LAUNDRY TREATMENT MACHINE

• US 20180298548A1
• Filed: 04/13/2018
• Published: 10/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Jongryul, KIM, Doohyun, Park, Hyungman
• Granted Patent: US 10,914,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2105/24 Flow or velocity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/28 Electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/30 Blowers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/26 Heating arrangements, e.g. gas heating equipment D06F58/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/38 of drying, e.g. to achieve the target humidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/48 Control of the energy consumption
• 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

The present disclosure relates to a laundry treatment machine. The laundry treatment machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a casing; a door attached to the casing; a washing tub disposed inside the casing; a heating unit; a blower for supplying to the washing tub; a temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the washing tub; a motor for rotating the washing tub; a driving unit for driving the motor; and a controller to control the blower to operate in a first drying mode, and to control the heating unit to intermittently output a first power during a first period after the operation of the blower while controlling an operating time of the heating unit to increase during the first period. Accordingly, the power consumption can be reduced while reducing the drying period in the drying mode.

Claims

1. A laundry treatment machine comprising:

a casing;

a door coupled to the casing;

a washing tub located inside of the casing and configured to receive laundry;

a blower configured to supply air to the washing tub;

a heating unit configured to receive power and to generate heat based on the received power to heat air;

a temperature detector configured to detect a temperature in the washing tub;

a motor configured to rotate the washing tub;

a driving unit configured to drive the motor; and

a controller configured to;

enter a first drying mode,

operate the blower in the first drying mode,

based on operation of the blower in the first drying mode, control supply of power to the heating unit during a first period of the first drying mode in which a first level of power is intermittently supplied to the heating unit for an operation time, and

increase the operation time of the heating unit during the first period.

2. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the first period comprises a first interval and a second interval that follows the first interval, and

wherein the controller is further configured to, in the first drying mode:

during the first interval, repeatedly turn the heating unit on for a first turn-on period and off for a first turn-off period, and

during the second interval, repeatedly turn the heating unit on for a second turn-on period and off for a second turn-off period, the second turn-on period being greater than the first turn-on period.

3. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to, in the first drying mode:

detect, based on output from the temperature detector, the temperature in the washing tub after the first period; and

based on the temperature in the washing tub being less than or equal to a first reference value, maintain supply of power to the heating unit at the first level during a second period of the first drying mode.

4. The laundry treatment machine of claim 3, wherein the heating unit comprises a first heater and a second heater, and

wherein the controller is further configured to operate both of the first heater and the second heater during each of the first period and the second period.

5. The laundry treatment machine of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to, in the first drying mode:

control supply of power to the heating unit alternately between the first level and a second level that is less than the first level during a third period of the first drying mode, the third period following the second period; and

maintain supply of power to the heating unit at the first level during a fourth period of the first drying mode, the fourth period following the third period.

6. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to, in the first drying mode:

detect, by the temperature detector, the temperature in the washing tub after the first period; and

based on the temperature in the washing tub exceeding a first reference value after the first period, control supply of power to the heating unit during a second period of the first drying mode at a second level of power that is less than the first level, the second period following the first period.

7. The laundry treatment machine of claim 6, wherein the heating unit comprises a first heater and a second heater, and

wherein the controller is further configured to:

operate both of the first heater and the second heater during the first period, and

operate one of the first heater or the second heater during the second period.

8. The laundry treatment machine of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to, in the first drying mode:

control supply of power to the heating unit alternately between the first level and the second level during a third period of the first drying mode, the third period following the second period; and

maintain supply of power to the heating unit at the first level during a fourth period of the first drying mode, the fourth period following the third period.

9. The laundry treatment machine of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to, in the first drying mode:

determine a humidity level in the washing tub; and

turn off the heating unit based on the humidity level being less than or equal to a first reference humidity level and a lapse of time in the first drying mode being within a set time.

10. The laundry treatment machine of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to, based on the heating unit being turned off, turn off the blower based on the humidity level in the washing tub being less than or equal to a second reference humidity level that is less than the first reference humidity level.

11. The laundry treatment machine of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to, in the first drying mode, increase one or both of the first turn-on period during the first interval of the first period and the second turn-on period during the second interval of the first period corresponding to an amount of laundry in the washing tub.

12. The laundry treatment machine of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to, in the first drying mode, increase one or both of the first period and the second period corresponding to an amount of laundry in the washing tub.

13. The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

enter a second drying mode;

maintain, in the second drying mode, supply of power to the heating unit at the first level;

after maintaining supply of power to the heating unit at the first level in the second drying mode, maintain supply of power to the heating unit at a second level that is less than the first level; and

after maintaining supply of power at the second level in the second drying mode, maintain supply of power to the heating unit at the first level.

14. A laundry treatment machine comprising:

a casing;

a door coupled to the casing;

a washing tub located inside of the casing and configured to receive laundry;

a blower configured to supply air to the washing tub;

a heating unit configured to receive power and to generate heat based on the received power to heat air;

a temperature detector configured to detect a temperature in the washing tub;

a motor configured to rotate the washing tub;

a driving unit configured to drive the motor; and

a controller configured to;

enter a first drying mode,

increase, in the first drying mode, power supplied to the heating unit during a first period of the first drying mode, and

maintain, in the first drying mode, a power level supplied to the heating unit during a second period of the first drying mode.

15. The laundry treatment machine of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to:

enter a second drying mode;

maintain, in the second drying mode, the power level to the heating unit at a first level;

after maintaining the power level at the first level in the second drying mode, maintain the power level at a second level that is less than the first level; and

after maintaining the power level at the second level in the second drying mode, maintain the power level at the first level.

16. The laundry treatment machine of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to, in the first drying mode:

control supply of power to the heating unit at the first level during the first period of the first drying mode;

detect, by the temperature detector, the temperature in the washing tub after the first period of the first drying mode; and

based on the temperature in the washing tub exceeding a first reference value, maintain supply of power to the heating unit at the second level during the second period of the first drying mode.

17. The laundry treatment machine of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to:

maintain supply of power to the heating unit at the first level during the second period of the first drying mode;

turn off the heating unit based on a humidity level in the washing tub being less than or equal to a first reference humidity level and a lapse of time in the first drying mode being within a set time; and

maintain operation of the blower after the heating unit is turned off.

18. The laundry treatment machine of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to, after maintaining supply of power to the heating unit at the first level during the second period, turn off the blower based on the humidity level in the washing tub being less than or equal to a second reference humidity level that is less than the first reference humidity level.

19. The laundry treatment machine of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to, in the first drying mode, increase one or both of the first period and the second period corresponding to an amount of laundry in the washing tub.

20. The laundry treatment machine of claim 14, wherein the first period of the first drying mode comprises a plurality of intervals, and

wherein the controller is further configured to:

alternate activation and deactivation of the heating unit in each interval of the first period, and

increase an activation time of the heating unit in one or more of the plurality of intervals.