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(11) | EP 4 484 632 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC |
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| (54) | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING LAUNDRY TREATMENT APPARATUS, AND LAUNDRY TREATMENT APPARATUS |
| (57) Provided are a method of controlling a laundry treatment apparatus and the laundry
treatment apparatus, the method including performing a water supply section of providing
washing water of a predetermined first water amount and performing for a predetermined
first period of time a washing section of washing laundry put in a drum of the laundry
treatment apparatus in a state where the washing water of the first water amount is
provided according to an example embodiment, and the washing section may include a
first washing motion section for giving washing power in a vertical direction to the
laundry and a second washing motion section for giving washing power in a horizontal
direction to the laundry. |
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling a laundry treatment apparatus and the laundry treatment apparatus, and more specifically, relates to a method of wet cleaning laundry accommodated by a drum of a laundry treatment apparatus and the laundry treatment apparatus.
Background Art
[0002] In general, laundry treatment performable by laundry treatment apparatuses may include a washing cycle of removing foreign materials by exerting physical force on laundry, a rinsing cycle of separating foreign materials from clothes, and a dehydrating cycle of removing water from clothes.
[0003] A laundry treatment apparatus senses an amount of laundry in the laundry treatment apparatus when performing laundry treatment, and based on the amount, determines a load added to the laundry, including a rotational speed and a degree of changing the rotation direction of a drum, an amount of water supplied, and an amount of hot air supplied.
[0004] Specifically, when an excessive load is added when the amount of laundry is small, a waste of energy may be caused, and when a small load is added when the amount of laundry is large, a desired washing purpose is not achieved, and adding an excessive load may lead to damage to components inside laundry treatment apparatuses, owing to which sensing information related to the laundry of a laundry treatment apparatus may be required.
[0005] A kind of laundry that is to be treated by a laundry treatment apparatus may include various laundry such as clothes, bedding, a carpet, and a rug. Among the laundry may be laundry (for example, wool, silk, and the like) for which delicate treatment is required, and for such laundry, different treatment may be required compared to the laundry such as general clothes.
[0006] Furthermore, with regard to such delicate laundry treatment technology, developing professional wet cleaning techniques for laundry treatment technology corresponding to contents included in the ISO 3175-4 standard has been required.
[0007] Previously, a technology of providing a washing course for treating delicate laundry has been used. However, existing washing courses for delicate laundry have problems that excessive water supplies are required or that the effects of washing decrease due to simply omitting part of a treatment process included in treatment courses for general laundry or adopting a treatment manner of lowering degrees of exerting physical force.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Technical Goals
[0008] The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treatment method for effective washing of laundry requiring delicate treatment and a laundry treatment apparatus thereof.
Technical solutions
[0009] According to an aspect, there is provided a method of controlling a laundry treatment apparatus, the method including performing a water supply section of providing washing water of a predetermined first water amount and performing for a predetermined first period of time a washing section of washing laundry put in a drum of the laundry treatment apparatus in a state where the washing water of the first water amount is provided, and the washing section may include a first washing motion section for giving washing power in a vertical direction to the laundry and a second washing motion section for giving washing power in a horizontal direction to the laundry.
[0010] According to another aspect, there is provided a laundry treatment apparatus including a drum, a driver configured to rotate the drum, a washing water supply part configured to provide washing water, and a controller configured to control at least one of the washing water supply part and the driver to perform a water supply section of providing washing water of a predetermined first water amount and perform for a predetermined first period of time a washing section of washing laundry put in the drum in a state where the washing water of the first water amount is provided, and the washing section may include a first washing motion section for giving washing power in a vertical direction to the laundry and a second washing motion section for giving washing power in a horizontal direction to the laundry.
[0011] According to another aspect, there is provided a method of controlling a laundry treatment apparatus, the method including performing a water supply section of generating a concentrated washing liquid by rotating a drum in which laundry is put at a first rotational speed to mix a detergent with water of a predetermined first water amount and performing a washing section by rotating the drum at a second rotational speed in order to mix the laundry with the concentrated washing liquid generated in the water supply section and introduced inside the drum, and the predetermined first water amount may be predetermined to be a water amount of a level at which water supplied to a tub of the laundry treatment apparatus is abutted by a bottom end boundary of the drum.
[0012] According to another aspect, there is provided a laundry treatment apparatus including a tub that includes a drum, a driver configured to rotate the drum, a detergent supply part configured to provide a detergent, a water supply part configured to provide water, and a controller configured to control at least one of the detergent supply part, the water supply part, and the driver to perform a water supply section of generating a concentrated washing liquid by rotating the drum in which laundry is put at a first rotational speed to mix a detergent with water of a predetermined first water amount and perform a washing section by rotating the drum at a second rotational speed in order to mix the laundry with the concentrated washing liquid generated in the water supply section and introduced inside the drum, and the predetermined first water amount may be predetermined to be a water amount of a level at which water supplied to the tub is abutted by a bottom end boundary of the drum.
Effects of the Invention
[0013] According to various example embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce damage to laundry and improve the effect of washing in a treatment process of the laundry for which delicate treatment is required.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0014]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an example embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an example embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining elements additionally addable to a laundry treatment apparatus according to an example embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for a laundry treatment method according to an example embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining operations of a laundry treatment apparatus in a water supply section and a washing section according to an example embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining operations of a laundry treatment apparatus in a first washing motion section and a second washing motion section included in a washing section according to an example embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining operations of a laundry treatment apparatus in a washing section according to an example embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an example embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for a laundry treatment method according to an example embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining operations of a laundry treatment apparatus in a water supply section and a washing section according to an example embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining operations of a laundry treatment apparatus in an additional water supply section and an additional washing section performed after a water supply section and a washing section according to an example embodiment.
FIG. 12 indicates information related to operations of a drum corresponding to each of a water supply section and a washing section according to an example embodiment.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0015] According to an aspect, there is provided a method of controlling a laundry treatment apparatus, the method including performing a water supply section of providing washing water of a predetermined first water amount and performing for a predetermined first period of time a washing section of washing laundry put in a drum of the laundry treatment apparatus in a state where the washing water of the first water amount is provided, and the washing section may include a first washing motion section for giving washing power in a vertical direction to the laundry and a second washing motion section for giving washing power in a horizontal direction to the laundry.
[0016] According to an example embodiment, the washing water of the first water amount may be a water amount within a predetermined range based on half of a height of the drum.
[0017] According to an example embodiment, the washing water of the first water amount may be a water amount in which a quarter or more of the height of the drum is fillable.
[0018] According to an example embodiment, the performing the washing section may include rotating the drum by a first rotation angle for overturning the laundry to give the washing power of the vertical direction to the laundry in the first washing motion section and rotating the drum by a second rotation angle for swinging the laundry at least in the horizontal direction in the second washing motion section.
[0019] According to an example embodiment, the rotating the drum by the second rotation angle may include reversing-phase braking after rotating the drum by the second rotation angle in a first direction, rotating the drum by the second rotation angle in a second direction that is an opposite direction to the first direction after reversing-phase braking, and repeating for a predetermined second period of time reversing-phase braking and rotating the drum by the second rotation angle in the first direction or the second direction.
[0020] According to an example embodiment, the first rotation angle may be greater than the second rotation angle.
[0021] According to an example embodiment, the first rotation angle may be greater than or equal to 180 degrees and the second rotation angle may be less than or equal to 90 degrees.
