[Technical Field]
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus.
[Background]
[0002] In general, a laundry treating apparatus is a concept that includes a washing machine
that washes an object-to-be-washed, such as laundry, and a dryer that dries an obj
ect-to-be-dried.
[0003] Existing laundry treating apparatuses for washing include a tub that provides a space
for storing water, a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub to store the object-to-be-washed
therein, a water supply that supplies water to the tub, a detergent supplier that
supplies detergent to the tub, and a drainage that discharges water stored in the
tub to the outside of the tub.
[0004] The laundry treating apparatus of the above-described structure performs the washing
by repeating a foreign substance separation process of removing foreign substances
remaining in the object-to-be-washed by supplying water and the detergent to the tub
via the water supply and the detergent supplier and then rotating the drum, a draining
process of discharging water stored in the tub, and a dehydration process of removing
water remaining in the object-to-be-washed by rotating the drum.
[0005] When the foreign substance separation process proceeds, foam is generated inside
the tub. The foam generated during the foreign substance separation process causes
problems such as foam being discharged to the outside of the tub, causing a great
load on a driver that rotates the drum, and making it difficult to rotate the drum
with a great number of rotations during dehydration, so that a device or a control
method to measure an amount of foam and remove the foam is an important design consideration.
[0006] Among the existing laundry treating apparatuses, there was a scheme of sensing the
foam via a change in the number of rotations of the drum or a change in a torque of
the driver (a change in a torque of a motor) (Publication No.
10-2000-0025493 and Publication No.
10-2006-0115264), and the foam inside the tub was removed by repeating the process of draining water
inside the tub and supplying water to the tub. However, the existing foam removal
scheme that repeats the draining process and the water supplying process had disadvantages
of using a lot of water and taking a long time to remove the foam.
[Summary]
[Technical Problem]
[0007] The present disclosure is to provide a method for controlling a laundry treating
apparatus that may quickly remove foam inside the tub.
[0008] Additionally, the present disclosure is to provide a method for controlling a laundry
treating apparatus that removes foam inside a tub by providing heat energy to the
foam.
[Technical Solutions]
[0009] Provided is a method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus including a tub
where water is stored, a drum disposed inside the tub to store laundry therein, a
heater that heats the drum by generating an eddy current in the drum, and a sensor
that senses foam inside the tub.
[0010] The method includes a sensing step of sensing, by the sensor, an amount of foam inside
the tub, and a removal step of removing the foam inside the tub by heating the drum
via the heater while the drum rotates when the amount of foam inside the tub is equal
to or greater than a reference amount.
[0011] The removal step may include a rotation step of rotating the drum in only one of
a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction, and a rotation heating step
of heating the drum via the heater while the rotation step is in progress.
[0012] The rotation step may include rotating the drum with a number of rotations creating
a centrifugal force smaller than 1G.
[0013] The removal step may include an oscillation step of alternately rotating the drum
in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction, and an oscillation heating
step of heating the drum via the heater while the oscillation step is in progress.
[0014] The oscillation step may include rotating the drum with a number of rotations creating
a centrifugal force smaller than 1G.
[0015] The method may further include a washing water supplying step of supplying water
to the tub while the removal step is in progress, and a washing water draining step
of draining water inside the tub while the removal step is in progress.
[0016] The washing water supplying step and the washing water draining step may be performed
sequentially or simultaneously.
[0017] The method may further include a tub water supplying step of supplying a preset amount
of water to the tub, wherein the tub water supplying step is started before the removal
step, and a foreign substance separation step of removing foreign substances from
the laundry by rotating the drum with a preset first number of rotations.
[0018] The sensing step may be periodically executed while the foreign substance separation
step is in progress.
[0019] The removal step may include a rotation step of rotating the drum in one of a clockwise
direction and a counterclockwise direction with a second number of rotations smaller
than the first number of rotations, and a rotation heating step of heating the drum
via the heater while the rotation step is in progress.
[0020] The method may further include a tub draining step of discharging water inside the
tub to the outside of the tub when the amount of foam inside the tub sensed after
completion of the removal step is equal to or greater than the reference amount, an
oscillation step of alternately rotating the drum in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise
direction with a second number of rotations, and an oscillation heating step of heating
the drum via the heater while the oscillation step is in progress.
[0021] A washing water supplying step of supplying water to the tub, and a washing water
draining step of draining water inside the tub may be executed after completion of
the tub draining step.
[0022] The washing water supplying step may be started before the oscillation step and the
oscillation heating step are executed, and the washing water draining step may be
started after the oscillation step and the oscillation heating step are completed.
[0023] The method may further include a dehydration step of separating water from the laundry
by rotating the drum with a number of rotations for dehydration creating a centrifugal
force equal to or greater than 1G, wherein the dehydration step is started before
the removal step, and the sensing step may be periodically executed while the dehydration
step is in progress.
