KR20230032730A - Laundry treating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A laundry treating apparatus is disclosed to supply an appropriate amount of detergent even when a detergent supply cycle is performed multiple times. A laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet, a tub, a drum, a detergent supply device, and a control unit, wherein when a first laundry treating process in which the amount of detergent required to treat laundry corresponds to a first amount of detergent is changed to a second laundry treating process in which the amount of detergent corresponds to a second detergent amount, the control unit controls the detergent supply device so that an amount of detergent corresponding to the increase of the second detergent amount relative to the first detergent amount is supplied to the tub in the second laundry treating process.

Description

Clothes handling device {LAUNDRY TREATING APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus, and relates to a laundry treatment apparatus having a detergent supply device.

A clothes treatment device is a device that performs various treatment processes on clothes, such as washing or drying clothes, and includes a washing machine, a dryer, a refresher (styler), and the like.

Laundry handling apparatuses may be classified into a top loading method and a front loading method based on a method of putting laundry into a drum, and may include a cabinet forming an external appearance.

A washing machine or the like capable of washing clothes may put laundry such as clothes and bedding into a drum to remove contamination from the laundry. The washing process of clothes may include a washing process, a rinsing process, a spin-drying process, a drying process, and the like.

A laundry treatment apparatus capable of washing clothes may include a tub accommodated inside the cabinet, a drum rotatably mounted inside the tub and containing laundry, and a detergent supply device supplying detergent to the inside of the tub. .

When the drum is rotated by a motor or the like in a state in which wash water is supplied to laundry stored in the drum, contaminants attached to the laundry may be removed by friction between the drum and the wash water.

The detergent supply device has a detergent supply function to enhance washing effect. Here, the detergent means a material having various effects for treating clothes, such as a fabric washing agent, a fabric softener, and a fabric bleaching agent. As the detergent, powder (powder) type detergent and liquid (liquid) type detergent may be used.

Meanwhile, published document KR 10-2018-0090003 A1 discloses a detergent supply device included in a laundry treatment device. In the laundry treatment apparatus, detergent stored in the detergent supply unit is supplied to the inside of the tub so that laundry may be performed.

The laundry treatment apparatus may supply detergent pre-stored in the detergent supply unit to the inside of the tub in order to wash clothes. That is, the laundry treatment process of the laundry treatment apparatus may include a detergent supply operation for supplying detergent.

In the laundry treatment process, which may include a washing process, it is important to efficiently use the detergent to supply an appropriate amount of detergent into the tub to perform the laundry treatment process.

Meanwhile, while performing a clothes treatment process in which courses and options for clothes treatment are set by the user, a new clothes treatment process may be performed after the user's change of mind or change of circumstances cancels the clothes treatment process before completion.

In this case, the new clothes treatment process can perform the detergent supply process independently of the canceled clothes treatment process, and accordingly, detergent in excess of the amount of detergent required for clothes treatment is provided in the tub, thereby reducing the consumption of unnecessary detergent and Excessive foaming may adversely affect the treatment of clothes.

Embodiments of the present invention are intended to provide a laundry treatment apparatus capable of providing an appropriate amount of detergent required to perform a laundry treatment process for treating clothes.

In addition, embodiments of the present invention are intended to provide a laundry treatment apparatus capable of efficiently treating laundry by providing an appropriate amount of detergent even when detergent supplying operations for supplying detergent are performed a plurality of times.

In addition, embodiments of the present invention are intended to provide a laundry treatment apparatus capable of effectively improving detergent consumption and laundry treatment efficiency by efficiently setting the amount of detergent consumed when a detergent supply operation is re-performed according to a change in a laundry treatment process.

As the detergent supply device controlled through the control unit is provided, the user's operation during use of the clothes treatment device causes over-injection of detergent to perform the clothes treatment process, resulting in excessive foaming or unnecessary consumption of detergent. can be increased

In a general process of using the laundry treatment apparatus, a course or the like is determined by a user after power is applied, and a laundry treatment process according to the course and option determined by the user may be performed. The clothes treatment process may include a detergent input operation, water supply operation, washing operation, rinsing operation, spin-drying operation, and the like.

On the other hand, after the clothes treatment process is temporarily stopped at a point after the detergent input process or stopped before completion due to manipulation by the user, the start of the clothes treatment process may be requested again. In this case, the detergent supply process is performed at least one Since the detergent supply process may be performed again after the first time is performed, unnecessary detergent supply may be added.

An embodiment of the present invention limits the additional supply of unnecessary detergent by monitoring the clothes treatment process in order to prevent the additional supply of unnecessary detergent as described above.

In one embodiment of the present invention, in the laundry treatment process performed after power is applied, the control unit stores the detergent amount of the detergent supplied to the tub, and the laundry treatment process is repeated by the user's manipulation during the laundry treatment process, so that the detergent When the supplying process is repeated, only the incremental amount may be additionally supplied by comparing the amount of detergent required in the final detergent supplying process with the amount of previously introduced detergent.

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention can effectively prevent the over-injection of detergent even if a plurality of times of detergent supplying operations are performed, effectively improving the overflow of foam or unnecessary increase in detergent consumption.

Meanwhile, in one embodiment of the present invention, when the amount of detergent required in the currently performed detergent supply process is less than the amount of detergent already added, the user may be notified through a notification unit that the laundry treatment process is performed with the amount of detergent already added.

One embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet, a tub, a drum, a detergent supply device, and a control unit. The tub is provided inside the cabinet, and water is accommodated therein. The drum is rotatably provided inside the tub, and clothes are accommodated therein.

A detergent supply device may be provided inside the cabinet and supply detergent stored therein to the inside of the tub, and a controller may control the detergent supply device to adjust the amount of detergent supplied to the tub.

When the amount of detergent required for clothes treatment is changed to the second clothes treatment process corresponding to the second amount of detergent during the first clothes treatment process corresponding to the first detergent amount, the controller performs the second clothing treatment process. The detergent supply device is controlled to supply detergent to the tub by an increase in the amount of the second detergent relative to the amount of the first detergent.

The controller may determine the first amount of detergent or the second amount of detergent based on a course and an option selected by a user to treat clothes in each of the first and second clothes treatment processes.

At least one of the courses and options in the first clothing treatment process and the second clothing treatment process may be set to be different from each other.

An embodiment of the present invention may further include a control unit provided in the cabinet, signally connected to the control unit, and operated by a user to generate an operation signal, wherein the control unit performs the operation based on the operation signal. Courses and options for each of the first clothing treatment process and the second clothing treatment process may be set.

When at least one of the courses and options is changed by the user while the first clothes treatment process is performed, the controller may perform the second clothes treatment process according to the changed course and option.

The options include the input amount of clothes introduced into the drum or the supply amount of water supplied into the tub, and the amount of clothes input and the amount of water supplied may be adjustable by a user or the control unit.

The course is provided in plural and includes a standard course, and may further include a strong course in which more detergent is consumed than the standard course or a saving course in which less detergent is consumed than the standard course.

The control unit may determine and store the amount of the first detergent in the first clothes treatment process, determine the second amount of detergent in the second clothing treatment process, and calculate the increment by comparing the amount with the pre-stored first detergent amount.

When the amount of the second detergent is equal to or less than the amount of the first detergent, the control unit may not supply detergent by the detergent supply device in the second clothes treatment process.

An embodiment of the present invention may further include a notification unit provided in the cabinet, signally connected to the control unit, and notifying information to a user based on a command of the control unit.

When the amount of the second detergent is equal to or less than the amount of the first detergent, the control unit controls the notification unit to notify the user that the second clothing treatment process is performed in a state in which detergent is supplied in an amount equal to the first amount of detergent in the second clothing treatment process. can do.

The control unit may correct the amount of the second detergent in the second clothing treatment process based on the degree of progress of the first clothing treatment process.

The control unit sequentially performs a plurality of processes for processing clothes in the first clothes processing process, and when a user requests a change from the first clothing processing process to the second clothing processing process, the first clothing processing process is performed. In the clothes treatment process, if the currently ongoing process corresponds to a previously set process changeable process, it may be changed to the second clothing treatment process.

