KR20130063857A - Washing machine and controld method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A washing machine and a control method thereof are provided to improve user convenience by implementing a drying function for drying wet laundry in the washing machine. CONSTITUTION: A washing machine includes the following components. A washing function selecting unit(17) is used for selecting a washing function on a control panel. A drying function selecting unit(18) is used for selecting a drying function on the control panel. If the drying function selecting unit is selected, a control unit(60) rotates a drum(30) by operating a motor and a heater(40). A steam generator(50) is included in the drum. [Reference numerals] (17) Washing function selecting unit; (18) Drying function selecting unit; (30) Drum; (36) Motor; (40) Heater; (50) Steam generator; (60) Control unit

Description

Washing machine and control method {Washing machine and controld method of the same}

The present invention relates to a washing machine and a control method thereof, and to a washing machine and a control method thereof capable of implementing a drying function of drying a cloth using a washing heater in addition to a washing function of removing contamination of the cloth.

In general, a laundry treatment machine includes a washing machine for removing contaminants on clothes, bedding, etc. (hereinafter referred to as 'fo') using water, detergent, and mechanical action, and dry hot air and machines heated by a heater. It includes a dryer for drying the wet cloth using a conventional action.

Since a conventional washing machine is configured to only perform a washing function for decontaminating a cloth, it does not dry the wet cloth. If you install a separate dryer or use a combined washing machine, it is expensive to install a separate dryer or purchase a combined washing machine, and it is not only expensive but also a very small amount of cloth to be dried. If not used, there is a problem that is quite inefficient in terms of cost.

An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine and its control method which can be improved in ease of use by enabling the drying function to dry the wet cloth in the washing machine to remove the contamination of the fabric.

Washing machine according to the present invention for solving the above problems, a control panel, a tub in which the wash water is accommodated, a drum rotatably provided in the tub, the drum is accommodated, a motor for rotating the drum, and the A heater provided in the tub for heating the washing water, a washing function selecting part provided to select a washing function in the control panel, a drying function selecting part provided to select a drying function in the control panel, and the drying function When the selection unit is selected, and including a control unit for operating the heater and driving the motor to rotate the drum.

In the present invention, the control unit may spin-drive the motor at a first rotational speed so that the fabric in the drum is in close contact with the inner wall while the heater is operated.

In the present invention, further comprising a steam generator for generating steam into the drum, the control unit may operate the steam generator in accordance with the signal input through the drying function selection unit.

In the present invention, the control unit, while the steam generator is operating, it can tumble drive the motor at a second rotational speed so that the fabric in the drum tumbled.

In addition, the control method of the washing machine according to the present invention includes the steps of determining whether the drying function is selected, if it is determined that the drying function is selected, operating the heater, and while the heater is operating, the carriage in the drum on the inner wall And spin-driving the motor at a first rotational speed to be in close contact with each other.

In the present invention, stopping the operation of the heater and the drum, by operating a steam generator may further comprise the step of generating steam into the drum to remove wrinkles of the fabric.

In the present invention, while generating steam into the drum, the drum can be tumbled at a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed such that the fabric in the drum is tumbled.

In the present invention, the steam generator may be stopped and the drum may be intermittently tumbled for a predetermined time such that the cloth in the drum is tumbled.

In the washing machine and its control method according to the present invention, since the fabric can be dried using a heater used to heat the wash water, the fabric can be easily dried using the washing machine without installing a separate dryer or purchasing a combined washing machine. There is an advantage to this.

In addition, by driving the motor so that the fabric is tumbled in the drum while supplying steam to the fabric in the drum using a steam generator, there is an advantage that can be eliminated or prevent wrinkles that can occur during drying.

In addition, since the heater and the steam generator are operated in turn for a set time, the operation of the heater and the steam generator is stopped and the drum is intermittently tumbled, so that the fabric can be dried only by the heat remaining in the drum. Overheating and damage can be prevented, and the drying rate of the fabric can be improved.

In addition, by providing a drying function selection unit to select the light dry function on the control panel, there is an advantage that the washing machine user can simply use the drying function.