[0024] The removal step may include a rotation step of rotating the drum in one of a clockwise
direction and a counterclockwise direction with a number of rotations creating the
centrifugal force equal to or greater than 1G, but smaller than the number of rotations
for dehydration, and a rotation heating step of heating the drum via the heater while
the rotation step is in progress.
[0025] A rotation direction of the drum set in the rotation step may be the same as a rotation
direction of the drum set in the dehydration step.
[0026] The method may further include an oscillation step of alternately rotating the drum
in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction with a number of rotations
creating a centrifugal force smaller than 1G when the amount of foam inside the tub
sensed after completion of the removal step is equal to or greater than the reference
amount or when a temperature inside the tub measured while the rotation heating step
is in progress is equal to or higher than a preset reference temperature, and an oscillation
heating step of heating the drum via the heater while the oscillation step is in progress.
[0027] A washing water supplying step of supplying water to the tub, and a washing water
draining step of draining water inside the tub may be executed while the oscillation
step and the oscillation heating step are in progress.
[0028] The washing water supplying step may be started before the oscillation step and the
oscillation heating step are executed, and the washing water draining step may be
started after the oscillation step and the oscillation heating step are completed.
[Advantageous Effects]
[0029] The present disclosure provides the method for controlling the laundry treating apparatus
that may quickly remove the foam inside the tub.
[0030] Additionally, the present disclosure provides the method for controlling the laundry
treating apparatus that removes the foam inside the tub by providing the heat energy
to the foam.
[Brief Description of the Drawings]
[0031]
FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of a laundry treating apparatus.
FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 show an example of a heater.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show an example of a control method for removing foam.
FIG. 8 shows another example of a control method for removing foam.
FIG. 9 shows an example of a control method for removing foam inside a tub during
washing or rinsing.
FIG. 10 shows an example of a control method for removing foam inside a tub during
rinsing.
FIG. 11 shows an example of a control method for removing foam inside a tub during
dehydration.
[Best Mode]
[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of a laundry treating apparatus and a control method will
be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. A configuration of
the apparatus or the control method to be described below is only for describing the
embodiments of the laundry treating apparatus and is not intended to limit the scope
of the present disclosure, and the same reference numerals used throughout the present
document refer to the same components.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 1, a laundry treating apparatus 100 may include a cabinet 1 having
a laundry inlet 11 defined therein, a tub 2 disposed inside the cabinet 1 to store
water therein, and a drum 3 that is rotatably disposed inside the tub and accommodates
an object-to-be-treated (hereinafter, referred to as 'laundry') therein.
[0034] The laundry inlet 11 may be defined in a front surface of the cabinet 1 and may be
closed by a door 12 pivotably coupled to the cabinet 1.
[0035] The cabinet 1 may have a control panel 13. FIG. 1 shows a case in which the control
panel 13 is located on the front surface of the cabinet 1 above the laundry inlet
11 as an example.
[0036] The control panel 13 may include an input unit 131 and a display 132. The input unit
131 may be a means of receiving a control command from a user, and the display 132
may be a means of displaying the control commands selectable by the user and execution
information of the control command selected by the user.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the tub 2 may be formed as a tub body 21 disposed inside the
cabinet 1 to provide a space for storing water. The tub body 21 may be formed as a
hollow cylinder, and a tub inlet 22 may be defined in one surface of the cylinder.
[0038] The tub body 21 may be fixed inside the cabinet 1 via a support. FIG. 2 shows a case
in which the support is composed of a spring 24 that connects an upper portion of
a circumferential surface of the tub body 21 to the cabinet 1, and a damper 25 that
connects a lower portion of the circumferential surface of the tub body 21 to the
cabinet 1 as an example.
[0039] The tub inlet 22 may be connected to the laundry inlet 11 via a gasket 23. To prevent
water stored inside the tub body 21 from leaking to the cabinet 1, the gasket 23 may
be formed as a tube connecting the laundry inlet 11 with the tub inlet 22. Additionally,
to minimize transmission of vibration of the tub body 21 to the cabinet 1, the gasket
23 may be made of an elastic material such as rubber.
[0040] The drum 3 may include a drum body 31 that is disposed inside the tub body 21 to
provide a space for storing the laundry.
[0041] The drum body 31 may be formed as a hollow cylinder, and may have a drum inlet 32
defined in one surface (a surface facing the tub inlet) of the cylinder. The drum
body 31 is preferably made of a conductor.
[0042] A communication hole 33 that allows inside of the drum body 31 to be in communication
with inside of the tub body 21 may be defined in a circumferential surface of the
drum body 31 or the like, and a lifter that lifts the laundry inside the drum body
31 when the drum body 31 rotates may be disposed on the circumferential surface of
the drum body 31.
