KR100556419B1 - Steam washing method for washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a steam washing method of a washing machine, a tub accommodating washing water therein, a drum rotatably installed in the tub, and a steam generator generating steam and supplying steam to the tub. A steam washing method of a washing machine having: a water supply step of supplying washing water into the tub; A heating step of supplying steam to the inside of the tub after the water supply step and heating the laundry while rotating the drum at a speed at which the laundry inside the drum rotates integrally with the drum; It characterized in that it comprises a washing step of washing the laundry after the heating step. Thereby, there is provided a steam washing method of a washing machine which can improve sterilization and washing performance using steam and reduce water and energy usage.

Description

Steam washing method of washing machine {STEAM WASHING METHOD FOR WASHING MACHINE}

1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional washing machine,

2 is a view showing the configuration of a washing machine for explaining the steam washing method of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a control block diagram of the washing machine of FIG.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a steam washing method of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

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

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

21: Tub 29: Drum Drive Motor

37: water supply valve 51: steam generator

55: steam water level sensor 56: steam water supply valve

59 heater 61 control unit

63: cumulative operation time calculation unit 65: temperature sensor

67: water level sensor

The present invention relates to a steam washing method of a washing machine, and more particularly, to a steam washing method of a washing machine to improve sterilization and washing performance using steam and to reduce water and energy consumption.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional washing machine. As shown, the washing machine is rotatably coupled to the inside of the cabinet 11 and the tub 21 to form the exterior, the tub 21 disposed inside the cabinet 11 to receive the wash water, and the tub 21. The drum 31 is provided.

The front of the cabinet 11 is provided with a door 13 to allow laundry to enter and exit, and the tub 21 is installed in the cabinet 11 along the front and rear directions. The upper and lower sides of the tub 21 are provided with a support spring 23 and a damper 25 to buffer the tub 21.

The upper side of the tub 21 is provided with a detergent supply part 27 to supply detergent, and one side is connected to the water supply pipe 35 having a water supply valve 37 to supply water. The rear side of the tub 21 is coupled to the drum drive motor 29 to drive the drum 31. The bottom of the tub 21 is provided with a drain passage 32 and a drain pump 34 for drainage, and the bottom of the tub 21 and the heater chamber 24 and the heater to heat the wash water contained therein (26) is provided.

On the other hand, a plurality of lifts 33 protruding in the radial direction and extending in the axial direction are formed in the drum 31 to move the laundry upwards so that the laundry falls to the bottom.

By this configuration, when the laundry is put into the drum 31 and the washing operation is performed, the water supply valve 37 is opened to supply the washing water together with the detergent into the tub 21. At this time, the drum 31 is rotated forward and reverse to make the laundry core, and when the water level of the washing water in the tub 21 is lowered, additional water is made.

When the drum 31 is rotated, the laundry inside is moved upward by the lift 33 to fall to the bottom, and washing is performed. Here, the heater 26 heats the washing water to a set temperature according to a user's selection to improve washing performance.

When the washing is completed, the drain pump 34 is driven to drain, and the drum 31 is rotated to drive so-called intermittent dehydration for smoothly draining the wash water containing the laundry.

When the drainage is completed, the drum 31 is rotated while supplying water to the inside of the tub 21 so that the rinsing stroke is performed, and the washing is completed when the rinsing and intermittent dehydration are repeated several times and finally the dewatering stroke is performed. .

By the way, in the conventional washing method of the washing machine, the heater chamber 24 is formed to protrude downward from the bottom of the tub 21 so that the washing water can be heated, and the heater 26 is disposed in the heater chamber ( The water collected in 24) is heated, so that detergent remains in the heater chamber 24, thereby inhibiting washing and rinsing action during washing and rinsing. Since water must be supplied, there is a problem that the amount of washing water and power is increased.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a steam washing method of a washing machine which can improve sterilization and washing performance using steam and can reduce water and energy usage.

