KR20060124219A - Laundry device - Google Patents

Abstract

A washing machine is provided to increase the washing efficiency of the laundry and improve the sterilization effect by installing the heat-emitting heater and using the steam. A washing machine is composed of: a body(110); an out tub(120) mounted in the body and formed with a storage unit(121) where a predetermined amount of washing water is stored at the lower part; a drum(130) rotatably installed in the out tub and formed with plural holes(131) at the peripheral surface; a heater(150) installed in the storage unit; a washing water supply pipe(170) for guiding the washing water into the out tub; a water level-sensing unit mounted between the heater and the drum to contain at least three electrodes and sense the water level in the storage unit; and a control unit for controlling the water supply on the basis of the sensed water level, the heat-emitting of the heater, and the driving of the motor. The water level-sensing unit contains a common electrode(181), a low water level checking electrode(182), and a high water level checking electrode(183).

Description

Laundry device

1 is a side cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a typical drum washing machine

Figure 2 is a front sectional view showing the internal structure of a typical drum washing machine

Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the laundry machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention

Figure 4 is a front sectional view showing the internal structure of the washing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention

5 is a schematic flowchart illustrating a control process of a laundry machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a front sectional view showing the internal structure of the laundry machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a schematic flowchart illustrating a control process of a laundry machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

110. Body 111.Inlet

112. Limb 120. Outtub

121. Storage 130. Drum

131.Through Hole 140.Door

150. Heater heater 160. Drain pipe

161. Drain valve 170. Washing water supply line

171. Supply valve 172. Detergent reservoir

180. Water level detector 181. Common electrode

182. Low level electrode 183. High level electrode

190. Washing water circulation 191. Inlet pipe

192. Circulation pump 193.

194. Injection nozzle 195. Valve

200. Temperature sensing unit

The present invention relates to a laundry machine, and more particularly, to a laundry machine of a new structure to improve washing performance through the provision of steam and to be able to sterilize laundry.

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 a flow of wash water. It comprises a washing water supply pipe (50) for guiding the drive means for driving the drum (30).

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

At this time, the inner bottom of the tub 20 is provided with a washing water heater 80 is configured to enable the temperature control of the washing water used for washing.

In addition, the drum 30 is rotatably mounted in the outer tub 20, and a plurality of through holes 31 are formed on the circumferential surface of the drum 30 for inflow / outflow of wash water.

In addition, the wash water supply pipe 50 serves as a pipe line through which the wash water flows, and serves to guide the wash water provided from the water pipe through the water supply valve 51 to the inside of the outer tub 20.

At this time, the detergent storage unit 52 for storing the detergent required for washing is provided on the pipeline of the wash water supply pipe 50, the detergent may be contained in the wash water is supplied into the outer tub 20. Make sure

The detergent storage unit 52 is provided on the upper space in the main body 10, it is configured to enable the introduction of detergent.

In addition, the end of the wash water supply pipe 50 is connected to the upper end of the front side of the outer tub 20 so that the washing water is filled from the bottom inside the outer tub 20 and the drum 30 by a natural fall. It is composed.

In addition, the driving means includes 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.

However, the conventional drum washing machine as described above simply performs washing and drying of laundry, but cannot provide other functions.

In addition, the drum washing machine not only unnecessarily consumed a large amount of washing water even when washing a small amount of laundry and washing the laundry with a low contamination level, but the process also takes about the same time as a general washing process. Therefore, there is a problem that the consumption of electricity is unnecessarily large.

In recent years, the development of a laundry machine of a new structure that can proceed to the most effective washing with the smallest amount of washing water is required.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a laundry machine of a new structure to wash the laundry through the provision of steam.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a washing apparatus of a new structure to obtain the maximum washing performance with a minimum use of washing water.

Embodiments of the present invention for achieving the above object and the body forming the appearance; An outer tub provided in the main body and having a storage unit in which a predetermined amount of washing water is stored; A drum rotatably installed in the outer tub, the drum having a plurality of through holes formed on a circumferential surface thereof; A heating heater mounted in the storage unit; A washing water supply pipe guiding the washing water to be supplied into the outtub; A water level sensing unit provided between the heating heater and the drum in the storage unit and configured to include at least three electrodes to detect a water level in the storage unit; In addition, the washing machine is configured to control the water supply of the washing water based on the water level sensed by the water level detecting unit, the heat generation of the heating heater, the control unit for controlling the driving of the drum is provided. .

