Laundry dryers and their control methods

Abstract

This invention relates to a control method for a laundry dryer, comprising: a sterilization drying step of raising the temperature inside the chamber for sterilization; a steam cleaning step of supplying steam to the inside of the drum to sterilize the drum after the sterilization drying step; and an air supply step of circulating air inside the drum after the steam cleaning step, thereby achieving the effect of sterilizing the drum by controlling the temperature of the drum to reach a reference temperature or above for sterilization.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a laundry dryer and a control method for the laundry dryer, and more specifically, to a laundry dryer and a control method for the laundry dryer that generates high-temperature steam through a steam generator and controls the rotation of the drum and the fan respectively. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, garment processing devices have emerged that perform drying processes to remove moisture from clothing. In existing garment processing devices, hot air is supplied to a drum containing the clothes to dry them, which not only significantly shortens the drying time but also sterilizes and disinfects the clothes.

[0003] On the other hand, there is also a garment processing device that supplies steam to the garments in the garment processing device that performs the drying process to remove wrinkles, improve drying efficiency, or perform sterilization, etc.

[0004] A condenser dryer with a heat pump system is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2013-0127816 (November 25, 2013), which is an existing patent document.

[0005] This type of condenser dryer has the problem of contamination caused by condensate. Specifically, contamination can occur due to foreign matter, including lint from the dried items, adhering to the drum or bacteria present in the heat exchange section due to prolonged use of the dryer.

[0006] To solve this problem, the drum can be cleaned directly, but due to the structure of the dryer, cleaning the drum located inside is inconvenient for users. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0008] The present invention is proposed to improve the problems existing in the existing laundry dryers and laundry dryer control methods as described above, and its purpose is to provide a structure that can automatically clean the drum.

[0009] Technical solutions to the problem

[0010] To achieve the objectives described above, the laundry dryer of the present invention includes: a drum rotatably disposed inside a housing forming the exterior, for accommodating the laundry; a duct section for resupplying air discharged from the drum to the drum; a circulating fan for providing flow power to the air moving along the duct section; a heat exchange section disposed on the duct section for exchanging heat with the air circulating along the duct section; a compressor for compressing refrigerant for exchanging heat with the air circulating along the duct section; a steam section for supplying steam to the interior of the drum; and a control section for controlling the drum, the circulating fan, the compressor, and the steam section.

[0011] The control unit raises the temperature inside the housing by driving the compressor, and then operates the steam unit to sterilize the inside of the drum by increasing the heat inside the drum.

[0012] The control unit can control the roller to perform a sterilization operation when the roller is unloaded.

[0013] The control unit can operate the drum and the circulating fan during the operation of the compressor.

[0014] After the control unit stops the operation of the compressor, it can start the steam unit.

[0015] The control unit rotates the drum simultaneously during the operation of the steam unit and can stop the rotation of the circulating fan.

[0016] The steam unit receives and stores a preset amount of water. If a power source is applied, the stored water can be heated to generate steam within a preset steam injection time.

[0017] If the operation of the circulating fan stops, power can be applied to the steam section to heat the stored water.

[0018] After the control unit stops the operation of the steam unit, it can start the circulating fan.

[0019] The laundry dryer of the present invention may further include a drain pump that provides flow to the condensate collected in the housing.

[0020] The control unit also controls the drain pump. After stopping the operation of the steam unit, the control unit can make the drain pump run for a preset drainage time.

[0021] To achieve the objectives described above, the control method for the laundry dryer of the present invention may include: a sterilization drying step of raising the temperature inside the chamber for sterilization; a steam cleaning step of supplying steam to the inside of the drum for sterilization after the sterilization drying step; and an air supply step of circulating air inside the drum after the steam cleaning step.

[0022] In the sterilization and drying step, a compressor can be driven to raise the temperature inside the chamber.

[0023] In the sterilization and drying step, a circulating fan can be operated to circulate the heated air.

[0024] In the sterilization and drying step, the drum can be rotated to uniformly heat the interior of the drum.

[0025] In the steam cleaning step, steam can be supplied to the inside of the drum by operating the steam unit.

[0026] The steam cleaning step may include: a steam preheating step for preheating the steam section; and a steam injection step for injecting steam into the interior of the drum.

[0027] In the steam cleaning step, the drum can be rotated to uniformly sterilize the interior of the drum.

[0028] In the steam cleaning step, the drum can be rotated to sterilize the inside of the drum, and the operation of the circulating fan that started from the sterilization and drying step can be stopped.

[0029] During the air supply step, a circulating fan can be rotated to circulate the heated air.

[0030] During the air supply step, a drain pump can be operated to drain the condensate collected in the housing.

[0031] In the sterilization and drying step, the temperature can be raised until the temperature of the heat exchange section in the direction in which the air flows in from the drum reaches 60 degrees Celsius or higher.

[0032] Invention Effects

[0033] As described above, according to the laundry dryer and its control method of the present invention, the drum is sterilized by controlling the temperature of the drum to reach or exceed the reference temperature for sterilization.

[0034] In addition, by controlling the compressor drive, the surface temperature of the drum can be raised above the reference temperature for sterilization, thus enabling simple sterilization of the drum without the need for additional components / devices for sterilization. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating the external shape of the laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view used to illustrate the internal structure of the laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 3 This is a block diagram illustrating the control configuration in a laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the sequence of control methods for a laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 5a and Figure 5b This is an example diagram illustrating a specific application example of a steam drying method related to embodiments of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating the sterilization principle of the control method for a laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 7 This is a temperature curve of the filter in the control method of the laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 8 This is a temperature curve of the evaporator front end in the control method of the laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0043] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0044] This invention can be modified and has various embodiments, specific embodiments of which are shown in the accompanying drawings and are intended to be specifically described in the detailed description. This is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments, but should be construed as including all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0045] In describing this invention, the terms "first," "second," etc., can be used to describe various constituent elements, but the constituent elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one constituent element from another. For example, without departing from the scope of this invention, a first constituent element can be named a second constituent element, and similarly, a second constituent element can be named a first constituent element.

[0046] The term "and / or" can include a combination of multiple related terms or a single term of multiple related terms.

