KR102634078B1 - Control Method for Laundry Treating Machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention includes a power blocking step in which the power switch, the sensing unit switch, the door lock switch, and the pump switch open each of the first power circuit, the sensing unit power circuit, the door lock power circuit, and the pump power circuit; A detection unit power supply step in which a second control unit controls a detection unit switch to supply power to the detection unit when a preset reference period has elapsed from the time the power blocking step is initiated; A first water level detection step in which the sensing unit measures the water level inside the tub; and a door lock operation step in which the second control unit controls the door lock switch and the door lock so that the door closes the inlet if the water level measured in the first water level detection step is higher than the preset first water level. It's about control methods.

Description

{Control Method for Laundry Treatment Machine}

The present invention relates to a clothing treatment device and a control method thereof.

A clothing processing device is a concept that encompasses devices that wash clothes, devices that dry clothes, and devices that can both wash and dry clothes.

A conventional clothing treatment device includes a tub that provides a space for storing water, a drum rotatably provided inside the tub to store clothing, a water supply pipe connecting the tub and a water supply source, a valve that opens and closes the water supply pipe, and an inside of the tub. It is equipped with a sensor that detects the water level and a drain unit that discharges the water inside the tub to the outside of the cabinet.

In the laundry treatment devices with the above-described structure, the controller controls the valve to open the water supply pipe, thereby supplying water to the tub. When the laundry treatment device is operating, the sensor can detect the water level inside the tub, so the controller can control the water level inside the tub by controlling the drain unit based on the data provided by the sensor. . Accordingly, when the clothing processing device is operating (power is supplied to the clothing processing device), the controller can control the water level inside the tub even if the valve malfunctions.

However, if the valve breaks down while the power supply is cut off, conventional laundry treatment devices cannot control the water level inside the tub. In other words, if the valve breaks down in standby mode, where the clothing processing device consumes standby power and waits for a control command to be input, the controller in conventional clothing processing devices provides information about the water level from a sensor. Not only does it not receive water, but it also cannot drain the water inside the tub through the control of the drain unit. This situation may cause the problem of water inside the tub being discharged into the room where the clothing treatment device is installed.

The present invention aims to provide a clothing treatment device and a control method that can determine whether a valve that controls the opening and closing of a water supply pipe is broken even in a mode (standby mode) that consumes standby power and waits for the input of a control command. Make it a task.

In addition, the present invention aims to solve the problem of providing a clothing treatment device and a control method thereof that can prevent water inside the tub from being discharged into the room where the clothing treatment device is installed when the valve fails in the standby mode.

The present invention includes the steps of supplying power to a detection unit provided in a clothes processing apparatus in standby mode at a preset standard cycle, a process of closing the inlet based on the water level inside the tub measured by the detection unit, and purging the water inside the tub. Provided is a control method for a clothing treatment device that includes executing at least one of the draining processes.

A cabinet provided with an inlet on the front side, a tub provided inside the cabinet to provide a space for storing water, and provided with a tub inlet communicating with the inlet; a drum rotatably provided inside the tub to store clothing; a driving unit that rotates the drum; a water supply unit supplying water to the tub; a pump that discharges water stored in the tub to the outside of the cabinet; A door that opens and closes the input port; a door lock that secures the door to the cabinet and closes the input port; A sensing unit provided to detect the water level inside the tub; a first control unit that controls the driving unit and the water supply unit; a first power circuit connecting the driving unit and the first control unit to a power source; a power switch that opens or closes the first power circuit; a detection unit power circuit that is provided to be opened and closed by a detection unit switch and connects the detection unit to the power source; a door lock power circuit that is provided to be opened and closed through a door lock switch and connects the door lock to the power source; a pump power circuit that is provided to be opened and closed through a pump switch and connects the pump to the power source; and a second control unit that is provided to control the sensor, the door lock, and the pump, and is always supplied with power from the power source. In the laundry treatment apparatus, the present invention provides the power switch and the sensor switch. , a power blocking step in which the door lock switch and the pump switch open each of the first power circuit, the sensing unit power circuit, the door lock power circuit, and the pump power circuit; A detection unit power supply step in which the second control unit controls the detection unit switch to supply power to the detection unit when a preset reference period elapses from the time the power blocking step is initiated; A first water level detection step in which the sensing unit measures the water level inside the tub; and a door lock operation step in which the second control unit controls the door lock switch and the door lock so that the door closes the inlet if the water level measured in the first water level detection step is higher than the preset first water level. Provides a control method for a clothing processing device including:

If the water level measured in the first water level detection step is less than the first water level, the present invention can proceed with a detection unit power cutoff step in which the second control unit controls the detection unit switch to open the detection unit power circuit. there is.

