Clothes processing device

Abstract

A laundry treatment device is disclosed that directly heats a drum containing laundry, improving efficiency and safety. The device includes a drum formed of a metal material and configured to contain laundry; an induction module spaced apart from the circumferential surface of the drum and configured to heat the circumferential surface of the drum using a magnetic field generated when current is applied to a coil; a lifter disposed in the drum to move laundry within the drum as the drum rotates; and a module controller configured to control the output of the induction module to control the amount of heat generated from the circumferential surface of the drum. The module controller variably controls the amount of heat generated based on changes in the position of the lifter that occur as the drum rotates.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the patent application with the application date of August 9, 2018, application number 201880051779.6, and invention name “Clothing processing device and control method thereof”. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a laundry treating apparatus which directly heats a drum containing laundry therein and whose efficiency and safety are improved. Background Art

[0003] A clothes treating apparatus is an apparatus for treating clothes, and has functions of washing, drying, and refreshing clothes.

[0004] There are various types of laundry treating apparatuses, such as a washing machine mainly for washing laundry, a washing machine mainly for drying laundry, and a refresher mainly for refreshing laundry.

[0005] Then, there is a kind of laundry treatment apparatus that can perform at least two kinds of laundry treatments among washing, drying and refreshing.For example, a single washing and drying machine can perform all washing, drying and refreshing.

[0006] In recent years, there has been provided a laundry treating apparatus which combines two treating apparatuses so that the two treating apparatuses simultaneously perform washing, or simultaneously perform washing and drying.

[0007] Laundry treatment devices may generally include a heating device for heating wash water or air. Wash water heating may be performed to increase the temperature of the wash water, thereby promoting the activation of detergents and accelerating the decomposition of stains, thereby enhancing washing performance. Air heating may be performed to dry wet laundry by applying heat to evaporate moisture.

[0008] Typically, washing water is heated using an electric heater mounted on a tub containing the washing water. The electric heater is immersed in the washing water, which contains foreign matter and detergent. Consequently, foreign matter, such as scale, can accumulate on the electric heater, potentially degrading its performance.

[0009] Furthermore, heating the air requires separate components, such as a fan to force the air and ducting to guide it. For example, electric or gas heaters can be used to heat the air. However, these air heating methods are generally inefficient.

[0010] In recent years, dryers using heat pumps to heat air have become available. Heat pumps reverse the cooling cycle of an air conditioner and therefore require the same components as an air conditioner: an evaporator, condenser, expansion valve, and compressor. Unlike air conditioners, which use a condenser in the indoor unit to lower the indoor air temperature, dryers using heat pumps are configured to dry clothes by heating the air in the evaporator. However, these dryers have a complex structure and increased manufacturing costs, which can be problematic.

[0011] Among such various clothing processing devices, electric heaters, gas heaters and heat pumps used as heating devices have advantages and disadvantages respectively, and a concept of a clothing processing device using induction heating as a new heating method has been provided, which can further highlight the advantages of the aforementioned devices and compensate for their disadvantages (Japanese Patent Registration No. JP2001070689 and Korean Patent Registration No. KR10-922986).

[0012] However, the related art only discloses the basic concept for performing induction heating in a washing machine, and does not propose specific constituent elements of the induction heating module, the connection or operational relationship with the basic constituent elements of the laundry processing device, or specific methods and structures for improving efficiency and ensuring safety.

[0013] Therefore, it is necessary to provide various specific technical concepts to improve the efficiency of the clothes treating device applying the induction heating principle and ensure the safety thereof. Summary of the Invention

[0014]

Technical Issues

[0015] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a clothes treating apparatus and controlling method thereof that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

[0016] An object of the present invention is to provide a clothes treating apparatus having improved efficiency and safety while using induction heating.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an object is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus and a control method thereof, which effectively prevents overheating in a lifter provided in a drum, thereby enhancing safety. In particular, one object is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus and a control method thereof, which faithfully preserve the basic functions of the lifter and enhance stability.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an object is to provide a clothes treating apparatus capable of preventing overheating in a portion of a drum where a lifter is installed without changing shapes of the drum and the lifter, and a control method thereof.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an object is to provide a clothing processing device and a control method thereof, which can control the position of a lifter and reduce the heat generated in a portion of the circumferential surface of a drum corresponding to the lifter, thereby reducing energy loss and preventing damage to the lifter.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an object is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus capable of uniformly heating a space containing laundry by heating not only the drum but also the lifter. In particular, one object is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus and a control method thereof, which can prevent overheating of the lifter by lowering the heating temperature of the portion of the drum where the lifter is installed relative to the heating temperature of the remaining portion of the drum where the lifter is not installed, and can improve heating efficiency by allowing heat to be transferred through the lifter.

[0021] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an object is to provide a clothes treating apparatus and a control method thereof, the clothes treating apparatus being enhanced in stability and efficiency while minimizing changes in the shapes and structures of a conventional drum and lifter.

[0022] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an object is to provide a laundry treating apparatus and a control method thereof, which controls an output of a sensing module based on a sensed or estimated position of a lifter, thereby preventing the lifter from overheating and improving heating efficiency.

[0023]

Technical solution

[0024] To achieve these objects and other advantages according to the present invention as embodied and broadly described herein, according to one aspect of the present invention, a laundry treating device includes: a drum formed of a metal material and configured to accommodate laundry therein; an induction module spaced apart from a circumferential surface of the drum and configured to heat the circumferential surface of the drum through a magnetic field generated when current is applied to a coil; a lifter disposed in the drum to move the laundry inside the drum as the drum rotates; and a module controller configured to control an output of the induction module to control the amount of heat generated from the circumferential surface of the drum, wherein the module controller variably controls the amount of heat generated based on a change in a position of the lifter that occurs as the drum rotates.

[0025] The module controller may perform control so that heat in the drum at a facing position of the lifter, where the lifter faces the induction module, is less than heat in the drum at a position where the lifter deviates from the facing position.

[0026] Specifically, when the lifter is positioned facing the sensing module, the module controller may reduce the output of the sensing module to zero or below normal output, and when the lifter is not positioned facing the sensing module, the module controller may perform control so that the output of the sensing module is normal output.

[0027] The lifter can be installed on the inner circumference of the drum. Specifically, the lifter can be formed by plastic material.

[0028] In order to sense the position of the lifter, the laundry treating apparatus may further include: a magnet arranged in the drum so that its position relative to the lifter is fixed; and a sensor arranged at a fixed position outside the drum to sense the position of the lifter by sensing changes in the position of the magnet when the drum rotates.

[0029] When the rotation angle of the cylindrical drum is within a range of 0 to 360 degrees, by sensing the position of the magnet, the position of the lifter disposed to form a predetermined angle with the position of the magnet may be estimated.

[0030] The sensor may include a reed switch or a Hall sensor configured to output different signals or flags depending on whether a magnet is sensed.

[0031] The magnet may be provided on the drum, and the sensor may be provided on the tub. In order to minimize the influence of the magnetic field generated by the sensing module, the sensor may be installed on the tub at a position opposite to the position where the sensing module is installed on the tub.

[0032] The clothes treating apparatus may further include a main controller configured to control driving of the motor that rotates the drum, and the main controller may be configured to communicate with the module controller.

[0033] The lifter may include a plurality of lifters arranged in the circumferential direction of the drum. Magnets may be provided in the same number as the lifters, and the sensor may sense the position of each lifter by sensing the position of the corresponding magnet, and may transmit the sensing output to the module controller.

[0034] In one example, if three lifters are provided, three magnets can be provided. The lifters and magnets can be positioned at the same angular distance. Therefore, when one magnet is sensed, the position of the adjacent lifter can be estimated. In this case, the position of each lifter can be estimated relatively accurately, even during periods of varying drum RPM.

[0035] The magnets can be provided in a singular number only, regardless of the number of lifters, and a sensor can be provided to sense the position of a specific lifter by sensing the position of the magnet and transmit the output to the main controller, and the main controller can be provided to estimate the position of each of the remaining lifters by the output of the sensor and the rotation angle of the motor.

[0036] This is economical because the number of magnets can be reduced. When the position of any one lifter is estimated based on the position of the magnets, the positions of the remaining lifters can be estimated relatively accurately, taking into account the current RPM and the angles between the respective lifters. However, it can be difficult to accurately estimate the position of the lifters during periods of varying drum RPM.

[0037] The circumferential surface of the drum may be formed with an embossing pattern repeated along the circumferential surface, and the formation of the embossing pattern on a portion of the circumferential surface of the drum where the lifter is installed may be eliminated.

[0038] The embossed pattern protrudes from or is recessed into the circumferential surface of the drum. Therefore, the portion with the embossed pattern can have a smaller surface area facing the sensing module than other portions without the embossed pattern. Therefore, when the embossed pattern faces the sensing module, the current flowing through the sensing module or the output (power) of the sensing module can be increased.

