RINSING METHOD OF WASHING MACHINE

Abstract

A rinsing method of a washing machine according to the present invention supplies fabric softener after getting fabric wet by spraying water through a spray nozzle. Therefore, not only fabric can become fully wet while reducing water used for rinsing but also fabric softener can be spread out evenly over the fabric.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a rinsing method of a washing machine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a rinsing method of a washing machine capable of supplying fabric softener while getting fabric fully wet by spraying water by a spray nozzle.

2. Description of the Conventional Art

In general, a washing machine is a device for washing or drying fabric. A washing machine washes fabric by receiving fabric in a washing tub and putting in detergent with water. After washing, detergent remaining in the fabric is removed by supplying water not containing detergent to the fabric. To this purpose, various methods for supplying water to a washing tub exist.

When water is supplied to a washing tub, fabric softener is input with water. Fabric softener is combined with water in a detergent box and thus supplied to a washing tub. Fabric softener contains such material that removes unpleasant smell of fabric or prevents fabric damage. Therefore, when fabric softener is supplied, it is important to supply of fabric softener in a uniform rate.

Also, it is required to reduce the amount of water consumed during fabric rinsing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a rinsing method of a washing machine capable of supplying fabric softener effectively while getting fabric fully wet using a small amount of water.

A rinsing method of a washing machine according to the present invention, comprises water spraying that water not containing detergent is sprayed to a washing tub through a spray nozzle; and fabric softener supplying that water containing fabric softener is supplied to the washing tub through a detergent box; wherein the water spraying and the fabric softener supplying are sequentially started and are repeated for a predetermined number of times.

In the present invention, if a predetermined time is passed since the water spraying has started, and the fabric softener supplying is started while the water spraying is performed.

In the present invention, water not containing detergent is supplied to the washing tub by the spray nozzle while the fabric softener is supplied.

In the present invention, the washing tub rotates while the water spraying and the fabric softener supplying are performed.

In the present invention, further comprises spin drying of fabric by rotating the washing tub.

In the present invention, the water spraying, the spin drying, and the fabric softener supplying are repeated sequentially for a predetermined number of times.

A rinsing method of a washing machine according to the another aspect of the present invention, comprises a first water spraying that water not containing detergent is sprayed to a washing tub through a spray nozzle; spin drying of fabric by rotating the washing tub after the first water spraying; a second water spraying that water not containing detergent is sprayed to the washing tub through the spray nozzle; and fabric softener supplying that water containing fabric softener is supplied to the washing tub through a detergent box after the second water spraying is started.

In the present invention, water not containing detergent is supplied to the washing tub through the spray nozzle while the fabric softener is supplied.

In the present invention, the washing tub rotates while the first water spraying, the second water spraying, and the fabric softener supplying are performed.

A rinsing method of a washing machine according to the present invention, since water is sprayed through a spray nozzle, provides an advantageous effect of getting fabric fully wet while reducing water used for rinsing.

Also, since fabric softener is supplied when fabric is wet by spraying water through a spray nozzle, fabric softener can be spread out evenly without being massed into lumps, thereby improving rinsing effect.

In addition, if fabric softener is supplied together with water sprayed through a spray nozzle, fabric softener is spread out being mixed with sprayed water, achieving the effect of spraying fabric softener.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a washing machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view of FIG. 1 as seen along II-II line;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a control flow of a washing machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a water flow of a washing machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a rinsing method of a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of a spin drying method of a washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of a rinsing method of a washing machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of a rinsing method of a washing machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram of a spin drying method of a washing machine according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a washing machine according to the present invention and FIG. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view of FIG. 1 as seen along II-II line.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a washing machine 100 comprises a cabinet (not shown), an outer tub 130 disposed inside the cabinet and storing water, and a washing tub 140 disposed inside the outer tub 130 and performing washing of fabric.

At one side of an outer tub 130, connected is a suspension 120 absorbing vibration of the outer tub 130 and the washing tub 140. In the lower part of the washing tub 140, disposed is a pulsator 141 which makes fabric and water inside a washing tub flow according to rotation.

In the lower part of the washing tub 140, disposed is a driving apparatus 150 which drives the pulsator 141 and the washing tub 140. At one side of the driving apparatus 150, disposed is a clutch (not shown) which drives the washing tub 140 and the pulsator 141 selectively.

