KR20050014500A - Drum washing machine and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A drum-type washing machine and a method for controlling the same are provided to judge accurately load of the laundry by equally wetting the laundry in a short time by reversely turning a rotary tub and circulating water of a fixed tub into the rotary tub. CONSTITUTION: A drum-type washing machine is composed of a fixed tub(10); a rotary tub(11) installed movably in the fixed tub; a pumping unit for pumping the water contained in the lower part of the fixed tub into the rotary tub; and a control unit for controlling the pumping unit. The control unit controls the pumping unit to pump the water of the lower part of the fixed tub into the rotary tub during deciding load of the laundry. The pumping unit comprises a circulation pipe(18) of which one end of the pumping unit is connected to the inside of the fixed tub and the other end is disposed at an inlet of the rotary tub; a pump(16) for pumping the water in the fixed tub into the rotary tub; and an injecting nozzle(18a) installed at the other end of the circulation pipe.

Description

Drum washing machine and control method

The present invention relates to a drum washing machine, and to a drum washing machine for determining the load amount of laundry according to the number of replenishment of the replenishment water to be replenished according to the water level change, and a control method thereof.

In general, a drum washing machine is a device for washing laundry using a drop generated by the rotation of a rotating tub provided in a drum shape.

In a conventional drum washing machine, after supplying a water supply amount set in a fixed tank, the rotating tub is reversed to evenly wash the laundry. As a result, the laundry absorbs water, and the water absorbed in the laundry causes the current water level to be lower than the initial water level. Feed the feedwater to maintain the lowered level at the initial level.

Conventionally, the load of laundry is determined according to the number of times of replenishment water supply. That is, if the number of times of supplying the replenishing water is large, it is determined that the load of laundry is large. On the contrary, if the number of times of supplying the replenishing water is small, it is determined that the load of laundry is small. These loads of laundry are used as the basis for the subsequent washing, rinsing, and dehydrating operations.

In general, the time taken to absorb water sufficiently differs depending on the material of the laundry, and even if the laundry of the same material is placed in the rotating tub, that is, when it overlaps or aggregates, there is a difference in the degree and time of absorbing water. Big.

However, in the related art, since only the water tank absorbs water by inverting only the water tank, when laundry that absorbs water less relatively in the water tank is placed, or when the clothes overlap or are piled together, the laundry is not sufficiently and evenly written down in a short time. There is a problem that it is difficult to accurately determine the load of laundry in a short time.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine and a method for controlling the washing machine to determine the load of the laundry accurately and quickly by filling the laundry sufficiently and evenly in a fast time. .

1 is an internal perspective view of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a timing diagram illustrating a process of reading a water level value from a water level sensor to detect a current water level in the rotating tank of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a control flowchart illustrating a method of differently setting an on / off cycle of a pump for each button of a washing course according to material of laundry.

FIG. 5 is a timing diagram illustrating an on / off cycle of a pump for each button of FIG. 4.

* Description of the symbols for the main functions of the drawings *

10: fixed tank 11: rotating tank

12: water supply pipe 13: water supply valve

14: detergent container 15: discharge pipe

16 drain pump 17 drain valve

18: circulation pipe 19: circulation valve

20: motor

Anti-drum washing machine according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a fixed tank, a rotating tank rotatably installed in the fixing tank, a pumping device for pumping the water of the bottom of the fixing tank into the rotating tank, the pumping device And a control unit for controlling the control unit, wherein the control unit controls the pumping device to pump the water of the bottom of the fixing tank into the rotating tank while determining the load of laundry.

The pumping device is one end is connected to the inside of the fixed tank and the other end is provided in the circulation tube inlet side, the pump for pumping the water in the fixing tank into the inside of the rotating tank, provided at the other end of the circulation pipe Characterized in that it comprises a spray nozzle.

The control unit is characterized in that for controlling the motor for rotating the rotating tank to invert the rotating tank together with the pumping device.

The controller is characterized in that the reading of the water level value from the water level sensor for detecting the water level in the rotating tank when the pump and the motor stops at the same time.

The drum washing machine further includes a key input unit for receiving a laundry course for each material of the laundry, and the controller operates the pump based on an on / off cycle corresponding to the laundry course for each material of the laundry. .

The key input unit is provided with washing course buttons for cotton fabrics, blended fabrics, woolen fabrics, and synthetic fibers, and the on / off cycle of the pump for each of the washing course buttons is the shortest for the cotton fabric washing course buttons, and blended fabrics, woolen fabrics, and the like. Synthetic fiber washing course characterized in that pre-set to be short in order.

