CONTROL METHOD OF LAUNDRY TREATMENT APPARATUS

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a control method of a laundry treatment apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

A laundry treatment apparatus, which separates contaminants from an object to be washed (laundry, etc.) using water, is configured to include a tub configured to store water therein, a drum rotatably disposed in the tub and configured to store laundry therein, a detergent supplier configured to supply detergent to the tub, a water supplier configured to supply water to the tub, and a drain unit configured to drain water stored in the tub.

The laundry treatment apparatus having the above-mentioned configuration washes laundry through a washing process of removing foreign matter from laundry through supply of detergent, a rinsing process of removing the detergent from the laundry after completion of the washing process, and a spin-drying process of removing water from the laundry after completion of the rinsing process.

Among conventional laundry treatment apparatuses, there is a laundry treatment apparatus in which aromatic detergent is supplied to laundry in the rinsing process in order to add fragrance to the laundry after completion of washing. However, since the purpose of the rinsing process is to remove foreign matter and detergent remaining on the laundry, it is difficult for fragrance to remain in the laundry in a large amount after completion of washing, even when the aromatic detergent is supplied at a specific time in the rinsing process.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Task

One technical task of the present disclosure devised to solve the problem lies in a laundry treatment apparatus implementing a process enabling a large amount of fragrance to remain in laundry after completion of washing and a control method thereof.

Technical Solutions

The present disclosure provides a control method of a laundry treatment apparatus including a washing process including washing-water supply of supplying water to a tub, washing-rotation of rotating a drum storing laundry therein within the tub, and washing-drainage of draining water from an interior of the tub, a first rinsing process including first rinsing-water supply of supplying water to the tub, first rinsing-rotation of rotating the drum within the tub, and first rinsing-drainage of draining water from the interior of the tub, and a second rinsing process including second rinsing-water supply of supplying water to the tub, detergent supply of supplying aromatic detergent to the tub, second rinsing-rotation of rotating the drum, and second rinsing-drainage of draining water stored in the tub.

An amount of water supplied in the second rinsing-water supply may be set to be less than an amount of water supplied in the first rinsing-water supply.

An execution time set for the second rinsing process may be equal to an execution time set for the first rinsing process.

An execution time set for the second rinsing process may be shorter than an execution time set for the first rinsing process.

The control method may further include option selection of receiving, from a user, an input as to whether or not the second rinsing process is to be executed. The second rinsing process may be executed only when execution thereof is requested through the option selection.

The option selection may be executed before the washing process starts.

The detergent supply may be executed in the first rinsing process when execution of the second rinsing process is not requested in the option selection.

The control method may further include setting a number of execution times of the first rinsing process. When the set number of execution times is less than a maximum settable number of execution times, the first rinsing process may be executed the set number of execution times, and the second rinsing process may start after ending of the first rinsing process.

The control method may further include setting a number of execution times of the first rinsing process. When the set number of execution times is equal to a maximum settable number of execution times, the first rinsing process may be executed a number of execution times less than the set number of execution times by one, and the second rinsing process may start after ending of the first rinsing process.

The number of execution times of the first rinsing process may be set through the option selection.

The present disclosure provides a control method of a laundry treatment apparatus including a washing process including washing-water supply of supplying water to a tub, washing-rotation of rotating a drum storing laundry therein within the tub, and washing-drainage of draining water from an interior of the tub, a first rinsing process including first rinsing-water supply of supplying water to the tub, first rinsing-rotation of rotating the drum within the tub, and first rinsing-drainage of draining water from the interior of the tub, and a second rinsing process including second rinsing-water supply of supplying water to the tub, detergent supply of supplying aromatic detergent to the tub, second rinsing-rotation of rotating the drum, and second rinsing-drainage of draining water stored in the tub, wherein an execution time of the second rinsing process is set to be shorter than an execution time of the first rinsing process or an execution time of the second rinsing-rotation is set to be longer than an execution time of the first rinsing-rotation.

When the execution time set for the second rinsing process is equal to the execution time set for the first rinsing process, the execution time of the second rinsing-rotation may be set to be longer than the execution time of the first rinsing-rotation.

Advantageous Effects

The present disclosure provides a laundry treatment apparatus implementing a process enabling a large amount of fragrance to remain in laundry after completion of washing and a control method thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an example of a laundry treatment apparatus.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a control panel.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a control method of the laundry treatment apparatus.

BEST MODE FOR DISCLOSURE

Hereinafter, embodiments of a laundry treatment apparatus and a control method thereof will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a laundry treatment apparatus 100 includes a cabinet 1, a tub 2 disposed in the cabinet and configured to store water, and a drum 3 rotatably disposed in the tub and configured to accommodate laundry therein.

