Operating method for clothes treating apparatus

Abstract

A method for operating a clothes treating apparatus comprising a hot air supplying unit provided with a heater and a blowing device, and having a drying function of drying clothes by supplying hot air into a drum by use of the hot air supplying unit, includes rotating the drum with the clothes introduced therein, and supplying hot air into the drum by using the heater and the blowing device while the drum is rotated, wherein an air flow rate supplied by the blowing device changes during the hot air supplying step.

Claims

1. A method for operating a clothes treating apparatus comprising a hot air supplying unit provided with a heater and a blowing fan, and having a drying function of drying clothes by supplying hot air into a drum by use of the hot air supplying unit, the method comprising: rotating the drum at a first speed with the clothes introduced therein; supplying hot air into the drum by rotating the blowing fan at a first speed while the drum is rotated; and changing an air flow rate supplied by the blowing fan during the hot air supplying step, wherein the hot air supplying step comprises: a first drying step of increasing an inner temperature of the drum; a second drying step of constantly maintaining the inner temperature of the drum after the first drying step; and a third drying step of re-increasing the inner temperature of the drum after the second drying step, wherein the second drying step comprises changing the rotating speed by repeating a plurality of times a process of accelerating the blowing fan from the first speed to a higher level of a second speed than that of the first speed and then decelerating the blowing fan back to the original speed, without stopping the blowing fan, wherein the third drying step comprises: increasing the rotating speed of the blowing fan to the second speed, maintaining the second speed of the blowing fan for a preset time; and decreasing the rotation speed of the blowing fan to the first speed; wherein the increasing, maintaining and decreasing is a plurality of times repeated, and wherein the rotating speed of the drum is decelerated in a preset direction to a lower level of a second speed than that of the first speed of the drum, when the rotating speed of the blowing fan increases.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the hot air supplying step comprises: measuring temperature of hot air exhausted from the drum; and increasing the air flow rate when the measured temperature of the exhausted air exceeds a predetermined temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the hot air supplying step comprises: measuring a moisture content within the clothes introduced into the drum; and increasing the air flow rate when the measured moisture content is less than a predetermined level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the third drying step comprises accelerating and decelerating the rotation speed of the drum in an alternating manner at a predetermined time interval.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the heater is configured to be blocked from power supply when an inner temperature of the drum increases more than a predetermined level, wherein the hot air supplying step further comprises: measuring a frequency of blocking the power supply to the heater; and increasing the air flow rate when the measured frequency of blocking the power supply is more than a predetermined level.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the drum is provided with a suction duct which sucks the air into the drum, the suction duct having an inlet portion which is communicated with a rear surface of the drum and the inlet portion extends in a height direction of the drum from an upper portion of the rear surface of the drum to a lower portion of the rear surface of the drum.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing one exemplary embodiment of a clothes treating apparatus in accordance with this specification;

(4) FIG. 2 is a sectional view schematically showing an inner structure in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the inner structure of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a drying process in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 5 is a graph showing changes in an inner temperature of a drum according to a time lapse during the drying process in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 6 is a graph showing changes in rotation speeds of a blowing fan and a drum according to a time lapse in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1; and

(9) FIG. 7 is a graph showing changes in the rotation speed of the drum in another drying process in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) Description will now be given in detail of a clothes treating apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the sake of brief description with reference to the drawings, the same or equivalent components will be provided with the same reference numbers, and description thereof will not be repeated.

(11) FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing one exemplary embodiment of a clothes treating apparatus in accordance with this specification. The exemplary embodiment illustrates a dryer but the present invention may not be limited to the dryer. The present invention may also be applicable to any type of clothes treating apparatus, which is configured such that hot air is supplied to dry clothes and the used hot air is exhausted out of a drum.

(12) As shown in FIG. 1, the dryer 100 may include a main body 102 defining an appearance of the apparatus. A front surface of the main body 102 may be shown having an introduction opening 104 through which clothes as targets to be dried are introduced into the main body 102. The introduction opening 104 may be open or closed by a door 106. A manipulation panel 108 having various manipulation buttons for manipulation of the dryer may be located above the introduction opening 104.

(13) FIGS. 2 and 3 are a sectional view and a perspective view schematically showing an inner structure of the dryer 100. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a drum 120 may be rotatably disposed within the main body 102 to dry clothes or targets to be dried therein. The drum 120 may be rotatably supported by supporters at front and rear sides thereof. The drum 120 may be connected to a power transfer belt (not shown) and a driving motor located at a lower portion of the dryer so as to be rotatable by receiving a rotational force.

(14) A lower portion of the drum 120 may be shown having a first suction duct 130, and a second suction duct 140 installed at the rear of the first suction duct 130 in a longitudinal direction of the main body 102. The first and second suction ducts 130 and 140 may suck thereinto air, which is introduced from the exterior and present within the main body 102, and supply the sucked air into the drum 120. Here, air is supplied into the drum 120 via an inlet port (not shown) formed through the second suction duct 140. The inlet port may extend in a longitudinal direction based on a center of the drum 120 such that air can be introduced into the drum via an entire surface of the drum 120.