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7 showing preferred embodiments of the present invention.

First, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the washing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a main body 110, an outer tub 120, a drum 130, a heating heater 150, The wash water supply pipe 170, the water level detecting unit 180, and a control unit (not shown) are configured to be included.

The main body 110 forms the appearance of the laundry apparatus.

An inlet 111 is formed on the front surface of the main body 110, and the door 140 that opens and closes the inlet 111 is mounted on the main body 110.

In addition, the outtub 120 is provided in a state of being supported in the main body 110.

In the bottom space of the outer tub 120, a storage unit 121 for storing a predetermined amount of washing water is formed.

At this time, the storage unit 121 is formed to protrude downward from the center portion of the peripheral surface of the outer tub 120.

In addition, the reservoir 121 is connected to the drain pipe 160 for draining the wash water. The drain pipe 160 is provided with a drain valve 161 for opening and closing the pipe.

In addition, the drum 130 is rotatably installed in the outer tub 120, and the open side of the drum 130 is positioned toward the inlet 111 of the main body 110.

Between the inlet 111 and the drum 130 is mounted a rim 112 to block the space in which the laundry is injected from the space in the main body 110.

In addition, a plurality of through holes 131 are formed on the circumferential surface of the drum 130. Washing water and steam are introduced into the drum 130 through the through holes.

The heating heater 150 is installed along the inside of the storage unit 121 of the outer tub 120 and heats the wash water supplied to the corresponding portion.

In addition, the inside of the main body 110 is preferably provided with a temperature sensing unit 200 for sensing the temperature of the inside of the outer tub (120).

The temperature sensing unit 200 is composed of a conventional temperature sensor (thermistor) or a thermostat (thermostat), the power provided to the heating heater 150 may be cut off when the heating heater 150 is excessively heated. To operate.

In addition, the wash water supply pipe 170 is a pipeline through which the wash water flows, and guides the wash water supplied from the water pipe through the water supply valve 171 to the inside of the outer tub 120.

At this time, the detergent storage unit 172 for storing the detergent for washing is provided on the pipeline of the wash water supply pipe 170, so that the detergent can be contained while the wash water is supplied into the outtub 120. .

The detergent storage unit 172 is provided on the upper space in the main body 110, is configured to enable the introduction of detergent.

Particularly, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the washing water discharge side of the washing water supply pipe 170 is a portion in which the heating heater 150 is provided on the bottom circumferential surface of the outer tub 120, that is, the storage unit 121. It suggests connecting to the site adjacent to the formed site.

This is because when the water supply of the wash water is made in the same structure as before, the wash water being supplied is absorbed into the laundry before being stored in the storage unit 121 of the outer tub 120.

That is, it is difficult to supply the correct amount of wash water to the storage unit 121 by absorbing the wash water being supplied to the laundry, and because the level of washing water stored in the storage unit 121 is not accurate, This is to ensure that the wash water being supplied is provided directly into the storage 121 without passing through the laundry.

In addition, the water level detector 180 is provided between the heating heater 150 and the drum 130 in the storage unit 121 and measures the level of the wash water stored in the storage unit 121. Sensing.

The water level detector 180 includes at least three electrodes 181, 182, and 183, and provides a voltage value that varies depending on whether the electrodes 181, 182, and 183 are energized to the controller (not shown), thereby providing a level of wash water. Is checked.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the water level detecting unit 180 includes one common electrode 181, one low level electrode 182, and one high level electrode 183. In addition, the terminals 181a, 182a, and 183a exposed to the external environment (that is, the internal space of the storage unit) are provided at the ends of the electrodes 181, 182, and 183, respectively.

In this case, the terminal 181a of the common electrode 181 is configured to be positioned at an upper portion relative to the height of the heating heater 150, and the terminal 182a of the low water level confirming electrode 182 is the common electrode ( It is configured to be located at approximately the same height as the terminal 181a of 181.

The terminal 181a of the common electrode 181 and the terminal 182a of the low water level confirming electrode 182 have a height set to approximately the minimum level of the wash water required for steam generation and at the same time the heating heater 150 It is desirable to have a height that is submerged in the wash water.