The plurality of cycles may include a washing cycle in which the drum is rotated to remove contaminants from clothes in a state in which detergent is introduced into the tub, and an cycle prior to the washing cycle may be set as a cycle changeable cycle in the control unit. there is.

The detergent supply device stores a first-class detergent and a second-class detergent different from the first-class detergent, and the plurality of processes include a first-class detergent supply process into which the first-class detergent is input and a second-class detergent It may include a second-class detergent supply administration.

The controller may determine the amount of the first detergent and the amount of the second detergent for the first type detergent, and the process changeable process in the first clothing processing process may be performed before the second type detergent supply process.

The detergent supply device includes a detergent storage unit in which detergent is stored and a detergent pump connected to the detergent storage unit to flow the detergent in the detergent storage unit, and the control unit controls the detergent pump to move the detergent from the detergent supply unit to the detergent supply unit. The amount of detergent supplied to the bro can be adjusted.

Embodiments of the present invention are intended to provide a laundry treatment apparatus capable of providing an appropriate amount of detergent required to perform a laundry treatment process for treating clothes.

In addition, embodiments of the present invention are intended to provide a laundry treatment apparatus capable of efficiently treating laundry by providing an appropriate amount of detergent even when detergent supplying operations for supplying detergent are performed a plurality of times.

In addition, embodiments of the present invention are intended to provide a laundry treatment apparatus capable of effectively improving detergent consumption and laundry treatment efficiency by efficiently setting the amount of detergent consumed when a detergent supply operation is re-performed according to a change in a laundry treatment process.

1 is a perspective view of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a top view of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a cross-sectional view of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a view showing a detergent supply device of a laundry treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is an exploded view of the detergent supply device of the laundry treatment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a view showing the detergent pump of the detergent supply device in one embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a diagram schematically illustrating an operation sequence of the laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
8 is a view conceptually illustrating a change in a laundry treatment process in the laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a view showing a plurality of processes performed in a laundry treatment process of the laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a method of calculating an increment of detergent in a second detergent supplying operation of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a view showing a laundry treatment process including a first type detergent supply process and a second type detergent supply process in the laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention.

However, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. And in order to clearly explain the present invention in the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted, and similar reference numerals are attached to similar parts throughout the specification.

In this specification, redundant descriptions of the same components are omitted.

In addition, in this specification, when a component is referred to as being 'connected' or 'connected' to another component, it may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but another component in the middle It should be understood that may exist. On the other hand, in this specification, when a component is referred to as 'directly connected' or 'directly connected' to another component, it should be understood that no other component exists in the middle.

In addition, terms used in this specification are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention.

Also, in this specification, a singular expression may include a plurality of expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In addition, in this specification, terms such as 'include' or 'having' are only intended to designate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and one or more It should be understood that the presence or addition of other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof is not precluded.

Also in this specification, the term 'and/or' includes a combination of a plurality of listed items or any item among a plurality of listed items. In this specification, 'A or B' may include 'A', 'B', or 'both A and B'.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a laundry treatment apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a top view showing the laundry treatment apparatus 1, and FIG. 3 is a view showing the laundry treatment apparatus 1 from the side. This is a cross section view.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a laundry treatment apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet 10 forming an exterior of the laundry treatment apparatus 1, and a tub 20 installed inside the cabinet 10. ), a drum 30 and a detergent supply device 300 rotatably installed inside the tub 20.

The laundry treatment apparatus 1 may be classified into a top load type and a front load type. 1 shows a front-load type laundry treatment apparatus 1, and this is only for convenience of description, and since the present invention is not applied only to a front-load type washing machine, it can also be applied to a top-load type washing machine.

However, for convenience of description, hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention is a front loader type in which openings are formed on the front surfaces of the tub 20 and the drum 30 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 so that clothes can be loaded. be explained by

Meanwhile, the cabinet 10 may form an exterior of the laundry treatment apparatus 1 . A space is formed inside the cabinet 10, and the tub 20, the drum 30, and the detergent supply device 300 may be provided therein. Various components for operating the laundry treatment apparatus 1, such as the control unit 200, may be provided inside the cabinet 10.

The cabinet 10 may include a front plate, a rear plate, a top plate, a bottom plate, and a side plate. At least some of the plurality of plates may be molded integrally with each other or manufactured separately from each other and coupled to each other to form the cabinet 10 .

A clothing opening 12 through which clothing is put into the cabinet 10 may be formed on the front plate. The clothing opening 12 may be provided to communicate with the inside of the tub 20 and the drum 30 . That is, the inside of the cabinet 10 may be exposed to the outside through the clothing opening 12 .

A clothing door 14 for opening and closing the clothing opening 12 may be installed on the front plate. The clothing door 14 may be rotatably coupled to the front plate through a hinge or the like.

However, the positions of the clothing opening 12 and the clothing door 14 are not necessarily limited to the front plate, and may be provided on the side plate, rear plate, or top plate as needed.

Meanwhile, the tub 20 is provided inside the cabinet 10 and may be provided to accommodate water therein. In one embodiment of the present invention, the tub 20 may be provided in a cylindrical shape with an open front surface.

The tub opening 22 formed on the front surface of the tub 20 may be disposed to face the clothing opening 12 . Accordingly, clothes put into the laundry treatment apparatus 1 through the laundry opening 12 may be accommodated in the tub 20 .

Meanwhile, the drum 30 may be rotatably provided inside the tub 20 . The drum 30 may be provided in a cylindrical shape, and a drum opening 30 may be formed on the front surface. The front surface of the drum 30 may be opened as a whole to form the drum opening 30 .

The drum opening 30 may be provided to face the tub opening 22 and the clothing opening 12 inside the tub 20 . Accordingly, the clothes put into the laundry handling apparatus 1 through the laundry opening 12 may pass through the tub opening 22 and be accommodated in the drum 30 through the drum opening 30 .

In one embodiment of the present invention, water may be accommodated inside the tub 20, and water supplied from the water supply unit 310 is supplied to the inside of the tub 20 through the detergent supply device 300, or the water supply unit ( Water may be directly supplied into the tub 20 from 310 .

The drum 30 disposed inside the tub 20 may have a plurality of openings formed on an outer circumferential surface and/or a rear surface, and accordingly, water supplied into the tub 20 may flow into the drum 30. there is. When water is discharged from the tub 20 , water existing inside the drum 30 may also be discharged to the outside of the tub 20 .

The drum 30 may be rotatably provided around a rotation shaft extending substantially in the forward and backward directions. The driving unit 400 for providing rotational force for rotating the drum 30 may be coupled to and fixed to the tub 20 or the cabinet 10 . The drive unit 400 forms a coupling relationship with the drum 30 at the rear of the drum 30, or is disposed on the circumferential side of the drum 30, for example, below the drum 30, to drive the drum 30 through a belt or the like. may form a relationship with

When the drum 30 is rotated, the clothes inside the drum 30 are soaked in water and frictional force with the drum 30 is generated, and a washing cycle (P12) in which contaminants are removed by the action of detergent is performed. can be performed

Meanwhile, a control panel 100 including a manipulation unit 120 manipulated by a user and a notification unit 140 capable of providing various types of information to the user may be provided on the front plate.

However, in one embodiment of the present invention, the control panel 100 is not necessarily limited to being provided on the front plate, and may be provided on the top plate or side plate as needed.

1 shows a control panel 100 provided to form a part of a front plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. The number of control panels 100 may vary.

The control panel 100 may include a manipulation unit 120 and a notification unit 140 . The control unit 120 may be provided in the cabinet 10 to be operated by a user. That is, the manipulation unit 120 may include various types of input devices that can be manipulated by the user.

For example, the control unit 120 may include an input device such as a touch panel, a press button, a dial button, and a microphone through which a user's touch signal may be input, and the user may input an operation signal through the control unit 120. The manipulation signal may be transmitted to the control unit 200 to be described later and reflected in the washing cycle P12 of clothes in various ways.