[0043] The drum body 31 may be rotatably fixed to the tub body 21 via a driver 4.
[0044] The driver 4 may include a stator 41 that is fixed to a rear surface of the tub body
21 and forms a rotating field when current is supplied, a rotor 42 that is located
outside the tub body 21 to rotate by the rotating field, and a rotation shaft 43 that
extends through the rear surface of the tub body 21 and connects the rotor 42 with
a rear surface of the drum body 31.
[0045] The tub body 21 may receive water via a water supply 5, and water stored in the tub
body 21 may be discharged to the outside of the tub body 21 via a drainage 6.
[0046] The water supply 5 may include a water supply pipe 52 that connects a water supply
source 51 to the tub body 21, and a water supply valve 53 that controls opening and
closing of the water supply pipe 52 in response to a control signal of a controller
91.
[0047] The drainage 6 may include a pump 61, a first drain pipe 62 that connects the tub
body 21 to the pump 61, and a second drain pipe 63 that guides water discharged from
the pump 61 to the outside of the cabinet 1.
[0048] The laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include a supplier 7 that supplies
detergent to the tub body 21. The supplier 7 may include a drawer that is extended
from the front surface of the cabinet 1, and a storage space defined in the drawer
to store the detergent therein.
[0049] FIG. 2 shows a case in which the storage space is defined to connect the water supply
pipe 52 with the tub body 21 as an example. In this case, the water supply pipe 52
may be composed of a first water supply pipe 521 that guides water supplied from the
water supply source 51 to the storage space, and a second water supply pipe 522 that
guides the detergent discharged from the storage space and water to the tub body 21.
[0050] The laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include a heater 8 that heats the
drum body 31.
[0051] The heater 8 is as means of heating the drum body 31 by generating an eddy current
in the drum body 31 via electromagnetic induction. An induction heater may be an example
of the heater.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 3, the heater 8 is preferably located in a space located above a
horizontal line H passing through a center of the tub body (a horizontal line passing
through a center of rotation of the drum body) on the circumferential surface of the
tub body 21. This is because it is advantageous for heating the drum body 31 that
there is no water between the heater 8 and the drum body 31.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 4, the heater 8 may include a housing 81 fixed to an upper space
of the tub body 21, a coil 82 fixed to the housing 81, and a cover 83 that is fixed
to the housing 81 and prevents exposure of the coil 82.
[0054] To prevent overheating of the coil 82, the cover 83 may further include a cooler
84. The cooler 84 may be formed as a fan that exhausts air in a space created by the
housing 81 and the cover 83 to the outside. As shown in FIG. 5, the coil 82 may be
fixed to the housing 81, and current supplied to the coil 82 may be controlled by
the controller 91.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 2, the laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include a sensor
92 that senses an amount of foam inside the tub body 21. The senser 92 may be formed
as a water level sensor that senses an amount of water supplied to the tub body 21.
[0056] As shown in the drawing, the water level sensor may be composed of a communication
pipe 921 connected to the first drain pipe 62, and a sensor 922 that generates a control
signal based on a pressure inside the communication pipe 921.
[0057] The communication pipe 921 may be formed as a hose fixed inside the cabinet 1 such
that one end thereof is connected to the first drain pipe 62 and the other end thereof
is located at a point higher than the highest water level of the tub body 21, or a
point higher than the horizontal line H.
[0058] The communication pipe 921 is closed by the sensor 922, and a water level inside
the communication pipe 921 changes to be the same as a water level inside the tub
body 21. Therefore, the sensor 922 may transmit a control signal corresponding to
the pressure inside the communication pipe 921, which varies depending on the water
level inside the tub body 21, to the controller 91, and the controller 91 may determine
the water level inside the tub body 21 via the control signal provided by the sensor
922.
[0059] In one example, when the foam is generated inside the tub body 21 because of the
rotation of the drum body 31 or the like, the pressure inside the communication pipe
921 increases. Therefore, when the sensor 922 senses the increase in the pressure
inside the communication pipe 921 even though there is no additional water supply
via the water supply 5 during operation of the laundry treating apparatus 100, the
controller 91 will be able to estimate whether the foam is generated inside the tub
body 21 and the amount of foam.
[0060] Although not shown in the drawing, the sensor 92 may be formed as a current amount
sensor that senses an amount of current supplied to the stator 41 or a number of rotations
sensor that senses the number of rotations of the drum body 31.
[0061] When the foam is generated inside the tub body 21, a resistance that hinders the
rotation of the drum body 31 increases, so that an amount of current that should be
supplied to the stator 41 to rotate the drum body 31 with a preset number of rotations
increases. In one example, when the foam is generated inside the tub body 21 while
maintaining the amount of current supplied to the stator 41 constant, the number of
rotations of the drum body 31 is lowered. Accordingly, the controller 91 may estimate
whether the foam is generated in the tub body 21 and the amount of foam via the control
signal provided by the current amount sensor or the number of rotations sensor.
