Washing apparatus and control method thereof

• US 20050092035A1
• Filed: 11/03/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ahn, Byung Hwan, Park, Seok Kyu, Shin, Soo Hee
• Granted Patent: US 7,600,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/275
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/16 Washing liquid temperature
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/18 Washing liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/34 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/02 Water supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/28 Electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 25/00 Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry and having further drying means, e.g. using hot air control of washing or of washing and drying D06F33/00, D06F34/00; domestic laundry dryers D06F58/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/54 of water filling
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/72 Control of the energy or water consumption
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/08 Control circuits or arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/04 Heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/087 Water level measuring or regulating devices
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/088 Liquid supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/40 Steam generating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/00 Dry-cleaning apparatus or methods using volatile solvents D06F9/00 - D06F41/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/007 Dry cleaning methods
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 43/02 having one rotary cleaning receptacle only
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/04 Details controlling or regulating devices D06F34/00
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/203 Laundry conditioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/26 Heating arrangements, e.g. gas heating equipment D06F58/18 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a washing apparatus and control method thereof, by which laundry can be dry-cleaned through the loaded configurations of the wet pad cloth, the filth transfer cloth, the steam providing unit, the fragrance spraying unit, and the detergent supplying unit using either the wet pad cloth or the filth transfer cloth or without using both of the wet pad cloth and the filth transfer cloth.

Claims

1. A washing apparatus comprising:

a body forming an exterior of the washing apparatus;

a drum rotatably provided within the body; and

at least one or more wet pad cloths loaded within the drum to diffuse prescribed quantities of moisture and fragrance in case of receiving heat of high temperature.

2. The washing apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one agitation piece is provided to an inner wall of the drum and wherein a loading part for attaching/detaching the at least one wet pad cloth is provided to the at least one agitation piece.

3. The washing apparatus of claim 2, the loading part comprising:

a loading recess having one end of the wet pad cloth loaded thereon; and

a holder for opening/closing the loading recess to fix the wet pad cloth.

4. The washing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a loading part is provided to the inner wall of the drum to detachably load the wet pad cloth thereon.

5. The washing apparatus of claim 4, the loading part comprising:

a loading recess having one end of the wet pad cloth loaded thereon; and

a holder for opening/closing the loading recess to fix the wet pad cloth.

6. The washing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a guide is provided to one end of the wet pad cloth and wherein a loading part having a fitting recess is provided to the inner wall of the drum to have the guide fitted therein.

7. The washing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a fragrance spraying unit providing fragrance to an inside of the drum is further provided within the body.

8. The washing apparatus of claim 7, the fragrance spraying unit comprising:

a fragrance storage box for storing the fragrance; and

a fragrance spray part for spraying the fragrance stored in the fragrance storage box into the drum.

9. The washing apparatus of claim 1, wherein a steam providing unit providing the steam to the drum is further provided within the body.

10. The washing apparatus of claim 9, the steam providing unit comprising:

a water storage part for storing a prescribed amount of water therein;

a heating part for generating the steam by evaporating the water stored in the water storage part; and

a steam spray part for spraying the generated steam into the drum.

11. The washing apparatus of claim 1, wherein if a number of the at least one or more wet pad cloths is at least two, the at least two wet pad cloths are symmetrically provided to confronting sites, top and bottom sites, or right and left sites within the drum, respectively.

12. A method of controlling a washing apparatus, comprising:

a wet pad cloth providing step of providing at least one or more wet pad cloths including prescribed amounts of moisture and fragrance with a drum; and

a dry-cleaning step of providing heat of high temperature to the at least one or more wet pad cloths and rotating the drum in case of a control occurrence for dry cleaning.

13. The method of claim 12, a number of the at least one or more wet pad cloths provided in the wet pad cloth providing step depends on a quantity of laundries to be cleaned.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of providing a prescribed amount of additional fragrance to the drum from a fragrance spraying unit in executing the dry-cleaning step.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of providing a prescribed amount of additional steam to the drum from a steam providing unit in executing the dry-cleaning step.

16. A washing apparatus comprising:

a body forming an exterior of the washing apparatus;

a drum rotatably provided within the body; and

at least one steam providing unit for diffusing steam into the drum.

