Laundry treating apparuts

Abstract

A garment processing device is disclosed. The garment processing device of the present disclosure comprises: a cabinet having an inlet on a front surface; a door coupled to the cabinet and opening and closing the inlet; a tub disposed inside the cabinet and having an opening communicating with the inlet of the cabinet and providing a space for receiving water; a drum rotatably provided inside the tub and providing a space for receiving laundry; a driving unit for rotating the drum; a gasket having an inner surface connecting the inlet of the cabinet and the opening of the tub and providing a passage for entering and exiting laundry; and a water supply unit for supplying water to the tub. The water supply unit may supply water to the tub up to a first water level higher than the lowest part of the inner surface of the gasket. The driving unit may rotate the drum at a first rotational speed in which the centrifugal force acting on the laundry inside the drum by the rotation of the drum is greater than the gravitational force acting on the laundry, while the water level of the tub is at the first water level.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a clothing processing device. Background Technology

[0002] Generally, a clothing processing device may include a washing machine, a dryer, a clothing refresher, etc. The washing machine may be a combined washing machine and dryer that includes a drying function.

[0003] The washing machine rotates a drum within a tub where water is stored to remove contaminants from the laundry inside the drum. The washing machine may also be equipped with a heating means for heating water and / or laundry or for drying laundry.

[0004] The above dryer rotates a drum inside a cabinet and applies heat to the laundry inside the drum to dry the laundry.

[0005] The garment processing device may include a heating means for heating or drying laundry. The garment processing device may be equipped with an electric heater or a heat pump as the heating means.

[0006] Conventionally, the drying process has used a hot air drying method that dries laundry by heating air circulating through a tub and an external circulation path, and has utilized a method of heating air by placing heating wires along the air circulation path.

[0007] To use the aforementioned hot air drying method, a gas heater or electric heater capable of heating the heating wire is required; however, gas heaters present issues regarding safety and exhaust gases, while electric heaters can accumulate foreign substances such as scale and consume excessive energy.

[0008] In addition to the hot air drying method described above, there is also a low-temperature dehumidifying drying method using a heat pump. A heat pump utilizes the cooling cycle of an air conditioner in reverse, and therefore requires the same components as an evaporator, condenser, expansion valve, and compressor.

[0009] Furthermore, another problem with the above hot air drying method and low-temperature dehumidifying drying method is that, since it is an indirect drying method using air, there is a disadvantage that the drying time may be prolonged if the laundry is clumped together or contains a large amount of moisture.

[0010] Meanwhile, research on induction modules (or induction heaters) as a new heating method has recently been conducted.

[0011] In an induction module equipped in a clothing processing device such as a washing machine or a dryer, a coil is wound, and heat can be transferred to a heating target (the drum of a washing machine) by an induced current generated by applying current to the coil.

[0012] Since the induction module can heat the drum, a garment processing device equipped with an induction module can perform laundry drying without having to provide a circulation duct that guides air discharged from the tub back to the tub, which is applied to a garment processing device using a hot air drying method.

[0013] However, in the case of a garment processing device that is not equipped with a circulation duct, there is a problem where lint accumulates on the back of the cabinet door, the front of the tub, the gasket, etc. during the drying process.

[0014] Public Patent No. 10-2018-0023276 (March 7, 2018) discloses a garment processing device with an induction unit. However, in the structure of the prior patent, a problem may arise where lint accumulates on the back of the cabinet door, the front of the tub, the gasket, etc. Even if the structure is modified to directly induction heat the drum through a magnetic field generated in the induction unit and the heated air is discharged to the outside of the tub, the problem of lint accumulation as described above cannot be prevented because an airflow entering from the front of the tub is not formed. Prior art literature

[0016] Published Patent: 10-2018-0023276 (March 7, 2018) The problem to be solved

[0017] The present disclosure aims to solve the aforementioned problems and other problems.

[0018] Another objective may be to provide a clothing processing device such as a dryer equipped with an induction heater, a washing machine, a washing machine combined with a dryer, or a device for refreshing clothing.

[0019] Another objective may be to provide a garment processing device that performs drying without having a duct for circulating air inside the drum.

[0020] Another objective may be to provide a garment processing device that reduces power consumption during drying.

[0021] Another objective may be to provide a garment processing device that removes lint accumulated in doors, tubs, gaskets, etc.

[0022] Another objective may be to provide a garment processing device that uses water in a tub to remove lint accumulated in doors, tubs, gaskets, etc.

[0023] Another objective may be to provide a garment processing device that removes lint accumulated during the drying process during the next washing and / or rinsing process. means of solving the problem

[0025] A garment processing device according to one aspect of the present disclosure for achieving the above-described purpose comprises a tub providing a space for receiving water, a drum rotatably provided within the tub, a driving unit for rotating the drum, and a water supply unit for supplying water to the tub.

[0026] The above clothing processing device further includes a cabinet having an input port and a door for opening and closing the input port.

[0027] The above cabinet can form the exterior of a garment processing device. The above cabinet may be provided with the above input port on the front surface.

[0028] The above door may be coupled to the cabinet. The above door may be coupled to the front surface of the cabinet. The above door may be rotatably coupled to the cabinet.

[0029] The tub may be placed inside the cabinet. The tub may have an opening communicating with the inlet of the cabinet. The tub may have an extended cylindrical shape. The opening of the tub may be smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical shape of the tub.

[0030] The above-described garment processing device includes a gasket connecting the input port of the cabinet and the opening of the tub. The gasket may provide a laundry access passage. The gasket has an inner surface, and the inner surface may provide the laundry access passage.

[0031] The drum may provide a space for receiving laundry. The drum may have an extended cylindrical shape. The drum may have a drum opening communicating with an opening of the tub.

[0032] The above-described garment processing device includes a driving unit that rotates the drum. The driving unit may be coupled to the tub. The driving unit may be coupled to the back surface of the tub. The rotation axis of the driving unit may be connected to the drum by penetrating the back surface of the tub.

[0033] The above-described clothing processing device includes a water supply unit that supplies water to the tub. The water supply unit may be connected to an external water source to supply water to the tub. The water supply unit may include a water supply channel connected to the external water source and a water supply valve that opens and closes the water supply channel.

[0034] The above-described clothing processing device may further include an induction heater for heating the drum. The induction heater may be disposed on the outer surface of the tub.

[0035] The above induction heater can heat the drum when the water in the tub is drained. When the above induction heater heats the drum, the drive unit can rotate the drum.

[0036] The induction heater heats the drum, and the drive unit rotates the drum to dry the laundry inside the drum. As the laundry is dried, lint can be separated from the laundry. The separated lint can accumulate in the gasket and the door.

[0037] Lint may accumulate on the inner surface of the above gasket.

[0038] The door may have an inner surface located in the laundry access passage when the input opening is closed. Lint separated from the laundry may accumulate on the inner surface of the door.

[0039] The above-mentioned water supply unit can supply water to the tub up to a first water level. The first water level may be higher than the lowest part of the inner surface of the gasket. The first water level may be higher than the lower part of the drum located vertically below the rotation center of the drum. The first water level may be located inside the drum.

[0040] The above driving unit can rotate the drum at a first rotational speed when the water level of the tub is at the first water level. The first rotational speed may be a rotational speed at which the centrifugal force acting on the laundry inside the drum due to the rotation of the drum is greater than the gravitational force acting on the laundry. The first rotational speed may be 60 rpm or more. The first rotational speed may be 100 rpm.

[0041] When the drum rotates at the first rotational speed, the laundry inside the drum can rotate integrally with the drum without being separated from the inner surface of the drum even at the highest point of the drum.

[0042] When the drum rotates at the first rotational speed, the water in the tub can rise along the inner surface of the tub. When the drum rotates at the first rotational speed, the water in the tub can rise along the inner surface of the tub and flow at the bottom of the gasket. The water flowing at the bottom of the gasket can remove lint accumulated at the bottom of the gasket. The water flowing at the bottom of the gasket can remove lint accumulated at the bottom of the door.

[0043] The above driving unit can accelerate the drum to rotate the drum at a first rotational speed. The above driving unit can accelerate the drum when the water level of the tub is at the first water level. The above driving unit can accelerate the drum to the first rotational speed when the water level of the tub is at the first water level.

[0044] The above drive unit may accelerate the drum to the first rotational speed in the section where the drum is accelerated to the first rotational speed, passing through a second rotational speed slower than the first rotational speed. The second rotational speed may be a rotational speed at which the laundry inside the drum rises above a height corresponding to the center of rotation of the drum due to the rotation of the drum, and then separates from the drum and falls.

[0045] The second rotational speed may be within the range of 40 rpm to 60 rpm. The second rotational speed may be 46 rpm.

[0046] The above driving unit can rotate the drum while maintaining the second rotational speed when the water level of the tub is at the first water level.

[0047] When the rotational speed of the drum passes the second rotational speed in the section where the drum accelerates, or when the drum rotates while maintaining the second rotational speed, the laundry inside the drum can rise above a height corresponding to the center of rotation of the drum and then separate from the drum and fall.

[0048] As laundry falls, water inside the drum may splash onto the gasket and the door. Lint accumulated on the gasket and the door may be removed.

[0049] The above clothing processing device may further include a water level sensor for detecting the water level of the tub. The water supply unit may supply water to the tub based on the water level of the tub detected by the water level sensor.

[0050] The above driving unit can stop after rotating the drum at the first rotational speed.

[0051] When the drum rotates, the laundry inside the drum can absorb water from the tub. As the laundry absorbs water from the tub, the water level in the tub can be lowered.