1 is a view showing a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view of the washing machine shown in FIG.
3 is a view showing a control panel of the washing machine shown in FIG.
4 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the washing machine illustrated in FIG. 1.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a view showing a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the washing machine shown in FIG. 3 is a view showing a control panel of the washing machine shown in FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the washing machine illustrated in FIG. 1.

1 and 2, a washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet 4 and a control panel provided at an upper side of the front side of the cabinet 4 for a user to input driving conditions ( 2) and a tub 20 provided inside the cabinet 4 to accommodate washing water, and a drum 30 rotatably provided in the tub 20 to accommodate the cloth.

The front of the cabinet 4 is formed with a gun entrance hole for entering and exiting the gun, the door entrance hole is provided with a door 6 for opening and closing the gun entrance hole.

The cabinet 4 is provided with a water supply device 7 for supplying the wash water into the tub 20, and a drainage device 8 for draining the wash water in the tub 20.

The tub 20 is provided with a ventilation flow path 32 to allow the outside to communicate with air.

One side of the control panel 2 is provided with a detergent supply unit 12 for supplying a detergent, the other side the input unit 16 for the user to input the operating conditions, and the state or washing machine input to the input unit 16 The display unit 14 for displaying the operating state of the is provided.

Referring to FIG. 3, the input unit 16 includes a course selection dial 16a for selecting one of a plurality of washing courses and an option button for setting details of a course selected through the course selection dial 16a. 16b, a power button 16c, an operation / pause button 16d, and the like.

The course selection dial 16a has items corresponding to the plurality of washing courses on the outer circumference thereof, and the user can select a desired course by rotating the course selection dial 16a.

In addition, the input unit 16 may include a washing function selecting unit 17 for selecting a washing function and a drying function selecting unit 18 for selecting a light dry function.

The washing function selection unit 17 corresponds to a plurality of washing course items written on the course selection dial 16a.

The drying function selection unit 18 may be selected by being written on the outer circumference of the course selection dial 16a, or may be configured by a separate push button. In the present embodiment, the drying function selection unit 18 corresponds to a light dry item written on the outer circumference of the course selection dial 16a.

The display unit 14 may be formed of an LCD or an LED, and may display an input operation condition or operation state by letters, numbers, or symbols.

The motor 36 for rotating the drum 30 is installed inside the cabinet 4.

A heater 40 may be provided inside the tub 20 to heat the wash water during the washing operation.

In addition, the washing machine 1 further includes a steam generator 50 for generating steam into the drum 30. The steam generator 50 is a device for generating steam and supplying it into the drum, for example, will be described as generating high temperature steam by heating water. The steam generator 50 may include a steam generator 52 that generates steam by heating water, and a steam injector 54 that injects steam generated by the steam generator 52 into the drum 30. It may include.

The steam generator 50 is used to increase the washing effect when removing specific contamination during washing operation, and when the drying function is selected through the drying function selection unit 18 to supply steam to the cloth to prevent wrinkles of the cloth. Can be used.

In addition, the washing machine 1 further includes a controller 60 for controlling the operation of the heater 40, the motor 36, and the steam generator 50 according to a signal input through the input unit 16. do.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 5, the control method of the washing machine will be described.

When the user wants to dry the cloth in the washing machine, the user rotates the course selection dial 16a to select the drying function selection unit 18 to use the light dry function.

When the user selects the drying function selection unit 18, the control unit 60 determines that the drying function is selected. (S11)

If it is determined that the drying function is selected, the controller 60 performs the light dry function. That is, the heater 40 is operated and the motor 36 is driven to rotate the drum 30. (S12)

At this time, the controller 60 may spin-drive the motor 36 at a first rotational speed. In the spin driving, when the drum 30 is rotated at a predetermined speed or more, the cloth inside the drum 30 is brought into close contact with the inner wall of the drum 30 by centrifugal force. For example, the first rotational speed is 400RPM to 800RPM, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The rotational speed may be such that the cloth in the drum 30 is in close contact with the inner wall of the drum 30.