[0022] According to an example embodiment, the performing the washing section may further include performing at least one time a washing cycle including the first washing motion section and the second washing motion section.
[0023] According to an example embodiment, the method may further include a section of stopping rotation of the drum for a predetermined third period of time between washing cycles performed a plurality of times repeatedly, and the third period of time may be greater than or equal to the first period of time.
[0024] According to an example embodiment, a sum of the first period of time and the third period of time may be uniform, and a ratio of the first period of time and the third period of time may be a ratio preset for information on a washing course that is selected based on an external signal inputted by a user.
[0025] According to an example embodiment, the performing the washing section may include rotating the drum at a speed that is greater than or equal to 30 revolutions per minute (rpm) and less than or equal to 45 rpm.
[0026] According to an example embodiment, the performing the washing section may include rotating the drum at a rotational acceleration of less than or equal to 240 rpm per second (rpm/s).
[0027] According to another aspect, there is provided a laundry treatment apparatus including a drum, a driver configured to rotate the drum, a washing water supply part configured to provide washing water, and a controller configured to control at least one of the washing water supply part and the driver to perform a water supply section of providing washing water of a predetermined first water amount and perform for a predetermined first period of time a washing section of washing laundry put in the drum in a state where the washing water of the first water amount is provided, and the washing section may include a first washing motion section for giving washing power in a vertical direction to the laundry and a second washing motion section for giving washing power in a horizontal direction to the laundry.
[0028] According to an example embodiment, the washing water of the first water amount may be a water amount within a predetermined range based on half of a height of the drum.
[0029] According to an example embodiment, the controller may be configured to control the driver to rotate the drum by a first rotation angle for overturning the laundry to give the washing power of the vertical direction to the laundry in the first washing motion section and to rotate the drum by a second rotation angle for swinging the laundry at least in the horizontal direction in the second washing motion section.
[0030] According to an example embodiment, the controller may be configured to control the driver to reversing-phase brake after rotating the drum by the second rotation angle in a first direction, to rotate the drum by the second rotation angle in a second direction that is an opposite direction to the first direction after reversing-phase braking, and to repeat for a predetermined second period of time a process of reversing-phase braking and a process of rotating the drum by the second rotation angle in the first direction or the second direction.
[0031] According to an example embodiment, the controller may be configured to control the driver to perform at least one time a washing cycle including the first washing motion section and the second washing motion section.
[0032] According to an example embodiment, the controller may be configured to control the driver in order for a section of stopping rotation of the drum for a predetermined third period of time to be further included between washing cycles performed a plurality of times repeatedly, and the third period of time may be greater than or equal to the first period of time.
[0033] According to an example embodiment, a sum of the first period of time and the third period of time may be uniform, and a ratio of the first period of time and the third period of time may be a ratio preset for information on a washing course that is selected based on an external signal inputted by a user.
[0034] According to an example embodiment, the controller may be configured to control the driver to rotate the drum at a speed that is greater than or equal to 30 rpm and less than or equal to 45 rpm in the washing section.
[0035] According to another aspect, there is provided a method of controlling a laundry treatment apparatus, the method including performing a water supply section of generating a concentrated washing liquid by rotating a drum in which laundry is put at a first rotational speed to mix a detergent with water of a predetermined first water amount and performing a washing section by rotating the drum at a second rotational speed in order to mix the laundry with the concentrated washing liquid generated in the water supply section and introduced inside the drum, and the predetermined first water amount may be predetermined to be a water amount of a level at which water supplied to a tub of the laundry treatment apparatus is abutted by a bottom end boundary of the drum.
[0036] According to an example embodiment, the performing the water supply section may include, in order to generate the concentrated washing liquid in a state where the laundry is dry clothing, rotating the drum of which the bottom end boundary abuts the concentrated washing liquid where the detergent and the water of the predetermined first water amount are mixed.
[0037] According to an example embodiment, the concentrated washing liquid introduced inside the drum may include a bubble generated in the concentrated washing liquid that is abutted by the bottom end boundary of the drum due to rotation of the drum.
[0038] According to an example embodiment, the first rotational speed may be a speed faster than the second rotational speed.
[0039] According to an example embodiment, the first rotational speed may be a rotational speed at which the laundry and the drum are rotated together by centrifugal force due to rotation of the drum, and the second rotational speed may be a rotational speed for washing the laundry using a drop distance of the laundry.
[0040] According to an example embodiment, the first rotational speed may be predetermined as 70 rpm and the second rotational speed may be predetermined as 30 rpm.
[0041] According to an example embodiment, the drum may rotate in one direction alone in at least one of the water supply section and the washing section.
[0042] According to an example embodiment, the performing the water supply section may include, by mixing the detergent including a shrinkage prevention agent with a concentrated washing liquid of a predetermined first water amount, performing the water supply section of generating the concentrated washing liquid.
[0043] According to an example embodiment, after the washing section is ended, an additional water supply section and an additional washing section, different from operations in the water supply section and the washing section, may be performed.
[0044] According to another aspect, there is provided a laundry treatment apparatus including a tub that includes a drum, a driver configured to rotate the drum, a detergent supply part configured to provide a detergent, a water supply part configured to provide water, and a controller configured to control at least one of the detergent supply part, the water supply part, and the driver to perform a water supply section of generating a concentrated washing liquid by rotating the drum in which laundry is put at a first rotational speed to mix a detergent with water of a predetermined first water amount and perform a washing section by rotating the drum at a second rotational speed in order to mix the laundry with the concentrated washing liquid generated in the water supply section and introduced inside the drum, and the predetermined first water amount may be predetermined to be a water amount of a level at which water supplied to the tub is abutted by a bottom end boundary of the drum.
[0045] According to an example embodiment, the controller may be configured to control the driver, in order to generate the concentrated washing liquid in a state where the laundry is dry clothing, to rotate the drum of which the bottom end boundary abuts the concentrated washing liquid where the detergent and the water of the predetermined first water amount are mixed.
[0046] According to an example embodiment, the concentrated washing liquid introduced inside the drum may include a bubble generated in the concentrated washing liquid that is abutted by the bottom end boundary of the drum due to rotation of the drum.
[0047] According to an example embodiment, the first rotational speed may be a speed faster than the second rotational speed.
[0048] According to an example embodiment, the first rotational speed may be a rotational speed at which the laundry and the drum are rotated together by centrifugal force due to rotation of the drum, and the second rotational speed may be a rotational speed for washing the laundry using a drop distance of the laundry.
[0049] According to an example embodiment, the first rotational speed may be predetermined as 70 rpm and the second rotational speed may be predetermined as 30 rpm.
[0050] According to an example embodiment, the controller may be configured to control the driver so that the drum rotates in one direction alone in at least one of the water supply section and the washing section.
[0051] According to an example embodiment, the controller may be configured to control the detergent supply part, the water supply part, and the driver, by mixing the detergent including a shrinkage prevention agent with the water of the predetermined first water amount, to generate the concentrated washing liquid.
[0052] According to an example embodiment, the controller may be configured to control the detergent supply part, the water supply part, and the driver, after the washing section is ended, to perform an additional water supply section and an additional washing section, different from operations in the water supply section and the washing section.
Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0053] Hereinafter, example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those of ordinary skill in the art to which the example embodiments pertain may easily implement them. The example embodiments disclosed below may be implemented in multiple different forms and are not limited to the example embodiments described herein.