The notification unit 140 may be provided in the cabinet 10 to provide information to the user. The notification unit 140 may include various output devices for providing information to the user.

For example, the notification unit 140 may include a speaker for providing auditory information to the user, a light emitting unit or a display unit for providing visual information to the user, and the like.

The control unit 200 may provide a variety of information about the operating state of the laundry treatment apparatus 1 by delivering various types of notification signals, such as visual information or auditory information, to the user through the notification unit 140 .

The control unit 120 and the notification unit 140 may be provided inside the cabinet 10 or exposed to the outside of the cabinet 10 . 1 shows a state in which a control panel 100 including a control panel 120 and a notification unit 140 is provided on a front plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

However, the positions of the control unit 120 and the notification unit 140 according to an embodiment of the present invention are not necessarily limited thereto, and are provided separately and independently from each other or are located in various locations such as the inside of the cabinet 10 and the top plate. may be provided.

Meanwhile, in one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 200, which will be described later, may be signalally connected to a communication terminal portable by a user. The communication terminal is separated from the cabinet 10 and can be moved independently, has a communication function, and can be provided to be carried by a user.

For example, the communication terminal may correspond to a mobile phone that can be carried by a user, but is not necessarily limited thereto and may be of various types capable of communicating directly or indirectly with the controller 200 .

The control unit 200 may be provided to communicate with the communication terminal in various ways. That is, the control unit 200 may be signally connected to the communication terminal through various methods.

For example, the control unit 200 may be directly connected to a communication terminal through various methods capable of transmitting and receiving wireless signals such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC, or an intermediate means provided inside or outside the laundry treatment apparatus 1 to transmit and receive communication signals. It can also be indirectly connected using .

For example, the control unit 200 may be connected together with the communication terminal to a Wi-Fi module provided inside or outside the clothes handling apparatus 1 to transmit/receive signals to the communication terminal through the Wi-Fi module.

Alternatively, the controller 200 is connected to the Wi-Fi module and transmits/receives a signal to a communication server corresponding to a terminal station for communication of the communication terminal, thereby signally connecting to the communication terminal through the communication server.

The communication method of the control unit 200 described above is only an example for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, and is not limited to the above, and in an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 200 and the communication terminal are directly or Various methods capable of indirectly transmitting/receiving signals to each other may be possible.

The user may input a manipulation signal by manipulating the communication terminal, and the control unit 200 may deliver a notification signal to the user through the communication terminal. That is, the communication terminal may correspond to the manipulation unit 120 and notification unit 140 provided in the laundry treatment apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an operation signal is received from a user or a notification signal is transmitted through not only the operation unit 120 and the notification unit 140 of the laundry treatment apparatus 1 but also a communication terminal that the user can carry, thereby providing a laundry treatment apparatus. The usability of (1) can be effectively improved.

Meanwhile, FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically show a detergent supply device 300 built into the cabinet 10 in one embodiment of the present invention. An embodiment of the present invention may include a detergent supply device 300, and the detergent supply device 300 may be connected to the tub 20 to supply detergent into the tub 20.

Referring to FIG. 2 , at least a portion of the detergent supply device 300 may be provided inside the cabinet 10 and may be provided in various locations and in various forms. Although FIG. 2 shows the detergent supply device 300 located on the upper front side of the cabinet 10, it is not necessarily limited thereto.

For example, the detergent supply device 300 may be disposed on the lower side, on one lateral side, or on the rear side of the cabinet 10, and may be provided in a form coupled to the cabinet 10 from the outside of the cabinet 10. there is.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the detergent supply device 300 will be described in a form embedded inside the cabinet 10 as shown in FIG. 2 unless otherwise noted.

The detergent supply device 300 may include a detergent storage space in which detergent is stored, as will be described later, and the detergent stored in the detergent storage space may be supplied to the tub 20 during the laundry treatment process.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the detergent may be of various types and forms. For example, the detergent may include a laundry agent for decomposing and removing contaminants from clothes, a softening agent for improving flexibility of clothes and protecting fibers, and a bleaching agent for decomposing and removing colored substances penetrating into clothes.

Detergents may have various forms such as solid or liquid form in powder form. In one embodiment of the present invention, the detergent may include various types of things that can care for clothes and improve washing effects.

Meanwhile, FIG. 3 shows a cross-section showing the inside of the laundry treatment apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, an operation method of the laundry treatment apparatus 1 will be schematically described as follows.

As described above, a clothing opening 12 for inputting clothing may be formed in the front plate. The clothing opening 12 can be opened and closed by the clothing door 14 provided on the front plate.

The tub 20 may be provided to be fixed inside the cabinet 10 . A front surface of the tub 20 may be opened to form a tub opening 22 , and the tub opening 22 may be disposed inside the cabinet 10 to face the clothing opening 12 . A gasket may be provided between the tub 20 and the front plate to prevent water and clothing from leaking out of the tub 20 .

That is, the tub 20 may be sealed between the circumferential portion of the tub opening 22 and the front plate by a gasket. The gasket may form a coupling relationship with the front plate or the tub 20 .

A support for fixing the tub 20 may be provided inside the cabinet 10 . FIG. 3 shows support portions for absorbing vibration of the tub 20 and fixing the tub 20 at the upper and lower sides of the tub 20 .

The drum 30 is installed inside the tub 20 and is provided to be rotatable and can be rotated by the driving unit 400 . The driving unit 400 may correspond to a motor that consumes power, and may include a gearbox corresponding to a speed reducer.

It may be provided in a shape substantially corresponding to the tub 20 of the drum 30, and the drum opening 30 may be formed by opening the front surface. The drum opening 30 may be disposed to face the tub opening 22 inside the tub 20 . Accordingly, clothes put in through the clothes opening 12 can pass through the tub opening 22 and the drum opening 30 and be accommodated in the drum 30 .

A plurality of holes may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the drum 30 . That is, the inside of the drum 30 may communicate with the inside of the tub 20 through a plurality of holes. Water accommodated in the tub 20 may flow into the drum 30 through the plurality of holes.

The controller 200 may be provided inside the cabinet 10 . The controller 200 may include an information storage device and an information arithmetic device. The control unit 200 may be provided as a single module or may be provided as a plurality of modules to interoperate with each other.

The control unit 200 may be provided inside the control panel 100 described above or provided at a location independent of the control panel 100. For example, the controller 200 may be provided in the form of a module seated on a base provided on a lower surface plate of the cabinet 10 .

The control unit 200 may be signalally connected to the control panel 100 described above, that is, the operation unit 120 and the notification unit 140 . Accordingly, the control unit 200 may receive an operation signal transmitted from the operation unit 120 or transmit a notification signal to the notification unit 140 .

On the other hand, the control unit 200 may be electrically/signally connected to the above-described driving unit 400 to control the operation of the driving unit 400, and electrically/signally connected to the detergent supply device 300 It may be provided to control the detergent supply activity of the detergent supply device 300 .

Furthermore, the control unit 200 may be electrically/signally connected to a water supply valve of the water supply unit 310 and a drain valve of the drain unit 500 to control water supply and drainage of the tub 20 .

Meanwhile, the laundry treatment apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a water supply unit 310 connected to an external water supply source located outside the cabinet 10 to receive water. The water supply unit 310 may be provided to transfer water supplied from an external water supply source to the detergent supply device 300 and/or the tub 20 through a water supply hose or the like.

The water supply unit 310 may include a water supply valve for regulating the flow of water, and the flow of water delivered to the detergent supply device 300 and the tub 20 may be regulated according to the opening and closing of the water supply valve.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the detergent supply device 300 may be connected to the water supply unit 310 through a water supply hose. That is, the detergent supply device 300 may be provided to receive water from the water supply unit 310 . Water supplied to the detergent supply device 300 may be supplied to the tub 20 together with the detergent.

That is, in the present invention, the control unit 200 controls the water supply unit 310 and the detergent supply unit 300 when a laundry treatment process for laundry is started based on the operation signal of the control unit 120 to provide the detergent supply device. A detergent supply operation and a water supply operation in which water and detergent are supplied from 300 to the tub 20 may be performed.