Meanwhile, in one side of the cabinet, disposed is a washing water supply apparatus 160 which provides water from the outside to the washing tub 140 and the outer tub 130. In one side of the cabinet, disposed is a draining apparatus 154 which drains water of the washing tub 140 and the outer tub 130 to the outside.

The cabinet comprises a cabinet main body 111; a top cover 112 disposed and connected at the top of the cabinet main body 111; and a control panel 114 which have an input unit 114A receiving input signals form the user.

A lead assembly 113 is connected to the top cover 112 and the top cover 112 opens and closes a fabric entrance hole.

At one side of the top cover 112, connected is a detergent box 118 which stores detergent and fabric softener. Also, at the other side of the top cover 112, disposed is a spray nozzle which sprays water to the washing tub 140.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a control flow of a washing machine according to the present invention and FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a water flow of a washing machine according to the present invention.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the washing water supply apparatus 160 comprises a first fluid path 163 (see FIG. 4) guiding water not containing detergent to the spray nozzle 119 from the outside and a second fluid path 164 (see FIG. 4) guiding water to the detergent box 118 from the outside.

The first fluid path 163 and the second fluid path 164 are disposed separately. In other words, the first fluid path 163 and the second fluid path 164 supply water from the outside to the spray nozzle 119 and the detergent box 118, respectively.

In the first fluid path 163, disposed is a first valve 161 controlling water supply through the first fluid path 163. In the second fluid path 164, disposed is a second valve 162 controlling water supply through the second fluid path 164.

Also, a washing machine according to the present invention further comprises a controller 190 which controls opening and closing of the first valve 161 and the second valve 162.

The controller 190 is not only capable of opening the first valve 161 and the second valve 162 sequentially but also capable of controlling the opening at the same time.

The controller 190, at the time of opening the first valve 161, can control the washing tub to rotate.

Also, the controller 190 controls the driving apparatus 150 and the draining apparatus 154 according to signals input to the input unit 114A.

Operation of a washing machine as constituted above according to the present invention is described.

When the washing machine starts to operate, water supplied from the outside is combined with detergent and thus supplied to the washing tub 140.

At this time, the controller 190 opens the second valve 162 to supply water through the second fluid path 164. Water supplied from the outside to the second fluid path 164 flows to the detergent box 118 and is combined with detergent inside the detergent box 118.

If water flows into the detergent box 118 more than a predetermined water level, water combined with detergent can be supplied to the washing tub 140 due to siphon phenomenon.

When water supply is completed to a predetermined water level inside the washing tub 140, the controller 190 operates the driving apparatus 150 to rotate the washing tub 140 and performs a washing course of removing foreign substances of fabric.

When the washing course is completed, the controller 190 operates the driving apparatus 150 to rotate the washing tub 140 and performs a spin drying course by which fabric is spin dried.

When the first spin drying course is completed, the controller 190, while controlling opening and closing of the first valve 161 and the second valve 162, performs a rinsing course by which fabric is rinsed. The rinsing course is described in detail later.

After a spin drying course is performed after the rinsing course, the operation of the washing machine is terminated.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a rinsing method of a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 5, a rinsing method of a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention is described.

When the rinsing course is started S110, water should be supplied from the outside to the washing tub 140 and the outer tub 130.

The controller 190 opens the first valve 161 and performs a water spraying process where water not containing detergent is sprayed to the washing tub 140 through the spray nozzle 119, S120.

When water is sprayed through the spray nozzle 119, fabric within the washing tub 140 is soaked. Since spraying of water to the side wall and bottom surface of the washing tub 140 is possible when water is sprayed through the spray nozzle 119, spraying of water to the fabric adhered to the side wall of the washing tub 140 is also possible.

At the time of supplying water through the spray nozzle 119, since fabric is uniformly and sufficiently soaked, rinsing effect can be improved even with a small amount of water.

At the water spraying S120, the controller 190 controls the driving apparatus 150 and rotates the washing tub 140. Since the washing tub 140 is rotated, water can be uniformly sprayed inside the washing tub 140.

When fabric is sufficiently soaked inside the washing tub 140, the controller 190 opens the second valve 162 and performs a fabric softener supplying process where water containing fabric softener is supplied through the detergent box 118 to the washing tub S130.

The fabric softener supplying S130 is started after the water spraying process S120 is performed for predetermined time duration.