[0054] For clear descriptions, contents not related to the descriptions are omitted, and the same or similar elements are assigned the same reference numerals throughout the specification. In addition, some example embodiments are described in detail with reference to illustrative drawings. In assigning reference numerals to elements of each figure, the same elements may have the same numerals as possible, although indicated on different figures. Further, in describing the present disclosure, when it is determined that a specific description of related known configurations or functions may obscure the gist of example embodiments, the detailed description thereof may be omitted.
[0055] In describing elements of example embodiments, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), and the like may be used. Such a term is used for distinguishing the element from other elements, and the essence, turn, order, or number of the corresponding element is not limited by the term. When it is described that any elements are "coupled," "combined," or "connected," it should be understood that any elements may be directly coupled or connected, or another element may be "interposed" between each element, or each element may be "coupled," "combined," or "connected" through another element.
[0056] In the present disclosure, it should be understood that terms such as "comprise or include," "consist of," and "have" specify the presence of a characteristic, a number, a step, an operation, an element, a component, or a combination thereof which are described in the specification and do not previously exclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.
[0057] In addition, in implementing the present disclosure, elements may be described as subdivided for convenience of description, but these elements may be implemented within one apparatus or module, or one element divided into multiple apparatuses or modules may be implemented.
[0058] Advantages and features of the present disclosure and a method of achieving the advantages and the features will become apparent with reference to the example embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the example embodiments disclosed below and may be implemented in various different forms. The example embodiments are provided only so as to render the present disclosure complete and completely inform the scope of the present disclosure to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. The present disclosure is only defined by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.
[0059] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a laundry treatment apparatus according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0060] At least one of the elements illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 according to an example embodiment may be used for various example embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0061] A laundry treatment apparatus 100 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may include a tub 110 that forms appearance, a door 111 for opening and closing one side of the tub 110 in order for laundry to enter and exit inside the tub 110, a tub 120 disposed inside the tub 110 and supported by the tub 110, a drum 130 disposed inside the tub 120 for rotating as laundry is inserted therein, a driver 140 that rotates the drum 130 by delivering torque thereto, a detergent box 112 in which a detergent is accommodated, an air supply device 170 provided at an upper portion of the tub 120, which heats and circulates air inside the tub 120, and a control panel 113 that receives a user input and displays a state of the laundry treatment apparatus 100.
[0062] Here, in the tub 110, a laundry introduction hole is formed in order for laundry to enter and exit. The door 111 is rotatably coupled to the tub 110 in order for the laundry introduction hole to open and close. In the tub 110, the control panel 113 is provided. In the tub 110, the detergent box 112 may be provided as drawable.
[0063] Meanwhile, the tub 120 is disposed inside the tub 110 as bufferable by a spring 122 and a damper 123. The tub 120 accommodates washing water. The drum 130 may be disposed inside the tub 120.
[0064] According to an example embodiment, the tub 120 may accommodate washing water in which a detergent and water are mixed. In addition, the drum 130 rotates as laundry is accommodated. In the drum 130, a plurality of through-holes are formed in order for the washing water to pass. In an inner wall of the drum 130, a lifter 131 for lifting laundry at a predetermined height when the drum rotates may be positioned. The drum may be rotated as torque is delivered by the driver 140.
[0065] Here, a gasket 121 seals a gap between the tub 120 and the tub 110. The gasket 121 is disposed between an entrance of the tub 120 and the laundry introduction hole. The gasket 121 relieves an impact delivered to the door 111 when the drum 130 rotates and prevents the washing water within the tub 120 from leaking outside at the same time. At an upper portion of the gasket 121, a circulation nozzle 165 for introducing washing water into the drum 130 may be provided.
[0066] Meanwhile, the air supply device 170 sucks air inside the tub 120 from behind the tub 120, heats and supplies to ahead the tub 120, and circulates. The air supply device 170 may include a circulation duct 171 including an inlet connected to the back of the tub 120 and a discharging part 172 connected to the front of the tub 120, a blower fan 174 that moves air within the circulation duct 171, and a heater 175 that heats air within the circulation duct 171.
[0067] Further, the driver 140 rotates the drum 130. The driver 140 may rotate the drum 130 at various speeds or in various directions. The driver 140 may be provided with a motor and a switching device, a clutch, or the like for controlling the motor.
[0068] In addition, the detergent box 112 accommodates a detergent such as a laundry detergent, a fabric softener, or a bleaching agent. It is preferable that the detergent box 112 is provided as drawable at the front of the tub 110. The detergent within the detergent box 112 is mixed with washing water when the washing water is supplied and introduced into the tub 120.
[0069] Meanwhile, it is preferable that, inside the tub 110, a water supply part 150 provided with a water supply valve 152 for adjusting inflow of washing water from an external water source, a water supply flow path 151 through which the washing water introduced into the water supply valve flows into the detergent box 112, and a water supply pipe 153 through which the washing water mixed with the detergent in the detergent box 112 is introduced into the tub 120 is provided.
[0070] Further, it is preferable that, inside the tub 110, a drainage part 160 including a drainage pipe 161 through which washing water within the tub 120 is discharged, a pump 162 that discharges the washing water within the tub, a circulation flow path 164 that circulates washing water, the circulation nozzle 165 for introducing washing water into the drum 130, a drainage flow path 163 through which washing water is drained outside is provided. According to example embodiments, the pump 162 may be provided in a circulation pump and a drainage pump, and each may be connected to the circulation flow path 164 and the drainage flow path 163.
[0071] Further, in the control panel 113, an input part 113a in which washing course selection or various operating instructions, including operating time and reservation for each cycle, are inputted through a user, a display part 113b for displaying an operation state of the laundry treatment apparatus 100, and a controller 113c for controlling various elements included in the laundry treatment apparatus 100 to perform operations based on various operating instructions that are inputted may be provided. The input part 113a may include a user interface device such as a touch panel, a key, and a button. The controller 113c may consist of at least one of various elements including a processor, random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller unit (MCU), a graphic processing unit (GPU), and a bus. RAM, ROM, CPU, GPU, and the like may be connected to each other through the bus.
[0072] The circulation nozzle 165 is provided in the gasket 121 and circulates washing water inside the drum 130. The washing water accommodated in the drum 130 moves to the pump 162 along the drainage pipe 161 provided in the tub 120. The pump 162 leads the washing water to reach the circulation nozzle 165 through the circulation flow path 164. The washing water moves again inside the drum 130 by the circulation nozzle 165.
[0073] A spray nozzle 180 is provided adj acently to the circulation nozzle 165. The spray nozzle 180 is positioned at an upper portion of the gasket 121, the portion where the circulation nozzle 165 is positioned, and when the laundry treatment apparatus 100 operates, is operated together with the circulation nozzle 165, or the spray nozzle 180 is operated alone. Further, according to example embodiments, the spray nozzle 180 may be provided integrally with the circulation nozzle 165, and technical features of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.
[0074] Meanwhile, the laundry treatment apparatus according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure as described above includes various washing courses such as lingerie/wool course, boiling course, speed wash course, functional clothing course, and quiet course in addition to a standard course according to a kind or function of laundry.
[0075] Here, each washing course is divided basically into a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, and a dehydrating cycle, and within each cycle, water supply, washing, rinsing, drainage, dehydrating, drying, or the like is conducted.
[0076] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a laundry treatment apparatus 200 according to an example embodiment.