The cabinet 1 may be configured to include a housing 11 configured to provide a space accommodating the tub 2 therein, and a cover 12 configured to close an opened upper surface of the housing.

The cover 12 may include a cover body 121 fixed to the housing 11 and configured to form an upper surface of the laundry treatment apparatus, and an access port 122 (see FIG. 2) configured to extend through the cover body 121. The access port 122 may be configured to be closed by a door 13 pivotably coupled to the cover body 121.

A control panel 123 may be provided at the cover body 12. The control panel 123 may be provided with an input unit configured to receive a control signal from the user, and a display unit configured to display information associated with the laundry treatment apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tub 2 may include a tub body 21 having an empty cylindrical shape.

The tub body 21 is fixed to the cabinet 1 through a tub support 23. The tube support 23 may take the form of a bar fixed, at one end thereof, to the cover 12 or the housing 11 and fixed, at the other end thereof, to a circumferential surface of the tub body 21. A tub cover 22 is provided at an upper surface of the tub body 21. A tub access port 221 is provided at the tub cover 22 such that the tub access port 221 is disposed under the access port 122.

The tub body 21 receives water through the water supplier 24. The water in the tub body 21 may be outwardly discharged from the cabinet 1 through the drain unit 25.

The water supplier 24 may be configured to include a water supply tube 242 connected to a water supply source, a water supply valve 243 configured to control opening/closing of the water supply tube 242 in accordance with a control signal of a controller (not shown), and a chamber 241 (a water supply passage) configured to guide water supplied from the water supply tube 242 to an interior of the tub 2. FIG. 2 shows, as an example, the case in which the chamber 241 guides water to the tub body 21 through the tub access port 221.

The drain unit 25 may be configured to include a drain tube 251 configured to guide water in the tub body 21 to an exterior of the cabinet 1, and a drain valve 252 configured to control opening/closing of the drain tube in accordance with a control signal of the controller.

The drum 3 is a means configured to be disposed in the tub body 21 to provide a space for storing laundry therein, and may include a drum body 31 having an empty cylindrical shape.

A drum access port 32 may be provided at an upper surface of the drum body 31 such that the drum access port 32 is disposed under the tub access port 221. Accordingly, the user may load laundry in the drum body 31 through the access port 122, the tub access port 221, and the drum access port 32. Communication holes 33 configured to allow inner spaces of the tub body 21 and the drum body 31 to communicate with each other may be provided at a circumferential surface, a bottom surface, etc. of the drum body 31.

An agitator 34 may be further provided. The agitator 34 is provided at the bottom surface of the drum body 31 to be rotatable within the drum body 31 and is configured to form a water stream within the drum body 31.

The drum body 31 and the agitator 34 are rotatable by a driver. The driver may be configured to include a motor 35 fixed to a bottom surface of the tub body 21 and disposed at an exterior of the tub body 21, a drum shaft 36 configured to interconnect the motor and the drum body 31, and an agitator shaft 37 configured to interconnect the motor and the agitator 34.

The agitator shaft 37 is configured to extend through the drum shaft 36 in order to directly interconnect a rotor of the motor 35 and the agitator 34. In this case, a gearing 38 configured to interconnect the agitator shaft 37 and the drum shaft 36, and a clutch 39 configured to control connection between one end of the drum shaft 36 and the rotor may be provided within the drum shaft 36.

The laundry treatment apparatus 100 may supply detergent to the tub 2 through the detergent supplier 4.

The detergent supplier 4 may be configured to include a drawer 41 configured to be withdrawn from the chamber 241, a storage space 42 provided in the drawer 41 to store detergent therein, and a detergent outlet 43 configured to discharge detergent from the storage space 42 into the chamber 241.

The storage space 42 may include a first storage space 421 configured to store detergent required in a washing process (first detergent or washing detergent), and a second storage space 422 configured to store detergent required in a rinsing process (second detergent, rinsing detergent, or aromatic detergent).

In this case, the detergent outlet 43 may include a first outlet 431 configured to discharge detergent from the first storage space 421 into the chamber 241, and a second outlet 432 configured to discharge detergent from the second storage space 422 into the chamber 421. The first outlet 431 may take the form of a hole extending through the drawer 41, whereas the second outlet 432 may take the form of a passage having a water trap structure configured to discharge detergent stored in the second storage space 422 into the chamber 241 when a predetermined amount or more of water is introduced into the second storage space 422.