Specifically, the detergent supply device 300 may be connected to the tub 20 through the tub connection hose 350 . Detergent stored in the detergent supply device 300 may be supplied to the inside of the tub 20 by flowing along the tub connection hose 350 together with water delivered from the water supply unit 310 .

3 shows a structure in which water delivered from the water supply unit 310 is supplied to the tub 20 through the detergent supply device 300, but is not necessarily limited thereto, and the tub 20 from the water supply unit 310 It may be directly supplied into the tub 20 through a hose or the like.

The control unit 200 may perform a washing operation (P12) for removing contaminants from clothes by operating the drive unit 400 to rotate the drum 30 after the detergent supply operation and the water supply operation are performed in the laundry treatment process. . The execution time of the washing cycle P12, the rotation strategy of the driving unit 400, and the like may be set in various ways as needed.

The control unit 200 may perform a drainage operation to discharge water from the inside of the tub 20 after the washing operation P12 is finished. In one embodiment of the present invention, the water supply operation or the drainage operation may correspond to a part of the washing operation (P12) or the rinsing operation (P13) or may be defined as a separate operation. During the drain cycle, the control unit 200 may open the drain valve of the drain unit 500 to discharge water inside the tub 20 to the outside of the cabinet 10 through the drain hose.

Meanwhile, FIG. 4 is a top view of the detergent supply device 300 of the laundry treatment device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the detergent supply device 300.

Referring to FIG. 4 , in one embodiment of the present invention, the detergent supply device 300 may store detergent therein, and may be connected to a water supply unit 310 to receive water.

The detergent supply device 300 may include a detergent pump 360, and the detergent pump 360 may be provided to form a flow of detergent stored in the detergent supply device 300. As will be described later, the control unit 200 can control the flow of detergent and the amount of flow by controlling the operation of the detergent pump 360 .

The detergent supply device 300 may include a water supply unit 320 connected to the water supply unit 310 through a water supply hose. In the present invention, connection may include not only direct connection through direct contact between components, but also indirect connection through an intermediate medium.

As will be described later, the water supply unit 320 may be provided to supply water to the storage unit 330 in which detergent is stored, and the detergent stored in the storage unit 330 is supplied with water through the tub connection hose 350. Through this, it can be discharged to the outside of the detergent supply device 300 and flow into the tub 20 .

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 5 , in one embodiment of the present invention, the detergent supply device 300 may include a water supply unit 320, a storage unit 330, and a receiving unit 340.

The water supply unit 320 may be connected to a water supply hose extending from the water supply unit 310 to receive water, and the water supplied from the water supply unit 310 may be supplied to the storage unit 330 and/or the receiving unit 340. ) can be provided internally.

Meanwhile, the storage unit 330 may include a detergent storage space in which detergent is stored. The storage unit 330 may be provided to be separable from the detergent supply device 300 . For example, the storage unit 330 may be separated from the aforementioned water supply unit 320 and the accommodating unit 340 to be described later and drawn out of the cabinet 10 .

The user can store detergent in the storage unit 330 by withdrawing the storage unit 330 to the outside of the cabinet 10, supplying detergent to the detergent storage unit 334, and then pulling it back into the cabinet 10. can

Specifically, a detergent opening for inserting the storage unit 330 may be formed in the front plate of the cabinet 10, and the storage unit 330 is inserted through the detergent opening and accommodated in the accommodation unit 340. It can be.

The storage unit 330 may be provided with a handle that can be grasped by the user at the front end so that the user can easily withdraw and withdraw it. At least a portion of the handle portion may be exposed to the outside of the cabinet 10 . The handle portion may form the front surface of the laundry treatment apparatus 1 together with the front plate.

However, as described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the storage unit 330 is not necessarily limited as above, and for example, at least a part of the detergent supply device 300 is disposed outside the cabinet 10, The detergent storage unit 334 may be provided to be coupled to a top plate or a front plate from the outside of the cabinet 10 .

Meanwhile, the storage unit 330 may include a detergent storage unit 334 in which detergent is stored, and an inner space of the detergent storage unit 334 may correspond to at least a part of the detergent storage space.

For example, the storage unit 330 may include a storage frame 332 in which the detergent storage unit 334 is coupled and seated, and the detergent storage unit 334 is seated on the storage frame 332 to have detergent inside. can be stored.

Detergent storage unit 334 may be provided in various forms, such as a cup shape with one side open or a barrel shape including a detergent hole communicating the inside and outside in a sealed state.

On the other hand, the detergent storage unit 334 may be provided in plural having mutually independent inner spaces. The same type of detergent may be stored in the plurality of detergent storage units 334, or different types of detergent may be stored.

For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, the detergent may include a first type detergent and a second type detergent different from the first type detergent. The first type detergent and the second type detergent may each correspond to any one of the aforementioned laundry detergent, softening agent, and bleaching agent.

The plurality of detergent storage units 334 may include a first detergent storage unit 335 and a second detergent storage unit 336, and the user may store the first-class detergent in the first detergent storage unit 335 for convenience. , and the second detergent may be stored in the second detergent storage unit 336 .

That is, in one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of independent detergent storage spaces may be provided in the storage unit 330, and accordingly, a user may store various types of detergents according to convenience in each detergent storage space. Convenience can be improved.

Meanwhile, the storage frame 332 may further include a detergent storage area in which detergent is stored separately from the detergent storage unit 334 . That is, the storage unit 330 may store detergent in each of the detergent storage unit 334 and the detergent storage area.

Meanwhile, the accommodation unit 340 may be provided inside the cabinet 10 to accommodate the storage unit 330 drawn into the cabinet 10 . The water supply unit 320 may be provided to supply water to the inside of the storage unit 330 and the accommodation unit 340 accommodated in the accommodation unit 340 .

The accommodating unit 340 may include an accommodating space in which the storage unit 330 is accommodated, and one surface of the accommodating space may be open, and the water supply unit 320 may be disposed on the open surface.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , in one embodiment of the present invention, the accommodation unit 340 may be provided with an open upper surface, and the water supply unit 320 is located on top of the accommodation unit 340. An upper surface of the accommodating unit 340 may be formed.

Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit 330 is defined by the water supply unit 320 and the accommodation unit 340 and can be inserted into the accommodation space from the front to the rear of the accommodation space opened to the front. .

In one embodiment of the present invention, water delivered to the water supply unit 320 may be discharged into the storage unit 330 and the receiving unit 340 through the water supply unit 320 . Water supplied from the water supply unit 320 to the storage unit 330 may be discharged to the outside of the storage unit 330 together with the detergent of the storage unit 330 .

A detergent discharge hole through which detergent and water are discharged may be formed in the storage unit 330 , and the detergent and water discharged through the detergent discharge hole may be delivered to the receiving space of the accommodation unit 340 .

In the accommodation unit 340, water discharged from the water supply unit 320 and detergent discharged from the storage unit 330 may be discharged to the outside through a drain hole. Water and detergent discharged through the drain hole may flow along the tub connection hose 350 and be supplied to the inside of the tub 20 .

Meanwhile, the accommodation unit 340 may be equipped with the aforementioned detergent pump 360, and FIG. 6 shows the detergent pump 360 provided in the accommodation unit 340 viewed from the rear. Referring to FIG. 6 , one embodiment of the present invention may include a detergent pump 360 for discharging detergent stored in the detergent storage unit 334 .

As described above, the detergent storage unit 334 may include a first detergent storage unit 335 and a second detergent storage unit 336, and the detergent pump 360 is connected to the first detergent storage unit 335. It may include a first detergent pump 361 and a second detergent pump 362 connected to the second detergent storage unit 336.

The detergent pump 360 may be provided in the accommodating unit 340 . As described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the storage unit 330 can be introduced into the cabinet 10 through the detergent opening provided on the front plate, and the detergent pump 360 is installed after the receiving unit 340. It may be connected to the detergent storage unit 334 of the storage unit 330 disposed on the surface and completely accommodated in the accommodation unit 340 .

