Dryer control method and dryer using the same

• US 20050091875A1
• Filed: 08/27/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Sang Doo
• Granted Patent: US 7,171,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/486
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/08 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/32 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/34 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/36 Flow or velocity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/38 Time, e.g. duration
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/24 Flow or velocity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/28 Electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/32 Air flow control means
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/46 Drum speed; Actuation of motors, e.g. starting or interrupting
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/38 of drying, e.g. to achieve the target humidity

Abstract

A dryer and a dryer control method using a sensing unit and a timer to vary drying operations depending on the state of drying laundry are disclosed. The method for controlling an automatic dryer having a drying part including a heater, a fan, and a drum includes the steps of operating the drying part while monitoring an internal temperature and an internal humidity of the drum, continuously operating the heater, the fan, and the drum until the internal temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, and operating the fan intermittently when the internal temperature reaches the predetermined temperature. The method further includes operating the heater intermittently when the internal humidity reaches a predetermined humidity, discontinuing heater operation upon lapse of a first predetermined time, discontinuing fan operation upon lapse of a second predetermined time, and discontinuing drum operation upon lapse of a third predetermined time.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an automatic dryer having a drying part, the drying part including a heater, a fan, and a drum, the method comprising steps of:

(a) operating the drying part while monitoring an internal temperature and an internal humidity of the drum;

(b) continuously operating the heater, the fan, and the drum until the internal temperature reaches a predetermined temperature;

(c) operating the fan intermittently when the internal temperature reaches the predetermined temperature;

(d) operating the heater intermittently when the internal humidity reaches a predetermined humidity;

(e) discontinuing heater operation upon lapse of a first predetermined time; and

(f) discontinuing fan operation upon lapse of a second predetermined time.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in said step (b), the fan is operated at high capacity.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan operation is controlled using an airflow meter.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan operation is controlled by varying a rotational speed of the fan.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in said step (c), the fan operation is controlled to maintain the predetermined temperature.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the predetermined temperature is maintained by varying an airflow velocity of the fan.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the predetermined temperature is maintained by varying a rotational speed of the fan.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in said step (d), the heater operation is controlled to maintain the predetermined humidity.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heater remains off in said step (e) until a lapse of the second predetermined time.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan remains off in said step (f) until a lapse of a third predetermined time.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second predetermined times are measured with respect to an initiation of the operating of the drying part in the step (a).

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a step of discontinuing drum operation upon lapse of a third predetermined time.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the third predetermined time is measured with respect to an initiation of the operating of the drying part in the step (a).

14. A dryer comprising:

a drying part, having a drum, for drying laundry in the drum;

a sensing part for sensing drying conditions present inside the drum; and

a control part for controlling operation of the drying part based on time information and the drying conditions sensed by the sensing part.

15. The dryer as claimed in claim 14, wherein the drying conditions include an internal temperature of the drum and an internal humidity of the drum.

16. The dryer as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sensing part outputs at least one voltage signal indicative of the sensed drying conditions.

17. The dryer as claimed in claim 14, further comprising:

a memory for storing the time information; and

a timer for calculating operational time of the drying part.

18. The dryer as claimed in claim 17, wherein the time information is stored with respect to a series of predetermined time periods.

19. The dryer as claimed in claim 18, wherein the predetermined time periods are based on an algorithm stored in the memory.

20. The dryer as claimed in claim 18, wherein the predetermined time periods include a preheating period, a dehumidifying period, a drying period, a cooling period, and a crease-preventing period.

21. The dryer as claimed in claim 20, wherein the predetermined time periods occur serially beginning from an initial operation of the drying part.

22. The dryer as claimed in claim 21, wherein the drying part further comprises:

a heater for heating air introduced into the drum according to a control signal of the control part;

a fan for circulating air exiting the drum; and

a motor for rotating the fan and the drum according to a control signal of the control part.

23. The dryer as claimed in claim 21, wherein, during the preheating period, the drum, the fan, and the heater operate, wherein, during the dehumidifying period, the drum and the heater operate continuously and the fan operates intermittently, wherein, during the drying period, the heater operates intermittently and the drum and the fan operate continuously, wherein, during the cooling period, the heater is turned off and the drum and the fan operate continuously, and wherein, during the crease-preventing period, the heater and the fan are turned off, and the drum rotates.

24. The dryer as claimed in claim 14, wherein the drying part further comprises:

a heater for heating air introduced into the drum according to a control signal of the control part;

a fan for circulating air exiting the drum; and

a motor for rotating the fan and the drum according to a control signal of the control part.

25. The dryer as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sensing part comprises:

a temperature sensor for sensing an internal temperature of the drum; and

a humidity sensor for sensing an internal humidity of the drum.