(15) Besides, an example that the inlet port is formed at an upper or lower portion may be regarded.

(16) A heater 150 may be installed within the first suction duct 130 so as to heat up introduced external air at a low temperature into air hot enough to dry the clothes. Also, although not shown, a moisture detecting sensor for measuring a content of moisture within the clothes introduced into the drum 120 may further be provided. Any type of sensor may be used as the moisture detecting sensor. As one example, an electrode sensor, which uses a pair of electrodes to measure moisture based on changes in resistance in response to a content of moisture.

(17) Here, the first and second suction ducts 130 and 140 have been illustrated as physically separated two structures, but the present disclosure may regard an example that the two ducts are integrally formed, without being limited to the two structures.

(18) Here, the first suction duct 130 may allow external air to be introduced thereinto via a suction port (not shown) formed at the main body 102. The introduced external air may be heat up into hot air by the heater 150 so as to flow into the drum 120. The air flowed into the drum 120 may then dry the clothes and thereafter be introduced into a front duct 160 located below the front surface of the drum 120.

(19) The air introduced into the front duct 160 may contain foreign materials, such as lint or dust existing on surfaces of the clothes. Accordingly, a lint filter 162 for filtering off the foreign materials may be installed within the front duct 160. Consequently, the foreign materials may be filtered off from the introduced air via the lint filter 162.

(20) An exhaust duct 180 may be connected to the front duct 160. The first exhaust duct 180 may define a part of an exhaust channel for discharging hot air passed through the front duct 160 to the outside of the main body 102. A blowing fan 170 may be installed within the first exhaust duct 180. The blowing fan 170 may suck air within the drum 120 to forcibly blow out of the dryer.

(21) The blowing fan 170 may be driven by a separate motor from the driving motor. Hence, the blowing fan 170 and the drum 120 may be independently rotatable. The driving motor for driving the drum 120 may include an inverter control circuit for control of a rotating direction and speed of the drum 120. Here, the inverter control circuit may include a specific controller.

(22) The rear end of the first exhaust duct 180 may be shown having a second exhaust duct 190. An end portion of the second exhaust duct 190 may communicate with the outside of the main body 102 to act as an exhaust port. Hence, the first and second exhaust ducts 180 and 190 and the communicating portion may define an exhaust channel. Consequently, air introduced via the first suction duct 130 may flow sequentially via the second suction duct 140, the drum 120, the front duct 160, the first exhaust duct 180 and the second exhaust duct 190, thereby being discharged out of the main body 102. Here, the second exhaust duct 190 may include a duct connected to the outside of a space in which the exemplary embodiment is installed so as to directly discharge exhaust gas to the outside. A heat exchanger may be installed in the second exhaust duct 190 so as to cool and condense exhaust gas, thereby discharging to the inside.

(23) Hereinafter, description will be given of a drying process in accordance with the exemplary embodiment with reference to FIG. 4. Once drying is started, power is supplied to the heater to activate the heater and simultaneously the blowing fan and the drum are rotated. Here, the blowing fan may be rotated at speed of about 1200 to 170 rpm, and the drum may be rotated at speed of about 50 to 55 rpm. Such numerical values may be randomly set by a person skilled in the art according to the configuration of a dryer or a quantity of clothes introduced.

(24) Upon supplying hot air into the drum, moisture contained in the clothes is evaporated by the hot air such that the clothes cam be dried. FIG. 5 is a graph showing changes in an inner temperature of the drum according to a time lapse during the drying process. As shown in FIG. 5, an inner temperature of the drum increases within a relatively low range due to a large quantity of moisture at the beginning of the drying process, but is constantly maintained at an approximately 200° C. in the middle of the drying for which the quantity of heat contained in the hot air and heat of evaporation generated due to moisture evaporation are balanced with each other. Afterwards, as a moisture content of the clothes is lowered, the quantity of heat contained in the hot air is relatively increased, which results in a gradual increase in the inner temperature of the drum.

(25) Therefore, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the changes in the inner temperature of the drum are detected. When the inner temperature is constantly maintained over a predetermined time, it is determined that the drying process is in a middle part, thereby changing a rotating speed of the blowing fan. The process of changing the rotating speed may be carried out by repeating three times a process of accelerating the blowing fan from the speed of 1200 to 1700 rpm to a higher level, namely, a speed of 2000 to 2700 rpm and then decelerating the blowing fan back to the original speed. Here, if the three-time repetition of the acceleration and deceleration is performed as one set, totally two sets of the repetition are carried out with a preset time interval during the middle part of the drying process.