The detergent pump 360 may be provided to discharge the detergent inside the detergent storage unit 334 to the outside of the detergent storage unit 334 . For example, liquid detergent may be stored inside the detergent storage unit 334 , and the detergent pump 360 may discharge the liquid detergent inside the detergent storage unit 334 to the outside of the detergent storage unit 334 .

Detergent flowing out from the detergent storage unit 334 through the detergent pump 360 may flow through a detergent hose connected to the detergent pump 360 . Detergent discharged from the detergent storage unit 334 through the detergent pump 360 may be finally supplied to the inside of the tub 20 .

The flow path of the detergent pumped by the detergent pump 360 may vary. For example, a detergent hose extending from the detergent pump 360 may be provided to communicate with the inside of the accommodation unit 340 .

Therefore, the detergent flowing out from the detergent storage unit 334 flows along the detergent hose and is discharged into the receiving unit 340, and the detergent inside the receiving unit 340 is accommodated together with the water supplied from the water supply unit 320. It may flow into the tub 20 through the drain hole of the unit 340 .

In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, the detergent hose may be connected to the water supply unit 320. That is, the detergent flowing out of the detergent storage unit 334 is supplied to the water supply unit 320, and the water supply unit 320 may be provided to discharge both water and detergent into the accommodation unit 340, and the accommodation unit ( 340) As described above, water and detergent inside may be delivered to the inside of the tub 20 along the drain hole and the tub connection hose 350.

Meanwhile, in one embodiment of the present invention, the controller 200 may be provided to control the first detergent pump 361 and the second detergent pump 362 of the detergent supply device 300, respectively. Accordingly, the controller 200 may control and use the detergent stored in the first detergent storage unit 335 and the detergent stored in the second detergent storage unit 336, respectively.

Meanwhile, FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of an operation sequence of the laundry treatment apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7 , in the laundry treatment apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, after power is applied (P1), a laundry treatment process setting (P2) may be performed, and when the laundry treatment process setting (P2) is finished, clothes A process may be performed (P3).

In the case of power application (P1), this corresponds to a step in which power is supplied to the control unit 200 and other power consuming devices, and the user operates the entire laundry treatment apparatus 1 through manipulation of the power button located on the control unit 120 or the like. can supply power.

In the step of setting a clothes treatment process (P2), courses and options for treating clothes may be set. In setting the clothes handling process (P2), the user may set the course and options using the control unit 120 or the like.

Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, various courses for processing clothes may be previously stored in the controller 200 . The course may include various courses such as a standard course, a saving course, a strong course, a pre-washing course, a drying course, a dehydration course, a rinsing course, and a steam course.

Meanwhile, a plurality of options may be adjusted for each of the plurality of courses. The plurality of options may include various options such as input amount of clothes, amount of water supply, water temperature, number of dehydration, number of rinses, and the like.

The user or the controller 200 may select one of the plurality of courses and may select an option for the one of the courses. For example, after selecting a desired course by manipulating the control unit 120, the user may adjust adjustable options to prepare for a clothes treatment process.

In the case of performing the laundry treatment process (P3), the laundry treatment process based on the course and options set in the laundry treatment process setting step (P2) may be performed. For example, if a standard course and a basic option of the standard course are set in the step of setting the clothes treatment process (P2), in the step of executing the clothes treatment process (P3), a clothes treatment process corresponding to the standard course according to the basic option may be performed.

The clothes treatment process may include a plurality of processes for treating clothes. For example, the clothes treatment process may include one or more processes of detergent supply, water supply, drainage, washing (P12), rinsing (P13), and spin-drying (P14).

Meanwhile, FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically illustrating a situation in which the second clothing treatment process P30 is performed from the first clothing treatment process P10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, a first clothing treatment process (P10) and a second clothing treatment process (P30) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described as follows.

First, as described above, one embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet 10, a tub 20, a drum 30, a detergent supply device 300, and a control unit 200. The tub 20 is provided inside the cabinet 10, and water may be accommodated therein.

The drum 30 is rotatably provided inside the tub 20, and clothes may be accommodated therein. The detergent supply device 300 is provided inside the cabinet 10 and can supply detergent stored therein to the inside of the tub 20 .

The controller 200 may control the detergent supply device 300 to adjust the amount of detergent supplied to the tub 20 . The control unit 200 changes the detergent amount to the second clothes treatment process (P30) corresponding to the second amount of detergent while performing the first clothes treatment process (P10) in which the amount of detergent required for washing clothes corresponds to the first detergent amount. In this case, the detergent supply device 300 may be controlled to supply detergent to the tub 20 by an increase in the amount of the second detergent relative to the amount of the first detergent in the second clothes treatment process (P30).

Specifically, the controller 200 may control the detergent pump 360 of the detergent supply device 300 to adjust the outflow amount of the detergent stored in the detergent storage unit 334, that is, the amount of detergent used for the laundry treatment process.

However, the controller 200 does not necessarily adjust the amount of detergent using only the detergent pump 360, and the amount of detergent may be adjusted by adjusting a valve provided in the detergent supply device 300 or the tub connection hose 350. .

Meanwhile, in one embodiment of the present invention, the clothes treatment process may include a first clothes treatment process (P10) and a second clothing treatment process (P30). The first clothing processing process (P10) and the second clothing processing process (P30) are only classified according to the chronological order, and are not classified as courses or options.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the laundry treatment apparatus 1 may terminate the first clothing treatment process P10 and perform the second clothing treatment process P30 for various reasons while the first clothing treatment process P10 is being performed. can For example, when the user desires to change a course or option for clothes treatment during the first clothing handling process P10, after the first clothing handling process P10 is finished before completion based on the user's manipulation signal A second clothing treatment process (P30) may be performed.

As described above, when a change to the second clothing treatment process (P30) is performed while the first clothing treatment process (P10) is performed, the amount of detergent supplied from the detergent supply device 300 to the inside of the tub 20 may be an important problem. there is.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the first clothing treatment process P10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a first detergent supply process P11 for supplying detergent. Also, the second clothing treatment process P30 may include a second detergent supply process P31 corresponding to the first detergent supply process P11.

When a change in the clothes treatment process, for example, a change in course or option, is requested by the user during or after the first detergent supply operation P11 of the first clothing treatment process P10, the controller 200 controls the second clothing treatment process P10. According to the execution command of the treatment process (P30), the second detergent supply process (P31) corresponding to a part of the second clothing treatment process (P30) may be performed. In this case, the detergent is repeatedly injected into the tub 20 You may consume an unnecessary amount.

Furthermore, as detergent in excess of the amount of detergent required in the laundry treatment process is added, unfavorable conditions for the laundry treatment process, such as excessive foaming inside the tub 20, damage to clothing, or deterioration of washing efficiency of clothing, etc. this may result

On the other hand, FIG. 9 shows an example in which a plurality of administrations that may be included in the first clothing treatment process (P10) and a step of changing the clothing treatment process (P20) are performed.

Referring to FIG. 9 , the first clothing treatment process (P10) may correspond to, for example, a clothing treatment process according to a standard course and basic options, and accordingly, a first detergent supply operation (P11), water supply operation, drainage operation, and laundry. A process (P12), a rinsing process (P13), and a dehydration process (P14) may be included.

The detergent supply process is a process for supplying detergent, the water supply process is a process for supplying water, the washing process (P12) is a process for removing contaminants from clothes through the rotation of the drum 30, and the rinse process (P13) is A process of removing residual detergent or residual contaminants from clothes, a dewatering process (P14) is a process of removing moisture from clothes, and a draining process is a process of discharging water from the tub 20.

As shown in FIG. 9, the water supply administration and the drainage administration may be defined independently of other administrations or included as part of the other administrations. For example, the rinsing cycle P13 is not shown in FIG. 9 but may include a water supply cycle and a water discharge cycle.