The detection unit power supply step may be resumed when the reference period has elapsed after the start of the detection unit power-off step.

The present invention includes a second water level detection step in which the sensor measures the water level inside the tub after the door lock operation step is initiated; And if the water level measured in the second water level detection step is higher than the second water level set higher than the first water level, the second control unit operates the pump switch and the pump to release the water inside the tub to the outside of the cabinet. It may further include a pump operation step for discharging.

The present invention includes a third water level detection step in which the sensing unit measures the water level inside the tub while the pump operation step is in progress; And if the water level measured in the third water level detection step is less than the first water level, the second control unit controls the pump switch to open the pump power circuit. It may further include a pump power cutoff step.

The present invention may further include a door lock power cutoff step in which the second control unit controls the door lock switch to open the door lock power circuit after completion of the pump power cutoff step.

The present invention may further include a detection unit power-off step in which the second control unit controls the detection unit switch to open the detection unit power circuit after completion of the door lock power-off step.

The first water level may be set higher than the water level in contact with the circumferential surface of the drum and lower than the water level in contact with the bottom of the tub inlet.

The second water level may be set to a water level at which the water level inside the tub is at the same level as the lowest end of the tub inlet.

The present invention has the effect of providing a clothing treatment device and a control method that can determine whether a valve that controls the opening and closing of a water supply pipe is broken even in standby mode while consuming standby power and waiting for a control command to be input.

In addition, the present invention has the effect of providing a clothing treatment device and a control method thereof that can prevent water inside the tub from being discharged into the room where the clothing treatment device is installed when the valve fails in the standby mode.

Figure 1 shows an example of the laundry treatment device of the present invention.
Figure 2 shows an example of a power supply unit provided in the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention.
Figure 3 shows an example of a control method for the laundry treatment device of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Unless otherwise specified, all terms in this specification have the same general meaning as understood by a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, and if a term used in this specification conflicts with the general meaning of the term, follows the definitions used in this specification.

The configuration or control method of the device described below is only for explaining the embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, and the same reference numbers used throughout the specification indicate the same components. .

The laundry treatment device 100 of the present invention includes a cabinet (1), a tub (2) provided inside the cabinet to provide a space for storing water, and a tub (2) rotatably provided inside the tub to provide a space for storing clothing. Includes drum (3).

The cabinet 1 includes a front panel 11 that forms the front surface of the laundry treatment device. The front panel 11 includes an inlet 13 that communicates the inside of the cabinet with the outside, and the inlet 13. ) may be provided with a door 131 that opens and closes.

The door 131 may be fixed to the cabinet 1 through a door lock. That is, if the door lock secures the door 131 to the cabinet 1, the inlet 13 will remain closed even if an external force is input to the door. However, when the door lock releases the locked state of the door 131, the door 131 will open the inlet 132 when an external force is input.

The front panel 11 may be provided with a control panel 15 that controls the operation of the laundry treatment device 100. As shown in Figure 2, the control panel 15 includes a display unit 151 that informs the user of selectable control commands or the execution process of the selected control command, and a first input unit that allows the user to select a control command. (153), may be provided to include a second input unit 155 that receives an execution command of the selected control command.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tub 2 may be provided as a cylindrical tub body 21 with an empty interior, and a tub inlet 23 is provided on the front surface of the tub body. The tub inlet 23 is connected to the inlet 13 through an insulating part 4, and the insulating part is provided in a cylindrical shape, and an insulating body 41 connects the inlet 13 and the tub inlet 23. ) can be provided.

The tub body 21 may be fixed inside the cabinet 1 through a tub support part. The tub support includes a spring 25 that secures an area located above the horizontal line passing through the rotation center of the drum among the circumferential surfaces of the tub body 21 to the cabinet 1, and a circle of the tub body 21. The area located below the horizontal line passing through the rotation center of the drum on the main surface may be provided with a damper 26 that secures it to the cabinet 1.

