Patent Application
20190071810
The present invention relates to a laundry handling apparatus having a plurality of laundry units, and more particularly, to a laundry handling apparatus for controlling a laundering finish time of a plurality of laundry units, and a control method therefor.
Generally, a laundry handling apparatus is an apparatus that processes laundry through various operations such as laundering, spin-dry and/or drying.
The laundry handling apparatus is an apparatus that supplies water to immerse the laundry, and dissolves an appropriate amount of the detergent in the wash water to remove the impurities from the laundry.
Such a laundry handling apparatus includes a laundry handling apparatus that washes laundry such as clothing or bedding by using the emulsifying action of the detergent, the water current action caused by the rotation of the tub or the laundry blade, and a mechanical force applied by the laundry blade, a dryer that applies a hot air or a cold air to dry the laundry, and a refresher that removes the crease of the clothes by applying steam. In addition, a washer-drier provides a combination of various functions.
A general laundry handling apparatus should be supplied with a minimum amount of wash water for performing laundry. In the case where a tub having a large capacity is provided, there is a problem in that a large amount of wash water is required even laundering a small amount of laundry.
In response to this demand, a mini laundry handling apparatus for laundering a small amount of laundry or a laundry handling apparatus for babies has been appeared. Further, there is a tendency to develop a laundry handling apparatus having a plurality of laundry units having different capacities.
The laundry handling apparatus outputs an alarm after completion of laundering to allow a user to recognize the finish of laundering. However, in some cases, the user can not hear the alarm and the laundry cannot be collected, or although the user heard the alarm, the user cannot collect the laundry immediately and the collection of the laundry may be delayed.
Regardless of the type and shape of the laundry, when the laundry is not collected and stored in the tub for a long time, crease occurs in the laundry, and unpleasant odors are generated in the case of the laundry which is not dried.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a laundry handling apparatus and a control method therefor, and to provide a laundry handling apparatus that operates by adding a laundry time according to a laundry time of other laundry unit if laundry is not collected after any one laundry unit has completed laundering, when the laundry handling apparatus having a plurality of laundry units performing laundry independently of each other, and a control method therefor.
In an aspect, there is provided a laundry handling apparatus including: a laundry handling apparatus including: a first laundry unit having a first tub; and a second laundry unit which has a second tub, and operates independently of the first laundry unit; a first controller for controlling the first laundry unit; and a second controller for controlling the second laundry unit, wherein the first controller outputs an operation finish notification when operation of the first laundry unit is completed, in a state where the first laundry unit and the second laundry unit are operated simultaneously, and adds laundry time of the first laundry unit when laundry in the first tub is not collected within a set time so that the first laundry unit performs added operation.
The first controller adds the laundry time of the first laundry unit to further operate the first laundry unit so that the first laundry unit is finished before laundry time of the second laundry unit is finished.
The first controller adds the laundry time of the first laundry unit so that the first laundry unit and the second laundry unit finish operation at the same time.
The first controller receives laundry time information of the second laundry unit in operation from the second controller and adds the laundry time of the first laundry unit.
The first controller determines that the laundry is collected when a door of the first laundry unit is opened.
The first controller controls a motor connected to the first tub so that the first tub rotates at certain time intervals during added laundry time, and performs a creasing prevention operation for preventing creasing of the laundry accommodated in the first tub.
The first controller displays a notification of the added operation.
The first controller calculates an average of previously stored laundry collection time and adds the laundry time of the first laundry unit in response to the average.
The first controller accumulates and stores the laundry collection time after the operation of the first laundry unit is finished.
The first controller counts the number of times of laundry collection according to laundry collection time after the operation of the first laundry unit is finished, and adds the laundry time of the first laundry unit in response to laundry collection time of high collection frequency.
The first controller compares a finish time of the first laundry unit and a finish time of the second laundry unit, before finishing laundering, and adds the laundry time of the first laundry unit when a difference between the finish times is equal to or less than a certain time so that the first laundry unit and the second laundry unit finish operation simultaneously.
The first controller enables to display at least one of an icon, a message, and a symbol indicating that the first laundry unit and the second laundry unit are set to finish operation simultaneously, on a screen.
The second laundry unit and the first laundry unit are disposed vertically.
In another aspect, there is provided a method for controlling a laundry handling apparatus comprising a first laundry unit having a first tub, and a second laundry unit which has a second tub and operates independently of the first laundry unit, the method including: completing operation of the first laundry unit while the first laundry unit and the second laundry unit operate simultaneously; outputting an operation finish notification to the first laundry unit; counting a time of collecting laundry in the first tub; adding laundry time of the first laundry unit, when the laundry in the first tub is not collected within a set time; and performing added operation by the first laundry unit during added laundry time.