As shown in FIG. 9, while the first detergent supply process P11 is being performed or in a state where the execution has been completed, the user commands to end or change the corresponding course after the clothes treatment process is temporarily stopped, thereby changing the laundry treatment process P20. can proceed

Accordingly, the controller 200 terminates the first clothing processing process (P10) according to the setting of the first course and the first option before completion, and also performs the second clothing processing process (P30) according to the setting of the second course and the second option. can be performed.

The first course and the second course do not mean that the types of courses are different from each other, and may be classified according to the chronological order, such as the relationship between the first clothing treatment process (P10) and the second clothing treatment process (P30). there is. The relationship between the first option setting and the second option setting is also the same as that between the first course and the second course.

As described above, the control unit 200 performs the second detergent supply process P31 according to the execution command of the second clothing treatment process P30, regardless of the end situation prior to the completion of the first clothing treatment process P10. Accordingly, repetitive detergent supply may be a problem.

An embodiment of the present invention aims to prevent unnecessary waste of detergent and effectively improve washing efficiency by supplying detergent so as to satisfy the currently required amount of detergent even if a plurality of detergent supply processes are performed as described above.

Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 200 may determine the amount of detergent required to be supplied into the tub 20 through a detergent supply operation according to the laundry treatment process.

For example, the controller 200 may determine the amount of detergent required in the clothes treatment process based on the type of the currently selected course and setting values of options such as the amount of clothes input or the amount of water supplied. A data map based on the current environment or a real-time calculation method based on the current environment may be applied to the determination of the amount of detergent by the controller 200 .

Accordingly, the controller 200 may determine the first amount of detergent based on the corresponding condition in the first clothing treatment process P10, and may determine the second amount of detergent based on the corresponding condition in the second clothing treatment process P30.

An embodiment of the present invention supplies the second detergent in the second clothing treatment process (P30) by utilizing the second detergent amount according to the second clothing treatment process (P30) and the first detergent amount according to the first clothing treatment process (P10). Through the process P31, the amount of detergent supplied into the tub 20 may be determined.

10 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a process of determining the amount of detergent to be supplied into the tub 20 in the second detergent supply process P31 of the second clothing treatment process P30 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10 , in one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 200, when changing from the first clothing processing process (P10) to the second clothing processing process (P30), in the second clothing processing process (P30) The detergent supply device 300 may be controlled so that detergent is supplied to the tub 20 by an increase in the amount of the second detergent relative to the amount of the first detergent.

After determining the amount of the first detergent in the first detergent supplying operation P11 of the first clothing treatment process P10, the controller 200 may store the first amount of detergent as a specific value. The contents of the first amount of detergent stored in the controller 200 may be reset or deleted after the laundry treatment process is completed.

On the other hand, when the second clothing treatment process (P30) is performed due to the termination or change of the clothing treatment process before completion of the first clothing treatment process (P10), the controller 200 performs the corresponding operation in the second detergent supply operation (P31). The step of determining the amount of second detergent (P311) for determining the amount of second detergent based on the course and options, etc. may be performed, and the step of loading the above-described amount of first detergent (P312) for loading the stored value of the amount of first detergent may be performed. . The order before and after the step of determining the amount of second detergent (P311) and the step of loading the first amount of detergent (P312) is irrelevant unless there are special circumstances.

The controller 200 may perform the second detergent amount determination step P311 and the increment calculation step P313 after the first detergent amount loading step P312 in the second detergent supply operation P31. In the step of calculating the increment (P313), the controller 200 may calculate an increment in the amount of the second detergent based on the amount of the first detergent.

After the step of calculating the increment (P313), the controller 200 may control the detergent supply device 300 to supply detergent as much as the increment according to the step of supplying detergent (P314).

As described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, even if the second clothing treatment process (P30) is performed before the first clothing treatment process (P10) is completed, the first detergent supply operation of the first clothing treatment process (P10) Since detergent is supplied in the second detergent supply process (P31) only as much as the increase in the amount of the second detergent using the amount of the first detergent according to (P11), unnecessary detergent is not inputted, effectively preventing waste of detergent and improving washing efficiency. can be effectively improved.

On the other hand, in one embodiment of the present invention, the third clothing treatment process, the fourth clothing treatment process, etc. may be performed even after the second clothing treatment process (P30), and the third detergent supply operation and the fourth clothing treatment process of the third clothing treatment process Also in the fourth detergent supply process of the clothes treatment process, the increment calculation (P313) may be performed in the same way as the second detergent supply process (P31).

That is, the controller 200 stores the amount of detergent determined in the clothes treatment process immediately before the currently performed clothes treatment process after power is applied (P1), and determines the amount of detergent currently required in the detergent supply process of the currently performed clothes treatment process and the immediately preceding clothes. The amount of detergent to be actually supplied in the current detergent supply administration can be determined through the method of calculating increments between the amounts of detergent determined in the processing process (P313).

On the other hand, in one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 200 determines the course and option selected by the user for clothing treatment in the first clothing treatment process P10 and the second clothing treatment process P30, respectively. Based on this, the first amount of detergent or the second amount of detergent may be determined.

The amount of detergent required in the clothes treatment process may be adjusted according to the amount of clothes, the amount of water, or washing strength or washing purpose. For example, the controller 200 may increase the amount of detergent when the amount of clothes is large, increase the amount of detergent when the amount of water is large, increase the amount of detergent when the washing strength is strong, and adjust the amount of detergent according to the purpose of washing. can

The amount of detergent as described above may be differently adjusted according to the course and option selected for the clothes treatment process, and accordingly, the controller 200 controls the amount of detergent in the first clothes treatment process (P10) and the second clothing treatment process (P30), respectively. The first detergent amount and the second detergent amount can be determined based on each course and option.

However, the determination of the amount of detergent is not necessarily dependent only on the corresponding course and option, and the controller 200 may determine the amount of detergent according to various conditions, such as air temperature, in addition to the course and option.

In addition, as described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the courses and options of the first clothing treatment process (P10) and the second clothing treatment process (P30) are not necessarily different, and are performed based on the operation signal by the user. They are differentiated based on sequential relationships.

Accordingly, the amount of the first detergent in the first clothing treatment process (P10) and the amount of the second detergent in the second clothing treatment process (P30) may be the same. The amount of detergent to be supplied in the second detergent supply process P31, that is, the increment may correspond to zero.

Meanwhile, in one embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the courses and options may be set to be different from each other in the first clothing processing process (P10) and the second clothing processing process (P30), and the increments generated accordingly As much as possible, the detergent can be supplied in the second detergent supply process P31.

On the other hand, as described above, one embodiment of the present invention is provided in the cabinet 10, is signally connected to the control unit 200, and the operation unit 120 is manipulated by the user to generate an operation signal. and the control unit 200 may set courses and options for each of the first clothing processing process P10 and the second clothing processing process P30 based on the operation signal.

For example, the user can select a desired course while manipulating the control panel 120 while confirming the course information displayed on the control panel 100 after power is applied (P1). In addition, a plurality of course buttons corresponding to each of a plurality of courses may be provided on the control unit 120, and the user may select a course by directly manipulating any one of the plurality of course buttons.

Meanwhile, the user may set a plurality of options through manipulation of the control unit 120 . After setting the plurality of options as desired, the user may command the control unit 200 to perform the clothes treatment process based on the corresponding course and the corresponding option by manipulating the execution button of the control unit 120 .

Meanwhile, the user may command the controller 200 to temporarily stop, end, or change the first clothing treatment process P10 by manipulating the control unit 120 while the first clothing treatment process P10 is being performed. The controller 200 may perform the second clothing processing process P30 based on the course and option changed by the user after the first clothing processing process P10 is stopped or terminated.

That is, when at least one of the courses and options is changed by the user during the first clothing processing process (P10), the controller 200 controls the second clothes according to the changed courses and options. A process (P30) may be performed.

As described above, when the second clothing treatment process (P30) is performed according to the change in the course and option, the importance of the above-described over-injection problem of detergent may increase, and accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention, the first detergent amount and the second detergent amount By supplying only an increased amount of detergent into the tub 20 in the second detergent supply process P31, it is possible to effectively solve the problem of over-injection of detergent.