When the heater 40 provided in the tub 20 is operated to generate heat, when the cloth inside the drum 30 is in close contact with the inner wall of the drum 30, the heat of the heater 40 is effectively applied to the cloth. Can be delivered evenly.

As described above, while the heater 40 is operated and the drum 30 is spin driven, drying of the cloth is performed by the heat of the heater 40.

The heater 40 may be set to operate for a set time. The setting time may be set differently according to the state or type of the gun.

If it is determined that the set time has elapsed (S13), the heater 40 is stopped, and the motor 36 is also stopped (S14).

Thereafter, the steam generator 50 is operated and the motor 36 is tumble-driven (S15). The steam generated by the steam generator 50 is supplied to the fabric in the drum 30, thereby wrinkling the fabric. Can be removed or prevented. In addition, by tumble driving the motor 36 to rotate at a second rotational speed, the cloth in the drum 30 can be tumbled, and steam can be evenly supplied to the cloth. The second rotational speed is preferably set to a speed lower than the first rotational speed, and may be a speed at which the centrifugal force does not occur in the drum 30. In the present embodiment, for example, the second rotational speed is 46 rpm.

As described above, as the steam is supplied to the fabric and the tumble driving is performed, wrinkles of the fabric may be removed.

The operation of the steam generator 50 and the tumble driving of the motor 36 may be performed for a set time. The setting time may be set differently according to the state or type of the gun.

If it is determined that the set time has elapsed (S16), the operation of the steam generator 50 is stopped, and the motor 36 is also stopped (S17).

Thereafter, the control unit 60 intermittently drives the motor 32 to tumble the cloth in the drum 30. At this time, the drum 30 rotates and stops several times. (S18)

The rotational speed of the motor 36 may be set to about 46 rpm, and the cycle of rotating and stopping is set very long compared to the previous tumble drive. Intermittently tumble driving of the motor 36 may be performed for about 30 minutes. While the drum 30 is intermittently tumbled and the fabric is dried by the heat remaining inside the drum 30, the fabric can be dried while minimizing damage to the fabric.

On the other hand, as described above, the present invention has been described as a washing machine, but is not necessarily limited to a washing machine, a dry washing machine may also have a light dry (LIGHT DRY) function different from the usual drying course.

1: washing machine 2: control panel
4: cabinet 16: input
16a: Course Selection Dial 16: Option Button
17: washing function selection unit 18: drying function selection unit
20: Tub 30: Drum
40: heater 50: steam generator
60:

Claims (8)

A control panel;
A tub for washing water;
A drum rotatably provided in the tub, the drum being accommodated therein;
A motor for rotationally driving the drum;
A heater provided in the tub to heat the wash water;
A washing function selecting unit provided to select a washing function in the control panel;
A drying function selection unit provided to select a drying function in the control panel;
And a controller for operating the heater and driving the motor to rotate the drum when the drying function selection unit is selected. The method according to claim 1,
The control unit,
While the heater is operating, the washing machine to spin-drive the motor at a first rotational speed so that the fabric in the drum is in close contact with the inner wall. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
Further comprising a steam generator for generating steam into the drum,
The control unit, the washing machine to operate the steam generator in accordance with the signal input through the drying function selection unit. The method according to claim 3,
The control unit,
And a tumble drive of the motor at a second rotational speed such that the cloth in the drum tumbles while the steam generator is in operation. Determining whether a drying function is selected;
If it is determined that the drying function is selected, operating the heater;
And spin-driving the motor at a first rotational speed such that the cloth in the drum adheres to the inner wall while the heater is in operation. The method according to claim 5,
Stopping the operation of the heater and the drum, by operating a steam generator to generate steam into the drum to remove the wrinkles of the fabric washing machine further comprising. The method of claim 6,
And controlling the drum to tumble at a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed such that the fabric in the drum tumbles while generating steam into the drum. The method of claim 7,
The control method of the washing machine to stop the steam generator, and to drive the drum intermittently tumble for a set time so that the fabric in the drum is tumbled.

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