[0062] The laundry treating apparatus 100 may further include a temperature sensor 93 that
measures a temperature inside the tub body 21. FIG. 2 shows a case in which the temperature
sensor 93 is fixed to the upper space of the circumferential surface of the tub body
21 and senses a temperature of a space between the tub body 21 and the drum body 31.
[0063] The laundry treating apparatus 100 described above should rotate the drum body 31
in a process of separating foreign substances from the laundry (a process of rubbing
water with the laundry, a washing cycle or a rinsing cycle is an example thereof)
or a dehydration cycle (a process of separating water and the foreign substances from
the laundry). When the drum body 31 rotates, foam may be generated in the tub body
21 because of detergent supplied to the tub body 21 or the foreign substances separated
from the laundry.
[0064] The foam inside the tub body 21 may causes problems such as the foam being discharged
to the outside of the tub body 21, causing a load on the driver 4, and making it difficult
to rotate the drum body 31 with a great number of rotations during the dehydration.
[0065] The present disclosure provides a control method that may quickly remove the foam
inside the tub body 21 to solve the above-mentioned problems.
[0066] FIG. 6 shows an example of a control method for removing foam. A control method in
FIG. 6 includes a separation step (S30) of separating the foreign substances from
the laundry or water from the laundry by rotating the drum body 31 via the driver
4, and a sensing step (S20) executed while the separation step (S30) is in progress.
[0067] The separation step (S30), as a step of rotating the drum body 31 with a preset number
of rotations, may be a foreign substance separation step of separating the foreign
substances from the laundry or a water separation step (a dehydration step) of separating
water from the laundry.
[0068] When the separation step (S30) is the foreign substance separation step, the number
of rotations of the drum body 31 may be set to a first number of rotations that creates
a centrifugal force smaller than 1G in the laundry, and when the separation step (S30)
is the dehydration step, the number of rotations of the drum body 31 may be set to
a number of rotations for dehydration that creates a centrifugal force equal to or
greater than 1G in the laundry.
[0069] The sensing step (S20) is a step of determining an amount of foam inside the tub
body 21 via the sensor 92. The sensing step (S20) may be periodically executed (S21)
while the separation step (S30) is in progress.
[0070] In the control method, whether an execution time of the separation step (S30) has
reached a preset reference time during the execution of the separation step (S30)
is determined (S31). When the execution time of the separation step (S30) has reached
the reference time, the control method ends the separation step (30) and the sensing
step (S20).
[0071] When the execution time of the separation step (S30) has not reached the reference
time, in the control method, whether the amount of foam inside the tub body 21 is
equal to or greater than a preset reference amount is determined (S32) based on data
provided by the sensor 92.
[0072] When the amount of foam inside the tub body 21 is smaller than the reference amount,
the control method proceeds with the separation step (S30) and the sensing step (S20).
However, when it is determined that the amount of foam inside the tub body 21 is equal
to or greater than the reference amount (S32), the control method proceeds with a
removal step (S40, a first removal step) to remove the foam inside the tub body 21.
[0073] The first removal step (S40) is a step of heating the drum body 31 by operating the
heater 8 while the drum body 31 rotates.
[0074] The foam maintains a shape thereof by a surface tension, and the surface tension
of the foam decreases as a temperature increases. The heater 8 disposed in the laundry
treating apparatus 100 may directly heat the drum body 31 via an eddy current generated
in the drum body 31 by electromagnetic induction. When the drum body 31 is rotated
and comes into contact with the foam while the heater 8 is operating, heat energy
of the drum body 31 may be transferred to the foam, thereby enabling rapid removal
of the foam.
[0075] That is, the first removal step (S40) may include a rotation step (S41) of rotating
the drum body 31 in one of a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction,
and a rotation heating step (S42) of heating the drum body 31 via the heater 8 while
the rotation step (S41) is in progress.
[0076] As shown in FIG. 7, the lower the rotation speed of the drum body 31, the faster
the temperature of a point R of the drum body 31 closest to the heater 8 increases.
Therefore, when a number of rotations smaller than the first number of rotations is
set for the rotation step (S41), the temperature of the partial area R of the drum
body 31 may be temporarily maintained higher than those of other areas, and the area
R with the high temperature may be brought into contact with foam B, which may be
more effective in removing the foam. That is, the number of rotations of the drum
body 31 set in the rotation step (S41) is set to a number of rotations that creates
a centrifugal force smaller than 1G in the laundry, but is preferably set to a number
of rotations smaller than the first number of rotations.