In the control method of the drum washing machine according to the present invention, the control method of the drum washing machine comprising a pumping device for pumping the wash water of the fixing tank, the rotating tank, the bottom of the fixing tank into the rotating tank, the water supply amount according to the selected washing course It is characterized in that for operating the pumping device to pump the wash water of the bottom of the fixed tank while determining the load of the laundry, and the inside of the rotating tank.

In addition to operating the pumping device is characterized in that for operating the motor for rotating the rotating tank to reverse the rotating tank.

When the pumping device and the motor stops at the same time, characterized in that for detecting the water level in the rotating tank through the water level sensor for detecting the level in the rotating tank.

The number of pumping of the pumping device is characterized in that preset in accordance with the material of the laundry.

The material of the laundry is cotton fabric, blended fabric, woolen fabric and synthetic fiber, the pumping frequency is the most cotton fabric washing course, characterized in that the blended fabric, woolen fabric and synthetic fiber in order.

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

1 is an internal perspective view of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a fixing tub 10 and a cylindrical rotating tub 11 rotatably installed in the fixing tub.

And the water supply pipe 12 which guides the flow of the water which flows in from the external water pipe into the fixed tank 10 into the fixed tank 10 is provided. The water supply pipe 12 is provided with a water supply valve 13 for controlling the flow of water. Moreover, the detergent container 14 is provided in this water supply pipe.

In addition, the discharge pipe 15 is installed between the lower portion of the fixed tank 10 and the drain hole is filled with water flowing through the water supply pipe. The discharge pipe is provided with a drain pump 16 and a drain valve 17 for pumping water in the lower portion of the fixing tank 10.

The discharge pipe 15 is provided with a circulation pipe 18 branched from the discharge pipe 15 between the drain pump 16 and the drain valve 17. One end of the circulation pipe 18 is connected to the inside of the fixing tank 10, and the other end is provided at the inlet side of the rotating tank 10 so that the water inside the fixing tank 10 can be circulated to the rotating tank 11. Has a structure. Moreover, the injection nozzle 18a which can inject the water circulated into the rotating tank 11 is provided in the edge part of this circulation pipe 18. As shown in FIG. On the other hand, the circulation pipe 18 is provided with a circulation valve 19 to prevent water from flowing into the circulation pipe 18 during drainage. The circulation pipe 18, the drain pump 16, the injection nozzle 18a, the circulation valve 19 forms a pumping device.

In addition, the rotating tank 11 is equipped with a motor 20 that can be reversed and reversed to rotate the rotating tank 11 by the operation of the motor 20. In addition, although not shown, a water level sensor for detecting the water level in the rotating tank 11 is provided.

The water supply valve 13, the motor 21, the drain pump 16, the drain valve 17, the circulation valve 19, the water level sensor, and the like are electrically connected to a control device that performs overall control of the drum washing machine. .

In addition, a washing course button is provided at the input side of the control device for inputting a laundry material such as cotton fabric, wool fabric, synthetic fiber, or the like from the user. As will be described later, the control device changes the on / off cycle of the drain pump 16 according to the signal of the button so that the number of pumping times varies.

Hereinafter, a control method of the drum washing machine according to the present invention through a specific operation process.

2 is a control flowchart of a control method of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2, the water supply valve is turned on for a predetermined time and water is supplied until the preset water supply level is reached in the fixing tank 10 (100). Accordingly, the water flowing from the water pipe is filled in the bottom of the fixing tank 10 via the detergent container.

After watering up to the set water supply level, the control device signals that the water level value detected from the water level sensor reaches a preset water supply level value so as to invert the rotating tank 11 to sufficiently and evenly wash the laundry. ) And the drain pump 16 is operated 110 to circulate the water filled in the bottom of the fixed tank 10 into the rotating tank to spray the laundry.

Accordingly, even if the laundry in the rotating tank 11 is overlapped or aggregated with each other by the rotating tank reversal and circulation injection, the overlap and the bundle are loosened, so that the laundry is sufficiently and evenly soaked in a short time.

Then, the water level value is read from the water level sensor 120 so as to know the current water level in the rotating tank 11 to determine whether water supply is necessary (120). At this time, the motor and the pump together read the water level value in the off time to know the exact water level.

The water supply is determined according to the water level value (130). That is, if the water level value in the rotary tank read is lower than the set water supply level, it is determined that the feed water supply is necessary. On the other hand, if the level value in the rotary tank 11 read does not become lower than the set water supply level level value, it determines with no need of feed water supply.

If the current water level in the rotary tank 11 read in the operation mode 130 is lower than the set water supply level, and it is determined that feed water supply is necessary, the feed water is supplied to turn on the water supply valve 13 to raise the current water level to the preset water level. (140).

Subsequently, the control apparatus repeats a series of processes leading to the water supply and the water supply according to the water level change for a predetermined time.

