This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No. 10-2007-0009654 filed in Korea on Jan. 30, 2007, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine, and more particularly, to a method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine without performing a cleaning process using water.
2. Description of the Background Art
Generally, a washing machine serves to wash laundry with a cleaning process using water by rotating an inner tub, wherein the inner tub is rotatably installed inside an outer tub that contains water therein. The washing machine performs a cleaning process by supplying steam into an inner tub so as to reduce the amount of water and power.
As shown in
An opening 12 through which laundry is introduced and a door 13 are provided at a front surface of the cabinet 11. The outer tub 21 is supported in the cabinet 11 by a spring 22 and a damper 23.
The outer tub 21 has a cylindrical shape of which one side is opened, and the inner tub 31 is rotatably installed in the outer tub 21. The inner tub 31 has a cylindrical shape of which one side is opened, and a plurality of through holes 33 are formed on a circumferential surface thereof. A plurality of lifts 35 for lifting laundry are provided on an inner surface of the inner tub 31.
A driving motor 25 for rotating the inner tub 31 is coupled to a rear end of the outer tub 21. A drain passage 27 having a drain pump 28 is provided below the inner tub 31 so as to drain water.
A detergent supplying unit 41 for supplying detergent is provided above the outer tub 21, and a water supply pipe 43 is connected to the detergent supplying unit 41. A water supply valve 45 is provided at the water supply pipe 43.
However, in the conventional washing machine, washing, rinsing, and/or dehydrating processes are performed according to a driving mode. Therefore, a cleaning process using water has to be performed when odor of laundry is to be removed, thereby wasting water and power. Furthermore, the cleaning process using water causes the laundry to have a shortened life-span.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine without performing a cleaning process using water.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine without requiring a high fabrication cost.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine is provided. The washing machine comprises: a cabinet; an outer tub installed in the cabinet, the outer tub having an inlet port and an outlet port; an inner tub rotatably installed in the outer tub; and a steam generating unit disposed outside the outer tub for generating steam and supplying the steam into the outer tub. The method comprises: inputting laundry into the inner tub; supplying the steam to the laundry; and rotating the inner tub.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine is provided. The washing machine comprises: a cabinet; an outer tub installed in the cabinet, the outer tub having an inlet port and an outlet port; an inner tub rotatably installed in the outer tub; an odor removing module disposed at the inlet port, the odor removing module having a fan for supplying external air into the outer tub; and a steam generating unit disposed outside the outer tub for generating steam and supplying the steam into the outer tub. The method comprises inputting laundry into the inner tub; supplying the steam to the laundry; and driving the fan of the odor removing module.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, a method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine is provided. The washing machine comprises: a cabinet; an outer tub installed in the cabinet, the outer tub having an inlet port and an outlet port; an inner tub rotatably installed in the outer tub; an odor removing module disposed at the inlet port, the odor removing module having a fan and a heater for supplying external air into the outer tub; and a steam generating unit disposed outside the outer tub for generating steam and supplying the steam into the outer tub. The method comprises inputting laundry into the inner tub; supplying the steam to the laundry; and driving the odor removing module.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals will be used to identify the same or similar elements throughout the several views. It should be noted that the drawings should be viewed in the direction of orientation of the reference numerals.
Hereinafter, a method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine according to the present invention will be explained in more detail.
As shown in
A driving motor 130 as shown in
A detergent supplying unit 136 for supplying detergent is provided in the cabinet 110, and a steam generating unit 150 for supplying steam into the outer tub 120 is installed at one side of the detergent supplying unit 136. The steam generating unit 150 includes a case 152, and a heater 154 installed in the case 152. A water supply pipe 155 and a steam supply pipe 157 are connected to the case 152, respectively. A water supply valve 156 is installed at the water supply pipe 155, and the steam supply pipe 157 is connected to an injection unit 158.
As shown in
Hereinafter, a method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to
First, laundry to be odor-removed is put into the inner tub 140 (S10). When an odor removing mode is selected by the mode selecting unit 163, the controller 161 controls to supply water from the water supply valve 156 of the steam generating unit 150. Then, the controller 161 controls to supply steam into the outer tub 120 from the heater 154 (S15). When a preset time for steam supply lapses, the controller 161 controls to stop the steam supply from the heater 154 (S25). Here, the controller 161 may control the inner tub 140 to be rotated for a certain time (e.g., several tens of seconds to several hundreds of seconds) with a preset speed (e.g., 40 rpm-100 rpm). The controller 161 may be also configured so as to rotate the inner tub 140 with a preset speed in one direction or in forward and backward directions.
When the steam supply is stopped, the controller 161 controls to rotate the inner tub 140 via the driving motor 130 so as to remove moisture inside the laundry (S35). Here, the inner tub 140 is set to have a speed high enough to dehydrate the laundry (e.g., more than 400 rpm or a normal dehydration speed). When the inner tub 140 is rotated, the laundry is dehydrated, and air sucked through the inlet port 122 is exhausted out through the outlet port 124. Accordingly, the odor-removing process for the laundry is accelerated.
When the inner tub 140 is rotated, the controller 161 calculates a driving time of the inner tub 140 (S45). If the calculated driving time is more than a preset time (S35), the controller 161 controls to stop the inner tub 140 via the driving motor 130 (S65). Here, the number of times calculating unit 165 calculates the number of times the inner tub 140 was rotated during the driving time (S75). When the calculated number of times is less than a preset number of times (S85), the controller 161 controls the process to be repeated until the accumulated calculated number of times reaches the preset number of times.
Hereinafter, a method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to
First, laundry is put into the inner tub 140 (S10). When an odor removing mode is selected by the mode selecting unit 163, the controller 161 controls the inner tub 140 to be rotated with a first speed (e.g., 40 rpm-100 rpm) via the driving motor 130 (S20). Step 20 is performed so as to evenly contact the laundry with air. The controller 161 controls to supply water via the water supply valve 156 of the steam generating unit 150. Then, the controller 161 controls to supply steam into the outer tub 120 from the heater 154 of the steam generating unit 150 (S30).
Next, when a preset time for steam supply lapses, the controller 161 controls to stop the steam supply from the heater 154 (S40). Next, the controller 161 controls the inner tub 140 to be rotated with a second speed via the driving motor 130 (S50). Here, the second speed is set to be high enough to dehydrate the laundry (e.g., more than 400 rpm or a normal dehydration speed). When the inner tub 140 is rotated with the second speed, the laundry is dehydrated, and air is sucked and exhausted through the inlet port 122 and the outlet port 124. More specifically, the air sucked into the outer tub 120 is introduced into the inner tub 140, and then is exhausted out through the outlet port 124 and the outlet pipe 125 together with the air inside the inner tub 140. During the process, as an odorous material of the laundry is exhausted out together with the air, odor of the laundry is removed.
The controller 161 calculates a driving time of the inner tub 140 (S60). Here, when the calculated driving time of the inner tub 140 is more than a preset time (S70), the controller 161 controls to stop the inner tub 140 via the driving motor 130 (S80). Here, the number of times calculating unit 165 calculates the number of times the inner tub 140 was rotated during the calculated driving time (S90). When the calculated number of times the inner tub 140 was rotated is less than a preset number of times (S100), the above processes are repeatedly performed until the accumulated calculated number of times reaches the preset number of times.
Hereinafter, a method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to
The method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention comprises: putting laundry into the inner tub 140 (S10); rotating the inner tub 140 with a first speed (S20); supplying steam into the laundry and stopping the steam supply (S30, S40); rotating the inner tub 140 with a second speed faster than the first speed so that the laundry can be dehydrated and external air can be sucked to be exhausted (S50); and removing wrinkle of the laundry (S105) when the number of times the inner tub 140 was rotated is more than a preset number of times, after repeating the S20, S30, S40 and S50 by a preset number of times.
At step S105 for removing wrinkle of the laundry, wrinkle of the laundry is removed by supplying a small amount of moisture into the laundry and rotating the laundry with a low speed. Step S105 for removing wrinkle of the laundry includes supplying steam into the laundry so as to supply a small amount of moisture (S110), and rotating the inner tub 140 (S120). Here, steps S110 and S140 may be performed nearly simultaneously. Step S110 may also be performed after step S120.
After step S105 for removing wrinkle of the laundry, the method further comprises cooling the laundry (S125). Step S125 includes stopping the steam supply (S130), and stopping the inner tub 140 after the inner tub 140 was rotated for a certain time in a state that the steam supply is stopped (S140). At step S125 for cooling the laundry, the inner tub 140 is rotated with a first speed.
Hereinafter, a method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine according to the fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to
As shown in
A driving motor 130 as shown in
A steam generating unit 150 for supplying steam into the outer tub 120 is installed in the cabinet 110. The steam generating unit 150 includes a case 152, and a heater 154 installed in the case 152. A water supply pipe 155 and a steam supply pipe 157 are connected to the case 152, respectively. A water supply valve 156 is installed at the water supply pipe 155, and a communication hole 113 communicated with outside is formed at one side of the cabinet 110. The odor removing module 170 is installed at the communication hole 113.
As shown in
As shown in
Hereinafter, a method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to
First, laundry is put into the inner tub 140 (S10). When an odor removing mode is selected by the mode selecting unit 163, the controller 161 controls to rotate the inner tub 140 with a first speed via the driving motor 130 (S20). Then, the controller 161 controls to supply water into the case 152 from the water supply valve 156 of the steam generating unit 150. In addition, the controller 161 controls to supply steam into the inner tub 140 from the heater 154 (S30). When a preset time for steam supply lapses, the controller 161 controls to stop the steam supply from the heater 154 (S40).
Next, the controller 161 drives the fan 182 so that air can be supplied into the inner tub 140 (S51). Once the fan 182 is driven, air outside the cabinet 110 is introduced into the outer tub 120 through the inlet port 122. Then, the air introduced into the outer tub 120 is exhausted outside the cabinet 110 through the outlet port 124 and the outlet pipe 125 via inside of the outer tub 120. Through the steps of supplying steam and sucking/discharging air, an odorous material of the laundry is exhausted out together with the air thereby to remove odor of the laundry.
The controller 161 calculates a driving time of the fan 182 (S61). When the calculated driving time of the fan 182 is more than a preset driving time (S71), the controller 161 controls to stop the inner tub 140 and the fan 182 (S81). After the fan 182 is stopped, the controller 161 calculates a number of times the fan 182 was rotated during the calculated driving time (S91). When the calculated number of times the fan 182 was rotated is less than a preset number of times (S101), the controller 161 repeatedly performs step S20 for rotating the inner tub 140 with a first speed through step S101 for comparing the accumulated calculated number of times the fan 182 was rotated with the preset number of times.
Hereinafter, a method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to
First, laundry is put into the inner tub 140 (S205). When an odor removing mode is selected by the mode selecting unit 163, the controller 161 controls to rotate the inner tub 140 with a first speed via the driving motor 130 (S215). Then, the controller 161 controls to supply steam into the laundry from the heater 154 of the steam generating unit 150 (S225). When a preset time for steam supply lapses, the controller 161 controls to stop the steam supply from the heater 154 (S235). And, the controller 161 controls to stop the inner tub 140 via the driving motor 130 (S245).
Next, the controller 161 drives the fan 182 so that external air can be supplied to the laundry (S255), and intermittently drives the inner tub 140 via the driving motor 130 (S265). As the inner tub 140 is intermittently driven, the laundry is smoothly stirred so as to rapidly remove odor. The controller 161 calculates a driving time of the fan 182 (S275). When the calculated driving time of the fan 182 is more than a preset driving time (S285), the controller 161 controls to stop the inner tub 140 and the fan 182 (S295). The controller 161 calculates a number of times the fan was rotated during the calculated driving time (S305).
When the calculated number of times the fan 182 was rotated is less than a preset number of times (S315), the controller 161 repeatedly performs step S215 for rotating the inner tub 140 with a first speed through step S315 for comparing the accumulated calculated number of times the fan 182 was rotated with the preset number of times.
Hereinafter, a method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to
As shown in
A steam generating unit 150 for supplying steam into the outer tub 120 is installed in the cabinet 110. The steam generating unit 150 includes a case 152, and a heater 154 installed in the case 152. A water supply pipe 155 and a steam supply pipe 157 are connected to the case 152, respectively. A water supply valve 156 is installed at the water supply pipe 155.
An inlet port 122 and an outlet port 124 through which air is introduced and exhausted are formed at the outer tub 120. An outlet pipe 125 is connected to the outlet port 124, and one end of an inlet pipe 175 is connected to the inlet port 122. The odor removing module 190 is installed at another end of the inlet pipe 175.
As shown in
As shown in
Hereinafter, a method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to
First, laundry is put into the inner tub 140 (S310). When an odor removing mode is selected by the mode selecting unit 163, the controller 161 judges whether to select an external air supply mode (S330). When the external air supply mode is selected (S330), the controller 161 controls to rotate the inner tub 140 with a first speed by the driving motor 130 (S340). And, the controller 161 controls to supply steam into the inner tub 140 from the heater 154 of the steam generating unit 150 (S350).
When a preset time for steam supply to the laundry lapses, the controller 161 controls to stop the steam supply from the heater 154 of the steam generating unit 150 (S360). Then, the controller 161 controls to drive the fan 182 via the driving motor 186 of the fan 182 (S370). The controller 161 controls the fan 182 to be driven, and calculates a driving time of the fan 182 (S380). When the calculated driving time of the fan 182 is more than a preset driving time (S390), the controller 161 controls the inner tub 140 and the fan 182 to be stopped (S400). When the fan 182 is stopped, the controller 161 calculates a number of times the fan 182 was rotated during the calculated driving time by the number of times calculating unit 165 (S410). When the calculated number of times the fan 182 was rotated is less than a preset number of times (S420), the controller 161 repeatedly performs step S340 for rotating the inner tub 140 with a first speed through step S420 for comparing the accumulated calculated number of times the fan 182 was rotated with the preset number of times.
When the warm air supply mode is selected by the mode selecting unit 163 (S330), the controller 161 controls to rotate the inner tub 140 with a first speed by the driving motor 130 (S345). And, the controller 161 controls to supply steam into the inner tub 140 from the heater 154 of the steam generating unit 150 (S355). When a preset time for steam supply to the laundry lapses, the controller 161 controls to stop the steam supply from the heater 154 of the steam generating unit 150 (S365).
Once the steam supply is stopped, the controller 161 controls to drive the fan 182, and to apply power to the heater 192 of the odor removing module 190 (S375). Here, the temperature sensor 195 senses a temperature of air heated from the heater 192 (S385), and the controller 161 turns ON/OFF the heater 192 based on the sensed temperature (S395). The ON/OFF control is performed so as to rapidly remove odor of the laundry by supplying air of a preset temperature to the laundry. The controller 161 controls to drive the fan 182, and calculates a driving time of the fan (S405).
When the calculated driving time of the fan 182 is more than a preset driving time (S415), the controller 161 controls to stop the inner tub 140 and the fan 182, and turns off the heater 192 of the odor removing module 190 (S425). When the fan 182 is stopped, the controller 161 calculates a number of times the fan 182 was rotated during the calculated driving time by the number of times calculating unit 165 (S435). Then, the controller 161 compares the calculated number of times the fan 182 was rotated with a preset number of times (S445). When the calculated number of times the fan 182 was rotated is less than the preset number of times, the controller 161 repeatedly performs step S345 for rotating the inner tub 140 with a first speed through step S445 for comparing the accumulated calculated number of times the fan 182 was rotated with the preset number of times.
In the illustrated embodiments of the present invention, steam is supplied to laundry for moisture supply, and thus odor of the laundry is removed by the steam. Accordingly, water and detergent necessary to perform a cleaning process using water are not required for removing the odor, and a life-span of the clothes can be extended because the cleaning process using water is not used for removing the odor.
In addition, the method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine according to the illustrated embodiments of the present invention comprises supplying steam to remove the odor of the laundry, and rotating an inner tub so as to remove moisture inside the laundry. Accordingly, the odor of the laundry is rapidly and easily removed, and a large capacity of heater and duct are not required. As a result, increment of fabrication cost due to the heater and the duct is prevented.
Moreover, the method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine according to the illustrated embodiments of the present invention comprises supplying steam to remove the odor of the laundry, and supplying external air by driving the fan of the odor removing module so as to remove moisture inside the laundry. Accordingly, the odor of the laundry is rapidly and easily removed, and a large capacity of heater and duct are not required. As a result, increment of fabrication cost due to the heater and the duct is prevented.
Furthermore, the method for removing odor of laundry in a washing machine according to the illustrated embodiments of the present invention comprises supplying steam to remove the odor of the laundry, and supplying warm air by driving the fan and the heater of the odor removing module so as to remove moisture inside the laundry. Accordingly, the odor of the laundry is rapidly and easily removed, and a large capacity of heater and duct are not required. As a result, increment of fabrication cost due to the heater and the duct is prevented.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
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10-2007-0009654 | Jan 2007 | KR | national |
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