The method further includes: receiving laundry time information of the second laundry unit; and performing the added operation by the first laundry unit so that the first laundry unit finishes operation before laundry time of the second laundry unit is finished.
The method further includes: receiving laundry time information of the second laundry unit; and performing the added operation by the first laundry unit to finish operation simultaneously with the second laundry unit.
The method further includes, after the laundry time is added, rotating the first tub at certain time intervals and performing a creasing prevention operation for preventing creasing of the laundry by the first laundry unit.
The method further includes calculating an average of previously stored laundry collection time, and the laundry time of the first laundry unit is added in response to the average.
The method further includes counting the number of times of laundry collection for each laundry collection time, and the laundry time of the first laundry unit is added in response to laundry collection time of high collection frequency.
Adding laundry time includes comparing a finish time of the first laundry unit and a finish time of the second laundry unit, before the first laundry unit finishes laundering, and adding the laundry time of the first laundry unit when a difference between the finish times is equal to or less than a certain time so that the first laundry unit and the second laundry unit finish operation simultaneously.
According to the laundry handling apparatus configured as described above and the control method of the present invention, when a plurality of laundry units operating independently of each other simultaneously perform the laundering process, if laundry is not collected after any one laundry unit has completed laundering, the laundry handling apparatus operates with added laundry time according to the laundry time of the other laundry unit, thereby preventing the laundry from creasing and being damaged, and changes the laundry time such that the first and second laundry units finish laundering at the same time, thereby having the effect of facilitating laundry collection.
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with standard to the accompanying drawings. In describing the present embodiment, the same designations and the same standard numerals are used for the same components, and further description thereof will be omitted.
Referring to
The first laundry unit 140 and the second laundry unit 150 are disposed vertically. The first laundry unit 140 is disposed above the second laundry unit 150, and the first laundry unit 140 and the second laundry unit 150 can be coupled to and separated from each other.
The first laundry unit 140 is in the form of a front load laundry handling apparatus, and the second laundry unit 150 is in the form of a top load laundry handling apparatus.
The second laundry unit 150 has a structure in which it is slidably opened and closed in the front and rear direction like a drawer. When the second laundry unit 150 is pulled to the front, the upper end of the second laundry unit 150 is exposed. A second input unit 154, a second output unit 152, and a second door 157 are disposed in the upper end of the second laundry unit 150.
The first laundry unit 140 may include a first input unit 144, a first output unit 142 and a first door 147. The second laundry unit 150 may include the second input unit 154, the second output unit 152, and the second door 157.
The first laundry unit 140 and the second laundry unit 150 are provided with separate input units 144 and 154 and output units 142 and 152, so that a command can be input independently of each other and an operation corresponding to the inputted command can be performed.
The first laundry unit 140 and the second laundry unit 150 may respectively include a water storage tank for containing water, a tub 148, 158 which accommodates laundry and is rotatably installed in the water storage tank, a motor for rotating the tub, a water supply device for supplying water into the water storage tank or the tub, and a draining device for draining water in the water storage tank, and perform laundry independently of each other.
It is shown in the drawing that the capacity of the tub of the first laundry unit 140 is larger than the capacity of the tub of the second laundry unit 150. However, the capacity of the tub of the first laundry unit 140 may be equal to or smaller than the capacity of the tub of the second laundry unit 150. The tub capacity of each of the laundry units 140 and 150 is not limited.
The first laundry unit 140 and the second laundry unit 150 may be a washer-drier for simultaneously providing a laundering function and a drying function.
As shown in
In addition, in the laundry handling apparatus, the second laundry unit 150b may be disposed above the first laundry unit 140a.
As shown in
In addition, in the laundry handling apparatus, the first laundry unit 140 and the second laundry unit 150 may not be disposed vertically, but may be disposed laterally.
Hereinafter, the laundry handling apparatus will be illustrated that, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The first input unit 144 includes input means such as at least one button, a switch, and a touch pad, and inputs laundry setting such as a power input, a laundering course, a water level, a temperature, and the like.
The first input unit 144 may include a simultaneous finish key for setting the first and second laundry units 140 and 150 to finish at the same time. When a separate simultaneous finish key is not provided, when at least two buttons of a provided plurality of buttons are operated at the same time or at least two buttons are operated in a specific order, data on the simultaneous finish is inputted to the first controller 110.
