KR20060097210A - Washing machine and its foaming method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine equipped with a drying apparatus and a method for removing the foam thereof, and an object thereof is to effectively remove bubbles introduced into the drying apparatus due to the generation of a large amount of foam during the washing administration.

To this end, the present invention, in the bubble removing method of the washing machine for removing bubbles in the drying apparatus, it is determined whether the drying stroke, if the drying stroke is to remove the foam by supplying water to the drying apparatus.

Description

Washing machine and method to remove suds

1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a washing machine having a drying apparatus according to the present invention;

2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a washing machine with a drying apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of the condensation duct of the drying apparatus according to the present invention,

4 is a cross-sectional view showing a condensation duct of the drying apparatus according to the present invention;

5 is a control block diagram of a bubble removing device of the washing machine according to the present invention;

6 is an operation flowchart of the bubble removing method of the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

7 is an operation flowchart of a bubble removing method of the washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

11: tank 12: rotating drum

20: water supply device 21: water supply valve

40: drying device 42: drying duct

43: condensation duct 51: injection nozzle

52; Condensate Supply Pipe 130: Control Unit

The present invention relates to a washing machine with a drying apparatus, and more particularly, to a washing machine and a method for removing the foam that removes the foam flowing into the drying apparatus due to the generation of a large amount of foam during the washing operation.

In general, a drying apparatus is a device for drying clothes by supplying hot air heated by a heater to a drum while rotating a drum containing wet clothes (laundries) at a low speed. Usually, the drum washing machine) is released to perform the drying stroke alone or to perform the drying stroke after the completion of dehydration in connection with the washing stroke.

Washing machine equipped with such a drying device is Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-0435241.

When the washing machine disclosed in the publication performs a drying stroke after washing and dehydrating stroke is completed, the heater is driven to generate compressed air in a drying fan (blower) while spraying the space inside the duct.

The injected compressed air passes through the duct internal space and is converted into warm air, and the converted warm air is supplied to the laundry inside the drum to dry the laundry.

In such a washing machine, when a user uses a detergent that exceeds a standard amount or uses a detergent that generates a lot of foam, a large amount of foam is generated during the washing administration and is pushed up into the duct.

However, the conventional washing machine does not have an algorithm for removing the bubbles introduced into the duct, so that the foam remains in the duct, and the foam remaining in the duct when the air is circulated during the drying stroke is drummed. There was a problem in that it was introduced into the inside to recontaminate the laundry after washing.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the conventional problems as described above, an object of the present invention, to provide a washing machine and a method for removing the foam to remove the foam flowing into the drying apparatus due to the generation of a large amount of foam during the washing administration. It is.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine and a method for removing the foam by performing a bubble removing stroke after the washing stroke or before the drying stroke to effectively remove the bubbles (foreign substances) present in the drying apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a washing machine having a drying apparatus, comprising: a signal input unit for selecting a drying stroke or a washing stroke; Water supply means for supplying water to the drying apparatus; And a control unit controlling water supply to remove bubbles in the drying apparatus when a drying stroke or a washing stroke is selected by the signal input unit.

The water supply control is characterized in that the water supply to the drying device after the washing stroke, during the rinsing stroke or before the drying stroke.

The drying device is a duct connected to the water tank for circulating the heated air in the water tank, characterized in that the water supply means is a water supply valve for supplying water into the duct.

And, the present invention is characterized in that in the washing machine for removing bubbles in the drying apparatus, it is determined whether the drying stroke, and if the drying stroke, water is supplied to the drying apparatus to remove the foam.

The defoaming stroke is characterized in that it is carried out before the drying stroke.

In addition, the present invention, in the method of removing the foam of a washing machine equipped with a drying apparatus, it is determined whether the washing administration is complete, and when the washing operation is completed, water is supplied to the drying apparatus to remove bubbles in the drying apparatus. .

The defoaming stroke is characterized in that the sole stroke for removing bubbles or foreign matter in the drying apparatus.

The defoaming stroke is characterized in that it is performed simultaneously with the rinsing stroke.

The defoaming stroke is characterized in that for supplying water for a predetermined time or to the inside of the drying device a predetermined number of times for a predetermined time.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a washing machine with a drying apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a washing machine with a drying apparatus according to the present invention.

1 and 2, the washing machine equipped with the drying apparatus of the present invention is a drum-type water tank 11 installed inside the main body 10 for the fresh water of the wash water, and can be rotated inside the water tank 11. It is installed to include a rotating drum 12 formed with a plurality of dehydration holes.