The drum 3 includes a drum body 31 that can be rotated inside the tub body 21. The drum body 31 is provided in a cylindrical shape with an empty interior, and a drum through hole 32 is provided on the circumferential surface, front surface, and rear surface of the drum body 31 to communicate the inside of the drum body with the inside of the tub body. This is provided. In addition, a drum inlet 33 is provided on the side facing the inlet 11 (front face of the drum) among the spaces provided by the drum body 31.

The drum body 31 is rotated by a driving unit 35, which is a stator 351 that is fixed to the rear of the tub body 21 and generates a rotating magnetic field. A rotor 353 located outside the tub body 21 to rotate, a rotation shaft 355 provided to penetrate the rear surface of the tub body 21 and connecting the rotor 353 and the drum body 31. It may be provided to include.

The water stored in the tub body 21 is discharged to the outside of the cabinet 1 through the drain part 6. The drain unit 6 includes a drain chamber 61 that provides a space for storing water, a first drain pipe 63 that guides water in the tub body 21 to the drain chamber 61, and a drain chamber ( It may be provided to include a pump 65 that moves water flowing into the 61) to the second drain pipe 67.

The second drain pipe 67 is a means of guiding the water discharged from the pump 65 to the outside of the cabinet 1, and the highest point of the second drain pipe 67 is higher than the bottom of the tub inlet 23. It is desirable to be provided to pass through high points.

The detergent supply unit 5 provided in the present invention includes a case 51 provided inside the cabinet 1, a drawer 52 that provides a space for storing detergent and can be withdrawn from the case 51, and the drawer 52. It may be provided to include a discharge pipe 53 that guides the detergent discharged from the lower 52 to the case 51 to the tub body 21.

The drawer 52 accommodated inside the case 51 can be pulled out to the outside of the cabinet 1 through a drawer outlet (not shown) provided to penetrate the front panel 11. The drawer 52 may be provided as a polyhedron (hexahedron, etc.) with an open upper surface. Inside the drawer, there is a storage portion 521 that provides a space for storing detergent, and the storage portion 521. It may be provided to include a detergent outlet 523 that communicates with the case 51.

The detergent outlet 523 may be provided as a through hole penetrating the rear or bottom surface of the storage unit 521, or may be provided as a bell trap provided on the bottom surface of the storage unit 521. It may be possible.

The case 51 is equipped with a water supply unit that supplies water to the storage unit 521. Figure 1 shows an example in which the water supply unit is fixed to the upper surface of the case 51.

The water supply unit includes a water supply pipe 561 that supplies water from a water supply source to the storage unit 521, and a water supply valve 563 that opens or closes the water supply pipe 561 according to a control signal from a control unit (not shown). . Therefore, when water is supplied to the storage unit 521 where the detergent is stored through the water supply pipe 561, the detergent inside the storage unit 521 moves along with the water to the case 51 through the detergent outlet 523. The water and detergent discharged into the case 51 will move to the tub body 21 through the discharge pipe 53.

The discharge pipe 53 may be provided to connect the case 51 and the insulating body 41. For this purpose, the insulating part 4 may be further provided with an inflow pipe 43 to which one end of the discharge pipe 53 is connected.

The inlet pipe 43 and the discharge pipe 53 may be made of an elastic material (rubber, etc.). This is to minimize the vibration of the tub being transmitted to the case 51 and the front panel 11 through the inlet pipe 43 and the discharge pipe 53.

The water level inside the tub is measured through the sensing unit (7). The sensing unit 7 may be provided to include a communication pipe 71 at which the water level is the same as the water level inside the tub body 21, and a sensor 73 that detects a change in pressure inside the communication pipe 71. there is. It is preferable that one end of the communication pipe 71 is connected to the first drain pipe 63 and the other end is located at a higher point than the rotation center of the drum body 31.

Figure 2 shows an example of a power supply unit that supplies power to a clothing treatment device having the above-described structure.