The first output unit 142 includes a display unit for displaying information on the laundering setting inputted by the first input unit 144 and outputting an operation state of the laundry handling apparatus, and includes a speaker, a buzzer, and the like for outputting a certain sound effect or a warning sound.
The first data unit 120 stores control data for controlling the operation of the laundry handling apparatus, inputted laundry setting data, data on a laundering course, and reference data for determining whether an error has occurred in the laundry handling apparatus. In addition, the first data unit 120 stores data detected or measured during operation of the laundry handling apparatus and data transmitted and received through the first communication unit 180. Particularly, data on the laundry time received from the second communication unit can be stored in the first data unit 120.
The first communication unit 180 is connected to the second laundry unit 150 in a wired or wireless manner to transmit and receive data. Laundering starts in response to a control command of the first controller 110, when unusual occurs during laundering, when the laundering is finished, the first communication unit 180 transmits/receives data on the laundry setting or operation state, or laundry time data to/from the second communication unit 280 of the second laundry unit.
The first detection unit 160 includes a plurality of sensors to measure a voltage or a current of the laundry handling apparatus, and measures data such as temperature and water pressure and inputs the measured data to the first controller 110. At this time, the first detection unit 160 includes a first water level sensor 161, a first temperature sensor 162, and a first door sensor 163.
The first water level sensor 161 is installed in the first tub 148, and detects the water level of the wash water to input the water level data to the first controller 110.
In addition, the first temperature sensor 162 measures the temperature of the wash water. A plurality of first temperature sensors 162 are installed in different positions, and detect the temperature of a heater, when the heater(not shown) is provided for the temperature inside a control circuit, for heating the wash water or drying, in addition to the temperature of the wash water.
The first door sensor 163 is installed on a door 147 configured to input the laundry into the first tub, and senses opening and closing of the door. The first door sensor 163 inputs state information of the door to the controller 110 when the door is opened or closed.
The first motor driving unit 130 supplies operating power to the first motor 131 connected to the first tub to rotate according to the control command of the first controller 110. The first motor driving unit 130 controls the rotation direction, the rotation angle, and the rotation speed of the first motor 131 according to the setting. The first motor driving unit 130 controls the first motor 131 to operate differently according to the set laundering course, and the progressing laundering, rinsing, and spin-dry.
At this time, the first motor driving unit 130 differently controls the rotation direction, the rotation angle, and the rotation speed of the first motor to form the water current of a specific type of the wash water in the first tub 148.
The first controller 110 performs water supply and draining with respect to the first tub 148 according to the operation setting inputted from the first input unit 144, applies a control command to the first motor driving unit 130, and enables the first tub 148 to rotate according to the operation of the motor 131 to perform laundry. The first controller 110 controls a series of laundering processes of laundering, rinsing, and spin-dry.
The first controller 110 stores the inputted operation setting in the first data unit 120 and outputs the operation setting or operation state through the first output unit 142. In addition, the first controller 110 controls to transmit data to the second laundry unit 150 through the first communication unit 180.
The first controller 110 transmits data on the operation of first laundry unit to the second laundry unit through the first communication unit 180 when the first laundry unit operates, and receives data of the second laundry unit to check the operation of the second laundry unit when the second laundry unit operates.
When the first laundry unit 140 finishes the laundering operation while the first laundry unit and the second laundry unit simultaneously operate, the first controller 110 outputs a notification of the finish of laundering through the first output unit 142 so that the user can check that the laundering is completed. In this case, the notification of the finish of laundering may be output at regular intervals until the laundry is collected. In some cases, the first controller 110 may transmit the notification of the finish of laundering to a previously registered user terminal via the first communication unit 180 through a message, e-mail or a specific application.
When the laundering is completed, the first controller 110 counts the time, measures the time at which the laundry is collected, and stores the measured time in the first data unit 120. The first controller 110 determines that the laundry is collected when the first door sensor 163 detects opening of the door after the finish of the laundering.
Meanwhile, if the laundry is not collected even when a first set time is elapsed after the finish of laundering, the first controller 110 may add the laundry time of the first laundry unit 140 and applies a control command to the motor driving unit driving unit 130 so that the first laundry unit performs an added operation.
The motor driving unit driving unit 130 controls the motor 131 to rotate at certain time intervals according to the control command of the first controller 110. Accordingly, the first motor 131 is driven and the first tub 148 rotates at certain time intervals. Thus, the laundry in the first tub 148 flows at certain time intervals, thereby preventing creasing of the laundry.