(26) The acceleration and deceleration may allow for the change in the air flow rate supplied into the drum. This may change air pressure applied to the clothes, which allows the clothes, which are in an entangled state and pressed onto an inner wall of the drum, to be free from other clothes and the inner wall of the drum. Consequently, a contact area between the clothes and the hot air can increase to raise a drying speed and reduce wrinkles generated on the clothes.

(27) Afterwards, when the inner temperature of the drum increases as a time elapses, it means the drying process is approaching to the last part. In this case, the rotating speed of the blowing fan increases. Here, this state is maintained for about 3 to 5 minutes, and then the speed is decelerated. This process is repeated totally three times. When the rotating speed of the blowing fan increases, the rotating speed of the drum is decelerated to 45 to 45 rpm. During the last part of the drying process, the clothes become light due to decrease of moisture. Hence, upon supplying a large air flow rate, the clothes may rotate more actively. Here, when the high rotating speed of the drum is maintained, the clothes are closely adhered onto the inner wall of the drum due to a centrifugal force, thereby increasing friction due to air pressure. Therefore, the rotating speed of the drum may be reduced to prevent the increase in the friction and also facilitate separating of the clothes from the inner wall of the drum.

(28) Especially, when the rotating speed of the drum is reduced and the air flow rate increases at the last part of the drying process, the dropped clothes may be temporarily floated in the air by air pressure, which may derive advantageous conditions in aspects of friction decrease and wrinkle removal. In addition, the rotating speeds of the drum and the blowing fan are repeatedly accelerated and decelerated, so the clothes can move or rotate more actively within the drum.

(29) When air of high volume is supplied during the last part of the drying process, a temperature of hot air supplied may be decreased due to the fixed quantity of heat from the heater. Accordingly, the drying is carried out at low temperature, which may allow generated winkles to become smooth other than being fixed, thereby minimizing generation of winkles. While repeating such process, a moisture content within the clothes is measured. When the measurement meets a drying completion condition, the drying process may be ended.

(30) Especially, even if hot air of high temperature is supplied during the last part of the drying process, a quantity of heat, which is contained in the hot air but exhausted to the outside without being used, increases due to a less content of moisture within the clothes. Hence, it is important to control an air flow rate by rapidly checking whether the drying process is approaching to the last part. In general, a great temperature deviation according to a measuring position is exhibited due to the rotation of the clothes within the drum and an irregular air flow rate, so an accurate measurement is not easy to be performed.

(31) Accordingly, an example may be considered in which the inner temperature of the drum is not directly measured but other parameters are measured to indirectly judge the inner temperature of the drum. One of those parameters may be a temperature of air exhausted from the drum. That is, when air within the drum is exhausted out of the drum via the exhaust duct, since an area of the exhaust duct is smaller than the drum, it may be possible to measure a relatively accurately temperature. Hence, if the temperature of the exhausted air is measured and the changes in the temperature are observed, it may be possible to check to which level the drying process has been done, namely, to which part the drying process corresponds among the beginning, middle, and last parts.

(32) Another parameter may be a moisture content within the clothes. Besides, the heater may be configured to be blocked from power supply for prevention of overheat according to the inner temperature of the drum. The frequency of blocking the power supply may also be used as a parameter for indirectly judging the inner temperature of the drum.

(33) In the meantime, for prevention of winkle generation, a time, for which the clothes bump against the inner wall of the drum at the last part of the drying process, in detail, at a time point when the moisture content is about 7 to 10%, may be made as short as possible. As described above, the clothes are lifted to the upper portion of the drum by a lifter installed at the inner wall of the drum in response to the rotation of the drum and thereafter dropped onto the bottom of the drum by the gravity. This process has been revealed as one of causes of generating winkles according to experimental results. Hence, in order to prevent this, it is necessary to minimize a time for which the clothes bump against the inner wall of the drum. An operating method therefor is shown in FIG. 7.

(34) FIG. 7 is a graph showing the changes in the rotating speed of the drum at the last part of the drying process, in detail, at the time point when the moisture content is about 7 to 10%. As shown in FIG. 7, the drum is being accelerated and decelerated to 63 rpm and 50 rpm per 2 seconds. When the drum is accelerated from 50 rpm to 63 rpm, the clothes are closely adhered onto the inner wall of the drum due to an increase in a centrifugal force, which makes the clothes moved together with the drum so as to be lifted. Afterwards, when the drum is decelerated, the contact force between the clothes and the drum is reduced due to the decrease of the centrifugal force. Accordingly, some clothes are dropped down. However, the clothes may not be immediately dropped onto the bottom but floated in the air for a preset time, which may result in minimization of a collision time of the clothes against the inner wall of the drum.

(35) In order to increase the floating time in the air, as aforementioned, the blowing fan may be rotated with a relatively large air flow rate, for example, at speed of 2000 to 2700 rpm, during the acceleration and deceleration section, as compared to the normal state.

(36) The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments.

(37) As the present features may be embodied in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.