17. The washing apparatus of claim 16, the steam providing unit comprising:

a heating part for generating the steam from evaporating water by heat of high temperature;

a steam supply pipe for a flow of the generated steam; and

a steam spray part for diffusing the steam flowing via the steam supply pipe into the drum.

18. The washing apparatus of claim 17, wherein the heating part comprises a coil heater enclosing the seam supply pipe.

19. The washing apparatus of claim 17, the steam providing unit further comprising a water storage part for storing the water to supply to the steam supply pipe.

20. The washing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the heating part is provided within the water storage part.

21. The washing apparatus of claim 19, the water storage part further comprising a water level sensor for sensing a level of the water stored therein.

22. The washing apparatus of claim 17, wherein a steam outlet of the steam spray part is exposed to an inside of the drum.

23. The washing apparatus of claim 22, wherein the steam outlet of the steam spray part is passed through a laundry inlet of the drum to face the inside of the drum.

24. The washing apparatus of claim 16, further comprising at least one detergent supplying unit for supplying a detergent for the dry cleaning to an inside of the drum.

25. The washing apparatus of claim 24, wherein the detergent is a solvent having a petroleum-based solvent additive.

26. The washing apparatus of claim 25, wherein the detergent includes a fragrance component.

27. The washing apparatus of claim 24, the detergent supplying unit comprising:

a detergent storage box for storing a dry-cleaning detergent; and

a detergent spray part for spraying the dry-cleaning detergent stored in the detergent storage box into the drum.

28. The washing apparatus of claim 27, wherein a detergent outlet of the detergent spray part is exposed to an inside of the drum.

29. The washing apparatus of claim 28, wherein the detergent outlet of the detergent spray part is passed through a laundry inlet of the drum to face the inside of the drum.

30. The washing apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a fragrance spraying unit for providing a prescribed amount of fragrance to the drum.

31. The washing apparatus of claim 16, wherein a filth transfer cloth is further provided within the drum and wherein filth attached to a laundry is transferred to the filth transfer cloth to be removed from the laundry.

32. The washing apparatus of claim 31, wherein the filth transfer cloth is detachably provided within the drum.

33. A method of controlling a washing apparatus, comprising:

a steam generating step of generating steam by heating water in a steam providing unit;

a steam spray step of spraying the generated steam into a drum; and

a steam discharge step of discharging the steam reaming in the drum outside the drum after completion of dry cleaning.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of rotating the drum during the steam spray step.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of spraying a detergent stored in a detergent storage box into the drum by operating a detergent supplying unit during the steam spray step.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein in the steam discharge step, the steam within the drum is forcibly discharged by driving a blower fan circulating heated air in drying a laundry.

37. A washing apparatus comprising:

a body forming an exterior of the washing apparatus;

an outer tub provided within the body;

a drum rotatably provided within the outer tub;

a water supply pipe for supplying water to the outer tub; and

a detergent supplying unit for spraying a dry-cleaning detergent into the drum.

38. The washing apparatus of claim 37, further comprising a water heater provided within the outer tub to generate steam by heating the water.

39. The washing apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

a hot air supply pipe for supplying hot air to the drum; and

a drying heater for heating air flowing through the hot air supply pipe.

40. The washing apparatus of claim 37, the detergent supplying unit comprising:

a storage box for storing the dry-cleaning detergent; and

a detergent spray part for spraying the dry-cleaning detergent stored in the storage box.

41. The washing apparatus of claim 37, wherein the dry-cleaning detergent includes a solvent having a petroleum-based solvent additive.

42. The washing apparatus of claim 41, wherein the dry-cleaning detergent includes a fragrance component.

43. A method of controlling a washing apparatus, comprising:

a detergent spray step of spraying a dry-cleaning detergent over a laundry inputted to a drum to separate filth from the laundry;

a water spray step of spraying a small amount of water into the drum to remove the filth separated from the laundry; and

a laundry drying step of providing hot and dry air to the drum to dry the laundry.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of generating steam within the drum by generating heat from a water heater prior to executing the water spray step.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of rotating the drum during executing the respective steps.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the drum alternately repeats to be rotated clockwise and counterclockwise.