[0077] According to an example embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus 200 may include a drum 210, a driver 220, a washing water supply part 230, and a controller 240. According to an example embodiment, the drum 210, the driver 220, and the controller 240 of FIG. 2 may correspond to the drum 130, the driver 140, and the controller 113c of FIG. 1, respectively, and the washing water supply part 230 of FIG. 2 may include the detergent box 112 and the water supply valve 152 of FIG. 1. Therefore, at least one element illustrated in FIG. 1, though the element not illustrated in FIG. 2, may be additionally used according to example embodiments.
[0078] According to an example embodiment, washing water mixed with a detergent through the washing water supply part 230 may be supplied to the drum 210 in order to wash laundry put in the drum 210.
[0079] According to an example embodiment, the controller 240 may control at least one of the driver 220 and the washing water supply part 230 so that a washing cycle including a water supply section and a washing section may be performed in the laundry treatment apparatus 200.
[0080] FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining elements additionally addable to a laundry treatment apparatus 300 according to an example embodiment. The laundry treatment apparatus 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 corresponds to the laundry treatment apparatus 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 and may further include additional elements selectively.
[0081] In the laundry treatment apparatus 300 according to an example embodiment, a driver 320 is controlled by a control operation of a controller 350, and the driver 320 rotates a drum 310. Each of the drum 310, the driver 320, and the controller 350 of FIG. 3 may correspond to the drum 210, the driver 220, and the controller 240 of FIG. 1, respectively. The controller 350 may operate various elements of the laundry treatment apparatus 100 as an operating signal or a control instruction is inputted from an input part 360. The input part 360 may be provided with a washing course and option selection part for performing washing, rinsing, and dehydrating cycles. Accordingly, washing, rinsing, and dehydrating cycles may be performed. By selecting a washing cycle mode for processing delicate laundry based on the control instruction inputted from the input part 360 according to an example embodiment, the controller 350 may process laundry according to various example embodiments performed in the present disclosure.
[0082] In addition, the controller 350 may control to display, through a display part 370, a washing course, a washing time, a dehydrating time, a rinsing time, or a current operation state, and the like.
[0083] Meanwhile, the controller 350 controls the driver 320 not only to rotate the drum 310 but also to control the rotational speed of the drum 310. The controller 350 may control the driver 320 based on a current detection part 380 which detects an output current flowing through the driver 320 and a location sensing part 390 which senses the location of the driver 320.
[0084] A current detected from the driver 320 and a sensed location signal may be inputted to the controller 350.
[0085] Meanwhile, the laundry treatment apparatus 300 may omit the location sensing part 390 and sense the location of the driver 320 (also referred to as a sensorless driver) through the implementation of separate algorithms. The sensorless driver 320 may also identify locations of a rotor or a stator in the driver 320 as the controller 350 measures current or voltage outputted from the driver 320.
[0086] Operations that the laundry treatment apparatus 300 performs based on input and output signals related to the driver 320 in the example embodiments below may be understood to be performed based on the example embodiment but are not to be construed as limited thereto.
[0088] In operation S410, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 may perform a water supply section of providing washing water of a predetermined first water amount according to an example embodiment.
[0089] According to an example embodiment, the controller 240 may control the washing water supply part 230 to mix a detergent with water of the predetermined first water amount in the water supply section.
[0090] According to an example embodiment, the washing water of the first water amount provided in the water supply section may be predetermined as a water amount within a predetermined range based on half of the height of the drum 210. In other words, when washing water is introduced into a tub, the washing water may be introduced inside the drum 210 put in the tub, and the controller 240 may control the washing water supply part 230 for the washing water to fill the drum 210 up to a height within a predetermined range based on half of the height of the drum 210.
[0091] According to an example embodiment, washing laundry may be performed through a washing section in a state where the washing water of the first water amount is provided.
[0092] According to an example embodiment, the washing water of the first water amount within a predetermined range based on half of the height of the drum 210 may be understood as referring to washing water of an amount in which about half of the drum 210 may be filled with water.
[0093] According to an example embodiment, the washing water of the first water amount may be predetermined as a water amount in which at least a quarter or more of the height of the drum 210 is fillable. In other words, according to an example embodiment, the washing water of the first water amount is a water amount in which a quarter or more of the height of the drum 210 is fillable and may be supplied up to within a predetermined range (for example, a rate of 25 % or more and 50 % or less of the height of the drum 210 or a rate of 40 % or more and 55 % or less of the height of the drum 210) based on half of the height of the drum 210.
[0094] According to an example embodiment, whether the washing water of the predetermined first water amount is provided to the drum 210 may be determined through a measurement sensor which is combined with at least one of the washing water supply part 230 and the controller 240 and measures an amount of washing water supplied to a tub put in the drum 210 or determined in the controller 240 using information obtained through a sensor attached to the tub or the drum 210 for measuring by which height washing water supplied comes up. However, a technique for measuring an amount of washing water is not to be construed as limited to the example embodiment above and may also be implemented through existing various technologies.
[0095] According to an example embodiment, the controller 240 may control the driver 220 to generate a concentrated washing liquid for washing laundry before entering a washing section. According to an example embodiment, the controller 240 may control the washing water supply part 230 to provide a detergent and water to the tub and control the driver 220, when washing water is provided by a predetermined water amount (for example, a water amount at a level of abutting a bottom end boundary of the drum 210), to rotate the drum 210 at a predetermined rotational speed (for example, 70 rpm) and may generate the concentrated washing liquid. This leads to lowering a degree to which supplied water touches laundry such as hydrophilic fabrics in advance before the concentrated washing liquid is generated and maintaining laundry in a state of dry clothing, which accordingly may have effects of reducing damage to laundry caused when washing and improving a washing effect. According to an example embodiment, the controller 240 may also control the driver 220 and the washing water supply part 230 to perform a water supply section and a washing section which pretreat (for example, prewash) laundry using a concentrated washing liquid and then provide washing water of the predetermined first water amount.
[0096] In operation S420, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 may perform a washing section of mixing laundry with the concentrated washing liquid generated in operation S410 according to an example embodiment. According to an example embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 washes laundry put in the drum 210 in a state where washing water of the first water amount is provided in the washing section.
[0097] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining operations of the laundry treatment apparatus 200 in a water supply section and a washing section according to an example embodiment. It may be understood that a tub 510 and a drum 520 illustrated in FIG. 5 are elements corresponding to the tub 120 and the drum 130 illustrated in FIG. 1, respectively.
[0098] Referring to FIG. 5, according to an example embodiment, in a water supply section 570, the controller 240 of the laundry treatment apparatus 200 may control the washing water supply part 230 to supply washing water generated by mixing a detergent and water into the tub 510.
[0099] According to an example embodiment, the controller 240 may generate washing water 540 by controlling the driver 220 to rotate the drum 520. According to an example embodiment, washing water of a predetermined first water amount of the drum 520 may be supplied by a water amount within a predetermined range based on half of the height of the drum 520. Referring to FIG. 5, it is identified that the washing water of the first water amount is supplied within the tub 510 by half of the height of the drum 520.
[0100] According to an example embodiment, in a washing section 580, the laundry treatment apparatus 200 may have a laundry 500 washed by the washing water 540 within the drum 520 through an operation 550 of overturning the laundry 500 and an operation 560 of swinging right and left. In other words, according to an example embodiment, the controller 240, by rotating the drum 210 in the washing section 580, may control the driver 220 to perform a first washing motion section of performing the operation 550 of overturning the laundry to give the laundry 500 physical force in a vertical direction and a second washing motion section of performing the operation 560 of swinging the laundry 500 right and left to give the laundry 500 physical force in a horizontal direction.