The power supply unit provided in the present invention connects the first control unit 81, the valve 65, the driving unit 35, the display unit 151, the first input unit 153, and the second input unit 155 to the power source 91. A first power circuit 92 connecting the second control unit 83 to the power source 91, a second power circuit 94 connecting the detection unit 7 to the power source 91, and a detection unit power circuit connecting the detection unit 7 to the power source 91. (95), a door lock power circuit 97 connecting the door lock to the power source 91, and a pump power circuit 98 connecting the pump 65 to the power source 91. .

The first control unit 81 is a means for controlling the valve 563 and the driving unit 35, and the second control unit 83 includes the display unit 151, the first input unit 153, and the second input unit ( 155). The first control unit 81 and the second control unit 83 may be provided to communicate with each other.

The first power circuit 92 is provided to be opened or closed by a power switch 921, and the detection unit power circuit 95 is provided to be opened or closed by a detection unit switch 951. The door lock power circuit 97 is opened and closed by the door lock switch 971, and the pump power circuit 98 is opened and closed by the pump switch 981.

The first control unit 81, valve 65, driving unit 35, display unit 151, first input unit 153, and second input unit 155 are configured such that the power switch 921 is connected to the first power circuit ( Power is supplied when 92) is closed. Likewise, the detection unit 7, the door lock, and the pump 65 have each switch 951, 971, and 981 connected to the detection unit power circuit 95, the door lock power circuit 97, and the pump power circuit. Power is supplied when each (98) is closed.

The detection unit 7, the door lock 14, and the pump 65 may be controlled by the first control unit 81 or the second control unit 83. That is, when the clothing processing device is in a mode waiting for the input of a control command while consuming standby power (standby mode, the power switch opens the first power circuit), the detection unit 7 and the door lock (14), and the pump 65 is controlled by the second control unit 83. However, when the clothing treatment device is in an active mode (a state in which the power switch closes the first power circuit to supply power to the first control unit), the detection unit 7, the door lock 14, and the pump 65 ) is controlled by the first control unit 83.

The power switch 921 is provided to be operated by the user, and the sensor switch 951, the door lock switch 971, and the pump switch 981 are operated according to a control signal from the second control unit 83. It may be provided to open or close each power circuit (95, 97, 98). The power switch 921 may be provided on the control panel 15 or the front panel 11.

The second control unit 83 is always supplied with power regardless of the mode of the clothing treatment device, and the first control unit 81, a display unit 151, two input units 153 and 155, a valve 563, and a drive unit. (35) can receive power only when the user closes the first power circuit 92 through the power switch 921 (in active mode).

Meanwhile, the detection unit 7, the door lock 14, and the pump 65 allow the second control unit 83 to use the detection unit switch 951, the door lock switch 971, and the pump switch 981. When the corresponding power circuits 95, 97, and 98 are controlled and closed, power can be supplied regardless of the mode of the laundry treatment device.

Figure 3 shows an example of a control method of a clothing treatment device having the above-described structure.

The control method of the present invention includes a power cutoff step (S10) of converting the laundry treatment device from the active mode to the standby mode. In the power cutoff step (S10), the power switch 921 opens the first power circuit 92, the detection unit switch 951 opens the detection unit power circuit 95, and the door lock switch (971) opens the door lock power circuit (97), and the pump switch (981) opens the pump power circuit (98). However, even in the power cutoff step (S10), power is supplied to the second control unit 83 through the second power circuit 94.

During the power cutoff step (S10), the present invention determines whether the power switch 921 has closed the first power circuit 92 (S15). After the power blocking step (S10) is initiated and the power switch 921 closes the first power circuit and the laundry treatment device is switched to the active mode, the control method of the present invention ends.

However, after the power blocking step (S10) is initiated, if it is determined (S15) that the power switch 921 has not closed the first power circuit 92, the present invention The detection unit power supply step (S31) of supplying power to the detection unit 7 is performed. The detection unit power supply step (S31) is a step in which the second control unit 83 controls the detection unit switch 951 to close the detection unit power circuit 95. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the second control unit 83 can determine whether the reference period has elapsed through a timer.

When power is supplied to the detection unit 7, the present invention proceeds to a first water level detection step (S33) in which the second control unit 83 measures the water level inside the tub through the sensor 73.