47. A washing apparatus comprising:

a body forming an exterior of the washing apparatus;

an outer tub provided within the body;

a drum rotatably provided within the outer tub and having a multitude of perforated holes on a circumference;

a water heater provided to a bottom part within the outer tub; and

a water supply pipe connected to a portion in the vicinity of a space having the water heater provided thereto within the outer tub to guide a water supply flow of water.

48. The washing apparatus of claim 47, wherein a water outlet of the water supply pipe is connected to a circumference of the bottom part of the outer tub.

49. The washing apparatus of claim 47, further comprising a water level sensing unit provided to a space of the bottom part within the outer tub to sense a level of the water supplied to the space having the water heater provided thereto.

50. The washing apparatus of claim 49, wherein the water level sensing unit comprises a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature to check whether the water is supplied.

51. The washing apparatus of claim 50, wherein the temperature sensor is provided above the water heater and below a bottom of the drum.

52. The washing apparatus of claim 51, wherein the temperature sensor is provided between the water heater and the bottom of the drum to leave a maximum distance from the water heater.

53. The washing apparatus of claim 47, further comprising a humidity sensor provided within an inner space of the outer tub to check a generated steam amount within the outer tub.

54. A method of controlling a washing apparatus, comprising:

a water supply step of supplying water to a bottom space within an outer tub via a water supply pipe in case of executing an operation for dry cleaning;

a temperature sensing step of sensing a temperature variation via a temperature sensor; and

a heat generation control step of stopping supplying the water and driving a water heater to generate heat if a value of the sensed temperature variation exceeds a reference value.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising the step of rotating a drum in case of driving the water heater in the heat generation control step.

56. The method of claim 54, further comprising the step of repeating a water supply and a water supply stop in a manner of keeping sensing the temperature variation via the temperature sensor after the heat generation control step and re-executing to supply the water if a difference of the value of the sensed temperature variation exceeding the reference value occurs.

57. The method of claim 54, after the heat generation control step, further comprising the step of cutting off power provided to the water heater if a time counting reaches a predefined time.

58. The method of claim 54, after the heat generation control step, further comprising the step of cutting off power provided to the water heater if a humidity within the outer tub reaches a predefined humidity through a humidity check.

59. A washing apparatus comprising:

a body forming an exterior of the washing apparatus;

an outer tub provided within the body;

a drum rotatably provided within the outer tub and having a multitude of perforated holes on a circumference;

a water heater provided to a bottom part within the outer tub;

a water supply pipe for guiding a water supply flow of water;

a sensing unit provided between the water heater and the drum to be short-circuited if a level of the water exceeds a predefined water level; and

a controller for controlling a water supply according to whether the sensing unit is short-circuited.

60. The washing apparatus of claim 59, wherein the water supply pipe is connected to a circumference of the bottom part of the outer tub in the vicinity of a space having the water heater provided thereto.

61. The washing apparatus of claim 59, the sensing unit comprising:

a first electrode located in the vicinity of the water heater; and

a second electrode located above the first electrode wherein an electric current is turned on between the first and second electrodes by the supplied water.

62. The washing apparatus of claim 61, wherein the first electrode is located above the water heater and wherein the second electrode is located below a bottom of the drum.

63. The washing apparatus of claim 59, wherein the sensing unit is provided to an opposite portion to a portion connected to a water outlet of the water supply pipe within a space having the water heater provided thereto.

64. The washing apparatus of claim 59, further comprising a humidity sensor provided to an inner space of the outer tub to check a generated steam amount within the outer tub.

65. A method of controlling a washing apparatus, comprising:

a water supply step of supplying water to a bottom space within an outer tub via a water supply pipe in case of executing an operation for dry cleaning;

a short circuit check step of checking whether a short circuit of an electrode sensor occurs by the supplied water; and

a heat generation control step of stopping supplying the water and driving a water heater to generate heat if short circuit of an electrode sensor occurs.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising the step of rotating a drum in case of driving the water heater in the heat generation control step.

67. The method of claim 65, after the heat generation control step, further comprising the steps of:

checking whether the electrode sensor is cut off; and

re-executing to supply the water if the electrode sensor is cut off.

68. The method of claim 65, after the heat generation control step, further comprising the step of cutting off power provided to the water heater if a time counting reaches a predefined time.