[0101] According to an example embodiment, in the first washing motion section performed in the washing section 580, the controller 240 may control the driver 220 to perform the operation 550 of overturning the laundry 500 by rotating the drum 520 by a predetermined rotation angle. According to an example embodiment, the laundry 500 may be overturned due to the drum rotated by the first rotation angle, and due to the drop distance thereof, physical force of the vertical direction may be exerted on laundry 600.
[0102] Referring to FIG. 5, according to another example embodiment, in the second washing motion section performed in the washing section 580, the controller 240 may control the driver 220 to perform the operation 560 of swinging the laundry 600 in the horizontal direction by rotating the drum 520 by a predetermined second rotation angle. According to an example embodiment, the laundry 600 may move as reciprocating in the horizontal direction due to the drum rotated by the second rotation angle, and due to the movement thereof, physical force of the horizontal direction may be exerted on the laundry 500.
[0103] According to an example embodiment, in the washing section 580, a washing cycle may be performed through a combination of operations in which the drum 520 rotates by the first rotation angle and the second rotation angle so that the physical force of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is given.
[0104] According to an example embodiment, the controller 240 may control the driver 220 so that the drum 210 rotates at a speed of 30 rpm or more and 45 rpm or less in the first washing motion section and/or the second washing motion section. According to an example embodiment, the controller 240 may determine that the first washing motion section and/or the second washing motion section is performed from a time point at which the speed of the drum 210 reaches 30 rpm and may accelerate the drum by a target speed of 45 rpm. According to an example embodiment, the controller 240 may control the driver 220 so that the drum 210 is accelerated at a rotational acceleration of less than or equal to 240 rpm/s.
[0105] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining operations of a laundry treatment apparatus in a first washing motion section and a second washing motion section included in a washing section according to an example embodiment. Hereinafter, operations in which the drum 210 rotates in a first washing motion section 630 and a second washing motion section 640 are specifically described with reference to FIG. 6.
[0106] According to an example embodiment, the driver 220 may rotate 610 the drum by a first rotation angle in the first washing motion section 630. The first rotation angle may be predetermined as 180 degrees or more (for example, 270 degrees), which may be more than or equal to a minimum angle at which the laundry 600 may be overturned. According to an example embodiment, the controller 240 may be configured to overturn the laundry 600 in various directions by controlling the driver 220 to rotate the drum 210 by the first rotation angle in a first direction or a second direction in the first washing motion section 630.
[0107] According to an example embodiment, the driver 220 may rotate 620, 622, 624 the drum 210 by a second rotation angle in the second washing motion section 640. The second rotation angle may be predetermined as less than the first rotation angle. For example, the second rotation angle is an angle less than or equal to 90 degrees and may be predetermined as 60 degrees, which may be an angle for swinging the laundry 600 right and left without being overturned. According to an example embodiment, in the second washing motion section 640, the controller 240 may be configured to control the driver 220 to rotate the drum 210 by the second rotation angle in a first direction or a second direction and swing the laundry 600 right and left so that physical force of a horizontal direction is exerted on the laundry 600. For example, the controller 240 may control the driver 220 to reversing-phase brake after rotating 620 the drum 210 by the second rotation angle in the first direction. After reversing-phase braking, the controller 240 may control the driver 220 to rotate 622 the drum 210 by the second rotation angle in the second direction that is the opposite direction to the first direction and reversing-phase brake again. Then, the controller 240 may rotate the drum 210 as reciprocated, such as rotating 624 again in the first direction that is the opposite direction to the second direction. Thus, the laundry treatment apparatus 200 may perform a washing cycle in the second washing motion section 640 in a manner of exerting a movement on washing water in order for the laundry 600 to be given the physical force of the horizontal direction by the washing water.
[0108] According to an example embodiment, the washing section may be predetermined to be performed for a first period of time, and the laundry treatment apparatus 100 may repeat the washing section consisting of the first washing motion section and the second washing motion section within a range of the first period of time.
[0109] According to an example embodiment, the controller 240 may determine the washing section as repeating at least one time a washing cycle that has a starting time point as a time point when performing the first washing motion section is initiated and an ending time point as a time point when the second washing motion section is ended and control the driver 220 and the washing water supply part 230.
[0110] According to an example embodiment, the driver 220 may repeatedly rotate the drum 210 in each of the first washing motion section and the second washing motion section of the washing section. According to an example embodiment, as the second washing motion section in which the drum 210 is rotated at least one time by the second rotation angle in the first direction and/or the second direction is performed after the first washing motion section in which the drum 210 is rotated at least one time by the first rotation angle in the first direction and/or the second direction is performed, a washing cycle of one time is performed, and repeating the washing cycle at least one time may be predetermined as the washing section.
[0111] According to an example embodiment, a performing time for each of the first washing motion section or the second washing motion section may be a predetermined period of time. For example, the laundry treatment apparatus 200 may perform the second washing motion section for a predetermined second period of time (less than the first period of time).
[0112] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining operations of a laundry treatment apparatus in a washing section according to an example embodiment.
[0113] Referring to FIG. 7, the controller 240 may control the driver 220 to stop rotation of the drum 210 for a predetermined third period of time after a washing cycle including the first washing motion section and the second washing motion section is performed 710. Through a process of stopping the rotation for the third period of time as such, an operation corresponding to soaking after handwashing is implemented, which may improve the effect of washing and reduce damage to laundry.
[0114] According to an example embodiment, the predetermined third period of time for soaking laundry in washing water by stopping the drum 210 may be greater than or equal to the predetermined first period of time for the washing section.
[0115] According to an example embodiment, after a predetermined third period of time 720 elapses, the controller 240 may determine to perform 730 the washing section again. Thus, the controller 240 may determine that a washing cycle consisting of the washing section and stopping the drum 210 is repeated at least one time.
[0116] According to an example embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 may additionally perform a rinsing section and a dehydrating section after performing a washing cycle of laundry by performing a water supply section and a washing section. According to an example embodiment, the rinsing section may consist of operations of discharging washing water outside the tub 120 by the washing section, supplying water for a rinsing operation to the tub, and rotating the drum 130, which may be implemented through existing various rinsing operations.
[0117] According to an example embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 may perform the dehydrating section of dehydrating laundry by rotating the drum 130 at a speed less than or equal to a predetermined third rotational speed after the rinsing section.
[0118] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a laundry treatment apparatus 800 according to an example embodiment. The laundry treatment apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 may correspond to illustrating a perspective view of the laundry treatment apparatus 800 of FIG. 8.
[0119] According to an example embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may include a drum 810, a driver 820, a detergent supply part 830, a water supply part 840, and a controller 850. According to an example embodiment, the drum 810, the driver 820, the detergent supply part 830, the water supply part 840, and the controller 850 of FIG. 8 may correspond to the drum 130, the driver 140, the detergent box 102, the water supply valve 152, and the controller 103c of FIG. 1, respectively. Therefore, at least one element illustrated in FIG. 1, though the element not illustrated in FIG. 8, may be additionally used according to example embodiments.
[0120] According to an example embodiment, a cycle in which a detergent is supplied from the detergent supply part 830 may be understood as a cycle in which a detergent is supplied together with washing water as washing water is introduced into the detergent supply part 830 by the water supply part 840. According to another example embodiment, the detergent supply part 830 may be also included in the laundry treatment apparatus 800 as a separate element for supplying a detergent by a set amount.