In addition, the terminal 183a of the high level check electrode 183 is approximately steam generated, which is higher than the terminal 181a of the common electrode 181 and the terminal 182a of the low level check electrode 182. It is configured to be located at a height set to the maximum level of wash water required.

The structure of the water level detection unit 180 as described above prevents the heating heater 150 from being exposed to the outside and at the same time the level of the wash water supplied to the storage unit 121 of the outer tub 120 is set to a predetermined water level. It is a structure for not exceeding.

The controller (not shown) performs selective operation control of the water supply valve 171 based on the sensing value detected by the water level sensor 180, and generates a heating heater based on the detected water level. The heat generation control of 150 is performed, and the drum 130 is driven.

In this case, the controller recognizes the current level by continuously checking that the common electrode 181 and the other electrodes 182 and 183 of the electrodes 181, 182 and 183 of the water level detector 180 are energized with each other. It is configured to perform operation control of the water supply valve 171 and the heating heater 150.

The method of recognizing the water level may be variously made.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the control unit receives a sensing value (eg, a voltage value) sensed by the water level detection unit 180 and compares it with a preset reference value to suggest that the washing water level is recognized. In this case, the sensing value is converted into digital data for comparison with the reference value.

When the converted value of the sensing value is higher than the reference value, the terminals 181a, 182a and 183a of the corresponding electrodes 181, 182 and 183 are exposed to the outside, and when the converted value of the sensing value is lower than the reference value. The terminals 181a, 182a and 183a of the electrodes 181, 182 and 183 are immersed in the wash water.

Hereinafter, a washing process using the washing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the state diagram of FIG. 4 and the flowchart of FIG. 5.

The washing process according to the first embodiment of the present invention is largely presented to include a water supply step, a bubbling step, a rewatering step, and a steam providing step, which will be described in detail according to the order thereof.

First, the control unit for controlling the operation of the laundry device is continuously requested to perform the laundry operation from the user.

When a request for a washing operation is generated in this process, the controller controls the water supply valve 171 to perform a water supply step of supplying the washing water into the outtub 120 (S110).

In this case, the wash water flows through the wash water supply pipe 170 opened by the operation of the water supply valve 171, and then the water is supplied into the outer tub 120 through the bottom space of the main body 110 so that the outer tub 120 is supplied. ) From the storage unit 121. Since the wash water discharge side of the wash water supply pipe 170 is connected to the bottom circumferential surface of the outer tub 120, the wash water supplied does not wet the laundry inside the drum 130.

In addition, the water level of the wash water being supplied is approximately the bottom of the drum 130 is locked so that the level of the washing water existing in the bottom of the drum 130 at the time of rotation of the drum 130 is possible (Fig. Phase “a”).

Checking the water level for the wash water may be performed by the water level detection unit 180, but considering that the water level detection unit 180 is used for steam generation, or a sensor for detecting a separate water level or , It is preferable to proceed through the count of the watering time.

When water is supplied to the wash water up to the water level set by the above-described series of processes, the controller controls the water supply valve 171 to stop the washing water supply.

In addition, when the water supply process is completed by the above-described series of processes, the controller performs a packing step.

The coating step is a step (S120) of continuously rotating the drum 130 (or rotating in one direction or right and left) to soak the laundry in the wash water.

That is, as the drum 130 is rotated, the laundry in the drum 130 is made to flow by the washing water present at the bottom of the drum 130 while the flow is made.

The above filling step lasts for a set time.

In addition, when the overfilling process is completed, the controller performs a rewatering step.

At this time, the resupply step is a series of processes for supplying the washing water required for steam generation up to a predetermined level.

This is because the washing water required for the actual steam generation is insufficient because the level of the washing water is drastically reduced in the previous step of lapping.

The rewatering step is performed by the control unit checking the water supply level through the control of the water level detection unit (S130), and selectively controlling the water supply valve 171 according to the water supply level.

The checking of the water supply level confirms whether the current level is insufficient compared to the preset maximum level L1 by comparing the sensing value provided from the high level checking electrode 183 of the level detection unit 180 with a preset reference value. It is.