According to the present invention, there is provided, according to the present invention, a tub for receiving wash water therein, a drum rotatably installed in the tub, and a steam generator for generating steam and supplying steam to the inside of the tub. A steam washing method of a washing machine, comprising: a water supply step of supplying washing water into the tub; A heating step of supplying steam to the inside of the tub after the water supply step and heating the laundry while rotating the drum at a speed at which the laundry inside the drum rotates integrally with the drum; It is achieved by a steam washing method of the washing machine comprising a washing step of washing the laundry after the heating step.

Here, it is preferable to further include a washing step of washing the laundry before the heating step.

On the other hand, according to another field of the present invention, there is provided a tub for receiving the wash water therein, a drum rotatably installed in the tub, and a steam generator for generating steam to supply steam to the inside of the tub A steam washing method of a washing machine, comprising: a water supply step of supplying washing water to the inside of the tub; Performing any one of a heating step of heating the laundry while rotating a drum; Performing the other of the water supply step and the heating step; There is provided a method for steam washing of a washing machine comprising a washing step of washing the laundry.

In addition, according to the present invention, a washing machine having a tub for receiving the wash water therein, a drum rotatably installed in the tub, and a steam generator for generating steam to supply steam to the inside of the tub; A steam washing method comprising: a water supply step of supplying washing water into the tub; Washing the laundry after the water supplying step; And a heating step of supplying steam to the inside of the tub after the washing step and heating the laundry while rotating the drum at a speed at which the laundry inside the drum rotates integrally with the drum. A steam washing method is provided.

Here, further comprising the step of circulating the washing water of the tub by withdrawing the wash water of the tub during the at least one of the water supply step, the heating step and the washing step to be introduced again into the tub. It is preferable to configure so that.

The heating may include detecting a temperature of the inside of the tub and comparing the detected temperature with a set temperature, and when the detected temperature is equal to or greater than the set temperature, the heating is completed. Is effective.

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

Figure 2 is a view showing the configuration of a washing machine for explaining the steam washing method of the washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a control block diagram of the washing machine of Figure 2, Figure 4 is an embodiment of the present invention It is a flowchart for explaining the steam washing method of the washing machine according to the example. The same and equivalent parts as those described above and shown in the drawings will be described with the same reference numerals for convenience of description. As shown in FIG. 2, the washing machine includes a cabinet 11 forming an external appearance, a tub 21 arranged along the front and rear direction inside the cabinet 11 to accommodate washing water, and a tub 21. A drum 31 rotatably housed therein, a detergent supply unit 27 for supplying detergent to the tub 21, and an upper side of the inner tub 21 of the cabinet 11 to generate steam; The steam generator 51 and the injector 58 for inject | pouring the steam discharged from the steam generator 51 into the inside of the tub 21 are provided.

A circulation pump 41 is installed below the tub 21 to circulate the washing water inside the tub 21, and the circulation pump 41, the tub 21, and the injection device 58 are circulated. The flow paths 43 are connected to each other.

The steam generator 51 may include a case 52 forming an accommodating space therein, a heater (not shown) coupled to the case 52 to heat the water contained in the case 52, and a case ( 52 is provided with a steam water level sensor 55 for detecting the water level inside. One side of the case 52 is connected to the water supply pipe 54 to supply water, and the water supply pipe 54 is provided with a water supply valve 56 to open and close the water supply pipe 54. The other side of the case 52 is formed with a steam discharge passage 57 so that the steam generated by the heating of the heater is discharged, the downstream end of the steam discharge passage 57 is steam into the tub 21. It is connected to the injector 58 so that can be injected.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3, the control unit 61 is implemented in the form of a microcomputer with a built-in control program, the cumulative operation time calculation for calculating the cumulative operating time after the start of the operation of the selected washing course of the plurality of washing course The unit 63, the water supply valve 37 for supplying the wash water, the water level sensor 67 for detecting the internal water level of the tub 21, and the drum 31 to calculate the temperature of the wash water or the laundry. Or the temperature sensor 65 installed in the tub 21, the drum drive motor 29 for rotating the drum 31, the circulation pump 41 for circulating the wash water of the tub 21, and steam A water supply valve 56 that opens and closes the water supply pipe 54 of the generator 51, and a steam water level sensor 55 and a heater 59 that detect the level of steam water to be steam are electrically connected to each other. Here, the control unit 61, the washing water or the laundry inside the tub 21 at a different set temperature (for example, 30 ° C, 50 ° C, 70 ° C, 90 ° C, etc.) during washing so that washing performance may be improved. There are a plurality of washing courses that are washed while being kept).

