Fabric dryer and method of controlling the same

• US 8,937,625 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Issued: 01/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Deughee
• Primary Examiner(s): Gravini, Steve M
• Application Number:
  US13/659,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20130139403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 345/95, 343/80, 343/81, 346/01, 346/06, 346/10, 68/19, 68/20, 811/551, 813/7, 814/9, 815/9, 134/42, 510/276, 510/285, 510/379
• US Class Current: 345/595
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/00 User input for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/00 Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/34 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/44 Current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/28 Electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/30 Blowers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/40 using water or steam
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/46 Drum speed; Actuation of motors, e.g. starting or interrupting
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/203 Laundry conditioning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/44 of conditioning or finishing, e.g. for smoothing or removing creases
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 25/06 Chambers, containers, or receptacles large containers having means for heating, cooling, aerating or other conditioning of contents B65D88/74

Abstract

Provided are a fabric dryer and a method of controlling the fabric dryer. The fabric dryer includes a drum, a driving unit, a steam supply unit, a radical supply unit, a contamination removal function selector, and a controller. The drum is rotatably disposed and receives laundry. The driver rotates the drum. The steam supply unit supplies steam into the drum. The radical supply unit supplies radical into the drum. The contamination removal function selector selects a water-soluble contaminant or a fat-soluble contaminant. The controller controls the steam supply unit to supply steam in response to selection of the water-soluble-contaminant by the contamination removal function selector, and controls the radical supply unit to supply radical in response to selection of fat-soluble contaminant by the contamination removal function selector.

Claims

1. A fabric dryer comprising:

a drum rotatably disposed and receiving laundry;

a driving unit rotating the drum;

a steam supply unit supplying steam into the drum;

a radical supply unit for supplying radical into the drum;

a contamination removal function selector for selecting a water-soluble contaminant or a fat-soluble contaminant; and

a controller configured to control the steam supply unit to supply steam in response to selection of the water-soluble-contaminant by the contamination removal function selector, and control the radical supply unit to supply radical in response to selection of fat-soluble contaminant by the contamination removal function selector.

2. The fabric dryer of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the driver to rotate the drum upon selection of the water-soluble contaminant.

3. The fabric dryer of claim 2, wherein the drum rotates such that laundry tumbles in the drum.

4. The fabric dryer of claim 1, further comprising a hot air supply unit for supplying hot air into the drum,

wherein upon selection of the water-soluble contaminant, the controller controls the hot air supply unit such that hot air is supplied after steam is supplied.

5. The fabric dryer of claim 1, wherein the controller controls the driving unit to rotate the drum upon selection of the fat-soluble contaminant.

6. The fabric dryer of claim 5, wherein the drum rotates such that laundry tumbles in the drum.

7. The fabric dryer of claim 4, further comprising a drying operation input unit operating the hot air supply unit to dry laundry in the drum upon selection,

wherein the contamination removal function selector is provided separately from the drying operation input unit.

8. The fabric dryer of claim 1, further comprising an indicating lamp that is lighted according to selection of the water-soluble contaminant or the fat-soluble contaminant.

9. A method of controlling a fabric dryer, comprising:

selecting a water-soluble contaminant or a fat-soluble contaminant through a contamination removal function selector; and

removing the contaminant from laundry in a drum according to the selected contaminant,

wherein steam is supplied into the drum when the selected contaminant is water-soluble, and radical is supplied into the drum when the selected contaminant is fat-soluble.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein upon selection of the water-soluble contaminant, the drum rotates.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the drum rotates such that laundry tumbles in the drum.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein upon selection of the water-soluble contaminant, hot air is further supplied into the drum after the steam is supplied.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising processing laundry with a detergent before the steam is supplied upon selection of the water-soluble contaminant.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein upon selection of the fat-soluble contaminant, the drum rotates.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the drum rotates such that laundry tumbles in the drum.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising visually indicating that the water-soluble contaminant or the fat-soluble contaminant is selected.