The control device then determines whether this preset time has elapsed (150). If the predetermined time has not elapsed in the operation mode 150, the flow returns to the operation mode 110 and repeats the process of supplying water to the laundry according to the wetness of the laundry and the change in the water level.

On the other hand, if a predetermined time has elapsed in the operation mode 150, the number of times the supplemental water is supplied during that time is checked (160).

Then, the load of the laundry is determined according to the checked replenishment water supply frequency (170). That is, when the number of replenishment water supply is large, it is determined that the load of laundry is large, and when the number of replenishing water supply is small, it is determined that the load of laundry is small.

FIG. 3 is a timing diagram illustrating a process of reading a water level value from a water level sensor to detect a current water level in the rotating tank of FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the motor 21 and the pump 16 have different on / off cycles. However, the on / off period of the motor 21 and the pump 16 is set such that there is a section T1 in which the motor and the pump are turned off at the same time.

The controller reads the water level value from the water level sensor in the section T1 where the motor and the pump are turned off at the same time to detect the correct water level.

FIG. 4 is a control flowchart illustrating a method of differently setting an on / off cycle of a pump for each button of a washing course according to material of laundry. FIG. 5 is a timing diagram illustrating an on / off cycle of a pump for each washing course button of FIG. 4.

Referring to Figure 5 with reference to Figure 4, the on / off cycle of the pump is set differently for each washing course divided according to the material of the laundry, such as cotton fabric, blended fabric, woolen fabric, synthetic fibers.

That is, in the case of a cotton fabric with a large load and a high water absorption rate, the on / off cycle is shortened to increase the number of pumping times, so that the laundry is sufficiently wetted in a short time.

In addition, blended fabrics with similar loads but less absorption than cotton fabrics have shorter on / off cycles after cotton fabrics to reduce the number of pumps.

On the other hand, compared to cotton fabrics and blended fabrics, although the load is smaller, the wool and fabrics have a very high absorption rate due to the material and tissue characteristics. More on / off cycles are relatively longer, resulting in fewer pumping times than cotton or blended fabrics.

As described in detail above, the present invention by inverting the rotating tank and by circulating the water in the fixed tank into the rotating tank and spraying the laundry, the laundry is sufficient and evenly written in a short time to accurately determine the load of the laundry to determine the load It has the effect of improving the reliability while fast.

In addition, the present invention has an effect that can accurately determine the load of the laundry in a short time by adjusting the number of times circulated by the pump and sprayed according to the material of the laundry.

Claims (11)

Fixture, A rotating tub rotatably installed in the fixing tub; A pumping device for pumping water in the bottom of the fixed tank into the rotary tank; A control unit for controlling the pumping device, And the control unit controls the pumping device to pump water of the bottom of the fixing tank into the rotating tank while determining the load of laundry. According to claim 1, The pumping device is one end is connected to the inside of the holding tank and the other end is a circulation pipe provided on the inlet side of the rotating tank, a pump for pumping the water inside the holding tank into the rotating tank, the circulation Drum washing machine comprising a spray nozzle provided at the other end of the pipe. The drum washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the controller controls a motor for rotating the rotating tub to invert the rotating tub together with the pumping device. The drum washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the control unit reads a level value from a level sensor that detects the level in the rotating tank when the pump and the motor stop at the same time. According to claim 1, wherein the drum washing machine further comprises a key input unit for receiving a laundry course for each material of the laundry, the control unit based on the on / off cycle corresponding to the washing course for each material of the laundry to the pump Drum washing machine, characterized in that operating. According to claim 5, The key input unit is provided with washing course buttons for cotton fabrics, blended fabrics, woolen fabrics and synthetic fibers, the on / off cycle of the pump for each washing course button is the cotton fabric washing course button is the shortest Drum washing machine, characterized in that pre-set to short in the order of blending fabric, woolen fabric and synthetic fiber washing course button. In the control method of the drum washing machine comprising a pumping device for pumping the wash water of the fixed tank, the rotating tank, the bottom of the fixed tank into the rotating tank, Water the water supply according to the selected washing course, And operating the pumping device to pump the wash water of the bottom of the fixed tank into the rotary tank while determining the load of the laundry. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the motor for rotating the rotating tub is operated to operate the pumping device and to reverse the rotating tub. The control method of a drum washing machine according to claim 8, wherein the water level in the rotating tank is detected by a water level sensor that detects the water level in the rotating tank when the pumping device and the motor stop at the same time. The method of claim 7, wherein the number of pumping of the pumping device is a control method of a drum washing machine, characterized in that preset for each material of the laundry. 11. The drum washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the laundry material is cotton fabric, blended fabric, woolen fabric, and synthetic fiber, and the number of pumping times is the most in the cotton fabric washing course, followed by the blended fabric, woolen fabric, and synthetic fiber.