On the other hand, as described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the option may include the input amount of clothes input into the drum 30 or the supply amount of water supplied into the tub 20 .

The input amount of clothes and the amount of water supplied may be adjustable by the user or the control unit 200, and the amount of clothes inserted and the amount of water supplied may correspond to variables necessary for determining the amount of detergent.

In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of courses are provided, including a standard course, and a strong course in which more detergent is consumed than the standard course or a saving course in which less detergent is consumed than the standard course. can include

The strong course may be a course set to have a stronger washing effect than the standard course, and accordingly, the amount of detergent required to perform the strong course may be greater than that of the standard course. That is, when the second clothing treatment process (P30) of the strong course is performed in a situation where the standard course is selected and performed in the first clothing treatment process (P10), the increment calculated in the second detergent supply process (P31) is greater than zero. A large value may be determined and supplied from the detergent supply device 300 to the inside of the tub 20 through the second detergent supply process P31.

Meanwhile, in one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 200 determines and stores the amount of the first detergent in the first clothing treatment process (P10), and determines the amount of the second detergent in the second clothing treatment process (P30). The amount of increase may be calculated by comparing with the amount of the first detergent that is determined and previously stored.

That is, in one embodiment of the present invention, the controller 200 may be provided to store the amount of detergent after determining the amount of detergent for performing the laundry treatment process. The stored amount of detergent can be deleted or reset after the power is turned off or the clothes treatment process is completely performed.

In addition, as described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, even after the start of the second clothing treatment process (P30), the third clothing treatment process, the fourth clothing treatment process, etc. may be performed, and thus the nth clothing treatment process is performed. In this situation, the control unit 200 calculates an increase in the relationship between the current amount of detergent and the previous amount of detergent pre-stored in the n-th detergent supply process of the n-th clothing treatment process after the amount of detergent determined in the n-1th clothing treatment process is stored in advance. can be calculated

Meanwhile, in one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 200 controls the supply of detergent by the detergent supply device 300 in the second clothing treatment process P30 when the amount of the second detergent is equal to or less than the first amount of detergent. may not perform.

That is, in one embodiment of the present invention, the calculation of the increment may be understood as calculating an increased amount of the current detergent amount corresponding to the second detergent amount based on the previous detergent amount corresponding to the first detergent amount.

Therefore, when the amount of the second detergent is less than or equal to the amount of the first detergent, the increment calculated in the step of calculating the increment (P313) may be determined to be 0, and accordingly, in the second detergent supply operation (P31), the control unit 200 supplies the detergent Detergent supply of apparatus 300 may be omitted.

Meanwhile, one embodiment of the present invention is a notification unit 140 provided in the cabinet 10, signally connected to the control unit 200, and notifying information to a user based on a command of the control unit 200. may further include.

When the amount of the second detergent is less than or equal to the first amount of detergent, the controller 200 performs the second clothing treatment process (P30) in a state in which detergent is supplied by the amount of the first detergent in the second clothing treatment process (P30). It is possible to control the notification unit 140 to notify the user.

The fact that detergent corresponding to the amount of the first detergent is supplied and the second clothing treatment process P30 proceeds may mean that the amount of the second detergent determined in the second clothing treatment process P30 is equal to or less than the first detergent amount. .

That is, in one embodiment of the present invention, it is notified through the notification unit 140 that the second clothing treatment process (P30) performed according to the reset is performed with the detergent already added in the previously canceled first clothing treatment process (P10). As a result, it is possible to notify in advance that the process of introducing detergent in the second clothing treatment process (P30) is omitted, and that the second clothing treatment process (P30) can be performed with a certain amount of detergent and input.

In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, the user changes from the first clothing processing process (P10) to the second clothing processing process (P30) through the above-described communication terminal, or the control unit 200 provides information to the communication terminal A user may receive a notification through a communication terminal.

Meanwhile, in one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 200 may correct the amount of the second detergent in the second clothing treatment process P30 based on the degree of progress of the first clothing treatment process P10.

As described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the step of changing the second clothing treatment process (P30) may be possible even after the first detergent supply process (P11) ends, but may be performed during the performance of the first detergent supply process (P11) or It may be performed after the water supply administration has partially progressed.

That is, even when the amount of the first detergent is already determined in the first clothing treatment process P10, the amount of detergent actually supplied into the tub 20 until the first clothing treatment process P10 is canceled or changed is the amount of the first detergent. Depending on the amount of water supplied, some of the water inside the tub 20 may be discharged to the outside again through the drainage unit 500 for the second clothing treatment process (P30).

As described above, since the actual amount of detergent remaining in the tub 20 in relation to the first amount of detergent may change according to the degree of progress of the first clothing treatment process (P10), the controller 200 controls the second clothing treatment process (P30). In calculating the increment in ), the increment may be determined by reflecting the degree of progress of the first clothing treatment process (P10).

Meanwhile, in one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 200 sequentially performs a plurality of processes for processing clothes in the first clothing processing process (P10), and the first clothing processing process (P10) is performed by the user. ) to the second clothing processing process (P30), if the currently ongoing process in the first clothing processing process (P10) corresponds to a previously set process changeable process, the second clothing processing process (P30) can be changed to

An example of a plurality of processes included in the first clothing treatment process P10 is shown in FIG. 9 . Depending on the progress of the first clothing treatment process (P10), it may be impossible to change the course or option, or there may be cases in which the amount of first detergent is no longer considered in the calculation of the incremental amount of detergent (P313).

For example, when the first clothing treatment process (P10) enters the spin-drying operation (P14), even if the user manipulates the control unit 120 to change the first clothing treatment process (P10), after the actual laundry of the clothes has already been performed Therefore, even if the clothes treatment process cannot be changed, or even if the clothes treatment process is allowed to be changed, there is no reason to consider the amount of detergent already supplied to the tub 20 as multiple cycles of drainage are performed.

Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention, processes having practical benefits for changing the clothes handling process through a change of course or option in the first clothing handling process (P10) can be set in advance as a process changeable process, and the control unit 200 ) may perform the second clothing processing process (P30) by reflecting the corresponding command when a change in the clothing processing process (P20) is commanded based on the user's manipulation signal in the process changeable process, and is not a process changeable process. In this case, it is possible to inform the user of the non-changeable situation of the second clothing treatment process (P30) through the notification unit 140.

In addition, even if the process is not changeable, the second clothing treatment process (P30) may be newly set and performed after the first clothing treatment process (P10) is completely canceled by the user, and the control unit 200 may perform the process Even if it is not a changeable process, it may be prepared to allow a change to the second clothing processing process (P30).

However, in the above case, in the second detergent supply process (P31) of the second clothing treatment process (P30), the controller 200 does not consider the amount of the first detergent anymore, but simply supplies the second detergent based on the amount of the second detergent. (P31) will be able to be performed.

Meanwhile, the process changeable process may be set in various ways. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of cycles include a washing cycle (P12) in which the drum 30 is rotated to remove contaminants from clothes in a state in which detergent is injected into the tub 20, In the control unit 200, an operation prior to the washing operation P12 may be set as the process changeable operation.

After the washing operation (P12) has been performed, since the washing of clothes has already been performed, it is meaningless to reflect the amount of the first detergent in the calculation of the amount of detergent supplied in the second clothing treatment process (P30). may set the processes prior to the washing operation (P12) as a process changeable operation.

9 shows the first detergent supplying operation P11 and the water supplying operation as the operations prior to the washing operation P12, but various other operations such as a laundry amount detection operation or a drainage operation may be included.

Meanwhile, FIG. 11 is a view showing the steps of the first clothing treatment process (P10) in a situation in which the first type detergent and the second type detergent are stored in the detergent supply device 300 and reflected in the clothes treatment process in one embodiment of the present invention. am.

Referring to FIG. 11 , in one embodiment of the present invention, the first clothing treatment process (P10) may be set to include a first type detergent supply process (P111) and a second type detergent supply process (P15). The first type detergent supply process P111 and the second type detergent supply process P15 may supply different types of detergent into the tub 20 at different times.