If it is determined (S35) that the water level measured in the first water level detection step (S33) is lower than the preset first water level, the control method of the present invention involves the second control unit 83 controlling the detection unit switch 951. The sensing unit power blocking step (S40) of opening the sensing unit power circuit 95 is performed. After completing the detection unit power-off step (S40), the control method of the present invention proceeds to the step (S20) of determining whether the reference period has elapsed.

Meanwhile, if it is determined (S35) that the water level measured in the first water level detection step (S33) is higher than the first water level, the present invention proceeds to the door lock operation step (S50) of closing the inlet 13. The door lock operation step (S50) is a process in which the second control unit 83 supplies power to the door lock 14 through the door lock switch 971, and controls the door lock 14 to open the door. It includes the process of fixing (131) to the cabinet (1).

As shown in FIG. 1, the first water level is set higher than the water level (L1) in contact with the circumferential surface of the drum (3) and lower than the water level (L2) in contact with the bottom of the tub inlet (23). desirable.

It can be assumed that the water level inside the tub has reached the first water level, meaning that water is continuously supplied to the tub due to a failure of the valve 563. If this condition continues, the water inside the tub may be discharged into the room through the tub inlet 23 and the inlet 13. The door lock operation step (S50) closes the inlet 13, thereby allowing the water to be discharged into the room. This is a process that prevents internal water from being discharged indoors.

When the door lock operation step (S50) is closed with the inlet (11), the control method of the present invention performs a second water level detection step (S60) in which the sensing unit (7) measures the water level inside the tub (2). Proceed.

The second water level detection step (S60) may be configured to detect the water level inside the tub according to a preset cycle, or may be provided to detect the water level inside the tub in real time. In the former case, it is preferable that the cycle set for execution of the second water level detection step (S60) is set shorter than the cycle (standard cycle) set for execution of the first water level detection step (S33). This is because the risk of water being discharged indoors has increased.

If it is determined (S71) that the water level measured in the second water level detection step (S60) is lower than the second water level set higher than the first water level, the control method of the present invention determines that the water level measured in the second water level detection step (S60) A step is performed to determine whether the level is below the first level (S35).

The second water level is preferably set to a water level (L2, see FIG. 1) at which the water level inside the tub 2 is at the same height as the bottom of the tub inlet 23. This is because if the water level inside the tub 2 exceeds the second water level, the water in the tub will move toward the inlet 13 through the tub inlet 23.

However, if the water level measured in the second water level detection step (S60) is determined to be higher than the second water level set higher than the first water level (S71), the control method of the present invention is to use the second control unit 83 to switch the pump. (981) and the pump operation step (S73) of discharging the water inside the tub (2) by operating the pump (65) is performed.

While the pump operation step (S73) is in progress, the present invention proceeds to a third water level detection step (S80) in which the sensing unit 7 measures the water level inside the tub. The third water level detection step (S80) may also be provided to detect the water level inside the tub according to a preset cycle, or may be provided to detect the water level inside the tub in real time. When equipped to detect the water level according to a cycle, the cycle set for execution of the third water level detection step (S80) may be set to be the same as the cycle set for execution of the second water level detection step (S60).

The pump operation step (S73) and the third water level detection step (S80) are performed until the water level measured in the third water level detection step (S80) is lower than the first water level (L1) (S81).

If it is determined (S81) that the water level measured in the third water level detection step (S80) is lower than the first water level (L1), the present invention performs a pump power cutoff step (S83) and a door lock release step (S85). .

The pump power blocking step (S83) is a step in which the second control unit 83 controls the pump switch 981 to open the pump power circuit 98, and the door lock release step (S85) is a step in which the second control unit 83 controls the pump switch 981 to open the pump power circuit 98. 2 This is the step where the control unit 83 controls the door lock switch 971 to open the door lock power circuit 97.

When the door lock power-off step (S85) is completed, the present invention proceeds with the detection unit power-off step (S40). The detection unit power-off step (S40) is a step in which the second control unit 83 controls the detection unit switch 951 to open the detection unit power circuit 97, and the detection unit power-off step (S40) ), when the reference period is reached (S20), the control method of the present invention proceeds to the detection unit power supply step (S31).

In the control method of the present invention, even if the clothing processing device 100 is in standby mode, the sensor measures the water level inside the tub according to the reference cycle, and controls the door lock and pump according to the measured water level, thereby maintaining the standby mode state. This can solve problems that occur when the water supply valve is damaged.