This is achieved by controlling to perform the resupply step when the sensing value is higher than the reference value because the terminals 181a and 183a of the common electrode 181 and the high level check electrode 183 are not energized with each other.

If it is confirmed that the sensing value of the high water level confirming electrode 183 provided from the water level detecting unit 180 is higher than the reference value, the controller controls the water supply valve 171 to outtub through the wash water supply pipe 170. Water the wash water into 120.

While the wash water is being supplied, the control unit receives a sensing value of the high water level confirming electrode 183 from the water level detection unit 180, and compares the received sensing value with a reference value to determine a water supply stop time.

At this time, the wash water being supplied is directly provided to the bottom space in the outer tub 120 without passing through the laundry so that the water supply stop timing can be accurately determined.

That is, when the wash water passes through the laundry, the water level checking error caused by the laundry absorbing the wash water can be prevented.

On the other hand, the sensing value provided from the high water level confirming electrode 183 in the process of confirming the water supply level of the washing water for steam generation after completion of the above-mentioned re-watering step before the re-supply step is compared with the preset reference value Low cases may occur.

This is the case when there is an excessive amount of wash water that has been watered for the filling step.

Therefore, when the water supply level of the wash water exceeds a preset maximum water level (L1) by controlling the drain valve 161 to drain a small amount of the wash water in the storage unit 121 through the drain pipe 160 (S150) desirable.

That is, when the water level of the wash water supplied into the storage 121 is excessively high, since the power consumption required to evaporate the wash water is large, it is most preferable that the water level of the wash water be appropriately provided.

Then, when the water level of the wash water stored in the storage unit 121 of the outer tub 120 is supplied to a height (“b” in the drawing) set to the maximum water level required for generating steam, further water supply is stopped (S160). do.

Along with this, steam is generated to provide steam into the drum 130 (S170). At this time, the sensing value of the high level electrode for checking is lower than the reference value.

The steam is generated by the heat generated by the exothermic heater 150.

That is, when the heating heater 150 is heated by the control of the controller, the washing water stored in the storage 121 is evaporated to generate hot steam.

In addition, the hot steam generated as described above is introduced into the drum 130 through the through holes 131 of the drum 130 while rising from the bottom space in the outer tub.

As a result, the laundry in the drum 130 is provided with the high temperature steam, and the high temperature steam separates and sterilizes the contaminants.

In particular, considering that the steam is provided to the laundry while rising from the bottom of the drum 130, the laundry is washed and sterilized, for example, by steaming.

In this case, it is more preferable that the steam is uniformly provided to all the laundry in the drum 130 by controlling the drum 130 to rotate.

In addition, during the steam providing step as described above, the control unit receives a sensing value from the low level check electrode 182 of the water level detection unit and compares the sensing value with a reference value to determine the water supply level of the bottom of the outer tub 120. The washing water level in the storage unit 121 is continuously checked (S180).

This is to prevent the wash water level in the storage unit 121 from falling below a predetermined minimum level (level of water approximately equal to the height of the heating heater) L2 (“c” on the drawing).

In this case, when it is confirmed that the sensing value provided from the low water level confirming electrode 182 is higher than the reference value, the controller stops the heat generation of the heating heater 150 and controls the water supply valve 171. 121) additionally wash water into the water (S140).

In the case of additional water supply of the wash water, the water supply stop time is determined by comparing the sensing value provided from the high level electrode for confirming electrode 183 and the reference value.

In addition, when the steam providing step is completed, further steam generation is stopped, and subsequent washing strokes such as the main washing stroke, the rinsing stroke, and the dehydrating stroke are sequentially performed (S190).

On the other hand, Figure 6 attached is a washing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown.

That is, the second embodiment of the present invention suggests that the washing water circulation unit 190 is further provided in the washing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

At this time, the washing water circulation unit 190 is a series of structures to circulate the washing water supplied into the outer tub 120 and to spray the inside of the drum 130 to facilitate the filling of the laundry.

The washing water circulation unit 190 is an inlet pipe 191 for receiving the washing water in the outer tub 120 and a circulation pump 912 provided on the conduit of the inlet pipe 191 to pump the washing water. ), A guide tube 193 for guiding the wash water pumped by the circulation pump 192 to the upper space in the main body 110, and penetrating the rim 112 while being coupled to the discharge side of the guide tube 193. It is preferably configured to include a spray nozzle 194 provided to communicate with the inner top of the drum 130 to spray the pumped wash water.