[0047] When it is mentioned that a constituent element is "connected" or "linked" to another constituent element, it should be understood that it can be directly connected or linked to another constituent element, but there may also be other constituent elements between them. Conversely, when it is mentioned that a constituent element is "directly connected" or "directly linked" to another constituent element, it should be understood that there are no other constituent elements between them.

[0048] The terminology used in this application is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the invention. Unless explicitly stated in the context, singular expressions may include plural expressions.

[0049] In this application, it should be understood that terms such as "comprising" or "having" are intended only to indicate the presence of features, figures, steps, actions, constituent elements, components, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and do not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features or figures, steps, actions, constituent elements, components, or combinations thereof.

[0050] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, may have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Terms as defined in common dictionaries may be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the relevant technical context, and should not be interpreted as having an ideal or overly formal meaning unless expressly defined in this application.

[0051] Furthermore, the following embodiments are provided to provide a complete explanation to those skilled in the art, and for the sake of clarity, the shape and size of the elements in the accompanying drawings may be exaggerated.

[0052] Figure 1 A diagram illustrating the external shape of a laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 2 A cross-sectional view is shown to illustrate the internal structure of a laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the housing 10 forming the outer shell of the laundry dryer 1 includes: a front panel 11, constituting the front of the laundry dryer 1; a rear panel 12, constituting the rear; a pair of side panels 14, constituting the sides; and an upper panel 13, constituting the top.

[0054] The front panel 11 may include: an inlet 111 configured to communicate with the roller 20 described later; and a door 112 rotatably coupled to the housing 10 to open and close the inlet 111.

[0055] A control panel 117 is located on the front panel 11.

[0056] The control panel 117 may include: an input unit 118 for receiving control commands from the user; an output unit 119 for outputting information such as control commands that the user can select; and a main control unit (not shown) for controlling the execution of the program of the laundry dryer 1.

[0057] On the other hand, the input unit 118 may include: a power supply request unit, which requests power to be supplied to the laundry dryer; a process input unit, which allows the user to select a desired process from a plurality of processes; and an implementation request unit, which requests the start of the process selected by the user.

[0058] The output unit 119 may include at least one of a display panel capable of outputting text and / or graphics and a speaker capable of outputting voice signals and sounds. Users can easily grasp the status of the currently running program, the remaining time, etc., through the information output via the output unit 119.

[0059] The interior of the housing 10 includes: a drum 20, configured to rotate, providing space for accommodating clothes (items to be dried); a duct section 30, forming a flow path for resupplying air discharged from the drum 20 to the drum 20; and a heat exchange section 40, which dehumidifies and heats the air flowing into the duct section 30, and then resupplyes it to the drum 20.

[0060] The roller 20 includes a cylindrical roller body 21 that is open at the front. The interior of the housing 10 may have: a first support 22 that supports the front of the roller body 21 so that it can rotate; and a second support 23 that supports the rear of the roller body 21 so that it can rotate.

[0061] The first support part 22 may include: a first fixing body 22a, fixed inside the housing 10; a roller inlet 22b, penetrating the first fixing body 22a to connect the inlet 111 and the interior of the roller body 21; and a first support body 22c, disposed on the first fixing body 22a and inserted into the front of the roller body 21.

[0062] The first support portion 22 may further include a connecting body 22d that connects the inlet 111 and the roller inlet 22b. As shown in the figure, the connecting body 22d may have a tube shape extending from the roller inlet 22b toward the inlet 111. In addition, an air outlet 22e communicating with the pipe portion 30 may be provided in the connecting body 22d.

[0063] like Figure 2 As shown, the air outlet 22e is a channel through which the internal air of the roller body 21 can move to the pipe section 30, and it can be a through hole that passes through and connects to the body 22d.

[0064] The second support part 23 includes: a second fixing body 23a, which is fixed inside the housing 10; and a second support body 23b, which is disposed on the second fixing body 23a and inserted into the rear of the roller body 21.

[0065] An air inlet 23c is provided in the second support part 23. The air inlet 23c passes through the second fixed body 23a to connect the interior of the roller body 21 and the interior of the box 10.

[0066] In this case, the duct section 30 is configured to connect the air outlet 22e and the air inlet 23c.

[0067] The cylindrical roller body 21 can be rotated by various types of drive units 50.

[0068] For example, Figure 2 One embodiment is shown, wherein the drive unit 50 includes: a roller motor 51 fixed inside the housing 10; a pulley 52 rotated by the roller motor 51; and a belt 53 connecting the circumferential surface of the pulley 52 and the circumferential surface of the roller body 21.

[0069] In this case, the first support portion 22 may be provided with a first roller R1 that rotatably supports the circumferential surface of the roller body 21, and the second support portion 23 may be provided with a second roller R2 that rotatably supports the circumferential surface of the roller body 21.

[0070] However, the present invention is not limited thereto. A direct-drive mechanism, where the roller motor 51 is directly connected to the roller to rotate it, can also be used without the aid of pulleys and belts. Such a solution is also within the scope of the present invention. For ease of explanation, the following description will be based on the embodiment of the drive unit 50 shown in the figures.

[0071] The duct section 30 includes: an exhaust duct 31 connected to an air outlet 22e; a supply duct 32 connected to an air inlet 23c; and a connecting duct 33 connecting the exhaust duct 31 and the supply duct 32, wherein a heat exchange section 40 is provided inside the connecting duct 33.

[0072] The heat exchange section 40 can be any device capable of sequentially dehumidifying and heating the air flowing into the duct section 30. For example, the heat exchange section 40 can be a heat pump system.

[0073] As a heat pump system, the heat exchange section 40 may include: a circulating fan 43 that moves air along the pipe section 30; a first heat exchanger (heat absorption section) 41 that performs a dehumidification function by reducing the humidity of the air flowing into the pipe section 30; and a second heat exchanger (heat generation section) 42 that is disposed inside the pipe section 30 and heats the air that has passed through the first heat exchanger 41.

[0074] The circulating fan 43 includes: an impeller 43a disposed inside the duct section 30; and an impeller motor 43b that rotates the impeller 43a. The circulating fan 43 provides flow power to the air moving along the duct section 30.