[0039] On the other hand, a portion of the circumferential surface of the drum corresponding to the lifter mounting portion where the lifter is mounted faces the sensing module over a larger area and is spaced a smaller distance away from the sensing module. Therefore, the value of the current flowing in the sensing module or the value of the output of the sensing module can be reduced.

[0040] The relief pattern and the lifter mounting portion are formed in a repetitive and regular pattern around the drum. Therefore, the lifter position can be estimated based on changes in the current or output of the sensing module that depend on the drum's rotation angle. This means that even without a sensor for sensing the drum's rotation angle, the lifter position can be estimated relatively accurately.

[0041] That is, the module controller can be configured to estimate the position of the lifter based on changes in power or current of the sensing module caused by the presence or absence of the relief pattern appearing when the drum rotates facing the sensing module. In other words, the position of the lifter can be estimated based on changes in the output of the sensing module from the module controller, which controls the output of the sensing module.

[0042] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, according to another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a clothing processing device is provided, the clothing processing device comprising: a drum formed of a metal material and configured to accommodate clothing therein; an induction module spaced apart from the circumferential surface of the drum and configured to heat the circumferential surface of the drum through a magnetic field generated when current is applied to a coil; a lifter disposed in the drum to move the clothing inside the drum as the drum rotates; and a module controller configured to control the output of the induction module to control the heat generated from the circumferential surface of the drum, wherein the method comprises: operating the induction module, controlling the induction module to generate a normal output by the module controller, sensing a position of the lifter, and reducing the output of the induction module by the module controller when the position of the lifter is sensed.

[0043] The method may further include determining whether to perform the reducing regardless of whether the position of the lifter is sensed.

[0044] The determination of whether to perform the reduction is performed based on the rotation speed of the drum or based on an operation being performed.

[0045] When the rotation speed of the drum is equal to or greater than the spinning speed (which is higher than the tumbling speed), the clothes rotate in close contact with the inner circumference of the drum. The tumbling speed refers to the speed at which the clothes are lifted by the lifter when the drum rotates. When the rotation speed of the drum becomes greater than the tumbling speed and reaches the spinning speed, the centrifugal force becomes greater than the acceleration due to gravity, and the clothes are in close contact with the inner circumference of the drum, thereby rotating together with the drum without falling off.

[0046] When the clothes are in close contact with the inner circumference of the drum, it means that the heat transfer between the drum and the clothes can continue. Therefore, in this case, it is not necessary to variably control the output of the sensing module.

[0047] When determining whether to perform the reduction, when the rotation speed of the drum is equal to or less than a predetermined speed, the reduction may be performed. When the rotation speed of the drum exceeds the predetermined speed, the reduction may not be performed. The predetermined speed may be, for example, 200 RPM.

[0048] The laundry treating apparatus may further include an outer tub configured to accommodate the drum and store wash water therein, and during the determining process, the reducing is not performed in a washing operation in which the wash water is stored in the outer tub.

[0049] During a wash cycle, a portion of the drum's circumferential surface is immersed in the wash water within the tub. Therefore, as the drum rotates, heat generated within the drum is efficiently transferred to the wash water. Therefore, during a wash cycle, there is no need to control the output to decrease.

[0050] The reducing may be performed when a facing position of the lifter is sensed in the sensing, wherein the lifter faces the sensing module at the facing position of the lifter.

[0051] During the reduction, the output may be controlled to be smaller than a normal output, or may be turned off.

[0052] The method may further include sensing a value of current flowing in the sensing module or a value of power of the sensing module, and sensing the position of the lifter may include estimating the position of the lifter by a change in the value of power or current. This may be very economical because no sensor is required.

[0053] The laundry processing device may further include: a magnet arranged in the drum so that its position relative to the lifter is fixed; and a sensor arranged at a fixed position outside the drum to sense the position of the lifter by sensing changes in the position of the magnet when the drum rotates, and the sensing may include sensing the position of the lifter based on an output value of the sensor.

[0054] The lifter may include a plurality of lifters arranged at constant intervals in the circumferential direction of the drum, and the clothing processing device may include: a single magnet, which is arranged in the drum so that its position relative to a specific lifter among the lifters is fixed; and a sensor, which is arranged at a fixed position outside the drum to sense the position of the specific lifter by sensing the change in the position of the single magnet when the drum rotates, and the sensing may include sensing the position of the lifter based on the output value of the sensor, and estimating the positions of the remaining lifts based on the rotation angle of the drum or the rotation angle of the motor driving the drum.

[0055] The reducing may be performed when a facing position of the lifter, at which the lifter faces the sensing module, is sensed.

[0056] In the above embodiment, control may be performed such that the output of the sensing module changes after the sensing module is operated, that is, after the sensing module reaches a normal output, the output of the sensing module may change.

[0057] Due to the positional relationship between the induction module and the drum, as well as their respective shapes, the induction module generally heats only specific portions of the drum. Consequently, when the induction module heats the drum while it is stopped, specific portions of the drum may be heated to very high temperatures. Therefore, the drum must be rotated to prevent overheating. In other words, the drum can be rotated to change the portion that is heated.

[0058] Therefore, the drum can be rotated before the sensing module is activated. In washing machines and dryers, the drum speed is typically set to a speed that allows for a tumbling drive. The drum is accelerated directly from a stopped state to the tumbling drive speed. Furthermore, the drum can rotate both forward and reverse to perform the tumbling drive. That is, the drum can continue tumbling in a clockwise direction, then stop, and then resume tumbling in a counterclockwise direction.

[0059] Even at very low drum rotation speeds, certain parts of the drum can similarly overheat. For example, when the drum's tumbling speed is 40 RPM, it takes a predetermined amount of time for the drum to rotate from a stopped state to 40 RPM. Therefore, the time at which the drum begins tumbling drive differs from the time at which the drum normally performs tumbling drive. Specifically, when the drum begins tumbling drive, it gradually accelerates from a stopped state and, after reaching the tumbling RPM, is driven at the tumbling RPM. The drum may perform tumbling drive in a specific direction, then stop, and then resume tumbling drive in a different direction.

[0060] Here, it is necessary to prevent the drum from overheating and increase heating energy efficiency and time efficiency.

[0061] It may be necessary to avoid heating during a period when the RPM of the drum is very low to prevent the drum from overheating. On the other hand, when heating the drum after the RPM of the drum reaches a normal range, time may be wasted.

[0062] Therefore, the time point when the sensing module starts to run may be after the drum starts to rotate and before the drum reaches normal tumbling RPM. Of course, the sensing module can run after the drum reaches tumbling RPM, because it is more important to prevent the drum from overheating.

[0063] In one example, the sensing module may operate when the drum RPM is greater than 30 RPM, but may not operate when the drum RPM is less than 30 RPM.

[0064] That is, the sensing module may operate only when the RPM of the drum is greater than a specific RPM, and may not operate when the RPM of the drum is less than the specific RPM.

[0065] Therefore, for a normal rolling driving period, the sensing module is driven after the drum starts rotating and the driving of the sensing module is stopped before the rotation of the drum stops. That is, the sensing module can be turned on or off based on a predetermined RPM that is less than the normal rolling RPM.

[0066] Meanwhile, variable control of the sensing module may be performed in the turned-on state of the sensing module.

[0067] To achieve the above-mentioned object, according to another aspect of the present invention, a laundry processing device includes: a drum formed of a metal material and configured to accommodate laundry therein; an induction module spaced apart from a circumferential surface of the drum and configured to heat the circumferential surface of the drum through a magnetic field generated when current is applied to a coil; and a lifter formed of a metal material and provided in the drum to move the laundry inside the drum when the drum rotates, wherein the lifter is configured to be embedded in a direction in which the distance between the induction module and the lifter facing each other increases.

[0068] When the surface of the lifter facing the induction module is radially located further inward than the circumferential surface of the drum, overheating of the portion where the lifter is located can be prevented. In this case, it may be unnecessary to variably control the output of the induction module based on the position of the lifter. Furthermore, since the surface of the lifter facing the induction module can be heated, heating time can be reduced.

[0069] This change in the structure of the lifter and the drum for preventing the part with the lifter from overheating can be applied together with the variable control of the output of the induction module. In this case, the purpose of preventing the part with the lifter from overheating can be further effectively achieved.