Hereinafter, a steam washing method of the present washing machine having the above-described device characteristics will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

When any one washing course of a plurality of washing courses having different heating temperatures is selected, the control unit 61 controls the water supply valve 37 to supply water to the inside of the tub 21 (S10) and the drum. The driving motor 29 is controlled to allow the drum 31 to rotate at a low speed (S20). When the water level Wi is periodically detected by the water level detection sensor 67 after the start of water supply (S30), and when the detected water level Wi reaches the set water level (Wiset) (S40), the control unit 61 supplies a water supply valve. Control 37 so that the water supply is finished (S50).

Next, the control unit 61 controls the steam water level sensor 55 of the steam generator 51 to detect the steam water level Wj (S60), and the detected water level Wj is less than the set water level Wjset. If (S70) to control the steam water supply valve 56 so that the steam water is supplied (S80). When the steam water level Wj reaches the set water level Wjset (S70), the controller 61 allows power to be applied to the heater 59 so that steam can be injected into the drum 31 (S90). By controlling the drum drive motor 29, the laundry in the drum 31 is in close contact with the inner diameter surface of the drum 31 to rotate integrally with a cavity formed at the center thereof, for example, 400 revolutions per minute (RPM). The high speed can be rotated as described above (S100).

After a predetermined time has elapsed, the controller 61 controls the temperature sensor 65 to periodically detect the temperature Ti inside the tub 21 (S110), and the detected temperature Ti is a set temperature (Tset). In the step S120, the power to the heater 59 is cut off and the rotational drive of the drum 31 is stopped (S130).

Next, the washing administration of the washing course, that is, washing, rinsing and dehydration is performed (S140), when the cumulative operation time (ti) calculated by the cumulative operation time calculation unit 63 becomes the set time (tset) ( S160) End the washing.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a steam washing method of the washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown, when any one of the plurality of washing course is selected and the selected washing course is started, the control unit 61 controls the cumulative driving time calculating unit 63 to calculate the cumulative operating time ti (S15). If the calculated time (ti) is less than the total set operation time (tiset) of the washing course (S25), the administration of any one of the water supply administration, the heating administration and the washing administration of the washing course is performed. When the water supply stroke is performed (S35), the washing water is first supplied to the inside of the tub 21 by controlling the water supply valve 37 (S45), and the drum 31 is rotated at a low speed by controlling the drum driving motor 29. To be made (S55). Next, the water level sensor 67 is controlled to periodically detect the water level Wi in the tub 21 (S65), and when the detected water level Wi reaches the set water level (Wiset) (S75). End the water supply administration (S85).

When performing the heating stroke (S95) to control the steam water level sensor 55 so that the steam water level (Wj) is detected (S105), when the detected water level (Wj) is less than the set water level (Wjset) (S115) The steam water supply valve 56 is controlled to supply steam water (S125). When the detected water level Wj reaches the set water level Wjset (S115), the water supply of the steam is stopped (S135), and power is applied to the heater 59 so that steam is supplied to the inside of the drum 31 ( S145) and also controls the drum drive motor 29 to rotate the drum 31 at high speed, for example, so that the laundry inside the drum 31 is in close contact with the inner diameter surface of the drum 31 to be integrally rotated. It is to be rotated over 400 RPM (S155). Next, the controller 61 controls the temperature sensor 65 to periodically detect the internal temperature Ti of the tub 21 (S165), and when the detected temperature Ti reaches the set temperature Tset ( S175) The heating stroke is terminated (S185).