[0075] Impeller 43a can be installed at any position in exhaust pipe 31, connecting pipe 33, and supply pipe 32. Figure 2 An embodiment in which the impeller 43a is disposed in the connecting pipe 33 is shown. The present invention is not limited thereto, but for convenience, the following description is based on the embodiment in which the impeller 43a is disposed in the connecting pipe 33.

[0076] The heat exchange section 40 can exchange heat with the air circulating along the pipe section 30.

[0077] The heat-absorbing part 41 and the heat-generating part 42 are located inside the connecting pipe 33 and are arranged sequentially from the exhaust pipe 31 to the supply pipe 32. They are connected to each other by the refrigerant pipe 44, which forms a refrigerant circulation path.

[0078] The heat absorption section 41 is a device that cools the air and causes the refrigerant to evaporate by transferring the heat of the air flowing into the exhaust pipe 31 to the refrigerant.

[0079] The heating element 42 is a device that heats the air and causes the refrigerant to condense by transferring the heat of the refrigerant that has passed through the compressor 45 to the air.

[0080] The compressor 45 receives rotational force from the compressor motor 45a and compresses the refrigerant that exchanges heat with the air circulating along the pipe section 30.

[0081] In this situation, the moisture contained in the air moves along the surface of the heat-absorbing part 41 as it passes through the heat-absorbing part 41 and accumulates on the bottom surface of the connecting pipe 33.

[0082] As described above, the structure of the heat exchange section 40, which includes a heat absorption section 41 and a heat generation section 42, is a structure known in the art, and therefore a detailed description of its structure is omitted.

[0083] On the other hand, in order to collect the condensate that accumulates on the bottom surface of the connecting pipe 33 due to the condensation of air through the heat absorption section 41, the laundry dryer 1 of the present invention has a water collection section 60.

[0084] The condensate that forms in the heat absorption section 41 can be collected in the water collection section 60 once, and then collected again in the water storage section 70. As shown in the figure, the water collection section 60 can be located inside the connecting pipe 33, or it can be set up independently in a space separated from the connecting pipe 33.

[0085] The condensate collected in the water collection section 60 is supplied to the water storage section 70 through the condensate supply pipe 61. At this time, in order to smoothly drain the condensate, a drain pump 62 is installed in the condensate supply pipe 61.

[0086] The water storage section 70 has a water tank 72 that can be pulled outward from one side of the front panel 11. The water tank 72 is configured to collect condensate transferred from the water collection section 60, which will be described later.

[0087] The user can pull the water tank 72 out of the housing 10 to remove the condensate, and then reinstall it into the housing 10. Therefore, the laundry dryer of the present invention can be installed in locations without drainage systems.

[0088] More specifically, the water storage section 70 may include: a water storage tank 72, which is detachably disposed in the tank body 10 to provide space for storing water; and an inlet 72a, which penetrates the water storage tank 72 to allow water discharged from the condensate supply pipe 61 to flow into the interior of the water storage tank 72.

[0089] The water tank 72 can be a drawer-type tank that can be pulled out from the tank body 10. In this case, the front panel 11 of the tank body has a water storage section mounting hole for inserting the water tank 72.

[0090] Panel 71 is fixed to the front of water tank 72. Panel 71 can be detachably attached to the water storage section mounting hole to form part of front panel 11.

[0091] The panel 71 may also have a groove 71a for the user's hand to insert and hold. In this case, the panel 71 also functions as a handle for pulling the water tank 72 out of or inserting it into the tank.

[0092] The inlet 72a is configured to receive condensate discharged from the condensate nozzle 63 fixed to the housing 10. The condensate nozzle 63 can be fixed to the upper panel 13 of the housing 10 so that it is located above the inlet 72a when the water tank 72 is inserted into the housing 10.

[0093] The user can pull out the water storage tank 72 from the tank body 10, and then invert or tilt the water storage tank 72 towards the inlet 72a to pour out the water inside the water storage tank 72. It may also include a connecting hole 72b provided through the upper surface of the water storage tank 72, so that the water inside the water storage tank 72 can be easily discharged through the inlet 72a.

[0094] In addition, the laundry dryer 1 of the present invention includes a first filter section F1 and a second filter section F2, which are devices for removing foreign objects such as lint and dust generated during the drying process of laundry items such as clothes.

[0095] The first filter unit F1 is provided in the exhaust pipe 31 to filter foreign objects contained in the air discharged from the drum 20.

[0096] The second filter section F2 is positioned downstream of the first filter section F1 along the airflow direction to perform secondary filtration of foreign matter contained in the air that has passed through the first filter section F1. More specifically, as shown in the figure, the second filter section F2 is preferably positioned inside the connecting pipe 33 and upstream of the first heat exchanger 41. This is to prevent foreign matter contained in the air from accumulating on the first heat exchanger 41, which functions as a heat-absorbing section, and thus contaminating the first heat exchanger 41 or causing performance degradation.

[0097] The detailed structure of the first filter section F1 and the second filter section F2 can be described using any device known in the art, therefore a detailed description of their structure is omitted.

[0098] On the other hand, the laundry dryer 1 of the present invention further includes: a water supply unit 80, including an internal water supply unit 81 and an external water supply unit 82; and a steam unit 90, which receives water from the water supply unit 80 and generates steam.

[0099] The steam unit 90 can be configured to receive fresh, non-condensed water to generate steam. The steam unit 90 can also be configured to generate steam by heating water or by utilizing ultrasound or vaporization.

[0100] The steam unit 90 can be controlled to supply steam to the interior of the drum body 21 by receiving water through the internal water supply unit 81 and the external water supply unit 82 as needed.

[0101] The external water supply unit 82 may include: a straight-through water valve 82a, which is adjacent to or fixed to the rear panel 12; and a straight-through water pipe 82b, which supplies water from the straight-through water valve 82a to the steam unit 90.

[0102] The direct-flow water valve 82a can be configured to connect to an external water supply source. For example, the direct-flow water valve 82a can be connected to a water supply pipe (not shown) extending to the rear of the housing. Thus, the steam unit 90 can directly receive water through the direct-flow water valve 82a.

[0103] Therefore, even if the internal water supply unit 81 is omitted or no water is stored in the internal water supply unit 81, the steam unit 90 can receive water for generating steam through the direct water valve 82a when needed.

[0104] The direct-flow water valve 82a can be directly controlled by the control unit 100.

[0105] The control unit 100 can be located in the control panel 117, such as Figure 1 As shown, in order to prevent overloading of control panel 117 and avoid increasing manufacturing costs, control panels can also be set up separately.

[0106] At this time, the control unit 100 can be arranged adjacent to the steam unit 90. The control unit 100 is provided on the side panel 14 on which the steam unit 90 is mounted, thereby shortening the length of the control lines and the like connected to the steam unit 90.

[0107] On the other hand, the steam section 90 is preferably arranged adjacent to the straight-through water valve 82a. This prevents unnecessary residual water from remaining in the straight-through water pipe 82b and allows water to be received immediately when needed.

[0108] The control unit 100 is configured to control the operation of the laundry dryer 1 based on user input applied via the input unit 118. The control unit 100 may consist of a printed circuit board and components mounted on the printed circuit board. If the user selects a laundry processing procedure or inputs control commands such as the operation of the laundry dryer 1 via the input unit 118, the control unit 100 can control the operation of the laundry dryer 1 according to a preset algorithm.

[0109] The specific control functions of the control unit 100 in this invention will be described later.

[0110] on the other hand, Figure 3 A block diagram illustrating the control configuration in a laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

[0111] Reference Figure 3 The laundry dryer 1 of the present invention may include at least one of the following: an input unit 118, an output unit 119, a communication unit 115, a sensing unit 116, a motor 51, 43b, 45a, a drain pump 62, a steam unit 90, and a control unit 100.

[0112] The input unit 118 can receive control commands related to the operation of the laundry dryer 1 from the user. The input unit 118 can consist of a plurality of buttons or a touch screen.

[0113] Specifically, the input unit 118 may be configured to select the operating process of the garment handling device or to receive control inputs related to the implementation of the selected operating process.

[0114] The output unit 119 can output information related to the operation of the laundry dryer 1. The output unit 119 may include at least one display.

[0115] The information output by the output unit 119 may include information related to the operating status of the laundry dryer 1. That is, the output unit 119 may output information related to at least one of the following: the selected operating process, whether a malfunction has occurred, the operation completion time, and the amount of fabric contained in the drum 20.

[0116] As an example, the output unit 119 may be a touch screen that is integrally formed with the input unit 118.

[0117] The communication unit 115 can communicate with an external network. The communication unit 115 can receive control commands related to the operation of the laundry handling device from the external network. For example, the communication unit 115 can receive operation control commands for the laundry dryer sent from an external terminal via the external network. Thus, the user can remotely control the laundry dryer.

[0118] In addition, the communications unit 115 can send information related to the operation results of the garment processing device to a designated server via an external network.

[0119] In addition, in order to build an Internet of Things (IoT) environment, the Communications Department 115 can also communicate with other electronic devices.

[0120] The sensing unit 116 can sense information related to the operation of the laundry dryer.

[0121] Specifically, the sensing unit 116 may include at least one of a current sensor, a voltage sensor, a vibration sensor, a noise sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a pressure sensor, an infrared sensor, a vision sensor (camera sensor), an electrode sensor, and a temperature sensor.

[0122] As an example, the current sensor of the sensing unit 116 can sense the current flowing at a point in the control circuit of the laundry dryer 1.

[0123] As another example, the temperature sensor of the sensing unit 116 can sense the temperature inside the pipe section 30, and according to the embodiment, it can sense the temperature inside the drum 20.

[0124] As another example, the electrode sensor of the sensing unit 116 can sense the moisture inside the drum 20.

[0125] The sensing unit 116 may include one or more temperature sensors that sense the temperature of the heat exchange unit 40 and transmit the sensing results to the control unit 100.

[0126] As an example, the sensing unit 116 includes one or more temperature sensors that can sense one or more of the temperatures of the air and refrigerant circulating in the first heat exchanger 41 and the second heat exchanger 42, respectively.

[0127] As another example, the sensing unit 116 includes one or more temperature sensors that can sense the temperature of the refrigerant circulating in the compressor 45.

[0128] The sensing unit 116 may also include a plurality of temperature sensors for sensing the temperature of air flowing into or out of the roller 20.

[0129] Thus, the sensing unit 116, which includes a plurality of the temperature sensors, can be configured such that a sensing module for sensing temperature is provided in the heat exchange unit 40, and a sensing module for receiving the sensing results of the plurality of temperature sensors to sense temperature is provided in the control unit 100.

[0130] As described above, the sensing unit 116 may include at least one of various types of sensors, and the type of sensors possessed by the laundry dryer 1 is not limited. Furthermore, the number or placement of the individual sensors can be designed in various ways depending on the purpose.

[0131] Motors 51, 43b, and 45a include a drum motor 51, an impeller motor 43b, and a compressor motor 45a. According to the control command (instruction) of the control unit 100, at least one of the following can be changed: power, current, voltage, and speed.

[0132] As an example, the roller motor 51 can change the rotational speed (rpm) of the roller 20 according to the control command of the control unit 100.

[0133] As another example, the impeller motor 43b can change the speed (rpm) of the circulating fan 43 according to the control command of the control unit 100.

[0134] As another example, the compressor motor 45a can change the frequency (Hz) of the compressor 45 according to the control command of the control unit 100.

[0135] On the other hand, in this invention, the control unit 100 is designed to drain the condensate that forms during the cleaning and sterilization process.

[0136] The drain pump 62 serves to transport the condensate that accumulates in the water collection section 60 to the water storage section 70. That is, the drain pump 62 can provide flow force to the condensate collected in the tank.

[0137] The control unit 100 can discharge the condensate stored after cleaning and sterilization by controlling the drive speed (rpm) of the drain pump 62.

[0138] The steam unit 90 can be controlled to supply steam to the interior of the drum body 21 by receiving water through the internal water supply unit 81 and the external water supply unit 82 as needed.