[0070] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, according to another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling a clothing treatment device is provided, the clothing treatment device comprising: a drum formed of a metal material and configured to accommodate clothing therein; an induction module spaced apart from the circumferential surface of the drum and configured to heat the circumferential surface of the drum through a magnetic field, the magnetic field being generated when current is applied to a coil; a lifter disposed in the drum to move the clothing inside the drum as the drum rotates; and a module controller configured to control the output of the induction module so as to control the heat generated from the circumferential surface of the drum, the method comprising: operating the induction module, stopping the operation of the induction module, determining whether to operate or stop the operation of the induction module based on the rotational speed of the drum, and determining whether to operate or stop the operation of the induction module based on the temperature of the drum.

[0071] The drum may begin rotating at a normal roll drive speed while stopped. After the drum begins rotating and accelerates, the drum may continue rotating at the roll drive speed. Therefore, after the drum begins rotating, the sensing module may start or stop driving based on a predetermined drum speed that is lower than the normal roll drive speed.

[0072] When the sensing module starts driving, the module controller may control the operation of the sensing module to a normal output. Then, the step of sensing the position of the lifter may be performed. The method may also include the step of reducing the output of the sensing module by the module controller when the position of the lifter is sensed.

[0073] Therefore, when the tumbling drive of the drum is continued, the sensing module may repeatedly go through the normal output period and the reduced output period.

[0074] Then, the sensing module is turned off before the tumbling drive ends. This is because the drum stops after being driven at a speed lower than a predetermined rotation speed.

[0075] When the drum starts rotating in the opposite direction again, the rotation speed of the drum is sensed and the sensing module starts driving. Normal output control, lifter position sensing and reduced output control may be repeatedly performed until the driving of the sensing module stops.

[0076] In this way, the drum can be prevented from overheating, a specific portion of the drum where the lifter is provided can be prevented from overheating, and time efficiency can be improved.

[0077] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

[0078] Beneficial effects

[0079] As apparent from the above description, according to embodiments of the present invention, a laundry treatment apparatus and a control method thereof can be provided, which effectively prevent overheating in a lifter provided in a drum, thereby enhancing safety. In particular, a laundry treatment apparatus and a control method thereof can be provided, which faithfully maintain the basic function of the lifter and enhance stability.

[0080] According to embodiments of the present invention, a clothes treating apparatus capable of preventing overheating in a portion of a drum where a lifter is installed without changing the shapes of the drum and the lifter, and a control method thereof may be provided.

[0081] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a clothing treatment device and a control method thereof can be provided, which can control the position of a lifter and reduce the heat generated in a portion of the circumferential surface of a drum corresponding to the lifter, thereby reducing energy loss and preventing damage to the lifter.

[0082] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a laundry treating apparatus and a control method thereof can be provided, which can control the output of the sensing module to prevent the lifter from overheating regardless of the rotation angle of the drum, thereby improving safety and efficiency and effectively utilizing the output of the sensing module.

[0083] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a laundry treatment apparatus can be provided that can uniformly heat a space containing laundry by heating both the drum and the lifter. In particular, a laundry treatment apparatus and a control method thereof can be provided that can prevent overheating of the lifter by lowering the heating temperature of the portion of the drum where the lifter is installed relative to the heating temperature of the remaining portion of the drum where the lifter is not installed, and can improve heating efficiency by allowing heat to be transferred through the lifter.

[0084] According to embodiments of the present invention, a clothes treating apparatus and a control method thereof can be provided, which are enhanced in stability and efficiency while minimizing changes in the shapes and structures of a conventional drum and lifter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0085] The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this application. In the drawings:

[0086] Figure 1 A clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0087] Figure 2 Shows a sensing module installed on an outer tub in a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0088] Figure 3 Shown is a lift mounted on a plain drum.

[0089] Figure 4 shows the connection state of the drum and the lifter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0090] Figure 5 Shown Figure 4 The riser shown;

[0091] Figure 6 Shown Figure 5 The exploded state of the lifter is shown;

[0092] Figure 7 shows the structure of a drum according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0093] Figure 8 Schematically shows the structure of a clothes treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0094] Figure 9 Shows the application Figure 8 Block diagram of the control components;

[0095] Figure 10A block diagram illustrating another embodiment of a control element;

[0096] Figure 11 An embodiment of the shape of the inner circumference of the drum is shown;

[0097] Figure 12 shows the dependence of the roller relative to Figure 11 The changes in the current and output (power) of the sensing module according to the rotation angle of the inner circumference of the drum; and

[0098] Figure 13 The control flow according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0099] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0100] The following will refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 Basic constituent elements and induction heating principles of a clothes treating apparatus applicable to an embodiment of the present invention are described.

[0101] like Figure 1 As shown, the basic components of the laundry processing apparatus according to this embodiment may be the same as or similar to those of a conventional laundry processing apparatus. However, unlike conventional laundry processing apparatuses, an induction module 400 may be installed to directly heat the drum 300. Since the induction module 400 is a heating device, any other heating device used in conventional laundry processing apparatuses may be replaced with or combined with the induction module 400.

[0102] The induction module 400 includes a coil 420 that generates a magnetic field when receiving an electric current. The coil 420 can be formed by winding a wire, and the winding direction of the wire, i.e., the direction in which the wire is wound, can be determined so that the area of ​​its surface facing the outer circumference of the drum 300 is as large as possible. In addition, the coil 420 can be positioned so that its installation position is consistent with the center of the drum 300 to be heated by the coil 420. The winding direction and installation position of the coil 420 can be clearly understood through the principle of induction heating, which will be described below.

[0103] When current is supplied to coil 420, a magnetic field is generated in the winding direction of coil 420. In other words, a magnetic field is generated in the direction of the central axis of coil 420. Here, when an alternating current with a varying phase difference is applied to coil 420, an alternating magnetic field is formed in which the direction of the magnetic field changes. This alternating magnetic field generates an induced magnetic field in an adjacent conductor in the opposite direction, and the change in the induced magnetic field generates an induced current in the conductor.

[0104] By utilizing the induced current and the induced magnetic field, energy is transferred from the induction module 400 to the adjacent conductor due to the changes in the electric and magnetic fields.

[0105] The drum 300 is formed of a metal material, and due to the induced magnetic field generated in the coil 420 , an eddy current, which is one type of induced current, is generated in the drum 300 .

[0106] Electrical energy is converted into heat energy through resistance, or inertia, causing a change in the induced current. This means that the drum 300 is heated. This principle allows the drum 300, which is spaced apart from the sensing module 400, to be directly heated. Based on this principle, it can be understood that as the distance between the drum 300 and the sensing module 400 decreases and the surface area of ​​the drum 300 and the sensing module 400 facing each other increases, the energy from the sensing module 400 can be more efficiently transferred to the drum 300.

[0107] In other words, it can be seen that the heating efficiency of a particular region may increase as the region is closer to the induction module 400 and becomes more closely parallel to the induction module 400 .

[0108] The sensing module 400 may be disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the outer tub 200. Alternatively, the sensing module 400 may be disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the outer tub 200 to further reduce the distance between the sensing module 400 and the drum 300. However, in consideration of, for example, collision between the rotating and vibrating drum 300 and the sensing module 400, and damage to the sensing module 400 due to the high temperature and high humidity environment inside the outer tub 200, the sensing module 400 may be disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the outer tub 200.

[0109] The outer tub 200 is installed inside the body 100 that forms the outer shape of the laundry treatment apparatus, and the drum 300 is rotatably installed inside the outer tub 200. A motor 700 may be installed on the rear surface of the outer tub 200 to drive the drum 300. Therefore, by driving the motor 700, the drum 300 rotates inside the outer tub 200.

[0110] The outer tub 200 is supported relative to the body 100 by a support device 800 such as a damper or a spring. The support device 800 may be provided below the outer tub 200. A drain pump 900 may also be provided below the outer tub 200.

[0111] like Figure 1 and 2As shown, the sensing module 400 may extend in the longitudinal direction of the outer tub 200 and may be installed on the outer circumferential surface of the outer tub 200. The sensing module 400 may be installed on the outer circumferential surface of the upper portion of the outer tub 200. This is because there may not be enough space to install the sensing module 400 on the outer circumferential surface of the lower portion of the outer tub 200 due to the aforementioned components such as the support device 800 and the drain pump 900.

[0112] The sensing module 400 may face a portion of the outer circumference of the drum 300 that is in a stopped state. Therefore, when current is applied to the sensing module 400, only a portion of the outer circumference of the drum 300 may be sufficiently heated. However, when the drum 300 rotates while the sensing module 400 is in operation, the entire outer circumference of the drum 300 may be uniformly heated.

[0113] Considering the heating efficiency of the induction module 400, the frontmost and rearmost portions of the drum 300 may not be heated. This is because laundry is collected and processed primarily in the longitudinal center of the drum 300. The heated drum 300 needs to transfer heat to the laundry inside the drum 300, but it may be difficult to transfer heat from the frontmost and rearmost portions of the drum to the laundry. Therefore, heating these frontmost and rearmost portions may result in reduced heating efficiency.