As described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the detergent supply device 300 is connected to a plurality of detergent storage units 334 and the detergent storage unit 334 to flow the detergent in the detergent storage unit 334. A detergent pump 360 is included, and the controller 200 controls the detergent pump 360 to adjust the amount of detergent supplied from the detergent supply device 300 to the tub 20 .

In addition, a plurality of detergent storage units 334 are provided so that the user can store a first-class detergent in the first detergent storage unit 335 and a second-class detergent in the second detergent storage unit 336 . The first-class detergent and the second-class detergent are separately defined according to the type of detergent, and may be classified such as laundry detergent, softener, bleach, etc. corresponding to the type of detergent.

The control unit 200 confirms that the first-class detergent and the second-class detergent are stored by directly manipulating the control unit 120 by the user, or the first-class detergent and the second-class detergent through a sensor provided in the detergent supply device 300. You can also check the storage situation of the tax agent.

On the other hand, the control unit 200, when the use of the first type detergent and the second type detergent is set in a situation where the first type detergent and the second type detergent are stored in the storage unit 330, in the first clothing treatment process (P10) The first type detergent supply process (P111) and the second type detergent supply process (P15) may be performed.

In the first-class detergent supply process P111, the control unit 200 drives the first detergent pump 361 connected to the first detergent storage unit 335 in which the first-class detergent is stored to supply the first-class detergent to the tub 20. ) can be supplied internally.

In the second detergent supply process P15, the control unit 200 drives the second detergent pump 362 connected to the second detergent storage unit 336 in which the second detergent is stored to supply the second detergent to the tub 20. ) can be supplied internally.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first type detergent may be a laundry detergent, and the second type detergent may be a softening agent. However, this is only an example for convenience of description and does not limit the present invention as above.

That is, in one embodiment of the present invention, the detergent supply device 300 stores a first-type detergent and a second-type detergent different from the first-type detergent, and the plurality of steps are performed by inputting the first-type detergent. A first type detergent supplying process P111 and a second type detergent supplying process P15 into which the second type detergent is input may be included.

The control unit 200 determines the amount of the first detergent and the amount of the second detergent for the first type detergent, and in the first clothing processing process (P10), the process changeable process is the second type detergent supply process ( P15) may be performed before.

Specifically, the first-class detergent supply operation (P111) and the second-class detergent supply operation (P15) may have different detergent input times due to the difference in the type of detergent, and as shown in FIG. 11, the first-class detergent supply operation The supplying operation P111 may be performed before the washing operation P12, and the second type detergent supplying operation P15 may be performed after the washing operation P12 and before the rinsing operation P13 or simultaneously.

In this case, the first type detergent may be a laundry detergent for washing clothes, and the second type detergent may be a softening agent for securing flexibility of clothes.

On the other hand, as described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the calculation of the increment considering the amount of the first and second detergents can be used significantly before the process changeable process except for the washing process (P12).

Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention, in a situation in which the first type detergent and the second type detergent are separately introduced into the tub 20 in the first clothing treatment process P10 as well as the second clothing treatment process P30, Regarding the input of the first-class detergent performed before the washing cycle (P12), the amount of detergent input is determined by determining the amount of the first detergent and the second detergent amount and calculating the increment, but the second-type detergent performed after the process changeable process In the input of detergent, the amount of detergent reflecting the course and options of the finally performed second clothing treatment process (P30) is input, so that the laundry treatment process can be performed in an efficient calculation method for a plurality of types of detergents.

Although the present invention has been shown and described in relation to specific embodiments, it is known in the art that the present invention can be variously improved and changed without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention provided by the claims below. It will be self-evident to those skilled in the art.

1: clothes handling device 10: cabinet
12: clothing opening 14: clothing door
20: tub 22: tub opening
30: drum 32: drum opening
100: control panel 120: control panel
140: notification unit 200: control unit
300: detergent supply device 310: water supply unit
320: water supply unit 330: storage unit
332: storage frame 334: detergent storage unit
335: first detergent storage unit 336: second detergent storage unit
340: accommodation unit 350: tub connection hose
360: detergent pump 361: first detergent pump
362: second detergent pump 400: driving unit
500: drainage part

Claims (15)

cabinet;
a tub provided inside the cabinet and accommodating water therein;
a drum rotatably provided inside the tub and accommodating clothes therein;
a detergent supply device provided inside the cabinet and supplying detergent stored therein to the inside of the tub; and
A control unit provided to control the detergent supply device to adjust the amount of detergent supplied to the tub;
When the amount of detergent required for clothes treatment is changed to the second clothes treatment process corresponding to the second amount of detergent during the first clothes treatment process corresponding to the first detergent amount, the controller performs the second clothing treatment process. and controlling the detergent supply device so that detergent is supplied to the tub by an increase in the amount of the second detergent relative to the amount of the first detergent. According to claim 1,
wherein the control unit determines the amount of the first detergent or the second amount of detergent based on a course and option selected by a user to treat clothes in each of the first and second clothes treatment processes. According to claim 2,
At least one of the courses and options of the first clothes treatment process and the second clothes treatment process are set to be different from each other. According to claim 1,
A control unit provided in the cabinet, signally connected to the control unit, and operated by a user to generate an operation signal; further comprising;
wherein the control unit sets courses and options for each of the first and second clothes treatment processes based on the operation signal. According to claim 4,
wherein the control unit performs the second clothes treatment process according to the changed course and option when at least one of the courses and options is changed by a user while the first clothes treatment process is being performed. According to claim 4,
The option includes an input amount of clothes introduced into the drum or a supply amount of water supplied into the tub,
The amount of clothes input and the amount of water supplied can be controlled by a user or the control unit. According to claim 4,
The clothes handling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of courses are provided, including a standard course, and a strong course consuming more detergent than the standard course or a saving course consuming less detergent than the standard course. According to claim 1,
The control unit determines and stores the amount of the first detergent in the first clothes handling process, determines the amount of the second detergent in the second clothing handling process, compares the amount with the previously stored first detergent amount, and calculates the increment. . According to claim 1,
The control unit does not supply detergent by the detergent supply device in the second clothes treatment process when the amount of the second detergent is less than or equal to the first detergent amount. According to claim 9,
A notification unit provided in the cabinet, signally connected to the control unit, and notifying information to a user based on a command of the control unit;
When the amount of the second detergent is equal to or less than the amount of the first detergent, the control unit controls the notification unit to notify the user that the second clothing treatment process is performed in a state in which detergent is supplied in an amount equal to the first amount of detergent in the second clothing treatment process. clothes handling device. According to claim 1,
The control unit corrects the amount of the second detergent in the second clothes treatment process based on the degree of progress of the first clothes treatment process. According to claim 1,
The control unit sequentially performs a plurality of processes for processing clothes in the first clothes processing process, and when a user requests a change from the first clothing processing process to the second clothing processing process, the first clothing processing process is performed. A laundry treatment apparatus that changes to the second clothes treatment process when a currently ongoing process in the laundry treatment process corresponds to a preset process changeable process. According to claim 12,
The plurality of cycles include a washing cycle in which the drum is rotated to remove contaminants from clothes in a state in which detergent is introduced into the tub;
Wherein the control unit sets an operation prior to the washing operation to be the process changeable operation. According to claim 12,
The detergent supply device stores a first type detergent and a second type detergent different from the first type detergent,
The plurality of administrations include a first-class tax agent supply administration in which the first-class tax agent is introduced and a second-class tax agent supply administration in which the second-class tax agent is introduced,
The control unit determines the amount of the first detergent and the amount of the second detergent for the first type detergent, and the process changeable process in the first clothes treatment process is performed before the second type detergent supply process. . According to claim 1,
The detergent supply device includes a detergent storage unit in which detergent is stored and a detergent pump connected to the detergent storage unit to flow the detergent in the detergent storage unit,
The controller controls the detergent pump to adjust the amount of detergent supplied from the detergent supply device to the tub.

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