[0052] The above-mentioned water level detection unit can detect the water level of the tub when the drum is stopped. The above-mentioned water level sensor can detect the water level of the tub after the drum rotates at a first rotational speed and stops.

[0053] The above-mentioned water supply unit can resupply water to the tub up to the first water level when the water level of the tub is lower than the first water level after the drum has rotated at the first rotational speed. If the water level of the tub is lower than the first water level while the drum is stopped, the above-mentioned water supply unit can resupply water to the tub. The above-mentioned water supply unit can resupply water to the tub up to the first water level.

[0054] The above driving unit can rotate the drum again at the first rotational speed after the water supply unit re-supplies water to the tub.

[0055] When the drum rotates after the above refill, the laundry may not absorb more water. When the drum rotates at the first rotational speed after the above refill, the water level of the tub may not decrease.

[0056] The water level of the tub in the section where the drum rotates at the first rotational speed after the above re-watering may be higher than the water level of the tub in the section where the drum rotates at the first rotational speed before the above re-watering.

[0057] When the drum rotates at the first rotational speed after the refill, the water in the tub can flow to the inner surface of the gasket, and the water flowing to the inner surface of the gasket can reach a higher position than when the drum rotates before the refill. The water flowing to the inner surface of the gasket can remove lint accumulated at a higher position than the lint removed before the refill. The water flowing to the inner surface of the gasket can remove lint accumulated on the door.

[0058] The above driving unit can brake the drum after rotating the drum at the first rotational speed. The above driving unit can brake the drum by reverse braking.

[0059] The phase of the power applied to the drive unit in the section where the drum is braked may be reversed from the phase of the power applied to the drive unit in the section where the drum rotates at the first rotational speed.

[0060] The above driving unit accelerates the drum to the first rotational speed before rotating the drum to the first rotational speed, and the magnitude of the acceleration in the braking section of the drum may be greater than the magnitude of the acceleration in the section where the drum accelerates to the first rotational speed.

[0061] The above driving unit can rotate the drum at the first rotational speed by a rotational angle within the range of 90 to 180 degrees when the water level in the tub is at the first water level, then brake the drum, and alternately repeat the rotation and braking of the drum.

[0062] When the drum is braked, the laundry inside the drum may be separated from the drum and fall. As the laundry falls, water in the drum may splash onto the gasket and the door. Lint accumulated on the gasket and the door may be removed by the water splashed as the laundry falls. The drum may rotate at a second rotational speed to remove lint accumulated at a position higher than the lint removed by the fallen laundry.

[0063] The above clothing processing device may further include a circulation pump for pumping water discharged from the tub, a nozzle having an outlet provided in the gasket and located in the laundry entry / exit passage, and a circulation path connecting the circulation pump and the nozzle.

[0064] The above circulation pump can be driven when the driving unit rotates the drum.

[0065] When the above circulation pump is driven, the circulation nozzle can spray water. The circulation nozzle can spray water onto the inner surface of the gasket. The circulation nozzle can spray water onto the inner surface of the door. The water sprayed from the circulation nozzle can remove lint accumulated on the gasket and the door.

[0066] The above clothing processing device may further include a control unit that controls the drive unit and the water supply unit. The control unit can control the rotation of the drive unit. The control unit can control the rotational speed and rotational direction of the drive unit.

[0067] The above control unit can control the water supply unit based on the water level of the tub detected by the water level sensor.

[0068] The above water supply unit may include a water supply channel connecting a water source and the tub, and a water supply valve for opening and closing the water supply channel.

[0069] The above control unit can control the water supply valve. The water supply valve can be controlled based on the water level of the tub detected by the water level sensor.

[0070] The above control unit can control the circulation pump. The above control unit can drive the circulation pump when the above drive unit is driven.

[0071] The above control unit can control the induction heater.

[0073] Various embodiments for solving the problem of the present disclosure aim to provide a garment processing device and a control method thereof that can clean the inner surface of a door and the inner surface of a gasket by controlling the motion of the drum, the supply of washing water, and the supply of circulating water during the rinsing section of the washing process to maximize the splashing effect of the washing water contained in the tub and delivering the washing water to the front of the tub.

[0074] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure aims to provide a garment processing device and a control method thereof that can clean the inner surface of a door and the inner surface of a gasket by supplying washing water to a level where the lower part of the gasket is submerged in the rinsing section, and then rotating the drum to generate a water flow in which the washing water supplied into the tub flows, thereby delivering the washing water to the inner surface of the door and the inner surface of the gasket.

[0075] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is a control method for a garment processing apparatus comprising: a cabinet having an inlet formed therein; a door for opening and closing the inlet; a tub provided inside the cabinet for receiving water; a drum rotatably provided in the tub for receiving laundry; a driving unit coupled to the tub for rotating the drum; a gasket connecting the inlet and the opening of the tub; a water supply unit communicating with the gasket and supplying water to the tub through the gasket; and a circulation unit communicating with the gasket and the tub to supply water discharged from the tub to the gasket. The method comprises: a first water supply step of supplying water to the tub through the water supply unit up to a first water level for rinsing the laundry; a rotation step of rotating the drum at a first RPM after the first water supply step; a second water supply step of supplying water to the tub through the water supply unit up to a second water level higher than the first water level after the rotation step; an acceleration step of accelerating the drum to a second RPM; and after the acceleration step. The present invention provides a control method for a clothing processing device characterized by including a lint removal step in which water supplied to the second level of the drum is maintained at the second RPM to form a water flow according to the rotation of the drum to remove lint accumulated on the inner surface of the gasket and the inner surface of the door, and a deceleration step in which the rotation of the drum is decelerated after the lint removal step.

[0076] The acceleration step, the lint removal step, and the deceleration step may be performed while the second water supply step is in progress, and the acceleration step may be performed when the water level in the tub reaches the second water level.

[0077] Additionally, it may further include a circulating water supply step in which water discharged from the tub through the circulation unit is supplied to the gasket to remove lint accumulated on the inner surface of the gasket and the inner surface of the door; wherein the circulating water supply step is performed while accelerating the drum to a second RPM and may be terminated while decelerating the rotation of the drum.

[0078] And the above acceleration step, lint removal step, deceleration step, and circulating water supply step may be performed at least once during the rinsing process of the garment processing device.

[0079] The second RPM may be the same as the first RPM, or the second RPM may be greater than the first RPM.

[0080] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a cabinet forming an exterior and having an inlet; a door for opening and closing the inlet; a tub provided inside the cabinet and forming an opening communicating with the inlet; a metal drum rotatably installed inside the tub to receive laundry; a gasket connecting the inlet of the cabinet and the opening of the tub; an induction module provided in the tub and heating the circumferential surface of the drum through a magnetic field generated by the application of current; a driving unit coupled to the tub and rotating the drum; a water supply unit communicating with the gasket and supplying water to the tub through the gasket; and a control unit controlling the driving unit and the water supply unit. The control unit supplies water to the tub through the water supply unit up to a first water level for rinsing the laundry, rotates the drum at a first RPM, supplies water through the water supply unit up to a second water level higher than the first water level, and rotates the drum at a second RPM up to the second water level. A clothing processing device is provided, characterized by controlling the water supply unit and the driving unit so that the supplied water forms a water flow according to the rotation of the drum to remove lint accumulated on the inner surface of the gasket and the inner surface of the door.

[0081] Additionally, the apparatus further includes a circulation unit that forms a flow path for circulating water discharged from the tub, wherein the circulation unit may include a circulation path connecting the tub and the gasket and a circulation pump that provides power to the circulation path.

[0082] The control unit can control the circulation pump to supply water discharged from the tub to the inner surface of the gasket, and the control unit can control the circulation pump to operate the circulation pump while accelerating the drum to the second RPM so that water discharged from the tub is supplied to the inner surface of the gasket.

[0083] And the control unit can stop the operation of the circulation pump when the rotation of the drum is decelerated from the second RPM.

[0084] The second RPM may be the same as the first RPM, or the second RPM may be set to be greater than the first RPM.

[0085] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may form a water supply path through a gasket. Additionally, a circulating water supply path may be formed through a tub, a circulation pump, and a gasket.

[0086] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can control a motor to rotate at a first rotational speed of 1G or more, at which water is supplied to a first water level, which is a rinsing water level, through a water supply unit, and the laundry sticks to the inner wall of the drum and rotates due to centrifugal force, and can drive a circulation pump to supply washing water from the tub into the drum.

[0087] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can control the motor to supply water above the rinsing water level and to rotate the drum at a second rotational speed greater than the first rotational speed, and drive the circulation pump to supply washing water from the tub into the drum.

[0088] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure forms a water supply port in a gasket so that water can be supplied through the gasket, and at least one water supply port formed in the gasket may be provided on the upper part of the gasket.

[0089] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure can be controlled such that when the drum is rotated in a bidirectional left-right reversal, the drum is rotated at 1G or more so that the laundry moves in both directions along the inner wall of the drum, and when it is located at the top of the drum, reverse braking is applied to drop the laundry, and the drum is rotated in the opposite direction again.

[0090] Each of the features of the above-described embodiments may be implemented in combination in other embodiments, provided that such features do not contradict or are not exclusive of other embodiments. Effects of the invention

[0091] According to at least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, lint accumulated on the gasket and door can be removed.

[0092] In addition, lint accumulated on the gasket and door can be removed without having to provide a duct that discharges air toward the gasket and door.

[0093] In addition, lint can be removed without a duct, allowing laundry to be dried by heating the drum instead of using a hot air drying method.

[0094] In addition, since it does not require a duct, it allows for greater freedom in the installation location of the induction module.

[0095] In addition, power consumption during drying can be reduced by equipping it with an induction module.