[0114] Therefore, the sensing module 400 may be mounted on a longitudinal center portion of the outer tub 20 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction.

[0115] The lifter 50 may be installed inside the drum 300 to agitate the laundry inside the drum 300. When the drum 300 rotates, the lifter 50 can lift the laundry. The laundry lifted by the lifter 50 falls. Therefore, the lifter 50 can enhance the washing performance or drying performance. The lifter 50 may generally be required for a drum-type laundry processing device.

[0116] The lifter 50 is different from the relief on the drum 300. That is, the length of the lifter 50 protruding into the drum 300 is much greater than the length of the relief. In addition, unlike the relief, the lifter extends in the longitudinal direction of the drum 300.

[0117] like Figure 1As shown, the lifter 50 is mounted on the longitudinal center portion of the drum 300 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, multiple lifters 50 may be arranged circumferentially around the drum 300. As shown, the position of the lifters 50 is similar to the position where the sensing module 400 is mounted. That is, the majority of the lifters 50 may be positioned facing the sensing module 400. Therefore, the outer circumferential surface of the portion of the drum 300 where the lifters 50 are located can be heated by the sensing module 400. The outer circumferential surface of the portion of the drum 300 where the lifters 50 are located may not be in direct contact with the laundry inside the drum 300. Heat generated in the outer circumferential surface of the drum 300 is transferred to the lifters 50 rather than to the laundry because the lifters 50 are in contact with the laundry. Consequently, the lifters 50 may overheat, which can be problematic. Specifically, overheating of the drum circumferential surface in contact with the lifters 50 may be problematic.

[0118] Figure 3 The lifter 30 is shown mounted on a normal drum 20. Only the center portion of the drum is shown, and the front and rear portions of the drum 20 are omitted. This is because the lifter 30 can generally be mounted only on the center of the drum.

[0119] A plurality of lifters 30 are installed in the circumferential direction of the drum 20. Here, three lifters 30 are installed as an example.

[0120] The circumferential surface of the drum 20 may be composed of a lifter mounting portion 23 in which the lifter 30 is mounted, and a lifter exclusion portion 22 in which no lifter is mounted. The cylindrical drum 20 may be formed by rolling a metal plate to have a joint portion 26. The joint portion 26 may be a portion where both ends of the metal plate are connected to each other by welding or the like.

[0121] Various embossed patterns may be formed on the circumferential surface of the drum 20, and a plurality of through holes 24 and lifter communication holes 25 may be formed for mounting the lifter 30. That is, various embossed patterns may be formed in the lifter exclusion portion 22, and a plurality of through holes 24 and lifter communication holes 25 may be formed in the lifter mounting portion 23.

[0122] The lifter mounting portion 23 is a portion of the circumferential surface of the drum 20. Therefore, generally, the lifter mounting portion 23 is formed with only the minimum number of holes for installation of the lifter and passage of wash water. This is because forming a greater number of holes by perforation, etc., may unnecessarily increase manufacturing costs.

[0123] Therefore, a plurality of through holes 24 may be formed in the lifter mounting portion 23 along the outer shape of the lifter 30 to be mounted, so that the lifter 30 can be coupled to the inner circumferential surface of the drum 20 via the through holes 24. In addition, a plurality of lifter communication holes 25 may be formed in a central portion of the lifter mounting portion 23 to allow wash water to move from the outside of the drum 20 to the inside of the lifter 30.

[0124] However, typically, only the necessary holes 24 and 25 are formed in the lifter mounting portion 23, and most of the outer peripheral surface of the drum 20 is left intact. That is, the total area of ​​the holes 24 and 25 is smaller than the total area of ​​the lifter mounting portion 23. Therefore, a large area of ​​the lifter mounting portion 23, excluding the area of ​​the holes, can directly face the induction module 400, and the lifter mounting portion 23 can be heated by the induction module 400.

[0125] The lifter 30 is installed in the lifter installation part 23 to protrude inward in the radial direction of the drum 20. In this way, the lifter installation part 23 does not contact the laundry inside the drum 20, and the lifter 30 contacts the drum 20.

[0126] The lifter 30 is typically formed of a plastic material. Because the plastic lifter 30 is in direct contact with the lifter mounting portion 23, heat generated in the lifter mounting portion 23 can be transferred to the lifter 30. However, the lifter 30 formed of a plastic material may transfer very little heat to the clothes in contact with the lifter 30. This is because the plastic material of the lifter 30 has very low heat transfer properties. Therefore, only the portion of the lifter 30 in contact with the lifter mounting portion 23 is exposed to high temperatures, and the heat is not transferred to the entire lifter 30.

[0127] According to the results of experiments conducted by the inventors of the present invention, it was found that the temperature at the riser installation portion could rise to 160 degrees Celsius, while the temperature at the portion where the riser was not installed could rise to 140 degrees Celsius. This is considered to be because the heat generated in the riser installation portion may not be transferred to the clothes.

[0128] Therefore, the lifter 30 may be overheated, which may cause damage to the lifter 30. In addition, since the heat generated in the lifter mounting portion 23 may not be transferred to the clothes, energy may be wasted and heating efficiency may be reduced. Embodiments of the present invention are designed to overcome these problems.

[0129] Figure 4 The drum and the lifter according to the embodiment of the present invention are shown. The manufacturing method or shape of the drum can be the same as that of the drum. Figure 3The manufacturing method or shape of the ordinary roller shown is the same or similar. However, it should be noted that the lifter mounting portion 323 can be different and the material and shape of the lifter can be changed.

[0130] As shown, lifter exclusion portion 322 can be similar to the lifter exclusion portion of a conventional drum described above. Unlike lifter exclusion portion 322, lifter mounting portion 323 can omit or remove the circumferential surface of the drum. In other words, an area equal to the area of ​​the lifter can be omitted or removed from the circumferential surface of the drum. This can also omit an area larger than the area omitted by the holes for mounting the lifter or for passage of wash water.

[0131] Specifically, a recessed area 325 may be formed at a central portion of the lifter mounting portion 323. The recessed area 325 may take the form of a cutout formed by cutting away a portion of the circumferential surface of the drum, or may take the form of a depression that is centrally recessed at a portion of the circumferential surface of the drum. Figure 4 The previous embodiment is shown, and Figure 7 The latter embodiment is shown.

[0132] A plurality of through holes 324 and 326 may be formed in the lifter mounting portion 323 to correspond to the shape of the lifter 50 to be mounted. The plurality of through holes 324 and 326 may be formed along the outer edge (frame) of the lifter 50 to correspond to the outer contour of the lifter 50. For example, when the lifter is in the form of a rail, the through holes may be formed along the outer edge of the rail. Of course, these through holes may be formed in a portion of the circumferential surface of the drum in the form of drilled holes.

[0133] A portion of the circumferential surface of the drum corresponding to the central portion of the lifter mounting portion 323 may be omitted. That is, the area facing the sensing module 400 may be omitted. That is, the portion surrounded by the through holes 324 and 326 may be entirely cut away to form a recessed area 325 in the form of a cutout.

[0134] The recessed area 325 is formed to correspond to the inside of the lifter 50 and is surrounded by the lifter 50. Therefore, the recessed area in the form of a cutout cannot be seen inside the drum. The center portion of the lifter 50 installed in the lifter installation portion 323 can be seen from the outside of the drum.

[0135] With the lifter mounting portion 323, the portion of the drum's circumferential surface where the lifter 50 is mounted substantially does not face the induction module 400. Therefore, heat generation in the lifter mounting portion 323 is minimal. This means that a conventional plastic lifter can be used. This is because heat generation throughout the entire lifter mounting portion 323 is minimal, preventing the lifter 50 from overheating due to heat transferred to the lifter 50.

[0136] However, when a conventional plastic lifter is used, local heating may occur at a portion where the lifter 50 and the lifter mounting portion 323 are coupled to each other, which may cause local damage to the lifter 50. In addition, although heat generation is minimized when the lifter mounting portion 323 faces the induction module, the induction module is driven, and therefore, energy loss may occur because most of the energy used is not converted into heat energy.

[0137] Therefore, it is necessary to find a method that can prevent the riser from overheating while minimizing the energy loss occurring in the riser installation portion.

[0138] Will refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 The lifter applicable to the embodiment of the present invention is described in detail. According to the embodiment, damage to the lifter due to overheating and energy loss can be reduced.

[0139] The lifter 50 according to this embodiment may include an inner lifter 60 formed of metal. The inner lifter 60 may be formed to have an elliptical shape or a track shape. That is, the shape of the frame 61 or the outer edge adjacent to the inner circumference of the drum may be an elliptical shape or a track shape. Of course, the shape of the inner lifter 60 may be modified to some extent. However, the inner lifter 60 may have a shape with a length greater than a width, so that it extends in the longitudinal direction of the drum when the inner lifter 60 is installed on the drum.

[0140] The inner lifter 60 may be recessed from its outer edge 61. That is, the inner lifter 60 may be recessed toward the center of the drum. More specifically, the recessed shape of the inner lifter 60 forms the outer shape of the lifter 50 inside the drum. That is, since the inner lifter 60 is recessed, the lifter 50 may protrude toward the center of the drum.

[0141] The internal lifter 60 can be formed from a metal material and can be positioned at a greater distance from the induction module 400 than the lifter 50 because a portion of the internal lifter 60 within the outer edge 61 is recessed. As described above, a portion of the drum's circumferential surface corresponding to the internal lifter 60 has been removed. Therefore, it can be said that the removed circumferential surface has been replaced by the internal lifter 60. In other words, it can be said that the removed circumferential surface takes the form of the internal lifter 60 and moves in a direction that increases the distance from the induction module it faces. In other words, the surface of the internal lifter 60 facing the induction module is further inward in the radial direction of the drum than the surface of the lifter's excluded portion facing the induction module.

[0142] However, compared with the radius of the drum from the inner circumference of the drum to the center of the drum, the maximum depth or maximum protruding length of the internal lifter 60 is small. That is, the increase in the distance between the internal lifter 60 and the induction module is relatively small.

[0143] The internal lifter 60 may be recessed so as to be curved or inclined in the radial direction. That is, the internal lifter 60 may be recessed to have an inclined surface, rather than being recessed at a right angle from the outer periphery 61 to the center of the internal lifter 60. In this way, the internal lifter 60 has a sensing module projection surface 64 facing the sensing module 400 and having an area substantially the same as the area inside the outer edge 61 of the internal lifter 60. However, due to a change in the contour line according to the recessed shape (i.e., an increase in the recessed depth or the protruding length), the distance between the internal lifter 60 and the sensing module 400 facing each other varies depending on the position on the surface of the internal lifter 60 facing the sensing module 400. That is, the distance may become the smallest at the outer edge 61 and may become the largest at the central portion of the internal lifter 60.

[0144] Here, it can be seen that the induction module 400 can heat the internal lifter 60 differently depending on the material of the internal lifter 60 and the height of the internal lifter 60. Because the internal lifter 60 can be in the form of a thin metal plate, the internal lifter 60 can also be effectively heated by the induction module 400. Of course, the internal lifter 60 is recessed from the inner circumferential surface of the drum, which increases the distance from the induction module facing the internal lifter 60, but this increase in distance is relatively small, and thus the internal lifter 60 can be sufficiently heated.

[0145] The internal lifter 60 is an element that is in direct contact with the clothes. Therefore, the heat generated in the internal lifter 60 can be directly transferred to the clothes. Therefore, the internal lifter 60 can transfer the energy used in the induction module 400 to the clothes, thereby improving the heating efficiency.

[0146] A through hole 62 may be formed at a central portion of the inner lifter 60. That is, wash water may be introduced into the drum from the inside of the inner lifter 60. Since water flow is formed through the lifter communication hole 62, washing efficiency may be improved.

[0147] A plurality of coupling ribs 63 may be formed on the drum coupling surface or the outer edge 61 of the inner lifter 60. The plurality of coupling ribs 63 may be arranged along the outer edge 61.

[0148] like Figure 4 As shown, the coupling rib 63 can be inserted into the through holes 324 and 326 formed in the lifter mounting portion 323. Specifically, the coupling rib 63 can be coupled to the rib through hole 326. In order to reduce the contact area with the drum, the coupling rib 63 can be in the form of a rib having a thickness smaller than a width, and more specifically, the through hole into which the coupling rib 63 is inserted, particularly the rib through hole 326, can have a slit shape.

[0149] Heat generated in the circumferential surface of the drum near the rib through-holes 326 can be transferred to the inner lifter 60 through the coupling ribs 63. This can improve energy efficiency.

[0150] Specifically, by providing the recess or cutout, the portion of the circumferential surface of the drum corresponding to the lifter mounting portion 323 can be omitted, so it is unnecessary to heat the corresponding portion because the heat generated in this portion is difficult to transfer to the clothes.

[0151] At the same time, by providing a recess or cutout, the metal surface of the lifter can face the induction module and be heated, directly transferring heat to the clothes. Specifically, by providing a lifter that is recessed as the distance from the induction module facing the lifter increases, overheating of the lifter can be prevented and the heat of the lifter can be utilized. In particular, the internal lifter can be formed from a metal material, more preferably, from the same material as the drum (e.g., stainless steel), so that the internal lifter can be formed as if it were part of the circumferential surface of the drum protruding into the drum.

[0152] In this way, an increase in energy efficiency and heating effect can be achieved.

[0153] like Figure 6 As shown, the lifter 50 may further include an outer lifter 70. The outer lifter 70 may be coupled to the inner lifter 60. By coupling the two, an empty space may be formed in the lifter 50.

[0154] In the case where only the inner lifter 60 is provided, the inner lifter 60 may not be firmly coupled to the drum because the portion of the inner lifter 60 that contacts the drum needs to be minimized. In addition, due to the thin thickness of the inner lifter 60, the rigidity of the inner lifter 60 may be deteriorated. In other words, the inner lifter 60 may be easily broken by external impact.

[0155] In order to overcome this problem, the lifter 50 may further include an external lifter 70 made of a plastic material. By providing the external lifter 70, the lifter 50 may be more firmly coupled to the drum.

[0156] Here, it may be necessary to make the external lifter 70 contact with the drum. That is, even if the contact area is minimized, a contact area may be required for coupling between the external lifter 70 and the drum. Therefore, the external lifter 70 can be formed of an engineering plastic material with excellent heat resistance. An empty space can be formed between the external lifter 70 and the internal lifter 60, and the internal lifter 60 can basically form only the bottom surface of the lifter 50. That is, the external area of ​​the lifter 50 occupied by the internal lifter 60 is relatively small. Therefore, it is more economical to use an engineering plastic material to form the external lifter 70 than to use an engineering plastic material to form the entire lifter 50. In addition, since the internal lifter 60 is formed of a metal material, heat can be effectively transferred to the clothes.

[0157] Therefore, it is highly desirable to construct the riser 50 by combining the inner riser 60 formed of a metal material and the outer riser 70 formed of an engineering plastic material.

[0158] To this end, the outer lifter 70 has a bottom surface or outer edge 71 that defines the bottom surface of the entire lifter 50. However, to reduce the contact area with the drum, the outer edge 71 is narrowed. In other words, the outer edge 71 can be formed to have a hollow oval shape or a track shape. The outer edge 71 can also be referred to as the frame of the outer lifter 70.

[0159] A through hole or insertion hole 73, through which the coupling rib 63 of the inner lifter 60 passes, may be formed in the outer edge 71 of the outer lifter 70. The coupling rib 63 may first pass through the through hole 73 and then be connected to the drum. Therefore, compared to the outer edge 71 of the outer lifter 70 made of plastic material, the heat generated from the outer peripheral surface of the drum in contact with the outer lifter 70 can be more effectively transferred to the coupling rib 63 formed of a metal material.

[0160] A hook 77 may be provided to more securely couple the lifter 50 (more specifically, the outer lifter 70) to the drum. The hook 77 may be formed on the outer edge 71 or frame of the outer lifter 70. Alternatively, a through hole may be formed in the lifter mounting portion of the drum so that the hook is inserted and fixed to the through hole.

[0161] Meanwhile, a portion of the outer lifter 70 except for the outer edge 71 may be inserted into the inner lifter 60. This may increase the rigidity of the inner lifter 60.

[0162] The portion of the outer lifter 70 within the frame 71 that is inserted into the inner lifter, namely the insertion portion 72, can be formed from various components. The insertion portion 72 does not necessarily have to contact the inner circumference of the drum. In other words, only the outer edge 71, not the insertion portion 72, can contact the inner circumference of the drum. Therefore, the outer edge 71 can also be referred to as a contact portion to distinguish the insertion portion 72 from the outer edge 71.

[0163] Reinforcing ribs 76 may be formed on the insertion portion 72 in the width direction to enhance the rigidity of the external lifter 70. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 76 may be formed to extend in the width direction of the external lifter 70 to interconnect opposing portions of the frame 71. The width direction of the external lifter 70 is the same as the direction in which an external force is applied to the lifter 50. That is, the width direction of the external lifter 70 is consistent with the direction in which the lifter 50 contacts and lifts the laundry. Therefore, the reinforcing ribs 76 may be formed in the width direction of the lifter 50 rather than in the longitudinal direction.

[0164] In addition, a boss 74 may be formed to further securely couple the outer lifter 70 to the drum, and a screw fastening hole may be formed in the boss. A screw through hole may be formed in the drum to correspond to the screw fastening hole.

[0165] In addition, the outer lifter 70 may be formed with a penetration area 75. The penetration area 75 may be formed to introduce wash water from the outside of the drum 30 into the lifter 50. A plurality of penetration areas 75 may be formed. The area of ​​the penetration area 75 may be larger than the area of ​​the through-hole 62 in the lifter 50. In this way, a stronger water flow can be formed through the through-hole 62 due to the pressure difference between the outside and inside of the lifter 50.

[0166] At the same time, the frame 71 of the external lifter 70 is in direct contact with the inner circumferential surface of the drum. As mentioned above, the width of the frame 71 is relatively small in order to reduce the contact area with the drum. The inside of the frame 71 is empty, and an empty space is also formed in the circumferential surface of the drum to correspond to the empty space. That is, a cutout or a recess is formed. The cutout or recess can be substantially equal to the inner area of ​​the frame 71. That is, the entire circumferential surface of the drum inside the frame 71 can be substantially removed. Therefore, as Figure 4 As shown, as large a portion as possible of the circumferential surface of the drum inside the frame 71 can be removed, and the resulting area can be referred to as a cutout, recess, or drum communication area 325.

[0167] Figure 4 The figure shows a drum communication region 325 having a shape corresponding to that of the lifter 50. This is because it is desirable to remove as much of the drum's circumferential surface area as possible to correspond to the shape of the lifter 50. However, the drum communication region 325 can be divided into multiple regions. In other words, the large drum communication region 325 can be divided into multiple small regions. However, since a portion of the drum's circumference must be left to divide the drum communication region 325 into multiple regions, heating this portion may result in energy loss.

[0168] In the following, reference will be made to Figure 7 A drum according to an embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0169] In the above embodiment, the lifter that contacts the laundry inside the drum is manufactured separately from the drum and installed in the drum. Specifically, the surface of the lifter that faces the drum and contacts the drum is formed of a metal material, with a void space formed between the lifter surface and the sensing module. This can be achieved by recessing a portion of the circumferential surface of the drum (with the lifter installed therein) toward the drum's rotational axis.

[0170] In this embodiment, the lifter may be integrally formed on the drum, rather than being manufactured separately from the drum and installed in the drum.

[0171] Specifically, the lifter 50 can be formed by recessing a portion of the drum's circumferential surface toward the drum's center. When viewed from the inside of the drum, the lifter 50 is formed so that a portion of the drum is recessed inward. When viewed from the outside of the drum, a portion of the drum's outer circumferential surface is recessed, creating a recessed area 325 with an empty space. This empty space is filled with air. In this way, the surface of the lifter 50 facing the drum moves toward the drum's center. The surface of the lifter facing the drum is formed so that the distance from the sensing module increases.

[0172] Therefore, the surface of the lifter facing the drum is heated by the induction module, and the lifter 50 is in contact with the clothes, so that heat can be easily transferred to the clothes. Therefore, the energy used in the induction module is converted into heat energy in the entire drum, especially in the lifter, and heat can be effectively transferred from the inner peripheral surface of the drum including the lifter to the clothes.

[0173] In this way, in all of the above-described embodiments, damage to the lifter and degradation of energy efficiency, which can occur when the lifter is made of plastic material, can be prevented. Furthermore, since heat can be efficiently transferred to the laundry even from the lifter, heating performance can be further improved. For example, when applying heat to the laundry to dry it, drying performance can be further enhanced.

[0174] In the above-described embodiments, the detailed structure of the general drum or the detailed structure of the lifter may be changed to overcome any problems that may be caused by the lifter.

[0175] A supplier of the laundry treatment apparatus can provide various types of laundry treatment apparatuses as well as specific types of laundry treatment apparatuses. For example, a supplier can provide both washing machines without a drying function and washing machines with a drying function. Therefore, in the case of models with the same capacity, it is economical to produce the same apparatus using common components.

[0176] For example, in the case of washing machines and washing and drying machines with the same capacity (washing capacity), it may be more economical for the manufacturer to use the same drum and the same lifter for various models. In terms of product competitiveness, using the existing drum and lifter in new models without modification may be advantageous. This is because, assuming mass production, changes to existing components may increase initial investment costs, maintenance costs, and production costs.

[0177] A method for overcoming the above problems while avoiding problems in the process of manufacturing a drum or lifter in a new way may be sought. Hereinafter, other embodiments according to the present invention for overcoming the above problems will be described in detail.

[0178] Figure 8 is a simplified conceptual diagram of components according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0179] like Figure 8 As shown, in this embodiment, similarly, the drum 300 is heated by the induction module 400. In addition, similarly, the lifter 50 is installed inside the drum 300. In addition, the induction module 400 can be radially installed outside the drum 300 in the same or similar manner as the above embodiment, more specifically, on the outer circumferential surface of the outer tub 200.

[0180] The present embodiment is characterized in that when the rotation angle of the drum 300 is known, the current applied to the sensing module 400 or the output of the sensing module 400 can be changed. Specifically, since the drum 300 can be formed in a cylindrical shape, the rotation angle of the drum 300 can be defined as being within a range of 0 to 360 degrees around a specific point.

[0181] For example, the drum's rotation angle at point A, where a particular lifter is located at the uppermost position, can be defined as 0 degrees. Assuming the drum rotates counterclockwise and the three lifters are equally spaced apart in the drum's circumferential direction, the lifters can be said to be located at positions where the drum's rotation angle is 0 degrees, 120 degrees, and 240 degrees, respectively. Taking into account the lateral width of the lifters, the lifters can be said to be located within an angular range of approximately 2-10 degrees.

[0182] According to this embodiment, the amount of drum heating applied by the induction module 400 (hereinafter referred to as "drum heating") can be varied by controlling the position of the lifter 50 as the drum 300 rotates. Specifically, when the lifter 50 is positioned facing the induction module 400, the drum heating generated by the induction module can be reduced or eliminated, while when the lifter 50 is moved away from the induction module 400, the drum heating can be normal. Varying the drum heating in this manner can be achieved by varying the output of the induction module 400.

[0183] Therefore, since the energy consumed in the sensing module 400 is not uniform regardless of the rotation angle of the drum 300, energy efficiency can be improved. In addition, since the energy consumed in the portion of the drum corresponding to the lifter 50 can be significantly reduced, overheating in the lifter 50 can be significantly reduced.

[0184] Figure 8 The magnets 80 are shown, and are arranged equidistantly in the circumferential direction of the drum 300 in the same manner as the lifters 50. The magnets 80 can be arranged to effectively control the rotation angle of the drum 300. Similar to the lifters 50, the magnets 80 can be arranged equidistantly in the circumferential direction. In addition, the magnets 80 can be arranged in the same number as the lifters 50. Of course, the angle between the lifters 50 and the magnets 80 can be consistent between multiple lifters 50 and multiple magnets 80.

[0185] Therefore, when the position of a specific magnet 80 is sensed, the position of the lifter 50 associated with the specific magnet 80 can be sensed. Specifically, when the positions of three magnets 80 are sensed, the positions of three lifters 50 can be sensed. Figure 8As shown, when the magnet 80 is sensed at a specific position while the drum 300 rotates, it can be seen that the lifter 50 is located at a position where the drum 300 is further rotated by about 60 degrees in the counterclockwise direction.

[0186] Specifically, in this embodiment, a sensor 85 may be further provided to sense the position of the lifter 50 by sensing the position of the magnet 80 when the drum 300 rotates. The sensor 85 may sense the position of the magnet 80 corresponding to the rotation angle of the drum 300, and may sense the position of the lifter 50 based on the position of the magnet 80.

[0187] Of course, the sensor 85 may only detect the presence of the magnet 80. The rotation speed of the drum 300 may be constant at a specific time point, and thus it can be seen that the lifter 50 reaches a position facing the sensing module 400 when a specific time has passed from the time point when the magnet 80 is sensed.

[0188] Simply put, assuming the drum rotates at 1 RPM, it can be said that the drum rotates 360 degrees in 60 seconds. Assuming that three magnets 80 and three lifters 50 are arranged at the same angular distance, it can be seen that after the drum rotates further by 60 degrees, that is, 10 seconds after the time point when the sensor 85 senses the specific magnet 80, the lifter 50 reaches its position facing the sensor 85.

[0189] like Figure 8 As shown, it can be seen that when the sensor 85 senses the magnet 80 located at the lowermost portion of the drum 300, any one of the lifters 50 is positioned to face the induction module 400. Therefore, the amount of drum heating generated by the induction module 400 can be reduced when the lifter 50 faces the induction module 400, and can be increased when the lifter 50 deviates from this position. For example, the output of the induction module 400 can be interrupted, or the output of the induction module 400 can be maintained at a normal level.

[0190] The magnet 80 may be provided at the same position as the lifter 50 regardless of Figure 8 . In this case, the position of the sensing magnet 80 can be the same as the position of the sensing lifter 50. However, in this case, it may be difficult to drive the sensing module 400, which is the most important. Although the output of the sensing module 400 can be changed in a very short time, it is not easy to change the output of the sensing module 400 while sensing the magnet 80. This is because the angular area occupied by the lifter 50 may be larger than the angular area occupied by the magnet 80. The position of the magnet 80 can be defined by a specific angle, but the angle of the lifter 50 can be defined by a specific angle range rather than a specific angle.

[0191] Therefore, the position of the magnet 80 may be spaced circumferentially from the lifter 50 at a predetermined angle in consideration of the time required to change the output and the angular area occupied by the lifter 50, so as to more accurately change the output of the induction module 400. In addition, the acceptable delay time may vary based on the RPM of the drum.

[0192] The magnet 80 needs to rotate together with the drum 300. Therefore, the magnet 80 can be provided on the drum 300. In addition, the sensor 85 for sensing the magnet 80 can be provided on the tub 200. That is, in the same manner as the drum 300 rotates relative to the fixed tub 200, the magnet 80 can rotate relative to the fixed sensor 85.

[0193] Figure 9 A control element is shown that controls the position of the lifter 50 by sensing the position of the magnet 80 .

[0194] The main controller 10 or main processor of the laundry treatment device controls various operations of the laundry treatment device. For example, the main controller 10 controls whether to drive the drum 300 and the drum's rotational speed. Furthermore, a module controller 20 may be provided to control the output of the induction module under the control of the main controller 10. This module controller may also be referred to as an induction heater (IH) controller or an induction system (IS) controller.

[0195] The module controller 20 can control the current applied to the inductive drive unit or the output of the inductive module. For example, when the controller 10 issues a command to the module controller 20 to operate the inductive module, the module controller 20 can control the inductive module to operate. If the inductive module is configured to simply turn on and off repeatedly, a separate module controller 20 may not be required. For example, the inductive module can be controlled so that it turns on when the drum is driven and turns off when the drum is stopped.

[0196] However, in this embodiment, the sensing module can be controlled to repeatedly turn on and off while the drum is being driven. This means that the timing for control switching can change very quickly. Therefore, a module controller 20 separate from the main controller 10 can be provided to control the driving of the sensing module. This also serves to reduce the processing load on the main controller 10.

[0197] The sensor 85 may be provided in various forms as long as it can sense the magnet 80 and transmit the sensing result to the module controller 20 .

[0198] The sensor 85 may be a reed switch. A reed switch closes when a magnet applies a magnetic force and opens when the magnetic force disappears. Therefore, when the magnet is positioned as close as possible to the reed switch, the reed switch can be closed due to the magnet's magnetic force. Then, when the magnet moves away from the reed switch, the reed switch can be opened. The reed switch outputs different signals or flags when closed and when open. For example, the reed switch may output a 5V signal when closed and a 0V signal when open. The module controller 20 can estimate the position of the lifter 50 by receiving these signals. Conversely, the reed switch may output a 0V signal when closed and a 0V signal when open. Because the period of time during which a magnetic force is sensed is longer than the period during which it is not sensed, the reed switch can be configured to output a 0V signal when a magnetic force is detected.

[0199] The module controller 20 can obtain information about the drum RPM via the main controller 10. It can then monitor the angle between the lifter 50 and the magnet 80. Therefore, the module controller 20 can estimate the position of the lifter 50 based on the signal from the reed switch 85. Of course, the module controller 20 can also change the output of the sensing module based on the estimated position of the lifter 50. When the lifter 50 faces the sensing module, the module controller 20 can reduce or zero the output of the sensing module. This can significantly reduce unnecessary energy consumption in the area where the lifter 50 is installed. This can also prevent overheating in the area where the lifter 50 is installed.

[0200] The sensor 85 may be a Hall sensor. The Hall sensor may output different flags when sensing the magnet 80. For example, the sensor 85 may output a flag "0" when sensing the magnet 80 and a flag "1" when not sensing the magnet.

[0201] In either case, the module controller 20 can estimate the position of the lifter 50 based on the magnet sensing signal. The module controller 20 can then variably control the output of the induction module based on the estimated position of the lifter 50.

[0202] On the other hand, magnets cannot be used in the same way as lifters. This is because lifters may be arranged at equal intervals from each other, so when the position of a particular lifter is detected, the positions of the other lifters can be estimated with high accuracy. Figure 8 In what is shown, two of the three magnets can be omitted.

[0203] Typically, the main controller 10 of the washing machine knows the rotation angle of the drum and / or the rotation angle of the motor 700. Assuming that the motor 700 and the drum rotate integrally and the rotation angle of the motor 700 is the same as the rotation angle of the drum, the positions of the three lifters can be controlled by controlling the position of one magnet.

[0204] For example, the drum may rotate at 1 RPM, and the lifter may be located at a position where the drum is rotated 60 degrees relative to one magnet. It can be seen that when the sensor 85 senses the magnet 80, the lifter is located at a position where the drum has rotated 60 degrees further (i.e., where the drum has rotated 10 seconds further). Similarly, it can be seen that the second lifter is located at a position corresponding to a time point when 10 seconds have passed, and the third lifter is located at a position corresponding to a time point when 10 seconds have passed.

[0205] That is, the main controller 10 can grasp the positions of the three lifters based on information about one magnet sensed by the sensor 85. Therefore, the main controller 10 can control the module controller 20 to variably control the output of the induction module based on the position of the lifter 50.

[0206] In this way, according to the above embodiment, the output of the sensing module can be reduced or set to zero at the time point when the lifter faces the sensing module or during the time period when the drum rotates, and when the lifter deviates from its position or range facing the sensing module, the normal output of the sensing module can be maintained.

[0207] Therefore, it is possible to prevent unnecessary energy waste and overheating in the portion where the lifter 50 is installed. Of course, since the conventional drum and lifter can be directly used without modification, it can be said that the present invention is economically very advantageous.

[0208] It should be noted that in the above reference Figures 8 to 10 In the described embodiment, a separate sensor and a separate magnet are necessary to control the position of the lifter. Although any other type of sensor can be used to control the position of the lifter, in any case it may be necessary to provide a separate sensor to control the position of the lifter.

[0209] A separate sensor for controlling the position of the lifter can complicate the manufacture of the laundry treatment device and increase manufacturing costs. This is because additional sensors or magnets, which are unnecessary in conventional laundry treatment devices, are required. Furthermore, the shape or structure of the tub or drum may need to be modified to accommodate this additional component.

[0210] Hereinafter, embodiments that can achieve the above-mentioned objects without requiring separate sensors and magnets will be described in detail.

[0211] Figure 11A partially expanded view of the inner circumference of the drum is shown. As shown, various relief patterns can be formed on the inner circumference of the drum. These reliefs can be formed in various forms, such as convex reliefs protruding inward from the drum and convex reliefs protruding outward from the drum. The relief shape can be selected from any of a variety of shapes. It should be noted that the relief pattern is typically uniform and repeated repeatedly along the circumference of the drum.

[0212] Like the relief, the through-holes are generally formed in the drum, and serve to allow wash water to move between the inside and outside of the drum.

[0213] The embossed pattern can be omitted in the portion of the drum's circumferential surface where the lifter is installed. This is because the lifter can be easily installed while maintaining a constant radius from the drum's inner circumference. In other words, the radius of the drum's inner circumferential surface varies greatly in the portion where the lifter is not installed.

[0214] The relief is formed so that a large part of it protrudes into the drum. That is, the area of ​​the protruding part is relatively large. This is because the area of ​​the inner circumference of the drum may be increased due to the relief protruding into the drum, which can increase the friction area between the clothes and the inner circumference of the drum.

[0215] Assuming that the drum has no relief and its inner circumference has the same radius, it can be said that the drum always faces the sensing module with the same area and the same distance regardless of the rotation angle of the drum.

[0216] However, the area and distance between the drum and the sensing module need to change depending on the drum's rotation angle. This is due to the presence or absence of the aforementioned relief pattern, or changes in the relief pattern. In other words, the shape of the drum facing the sensing module may inevitably change.

[0217] Figure 12 Shown are changes in the current and output of the sensing module 400 depending on the rotation angle of the drum.

[0218] It can be seen that the current and output of the sensing module vary according to the rotation angle of the drum. In other words, it can be seen that the current and output are greatly reduced at a specific time point or a specific angle.

[0219] The position of the lifter can be estimated based on changes in current sensed in the sensing module or changes in the output of the sensing module without the need for a separate sensor. For example, if the sensing module maintains a constant output, the current or output of the sensing module may change as the drum rotates.

[0220] While the sensing module is controlled to maintain the same current or output through feedback control, the current or output decreases when the portion of the drum where the lifter is mounted faces the sensing module. This is because the area and distance between the drum and the sensing module are likely to be the shortest at that portion. Therefore, the position of the lifter mounting portion can be estimated based on changes in the current or output (power) of the sensing module, which are determined by changes in the drum's rotation angle.

[0221] By estimating the position of the riser installation portion, the output (power) of the induction module at the riser installation position can be controlled to 0, or can be significantly reduced.

[0222] Reference Figure 12 , it can be estimated that, based on a 360-degree angle, the lifter is located in the approximately 50-70 degree segment, the approximately 170-190 degree segment, and the approximately 290-310 degree segment, respectively. For example, it can be estimated that when the sensing module starts driving and the drum rotates one revolution, the lifter is positioned in three angular segments. Of course, to more accurately control the position of the lifter, the same process can be repeated multiple times to calibrate the position of the lifter.

[0223] Then, when the estimation of the position of the lifter is completed, the output of the sensing module may be variably controlled based on the position of the lifter during subsequent drum rotations.

[0224] By reference Figures 8 to 12 The described embodiments can improve heating efficiency and prevent overheating of the lifter without making special modifications to the drum or lifter.

[0225] In the following, reference will be made to Figure 13 The control method according to the embodiment of the present invention is described in detail. Figures 4 to 7 The embodiments described and the above referenced Figures 8 to 12 This is because in addition to using a structural solution to prevent the lifter installation portion from overheating, the lifter installation portion can also be prevented from overheating by controlling the sensing module.

[0226] First, the sensing module 400 is driven (S10) to heat the drum as needed. This drum heating can be performed to dry the clothes in the drum or to heat the wash water in the outer tub. Therefore, the sensing module 400 can be driven when performing a drying operation or a washing operation. The sensing module 400 can also be driven during a dehydration operation. In this case, since the drum rotates at a very high speed, the amount of drum heating may be relatively small. However, since the removal of water by centrifugal force and the evaporation of water by heating are performed in a complex manner, the dehydration effect can be further enhanced.

[0227] Once the sensing module 400 has begun operating, it is determined whether an end condition has been met (S20). If the end condition has been met, the sensing module 400 ends operating (S30). The end condition may be the end of a washing operation or the end of a drying operation. However, the end of the operation (S30) may be a temporary end, rather than the final end of a washing or drying process. Therefore, the sensing module can be repeatedly turned on and off.

[0228] Once the sensing module 400 has been driven, the sensing module 400 may be controlled to perform normal output until the driving of the sensing module 400 ends (S30). That is, the sensing module 400 may be controlled to have a predetermined output and may be controlled via feedback for more precise output control. Therefore, the driving of the sensing module 400 may include controlling the sensing module to have normal output by the module controller.

[0229] In order to solve the overheating problem in the part where the lifter is installed, the control method may include sensing the position of the lifter when the drum rotates (S50). Specifically, it can be determined whether the lifter is positioned to face the sensing module (i.e., whether the lifter faces the sensing module at the closest position). The sensing of the position of the lifter can be performed continuously while the drum is driven. Of course, the sensing module may not be driven continuously while the drum is driven. For example, during a rinsing operation, the drum may be driven, but the sensing module may not be driven. In addition, although the driving of the drum continues during a washing operation, the sensing module may not be driven, and the washing operation is subsequently performed after the heating of the washing water is completed.

[0230] Therefore, the position of the lifter can be detected after the sensing module is driven. That is, the position of the lifter can be detected under the assumption that the driving of the sensing module is started.

[0231] Once the position of the lifter has been detected, it is determined whether the lifter is in a specific position. That is, it is determined whether the output is to be reduced or set to zero (S60). When it is detected that the lifter is positioned facing the sensing module, the condition for the output to be reduced or set to zero is met. Therefore, the sensed output is reduced or set to zero (S80). On the other hand, when it is detected that the lifter is not positioned facing the sensing module, the sensing module maintains its normal output (S70).

[0232] By repeating the above steps, the output of the sensing module can be controlled to reduce the output of the sensing module when the riser is positioned facing the sensing module, and the output of the sensing module can be controlled to perform normal output when the riser is not positioned facing the sensing module. Therefore, overheating of the riser mounting portion can be prevented and energy efficiency can be improved through a controllable method.

[0233] Depending on the position of the lifter, the output of the sensing module may not always be controlled. Specifically, while driving the roller and the sensing module, the output can be continuously maintained at a constant value regardless of the lifter's position. This control can be omitted if the risk of overheating the lifter is negligible.

[0234] To this end, it may be determined whether it is necessary to sense the position of the lifter and control the output of the sensing module in order to prevent the lifter from overheating (S40). This determination may be performed before sensing the position of the lifter.

[0235] For example, when the drum rotates at a high speed, such as 200 RPM or higher, the amount of drum heating generated in the lifter mounting portion is relatively small due to the high drum speed. Naturally, such a high drum speed results in a relatively large contact area and contact time between the drum and the laundry. This is because, in this case, the laundry is not moved by the lifter but remains in close contact with the inner circumference of the drum.

[0236] That is, at a certain RPM or higher in which the drum is rotationally driven rather than driven to perform tumbling, control of the drum heating amount depending on the position of the lifter may be meaningless.

[0237] Therefore, determining whether to apply the lifter heating avoidance logic can be very effective. Of course, the conditions applied in this step can include various other conditions as well as RPM. For example, when the drum is heated during the drying operation, a large amount of heat is transferred to the clothes. Therefore, overheating may occur in the part of the lifter that is not in contact with the clothes. On the other hand, when the drum is heated in a state where wash water is contained in the outer tub and a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the drum is immersed in the wash water, most of the heat is transferred to the wash water. This also applies to the lifter exclusion portion and the lifter mounting portion.

[0238] Therefore, the condition for determining whether to apply the lifter heat avoidance logic can be a process of determining the type of operation. When it is determined to be a cleaning operation, the lifter heat avoidance logic may not be applied. Therefore, the condition for applying the lifter heat avoidance logic can be modified differently.

[0239] Meanwhile, sensing of the position of the lifter S50 may be performed in various ways, such as using the aforementioned sensor and magnet, or using a change in current or output of the sensing module without a sensor.

[0240] Through the above embodiment, the lifter can be prevented from overheating and energy efficiency can be improved. In addition, when it is not necessary to prevent the lifter from overheating, the induction module can be used to the maximum extent for heating.

[0241]

Industrial Applicability

[0242] It is included in the detailed description of the present invention.

Claims

1. A clothes processing device, comprising: outer barrel; a drum configured to rotate within the outer tub and configured to accommodate laundry therein, the drum being formed of a metal material; an induction module disposed on the outer tub and configured to heat the drum by induction using a magnetic field generated in a state where current is applied to a coil in the induction module; at least one lifter disposed on the drum; at least one magnet disposed on the drum, wherein a position of the at least one magnet relative to the lifter is fixed; a sensor provided on the outer tub and configured to sense the magnet based on rotation of the drum; and a module controller configured to variably control an output of the induction module based on a position of the at least one lifter, The sensor is arranged at a position on the outer barrel opposite to the position of the sensing module.

2. The laundry processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one riser comprises a plurality of risers, wherein the at least one magnet comprises a plurality of magnets, and Wherein, the plurality of magnets are arranged between the plurality of lifters.

3. The laundry processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one magnet is disposed at or near the at least one lifter.

4. The clothes treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The sensing module is configured to start operating when the drum is being driven. The clothes treating apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein: The sensing module is configured to be repeatedly turned on and off while the drum is being driven. The clothes treating apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein: The sensing module is configured to be closed at a point in time when the at least one lift faces the sensing module while the drum is being driven.

7. The clothes treating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein: The sensing module is configured to be turned on when the at least one lifter deviates from a range in which the at least one lifter faces the sensing module while the drum is being driven.

8. The clothes treating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: The induction module is configured to reduce the amount of drum heating at a position where the at least one lifter faces the induction module.

9. The clothes treating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: The induction module is configured to increase the amount of drum heating when the at least one lifter deviates from a position where the at least one lifter faces the induction module.

10. The clothes treating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: The sensing module is configured to be turned off at least once during one rotation of the drum.

11. The clothes treating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: The sensing module is configured to be discontinuously driven while the drum is being driven.

12. The clothes treating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein: The sensing module is configured to be continuously turned on when the rotation speed of the drum exceeds a predetermined rotation speed.

13. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein: The predetermined rotation speed of the drum is 200 RPM.

Images