In addition, since the control method of the present invention periodically supplies power only to the sensing unit among the elements constituting the clothing treatment apparatus, the amount of standby power usage can be minimized.

The present invention can be modified and implemented in various forms, and its scope is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Therefore, if the modified embodiment includes elements of the claims of the present invention, it should be considered to fall within the scope of the present invention.

100: Clothing processing device 1: Cabinet 11: Front panel
13: Inlet 131: Door 14: Door lock
15: Control panel 2: Tub 21: Tub body
23: Tub inlet 3: Drum 35: Drive unit
4: Insulation section 5: Detergent supply section 561: Water supply pipe
563: valve 6: drain 61: drain chamber
63: first drain pipe 65: pump 67: second drain pipe
7: Sensing unit 71: Communication pipe 73: Sensor
81: first control unit 83: second control unit 91: power
92: first power circuit 921: power switch 94: second power circuit
95: Sensing unit power circuit 951: Sensing unit switch 97: Door lock power circuit
971: Door lock switch 98: Pump power circuit 981: Pump switch

Claims (9)

A cabinet provided with an inlet on the front side, a tub provided inside the cabinet to provide a space for storing water, and provided with a tub inlet communicating with the inlet; a drum rotatably provided inside the tub to store clothing; a driving unit that rotates the drum; a water supply unit supplying water to the tub; a pump that discharges water stored in the tub to the outside of the cabinet; A door that opens and closes the input port; a door lock that secures the door to the cabinet and closes the input port; A sensing unit provided to detect the water level inside the tub; a first control unit that controls the driving unit and the water supply unit; a first power circuit connecting the driving unit and the first control unit to a power source; a power switch that opens or closes the first power circuit; a detection unit power circuit that is provided to be opened and closed by a detection unit switch and connects the detection unit to the power source; a door lock power circuit that is provided to be opened and closed through a door lock switch and connects the door lock to the power source; a pump power circuit that is provided to be opened and closed through a pump switch and connects the pump to the power source; and a second control unit that is provided to control the sensor, the door lock, and the pump, and is always supplied with power from the power source.
A power blocking step in which the power switch, the detection unit switch, the door lock switch, and the pump switch open each of the first power circuit, the detection unit power circuit, the door lock power circuit, and the pump power circuit;
A detection unit power supply step in which the second control unit controls the detection unit switch to supply power to the detection unit when a preset reference period elapses from the time the power blocking step is initiated;
A first water level detection step in which the sensing unit measures the water level inside the tub;
A door lock operation step in which the second control unit controls the door lock switch and the door lock so that the door closes the inlet if the water level measured in the first water level detection step is higher than the preset first water level; and
If the water level measured in the first water level detection step is less than the first water level, a sensing unit power cutoff step in which the second control unit controls the sensing unit switch to open the sensing unit power circuit,
The control method of a clothing treatment device, characterized in that the detection unit power supply step is resumed when the reference period has elapsed after the detection unit power cutoff step is initiated. delete delete According to paragraph 1,
A second water level detection step in which the sensor measures the water level inside the tub after the door lock operation step is initiated; and
If the water level measured in the second water level detection step is higher than the second water level set higher than the first water level, the second control unit operates the pump switch and the pump to discharge the water inside the tub to the outside of the cabinet. A control method for a clothing treatment device, further comprising a pump operation step. According to paragraph 4,
A third water level detection step in which the sensing unit measures the water level inside the tub while the pump operation step is in progress; and
If the water level measured in the third water level detection step is less than the first water level, the second control unit controls the pump switch to open the pump power circuit. Clothing further comprising a. Control method of processing device. According to clause 5,
A door lock power cutoff step in which the second control unit controls the door lock switch to open the door lock power circuit after completion of the pump power cutoff step. According to clause 6,
A control method of a laundry treatment apparatus further comprising: a sensing unit power-off step in which the second control unit controls the sensing unit switch to open the sensing unit power circuit after completion of the door lock power-off step. According to paragraph 4,
The first water level is set to be higher than the water level in contact with the circumferential surface of the drum and lower than the water level in contact with the bottom of the tub inlet. According to paragraph 4,
The second water level is set to a water level at which the water level inside the tub is at the same height as the lowest end of the tub inlet.

Images