In addition, the water supply tube 242 may be configured to include a first water supply tube 242a and a first water supply valve 243a, which are configured to supply water to the first storage space 421, and a second water supply tube 242b and a second water supply valve 243b, which are configured to supply water to the second storage space 422.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the control panel 123. As described above, the input unit and the display unit are provided at the control panel 123.

The display unit 128 may be configured to display a control signal (or a control command) selectable through the input unit.

The input unit may be configured to include a first input unit 124 configured to input a control signal requesting supply of electric power, a second input unit 125 configured to request display of information as to a course selectable by the user, a third input unit 126 configured to select an option of the course displayed on the display unit 128 (a control command additionally selectable in the course or a control command for change of control commands set in the course), and a fourth input unit 127 configured to input a control signal requesting execution of the course selected by the user.

The second input unit 125 may be constituted by two buttons or two touch sensors disposed to face each other under the condition that the display unit 128 is disposed therebetween.

The display unit 128 may be set to display a plurality of courses executable by the laundry treatment apparatus 100 in a predetermined order. The display unit 128 may be configured to sequentially display courses one by one in the predetermined order whenever the user presses a second input unit 125a disposed at a right side of the display unit 128 and to sequentially display courses one by one in an order reverse to the predetermined order whenever the user presses a second input unit 125b disposed at a left side of the display unit 128.

An option command selectable through the third input unit 126 may be, for example, the water supply amount set for the washing process or the rinsing process, the process execution time, the number of repetition times of the rinsing process, the number of execution times of a spin-drying process, or the temperature of water supplied in the washing process or the rinsing process.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a control method of the laundry treatment apparatus. A control method according to this embodiment includes a washing process S30. The washing process S30 may be configured to include washing-water supply step S31 of supplying water to the tub body 21, washing-rotation step S33 of rotating the drum body 31 within the tub body 21, and washing-drainage step S34 of draining water from the interior of the tub body 31.

The washing-water supply step S31 is executed as the controller controls the water supply valve 243. The amount of water supplied through the washing-water supply step S31 may be controlled in accordance with the amount of laundry loaded in the drum body 31 (laundry amount).

That is, the control method may be configured to include a laundry amount sensing step configured to be executed after the course selection step S10 ends, but the washing-water supply step S31 starts. In this case, the washing-water supply step S31 may be configured to supply, to the tub body 21, a predetermined amount of water set for a laundry amount sensed in the laundry amount sensing step.

In a state in which detergent has been supplied to the storage space 42 of the detergent supplier 4, the washing-detergent supply step S32 may be executed simultaneously with the washing-water supply step S31 in the washing process S30.

The washing-rotation step S33 may be constituted by a step of separating foreign matter from the laundry through friction between the laundry and the drum body and friction between the laundry and water by rotating the drum body 31 through the motor 35.

The washing-drainage step S34 may be constituted by a step of discharging water stored in the tub body 21 in an exterior of the cabinet 1 by controlling the drain valve 252 by the controller.

In the washing process S30, a washing-spin-drying step (not shown) of removing water from the laundry after ending of the washing-drainage step S34 may be further executed. The washing-spin-drying step may be constituted by a step of separating water from the laundry through centrifugal force generated by rotating the drum body 3 at a predetermined RPM.

The control method may be configured to include a course selection step S10 and an option selection step S20 before starting of the washing process S30.

The course selection step S10 may be constituted by a step of selecting one of a plurality of courses through the second input unit 125, and the option selection step S20 may be constituted by a step of inputting an option command to the selected course through the third input unit 126.

When the washing process S30 ends, the control method determines whether or not execution of a fragrance enhancement process is requested through the option selection step S20 (S40).

When the fragrance enhancement process is not selected in the option selection step S20, the control method executes a rinsing process S50.

The rinsing process S50 may be configured to include a rinsing-water supply step S51 of supplying water to the tub body 21, a rinsing-rotation step S53 of rotating the drum body 31 within the tub body 21, and rinsing-drainage step S55 of draining water from the interior of the tub body 21.

The rinsing-water supply step S51 may be configured to supply, to the tub body 31, a predetermined amount of water set for a laundry amount loaded in the drum body 31. The rinsing-rotation step S53 may be constituted by a step of separating, from the laundry, detergent and foreign matter remaining in the laundry by rotating the drum body 31 through the motor 35. The rinsing-drainage step S55 may be constituted by a step of draining water stored in the tub body 21 by controlling the drain valve 252.

When the rinsing process S50 ends, the control method may execute spin-drying process S80 of removing water from the laundry by rotating the drum body 31 at a predetermined RPM.