[0139] The steam unit 90 may include: a steam generator 91 that generates steam by heating the received water; a steam pipe 92 that supplies the generated steam flow; and a steam nozzle 93 that injects steam into the interior of the drum body 21.

[0140] As an example, the steam generator 91 is described as generating steam by heating a predetermined amount of water contained inside using a heater (not marked) (hereinafter referred to as "barrel heating method" for ease of explanation), but it is not limited to this.

[0141] The control unit 100 can control the components included in the laundry dryer 1.

[0142] First, in order to control the rotation of the drum motor 51, the impeller motor 43b and the compressor motor 45a, the control unit 100 can generate at least one of the following: power command value, current command value, voltage command value and speed command value.

[0143] In this invention, the control unit 100 can control the drum motor 51, the impeller motor 43b, and the compressor motor 45a respectively.

[0144] Therefore, the control unit 100 can control the operation of one or more of the drum 20, the circulating fan 43, and the heat exchange unit 40 based on the control inputs input to the input unit 118.

[0145] That is, the control unit 100 can control the rotation speed and rotation mode of the roller 20 based on the user's control input to the input unit 118. In addition, the control unit 100 can control the rotation speed or operating timing of the circulating fan 43 based on the user's control input to the input unit 118.

[0146] In addition, in order to regulate the temperature inside the drum 20, the control unit 100 can control the heat exchange unit 40 according to the control input of the user input to the input unit 118.

[0147] As an example, the control unit 100 can control the drive frequency (Hz) of the compressor 45 based on the control input from the user input to the input unit 118.

[0148] In addition, in order to control the operation of the steam generator 91, the control unit 100 can generate at least one of the following: power command value, current command value, and voltage command value.

[0149] That is, the control unit 100 can control the heating time of the steam generator 91 based on the user's control input input to the input unit 118.

[0150] At this time, the control unit 100 can use external information such as temperature or fabric quantity to adjust the heating time of the steam generator 91.

[0151] On the other hand, in existing laundry dryers, the drum and the circulating fan are connected to a single motor. Therefore, the drum and the circulating fan rotate simultaneously and stop rotating at the same time.

[0152] At this point, when steam is being injected into the laundry dryer, in order to ensure that the injected steam is fully supplied to the clothes being dried, the rotation of the circulating fan needs to be stopped. In order to stop the circulating fan, the rotation of the drum also needs to be stopped.

[0153] However, if the drum stops rotating, the items being dried cannot be tumbled. Even if steam is supplied to the items being dried, the steam is only supplied to the items that are positioned in the direction of the steam jet. Therefore, there are limitations in supplying steam evenly to the entire item being dried.

[0154] To solve this problem, the laundry dryer 1 of this embodiment of the invention is provided with a drum motor 51 and an impeller motor 43b separately. Furthermore, the control unit 100 can control the drum motor 51, the impeller motor 43b, and the compressor motor 45a respectively.

[0155] Therefore, the control unit 100 of this embodiment of the invention can stop the rotation of the circulating fan 43 while maintaining the rotation of the drum 20 and when steam is ejected from the steam unit 90.

[0156] In addition, in order to prevent the power supply from being cut off due to a sudden increase in the instantaneous power consumption of the entire laundry dryer 1, the control unit 100 of the present invention can stop the operation of the compressor 45 when the steam unit 90 is running.

[0157] In detail, the control unit 100 can preheat hot water by operating the steam generator 91, or stop the rotation of the compressor motor 45a when steam is generated.

[0158] On the other hand, the control unit 100 in this invention sterilizes and dries the interior of the drum 20 and the pipe section 30 by raising the temperature inside the housing 10, and then supplies steam to the interior of the drum 20 by operating the steam unit 90, thereby sterilizing the interior of the drum 20 and the pipe section 30.

[0159] During the sterilization and drying of the interior of the drum 20 and the pipe section 30, the control unit 100 may operate the compressor 45 in order to increase the temperature inside the chamber 10.

[0160] At this time, the control unit 100 can rotate (operate) the drum 20 and the circulating fan 43 during the operation of the compressor 45.

[0161] On the other hand, after the control unit 100 stops the operation of the compressor 45, it can supply steam to the inside of the drum 20 by operating the steam unit 90, thereby sterilizing the inside of the drum 20 and the pipe section 30.

[0162] During operation of the steam unit 90, in order to supply steam evenly to the interior of the drum 20, the control unit 100 can rotate the drum 20. In order to supply steam sufficiently to the drum 20, the control unit can stop the rotation of the circulating fan 43.

[0163] On the other hand, the control unit 100 can supply a preset amount of water to the steam unit 90 to make the steam unit 90 operate. If power is applied, steam can be generated by heating the stored water for a preset steam injection time ts.

[0164] At this time, after the control unit 100 stops the operation of the circulating fan 43, it can make steam spray from the steam unit 90.

[0165] Furthermore, after the control unit 100 stops the operation of the steam unit 90, it can restart the circulating fan 43.

[0166] On the other hand, after the control unit 100 stops the operation of the steam unit 90, it can discharge the condensate by running the drain pump 62 for a preset drainage time.

[0167] On the other hand, regarding the control of the time-based control unit 100, see later. Figure 4 The following is an explanation of Figure 5.

[0168] Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating the sequence of control methods for a laundry dryer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. Figure 5a and Figure 5b Example figures illustrating specific application examples of the steam drying method related to embodiments of the present invention are disclosed.

[0169] Reference Figure 1 As shown in Figure 5, the control method of the laundry dryer 1 in this embodiment of the invention is as follows.

[0170] The control method of the laundry dryer 1 in this embodiment of the invention may include a process input step S10, a sterilization and drying step S20, a steam cleaning step S30, and an air supply step S40.

[0171] In the process input step S10, the control input for executing the sterilization process of the drum 20, the filter F including the first filter F1 and the second filter F2, and the heat exchange unit 40 is input.

[0172] That is, when the power is turned on to the laundry dryer 1 of the present invention, the user can input control input to the input unit 118. At this time, the user can input the drum sterilization process to sterilize microorganisms that may exist in the drum 20, filter F and heat exchange unit 40 due to long-term use of the laundry dryer 1.

[0173] At this time, microorganisms may include Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and house dust mites, etc.

[0174] On the other hand, the drum sterilization process preferably involves sterilizing the drum 20, filter F, and heat exchange unit 40 while the items to be dried, including clothing, towels, etc. (hereinafter referred to as the items to be dried), are not contained in the drum 20.

[0175] That is, the control method of the laundry dryer 1 in the embodiment of the present invention preferably performs sterilization operation on the drum 20, filter F and heat exchange unit 40 under no-load conditions.

[0176] In the sterilization and drying step S20, the temperature inside the chamber 10 can be increased in order to sterilize.

[0177] Specifically, in the sterilization and drying step S20, the interior of the heating chamber 10 can be heated for a preset drying time td.

[0178] As an example, in the sterilization and drying step S20, the interior of the chamber 10 can be heated for a time of more than 100 minutes and less than 140 minutes.

[0179] In the sterilization and drying step S20, the control unit 100 can rotate the drum motor 51 at a pre-input reference speed Wr (S21). As an example, the control unit 100 can continuously rotate the drum motor 51 while keeping its rotation speed between 3000 rpm and 3300 rpm, thereby enabling the drum 20 to rotate continuously at a predetermined speed.

[0180] This is so that the interior of the drum 20 can be heated evenly by supplying hot air while the drum 20 rotates at a specified speed.

[0181] In the sterilization and drying step S20, in order to raise the internal temperature of the drum 20, the control unit 100 can drive (rotate) the compressor 45 (S32).

[0182] At this time, the control unit 100 can adjust the operating frequency f of the compressor 45 within the sterilization frequency fs range and drive it.

[0183] As an example, the control unit 100 can use a sterilization frequency fs of 100 Hz or higher as the operating frequency f to drive the compressor 45.

[0184] When entering the sterilization and drying step S20, in order to rapidly raise the internal temperature of the drum 20, the control unit 100 can use the sterilization frequency fs as the operating frequency f to drive the compressor 45.

[0185] At this time, the control unit 100 can control the output of the drive compressor 45 to rise to the sterilization frequency fs all at once. However, in order to prevent malfunctions caused by overload of the compressor motor 45a, it is preferable to control the speed of the compressor motor 45a to rise in several stages.

[0186] As an example, the control unit 100 generates a control command to drive the compressor 45 at a frequency of 55Hz or higher and 65Hz or lower, and then generates a control command to drive the compressor 45 at a frequency of 75Hz or higher and 85Hz or lower. Finally, it can generate a control command to drive the compressor 45 at the sterilization frequency fs.

[0187] Therefore, driven by the compressor 45, the refrigerant in the heat exchange section 40 is compressed to a high temperature and high pressure, and can exchange heat with the air in the pipe section 30. As a result, the temperature of the air in the pipe section 30 can be increased.

[0188] On the other hand, in order to prevent malfunctions or power supply cut-offs caused by excessive power consumption of the compressor 45, the control unit 100 measures the refrigerant discharge temperature or compressor temperature of the compressor 45. When a preset reference temperature is reached, the operating frequency of the compressor 45 can be reduced.

[0189] As an example, the control unit 100 measures the temperature of the upper surface of the compressor 45. If the measured temperature of the compressor 45 reaches 100 degrees Celsius, the operating frequency f of the compressor 45 can be reduced to above 20 Hz and below 40 Hz. If the temperature of the compressor 45 decreases, the compressor 45 can be driven again at the sterilization frequency fs.

[0190] In the sterilization and drying step S20, the control unit 100 can activate the circulating fan 43 in order to circulate the air in the heating process (S23).

[0191] In detail, during the sterilization and drying step S20, while the compressor 45 is driven, the control unit 100 can drive the circulating fan 43 at a preset circulation speed V.

[0192] As an example, during the sterilization and drying step S20, while the compressor 45 is driven, the control unit 100 can drive (rotate) the circulating fan 43 at a speed of 3500 rpm or more and 4500 rpm or less.

[0193] Therefore, the air heated by the compressor 45 can be circulated by the rotation of the circulating fan 43 while flowing in the drum 20 and the duct section 30.

[0194] As a result, driven by the compressor 45 and the circulating fan 43, the temperature T inside the housing 10 can be raised to a sterilization temperature Ts or higher (T≥Ts) for sterilizing microorganisms present in the drum 20 and the pipe section 30.

[0195] As an example, in the sterilization and drying step S20, the temperature inside the chamber 10 can be raised until the temperature of the heat exchanger (which may refer to the evaporator 41) in the direction in which air flows in from the drum 20 reaches above 60 degrees Celsius.

[0196] In the sterilization and drying step S20, the control unit 100 can supply water from the water supply unit 80 to the steam unit 90 (S24).

[0197] At this time, the control unit 100 can determine whether to supply water by measuring the water level inside the steam generator 91.

[0198] That is, when the amount of water stored in the steam generator 91 is greater than or equal to the amount sprayed in the steam cleaning step S30 described later, the control unit 100 does not supply water to the steam generator 91; however, when the amount of water stored in the steam generator 91 is less than the amount of water sprayed in the steam cleaning step S30 described later, water is supplied from the water supply unit 80 to the steam generator 91.

[0199] When water needs to be supplied to the steam generator 91, according to the embodiment, the control unit 100 can supply water to the inside of the steam generator 91 by operating the water supply pump provided in the internal water supply unit 81, or by opening the direct water valve 82a provided in the external water supply unit 82.

[0200] As an example, the control unit 100 can supply more than 50cc of water from the water supply unit 80 to the steam generator 91, and the time required to supply water from the water supply unit 80 to the steam generator 91 can be more than 20 seconds and less than 40 seconds.

[0201] As another example of ensuring an adequate water supply, the control unit 100 can supply water of 150cc or more and 250cc or less from the water supply unit 80 to the steam generator 91, and the time required to supply water from the water supply unit 80 to the steam generator 91 can be 40 seconds or more and 1 minute and 20 seconds or less.

[0202] Therefore, in the sterilization and drying step S20, the control unit 100 can raise the temperature inside the chamber 10, including the drum 20 and the pipe section 30, by operating the drum 20, the compressor 45 and the circulating fan 43, and can raise the temperature of the drum 20, the filter F and the heat exchange section 40 to above the sterilization temperature Ts.

[0203] In the steam cleaning step S30, after the sterilization and drying step S20, steam can be supplied to the inside of the drum 20 in order to sterilize the inside of the drum 20 and the pipe section 30.

[0204] In the steam cleaning step S30, the control unit 100 can make the drum motor 51 rotate continuously at a pre-input reference speed Wr (S31). As an example, the control unit 100 can make the drum 20 rotate continuously at a specified speed by keeping the speed of the drum motor 51 between 3000 rpm and 3300 rpm.

[0205] Therefore, if steam is sprayed during the continuous rotation of the drum 20, the steam can be evenly supplied to the inside of the drum 20, and the inside of the drum 20 can be evenly sterilized.

[0206] In the steam cleaning step S30, in order to prevent the instantaneous power consumption of the laundry dryer 1 from increasing, the control unit 100 does not drive the compressor 45 (S32).

[0207] During the steam cleaning step, the control unit 100 can stop the operation of the circulating fan 43 that is running in the sterilization and drying step S20 (S33).

[0208] Therefore, the circulation of air inside the drum 20 and the pipe section 30 can be stopped, and the steam injected from the steam section 90 can be fully supplied to the drum 20.

[0209] In the steam cleaning step S30, the control unit 100 can supply steam to the inside of the drum 20 by operating the steam unit 90 (S34).

[0210] The steam cleaning step S30 may include a steam preheating step S34a and a steam injection step S34b.

[0211] In the steam preheating step S34a, in order to generate steam, the control unit 100 can heat the supplied water for a preset preheating time th by applying power to the steam unit 90.

[0212] In detail, in the steam preheating step S34a, the control unit 100 can heat the water supplied to the steam generator 91 by applying power to a heater (not labeled) installed in the steam generator 91. At this time, the control unit 100 can apply power to the heater for a preheating time th, which can be set to more than the time required for the water to reach its boiling point.

[0213] For example, in the steam preheating step S34a, the control unit 100 can generate a control command to apply power to the steam unit 90 for a period of more than 2 minutes and 30 seconds and less than 3 minutes and 30 seconds.

[0214] In the steam injection step S34b, the control unit 100 can inject the steam generated in the steam unit 90 into the interior of the drum 20 at a preset injection amount after the steam preheating step S34a.

[0215] In detail, in the steam injection step S34b, the control unit 100 can generate a control command for the steam generator 91, so that the water heated and boiling in the steam generator 91 flows through the steam pipe 92 and is injected into the interior of the drum body 21 through the steam nozzle 93.

[0216] For example, in the steam injection step S34b, the control unit 100 can inject 50cc or more but less than 70cc of water from the steam generator 91 into the interior of the drum 20. At this time, the time required for steam injection can be more than 1 minute and 30 seconds but less than 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

[0217] Therefore, in the steam cleaning step S30, the control unit 100 supplies high-temperature steam evenly to the inside of the drum 20 by operating the drum 20 and the steam unit 90, thereby sterilizing bacteria and the like.

[0218] In the air supply step S40, after the steam cleaning step S30, the filter F installed in the duct section 30 and the entire heat exchange section 40 can be sterilized at high temperature by circulating the air inside the drum 20.

[0219] As an example, in the air supply step S40, heat and enthalpy can be supplied to the filter F and the heat exchange unit 40 by circulating the air inside the roller 20 and the duct section 30 for a period of more than 20 minutes and less than 40 minutes.

[0220] In the air supply step S40, the control unit 100 can make the drum motor 51 rotate continuously at a pre-input reference speed Wr (S41). As an example, the control unit 100 can make the drum 20 rotate continuously at a predetermined speed by keeping the speed of the drum motor 51 between 3000 rpm and 3300 rpm.

[0221] Therefore, the air circulating in the drum 20 and the pipe section 30 can evenly sterilize the inside of the drum 20.

[0222] In the air supply step S40, in order to improve power efficiency, the control unit 100 may not drive the compressor 45 (S42).

[0223] In the air supply step S40, in order to obtain high-heat or high-enthalpy air circulation in the sterilization and drying step S20 and the steam cleaning step S30, the control unit 100 can rotate the circulation fan 43 (S43).

[0224] In detail, in the air supply step S40, the control unit 100 can drive the circulating fan 43 at a preset circulation speed V.

[0225] As an example, during the air supply step S40, while the compressor 45 is driven, the control unit 100 can drive (rotate) the circulating fan 43 at a speed of 3500 rpm or more and 4500 rpm or less.

[0226] In the air supply step S40, sufficient moisture has been supplied to the item being dried, so the control unit 100 can stop operating (stop operation) the steam unit 90 (S44).

[0227] Therefore, the air that has obtained high heat or high enthalpy in the sterilization and drying step S20 and the steam cleaning step S30 can flow and circulate in the drum 20 and the pipe section 30 by the rotation of the circulating fan 43.

[0228] As a result, according to the air supply step S40 of the present invention, the surface temperature of the roller 20, the filter F and the heat exchange section 40 can be raised to a sterilization temperature Ts or higher for sterilizing microorganisms, etc., and can be maintained for a reference time ts or higher for sterilization.

[0229] As an example, in the air supply step S40, the surface temperature of the roller 20, filter F and heat exchange unit 40 can be maintained at 60 degrees Celsius or higher for more than 10 minutes.

[0230] On the other hand, in the air supply step S40, in order to drain the condensate collected in the housing 10, the control unit 100 can operate the drain pump 62 (S45).

[0231] In the air supply step S40, when entering the air supply step S40, the control unit 100 can discharge condensate for a preset drainage time td.

[0232] That is, the control unit 100 can move the condensate collected in the water collection section 60 to the water storage tank 72 by operating the drain pump 62.

[0233] At this time, the drainage time td can be more than 50 seconds and less than 70 seconds.

[0234] on the other hand, Figure 6 A diagram illustrating the sterilization principle of the control method for a laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. Figure 7 The present invention discloses a temperature curve of the filter in the control method of a laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 A temperature curve at the evaporator front end of the control method for a laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

[0235] The following is for reference Figures 1 to 8 This demonstrates the bactericidal effect of the present invention.

