Washing method of washing machine and apparatus thereof

• US 20050034249A1
• Filed: 01/07/2004
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Woo, Kyung-Chul, Kim, Jin-Woong, Oh, Soo-Young, Jeon, Si-Moon
• Granted Patent: US 7,934,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/159
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/18 Washing liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/02 Water supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/34 of water filling
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/36 of washing
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/006 for washing or rinsing only
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/008 Steam generating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/40 Steam generating arrangements

Abstract

Disclosed are a washing method of a washing machine capable of preventing a phenomenon that remaining detergent is collected into a space where a heater is positioned or a specific space during a washing operation of laundry, capable of minimizing a generation of washing water unnecessarily supplied to the washing machine, and capable of fast heating corresponding laundry before a washing operation for an efficient washing operation, and an apparatus thereof. To this end, the method comprises the steps of: generating steam by heating washing water supplied into a washing machine; injecting the generated steam into laundry inside of a drum of the washing machine; and rotating the drum after injecting the steam into the laundry and thereby washing the laundry.

Claims

1. A washing method of a washing machine comprising the steps of:

generating steam by heating washing water supplied into a washing machine;

injecting the generated steam into laundry inside of a drum of the washing machine; and

rotating the drum after injecting the steam into the laundry and thereby washing the laundry.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein washing water supplied into the washing machine is supplied into laundry inside of the drum and then steam is generated by heating the washing water in the step of generating steam.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of supplying washing water into laundry inside of the drum comprises:

a first step of supplying washing water into a space between the drum of the washing machine and a tub based on a washing commanding signal generated by a user;

a second step of detecting a level of washing water supplied to the space;

a third step of judging whether the detected water level has reached a preset upper limit water level;

a fourth step of stopping a supply of the washing water, driving a circulation pump connected to the space, and thereby washing water inside of the space into the drum when the level inside of the space has reached the preset upper limit water level;

a fifth step of detecting a water level inside of the space which becomes lower accordingly as washing water is supplied into the drum, and judging whether the detected water level has reached a preset lower water level; and

a sixth step of shielding washing water supplied into the washing machine when a water level inside of the receiving space has not reached the preset lower water level and the water level is maintained for a preset washing water supplying time in the fifth step.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of shielding washing water is performed by stopping the circulation pump and re-supplying the washing water into the space when a water level inside of the space has reached the preset upper limit water level in the fifth step.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of injecting steam into laundry comprises the steps of:

supplying washing water supplied into the washing machine into laundry inside of the drum, and then supplying water into a steam generating unit connected to the drum for receiving laundry and provided with a heater therein;

generating steam by heating the supplied water by the heater;

injecting the generated steam into laundry inside of the drum for a preset steam injecting time; and

stopping the steam generation when the preset steam injecting time has lapsed.

6. A washing apparatus of a washing machine comprising:

a steam generating means for generating steam by heating washing water supplied into a washing machine;

an injecting means for injecting the generated steam into laundry inside of a drum of the washing machine; and

a washing means for rotating the drum of the washing machine after injecting the steam into the laundry and thereby washing the laundry.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the steam generating means comprises:

a container for storing steam;

a heater installed in the container for heating supplied water and thereby converting into steam when water is supplied into the container up to a predetermined water level; and

a steam exhaustion pipe installed in the container for exhausting the converted steam.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the steam generating means further comprises an injection nozzle for injecting the exhausted steam into laundry inside of a drum of the washing machine.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the steam generating means further comprises a water level sensor positioned in the container for controlling a water level inside of the container.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the steam generating means further comprises a diaphragm installed in the container for preventing a disturbance phenomenon of water inside of the container when the washing machine is vibrated.

11. A washing machine comprising:

a drum rotated by a rotation force of an inner motor of a drum type washing machine for washing laundry;

a water supply pipe for supplying washing water into the drum;

a detergent box for supplying detergent into the drum;

a steam generating unit for supplying steam into the drum;

an injection nozzle for injecting the steam generated from the steam generating unit into the drum;

a drain pipe for draining washing water inside of the drum; and

a circulation pump for pumping washing water drained from the drain pipe and thus circulating into the injection nozzle through a cyclic water pipe.

12. The washing machine of claim 11, wherein the steam generating unit comprises:

a container for storing steam;

a heater installed in the container 111 for heating supplied water and thereby converting into steam when water is supplied into the container 111 up to a predetermined water level;

a steam exhaustion pipe installed in the container for exhausting the converted steam;

an injection nozzle for injecting the exhausted steam into laundry inside of a drum of the washing machine;

a water level sensor installed in the container for controlling a water level inside of the container; and

a diaphragm installed in the container for preventing a disturbance phenomenon of water inside of the container when the washing machine is vibrated.