[0077] The rotation step (S41) and the rotation heating step (S42) are performed for a preset
removal time, and the rotation step (S41) and the rotation heating step (S42) are
ended when the removal time has elapsed (S43).
[0078] FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of a control method for removing foam.
[0079] A control method in FIG. 8 includes the separation step (S30) of separating the foreign
substances from the laundry or water from the laundry by rotating the drum body 31
via the driver 4, a sensing step (S20) executed while the separation step (S30) is
in progress, and a foam removal step (S60) executed based on the amount of foam inside
the tub body.
[0080] Because the separation step (S30) and the sensing step (S20) are the same as the
separation step and the sensing step in the control method in FIG. 7, detailed descriptions
thereof will be omitted.
[0081] The removal step (S60, a second removal step) in the control method in FIG. 8 may
include an oscillation step (S61) of alternately performing the clockwise rotation
and the counterclockwise rotation of the drum body 31, and an oscillation heating
step (S62) of heating the drum body 31 via the heater 8 while the oscillation step
(S61) is in progress.
[0082] When the drum body 31 rotates clockwise and counterclockwise alternately via the
oscillation step (S61), foam located on a right side and foam located on a left side
of the drum body 31 are simultaneously removed, thereby minimizing a possibility of
the foam remaining inside the tub body 21.
[0083] A number of rotations of the drum body 31 set in the oscillation step (S61) is preferably
set to a number of rotations that creates the centrifugal force smaller than 1G in
the laundry, but is preferably set to a number of rotations smaller than the first
number of rotations.
[0084] The second removal step (S60) may execute a washing water supplying step and a washing
water draining step (S64) while the oscillation step (S61) and the oscillation heating
step (S62) are in progress.
[0085] The washing water supplying step is a step of supplying water to the tub body 21
via the water supply 5, and the washing water draining step is a step of draining
water inside the tub body 21 via the drainage 6. The washing water supplying step
and the washing water draining step may be performed sequentially or simultaneously.
FIG. 8 shows the latter as an example.
[0086] When there are the washing water supplying step and the washing water draining step
(S64), the foam inside the tub body 21 may be discharged more effectively. Therefore,
the second removal step (S60) may remove the foam more quickly than the first removal
step (S40) when a large amount of foam is generated in the tub body 21. The oscillation
step (S61), the oscillation heating step (S62), and the washing water supplying and
draining step (S64) proceed for the preset removal time and then are ended (S63).
[0087] FIG. 9 shows an example in which the above-described removal steps (S40 and S60)
are applied to the processes of separating the foreign substances from the laundry
(the washing cycle, the rinsing process, and the like).
[0088] A control method in FIG. 9 includes a tub water supplying step (S10) of supplying
water to the tub body 21. The tub water supplying step (S10) is a step in which the
controller 91 controls a water supply valve 53 to supply a preset amount of water
to the tub body 21.
[0089] An amount of water supplied to the tub body 21 via the tub water supplying step (S10)
may be set to increase in proportion to an amount of laundry input to the drum body
31. That is, the control method may include a laundry amount determination step of
determining the amount of laundry stored in the drum body 31 before the tub water
supplying step (S10), and the tub water supplying step (S10) may include supplying
water in an amount set based on the amount of laundry to the tub body 21.
[0090] While the tub water supplying step (S10) is in progress, the control method proceeds
with a water level sensing step (S11) of sensing a water level inside the tub body
21, and the tub water supplying step (S10) is ended when the preset amount of water
is supplied to the tub body. The water level sensing step (S 11) is performed via
water level sensors 921 and 923.
[0091] While the tub water supplying step (S10) is in progress or after completion of the
tub water supplying step (S10), the control method executes the separation step (S30,
the foreign substance separation step) of separating the foreign substances from the
laundry by rotating the drum body 31 with the first number of rotations.
[0092] While the foreign substance separation step (S30) is in progress, the control method
executes the sensing step (S20) of sensing the amount of foam inside the tub body
21. The sensing step (S20) may be performed via the water level sensors 921 and 922,
a number of rotations sensor, or a current amount sensor. The sensing step (S20) may
be periodically executed (S21) while the foreign substance separation step (S30) is
in progress.
[0093] The foreign substance separation step (S30) is performed for a set separation step
setting time. When the separation step setting time has elapsed (S31), the control
method proceeds with a tub draining step (S80). The tub draining step (S80) is a step
of allowing water stored in the tub body 21 to flow to the outside of the cabinet
1 via the drainage 6.
[0094] In one example, when an execution time of the foreign substance separation step (S30)
has not reached the separation step setting time, the control method executes a step
(S32) of comparing the amount of foam measured via the sensing step (S20) with the
preset reference amount.
[0095] When the sensing step (S20) is performed via the water level sensors 921 and 922,
whether the foam has been generated in the tub body 21 and the amount of foam may
be determined via comparison of the water level measured in the water level sensing
step (S11) and a water level measured in the foam sensing step (S20).
[0096] The water level measured in the foam sensing step (S20) being higher than the water
level measured in the water level sensing step (S11) while the foreign substance separation
step (S30) is in progress means that a pressure inside the tub body 21 has increased
because of the foam. Accordingly, the controller 91 may determine that the foam has
generated in the tub body 21 when the water level measured in the foam sensing step
(S20) is higher than the water level measured in the water level sensing step (S11)
while the foreign substance separation step (S30) is in progress.
[0097] In addition, the controller 91 may determine that a greater amount of foam has been
generated in the tub body 21 as a difference between the water level measured in the
foam sensing step (S20) and the water level measured in the water level sensing step
(S11) increases.
[0098] When it is determined that the foam has been generated in the tub body 21 in an amount
smaller than the reference amount, the control method continues to execute the foreign
substance separation step (S30) and the foam sensing step (S20). However, when it
is determined (S32) that the foam has been generated in the tub body 21 in an amount
exceeding the reference amount, the control method executes the first removal step
(S40).
[0099] The first removal step (S40) may include the rotation step (S41) of rotating the
drum body 31 via the driver 4 and the rotation heating step (S42) of heating the drum
body 31 via the heater 8.
[0100] The rotation step (S41) is a step of rotating the drum body 31 in one of the clockwise
direction and the counterclockwise direction with a second number of rotations smaller
than the first number of rotations. For the same reason as described above, the rotation
direction of the drum body 31 set in the rotation step (S41) may be set to be the
same as the rotation direction of the drum body 31 set in the foreign substance separation
step (S30).
[0101] The rotation step (S41) and the rotation heating step (S42) are ended when a time
set in the first removal step (S40) (a first removal time) has elapsed (S43).
[0102] When the rotation step (S41) and the rotation heating step (S42) are ended, the control
method executes a step (S45) of determining whether the amount of foam inside the
tub body 21 sensed after completion of the first removal step (S40) is equal to or
greater than the reference amount.
[0103] When the amount of foam inside the tub body 21 sensed after the completion of the
first removal step (S40) is smaller than the reference amount, the control method
continues to execute the foreign substance separation step (S30) and the foam sensing
step (S20). However, the amount of foam inside the tub body 21 sensed after the completion
of the first removal step (S40) is equal to or greater than the reference amount,
the control method may execute the tub draining step (S50) of draining water inside
the tub body 21 and the second removal step (S60).
[0104] The tub draining step (S50) is a step of allowing water inside the tub body 21 to
flow to the outside of the cabinet 1 via the drainage 6.
[0105] The second removal step (S60) may include the oscillation step (S61) and the oscillation
heating step (S62).
[0106] The oscillation step (S61) may be the step of alternately performing the clockwise
rotation and the counterclockwise rotation of the drum body 31, and the oscillation
heating step (S62) may be the step of heating the drum body 31 via the heater 8 while
the oscillation step is in progress. A number of rotations of the drum body 31 set
in the oscillation step (S61) may be set to the second number of rotations.
[0107] The oscillation step (S46) and the oscillation heating step (S62) are ended when
a time set in the second removal step (S60) (a second removal time) has elapsed (S63).
[0108] The washing water supplying step and the washing water draining step (S64) may be
executed while the oscillation step (S61) and the oscillation heating step (S62) are
in progress. The washing water supplying step and the washing water draining step
may be performed sequentially or simultaneously.
[0109] The washing water supplying step may be started before the execution of the oscillation
step (S61) and the oscillation heating step (S62), and the washing water draining
step may be started after the completion of the oscillation step (S61) and the oscillation
heating step (S62). When the washing water supplying step is started before the execution
of the oscillation step (S61) or the like, contact between the drum body 31 and the
foam may be induced, and when the washing water draining step is started after the
completion of the oscillation step (S61) and the oscillation heating step (S62), the
foam remaining in the tub body 21 may be removed.
[0110] When the second removal step (S60) is completed, the control method proceeds with
a step (S70) of re-supplying water to the tub body 21 via the water supply 5, which
is ended when the separation step setting time set in the foreign substance separation
step has elapsed.
[0111] FIG. 10 shows an example of a control method that facilitates removal of foam generated
in a process of separating detergent or foreign substances from water (a rinsing cycle).
[0112] Because an amount of foam generated in the rinsing cycle is generally smaller than
an amount of foam generated in the washing cycle, a control method in FIG. 10 may
effectively remove the foam inside the tub body 21 using only the second removal step
without the first removal step.
[0113] The control method in FIG. 10 includes the tub water supplying step (S10) of supplying
water to the tub body 21, and the foreign substance separation step (S30) of separating
the foreign substances from the laundry by rotating the drum body 31.
[0114] The amount of water supplied to the tub body 21 via the tub water supplying step
(S10) is controlled via the water level sensing step (S 11), and the amount of foam
inside the tub body while the foreign substance separation step (S30) is in progress
is determined via the foam sensing step (S20).
[0115] When it is determined (S32) that the amount of foam inside the tub body 21 is equal
to or greater than the reference amount while the foreign substance separation step
(S30) is in progress, the control method executes the second removal step (S60).
[0116] The second removal step (S60) may be composed of the oscillation step (S61) and the
oscillation heating step (S62), and the oscillation step (S61) and the oscillation
heating step (S62) may be ended when the second removal time set in the second removal
step (S60) has elapsed.
[0117] FIG. 11 shows an example of a control method that facilitates removal of foam generated
in a process of separating water from laundry (a dehydration cycle or the like).
[0118] A control method in FIG. 11 may be performed after the completion of the tub draining
step (S12) of discharging water stored in the tub body 21 to the outside. When the
control method in FIG. 11 follows the process of separating the foreign substances
from the laundry (the control method in FIG. 9 or 10), the tub draining step (S 12)
will be the same step as the tub draining step (S80) in FIG. 9 or 10.
[0119] After the completion of the tub draining step (S12), the control method proceeds
with the water separation step (the dehydration step, S30) of separating water from
the laundry by rotating the drum body 31 with the number of rotations for dehydration
(a first number of rotations for dehydration). The number of rotations of the drum
body 31 set in the dehydration step (S30) is preferably set to a number of rotations
that creates the centrifugal force equal to or greater than 1G in the laundry.
[0120] The control method periodically executes the sensing step (S20) of sensing the amount
of foam inside the tub body 21 while the dehydration step (S30) is in progress (S21).
[0121] When it is determined that the foam has been generated in the tub body 21 in an amount
smaller than the reference amount while the dehydration step (S30) is in progress,
the control method continues to execute the dehydration step (S30) and the foam sensing
step (S20). However, when it is determined (S32) that the foam has been generated
in the tub body 21 in an amount equal to or greater than the reference amount, the
control method executes the first removal step (S40).
[0122] The first removal step (S40) may include the rotation step (S41) of rotating the
drum body 31 via the driver 4 and the rotation heating step (S42) of heating the drum
body 31 via the heater 8.
[0123] The rotation step (S41) may be a step of rotating the drum body 31 with a number
of rotations (a second number of rotations for dehydration) that is smaller than the
first number of rotations for dehydration but creates the centrifugal force equal
to or greater than 1G in the laundry. In addition, the rotation direction of the drum
body 31 set in the rotation step (S41) is preferably set to be the same as the rotation
direction of the drum body set in the dehydration step (S30).
[0124] While the rotation step (S41) and the rotation heating step (S42) are in progress,
the first removal step (S60) may execute a first washing water supplying step and
a first washing water draining step (S44). The first washing water supplying step
and the first washing water draining step may be performed sequentially or simultaneously.
[0125] The first washing water supplying step may be started before the execution of the
rotation step (S41) and the rotation heating step (S42), and the first washing water
draining step may be started after the completion of the rotation step (S41) and the
rotation heating step (S42).
[0126] The rotation step (S41), the rotation heating step (S42), and the first water supplying
and draining step (S44) are ended when the time set in the first removal step (S40)
(the first removal time) has elapsed (S43).
[0127] When the first removal step (S40) is ended, the control method executes a step (S45)
of determining whether the amount of foam inside the tub body 21 sensed after the
completion of the first removal step (S40) is equal to or greater than the reference
amount.
[0128] When the amount of foam inside the tub body 21 sensed after the completion of the
first removal step (S40) is smaller than the reference amount, the control method
continues to execute the dehydration step (S30) and the foam sensing step (S20).
[0129] However, when at least one of a condition (S45) in which the amount of foam inside
the tub body 21 sensed after the completion of the first removal step (S40) is equal
to or greater than the reference amount and a condition (S46) in which a temperature
inside the tub body 21 measured while the rotation heating step (S42) is in progress
is equal to or higher than a preset reference temperature is met, the control method
may execute the second removal step (S60). FIG. 11 shows a case in which the second
removal step (S60) is started when both of the above-mentioned conditions are met
as an example.
[0130] The second removal step (S60) may be include the oscillation step (S61) and the oscillation
heating step (S62).
[0131] The oscillation step (S61) may be the step of alternately performing the clockwise
rotation and the counterclockwise rotation of the drum body 31, and the oscillation
heating step (S62) may be the step of heating the drum body 31 via the heater 8 while
the oscillation step is in progress.
[0132] The number of rotations of the drum body 31 set in the oscillation step (S61) may
be set to the number of rotations that creates the centrifugal force equal to or smaller
than 1G in the laundry (the second number of rotations or the like). The oscillation
step (S61) and the oscillation heating step (S62) are ended when the time set in the
second removal step (S60) (the second removal time) has elapsed (S63).
[0133] The second washing water supplying and draining step (S64) may be executed while
the oscillation step (S61) and the oscillation heating step (S62) are in progress.
[0134] The second water supplying and draining step may be composed of a second washing
water supplying step and a second washing water draining step. The second washing
water supplying step and the second washing water draining step may be performed sequentially
or simultaneously.
[0135] The second washing water supplying step may be started before the execution of the
oscillation step (S61) and the oscillation heating step (S62), and the second washing
water draining step may be started after the completion of the oscillation step (S61)
and the oscillation heating step (S62).
[0136] The laundry treating apparatus described above may be modified and implemented in
various forms, so that the scope of rights of the present disclosure is not limited
to the above-described embodiments.
1. A method for controlling a laundry treating apparatus including a tub where water
is stored, a drum disposed inside the tub to store laundry therein, a heater configured
to heat the drum by generating an eddy current in the drum, and a sensor configured
to sense foam inside the tub, the method comprising:
a sensing step of sensing, by the sensor, an amount of foam inside the tub; and
a removal step of removing the foam inside the tub by heating the drum via the heater
while the drum rotates when the amount of foam inside the tub is equal to or greater
than a reference amount.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the removal step includes:
a rotation step of rotating the drum in only one of a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise
direction; and
a rotation heating step of heating the drum via the heater while the rotation step
is in progress.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the rotation step includes rotating the drum with a
number of rotations creating a centrifugal force smaller than 1G.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the removal step includes:
an oscillation step of alternately rotating the drum in a clockwise direction and
a counterclockwise direction; and
an oscillation heating step of heating the drum via the heater while the oscillation
step is in progress.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the oscillation step includes rotating the drum with
a number of rotations creating a centrifugal force smaller than 1G.
6. The method of one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising:
a washing water supplying step of supplying water to the tub while the removal step
is in progress; and
a washing water draining step of draining water inside the tub while the removal step
is in progress.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the washing water supplying step and the washing water
draining step are performed sequentially or simultaneously.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
a tub water supplying step of supplying a preset amount of water to the tub, wherein
the tub water supplying step is started before the removal step; and
a foreign substance separation step of removing foreign substances from the laundry
by rotating the drum with a preset first number of rotations,
wherein the sensing step is periodically executed while the foreign substance separation
step is in progress.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the removal step includes:
a rotation step of rotating the drum in one of a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise
direction with a second number of rotations smaller than the first number of rotations;
and
a rotation heating step of heating the drum via the heater while the rotation step
is in progress.
10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:
a tub draining step of discharging water inside the tub to the outside of the tub
when the amount of foam inside the tub sensed after completion of the removal step
is equal to or greater than the reference amount;
an oscillation step of alternately rotating the drum in a clockwise direction and
a counterclockwise direction with a second number of rotations; and
an oscillation heating step of heating the drum via the heater while the oscillation
step is in progress.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein a washing water supplying step of supplying water
to the tub; and a washing water draining step of draining water inside the tub are
executed after completion of the tub draining step.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the washing water supplying step is started before
the oscillation step and the oscillation heating step are executed,
wherein the washing water draining step is started after the oscillation step and
the oscillation heating step are completed.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising a dehydration step of separating water from
the laundry by rotating the drum with a number of rotations for dehydration creating
a centrifugal force equal to or greater than 1G, wherein the dehydration step is started
before the removal step,
wherein the sensing step is periodically executed while the dehydration step is in
progress.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the removal step includes:
a rotation step of rotating the drum in one of a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise
direction with a number of rotations creating the centrifugal force equal to or greater
than 1G, but smaller than the number of rotations for dehydration; and
a rotation heating step of heating the drum via the heater while the rotation step
is in progress.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein a rotation direction of the drum set in the rotation
step is the same as a rotation direction of the drum set in the dehydration step.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
an oscillation step of alternately rotating the drum in the clockwise direction and
the counterclockwise direction with a number of rotations creating a centrifugal force
smaller than 1G when the amount of foam inside the tub sensed after completion of
the removal step is equal to or greater than the reference amount or when a temperature
inside the tub measured while the rotation heating step is in progress is equal to
or higher than a preset reference temperature; and
an oscillation heating step of heating the drum via the heater while the oscillation
step is in progress.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein a washing water supplying step of supplying water
to the tub; and a washing water draining step of draining water inside the tub are
executed while the oscillation step and the oscillation heating step are in progress.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the washing water supplying step is started before
the oscillation step and the oscillation heating step are executed,
wherein the washing water draining step is started after the oscillation step and
the oscillation heating step are completed.