69. The method of claim 65, after the heat generation control step, further comprising the step of cutting off power provided to the water heater if a humidity within the outer tub reaches a predefined humidity through a humidity check.

70. A washing apparatus comprising:

a body forming an exterior of the washing apparatus;

an outer tub provided within the body;

a drum rotatably provided within the outer tub and having a multitude of perforated holes on a circumference;

a water heater provided to a bottom part within the outer tub;

a water supply pipe connected to a circumference of the bottom part of the outer tub to guide a water supply flow of water;

a drying duct having one end connected to the circumference of the bottom part of the outer tub and the other end connected to an upper circumference of the outer tub to supply hot air to the outer tub;

a drying heater provided within the drying duct; and

a cooling water supply pipe connected to a pipe path of the drying duct to provide a small amount of cooling water.

71. The washing apparatus of claim 70, further comprising a water level sensor provided to a lower space having the water heater provided thereto within the outer tub to sense a level of the supplied water.

72. The washing apparatus of claim 70, further comprising a humidity sensor provided to an inner space of the outer tub to check a generated steam amount within the outer tub.

73. A method of controlling a washing apparatus, comprising:

a water supply step of supplying water to a bottom space within an outer tub via a water supply pipe in case of executing an operation for dry cleaning;

a cooling water supply step of if a level of the supplied water reaches a predefined first water level, stopping supplying the water via the water supply pipe and supplying a small amount of cooling water via a cooling water supply pipe;

a water supply stop step of if the level of the supplied water reaches a predefined second water level, stopping supplying the cooling water via the cooling water supply pipe; and

a steam generation step of driving a water heater to generate steam in case of completion of either the cooling water supply step or the water supply stop step.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the predefined first water level in the water supply stop step is a water level approximately enough for the water heater to be submerged under the water.

75. The method of claim 73, wherein the predefined first water level in the water supply stop step is a water level approximately enough for the water heater to be submerged under the water but not enough for the water to reach a bottom of the drum.

76. The method of claim 73, further comprising the step of rotating a drum in case of driving the water heater in the steam generation step.

77. The method of claim 73, after the steam generation step, further comprising the steps of:

checking the level of the water; and

re-executing to supply the small amount of the cooling water via the cooling water supply pipe if the level of the water is lower than a predefined third water level.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the third water level is lower than the second water level but higher than the first water level.

79. The method of claim 73, after the steam generation step, further comprising the step of cutting off power provided to the water heater if a time counting reaches a predefined time.

80. The method of claim 73, after the steam generation step, further comprising the step of cutting off power provided to the water heater if a humidity within the outer tub reaches a predefined humidity through a humidity check.

81. A washing apparatus comprising:

a body forming an exterior of the washing apparatus;

an outer tub provided within the body;

a drum rotatably provided within the outer tub and having a multitude of perforated holes on a circumference; and

at least one steam providing unit for providing a prescribed amount of steam to an inside of the drum.

82. The washing apparatus of claim 81, the at least one steam providing unit comprising:

a heating part for generating heat by evaporating water by heat of high temperature;

a steam supply pipe for guiding a flow of the generated steam; and

a steam spray part for spraying the steam flowing via the steam supply pipe into the drum.

83. The washing apparatus of claim 82, the at least one steam providing unit further comprising a first open/close valve for opening/closing a pipe path of the steam supply pipe.

84. The washing apparatus of claim 82, wherein the heating part comprises a coil heater enclosing the steam supply pipe.

85. The washing apparatus of claim 82, the at least one steam providing unit further comprising a water storage part for storing a prescribed amount of water, the water storage part having one side connected to a pipe path for a water supply and the other side connected to the steam supply pipe.

86. The washing apparatus of claim 85, wherein the heating part is provided within the water storage part.

87. The washing apparatus of claim 82, wherein the water storage part further comprises a water level sensor for sensing a level of the water stored therein.

88. The washing apparatus of claim 82, wherein a steam outlet of the steam spray part is passed through the outer tub to be exposed to an inner space of the outer tub.

89. The washing apparatus of claim 81, further comprising at least one detergent supplying unit for supplying a detergent for dry cleaning to an inside of the drum.