The lower portion of the tank 11 is provided with a motor 13 for rotating the rotating drum 12 in the forward or reverse direction to perform the washing, rinsing and dehydration operation, the front of the water tank 11 and the rotating drum 12 An opening 14 is formed at the front of the main body 10 to allow the user to take out the laundry, and a door 15 for opening and closing the opening 14 is provided at the front of the main body 10.

In the upper part of the water tank 11, a detergent supply device 24 for introducing detergent and fabric softener into the water tank 11, and a water supply device 20 for supplying water to the detergent supply device 24 is provided. Is installed.

The water supply device 20 includes a water supply pipe 23 for supplying water toward the water tank 11 and water supply valves 21 and 22 installed in the water supply pipe 23 to control the water supply of the water supply pipe 23.

At this time, the water supply valve 21 is composed of an electric three-way valve connected to the cold water side so that the water is supplied in three directions of pre-washing, main washing and drying, the water supply pipe 23 is the detergent supply device 24 the water supplied from the outside It is connected to the detergent supply device 24 so that it can be supplied to the side.

In addition, a separate connection pipe 25 is installed between the detergent supply device 24 and the water tank 11 so that water passing through the detergent supply device 24 may be supplied to the water tank 11. This allows the water supplied to the inside of the water tank 11 to pass through the detergent supply device 24 so that the softener in the detergent supply device 24 can be supplied to the water tank 11 in a state in which the softener is dissolved in water.

The detergent supply device 24 is divided into a plurality of spaces, and is installed on the front side of the main body 10 so that the user can easily put a softener for imparting detergent or fragrance to each space.

In addition, the present invention includes a drainage device 30 for draining the water in the water tank 11. The drainage device 30 includes a drain pipe 31 connected to the lower part of the water tank 11 to guide the water of the water tank 11 to the outside, and a drain pump 32 installed on the drain pipe 31.

In addition, the present invention includes a drying apparatus 40 for drying the laundry. The drying apparatus 40 includes a drying fan 41 installed on the top of the water tank 11, an air inlet 45 formed above the discharge port 41b of the drying fan 41 and the opening 14 of the water tank 11. Condensation mounted on the rear of the water tank 11 to connect between the drying duct 42, the air outlet 46 formed in the rear lower portion of the water tank 11 and the inlet 41a of the drying fan 41 to connect between And a duct 43.

The drying device 40 is a drying heater 44 installed inside the drying duct 42 to supply hot air into the water tank 11, and the condensation duct 43 is wet steam generated by drying the laundry. It includes a condenser installed in the condensation duct 43 so that the water is condensed in the process of rising through.

3 is a partial perspective view showing a condensation duct of the drying apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a condensation duct of the drying apparatus according to the present invention.

3 and 4, the condensation duct 43 is connected between the air outlet 46 formed in the lower rear of the water tank 11 and the inlet 41a of the drying fan 41 installed on the top of the water tank 11. By forming a flow path to be formed, it is bent to a predetermined curvature and one open surface is tightly coupled to the rear of the water tank 11 and the suction port (41a) of the drying fan 41.

The condenser installed in the condensation duct 43 is installed on the inner upper portion of the condensation duct 43 and spray nozzles 51 for injecting condensed water (cold water) into the condensation duct 43, and the spray nozzles 51. Condensed water supply pipe 52 is connected to the water supply valve 21 to supply the condensed water. The condensation device is configured to allow the condensed water injected from the upper injection nozzle 51 to flow down to the lower portion along the inner surface of the condensation duct 43 to increase the contact between the humid air rising from the lower portion and the cooling water, thereby improving the dehumidifying effect. It would be possible.

A discharge port 43a for discharging the condensed water is formed at the bottom of the condensation duct 43, and one side of the discharge port 43a is connected to the drain hose 31. And the water temperature sensor 47 is installed between the discharge port (43a) and the air discharge port 46. The water temperature sensor 47 operates the water supply valve 21 such that the amount of water that accumulates at the bottom of the condensation duct 43 is greater than the amount of water discharged through the outlet 43a, so that the water temperature sensor 47 is submerged in the water. It detects the water temperature in the state and provides the detected water temperature information to the controller to be described later. Accordingly, the control unit determines the end point of the drying stroke based on the temperature of the condensed water.

5 is a control block diagram of the bubble removing device of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, the signal input unit 100, the water level detecting unit 110, the temperature detecting unit 120, the control unit 130 and the driving unit 140 It is configured to include).

