Drying machine and method for controlling the same

• US 20080000098A1
• Filed: 02/15/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Young, Choi, Chul, Son, Young, Yang, Dae, Wee, Jea, Son, Chang, Bae, Sang Hun, Ryu, Chong, Kim, Dong
• Granted Patent: US 8,931,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 34/114
• 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 58/30 Drying processes controlling a series of operations in domestic laundry dryers D06F58/32

Abstract

A drying machine is disclosed. The drying machine includes a selectively rotatable drum receiving an object to be dried, a steam supply member having one side connected to a steam generator and the other side connected to the drum, and a swirler installed in the steam supply member at a predetermined position for swirling steam flowing through the steam supply member. A method for controlling the drying machine includes heating a drum, supplying steam generated in a steam generator into the drum, and supplying hot air into the drum. The drying machine having the above described configuration can efficiently eliminate creases of clothes.

Claims

1. A laundry machines comprising:

a selectively rotatable drum;

a steam generator;

a steam supply member connected to the steam generator to supply steam into the drum; and

a swirler installed in the steam supply member wherein the swirler swirls steam flowing through the steam supply member.

2. The laundry machine according to claim 1, wherein the swirler is located adjacent to a tip end of the steam supply member.

3. The laundry machine according to claim 1, wherein the swirler includes at least one blade to guide a flow of steam.

4. The laundry machine according to claim 3, wherein the blade extends from an inner wall of the steam supply member to the center of the steam supply member.

5. The laundry machine according to claim 3, wherein the blade is integrally formed with the steam supply member.

6. A method for controlling a drying machine comprising:

heating a drum;

supplying steam generated in a steam generator into the drum; and

supplying hot air into the drum.

7. The method for controlling the drying machine according to claim 6, further comprising:

cooling the drum.

8. The method for controlling the drying machine according to claim 6, further comprising, after completing the supply of steam, discharging water remaining in the steam generator.

9. The method for controlling the drying machine according to claim 8, wherein, the discharge step comprises operating a pump to discharge water remaining in the steam generator.

10. The method for controlling the drying machine according to claim 6, wherein, during the heating of the drum, the drum is tumbled.

11. The method for controlling the drying machine according to claim 6, wherein, during the supply of steam, the drum is tumbled.

12. The method for controlling the drying machine according to claim 11, wherein the drum is intermittently tumbled.