Meanwhile, when the fragrance enhancement process is selected through the option selection step S20 (S40), the control method sequentially executes first rinsing process S60 and second rinsing process S70 (a fragrance enhancement process).

The first rinsing process S60 may be configured to execute first rinsing-water supply step S61 of supplying water to the tub body 21, first rinsing-rotation step S63 of rotating the drum body 31, first rinsing-drainage step S65 of draining water from the interior of the tub body S65, and first rinsing-spin-drying step S66.

When the first rinsing-spin-drying step S66 ends, the control method executes step S67 of determining whether or not the number of execution times set in the first rinsing process S60 (a predetermined number of rinsing times) is equal to a maximum number of times settable in the first rinsing process (a predetermined maximum number of times).

When the set number of rinsing times is less than the predetermined maximum number of times, the control method executes the first rinsing process S60 the set number of execution times (S68). After the first rinsing process S60 is executed the set number of execution times, the control method executes the second rinsing process S70.

However, when the set number of rinsing times is equal to the predetermined maximum number of times (S67), the control method executes the first rinsing process S60 the number of times less than the set number of execution times by one (S69). In this case, the second rinsing process 70 may start after the first rinsing process S60 is executed the number of times less than the set number of execution times by one.

The reason why the set number of rinsing times is limited not to be more than the predetermined maximum number of times is to minimize the operation time of the laundry treatment apparatus 100 while securing effects of the washing process and the rinsing process. Accordingly, reducing the number of execution times of the first rinsing process S60 when the set number of rinsing times is equal to the predetermined maximum number of times (S67) provides an effect of minimizing the operation time of the laundry treatment apparatus.

Meanwhile, the number of execution times of the first rinsing process (the set number of rinsing times) may be configured to be input by the user through the option selection step S20 or may be configured to be input through a separate step independent from the option selection step S20.

The second rinsing process S70 may be configured to include second rinsing-water supply step S71 of supplying water to the tub body 21, detergent supply step S73 of supplying aromatic detergent to the tub body 21, second rinsing-rotation step S75 of rotating the drum body 21, and second rinsing-drainage step S77 of draining water stored in the tub body 21.

It is preferred that the amount of water supplied to the tub body 21 in the second rinsing-water supply step S71 be less than the amount of water supplied to the tub body 21 in the first rinsing-water supply step S61. When the amount of water supplied to the tub body in the second rinsing-water supply step S71 increases, the concentration of the aromatic detergent may increase and, as such, the control method may enable a large amount of fragrance to remain in the laundry after completion of washing.

Furthermore, the execution time of the second rinsing process S70 may be set to be equal to the execution time of the first rinsing process S60 or to be shorter than the execution time of the first rinsing process S60.

The second rinsing process S70 is executed in a state in which the concentration of the aromatic detergent is high. Accordingly, even when the execution time of the second rinsing process S70 is set to be equal to or shorter than the execution time of the first rinsing process S60, fragrance remaining in the laundry after operation of the laundry treatment apparatus is completed may be rich, as compared to those of conventional laundry treatment apparatuses (Fragrance remaining in the laundry after operation of the laundry treatment apparatus is completed may be stronger than those of conventional laundry treatment apparatuses.).

In addition, when the execution time of the second rinsing process S70 is set to be equal to or shorter than the execution time of the first rinsing process S60, it may be possible to expect an effect of reducing the operation time of the laundry treatment apparatus while increasing the amount of fragrance remaining in the laundry.

Since the amount of water supplied in the second rinsing-water supply step S71 is set to be small, the execution time of the second rinsing-water supply step S71 and the execution time of the second rinsing-drainage step S77 may be shorter than the execution times of the water supply step S61 and the drainage step S65 set in the first rinsing process S60, respectively. Accordingly, when the execution time of the second rinsing process S70 is set to be equal to the execution time of the first rinsing process S60, the control method may set the execution time of the second rinsing-rotation step S75 to be equal to the execution time of the first rinsing-rotation step S63 or to be longer than the execution time of the first rinsing-rotation step S63.

When the execution time of the second rinsing-rotation step S75 is set to be longer than the execution time of the first rinsing-rotation step S63, there is a useful effect of increasing the amount of fragrance remaining in the laundry.

After the second rinsing-drainage step S77 ends, the control method ends after executing the spin-drying step S80.

Meanwhile, when execution of the second rinsing process S70 is not requested in the option selection step S20, the detergent supply step S73 may be configured to be executed in final first rinsing-water supply step S61 of the first rinsing process S60.

The laundry treatment apparatus and the control method of the same described above may be implemented in a state of being modified into various forms. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments.