Heating apparatus of washing machine and washing method thereof

Abstract

A heating apparatus of a washing machine and a washing method thereof. The heating apparatus includes a circulation channel installed outside a tub for connecting one side of the tub to the other side of the tub, and an orifice, water drop supply device for supplying water, an air blower for circulating the water, and a heater, which are sequentially installed in the circulation channel. The heating apparatus supplies steam or hot wind to the tub in a washing or rinsing operation, thereby improving the washing capacity of the washing machine, minimizing the time taken to perform the washing or rinsing operation and an energy consumption rate, and allows the washing machine to perform a drying operation using hot wind without any additional element, thereby diversifying its functions and minimizing production costs.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly to a heating apparatus of a washing machine, which provides hot wind or steam in a washing or rinsing mode, and is also operated in a drying mode, and a washing method thereof. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004]FIG. 1 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a conventional washing machine. [0005] The conventional washing machine comprises a cabinet 2 provided with a door 1 installed on the front door thereof, a tub 4 placed in the cabinet 2 and supported by a damper 3, a drum 6 rotatably installed in the tub 4 and provided with a plurality of water pores 5 formed through the cylindrical surface thereof, and a driving device 10 installed outside the tub 4 and connected to the drum 6 by a rotary shaft for rotating the drum 6. [0006] A water supply pipe 12 provided with a water supply valve 14 for guiding wash water to the tub 4 is connec...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a heating apparatus of a washing machine, which increases the temperature of wash water supplied to a tub in a washing or rinsing operation, so as to be suitable to wash the laundry, or minimizes the time and energy consumption taken to perform the washing or rinsing operation of a steam-washing mode, and a washing method thereof.

[0021] It is another object of the present invention to provide a heating apparatus of a washing machine, which has a drying function as well as increases the temperature of wash water or performs a steam-washing mode, and a washing method thereof.

[0042] In the heating apparatus of a washing machine and the washing method thereof in accordance with the present invention, steam or hot wind is supplied to an upper part of a tub in a washing or rinsing operation so as to directly heat wash water and laundry, thereby reducing the time taken to perform the washing or rinsing operation and an energy consumption rate, and improving a washing capacity.

[0043] Further, in the heating apparatus of a washing machine and the washing method thereof in accordance with the present invention, hot wind is produced in the same manner as the washing or rinsing operation and is supplied to the tub so as to dry the wet laundry, thereby diversifying the function of the heating apparatus without additional cost and minimizing production costs of the heating apparatus.

Problems solved by technology

Accordingly, the conventional washing machine is disadvantageous in that the time taken to perform the washing or rinsing operation is elongated and an energy consumption rate is increased.

Further, the washing machine, which is performed in the drying operation, requires the drying apparatus 40, operated in the same manner as the washing heater 30, thereby increasing the production costs and having an increased size.

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