The first controller 110 performs an operation for preventing creases as an added operation, and outputs information on the added laundry time and added operation through the first output unit 142 after the laundry time has elapsed. In addition, the first controller 110 outputs a notification in order that user can select an immediate finish key. If one of commands of finish key, immediate finish, operation stop, and laundry collection is inputted, added operation is immediately finished and laundering is finished.
At this time, the first controller 110 may add the laundry time based on the previously stored laundry collection time. The first controller 110 may calculate an average of the stored laundry collection time, or calculate the frequency for each laundry collection time so that the time of the highest frequency can be set as the additional time.
Meanwhile, the first controller 110 outputs a second notification of the finish of laundering through the first output unit 142 after the completion of the added operation. When time is elapsed over a second set time after the completion of the first laundering, the first controller 110 may generate warning and output it through the first output unit 142.
When performing the added operation by adding a laundry time, the first controller 110 may receive the laundry time data of the second laundry unit 150 and add the laundry time according to the finish time of the second laundry unit 150.
The first controller 110 may add the laundry time to finish before the finish time of the second laundry unit 150, and add the laundry time to finish simultaneously with the second laundry unit 150.
In addition, before the laundering is completed, the first controller 110 calculates a time difference between the finish time of the first laundry unit and the finish time of the second laundry unit. When the time difference is equal to or less than a certain time, the first controller 110 can change the laundry time so that the first laundry unit and the second laundry unit finish operation simultaneously.
When the laundry time is added to be finished simultaneously with the second laundry unit 150, the first controller 110 may output a notification indicating that the first and second laundry units are simultaneously finished through the first output unit 142.
As shown in
The second controller 210 transmits the data on the laundry time to the first laundry unit 140 through the second communication unit 280, when laundering is performed.
When the second laundry unit finishes laundering before the first laundry unit, the second controller 210 may perform an added operation by adding a laundry time until the laundry is collected after the laundering is finished, or may add the laundry time in response to the finish time of the first laundry unit so that the laundering can be finished simultaneously with the first laundry unit. In addition, the second controller 210 accumulates and stores the laundry collection time and, correspondingly, adds the laundry time, and outputs information on the added laundry time and the added operation through the second output unit 152.
As shown in
At this time, when the laundry is not collected within a first set time after the notification of the finish of laundering of the first laundry unit is outputted, the first laundry unit 140 may add the laundry time as shown in
The first controller 110, as shown in
When the added operation is completed at a second time (T2), the first controller 110 outputs a second notification through the first output unit 142 (P1).
Meanwhile, as shown in
When the laundering is finished at the third time T3, the first and second laundry units can output a notification of the finish of laundering respectively (P3).
At this time, the first controller 110 separately outputs the information on the added laundry time and added operation through the first output unit 142, and outputs the notification of the simultaneous finish when the simultaneous finish is set. In addition, when the first controller 110 receives a command to finish the added operation through the first input unit 144 while the first laundry unit is performing the added operation, the first controller 110 immediately finishes the added operation and finishes laundering.
As shown in
The first controller 110 may calculate the number of times of collection 11 and 12 respectively by a certain time or may separately calculate the number of times of collection according to the operation setting. The first controller 110 can receive the data on the laundry collection time from the second laundry unit and calculate the frequency.
The first controller 110 divides the collection time into 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, and 1 hour or more, calculates the number of times of collection for a certain period of time, and can set an added time based on the time (13, 14) of the highest frequency, when the laundry time is added.
As shown in
As shown in
At this time, when the laundry time is set to finish the operation of the first laundry unit and the second laundry unit simultaneously, the first output unit 142 displays a notification 25 of simultaneous finish.
If the immediate termination is selected, the first controller 110 applies a control command to stop the motor and finishes the added operation. Thus, the laundry can be collected.
When the simultaneous finish is set, the first controller cancels the simultaneous finish.
As shown in
As shown in
Before the operation of the first laundry unit 140 is finished, the first controller 110 may compare the finish time of the first laundry unit with the finish time of the second laundry unit based on the data of the laundry time received from the second laundry unit, and calculates a time difference of the finish time. When the time difference is equal to or less than a certain time, the first controller 110 may change the laundry time so that the first laundry unit and the second laundry unit finish laundering simultaneously.
In addition, when the simultaneous finish is selected through the first input unit 144, the first controller 110 may change the laundry time so that the first laundry unit and the second laundry unit finish operation simultaneously.
If there is no separate setting or the difference in the finish time of laundering is large, the first controller 110 enables the first laundry unit to finish operation separately from the second laundry unit.
When the laundering of the first laundry unit is finished (S320), the first controller 110 outputs a notification informing that the operation is completed through the first output unit (S330).