90. The washing apparatus of claim 89, wherein the detergent is a solvent having a petroleum-based solvent additive.

91. The washing apparatus of claim 90, wherein the detergent includes a fragrance component.

92. The washing apparatus of claim 89, the detergent supplying unit comprising:

a detergent storage box for storing a dry-cleaning detergent;

a detergent supply pipe for guiding a flow of the dry-cleaning detergent stored in the detergent storage part; and

a detergent spray part for spraying the dry-cleaning detergent stored in the detergent storage box into the drum.

93. The washing apparatus of claim 92, the detergent supplying unit further comprising a second open/close valve opening/closing a pipe path of the detergent supply pipe.

94. The washing apparatus of claim 92, wherein a detergent outlet of the detergent spray part is exposed to face the inside of the drum.

95. The washing apparatus of claim 92, wherein a detergent outlet of the detergent spray part is passed through a laundry inlet of the drum to face the inside of the drum.

96. The washing apparatus of claim 92, the detergent box comprising:

a first storage part for storing the dry-cleaning detergent; and

a second storage part for storing a washing detergent.

97. The washing apparatus of claim 96, wherein the second storage part is connected to a water supply pipe for supplying water.

98. The washing apparatus of claim 81, further comprising at least one fragrance spraying unit for providing a prescribed amount of fragrance to the drum.

99. The washing apparatus of claim 81, further comprising:

a hot air supply pipe for providing dry air of high temperature to the inside of the drum; and

a drying heater for heating air flowing through the hot air supply pipe.

100. The washing apparatus of claim 99, wherein a blower fan driven to forcibly blow the air within the hot air supply pipe is provided to a pipe path of the hot air supply pipe.

101. A method of controlling a washing apparatus, comprising:

a detergent spray step of spraying a dry-cleaning detergent over a laundry inputted to a drum; and

a steam providing sep of providing steam to an inside of a drum by operating a steam providing unit.

102. The method of claim 101, further comprising the step of rotating the drum during executing the respective steps.

103. The method of claim 101, wherein the drum alternately repeats to be rotated clockwise and counterclockwise.

104. The method of claim 101, after the steam providing step, further comprising the step of spraying a small amount of water into the drum to remove filth separated from the laundry.

105. The method of claim 104, wherein the small amount of the water is sprayed into the drum via a steam spray part.

106. The method of claim 104, wherein the small amount of the water is sprayed into the drum via a detergent spray part.

107. The method of claim 104, after completion of the filth removing step, further comprising the step of drying the laundry by providing dry air of high temperature to the inside of the drum.

108. The method of claim 101, prior to the steam providing step, further comprising the step of spraying a small amount of water into the drum to remove filth separated from the laundry.

109. The method of claim 108, wherein the small amount of the water is sprayed into the drum via a steam spray part.

110. The method of claim 108, wherein the small amount of the water is sprayed into the drum via a detergent spray part.

111. The method of claim 101, after the steam providing step, further comprising the step of discharging the steam from the drum by driving a blower fan.

112. A washing apparatus comprising:

a body forming an exterior of the washing apparatus;

a drum rotatably provided within the body;

a steam providing unit for providing a prescribed amount of steam toward an inside of the drum; and

a laundry rack detachably provided to the inside of the drum to place a laundry thereon.

113. The washing apparatus of claim 112, the steam providing unit comprising:

a heat generation part for evaporating water by heat of high temperature;

a steam supply pipe for a flow of the evaporated steam; and

a seam spray part for spraying the steam flowing via the steam supply pipe.

114. The washing apparatus of claim 112, further comprising a fragrance spraying unit for providing fragrance to the inside of the drum.

115. The washing apparatus of claim 114, the fragrance spraying unit comprising:

a fragrance storage box for storing the fragrance; and

a fragrance spray part for spraying the fragrance stored in the fragrance storage box into the drum.

116. The washing apparatus of claim 112, the laundry rack comprising:

at least one or more rack frames having a multitude of laundries placed thereon; and

a supporter provided to front and rear sides of the rack frame to support the rack frame to be loaded in the drum.

117. The washing apparatus of claim 116, wherein a number of the rack frames are at least two and wherein the at least two rack frames are arranged to configure a multi-floor shape.

118. The washing apparatus of claim 116, wherein a multitude of air ventilation holes are formed in a plane of the rack frame to enable air ventilation.