

In operation, when a user selects a desired washing course using the operation key input part 100 and inputs an operation command, the controller 300 outputs a control command so that a cycle can be performed according to the selected course.

At this time, the controller 300 controls to first perform the detection of the water amount to set the water level according to the detected water amount, and controls the water to be supplied so as to reach the water temperature set according to the selected course. When the wash water reaches the set temperature and water level, the supply of wash water is stopped and the agitator is regularly operated to perform a wash cycle. When the washing cycle is completed, the washing water is discharged outside along the discharge hose, and clean washing water is supplied again. When the supply of wash water is completed, a rinsing cycle is performed. When the rinse cycle is complete, a spin cycle is performed to complete the entire wash cycle.

2 is a diagram illustrating a water supply process according to a method of controlling water supply in a washing machine according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, according to the inventive method of controlling water supply in a washing machine, wash water is supplied in at least two steps. In each washing cycle, hot and cold water are supplied selectively or simultaneously.

In detail, during the primary water supply interval A, cold water and hot water are simultaneously supplied, and during the secondary water supply interval B, only hot water is supplied. After that, the heater 600 is selectively controlled to operate depending on the water temperature. In addition, a stirrer (not shown) may be controlled by driving the motor 700 so as to perform a stirring motion simultaneously with the heater 600 . When the wash water reaches the set water temperature, the heater 600 is not operated during the wash cycle interval C to perform the relevant cycle.

In more detail, when a user inputs washing conditions and presses an operation button, washing water is supplied. Here, the initial water supply is performed before the wash water reaches a first set temperature previously set according to a control signal of the controller 300 . At this time, cold water and hot water are supplied at the same time.

For example, in the case where the first set temperature is approximately 32° C., when the water temperature detected by the water temperature detecting portion 202 is detected to be the first set temperature, the initial water supply is completed. In addition, when the first water supply is completed, the supply of cold water is stopped, and only hot water is supplied up to the set water level according to the detection of the water amount. Then, when the detected water temperature does not reach the temperature set by the above selected process after water supply until the set water level is completed, the heater 600 operates so that the wash water can reach the relevant water temperature.

Meanwhile, when the heater 600 starts to operate, the motor 700 is controlled to operate simultaneously so that the stirrer (not shown) can perform stirring motion simultaneously with the operation of the heater 600 . In other words, two-step water supply is performed such that the primary water supply uses a small amount of water to increase the concentration of detergent to remove major contamination, and the secondary water supply only supplies hot water to reduce the time the heater 600 operates. Since only hot water is supplied during the secondary water supply, the time required for the temperature of the wash water to reach the set temperature is shortened. In addition, since the wash water is supplied in multiple steps as described above, power consumption is reduced. In addition, it is possible to improve washing efficiency by operating the motor 700 while the heater 600 is operating.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method of controlling water supply in a washing machine according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the user inputs a power-on command (S110) and selects a washing course (S120). At this time, set the temperature of the washing water according to the washing process selected above. After that, when the user inputs an operation command (S130), initial water supply is performed (S140). Here, cold water and hot water are simultaneously supplied during the initial water supply. In addition, the amount of wash water supplied during the initial water supply, ie, the first set water level, may be automatically set by a program.

In addition, it is determined whether the wash water reaches a first set temperature (S150) during the initial water supply (S140). If the temperature of the wash water reaches the first set temperature as a result of the judgment, secondary water supply is started (S170). On the contrary, if the temperature of the wash water does not reach the first set temperature as a result of the judgment, it is possible to judge whether the water level of the wash water reaches the first set water level (S160). Furthermore, in a case where it is judged that the water level has reached the first set water level, it is possible to perform control to complete the primary water supply and start the secondary water supply regardless of whether the wash water has reached the first set water level. Conversely, in a case where it is judged that the water level has not reached the first set water level, it is possible to perform control to start the secondary water supply.

Meanwhile, unlike the primary water supply, only hot water is supplied during the secondary water supply.

In detail, in the secondary water supply, it is judged whether the washing water reaches the second set water level (S180). If it is determined that the wash water has reached the second set water level, it is determined whether the wash water has reached the second set water temperature (S190). If it is judged that the washing water has reached the second set water temperature, a washing cycle is performed according to the set procedure (S220). On the contrary, if it is judged that the washing water has not reached the second set water temperature, the heater is controlled to operate (S210). Here, the operations of the heater and the agitator are performed until the wash water reaches the second set water temperature. When the washing water reaches the second set water temperature, the operation of the heater is stopped and the agitator is controlled to operate regularly. Here, when the wash water reaches the second set water temperature, both the heater and the agitator may be controlled to stop their operations, and the agitator may be controlled to operate again during the washing cycle. A washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, and a dehydration cycle are performed according to a set course. When all cycles are executed, all cycles are completed.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions, and substitutions are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Industrial Applicability

According to the apparatus and method for controlling water supply in a washing machine, power consumption for operating a heater is reduced, and time required to heat wash water to a set temperature is shortened.

Claims (2)

1. A method of controlling water supply in a washing machine, comprising: Partially receive washing conditions through the operation key input; An operation command is received through the operation key input part; performing an initial water supply operation of simultaneously supplying cold water and hot water to the inside of the water storage bucket until the water temperature in the water storage bucket reaches the first set temperature; performing a secondary water supply operation of supplying hot water only to the inside of the water storage tank until the water level in the water storage tank reaches the set water level; and The heating operation of heating the water in the water storage bucket is performed until the temperature of the water in the water storage bucket reaches the second set temperature. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the stirrer for performing the stirring motion is operated in the heating operation process.

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