[0096] In addition, lint accumulated on the gasket and door can be removed during the washing and rinsing cycles.

[0097] In addition, lint accumulated on the inner surface of the door, the inner surface of the gasket, and the front of the tub during the drying process of a garment processing device equipped with an induction module (IH module) can be removed by forming a water flow of washing water supplied inside the tub during the washing process.

[0098] In addition, lint accumulated on the lower part of the gasket and the lower part of the inner surface of the door can be removed by supplying water so that a part of the inner surface of the gasket is submerged and then forming a water flow.

[0099] In addition, after supplying washing water up to a set water level where a portion of the inner surface of the gasket can be submerged, by controlling the motion of the drum at the set water level, a phenomenon of water splashing forward of the tub can be generated to remove lint accumulated in the central and upper parts of the gasket and the central and upper parts of the inner surface of the door.

[0100] In addition, by supplying water and circulating water to the front of the tub, traced lint on the upper part of the inner surface of the door can be removed.

[0101] The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to those foregoing, and other unmentioned effects will be clearly recognized by a person skilled in the art from the description below. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0103] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the exterior of a clothing processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the clothing processing device of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a drawing showing an induction module, a tub, and a drum. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration for controlling a clothing processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing driving motions of a drum that can be implemented by a clothing processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating a washing process applied to a clothing processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a part of the washing process applied to a clothing processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the water level, drum RPM, water supply, and circulation during a portion of the washing process of a drum according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 9 is a drawing showing the cleaning area of ​​the gasket and door during the administration of Figure 8. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0104] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Identical or similar components regardless of drawing symbols are given the same reference number, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0105] The suffixes "module" and "part" used for components in the following description are assigned or used interchangeably solely for the ease of drafting the specification, and do not inherently possess distinct meanings or roles.

[0106] In addition, when describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a detailed description of related prior art could unnecessarily obscure the essence of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, such detailed description is omitted. Furthermore, the attached drawings are intended only to facilitate understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical concept disclosed in this specification is not limited by the attached drawings; it should be understood that they include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the concept and technical scope of this disclosure.

[0107] Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components are not limited by said terms. These terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

[0108] When it is stated that one component is "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that while it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, there may also be other components in between. On the other hand, when it is stated that one component is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between.

[0109] Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0110] Furthermore, for the convenience of explanation, each drawing is described, but it is also within the scope of the present invention that a person skilled in the art combines at least two drawings to implement other embodiments.

[0111] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the exterior of a clothing processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the internal configuration of the clothing processing device of FIG. 1.

[0112] To help understand the detailed structure of the garment processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the direction facing the door (12) with respect to the center of the garment processing device can be defined as the front.

[0113] Additionally, the direction opposite to the direction facing the door (12) may be defined as Rear, and the Right and Left directions may be defined dependently on the front and rear directions defined above.

[0115] The following explanation refers to FIGS. 1 and FIGS. 2.

[0116] A clothing processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may be a washing machine, a dryer, a washing machine combined with a dryer, or a device for refreshing clothing.

[0117] The above clothing processing device may be a dryer that does not include a tub (2). Alternatively, the above clothing processing device may be a washing machine combined with a dryer that includes a tub (2). Hereinafter, a washing machine combined with a dryer is described as a representative example of the clothing processing device of the present disclosure. However, the clothing processing device of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0119] A clothing processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cabinet (1) forming an exterior, a tub (2) provided inside the cabinet (1), and a drum (3) rotatably provided inside the tub (2) to accommodate an object (e.g., an object to be washed, an object to be dried, or an object to be refreshed).

[0120] For example, when clothes are washed with washing water, they can be referred to as the washing object; when wet clothes are dried using heat, they can be referred to as the drying object; and when dry clothes are refreshed using hot air, cold air, or steam, they can be referred to as the refreshing object. Therefore, clothes can be washed, dried, or refreshed through the drum (3) of the clothing processing device.

[0121] The cabinet (1) may include an input opening provided at the front of the cabinet (1) through which an object enters and exits, and the cabinet (1) may be provided with a door (12) rotatably connected to the cabinet (1) to open and close the input opening.

[0122] The above door (12) may include a door frame (121) and a viewing window (122) provided in the center of the door frame (121).

[0123] A control panel (5) may be provided on the upper front side of the above-described clothing processing device. The control panel (5) may be provided for a user interface. Various inputs by the user are performed through the control panel (5), and the input information or various information of the clothing processing device may be displayed. Accordingly, the control panel (5) may be equipped with an operation section for the user to operate the clothing processing device and a display for displaying information to the user.

[0124] Meanwhile, the tub (2) forms a space in which water can be stored. The tub (2) may be extended in a cylindrical shape. The longitudinal axis of the tub (2) may be parallel to the lower surface of the cabinet (1) or form a predetermined angle. The extension of the longitudinal axis of the tub (2) may penetrate the rear surface of the cabinet (1). The tub (2) is provided with an opening (21) communicating with the inlet. The tub opening (21) is provided at the front. The tub (2) may include the tub opening (21) and a tub body (22) constituting the main body of the tub. Accordingly, the tub body (22) may be provided in a cylindrical shape, and the tub opening (21) may be provided corresponding to the shape of the tub body (22).

[0125] The tub (2) can be fixed to the lower surface (bottom surface) of the cabinet (1) by a second support member (132), and the second support member (132) is equipped with a support bar (1321) and a damper (1322) so that vibrations generated in the tub (2) by the rotation of the drum (3) can be dampened.

[0126] Additionally, the upper surface of the tub (2) may be connected to a first support member (131) fixed to the upper surface of the cabinet (1). Through the first support member (131), vibrations generated in the tub (2) and transmitted to the cabinet (1) can be dampened.

[0127] That is, the tub (2) can be supported inside the cabinet (1) through the first support member (131) and the second support member (132), and vibrations generated in the tub (2) can also be dampened.

[0128] The drum (3) may include a body extended in a cylindrical shape. The drum (3) may be made of a conductor. The body of the drum (3) may be made of a conductor. The body of the drum (3) may be made of metal. A plurality of through holes (33) may be formed in the drum (3).

[0129] The drum (3) may provide a space for storing objects (laundry, drying objects, refreshing objects). The drum (3) may be extended in a cylindrical shape. The longitudinal axis of the drum (3) may be parallel to the lower surface (bottom surface) of the cabinet (1) or form a predetermined angle. The extension of the longitudinal axis of the drum (3) may penetrate the rear surface of the cabinet (1). A drum opening (31) communicating with the tub opening (21) may be provided at the front of the drum (3). The angle formed by the central axis of the tub (2) and the drum (3) with respect to the bottom surface may be the same.

[0130] A plurality of through holes (33) penetrating the drum (3) may be formed on the outer surface of the drum (3). Air and washing water may enter and exit between the inside of the drum (3) and the inside of the tub (2) through the through holes (33).

[0131] A lifter (35) for stirring an object when the drum (3) rotates may be provided on the inner surface of the drum (3). The lifter (35) may be provided in multiple numbers on the inner surface of the drum (3), extending along the longitudinal direction of the drum (3).

[0132] The drum (3) can be rotated by a driving unit (6) provided at the rear of the tub (2).

[0133] The above drive unit (6) may be provided with a stator (61) fixed to the back surface of the tub (2), a rotor (63) that rotates by electromagnetic action with the stator, and a rotating shaft (65) that passes through the back surface of the tub (2) and connects the drum (3) and the rotor (63).

[0134] The stator (61) may be fixed to the rear surface of a bearing housing (66) provided on the back surface of a tub (2), and the rotor (63) may consist of a rotor magnet (632) provided on the radially outer side of the stator (61) and a rotor housing (631) connecting the rotor magnet (632) and a rotation axis (65).

[0135] A plurality of bearings (68) supporting a rotating shaft (65) may be provided inside the bearing housing (66).

[0136] Additionally, a spider (67) that facilitates the transmission of rotational power of the rotor (63) to the drum (3) may be provided on the back surface of the drum (3), and a rotating shaft (65) for transmitting rotational power of the rotor (63) may be fixed to the spider (67).

[0137] Meanwhile, a detergent box (7) may be provided on the upper front side of the above-mentioned clothing processing device. Detergent, fabric softener, etc., can be supplied through the detergent box (7). The detergent box (7) may be provided with a handle so that a user can slide it toward the front of the cabinet (1) to open and close it.

[0138] More specifically, the detergent box (7) may be provided to include a case (71) provided inside the cabinet (1) and a drawer (72) that can be pulled out from the case (71).

[0139] The drawer (72) housed inside the case (71) can be drawn out to the outside of the cabinet (1) through a drawer outlet provided to penetrate the front surface of the cabinet (1). The drawer (72) may be provided as a polyhedron (such as a cuboid) with an open top surface, and the inside of the drawer (72) may be provided to include a storage section (721) that provides a space for storing detergent, and a detergent outlet (723) that connects the storage section (721) to the case (71). The detergent outlet (723) may be provided as a through hole penetrating the rear surface or bottom surface of the storage section (721), or it may be provided as a bell trap provided on the bottom surface of the storage section (721).

[0140] The water supply unit (51, 53) can be connected to a water source to supply water to the tub (2). The water source may be a water source outside the cabinet, such as a water supply. The water supply unit (51, 53) may include a water supply channel (51) that supplies water from the water source to the storage unit (721), and a water supply valve (51a) that opens or closes the water supply channel (51) according to a control signal from the control unit (10). Water supply unit (51, 53)

[0141] Accordingly, when water is supplied to the storage unit (721) where the detergent is stored through the above water supply channel (51), the detergent inside the storage unit (721) moves to the case (71) together with the water through the detergent discharge port (723). The liquid mixed with the detergent and water can be called detergent water.

[0142] Meanwhile, the detergent may not be contained within the storage unit (721). In this case, the water supplied to the storage unit (721) may move to the case (71) through the outlet (723).

[0143] The water supply section (51, 53) may include a supply pipe (53) connecting the detergent box (7) and the tub (2). The supply pipe (53) may be connected to the case (71). The supply pipe (53) may be connected to the upper part of the tub (2).

[0144] The detergent water or water of the case (71) can be supplied to the tub (2) through the supply pipe (53).

[0145] The water supplied to the tub (2) is discharged to the outside of the cabinet (1) through the drainage section (14). The drainage section (6) may consist of a drain pipe (142) that forms a drainage channel through which water inside the tub (2) moves, and a drainage pump (141) that generates a pressure difference inside the drain pipe (142) so that the water supplied into the tub is drained to the outside of the cabinet (1) through the drain pipe (142).

[0146] More specifically, the drain pipe (142) may include a first drain pipe (1421) connecting the lower surface of the tub (2) and the drain pump (141), and a second drain pipe (1422) having one end connected to the drain pump (141) to form a path for water to move outside the cabinet (1).

[0147] Furthermore, a clothing processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is further provided with a water level sensing unit (110) for sensing the water level inside a tub body (22). The water level sensing unit (110) may be configured to include a connecting pipe (111) in which a water level identical to the water level inside the tub body (21) is formed, and a sensor (113) for sensing a pressure change inside the connecting pipe (111).

[0148] The above-mentioned connecting pipe (111) is connected to the first drain pipe (1421) at one end and is configured so that the other end is positioned at a point higher than the center of rotation of the drum (3). Accordingly, when all the water inside the tub body (22) has moved to the first drain pipe (1421), the water level detection unit (110) can also detect the water level of the first drain pipe (1421).

[0149] A garment processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a gasket (4). The gasket (4) may connect the inlet (11) of the cabinet (1) and the tub opening (21). The gasket (4) may form a passage for the input and output of laundry.

[0150] The gasket (4) may have an extended tubular shape. One end of the gasket (4) may be connected to the tub opening (21). The other end of the gasket (4) may be connected to the inlet (11) of the cabinet (1). The gasket (4) may extend from the tub opening (21) to the inlet (11) of the cabinet (1).

[0151] The gasket (4) can prevent vibrations of the tub (2) from being transmitted to the cabinet (1). The gasket (4) can be formed from a flexible material. For example, the gasket (4) can be made of materials such as rubber, EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer), TPE (Thermo Plastic Elastomer), etc. However, it is not limited thereto.

[0152] The gasket (4) can seal the space between the cabinet (1) and the tub (2). That is, the gasket (4) can prevent water inside the tub (2) from leaking into the space between the tub (2) and the cabinet (1).

[0153] Meanwhile, a clothing processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a circulation unit (55, 57) that recirculates water drained from the tub (2). The circulation unit (55, 57) may include a circulation pump (55) that pumps water discharged from the tub (2), a nozzle (57a) that sprays the pumped water into the tub (2) or drum (3), and a circulation path (57) that connects the circulation pump (55) and the nozzle (57a).

[0154] The circulation pump (55) can communicate with the inside of the tub (2) through the bottom surface of the tub (2). The flow path connecting the circulation pump (55) and the tub (2) can be connected to the inlet of the circulation pump (55). The circulation pump (55) can be connected to the first drain pipe (1421) described above. Alternatively, it can be connected to the bottom surface of the tub (2) through a separate flow path from the first drain pipe (1421).

[0155] The circulation pump (55) may be provided separately from the aforementioned drainage pump (141). Alternatively, the circulation pump (55) and the drainage pump (141) may be provided in a single housing. Alternatively, a single pump may perform the functions of both the circulation pump and the drainage pump.

[0156] The circulation path (57) can connect the circulation pump (55) and the nozzle (57a).

[0157] The circulation path (57) can be connected to the circulation pump (55). The circulation path (57) can be connected to the outlet of the circulation pump (55).

[0158] The circulation channel (57) can be connected to the nozzle (57a). The circulation channel (57) can communicate with the nozzle (57a). The circulation channel (57) can be connected to the gasket (4). The circulation channel (57) can be connected to the nozzle (57a) provided in the gasket (4).

[0159] The circulation path (57) can guide water pumped by the circulation pump (55) to the nozzle (57a). The circulation path (57) can supply water pumped by the circulation pump (55) to the nozzle (57a).

[0160] The nozzle (57a) may be provided in the gasket (4). The nozzle (57a) may be formed integrally with the gasket (4) or manufactured separately from the gasket (4) and coupled to the gasket (4).

[0161] The nozzle (57a) can penetrate the gasket (4). The outlet of the nozzle (57a) can be located inside the gasket (4). The inlet of the nozzle (57a) can be located outside the gasket (4). The nozzle (57a) can be connected to the circulation path (57) outside the gasket (4).

[0162] The nozzle (57a) can communicate with the space enclosed by the inner circumference of the gasket (4). That is, the nozzle (57a) can communicate with the aforementioned laundry entry / exit passage. The nozzle (57a) can communicate with the internal space of the tub (2) and the internal space of the drum (3) through the laundry entry / exit passage.

[0163] The nozzle (57a) can spray water that is pumped by the circulation pump (55) and flows in along the circulation path (57a). The nozzle (57a) can spray water onto the inner surface of the gasket (4). The nozzle (57a) can spray water onto the inner surface (122) of the door (12). The nozzle (57a) can spray water into the inside of the drum (3).

[0164] The nozzle (57a) can be located above the center of the gasket (4).

[0165] The nozzles (57a) may be provided in multiple numbers. The multiple nozzles may be arranged along the circumferential direction of the gasket (4). The multiple nozzles may include a nozzle (57a) located above the center of the gasket (4). The multiple nozzles may include a nozzle located below the center of the gasket (4).

[0166] Meanwhile, a clothing processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a direct water nozzle connected to an external water source in addition to a nozzle (57a) connected to a circulation pump (55). The water supply section (51, 53) may further include a separate nozzle water supply path in addition to the water supply path (51), and the nozzle water supply path may be connected to an external water source and controlled by a valve. Additionally, a direct water nozzle connected to the nozzle water supply path may be further provided in a gasket (4).

[0167] Water supplied through the nozzle (57a) or the direct water nozzle can flow along the inner surface of the door (12) and remove lint attached to the inner surface of the door (12). Additionally, water supplied through the nozzle (57a) can flow along the inner surface of the gasket (4) and remove lint accumulated on the inner surface of the gasket (4).

[0168] In addition, water can be supplied to the inner surface (122) of the tub (2) gasket (4) and the door through RPM control of the drum (3) to remove lint attached to the gasket (4) and the inner surface (122) of the door, as will be described later.

[0170] A clothing processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include an induction module (8) for heating a drum (3). The induction module (8) includes a coil. When power is applied to the induction module (8), a magnetic field is generated by the coil. The induction module (8) can heat the drum (3) through the generated magnetic field.

[0171] The induction module (8) can heat the drum (3) to heat the washing water in the tub (2) and the laundry in the drum (3). The garment processing device of the present disclosure can improve washing performance by increasing the temperature of the washing water and the laundry.

[0172] In addition, the induction module (8) can heat the drum (3) to dry the laundry.

[0174] Figure 3 is a drawing showing an induction module, a tub, and a drum.

[0175] Referring to FIG. 3 below, an induction module (8) and a structure for mounting the induction module (8) on a clothing processing device will be described.

[0176] The above induction module (8) is mounted on the circumferential surface of the tub (2) and heats the circumferential surface of the drum (3) through a magnetic field generated by applying current to a coil wound with a wire.

[0177] More specifically, when an alternating current with changing phase flows through a coil, the coil forms a radial alternating magnetic field according to Ampere's circuit law. Subsequently, when the alternating magnetic field is concentrated toward a drum (3) made of a conductor with high permeability, eddy currents are formed in the drum (3) according to Faraday's law of induction.

[0178] Accordingly, the eddy current flowing through the drum (3) is converted into Joule heat by the resistance of the drum (3) itself, so that the inner surface of the drum (3) is directly heated.

[0179] In order to fix the above coil to the upper surface of the tub (2), the garment processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a base housing (82). The base housing (82) is fixed to the circumferential surface of the tub (2) and may be provided on the upper side of a horizontal plane parallel to the ground passing through the rotation axis (65).

[0180] More specifically, the base housing (82) may be provided in the shape of a rectangular plate or a rectangle having a predetermined thickness, and may include a base body (821) located on the upper side of the drum (3), with a front-to-rear length shorter than the front-to-rear length of the tub (2).

[0181] The base body (821) may be formed to have the same curvature as the outer surface of the tub (2) or drum (3) in order to concentrate the magnetic field generated from the coil to the drum (3).

[0182] Additionally, the base housing (82) may further include a fixed rib (823) that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the base body (821) and on which a coil is wound, and the fixed rib (823) forms a coil slot into which a wire forming the coil is inserted. That is, the coil can be fixed to the base housing (82) in the coil slot by an interference fit method.

[0183] The above induction module (8) may further include a permanent magnet (83), which is a bar magnet, provided on the upper side of the base housing (82) to concentrate the magnetic field generated from the coil in the direction of the drum (3).

[0184] The above permanent magnets (83) may be provided in multiple numbers spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the coil, and are preferably positioned above the coil fixed to the base housing (82) and arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wire forming the coil. This is to cover both the inner coil and the outer coil simultaneously.

[0185] In order to fix the above permanent magnet (83) to the base housing (82), the induction module (8) may further include a permanent magnet housing (84) coupled to the upper side of the base housing (82).

[0186] The above permanent magnet housing (84) may further include a permanent magnet housing body (841) having a rectangular plate shape with a predetermined thickness or a rectangular shape corresponding to the base body (821), a plurality of permanent magnet mounting parts (842) provided on the permanent magnet housing body (841), and an air flow hole (841b) provided to penetrate the permanent magnet housing body (841) and located between the plurality of permanent magnet mounting parts (842).

[0187] The above permanent magnet mounting portion (842) is provided so that the permanent magnet (83) is inserted from the upper side to the lower side, and may be formed to support the lower part of the permanent magnet (83). Accordingly, to prevent the permanent magnet (83) from moving upward from the above permanent magnet mounting portion (842), the induction module (8) of the present disclosure may further include a cover (85) that is coupled to the above permanent magnet housing (84).

[0188] The above cover (85) may include a cover body (851) provided in the shape of a rectangular plate or a rectangle having a predetermined thickness, and an air discharge hole (851a) provided in the central part of the cover body (851) to allow heat (air) to be discharged by convection.

[0189] The reason for separating the permanent magnet housing (84) and the cover (85) is to allow air to flow over the upper surface of the permanent magnet (83) to accelerate the cooling of the permanent magnet (83), to allow the permanent magnet (83) to be easily inserted and removed to facilitate the replacement of the permanent magnet (83), and to ensure that the part fixing the permanent magnet (83) does not have a closed surface so as to facilitate injection molding.

[0190] The structure for fixing the base housing (82), permanent magnet housing (84), and cover (85) to the tub (2) is described below. As described above, the induction module (8) of the present disclosure is configured to induction heat the drum (3) and must be provided at a predetermined distance from the outer surface of the drum (3). Accordingly, the induction module (8) of the present embodiment can be fixed to the tub (2).

[0191] First, the base housing (82) may be provided at the corner of the base body (821) and may have a first fastening part (829) formed therein, into which a first fastening hole (829a) into which a screw is inserted is formed. The first fastening part (829) may be provided to protrude from both the front and rear ends of the base body (821), respectively.

[0192] The above tub (2) may be provided with a plurality of housing fixing parts (22) having a hollow that communicates with the first fastening hole (829a).

[0193] Additionally, the permanent magnet housing (84) may also be provided with a third fastening part (849) which is provided at the corner of the permanent magnet housing body (841) and has a second fastening hole (849a) formed therein to which a screw is inserted in communication with the first fastening hole (829a). The third fastening part (849) may be provided to protrude from both the front and rear ends of the permanent magnet housing body (841), respectively.

[0194] In addition, the cover (85) may be provided with a third fastening part (859) that protrudes from the front and rear ends of the cover body (851) and has a third fastening hole (859a) formed therein that communicates with the second fastening hole (849a).

[0195] Accordingly, one screw can pass through the third fastening hole (859a) - second fastening hole (849a) - first fastening hole (829a) and finally be fixed to the housing fixing part (22).

[0196] However, the third fastening part (859) may be provided at the front and rear ends of the cover body (851), but may be provided only on the left or right side, and the lower surface of the cover body (851) may be provided with an insertion hook (not shown) that is inserted into a hook fastening hole (841a) formed in the permanent magnet housing body (841).

[0197] Meanwhile, when the drum (3) rotates during the washing, drying, or refreshing process, vibration is transmitted to the tub (2), and the structures mounted on the tub (2) also vibrate together, so damage to the parts mounted on the tub (2) may occur.

[0198] To solve this, a weight balancer (15) that dampens vibrations generated by the drum (3) may be provided on the outer side of the gasket (4) and on the front surface of the tub (2), and the weight balancer (15) may include a first balancer (151) and a second balancer (152) provided on each side based on the center of the left and right width direction of the tub (2).

[0199] The vibration of the drum transmitted to the tub and cabinet can be dampened by the balancer structure described above, and thus the problem of the induction module being detached from the tub or the problem of the coil housed in the induction module being detached can be prevented.

[0201] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration for controlling a clothing processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure described above. The following description will be explained with reference to FIG. 4.

[0202] The above control unit (10) is provided in the control panel (5), etc., and can be configured to receive a command from a user to operate a clothing processing device through an operating unit provided in the control panel (5) and to perform various washing operations and options as described above.

[0203] That is, the control unit (10) may be configured to control the water supply valve (51a), drainage pump (141), circulation pump (55), and drive unit (6) using water level information detected by the water level sensor (110) while performing the determined washing process and options. Additionally, the control panel (5) may be equipped with a display unit and may provide the user with various courses, current status, etc. of the clothing processing device described above.

[0204] When clothing is fed into the drum (3) by the above control configuration and an operation command for the clothing processing device is input to the control unit, the control unit (10) supplies water to the tub (20), and then drives the drive unit (6) to agitate the drum (3) left and right or rotate it in one direction to perform washing, rinsing, and spin-drying operations.

[0206] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the driving motions of a drum that can be implemented by a clothing processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating a washing process applied to a clothing processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0207] The following explanation refers to Figures 5 and 6.

[0208] The driving motion of the drum refers to a combination of the rotation direction and rotation speed of the drum (3). Due to the driving motion of the drum, the direction or timing of the fall of the laundry contained inside the drum (3) changes, and as a result, the flow of the laundry contained inside the drum (3) changes. The driving motion of the drum is implemented by controlling the driving unit (6) by the control unit (10).

[0209] Since the laundry is lifted by the lifter (35) provided on the inner surface of the drum (3) when the drum (3) rotates, the impact applied to the laundry can be varied by controlling the rotation speed and rotation direction of the drum (3).

[0210] In other words, mechanical forces such as friction between the laundry items, friction between the laundry and the water, and the impact of the laundry falling can be varied. That is to say, the degree to which the laundry is beaten or rubbed for washing can be varied, and the degree of dispersion or turning of the laundry can be varied.

[0211] Meanwhile, in order to implement these various drum driving motions, it is preferable that the driving unit (6) be a direct-drive motor. That is, it is preferable that the stator of the motor is fixed to the rear of the tub (2), and that the driving shaft, which rotates together with the rotor of the motor, directly drives the drum (3). This is because by controlling the rotation direction and torque of the motor, time delay or backlash can be prevented as much as possible, thereby allowing the driving motion of the drum to be controlled immediately.

[0212] On the other hand, in a form in which the rotational force of the motor is transmitted to the rotating shaft through a pulley or the like, a drum driving motion that allows for time delay or backlash, such as tumbling drive or spin drive, is possible, but it is not suitable for implementing various other drum driving motions. Since the driving method of the washing motor and drum (3) is obvious to those skilled in the art, a detailed description is omitted.

[0213] FIG. 5(a) is a drawing showing a rolling motion. The rolling motion is a motion in which the driving unit (6) rotates the drum (3) in one direction (preferably one or more rotations), and the laundry on the inner surface of the drum (3) is controlled to fall toward the lowest point of the drum (3) at a position less than about 90 degrees in the direction of rotation of the drum (3).

[0214] For example, when the drive unit (6) rotates the drum (3) at approximately 40 RPM, the laundry located at the lowest point of the drum (3) rises to a predetermined height along the rotational direction of the drum (3), and then flows toward the lowest point of the drum (3) in a rolling manner at a position less than approximately 90 degrees in the rotational direction from the lowest point of the drum (3). Visually, when the drum (3) rotates clockwise, the laundry continuously rolls in the third quadrant of the drum (3).

[0215] During the rolling motion, the laundry is washed through friction with the washing water, friction between the laundry, and friction with the inner surface of the drum (3). At this time, sufficient turning of the laundry occurs, so that the effect of gently rubbing the laundry can be obtained.

[0216] Here, the rotational speed (rpm) of the drum (3) is determined in relation to the radius of the drum (3). As the rotational speed of the drum (3) increases, the centrifugal force acting on the laundry inside the drum (3) also increases. Due to the difference in magnitude between the centrifugal force and gravity, the flow of the laundry inside the drum (3) changes.

[0217] Of course, the rotational force of the drum (3) and the frictional force between the drum (3) and the laundry must also be taken into account. Thus, when considering the various forces acting on the laundry, the rotational speed of the drum (3) in the rolling motion is determined within a range where the sum of the centrifugal force and the frictional force is smaller than gravity (1G).

[0218] FIG. 5(b) is a drawing showing a tumbling motion. The tumbling motion is a motion in which the driving unit (6) rotates the drum (3) in one direction (preferably one or more rotations), and the laundry on the inner surface of the drum (3) is controlled to fall to the lowest point of the drum (3) at a position of about 90 to 110 degrees in the direction of rotation of the drum (3).

[0219] Generally, the tumbling motion is a drum driving motion used for washing and rinsing, as mechanical force is generated simply by controlling the drum (3) to rotate in one direction at an appropriate rotational speed.

[0220] That is, the laundry placed into the drum (3) is located at the lowest point of the drum (3) before the driving unit (6) is driven. When the driving unit (6) provides torque to the drum (3), the drum (3) rotates, and the laundry rises from the lowest point inside the drum (3) to a predetermined height due to the frictional force between the lifter (35) provided on the inner surface of the drum (3) or the inner surface of the drum (3). For example, when the driving unit (6) rotates the drum (3) at about 46 rpm, the laundry falls towards the lowest point of the drum (3) at a position about 90 to 110 degrees in the direction of rotation from the lowest point of the drum (3).

[0221] The rotational speed of the drum (3) in the tumbling motion can be determined in a range where the centrifugal force is greater than in the rolling motion but less than gravity.

[0222] Visually, the tumbling motion is such that when the drum (3) rotates clockwise, the laundry rises to a position 90 degrees or the second quadrant from the lowest point of the drum (3), then separates from the inner surface of the drum (3) and falls toward the lowest point of the drum (3).

[0223] Therefore, during tumbling motion, the laundry is washed by the impact force caused by friction with the washing water and falling, and in particular, is washed by a greater mechanical force than in the case of rolling motion.

[0224] FIG. 5(c) is a drawing showing step motion. Step motion is a motion in which the driving unit (6) rotates the drum (3) in one direction (preferably less than one full rotation), and the laundry on the inner surface of the drum (3) is controlled to fall toward the lowest point of the drum (3) from near the highest point of the drum (3) (preferably at a position of about 146 to 161 degrees in the direction of rotation of the drum (3), but is not necessarily limited thereto, and a position greater than 161 degrees is also possible within a range not exceeding 180 degrees).

[0225] That is, the step motion is a motion that maximizes the impact force on the laundry by rotating the drum (3) at a speed at which the laundry does not fall from the inner surface of the drum (3) due to centrifugal force (i.e., a speed at which the laundry is stuck to the inner surface of the drum (3) and rotates together with the drum (3) due to centrifugal force), and then rapidly braking the drum (3).

[0226] For example, when the drive unit (6) rotates the drum (3) at approximately 60 rpm or more, the laundry can rotate without falling due to centrifugal force (i.e., rotate together with the drum (3) while adhering to the inner surface of the drum (3)). In this process, when the laundry is located near the highest point of the drum (3) (180 degrees in the direction of rotation), it can be controlled so that a torque opposite to the direction of rotation of the drum (3) is applied to the drive unit (6).

[0227] Since the laundry rises along the rotational direction of the drum from the lowest point of the drum (3) and then falls back to the lowest point of the drum (3) as the drum (3) stops, the drop of the laundry is maximized, and therefore the impact force acting on the laundry is also maximized. The mechanical force (e.g., impact force) generated by this step motion is greater than that of the aforementioned rolling motion or tumbling motion.

[0228] Visually, the step motion takes the form that when the drum (3) rotates clockwise, the laundry located at the lowest point of the drum (3) moves through the third and second quadrants to the highest point (180 degrees) of the drum (3), then suddenly separates from the inner surface of the drum (3) and falls toward the lowest point of the drum (3). Therefore, the step motion provides mechanical force more effectively when the drop of the laundry is greatest and the amount of laundry is small.

[0229] Meanwhile, reverse phase braking is preferred as a control method for the drive unit (6) to brake the drum (3). Reverse phase braking is a braking method that generates rotational force in the opposite direction to the direction in which the drive unit (6) is rotating. In order to induce rotational force in the opposite direction to the direction in which the drive unit (6) is rotating, the phase of the power supplied to the drive unit (6) can be reversed, and in this way, rapid braking is made possible. Therefore, reverse phase braking is suitable for step motion.

[0230] After the drive unit (6) is braked, the drive unit (6) applies torque to the drum (3) again to raise the laundry at the lowest point of the drum (3) to the highest point. That is, after applying torque to rotate in the forward direction, torque is applied to rotate in the reverse direction instantaneously to stop it abruptly, and then torque is applied to rotate in the forward direction again to implement a step motion.

[0231] Therefore, the step motion can be described as a motion in which, when the drum (3) rotates, the washing water introduced through the through hole (33) formed in the drum (3) is rubbed against the laundry to wash it, and when the laundry is at the highest point of the drum (3), it is dropped to wash it by impact force.

[0232] FIG. 5(d) is a drawing showing a swing motion. The swing motion is a motion in which the driving unit (6) rotates the drum (3) in both directions, and the laundry is controlled to fall at a position less than approximately 90 degrees in the direction of rotation of the drum (3) (preferably, a position of approximately 30 to 45 degrees in the direction of rotation of the drum (3), but is not necessarily limited thereto, and an angle greater than 45 degrees is also possible within a range not exceeding 90 degrees). For example, when the driving unit (6) rotates the drum (3) counterclockwise at approximately 40 rpm, the laundry located at the lowest point of the drum (3) rises to a predetermined height in the counterclockwise direction. At this time, the driving unit (6) stops the rotation of the drum (3) before the laundry reaches a position of approximately 90 degrees in the counterclockwise direction, and thus, the laundry moves toward the lowest point of the drum (3) at a position less than approximately 90 degrees in the counterclockwise direction.

[0233] After the drum (3) stops rotating in this way, the drive unit (6) then rotates the drum (3) clockwise at about 40 RPM so that the laundry rises to a predetermined height along the rotation direction (i.e., clockwise) of the drum (3). Then, the drive unit (6) is controlled so that the rotation of the drum (3) stops before the laundry reaches a position of about 90 degrees clockwise, thereby causing the laundry to fall toward the lowest point of the drum (3) at a position of less than about 90 degrees clockwise.

[0234] That is, the swing motion is a motion in which the forward rotation / stop and reverse rotation / stop of the drum (3) are repeated. Visually, it can be described as a form in which laundry located at the lowest point of the drum (3) passes through the third quadrant of the drum (3), rises to the second quadrant, falls smoothly, passes through the fourth quadrant of the drum (3), rises to the first quadrant, and falls smoothly, repeating this process. That is, visually, the swing motion is a form in which the laundry flows in a sideways figure-eight shape across the third and fourth quadrants of the drum (3).

[0235] At this time, regenerative braking is suitable for braking the drive unit (6). Regenerative braking minimizes the load generated on the drive unit (6) and minimizes mechanical wear of the drive unit (6), while simultaneously allowing the impact applied to the laundry to be controlled.

[0236] Regenerative braking is a braking method that utilizes the fact that when the current applied to the drive unit (6) is turned OFF, the drive unit (6) acts as a generator due to rotational inertia. When the current applied to the drive unit (6) is turned OFF, the direction of the current flowing through the coil of the drive unit (6) becomes opposite to the direction of the current before the power is turned OFF, so a force (Fleming's right-hand rule) acts in a direction that opposes the rotation of the drive unit (6), thereby braking the drive unit (6). Unlike reverse braking, regenerative braking does not cause sudden braking of the drive unit (6), but rather allows the rotational direction of the drum (3) to be changed smoothly.

[0237] FIG. 5(e) is a drawing showing a scrub motion. The scrub motion is a motion in which the driving unit (6) alternately rotates the drum (3) in both directions, and the laundry is controlled to fall at a position of about 90 degrees or more in the direction of rotation of the drum (3).

[0238] For example, when the drive unit (6) rotates the drum (3) in the forward direction at about 60 rpm or more, the laundry located at the lowest point of the drum (3) rises to a predetermined height in the forward direction. At this time, when the laundry reaches a position corresponding to a set angle of about 90 degrees or more in the forward direction (preferably 139 to 150 degrees, but not necessarily limited thereto, and 150 degrees or more is also possible), the drive unit (6) provides reverse torque to the drum (3) to temporarily stop the rotation of the drum (3). Then, the laundry on the inner surface of the drum (3) falls rapidly.

[0239] Subsequently, the drive unit (6) rotates the drum (3) in the reverse direction at approximately 60 rpm or more, causing the fallen laundry to rise again in the reverse direction to a predetermined height of 90 degrees or more. When the laundry reaches a position corresponding to a set angle of 90 degrees or more in the reverse direction (for example, 139 to 150 degrees), the drive unit (6) again provides reverse torque to the drum (3) to temporarily stop the rotation of the drum (3). At this time, the laundry on the inner surface of the drum (3) falls toward the lowest point of the drum (3) at a position of 90 degrees or more in the reverse direction.

[0240] The scrub motion washes the laundry by causing it to fall rapidly from a predetermined height. At this time, it is preferable that the drive unit (6) be reverse-braked to brake the drum (3).

[0241] Because the rotation direction of the drum (3) changes rapidly, the laundry does not move far beyond the inner surface of the drum (3), so a very strong rubbing effect can be obtained.

[0242] The scrub motion is a form in which the laundry moves forward through the third quadrant to the second quadrant and then rapidly falls, and then moves in the reverse direction through the fourth quadrant to part of the first quadrant and then falls, and this process is repeated. Therefore, visually, it can be said that the laundry rises and then repeatedly descends along the inner surface of the drum (3).

[0243] Figure 5 (f) is a drawing showing a filtration motion. The filtration motion is a motion in which a driving unit (6) rotates the drum (3) so that the laundry does not fall off the inner surface of the drum (3) due to centrifugal force, and in this process, washes water is sprayed into the interior of the drum (3) through a nozzle.

[0244] After the laundry is spread out, it is in close contact with the inner surface of the drum (3) and while rotating, the washing water is sprayed into the interior of the drum (3). Thus, the sprayed washing water passes through the laundry by centrifugal force, then passes through the through hole (33) of the drum (3) and exits into the tub (2).

[0245] Due to the filtration motion, the surface area of ​​the laundry is increased, and as the washing water permeates the laundry, the laundry is evenly wetted.

[0246] Figure 5 (g) is a drawing showing a squeeze motion. The squeeze motion is a motion in which the driving unit (6) rotates the drum (3) so that the laundry does not fall off the inner surface of the drum (3) due to centrifugal force, then lowers the rotation speed of the drum (3) to separate the laundry from the inner surface of the drum (3), and repeats the operation of separating the laundry from the inner surface of the drum (3), and sprays washing water into the drum (3) through a nozzle while the drum (3) is rotating.

[0247] The difference is that the filtration motion continues to rotate at a speed that prevents the laundry from falling off the inner surface of the drum (3), whereas the squeeze motion changes the rotational speed of the drum (3) to repeatedly press the laundry against and separate it from the inner surface of the drum (3).

[0248] Step and Scrub motions offer excellent cleaning power, making them suitable for heavily soiled laundry or for washing cycles designed to reduce washing time. However, both motions generate high levels of vibration and noise. Therefore, they are not desirable for delicate clothing or for washing cycles where minimizing noise and vibration is required.

[0249] Rolling motion is characterized by excellent cleaning power, low vibration levels, minimized damage to laundry, and low motor load. Therefore, while it can be applied to all washing cycles, it is particularly suitable for dissolving detergent and wetting laundry at the beginning of the wash cycle. However, although rolling motion has low vibration levels, it has the disadvantage of taking longer to wash to the same level compared to tumbling motion.

[0250] Tumbling motion has lower cleaning power than scrub motion, but its vibration level is intermediate between scrub motion and rolling motion. Tumbling motion is applicable to all wash cycles.

[0251] The squeeze motion has a cleaning force similar to the tumbling motion, and the vibration level is higher than that of the tumbling motion. The squeeze motion is useful for the rinsing step because, in the process of repeatedly adhering to and separating the laundry from the inner surface of the drum (3), the washing water passes through the laundry and is discharged to the outside of the drum (3).

[0252] Swing motion is the motion with the lowest vibration level and cleaning power. Therefore, swing motion is useful for low-noise or low-vibration washing courses and is suitable for washing delicate clothing (Gentle care).

[0253] Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 6, the overall washing sequence applied to a garment processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure can be configured to sequentially perform a water supply / soaking process (S10), a washing process (S20), a spin-drying process (S30), a rinsing process (S40), a spin-drying process (S50), and a drying process (S60).

[0254] Before the washing process (S20), a cloth soaking (S10) may be performed. A cloth soaking (S10) is a process of wetting the laundry before washing. Water can be supplied to the tub (2) and the drum (3) can be rotated to perform the cloth soaking (S10). Additionally, the circulation unit (55, 57) may be driven.

[0255] The washing process (S20) is a process of removing dirt from the laundry by rotating the drum (3) according to a preset algorithm, and the rolling motion and tumbling motion described above may be performed.

[0256] The rinsing process (S40) is a process for removing detergent adhering to the cloth, and water is supplied, and rolling motion and tumbling motion may be performed, and subsequently, a spin-drying process may be performed again. In addition, the rinsing process of this embodiment may perform the aforementioned filtration motion to remove lint attached to the inner surface of the gasket and the inner surface of the door, which will be described later.

[0257] Briefly, to explain how the filtration motion is performed to remove lint during the rinsing process of the present embodiment, the water contained within the tub is varied in water level according to the rotation of the drum within the drum or tub through the filtration motion during the rinsing process, thereby forming a water flow, and accordingly, water is supplied to the inner surface of the gasket or the inner surface of the door to remove lint. More details regarding this will be described later.

[0258] The dehydration process (S30, S50) is a process of removing water from the fabric by rotating the drum (3) at high speed while draining. The dehydration process (S50) can be performed after the rinsing process (S40). Additionally, the dehydration process (S30) can also be performed between the washing process (S20) and the rinsing process (S40). The dehydration process (S30) performed between the washing process (S20) and the rinsing process (S40) may be referred to as a simplified dehydration process (S30) to distinguish it from the dehydration process (S50) performed after the rinsing process (S40).

[0259] The drying process (S60) is a process of drying laundry by applying heat. In a garment processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the induction module (8) heats the drum (3), and the laundry in contact with the drum (3) can be heated and dried. In the drying process (S60), the induction module (8) heats the drum (3), and the driving unit (6) can rotate the drum (3).

[0260] As drying proceeds, lint can be separated from the laundry. The separated lint can accumulate in the gasket (4) and door (12).

[0261] FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a part of the washing process applied to a clothing processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0262] With reference to FIG. 7, a rinsing step (S40) of a clothing processing device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in more detail.

[0263] In the clothing processing device of this embodiment, a rinsing step (S40) may be performed after a dehydration step (S30). When the rinsing step (S40) is performed, the control unit (10) performs a first water supply step (S41) to supply water up to the rinsing water level through the water supply path (51) in order to rinse the laundry contained in the drum (3).

[0264] The water level supplied in the first water supply step (S41) above can be set differently depending on the size of the garment processing device and the amount of laundry that the garment processing device can accommodate.

[0265] Generally, the water level for rinsing laundry can be set above the height (minimum water level) from the bottom of the tub (2) to the bottom of the drum (3). That is, at least a part of the drum (3) must be able to come into contact with the washing water so that the washing water can flow through friction with the drum (3).

[0266] And the maximum limit of the water level for rinsing laundry is not fixed and can be set differently depending on the amount of laundry that the garment processing device can accommodate, as described above.

[0267] However, the control unit (10) can control the water level for rinsing to be below the full water level. The full water level refers to the water level at which the washing water fills the tub (2) and the drum (3) and overflows into the gasket (4).

[0268] Accordingly, the first water supply step (S41) refers to the water level for performing a rinsing process through the garment processing device of the present embodiment. In addition, while supplying water for rinsing, the amount of moisture in the drum may be detected. When detecting the amount of moisture in the drum, the rolling motion or tumbling motion may be performed repeatedly.

[0269] After water is supplied to the tub in the first water supply step (S41), a rotation step (S43) is performed to rotate the drum (3) at a first RPM. The first RPM is an RPM that can be set differently depending on the amount of damp cloth, etc. described above. In the rinsing step, the drum can be rotated by stirring left and right, or rotated intermittently in one direction to separate detergent and foreign substances remaining on the laundry. For example, the rolling motion, tumbling motion, scrub motion, etc. described above may be performed.

[0270] That is, the above rotation step (S43) is a step of rotating the drum for rinsing the laundry.

[0271] However, the aforementioned first water supply step (S41) and rotation step (S43) are not mandatory steps. Therefore, the first water supply step (S41) and rotation step (S43) may be omitted.

[0272] After the rotation step (S43), a second water supply step (S451) is performed to supply water to the tub (2) through the water supply unit up to a first water level higher than the water level in the first water supply step (S41). If the rotation step (S43) is omitted, the step (S451) of supplying water to the tub (2) up to the first water level can be performed after the dewatering step (S30).

[0273] The first water level supplied in the second water supply stage (S451) may mean a water level greater than the full water level described above. More specifically, the full water level refers to a water level at which the washing water fills the tub (2) and the drum (3) and overflows into the gasket (4) area, so it may be set to a water level lower than the bottom of the tub opening (21).

[0274] Accordingly, the first water level is set to a water level higher than the bottom of the tub opening (21) and can be set to a water level that can submerge up to a lower part of the gasket (4).

[0275] The garment processing device of this embodiment performs washing and drying by applying an induction module (8). Since the drum (3) is directly heated by the induction module (8) to transfer heat to the laundry and washing water contained inside the drum, the circulation path provided in conventional garment processing devices is not provided. Therefore, by removing the circulation path, the space inside the cabinet (1) can be utilized. For example, by increasing the capacity of the tub and drum, a larger amount of laundry and washing water can be accommodated compared to a garment processing device equipped with a cabinet (1) of the same size.

[0276] However, since there is no flow (air flow from the front of the tub to the rear of the tub) generated by the conventional circulation path, a problem may occur in which lint accumulates on the inner surface of the door and the inner surface of the gasket.

[0277] Accordingly, the garment processing device of the present embodiment attempts to remove the lint accumulated or attached to the inner surface of the door and the inner surface of the gasket by performing a lint removal motion (S45) when the next garment processing device is operated to perform a rinsing process in the event that lint generated during the drying process accumulates on the inner surface of the door and the inner surface of the gasket.

[0278] Accordingly, the first water level supplied in the second water supply (S451) can be set to a higher water level than the water level supplied in the conventional rinsing process. For example, the first water level can be set to a water level that can submerge the lower part of the inner surface of the gasket or the lower part of the inner surface of the door.

[0279] After water is supplied to the first water level in the second water supply step (S451) above, an acceleration step (S455) may be performed to accelerate the drum (3) to the second RPM. The acceleration step (S455) is a step of accelerating the drum (3) to the second RPM, which can form a water flow of the water supplied to the first water level, and the second RPM is an RPM that can be set differently depending on the amount of wet cloth, etc., just like the first RPM described above.

[0280] Preferably, the second RPM may be the same as the first RPM or set to be greater than the first RPM. As the second water supply step (S451) is performed, the amount of laundry contained inside the drum (3) may increase, and since the first water level is higher than the water level in the first water supply step, if the second RPM is set to be smaller than the first RPM, it may not be easy to form the water flow intended to be generated through the laundry water supplied up to the first water level.

[0281] In addition, the second RPM can be set to be the same as the drum RPM in the filtration motion described above. The drum RPM in the filtration motion can be set to the RPM at which laundry attaches to the inner surface of the drum and rotates, but in this step, depending on the amount of laundry, the laundry may attach to the inner surface of the drum and rise at the second RPM, and then fall back to the lowest point of the drum. When the laundry falls to the lowest point of the drum, the supplied washing water splashes forward of the tub, which can remove the lint accumulated on the inner surface of the door and the inner surface of the gasket.

[0282] Meanwhile, as described above, the rotation step (S43) may be omitted. Hereinafter, the second RPM is also referred to as the first rotation speed.

[0283] Meanwhile, as the above acceleration step (S455) is performed, a circulation water supply step (S453) may be performed by driving the circulation pump (55) to supply water discharged from the tub (2) to the inner surface of the gasket (4).