Next, when performing the washing administration (S195) to control the drum drive motor 29 to rotate the drum 31 at a low speed, for example, 40 to 50 RPM (S205), cumulative operation time output portion 63 To control the washing time (tj) is calculated (S215). When the calculated washing time (tj) reaches the set time (tjset) (S225), the washing administration is terminated (S235).

In this case, the washing course includes a first course which proceeds in the order of water administration → heating administration → laundry administration, a second course that proceeds in the order of heating administration → water supply administration → washing administration described above, and the water supply administration described above. → may include a third course in the order of washing administration → heating administration → laundry administration, and the fourth course in the order of water supply administration → laundry administration → heating administration, and each course of the course When the control unit 61 ends, the control unit 61 calculates the cumulative operation time ti by the cumulative operation time calculation unit 63 (S15), and calculates the cumulative operation time ti and the total set operation time of the course. When comparing (S25), if the cumulative operation time (ti) reaches the total set operation time (tiset) of the selected course (S25) will end the course.

In the above-described and illustrated embodiments, the case where the washing water is not circulated when the water supply stroke, the heating stroke, and the washing stroke is performed is described, for example. Of course, it is possible to circulate the wash water by driving the circulation pump to be smooth and improve the washing performance.

As described above, according to the present invention, the steam supply to the inside of the tub and the laundry inside the drum is in close contact with the inner diameter surface of the drum and includes a heating step of heating the laundry while rotating the drum at a speed that is integrally rotated By doing so, not only the sterilization action and washing effect due to the high temperature of the steam can be improved, but the laundry is sprayed to the inner diameter surface of the drum by centrifugal force and rotated to form a cavity at the center when the steam is sprayed. It is possible to smoothly flow through the cavity and evenly contact the laundry, thereby reducing the heating time, thereby providing a washing machine steam washing method that can significantly reduce water consumption and power consumption.

Claims (6)

In the steam washing method of the washing machine having a tub for receiving the wash water therein, a drum rotatably installed in the tub, and a steam generator for generating steam to supply steam to the inside of the tub, A water supply step of supplying washing water into the tub; A heating step of supplying steam to the inside of the tub after the water supply step and heating the laundry while rotating the drum at a speed at which the laundry inside the drum rotates integrally with the drum; And a washing step of washing the laundry after the heating step. The method of claim 1, Steam washing method of the washing machine further comprising a washing step of washing the laundry before the heating step. In the steam washing method of the washing machine having a tub for receiving the wash water therein, a drum rotatably installed in the tub, and a steam generator for generating steam to supply steam to the inside of the tub, The water supply step of supplying the washing water to the inside of the tub, and supplying steam to the inside of the tub while heating the laundry while rotating the drum at a speed that the laundry inside the drum rotates integrally with the drum Performing any one of heating steps; Performing the other of the water supply step and the heating step; Steam washing method of a washing machine comprising a washing step of washing the laundry. In the steam washing method of the washing machine having a tub for receiving the wash water therein, a drum rotatably installed in the tub, and a steam generator for generating steam to supply steam to the inside of the tub, A water supply step of supplying washing water into the tub; Washing the laundry after the water supplying step; And a heating step of supplying steam to the inside of the tub after the washing step and heating the laundry while rotating the drum at a speed at which the laundry inside the drum rotates integrally with the drum. Steam washing method. delete The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The heating step includes detecting a temperature inside the tub, and comparing the detected temperature with a set temperature, and the comparison is terminated when the detected temperature is equal to or greater than the set temperature. How to wash the steam in the washing machine.

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