[0121] According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may control at least one of the driver 820, the detergent supply part 830, and the water supply part 840 so that a washing cycle including at least a water supply section and a washing section is performed.
[0122] The laundry treatment apparatus 800 of FIG. 8 may correspond to the laundry treatment apparatus 300 of FIG. 3 and may be implemented by adding at least one of the elements included in the laundry treatment apparatus 300 of FIG. 3. In other words, the drum 810, the driver 820, and the controller 850 of FIG. 8 may correspond to the drum 310, the driver 320, and the controller 350 of FIG. 3, respectively, and the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may be implemented by selectively adding an element included in the laundry treatment apparatus 300 of FIG. 3, though the element not illustrated in FIG. 8.
[0124] In operation S910, according to an example embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may perform a water supply section of generating a concentrated washing liquid by rotating a drum in which laundry is put at a first rotational speed to mix a detergent with water of a predetermined first water amount. According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 of the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may control at least one of the detergent supply part 830 and the water supply part 840 to supply water and the detergent to a tub including the drum 810. According to an example embodiment, the predetermined first water amount that is supplied to the tub by the control of the controller 850 may be a water amount of a level at which water supplied to the tub is abutted by a bottom end boundary of the drum 810. In other words, the water of the predetermined first water amount supplied in the water supply section is supplied at the level of abutting the bottom end boundary of the drum 810, which may minimize mixing laundry with water in a state before a concentrated washing liquid is generated for laundry put in the drum 810 and accordingly may minimize flexion and extension of fabrics caused by mixing laundry with water rather than a washing liquid before a washing section.
[0125] According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 to rotate the drum 810 at the first rotational speed in order to mix a detergent with water supplied at the level of abutting the bottom end boundary of the drum 810. According to an example embodiment, the detergent and the water abutting the bottom end boundary of the drum 810 are mixed due to the drum 810 rotating, and a concentrated washing liquid may be generated. According to an example embodiment, as the drum 810 rotates, water abutting the bottom end of the drum 810 and the detergent are rubbed with the drum 810, and a concentrated washing liquid having the form of bubbles may be formed. A method of generating a concentrated washing liquid by the laundry treatment apparatus 800 according to an example embodiment will be described in detail in FIG. 10.
[0126] According to an example embodiment, by rotating the drum 810 at the first rotational speed while performing the water supply section, the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may decrease mixing water with laundry before a concentrated washing liquid is generated. In other words, in the process of generating the concentrated washing liquid in the water supply section, laundry is continuously rotated due to centrifugal force that is exerted while rotating together with the drum 810 inside the drum 810, and accordingly, a degree of touching a washing liquid that is present at a lower portion of the drum 810 and not completely mixed may be reduced. Through this, the degree to which supplied water touches laundry such as hydrophilic fabrics in advance before the concentrated washing liquid is generated is lowered and laundry is maintained in a state of dry clothing, which accordingly may have effects of reducing damage to laundry caused when washing and improving a washing effect.
[0127] According to an example embodiment, in the water supply section, by additionally providing a shrinkage prevention agent in addition to the detergent for washing to the tub through the detergent supply part 830 to mix with a concentrated washing liquid of a predetermined first water amount, the controller 850 may generate a concentrated washing liquid in which the shrinkage prevention agent is additionally mixed.
[0128] According to an example embodiment, the detergent supply part 830 and the water supply part 840 may be configured to provide a detergent and water to a space between the drum 810 and the tub 110 in the water supply section in order to decrease mixing water provided from the water supply part 840 with washing water before a concentrated washing liquid is generated.
[0129] In operation S920, according to an example embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may perform a washing section by rotating the drum 810 at a second rotational speed in order to mix laundry with the concentrated washing liquid generated in the water supply section performed in operation S910 and introduced inside the drum 810.
[0130] According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 to perform the washing section by rotating the drum 810 at the second rotational speed after the water supply section.
[0131] According to an example embodiment, the first rotational speed may be a speed faster than the second rotational speed. According to an example embodiment, the first rotational speed may be a rotational speed at which the laundry put in the drum 810 is not separated from the drum 810 by the centrifugal force exerted on the laundry due to rotation of the drum 810 and the laundry and the drum 810 are rotated together. According to an example embodiment, the second rotational speed may be a rotational speed for washing laundry using a drop distance of the laundry through a process in which the laundry may not completely rotate together with the drum 810 and falls again. For example, the first rotational speed may be preset as 70 rpm and the second rotational speed as 30 rpm, but it is not to be construed as limited thereto.
[0132] According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 to rotate drum 810 in order for the concentrated washing liquid to be mixed with washing water in the washing section. According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 so that the concentrated washing liquid is to be mixed right with the laundry as the driver 820 rotates the drum 810 at the second rotational speed slower than the first rotational speed. According to an example embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may further include additional elements (for example, the circulation nozzle 165) in order for the concentrated washing liquid to be mixed right with the laundry by directly supplying (for example, applying the concentrated washing liquid inside the drum 810) the concentrated washing liquid inside the drum 810.
[0133] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining operations of the laundry treatment apparatus 800 in a water supply section and a washing section according to an example embodiment. A tub 1010 and a drum 1020 illustrated in FIG. 10 may be elements corresponding to the tub 110 and the drum 130 illustrated in FIG. 1, respectively, and it may be understood that the drum 810 of the laundry treatment apparatus 800 of FIG. 8 is included in the tub 110 as in the laundry treatment apparatus 100 of FIG. 1.
[0134] Referring to FIG. 10, the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may perform a washing section after a water supply section according to an example embodiment. According to an example embodiment, in the water supply section, the controller 850 of the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may control the detergent supply part 830 and the water supply part 840 to supply water of a first water amount and a detergent into the tub 1010.
[0135] According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 to rotate the drum 1020 and generate a concentrated washing liquid 1040. According to an example embodiment, water of the first water amount and the detergent may be supplied to the tub 1010 by a level of abutting a bottom end boundary of the drum 1020, and accordingly, as the water of the first water amount and the detergent touch the drum 1020 rotating at the bottom end boundary of the drum 1020, physical force is provided to the water of the first water amount and the detergent and thus the water of the first water amount and the detergent are mixed and the concentrated washing liquid 1040 may be generated.
[0136] According to an example embodiment, in the process of generating the concentrated washing liquid 1040, a bubble 1042 may be generated within the tub 1010, and the bubble 1042 is attached to the drum 1020 rotating and laundry 1000 located inside the drum 1020 may touch the bubble 1042 in part. The laundry 1000 located inside the drum 1020 may rotate together with the drum 1020 in a state of touching an inner boundary of the drum 1020 by centrifugal force due to an operation in which the drum 1020 rotates at the first rotational speed, through which touching the laundry 1000 with water before the concentrated washing liquid 1040 is formed may decrease. At the same time, as the concentrated washing liquid 1040 is introduced inside the drum 1020 in the form of the bubble 1042 and the like, since the concentrated washing liquid 1040 may be mixed uniformly with the laundry 1000 before a washing section consisting of an additional water supply section and an additional washing section, a washing effect may be improved while reducing damage to the laundry 1000, accordingly.
[0137] According to an example embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 may have the concentrated washing liquid 1040 introduced into the drum 1020 evenly applied to the laundry 1000 through an operation 1060 of overturning the laundry 1000 in the washing section. Referring to FIG. 10, it may be understood that the bubble generated in the concentrated washing liquid 1040 is introduced inside the drum 1020 and mixed with the laundry 1000. According to an example embodiment, since the second rotational speed at which the drum 1020 rotates in the washing section is slower than the first rotational speed at which the drum 1020 rotates in the water supply section, the concentrated washing liquid 1040 may be relatively further introduced inside the drum 1020, and the concentrated washing liquid 1040 introduced as such may be evenly applied to the laundry 1000 as the laundry 1000 is overturned inside the drum 1020 rotating at the second rotational speed.
[0138] According to an example embodiment, a direction in which the drum 810 rotates in at least one of the water supply section and the washing section may be one direction. In other words, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 so that the drum 810 rotates in one direction alone, rather than moving as swinging in at least one of the water supply section and the washing section, which thus may prevent laundry from being damaged due to a situation such as laundry intertwined while the drum 810 rotates alternately in both directions in the water supply section and/or the washing section.
[0139] According to an example embodiment, in at least one of the water supply section and the washing section, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 so that the drum 810 is driven in a specific direction a plurality of times and then driven in an opposite direction.
[0140] According to an example embodiment, directions in which the drum 810 rotates in the water supply section and the washing section may be directions opposite to each other.
[0141] According to an example embodiment, in order for the concentrated washing liquid 1040 to be evenly applied to the laundry 1000 in the washing section, the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may also further include additional elements such as the circulation nozzle 165 so that the concentrated washing liquid 1040 is directly applied into the drum 1020.
[0142] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining operations of the laundry treatment apparatus 800 in an additional water supply section and an additional washing section performed after a water supply section and a washing section according to an example embodiment.
[0143] According to an example embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may perform a washing process of laundry by performing the additional water supply section and the additional washing section in addition to the water supply section and the washing section described above.
[0144] According to an example embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may perform the additional water supply section of providing water of a predetermined second water amount. The controller 850 may control the water supply part 840 to provide water of the predetermined second water amount to the drum 810 included in the tub 110.
[0145] According to an example embodiment, the second water amount may be an amount greater than the first water amount. According to an example embodiment, the second water amount may be predetermined as a water amount that reaches a height within a predetermined range based on the center of the drum 810. In other words, when the water of the second water amount is provided, the controller 850 may control the water supply part 840 to provide water at a level of reaching a height within the predetermined range based on the center of the drum 810. For example, the controller 850 may control the water supply part 840 so that water is provided within a range of 5 % above and below based on a predetermined water amount at a level of reaching the center of the drum 810. However, a specific water amount range is not to be construed as limited to the above example embodiments.
[0146] According to an example embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may perform the additional washing section of washing laundry in a state where the water of the second water amount is provided.
[0147] According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 to exert physical force of the vertical direction and/or the horizontal direction on the laundry by providing a motion of overturning the laundry and a motion of swinging the laundry right and left in the additional washing section.
[0148] According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 so that physical force of the vertical direction is given to the laundry by rotating the drum 810 by a first rotation angle in order to overturn the laundry. According to an example embodiment, the first rotation angle may be predetermined as an angle (for example, 270 degrees) greater than or equal to 180 degrees.
[0149] According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 so that physical force of the horizontal direction is given to the laundry by moving the laundry right and left as reciprocated through a movement of washing water provided within the drum 810 as the drum 810 is rotated by a second rotation angle. According to an example embodiment, the second rotation angle may be an angle (for example, 60 degrees) less than the first rotation angle, and the driver 820 may rotate the drum 810 as reciprocated clockwise or counterclockwise within a range of the second rotation angle.
[0150] According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 to repeat a combination of the motion of overturning the laundry and the motion of swinging the laundry right and left in the additional washing section so that the physical force of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction is given to the laundry.
[0151] According to an example embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may further perform a rinsing section and a dehydrating section after the additional washing section is performed. According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 to dehydrate the laundry by rotating the drum 810 at a predetermined third rotational speed or below after the additional washing section. According to an example embodiment, the third rotational speed may be a rotational speed that is relatively lower than a rotational speed used when dehydrating other laundry for which delicate washing processing is not required. For example, the third rotational speed may be predetermined as a rotational speed below or equal to 400 rpm but is not to be construed as limited thereto.
[0152] Referring to FIG. 11, the controller 850 may control the water supply part 840 to additionally provide water of the second water amount which is a water amount reaching a height within a predetermined range based on the center of a drum 1120. According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may also be further configured to control the detergent supply part 830 to additionally supply a detergent together in the process of supplying the water of the second water amount.
[0153] FIG. 11 illustrates a state where washing water that reaches actually the same height as a height of the rotation center of the drum 1120 is supplied to a tub 1110 as the water of the second water amount is supplied. According to an example embodiment, laundry 1100 may be in a state of floating or sinking in washing water 1140 inside the drum 1120.
[0154] According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 to rotate the drum 810 so that the laundry 1100 is given the physical force of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction.
[0155] Referring to FIG. 11, according to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 to perform an operation 1150 of overturning the laundry 1100 by rotating the drum 1120 by a predetermined first rotation angle in the additional washing section. Due to the drum rotated by the first rotation angle according to an example embodiment, the laundry 1100 may be overturned, and due to the drop distance thereof, the physical force of the vertical direction may be exerted on the laundry 1100.
[0156] Referring to FIG. 11, according to another example embodiment, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 to perform an operation 1160 of swinging the laundry 1100 in a horizontal direction by rotating the drum 1120 by a predetermined second rotation angle in the additional washing section. Due to the drum rotated by the second rotation angle according to an example embodiment, the laundry 1100 may move as reciprocating in the horizontal direction, and due to the movement thereof, the physical force of the horizontal direction may be exerted on the laundry 1100.
[0157] According to an example embodiment, a washing cycle may be performed through a combination of operations in which the drum 1120 rotates by the first rotation angle and the second rotation angle so that the physical force of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is given in the additional washing section.
[0158] According to another example embodiment, the additional water supply section and the additional washing section may correspond to sections in which the drum 810 rotates in a direction opposite to the rotating in the water supply section and the washing section performed before. In other words, the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may rotate the drum 810 in single directions that are identical or different in each of the water supply section and the washing section and may rotate the drum 810 in an opposite direction to the direction of rotating each in the water supply section and the washing section in the additional water supply section and the additional washing section.
[0159] According to an example embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may additionally perform the rinsing section and the dehydrating section after performing a washing cycle of laundry by performing the water supply section, the washing section, the additional water supply section, and the additional washing section. According to an example embodiment, the rinsing section may consist of operations of discharging washing water outside the tub 110 by the additional washing section, supplying water for a rinsing operation to the tub, and rotating the drum 130, which may be implemented through existing various rinsing operations.
[0160] According to an example embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may perform the dehydrating section of dehydrating laundry by rotating the drum 810 at a speed less than or equal to a predetermined third rotational speed after the rinsing section.
[0161] FIG. 12 indicates information related to operations of a drum corresponding to each of a water supply section and a washing section according to an example embodiment.
[0162] According to an example embodiment, (a) of FIG. 12 illustrates operations of the laundry treatment apparatus 800 in the water supply section and indicates numerical values related to specific operations of the drum 810.
[0163] According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 for the drum 810 to rotate at a rotational acceleration of 100 rpm/s in the water supply section. According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may accelerate a rotational speed of the drum 810 to a predetermined rotational acceleration until a target rotational speed (for example, 70 rpm) is reached.