The signal input unit 100 inputs a washing course selected by the user (alone washing stroke, single drying stroke, washing stroke with drying stroke, etc.), washing temperature, dehydration rpm, rinsing addition, and the like to the controller 130. And, the water level detection unit 110 detects the water level of the wash water supplied to the water tank 11, the temperature detection unit 120 condensed on the wash water temperature, condensation duct 43 in the water tank (11) The temperature of the water is composed of a water temperature sensor 47 and the like.

The control unit 130 is a microcomputer that controls the water supply valve 21 to supply the condensed water to the condensation duct 43 after the washing stroke or before the drying stroke to remove bubbles introduced into the condensation duct 43. (21) is opened toward the condensation duct 43, the timer for counting the water supply time or water supply frequency of the condensate supplied to the condensation duct 43, and the water supply time or according to the washing course, washing machine capacity or the size of the rotating drum (12) Data such as watering frequency is stored in the ROM table in advance.

The driving unit 140 drives the motor 13, the water supply valves 21 and 22, the drainage pump 32, the drying fan 41, and the drying heater 44 according to the driving control signal of the controller 130. .

Hereinafter, the operation process and the effect for removing the foam in the washing machine having a drying device configured as described above will be described.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for removing the foam of the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The foam removing stroke of the present invention may be performed in an independent stroke after a washing stroke or simultaneously during a rinsing stroke. Therefore, when the washing stroke is performed, the bubble removing stroke may be automatically set as a default or a separate option key may be provided so that the bubble removing stroke is performed only when the user presses the option key.

First, a user puts laundry into the inside of the rotating drum 12 and puts detergent into the detergent supply device 24, and the washing course (for example, a washing stroke with a drying stroke), washing temperature, dehydration rpm, When operation information such as rinsing is selected, the operation information selected by the user is input to the controller 130 through the signal input unit 100 (S100).

Accordingly, the controller 130 turns on the water supply valves 21 and 22 to supply water to the detergent supply device 24 through the water supply pipe 23, and the detergent inside the detergent supply device 24 is three supply supply devices. Dissolved by the wash water supplied to the water tank 11 via the 24, it is supplied to the water tank 11 through the connecting pipe 25.

After a predetermined amount of washing water is supplied into the water tank 11 through the connection pipe 25, the water supply valves 21 and 22 are turned off in the controller 130 to stop the water supply to the water supply pipe 23. After the water supply operation is completed, the rotating drum 12 is rotated by the operation of the motor 13 under the control of the controller 130 and performs the washing operation according to the selected washing course (S110).

At this time, when using a detergent or more than a standard amount or a detergent that generates a lot of foam, a large amount of foam is generated during the washing administration, the water tank 11 through the air outlet 46 formed in the lower rear of the water tank (11) Foam is pushed up into the condensation duct 43 is mounted on the rear of the.

Thus, in the present invention, the bubbles introduced into the condensation duct 43 are further pushed up or circulated to the drying duct 42 connected to the condensation duct 43 due to the air pressure when the air is circulated during the subsequent drying stroke. In order to prevent this, a stroke is devised to remove bubbles introduced into the condensation duct 43 after washing or before drying.

6 illustrates a method of automatically performing a bubble removing stroke after washing.

When the washing stroke is completed, the controller 130 opens the water supply valve 21 connected to the condensation duct 43 toward the condensation duct 43 to remove bubbles introduced into the condensation duct 43.

When the water supply valve 21 is opened toward the condensation duct 43, condensate (cold water) is injected into the condensation duct 43 from the injection nozzle 51 through the condensate supply pipe 52 and flows into the condensation duct 43. The foam is removed while being washed off (S120).

At this time, the control unit 130 counters the water supply time of the condensate water injected into the condensation duct 43, that is, the opening time of the water supply valve 21 to remove the bubbles introduced into the condensation duct in advance. It is determined whether or not enough time has passed (S130).

After the defoaming time T1 has elapsed (YES), the water supply valve 21 opened to the condensation duct 43 is closed to shut off the water supply to the condensation duct 43 while rinsing, dehydrating and drying according to the selected operation information. Perform some or all of the administration and ends the washing course (S140).

Next, a method of performing the bubble removing stroke in an independent stroke before the drying stroke regardless of the washing stroke will be described with reference to FIG. 7.

7 is an operation flowchart of the bubble removing method of the washing machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the bubble removing stroke of the present invention is a bubble removing stroke so that the bubble removing stroke is automatically performed when the drying stroke is performed regardless of the washing stroke It can be set as a default, and of course, the present invention can be applied in various ways.

First, when a user puts laundry inside the rotating drum 12 and selects a washing course (for example, a single drying stroke) (S200), the controller 130 determines whether it is a drying stroke (S210). The water supply valve 21 is opened toward the condensation duct 43 to remove foreign substances (including bubbles) present in the condensation duct 43 or to keep the inside of the condensation duct 43 in which air is circulated.

When the water supply valve 21 is opened toward the condensation duct 43, condensate (cold water) is injected into the condensation duct 43 from the injection nozzle 51 through the condensation water supply pipe 52, and thus inside the condensation duct 43. Removing the foreign material to keep the condensation duct 43 clean (S220).

At this time, the controller 130 counters the water supply time of the condensate water injected into the condensation duct 43, that is, the opening time of the water supply valve 21, and is sufficient to remove the foreign matter inside the condensation duct. It is determined whether elapsed time (S230).

The foreign material removal time (T2) can be set equal to or different from the bubble removal time (T1), which can be arbitrarily changed by the designer according to the washing machine capacity or washing course.

When the foreign matter removal time (T2) has elapsed (YES), the water supply valve 21 opened toward the condensation duct 43 is closed to perform a drying administration while closing the water supply to the condensation duct 43 and ending the washing course ( S240).

On the other hand, in the present invention, but the time to remove the bubble (including the point of removing foreign matters) with the water supply time of the condensate water injected into the condensation duct 43, the present invention is not limited to this, but a certain number of times (about 2 to 3 times) Of course, it is possible to determine the point of bubble removal (including when removing foreign matter) by supplying condensate.

In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention has been described using a dry drum washing machine as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to any washing machine including a drying function or a refresh function (removal of smell and dust of clothing). .

As described above, according to the washing machine and the foam removing method according to the present invention, to prevent the re-contamination of laundry by removing the foam flowing into the drying apparatus due to the generation of a large amount of foam during the washing administration, after washing administration Alternatively, it is possible to increase the cleansing effect by effectively removing bubbles (foreign substances) present in the drying apparatus by performing a bubble removing stroke before the drying stroke.

What has been described above is just one embodiment for carrying out the washing machine and the method for removing the foam according to the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, it is within the technical spirit of the present invention Of course, various modifications are possible by those who have knowledge.

Claims (13)

In a washing machine with a drying device, A signal input unit for selecting a drying stroke or a washing stroke; Water supply means for supplying water to the drying apparatus; And A control unit for controlling water supply to remove bubbles in the drying apparatus when a drying stroke or a washing stroke is selected by the signal input unit; Washing machine comprising a. The method of claim 1, The water supply control is a washing machine, characterized in that for supplying water to the drying device after washing administration. The method of claim 1, The water supply control is a washing machine, characterized in that for supplying water to the drying device during the rinsing stroke. The method of claim 1, The water supply control is a washing machine, characterized in that for supplying water to the drying device before the drying stroke. The method of claim 1, The drying device is a washing machine, characterized in that the duct connected to the tank for circulating the heated air in the tank. The method according to claim 1 or 5, The water supply means is a washing machine, characterized in that the water supply valve for supplying water in the duct. In the foam removing method of the washing machine for removing the bubbles in the drying apparatus, Judging whether it is a construction administration, If the drying administration to remove the foam by supplying water to the drying apparatus. The method of claim 7, wherein The defoaming process of the washing machine, characterized in that carried out before the drying stroke. In the foam removing method of the washing machine equipped with a drying device, Determine if the laundry administration is complete, When the washing administration is complete, supplying water to the drying device to remove the foam inside the drying apparatus, the foam removing method of the washing machine. The method according to claim 7 or 9, The defoaming stroke is a foam removing method of the washing machine, characterized in that the sole stroke for removing bubbles or foreign matter in the drying apparatus. The method of claim 9, The defoaming stroke is a bubble removing method of the washing machine, characterized in that is performed at the same time as the rinsing stroke. The method according to claim 7 or 9, The defoaming stroke is a bubble removing method of the washing machine, characterized in that for supplying water into the drying device for a predetermined time. The method according to claim 7 or 9, The defoaming stroke is a bubble removing method of the washing machine, characterized in that for supplying water into the drying device a predetermined number of times for a predetermined time.

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