The inlet pipe 191 is preferably connected in communication with the drain pipe 160, the opening and closing to selectively open and close the two pipes (191, 160) on the pipe line of the inlet pipe 191, or on the pipe line of the drain pipe (160). Preferably, the valve 195 is further provided.

Hereinafter, a washing process using the washing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7.

The washing process according to the second embodiment of the present invention is presented to include a water supply step, a bubbling step, a rewatering step, and a steam providing step, which will be described in detail according to the order thereof.

At this time, the water supply step is the same as introduced in the first embodiment of the present invention described above. That is, the water supply step proceeds by supplying the washing water to the bottom of the outer tub 120 through the control of the water supply valve 171 (S210).

Then, when the above-described water supply process is completed, the control unit performs a packing step of wet laundry.

In this case, the coating step is performed through the drive control (S220) of the washing water circulation unit 190, unlike the first embodiment of the present invention described above.

That is, when the circulating pump 192 is driven by the control of the controller, pumping of the wash water existing in the outer tub 120 is performed through the inlet pipe 191, and the wash water continues to guide the pipe 193. After flow along, it is injected into the drum 130 through the injection nozzle 194.

Accordingly, the laundry in the drum 130 is wetted by the washing water sprayed through the spray nozzle 194, and the packing is made.

Of course, in this case, it is more preferable that the drum 130 is continuously rotated (or rotated in one direction or reversed left and right) so that the laundry in the drum 130 can be more smoothly wetted by the sprayed washing water.

Then, when the above-described coating process is completed, the water supply level in the outer tub 120 is checked (S130), and then the same series of processes as in the resupplying step and the steam providing step presented in the first embodiment of the present invention described above. Do each of them.

As described above, the washing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has the effect that it is possible to improve the washing performance of the laundry using the steam by configuring to provide the steam.

In particular, when considering that the steam is a high temperature state has the advantage that the sterilization effect for the laundry provided with the steam can also be obtained.

In addition, the laundry apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention has the effect of enabling the washing and washing of the laundry with minimal washing water due to the addition of a series of structures for providing the steam and the addition of the washing water circulation unit.

Claims (6)

A main body forming an appearance; An outer tub provided in the main body and having a storage unit in which a predetermined amount of washing water is stored; A drum rotatably installed in the outer tub, the drum having a plurality of through holes formed on a circumferential surface thereof; A heating heater mounted in the storage unit; A washing water supply pipe guiding the washing water to be supplied into the outtub; A water level sensing unit provided between the heating heater and the drum in the storage unit and configured to include at least three electrodes to detect a water level in the storage unit; And, And a control unit for controlling the water supply of the washing water, controlling the heat generation of the heating heater, and controlling the driving of the drum based on the water level detected by the water level detection unit. The method of claim 1, The wash water discharge side of the wash water supply pipe Washing apparatus, characterized in that configured to be connected on the bottom peripheral surface of the bottom of the outer tub which is a portion adjacent to the formed portion of the outer tub. The method of claim 1, The water level detection unit It comprises one common electrode, one low level electrode, and one high level electrode, Washing apparatus, characterized in that the end of each electrode is provided with terminals exposed to the external environment, respectively. The method of claim 3, wherein The terminal of the common electrode is configured to be positioned in an upper portion of the heating heater, The terminal of the low level checking electrode is configured to be positioned at approximately the same height as the terminal of the common electrode, The terminal of the high level check electrode is laundry device, characterized in that configured to be located at a higher portion than the terminal of the common electrode and the low level check electrode. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Inside the main body An inlet pipe receiving wash water in the outtub; A circulation pump provided on a conduit of the inlet pipe to pump laundry water; A guide tube for guiding the washing water pumped by the circulation pump to an upper space in the main body; And, The washing apparatus further comprises a washing water circulation unit configured to be coupled to the discharge side of the guide tube and in communication with the inner upper end of the drum to spray the pumped washing water. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Inside the main body Washing apparatus further comprises a temperature sensing unit for sensing the temperature of the inside of the tub.

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