In the fabric softener supplying S130, the controller 190 opens the second valve 162 and makes water supplied from the outside flow to the detergent box 118. Since fabric softener is already stored inside the detergent box 118, water flowed into the detergent box 118 is combined with fabric softener stored and thus, can be supplied to the washing tub 140.

In the fabric softener supplying S130, the controller 190 controls the driving apparatus 150 and rotates the washing tub 140.

Meanwhile, the fabric softener supplying S130 can be started after the water spraying S120 is terminated; at the same time, the fabric softener supplying S130 can be started while the water spraying S120 is underway.

At this time, it is assumed that if a predetermined time is passed from when the water spraying S120 has started, the fabric softener supplying S130 is also performed with the water spraying S120. In other words, if fabric is getting fully wet through the water spraying S120, the fabric softener supplying S130 is started. Therefore, since the fabric softener is supplied while the fabric has become wet in some degree as the water spraying S120 is performed, the fabric softener can be spread out evenly over the fabric without being massed into lumps.

Also, even if the fabric softener supplying S130 is started, the water spraying S120 is performed without stopping.

When the second fluid path 164 is opened and the fabric softener is supplied, the first fluid path 163 is still kept opened and water not containing detergent can be continuously supplied through the spray nozzle 119.

The first fluid path 163 and the second fluid path 164 are both opened and water can be supplied through both the spray nozzle 119 and the detergent box 118. At the time of supplying fabric softener, since water supply is performed through the spray nozzle 119, fabric softener can be spread uniformly.

In a washing machine according to the present embodiment, the first fluid path 163 and the second fluid path 164 are disposed separately; therefore, when water not containing detergent is supplied through the spray nozzle 119 during rinsing course, supply of fabric softener is made possible.

Also, since water is supplied through the spray nozzle 119, amount of water consumed during rinsing course can be reduced.

Meanwhile, not limited to the embodiment, opening the first valve 161 after opening the second valve 162 first is also possible.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of a spin drying method of a washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 6, in a rinsing method of a washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention, the controller 190 controls the number of performance of the rinsing course.

The controller 190, when the spin drying course is completed, sets the number of performance n of the rinsing course to 0, S220.

And the controller 190 performs a water spraying S230 where water not containing detergent is sprayed through the spray nozzle 119 and a fabric softener supplying S240 where water containing fabric softener is supplied through the detergent box 118 by opening the second valve 162.

Details of the water spraying S230 and the fabric softener supplying S240 are the same as in the first embodiment, detailed description associated therewith is not provided.

When a rinsing course including the water spraying S230 and the fabric softener supplying S240 is completed, the controller 190 determines whether a performance count (n) of the rinsing course and a predetermined number N are the same S250 or not.

The controller 190, if the performance count (n) of the rinsing course is found to be less than a predetermined number N, adds 1 to the performance count (n) of the rinsing course S251.

And the controller 190 again performs the water spraying S230 and the fabric softener supplying S240.

The controller 190 repeats the rinsing course until the performance count (n) of the rinsing course including the water spraying S230 and the fabric softener supplying S240 reaches a predetermined number N.

If a performance count (n) of the rinsing course reaches a predetermined number N, the rinsing course is terminated and a spin drying course is started.

As described above, as the rinsing course is performed multiple times, removal of detergent remaining in the fabric can be done more effectively. Also, since water is sprayed through the spray nozzle 119, amount of water consumed for rinsing can be reduced even if the rinsing course is repeated multiple times.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow diagram of a rinsing method of a washing machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 7, in a rinsing method of a washing machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention, the controller 190 opens the first valve 161 when the rinsing course is started. When the first valve 161 is opened, a first water spraying where water not containing detergent is sprayed through the spray nozzle 119 is performed S320.

After a predetermined time is passed, the controller 190 opens the first valve 161 and performs a spin drying where fabric is spin dried by rotating the washing tub 140, S330.

After the spin drying is completed, the controller 190 again opens the first valve 161 and performs a second water spraying where water not containing detergent is sprayed through the spray nozzle 119, S340.

After a predetermined time is passed, the controller 190 opens the second valve 162 and supplies water containing fabric softener to the washing tub 140 through the second fluid path 164, S350.

The controller 190 controls the washing tub 140 to rotate continuously.

When the second valve 162 is opened, the first valve 161 can also be kept to be opened.

As described above, although description was given to the case where spraying through the spray nozzle 119 is performed two times, performing more than two times is still possible.

