Laundry apparatus and control method thereof

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a laundry apparatus for heating a drum by an induction heater and a control method thereof. According to an embodiment, the method of controlling a laundry apparatus including a tub, a drum and an induction heating module mounted on the tub to heat the drum through induction heating includes a water supply step of supplying wash water into the tub through a water supply valve; and a heating step of performing heating by driving the induction heating module after termination of the water supply step, wherein, in the heating step, driving of the drum and driving of the induction heating module are controlled to be operatively connected to each other, wherein a period for driving the drum comprises a period for driving the induction heating module, and the driving of the induction heating module is excluded outside the period for driving the drum.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Application No. 10-2018-0123451, filed on Oct. 16, 2018. The disclosure of the prior application is incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to a laundry apparatus, and more particularly, to a laundry apparatus for heating a drum by an induction heater and a control method thereof.Discussion of the Related Art[0003]The laundry apparatus includes a tub (an outer tub) configured to store wash water and a drum (an inner tub) rotatably provided in the tub. Laundry (fabrics) is provided inside the drum, and the fabrics are washed with a detergent and wash water while the drum rotates.[0004]In order to enhance the washing effect by promoting the activation of the detergent and decomposition of contaminants, hot wash water is supplied into the tub or heated inside the tub. To this end, the bottom of the i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a laundry apparatus that can increase the efficiency of soaking fabrics even when the amount of water supplied is small. This is achieved by driving a circulation pump to circulate the water during soaking. The invention also includes a control method for controlling the heating module which ensures efficient heating of the fabric during soaking. This is achieved by turning off the induction heating module when the drum is decelerated and rotating at a lower speed after the motor is turned off. This results in increased heating time.

Problems solved by technology

Second, more wash water is needed for fabrics soaking as well as heater protection.

That is, scattering of the wash water may occur, and the heater may be exposed to the air due to slopping water.

The heater protection water level is not kept due to exposure of the heater to the air.

As a result, the actual operating rate during the heating period is very low compared to that in the period of fabrics soaking or the main washing period.

That is, the washing time is increased by the time required for heating, and the heating time cannot be used in securing washing performance.

In addition, the heater protection water level may be destroyed by the driving of the circulation pump and the tumbling driving.

It is not desirable to supply additional water to drive the circulation pump or increase the actual operating rate in the heating period.

However, since the concentration of the detergent is low, the washing performance may be significantly reduced in the main washing period.

Therefore, it is difficult to perform washing through high-concentration detergent water (wash water in which detergent is dissolved), or a large amount of detergent is needed.

In addition, in order to meet the heater protection water level, the degree of freedom of the actual operating rate of the drum or the circulation pump in the heating period is inevitably limited.

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