[0164] According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 for the drum 810 to rotate for a predetermined period of time (for example, 250 seconds) in the water supply section. According to an example embodiment, a predetermined rotation time of the drum 810 may start to be calculated based on a time point in which the target rotational speed is reached, or alternatively, may also start to be calculated based on a time point in which the drum 810 starts to rotate.
[0165] According to an example embodiment, the controller 850 may control the driver 820 so that the drum 810 stops rotating for a predetermined period of time (for example, 30 seconds) after rotating for the predetermined period of time in the water supply section. According to an example embodiment, a predetermined stop rotating time of the drum 810 may start to be calculated based on a time point in which the rotation of the drum 810 completely stops, or alternatively, may also start to be calculated based on a time point in which the drum 810 starts to rotate.
[0166] According to an example embodiment, (b) of FIG. 12 illustrates operations of the laundry treatment apparatus 800 in the washing section and indicates specifically relating to the drum 810.
[0167] According to an example embodiment, the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may be set to perform a washing section in one of a plurality of washing intensities in the washing section based on washing course information inputted by a user. In other words, the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may perform the washing cycle, including the water supply section and the washing section, as a washing cycle for washing delicate laundry, and one of the plurality of washing intensities may be selected for performing the washing section included in the washing cycle.
[0168] According to an example embodiment, the selection of one of the plurality of washing intensities may be selected by a user and may also be automatically set based on information (for example, laundry's weight, volume, and the like) obtained from at least one sensor (not shown) included in the laundry treatment apparatus 800 and information (for example, a load exerted when driving the driver 820) obtained from the driver 820 about an amount of laundry.
[0169] According to an example embodiment, in the washing section, the controller 850 of the laundry treatment apparatus 800 may control the driver 820 to rotate the drum 810 according to an operation form, a rotation time, a stop time, and a rotational speed of the drum 810 that are predetermined.
[0170] According to an example embodiment, at least one of the operation form, the rotation time, the stop time, and the target rotational speed of the drum 810 may be preset to be different depending on the plurality of washing intensities to perform in the washing section. According to an example embodiment, definitions of the rotation time and the stop time of the drum 810 may be starting to be calculated based on various criteria as described above.
[0171] For example, referring to (b) of FIG. 12, a rotation time of the drum 810 in a washing section performed in a first washing intensity may be shorter than a rotation time of the drum 810 in a washing section performed in a second washing intensity, and in contrast, a stop time of the drum 810 in the washing section performed in the first washing intensity may be longer than a stop time of the drum 810 in the washing section performed in the second washing intensity.
[0172] According to an example embodiment, a combination of a rotational speed, a rotation angle, a rotation direction, and the like may be set differently depending on the plurality of washing intensities in the washing section. According to an example embodiment, the operation form of the drum 810 in the washing section is described above through FIGS. 10 and 11, and thus detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.
[0173] The present disclosure described above may be replaced, modified, and changed in various ways within the scope not out of the technical spirit of the present disclosure by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains and thus is not limited to the aforementioned example embodiments and attached drawings. In addition, the example embodiments described in the present disclosure may not be applied limitedly but be configured by selectively combining all or some of each example embodiment so that various modifications may be made.
[0174] The disclosed contents described above may be replaced, modified, and changed in various ways within the scope not out of the technical spirit of the present disclosure by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains and thus is not limited to the aforementioned example embodiments and attached drawings.
1. A method of controlling a laundry treatment apparatus, the method comprising:
performing a water supply section of providing washing water of a predetermined first water amount; and
performing for a predetermined first period of time a washing section of washing laundry put in a drum of the laundry treatment apparatus in a state where the washing water of the first water amount is provided,
wherein the washing section includes a first washing motion section for giving washing power in a vertical direction to the laundry and a second washing motion section for giving washing power in a horizontal direction to the laundry.
2. The method of claim 1,
wherein the washing water of the first water amount is a water amount within a predetermined range based on half of a height of the drum.
wherein the washing water of the first water amount is a water amount within a predetermined range based on half of a height of the drum.
3. The method of claim 2,
wherein the washing water of the first water amount is a water amount in which a quarter or more of the height of the drum is fillable.
wherein the washing water of the first water amount is a water amount in which a quarter or more of the height of the drum is fillable.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the washing section includes:
rotating the drum by a first rotation angle for overturning the laundry to give the washing power of the vertical direction to the laundry in the first washing motion section; and
rotating the drum by a second rotation angle for swinging the laundry at least in the horizontal direction in the second washing motion section.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the rotating the drum by the second rotation angle
includes:
reversing-phase braking after rotating the drum by the second rotation angle in a first direction;
rotating the drum by the second rotation angle in a second direction that is an opposite direction to the first direction after reversing-phase braking; and
repeating for a predetermined second period of time reversing-phase braking and rotating the drum by the second rotation angle in the first direction or the second direction.
6. The method of claim 4,
wherein the first rotation angle is greater than the second rotation angle.
wherein the first rotation angle is greater than the second rotation angle.
7. The method of claim 6,
wherein the first rotation angle is greater than or equal to 180 degrees and the second rotation angle is less than or equal to 90 degrees.
wherein the first rotation angle is greater than or equal to 180 degrees and the second rotation angle is less than or equal to 90 degrees.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the washing section
further includes performing at least one time a washing cycle including the first washing motion section and the second washing motion section.
further includes performing at least one time a washing cycle including the first washing motion section and the second washing motion section.
9. A laundry treatment apparatus comprising:
a drum;
a driver configured to rotate the drum;
a washing water supply part configured to provide washing water; and
a controller configured to control at least one of the washing water supply part and the driver to perform a water supply section of providing washing water of a predetermined first water amount and perform for a predetermined first period of time a washing section of washing laundry put in the drum in a state where the washing water of the first water amount is provided,
wherein the washing section includes a first washing motion section for giving washing power in a vertical direction to the laundry and a second washing motion section for giving washing power in a horizontal direction to the laundry.
10. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 9,
wherein the washing water of the first water amount is a water amount within a predetermined range based on half of a height of the drum.
wherein the washing water of the first water amount is a water amount within a predetermined range based on half of a height of the drum.
11. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller is
configured to control the driver to:
configured to control the driver to:
rotate the drum by a first rotation angle for overturning the laundry to give the washing power of the vertical direction to the laundry in the first washing motion section; and
rotate the drum by a second rotation angle for swinging the laundry at least in the horizontal direction in the second washing motion section.
12. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller is
configured to control the driver to:
configured to control the driver to:
reversing-phase brake after rotating the drum by the second rotation angle in a first direction;
rotate the drum by the second rotation angle in a second direction that is an opposite direction to the first direction after reversing-phase braking; and
repeat for a predetermined second period of time a process of reversing-phase braking and a process of rotating the drum by the second rotation angle in the first direction or the second direction.
13. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 11,
wherein the first rotation angle is greater than the second rotation angle.
wherein the first rotation angle is greater than the second rotation angle.
14. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 13,
wherein the first rotation angle is greater than or equal to 180 degrees and the second rotation angle is less than or equal to 90 degrees.
wherein the first rotation angle is greater than or equal to 180 degrees and the second rotation angle is less than or equal to 90 degrees.
15. The laundry treatment apparatus of claim 9,
wherein the controller is configured to control the driver to perform at least one time a washing cycle including the first washing motion section and the second washing motion section.
wherein the controller is configured to control the driver to perform at least one time a washing cycle including the first washing motion section and the second washing motion section.