The first controller 110 determines whether the laundry is collected in response to door open and close information inputted from the first door sensor 163 (S340).
The first controller 110 determines whether the laundry is collected within the first set time (S350). When the first set time has elapsed and the second set time has not elapsed (S360), the first controller 110 determines whether the other laundry unit, i.e., the second laundry unit is operating (S370).
The first controller 110 controls the first motor driving unit 130 to perform a creasing prevention operation for a certain time when the second laundry unit 150 is in an operation stop state (S380).
Meanwhile, when the second laundry unit 150 is operating, the laundry time of the first laundry unit 140 is added in response to the laundry finish time of the second laundry unit (S390).
At this time, the first controller 110 receives the data on the laundry time of the second laundry unit from the first communication unit 180, and adds the laundry time according to the laundry time of the second laundry unit. The first controller 110 may add a laundry time so that the operation is finished simultaneously with the second laundry unit. In addition, the first controller 110 may add a laundry time so that the laundering of the first laundry unit is finished before the laundering of the second laundry unit is finished.
The first controller 110 outputs information on the added laundry time and the added operation through the first output unit 142 (S400). When the first laundry unit and the second laundry unit are set to finish operation at the same time, the first output unit 142 outputs a notification of simultaneous finish.
After the laundry time is added, the first controller applies a control command to the first motor driving unit 130 to enable the first motor 131 to perform the added operation at certain time intervals (S410). The motor rotates at certain time intervals, thereby preventing creasing of the laundry.
While the first laundry unit 140 performs the added operation, the first output unit 142 continuously outputs information on the added operation.
At this time, when the operation finish is selected through the first input unit 144 (S420), the first controller 110 stops the operation of the motor (S430).
When the added laundry time has elapsed and the added operation is finished (S320), the first controller 110 outputs the finish notification of the completion of the operation again (S330).
When the operation is stopped or the added operation is finished during the added operation, the first controller 110 determines the collection of the laundry according to whether the door is opened (S340), and then finishes laundering.
Meanwhile, when the laundry is not collected even after the added operation, the first controller may perform the added operation by further adding the laundry time (S370 to S430).
When the laundry is not collected although the second set time has elapsed, the first controller 110 outputs a warning about the laundry collection through the first output unit 142 (S440).
Although the operation of the first laundry unit is described, the second laundry unit can also perform the added operation as described above in response to the finish time of the first laundry unit when the second laundry unit finishes the laundering first. In addition, the first laundry unit and the second laundry unit can be set to finish laundering at the same time.
As shown in
The first controller 110 counts the time according to the finish of laundering (S540), and determines whether the laundry is collected in response to a signal inputted from the first door sensor 163 (S550).
When the door is opened and the laundry is collected, the first controller 110 stores the laundry collection time (S620), and finishes operation.
Meanwhile, when the laundry is not collected within the first set time, the first controller 110 adds the laundry time before the second set time is elapsed (S580) as described above with reference to
At this time, as described above, the added laundry time may be set to be finished before the finish of the operation of the second laundry unit or be finished simultaneously time with the second laundry unit according to the laundering finish time of the second laundry unit, and may be set corresponding to the collection time of the accumulated and stored laundry.
The first controller 110 applies a control command according to the added operation to the first motor driving unit 130, and the first motor driving unit 130 operates according to the control command to control the first motor 131.
When the added operation is completed (S520), the first controller 110 outputs a notification indicating completion of laundering in the form of an alarm (S530).
At this time, it is determined again whether the laundry is collected according to whether the door is opened (S550). When the door is opened, the time count is finished and the collection time is stored (S620). When the laundry is not collected although the second set time has elapsed (S570), the first controller 110 outputs a warning without further performing the added operation (S610), and finishes operation.
At this time, the collection time of the stored laundry is used to determine an added laundry time when a next laundry time is added.
Therefore, according to the present invention, in the first and second laundry units performing laundry independently of each other, when laundry is not collected after one of the first and second laundry units finished operation, the laundry can be left in the tub for a long time. Accordingly, laundry time is added to further operate the laundry unit so that damage such as creasing of the laundry or the occurrence of odor can be prevented.
Particularly, in the present invention, the first laundry unit and the second laundry unit are set to finish operation at the same time, thereby facilitating the collection of laundry of a user.
Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is not construed as being limited to the described embodiments but is defined by the appended claims as well as equivalents thereto.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2016-0010020 | Jan 2016 | KR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/KR2017/000989 | 1/26/2017 | WO | 00 |