[0236] First, the effects of each constituent element of the present invention are as follows.

[0237] According to the control method of the laundry dryer 1 of the present invention, the drum 20 of the present invention is controlled to rotate while maintaining a predetermined speed in the sterilization and drying step S20, the steam cleaning step S30 and the air supply step S40 (S21, S31, S41).

[0238] That is, the drum 20 rotates continuously after the sterilization and drying step S20. Therefore, according to the present invention, the hot air and steam used for sterilization can be uniformly supplied to the inner surface of the drum 20, and the drum 20 can be sterilized uniformly.

[0239] On the other hand, the compressor 45 of the present invention is driven in the sterilization and drying step S20 (S22), and after heating the air inside the drum 20 and the pipe section 30, the drive ends in order to reduce power consumption (S32, S42).

[0240] The compressor 45 heats the air flowing inside the drum 20 and the duct section 30, thereby providing hot air (heat) to the inside of the drum 20 and the duct section 30. Therefore, driven by the compressor 45, the surfaces of the drum 20, the filter F, and the heat exchange section 40 are heated, and the high-temperature heat supply has the effect of sterilizing the surfaces of the drum 20, the filter F, and the heat exchange section 40.

[0241] On the other hand, the circulating fan 43 of the present invention starts rotating in the sterilization and drying step S20 (S23), stops rotating in the steam cleaning step S30 (S33), and then rotates again in the air supply step S40 (S43).

[0242] The circulating fan 43 of the present invention is controlled independently of the rotation of the drum 20, rotating when circulating air heated by the compressor 45, and stopping during steam injection when airflow is not required.

[0243] Therefore, according to the circulating fan 43 of the present invention, the steam supply efficiency is improved, thereby improving the sterilization efficiency of the drum 20.

[0244] In the steam cleaning step S30, the steam unit 90 of the present invention is operated (S34) for preheating and steam injection of steam.

[0245] The sterilization effect of steam injection in this invention is as follows.

[0246] In the sterilization and drying step S20, if hot air is supplied to the drum 20 and the duct section 30, the temperature inside the drum 20 will reach the sterilization temperature required for sterilization (which may be above 60 degrees Celsius). At this time, in the steam cleaning step S30 of the present invention, if the steam section 90 sprays high-temperature steam onto the drum 20, the enthalpy of the air inside the drum 20 increases, and microorganisms containing bacteria are exposed to high heat and sterilized.

[0247] That is, according to the steam cleaning step S30, by supplying steam with a high heat capacity to the interior of the drum 20 heated to a sterilization temperature Ts or higher, bacteria and other microorganisms are exposed to high enthalpy, resulting in the destruction and death of their cell membranes (see reference). Figure 6 ).

[0248] Then, through the air supply step S40, the surface temperature of the roller 20, filter F, and heat exchange section 40 is maintained at or above the sterilization temperature (60 degrees Celsius) by circulating air through the roller 20 and duct section 30 for a reference time ts (10 minutes) or more for sterilization (see reference). Figure 7 and Figure 8 Therefore, microorganisms and other microorganisms existing on the surfaces of the roller 20, filter F, and heat exchange section 40 are exposed to high-heat energy, which can destroy their cells and cause them to die.

[0249] Although the present invention has been described in detail above through specific embodiments, it is intended to specifically illustrate the present invention. The present invention is not limited thereto. Obviously, those skilled in the art can make changes or modifications to the present invention within the technical concept of the present invention.

[0250] Any simple modifications or alterations to this invention fall within the scope of this invention, and the specific scope of protection of this invention will become clear from the appended claims.

Claims

1. A laundry dryer, characterized in that, include: A drum, rotatably mounted inside the housing that forms the exterior, holds the items to be dried; The piping section resupply the air discharged from the roller to the roller; A circulating fan provides flow power to the air moving along the duct section; A heat exchange section is provided on the pipe section to exchange heat with the air circulating along the pipe section; A compressor compresses refrigerant to exchange heat with air circulating along the duct section; The steam section supplies steam into the interior of the drum; as well as The control unit controls the drum, the circulating fan, the compressor, and the steam unit; The control unit drives the compressor to raise the temperature inside the housing, and then operates the steam unit to sterilize the interior of the drum by increasing the heat inside the drum. After the operation of the steam unit stops, the control unit operates the circulating fan to circulate the air inside the drum. The drum remains rotating during the operation of any one of the compressor, the steam section, and the circulating fan. When the compressor is running, the circulating fan operates; when the steam section is running, the circulating fan stops operating.

2. The laundry dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control unit controls the roller to perform a sterilization operation when the roller is unloaded.

3. The laundry dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The steam unit receives and stores a preset amount of water. If power is applied, the stored water is heated to generate steam within a preset steam injection time.

4. The laundry dryer according to claim 3, characterized in that, If the circulating fan stops operating, power is applied to the steam unit to heat the stored water.

5. The laundry dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a drain pump that provides flow to the condensate collected in the tank. The control unit also controls the drainage pump. After the control unit stops the operation of the steam unit, it causes the drain pump to run for a preset drainage time.

6. A control method for a laundry dryer, characterized in that, The laundry dryer includes: The enclosure forms the exterior; A roller is rotatably disposed inside the housing; The piping section provides air circulation for the rollers; A circulating fan moves air along the duct section; A heat exchange section is provided on the pipe section; The compressor supplies refrigerant to the heat exchange section for heat exchange with the air circulating along the piping section; and The steam section supplies steam to the drum. The control method includes: The sterilization and drying step involves driving the compressor to raise the temperature inside the chamber for sterilization. Following the sterilization and drying step, a steam cleaning step is performed by supplying steam into the interior of the drum to sterilize it; and Following the steam cleaning step, an air supply step circulates the air inside the drum. During the sterilization and drying steps, the steam cleaning step, and the air supply step, the drum remains rotating. During the sterilization and drying steps and the air supply step, the circulating fan operates; during the steam cleaning step, the circulating fan stops operating. The sterilization and drying steps, the steam cleaning steps, and the air supply steps are performed in the listed order.

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