KR101053586B1 - How to drive a washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of operating a washing machine, and more particularly, to provide a washing machine and a driving method having a new structure in which a process for sterilizing laundry is performed during washing.

To this end, the present invention is a washing method using a washing machine having at least one steam dissipation device for providing a predetermined amount of steam into the drum, washing water for supplying the washing water according to the amount of laundry into the drum in which the laundry is put Feeding step; Washing step of performing the washing by rotating the drum for a set time; An intermediate dewatering step of draining the remaining wash water in the drum upon completion of the washing and performing intermediate dehydration through high speed rotation of the drum; Sterilization step of sterilizing the laundry by discharging the steam into the drum in which the laundry is put into operation by the completion of the intermediate dehydration; A rinse step of performing at least one rinse upon completion of the sterilization; And, the final dewatering step of performing a final dewatering stroke upon completion of the rinsing: provides a washing method of the washing machine characterized in that it proceeds sequentially.

Washing machine, steam diverter, steam, sterilization, refresh

Description

Operating method in washing machine

1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal structure of a general drum washing machine

2 is a schematic state view of the internal structure of a typical drum washing machine viewed from the front;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal structure of the drum washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention

5 is a flow chart showing a series of processes for performing a laundry using a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

110. Main body 120. Out tub

130. Drum 210. Heating part

220. Steam supply pipe 221. Valve

230. Injection nozzle

The present invention relates to a method for operating a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine of a new structure and a method of operating the same, which allow a process of sterilization of laundry to be performed during washing.

Generally, a washing machine is classified into a pulsator washing machine in which a drum is set in a vertical direction, and a drum washing machine in which the drum is laid in a horizontal direction.

Here, since the drum washing machine is laid down in the horizontal direction as described above, the drum washing machine performs washing by dropping the laundry introduced into the drum.

1 and 2 schematically show a conventional structure of the aforementioned drum washing machine.

That is, the drum washing machine includes a main body 10, an out tub 20 mounted in the main body 10, a drum 30 rotatably mounted in the out tub 20, and the drum 30. It is configured to include a driving means for driving.

Here, an inlet 11 through which laundry is introduced is formed on the front surface of the main body 10, and a door 40 that opens and closes the inlet is mounted at a peripheral portion of the inlet 11.

In addition, a rim 50 for sealing between the door 40 and the inlet 11 is mounted on the inner circumference of the inlet 11.

In addition, the outer tub 20 is provided with dampers 21 at both bottoms of the outer circumferential surface thereof to form a state of being supported in the main body 10.

In addition, the driving means comprises a drive motor 71 for driving the drum 30, and a belt 72 connected to transfer the driving force of the drive motor 71 to the drum 30.

On the other hand, the washing process of the drum washing machine having the above-described structure is generally performed while sequentially performing a washing stroke, a rinsing stroke, and a final dewatering stroke.

However, in the aforementioned drum washing machine and its washing process, there is no separate structure and separate stroke for sterilizing laundry.

In other words, although the demand for laundry administration for laundry that needs to be sterilized, such as diapers of babies, is increasing, the situation has not been solved.

Of course, although not shown in recent years, a separate washing water heater for heating the washing water is also provided in the washing machine so that it can be boiled laundry structure, but since the sterilization of the laundry was made only by the boiling stroke is required for the boil administration Due to the increased washing water and power consumption is not greatly favored.

Therefore, there is a need for a new structure and stroke that can sterilize laundry even with a small amount of wash water and low power consumption.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned various problems with the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a new operation method for the progress of the administration for sterilization of the laundry while the washing is in progress.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a driving method using a washing machine having at least one steam dissipation device for providing a predetermined amount of steam into the drum, supplying the washing water according to the amount of laundry to the drum in which the laundry is put Washing water supply step; Washing step of performing the washing by rotating the drum for a set time; An intermediate dewatering step of draining the remaining wash water in the drum upon completion of the washing and performing intermediate dehydration through high speed rotation of the drum; Sterilization step of sterilizing the laundry by discharging the steam into the drum in which the laundry is put into operation by the completion of the intermediate dehydration; A rinse step of performing at least one rinse upon completion of the sterilization; In addition, a final dehydration step of performing a final dehydration stroke upon completion of the rinsing is provided.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 showing preferred embodiments of the above-described embodiments of the present invention and preferred embodiments of the driving method of the present invention.

First, the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 110, an outer tub 120, a drum 130, and a steam dissipation device as shown in FIG. It is set as an Example.

At this time, the main body 110 forms an appearance of the drum washing machine, and the outer tub 120 is provided in a state of being supported in the main body 110.

The drum 130 is rotatably installed in the outer tub 120, and is mounted such that a side opened toward the inlet 111 of the main body 110 is positioned.                     

At this time, the door 140 for opening and closing the inlet 111 is mounted to a portion where the inlet 111 of the main body 110 is formed, and the door 140 and the inner circumferential surface of the inlet 111. Rim 150 for sealing between the inlet 111 is mounted.

In addition, a plurality of through holes 131 are formed on the circumferential surface of the drum 130 so that washing water and steam can be introduced into the drum 130.

In addition, the steam dissipation device is configured to provide a predetermined amount of steam into the drum 130, at least one is provided.

The steam dissipation device is installed to vaporize the water with high temperature heat to provide it into the drum 130, and by the heat generating unit 210 and the heat generating unit 210 to provide high temperature heat to vaporize the water. It is configured to include a steam supply pipe 220 through which the flow of steam is steamed.

In addition, the steam diverging device further comprises a spray nozzle 230 for discharging steam flowing through the steam supply pipe 220 into the drum 130.

At this time, the injection nozzle 230 is configured in the shape of a nozzle (nozzle) to enable a smooth divergence of steam, the end of the discharge of steam is preferably installed to face the drum 130.

Of course, as shown in Figure 4 attached to the end of the injection nozzle 230 in which the discharge of steam is made may be configured to only communicate with the inside of the outer tub 120, in this case, the steam directly into the laundry in the drum (130) It is not preferred because it is not sprayed.                     

In particular, the steam dissipation device should be configured to enable the divergence of the selective steam, for this purpose further comprises an on-off valve 221 for opening and closing of the pipeline on the pipeline of the steam supply pipe 220 Yes.

Hereinafter, a driving method according to an embodiment of the present invention for performing a washing stroke with the structure of the washing machine described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5.

First, the controller (not shown) controlling the operation of the washing machine continuously checks generation of a request for executing a washing operation by a user (S110).

If the user selects to perform the operation of the washing machine in a state in which laundry is put into the drum 130, a proper amount of washing water is supplied into the drum 130 (S120).

At this time, the appropriate amount of the washing water supplied into the drum 130 is a predetermined amount according to the amount of laundry.

In the process of supplying the wash water, it is preferable to supply an appropriate amount of detergent.

When the supply of the washing water is completed, the drum 130 is rotated for a set time (S130).

In this case, the general washing process is to perform the washing by separating the washing time on the laundry by a complex action such as the friction between the water flow and the laundry, the emulsification of the detergent as the washing water is forced to flow.

At this time, the rotation direction, the rotational speed, the stroke progress time, etc. of the drum 130 for the washing stroke is preferably the same as the conventional washing stroke.                     

When the washing stroke as described above is completed, the remaining washing water in the drum is drained, and when the draining is completed, intermediate dehydration is performed through the high speed rotation of the drum 130 (S140).

When the intermediate dehydration is completed, the controller generates steam by operating a steam diverging device and operates an on / off valve 221 to control the generated steam to dissipate the generated steam into the drum 130 (S150).

At this time, the generation of steam is generated by the evaporation of the water supplied to the steam dissipating device by the heat of the heat generating unit 210 forming the steam dissipating device, the generated steam is generated in the opening and closing valve 221 It is flowed while being guided by the steam supply pipe 220 and is emitted into the drum 130 through the injection nozzle 230.

Steam dissipated into the drum 130 as described above is produced as the moisture is evaporated by the heat generated by the heat generating unit 210 to achieve a high temperature, that is, a temperature that is capable of sterilization such as bacteria, and thus the drum 130 Sterilization is performed on the laundry inside.

In this case, the temperature at which the germs and the like can be sterilized is a temperature of 60 ° C. (preferably 70 ° C.) or more.

In particular, the process of providing the steam is controlled to be continuously carried out for a time such that the sterilization of the various bacteria of the laundry in the drum 130, such as 3 to 10 minutes.

Of course, if steam is provided for a long time, it is not preferable because the amount of water used and power consumption can be large compared to the sterilization effect.                     

As a result, the sterilization of the laundry in the drum 130 is completed by providing the steam for the predetermined time.

When the sterilization process is completed, the on / off valve 221 is operated to block the steam supply pipe 220 to stop the further steam supply and to cut off the power supply of the heat generating unit 210.

Thereafter, at least one or more rinsing strokes are performed (S160), and when the rinsing stroke is completed, the final dewatering stroke is performed (S170) to complete the washing.

On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present invention, after the final dehydration stroke is completed by operating the steam dissipating device further includes a final steam providing step (S180) for discharging steam back into the drum 130, the laundry is put therein It features.

At this time, the final steam providing step is provided to perform a refreshing action of the laundry is completed, while also sterilizing the various contaminants that may be attached to the laundry during the rinsing process.

Accordingly, the steam is preferably provided above the temperature at which the laundry can be sterilized, and the time for providing the steam may be performed only for a time enough to refresh the laundry in the drum. Do.

In particular, as described above, the amount of steam sprayed into the drum 130 may be set so that the amount may be minute enough to not wet the laundry.

As a result, the overall washing is finished by the completion of the above-described final steam providing step.

As described above, the operating method of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is that the user's satisfaction with the washing performance can be improved by sterilizing the laundry in the dehydrated state with high temperature steam before the rinsing stroke is performed. Have too.

In addition, by providing a high-temperature steam again to the laundry in the drum after the washing is completed for a short time, it is possible to refresh and sterilize the laundry to further improve the user's satisfaction with the washing performance.

Claims (9)

In the operating method using a washing machine having at least one steam dissipation device for providing a predetermined amount of steam into the drum, Washing water supply step of supplying the washing water according to the amount of laundry into the drum in which the laundry is put; Washing step of performing the washing by rotating the drum for a set time; An intermediate dewatering step of draining the remaining wash water in the drum upon completion of the washing and performing intermediate dehydration through high speed rotation of the drum; Sterilization step of sterilizing the laundry in the dehydrated state by the intermediate dehydration by discharging steam into the drum in which the laundry is put into operation by the completion of the intermediate dehydration; A rinse step of performing at least one rinse upon completion of the sterilization; And, The final dehydration step of performing a final dehydration stroke upon completion of the rinsing: operating method of the washing machine, characterized in that proceeds sequentially. The method of claim 1, Steam provided in the sterilization step Method for operating a washing machine characterized in that the laundry is provided at a temperature higher than possible. The method of claim 1, The sterilization step Method for operating a washing machine, characterized in that performed for a sufficient time to be able to sterilize various bacteria and the like. The method of claim 1, After the final dehydration stage Operating method of the washing machine characterized in that it further comprises the step of providing a final steam for discharging steam into the drum in which laundry is put into operation by the steam diverging device. The method of claim 4, wherein Steam provided in the final steam providing step Method for operating a washing machine characterized in that the laundry is provided at a temperature higher than possible. The method of claim 4, wherein The final steam providing step Method of operating a washing machine, characterized in that performed only for a time enough to refresh the laundry in the drum (Refresh). The method of claim 1, The sterilization step is a method of operating a washing machine, characterized in that the steam generated by the steam dispersing device is made by direct dissipation into the drum. The method of claim 2, The sterilization temperature is operating method of the washing machine, characterized in that more than 60 ℃ inside the drum. The method of claim 3, wherein The sterilization step is a driving method of the washing machine, characterized in that 3 to 10 minutes.

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