Washing method in steam injection type washing machine

• US 20070169280A1
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jin Woong Kim, Kyung Woo, Si Moon Jeon, Soo Young Oh
• Original Assignee: Jin Woong Kim, Kyung Woo, Si Moon Jeon, Soo Young Oh
• Inventors: Oh, Soo Young, Kim, Jin Woong, Jeon, Si Moon, Woo, Kyung
• Granted Patent: US 7,797,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 8/149.300
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/02 Water supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/36 of washing
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/008 Steam generating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/083 Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/40 Steam generating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/284 with water in reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A washing method in a steam injection type washing machine in which wash water is heated to generate high temperature and high-pressure steam while passing through the steam supply unit in the wash or rinse cycle, and the generated steam is injected into the wash tub at the top of the wash tub. Accordingly, it is possible to rapidly achieve the wetting of clothes with wash water while achieving an enhancement in sterilization and washing performances. In addition, consumption of water and electrical energy can be reduced.

Claims

1. A washing method in a steam injection type washing machine comprising:

a water supplying step for supplying wash water into a wash tub;

a steam generating step for supplying steam into the wash tub by operation of a steam supply unit; and

a circulating step for circulating wash water of the wash tub into the wash tub.

2. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 1, wherein the steam and the wash water are injected in the steam generating step and the circulating step.

3. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 1, wherein a circulation pump for pumping the water is periodically continuously on/off during the circulating step.

4. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 1, wherein the steam generating step is performed together with the water supplying step.

5. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 4, wherein the circulating step is performed together with the steam generating step.

6. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 1, wherein the circulating step is performed together with the steam generating step.

7. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 6, wherein the wash tub is tumbled during the steam generating step and the circulating step.

8. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 6, wherein the steam generating step and the circulating step are performed simultaneously after completing the water supplying step.

9. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 8, further comprising:

a water re-supplying step for re-supplying wash water into the wash tub; and

a circulating step for circulating the re-supplied wash water of the wash tub into the wash tub.

10. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 9, wherein the wash tub is tumbled during circulating step for circulating the re-supplied wash water of the wash tub into the wash tub.

11. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 9, wherein a circulation pump for pumping the water is periodically continuously on/off during the circulating step for circulating the re-supplied wash water of the wash tub into the wash tub.

12. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 1, wherein the steam generating step and the circulating step are performed simultaneously.

13. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 1, further comprising a drum driving step.

14. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 13, wherein the drum driving step is performed after completing the water supplying step, the steam generating step and the circulating step.

15. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 13, wherein the drum driving step is performed together with at least the water supplying step, the steam generating step and the circulating step.

16. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 13, wherein the drum is tumbled in the drum driving step.

27. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 1, wherein wash water is supplied into the steam supply unit during the water supplying step for supplying wash water into the wash tub.

17. A washing method in a stem injection type washing machine comprising:

a water supplying step for supplying wash water into a wash tub; and

a injecting step for injecting steam generated from a steam supply unit and wash water circulated by a circulation pump into a the wash tub simultaneously.

18. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 17, wherein the wash tub is tumbled during the injecting step.

19. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 17, wherein a water re-supplying step and a circulating step for circulating the re-supplied wash water of the wash tub into the wash tub are performed repeatedly at least one time after completing the injecting step.

20. The washing method in a stem injection type washing machine of claim 19, wherein the wash tub is tumbled during the circulating step.

28. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 17, wherein wash water is supplied into the steam supply unit during the water supplying step for supplying wash water into the wash tub.

21. A washing method in a steam injection type washing machine comprising:

a water supplying step for supplying wash water into a wash tub;

a steam supplying step comprising a first step for supplying wash water into a steam supply unit, a second step for heating the wash water supplied into a tank by operation of the heater, thereby generating steam, and a third step for steam injecting step for injecting the steam generated at the steam generating step into the wash tub; and

a circulation step for circulating the wash water into the tank,

wherein the steam supplying step and the circulation step are performed after completing the water supplying step.

22. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 21, wherein the steam of the steam supplying step is supplied by its own pressure of the steam.

23. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 22, wherein the water supplying step and the first step of the steam supplying step are performed simultaneously.

24. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 22, wherein the second step of the steam supplying step is performed after completing the water supplying step.

25. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 24, wherein the steam is generated by using the wash water supplied into the steam supply unit after driving the heater within the steam supply unit.

26. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 21, wherein the second step of the steam generating step is repeatedly performed at least one time, in case that the temperature of the wash tub is lower than the predetermined temperature.

29. The washing method in a steam injection type washing machine of claim 21, wherein wash water is supplied into the steam supply unit during the water supplying step for supplying wash water into the wash tub.