In the present embodiment, water not containing detergent is sprayed through the spray nozzle 119 and fabric is spin dried after sufficiently rinsed; and then fabric softener is supplied. Therefore, rinsing effect is improved and supply of fabric softener at the time of rinsing can also be made possible.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of a rinsing method of a washing machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 8, in a spin drying method of a washing machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the controller 190 controls a performance count of the rinsing course.

The controller 190, when the spin drying course is completed, sets the performance count (n) of the rinsing course to zero S420.

And the controller 190, by opening the first valve 161, performs a first water spraying where water not containing detergent is sprayed through the spray nozzle 119, S430.

When a predetermined time is passed, the controller 190 closes the first valve 161 and performs a spin drying where fabric is spin dried by rotating the washing tub 140, S440.

When the spin drying is completed, the controller 190 again opens the first valve 161 and performs a second spray water supplying where water not containing detergent is sprayed through the spay nozzle 119, S450.

When a predetermined time is passed, the controller 190 opens the second valve 162 and performs a fabric softener supplying where water containing fabric softener is supplied through the detergent box 118, S460.

If a spin drying including all of the first water spraying S430, the spin drying S440, the second water spraying S450, and the fabric softener supplying S460 is completed, the controller 190 determines whether the performance count (n) of the spin drying and a predetermined number N are the same S470.

The controller 190, if the performance count (n) of the spin drying is found to be less than a predetermined number N, adds 1 to the performance count (n) of the spin drying S471.

And the controller 190 again performs the first water spraying S430, the spin drying S440, the second water spraying S450, and the fabric softener supplying S460.

The controller 190 repeats the spin drying course until the performance count (n) of the rinsing including all of the first water spraying S430, the spin drying S440, the second water spraying S450, and the fabric softener supplying S460 reaches a predetermined number N.

When the performance count (n) of the rinsing course reaches a predetermined number N, the rinsing course is terminated and a spin drying course is started.

As described above, as the rinsing course is performed multiple times, removal of detergent remaining in the fabric can be done more effectively. Also, since water is sprayed through the spray nozzle 119, amount of water consumed for rinsing can be reduced even if the rinsing course is repeated multiple times.

Also, by repeating spraying of water through the spray nozzle 119 multiple times and performing spin drying between water spraying processes, rinsing effect can be improved.

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram of a spin drying method of a washing machine according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 9, a rinsing method of a washing machine according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention is as follows.

When the rinsing course is started, the controller 190 can open the first valve 161 and the second valve 162 at the same time S610, S620. If the first valve 161 and the second valve 162 are opened at the same time, water not containing detergent is sprayed and at the same time, supply of fabric softener is made possible.

Therefore, total time for the rinsing course can be reduced and fabric softener can be spread out uniformly.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other specific embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit or modifying fundamental characteristics of the invention. Thus, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are provided as examples in all aspects and do not limit modifications and variations of the invention. The scope of the invention is specified by the appended claims rather than the detailed description given above. It should be interpreted that the spirit and the scope of the claims and all the modifications or variations derived from their equivalents belong to the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A rinsing method of a washing machine, comprising:

water spraying that water not containing detergent is sprayed to a washing tub through a spray nozzle; and

fabric softener supplying that water containing fabric softener is supplied to the washing tub through a detergent box; wherein

the water spraying and the fabric softener supplying are sequentially started and are repeated for a predetermined number of times.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if a predetermined time is passed since the water spraying has started, and the fabric softener supplying is started while the water spraying is performed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein water not containing detergent is supplied to the washing tub through the spray nozzle while the fabric softener is supplied.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the washing tub rotates while the water spraying and the fabric softener supplying are performed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising spin drying of fabric by rotating the washing tub.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the water spraying, the spin drying, and the fabric softener supplying are repeated sequentially for a predetermined number of times.

7. A rinsing method of a washing machine, comprising:

a first water spraying that water not containing detergent is sprayed to a washing tub through a spray nozzle;

spin drying of fabric by rotating the washing tub after the first water spraying;

a second water spraying that water not containing detergent is sprayed to the washing tub through the spray nozzle; and

fabric softener supplying that water containing fabric softener is supplied to the washing tub through a detergent box after the second water spraying is started.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein water not containing detergent is supplied to the washing tub through the spray nozzle while the fabric softener supplying is supplied.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the washing tub rotates while the first water spraying, the second water spraying, and the fabric softener supplying are performed.