[0284] The above-mentioned circulating water supply step (S453) may be performed simultaneously with the above-mentioned acceleration step (S455). Of course, the above-mentioned circulating water supply step (S453) may be performed before the above-mentioned acceleration step (S455). This is because when the driving of the above-mentioned circulation pump (55) and the acceleration of the above-mentioned drum (3) to the first rotational speed are performed simultaneously, circulating water can be supplied to the inner surface of the gasket (4) while the drum (3) is accelerating or after the drum (3) has reached the first rotational speed.

[0285] In the above-mentioned circulation water supply step (S453), the operation of the circulation pump (55) may start simultaneously with the acceleration step (S455) in which the drum (3) accelerates to a first rotational speed, or the operation of the circulation pump (55) may precede the acceleration of the drum (3) to a first rotational speed.

[0286] Visually, as the drum (3) accelerates to a first rotational speed, the washing water supplied to the first water level forms a water flow according to the rotation of the drum (3), and the circulating water is supplied to the inner surface of the gasket (4) to remove lint present on the inner surface of the door and the inner surface of the gasket.

[0287] And, as the rotational speed of the drum is accelerated in the above acceleration step (S455) and passes through the rotational speed in the tumbling motion described above (hereinafter also referred to as the second rotational speed), the laundry attached to the inner surface of the drum and rising along the direction of rotation of the drum falls to the lowest point of the drum, and the washing water can splash forward of the tub. By splashing the washing water forward of the tub, the washing water is supplied to the inner surface of the door and the inner surface of the gasket, and the effect of removing lint can be expected.

[0288] Meanwhile, before accelerating (S455) and rotating (S457) the drum (3) to a first rotational speed (second RPM), the drum (3) can be rotated at a second rotational speed. By doing so, lint on the inner surface of the door and the inner surface of the gasket can be removed. Alternatively, after rotating the drum (3) at a first rotational speed (S457), the drum (3) can be rotated at a second rotational speed.

[0289] After the acceleration step (S455), a lint removal step (S457) may be performed in which the rotation of the drum (3) is maintained at the first rotational speed (second RPM) to form a water flow according to the rotation of the drum (3) to remove lint accumulated on the inner surface of the gasket (4) and the inner surface of the door (12).

[0290] The above lint removal step (S457) is a step of removing lint accumulated on the inner surface of the door and the inner surface of the gasket by forming a water flow through washing water supplied to the first water level while maintaining the rotation of the drum (3) at the first rotational speed.

[0291] More specifically, as the drum (3) rotates at the first rotational speed, the water level of the washing water supplied to the first water level varies, and the washing water splashes onto the inner surface of the door and the inner surface of the gasket.

[0292] As described above, since the first water level is a water level at which part of the lower part of the inner surface of the door or part of the lower part of the inner surface of the gasket is submerged, not only can part of the lower part of the inner surface of the door or part of the lower part of the inner surface of the gasket be washed by the formed water flow, but lint accumulated on the inner surface of the door or the inner surface of the gasket can also be removed by the phenomenon of washing water splashing forward of the tub as the water level changes.

[0293] Meanwhile, a deceleration step (S459) for decelerating the rotation of the drum (3) may be performed after the above lint removal step (S457). The deceleration step (S459) is a step of decelerating the rotation of the drum (3) by applying braking by applying torque to the motor in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the drum (3).

[0294] Therefore, as laundry attached to the inner surface of the drum (3) falls to the lowest point of the drum (3) and the washing water splashes forward of the tub, the effect of removing lint accumulated on the inner surface of the door and the inner surface of the gasket can be expected.

[0295] That is, the motion of the drum in the above deceleration step (S459) temporarily corresponds to the step motion described above.

[0296] Meanwhile, a step motion can be implemented after rotating the drum (3) at a first rotational speed and then braking. That is, after rotating the drum (3) at a first rotational speed (S457) and then braking (S459), the drum (3) can be rotated again at the first rotational speed by a rotation angle within the range of 90 to 180 degrees and then braking the drum (3), and this rotation and braking can be repeated alternately. By doing so, lint accumulated on the gasket (4) and the door (12) can be removed.

[0297] Meanwhile, in order to effectively remove lint through each of the steps described above, the circulating water supply step may proceed simultaneously while the acceleration step and the lint removal step are performed, and it is also desirable that the water level of the tub reach the first water level at the time the acceleration step begins. This will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0298] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the water level, drum RPM, water supply, and circulation during a part of the washing process of a drum according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the cleaning portion of the gasket and door during the process of FIG. 8.

[0299] The left vertical axis of the graph shown in Fig. 8 represents the RPM of the drum, the right vertical axis represents the water level frequency, and the horizontal axis represents time.

[0300] The water level frequency can be measured by the water level sensor (113). The water level frequency is inversely proportional to the water level inside the tub (2). That is, if the water level frequency is low, the water level inside the tub is low, and if the water level frequency is high, the water level inside the tub (2) is high.

[0301] The following explanation refers to FIGS. 8 and FIGS. 9.

[0302] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the water level inside the tub, drum RPM, water supply, and circulation during the above lint removal motion (S45).

[0303] The first section (G1) is a section in which the rotation of the drum (3) remains stopped while the second water supply (S451) proceeds after the rotation step (S43). In the first section (G1), water is supplied through the water supply unit up to the first water level, so the water level inside the tub rises. For example, as the water level frequency decreases from 22.8 KHZ to 22.6 KHZ as the water supply proceeds, and as described above, a decrease in the water level frequency means that the water level inside the tub rises.

[0304] The second section (G2) corresponds to the acceleration step (S455) described above. In the second section (G2), the circulation pump (55) is operated to supply circulating water through the circulation path (57). At the point where the second section (G2) begins, the water level frequency is 22.6 KHZ, and the washing water inside the tub (2) forms a first water level.

[0305] The third section (G3) corresponds to the lint removal step (S455) described above. In the third section (G3), the drum (3) rotates at a first rotational speed (second RPM) to form a water flow of washing water, and circulating water is supplied through the circulation path (57). It can be observed that the water level frequency increases as the third section (G3) progresses. That is, the water level inside the tub (2) decreases as the third section (G3) progresses. The laundry inside the drum can absorb more water due to the rotational motion of the drum (3).

[0306] The fourth section (G4) corresponds to the deceleration step (S459) described above. In the fourth section (G4), the drum (3) is decelerated from the first rotational speed (second RPM). In this embodiment, the drum (3) is braked and stops rotating during the deceleration step (S459), but it is not necessarily limited to this, and it may be decelerated to a set rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed (second RPM) during the deceleration step.

[0307] This is because when the drum decelerates from the first rotational speed, the laundry attached to the inner surface of the drum falls, and consequently, water splashes forward of the tub, thereby removing the lint accumulated on the inner surface of the door and the inner surface of the gasket. That is, since a lint removal effect can be expected as the drum (3) decelerates from the first rotational speed in the fourth section (G4), the rotation of the drum (3) can be decelerated and stopped, or decelerated to an RPM lower than the first rotational speed.

[0308] In the fourth section (G4), the deceleration of the drum (3) is achieved through reverse braking. Therefore, the magnitude of the acceleration at which the drum (3) is decelerated in the fourth section (G4) may be greater than the magnitude of the acceleration at which the drum (3) is accelerated in the second section (G2).

[0309] At the time when the fourth section (G4) begins, the operation of the circulation pump (55) may be stopped, and the supply of circulating water may be stopped. And since the supply of washing water through the water supply unit is performed throughout the entire section where the lint removal motion (S45) is performed, the water level inside the tub, which was lowered in the third section (G3), is raised to the first water level in the fifth section (G5), and the sixth section (G6, acceleration stage) can be performed at the first water level.

[0310] Accordingly, the operation of the circulation pump (55) can be performed within the 14th section (G14), which includes the 2nd section (G2) and the 3rd section (G3).

[0311] From the 5th section (G5) to the 13th section (G13), the rotational speed variable section of the drum (3) and the operating section of the circulation pump (55) are repeated identically, and the supply of washing water through the water supply unit is continuously performed from the 1st section (G1) to the 13th section (G13).

[0312] As water is continuously supplied into the tub, the section in which the first water level is maintained becomes longer than the section in the third (G3) while the drum rotates at the first rotational speed in the seventh section (G7). Additionally, while the drum rotates at the first rotational speed in the eleventh section (G11), the water level inside the tub is maintained at the first water level, and can also be maintained at the first water level even at the point when the drum decelerates from the first rotational speed in the twelveth section (G12).

[0313] That is, the first section (G1) to the fourth section (G4), the fifth section (G5) to the eighth section (G8), and the ninth section (G9) to the thirteenth section (G13) can each form the first cycle, the second cycle, and the third cycle, and in each cycle, the change in drum RPM and the timing of the operation of the circulation pump are the same, but as each cycle progresses, the section maintained at the first water level becomes longer.

[0314] Therefore, since the water level differs when the drum accelerates, rotates, and decelerates during each cycle, the amount and portion (upper, middle, and lower) of the water flow formed according to the drum's motion transmitted to the front of the tub varies, allowing for the removal of lint accumulated in different parts. This will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0315] Figures 9 (a), (b), and (c) are simplified diagrams showing the flow of lint accumulated on the inner surface of the gasket and the flow of washing water transmitted to the inner surface of the gasket, and Figure 9 (d) is a simplified diagram showing the flow of washing water flowing along the inner surface of the door.

[0316] When the drum in the third section (G3) rotates at the first rotational speed (second RPM), it can be observed that the water level inside the tub maintains the first water level, and as the third section (G3) progresses, the water level inside the tub decreases again. In this case, as the water level inside the tub decreases, the height at which water splashes when the drum rotates also decreases. That is, referring to FIG. 9(a), the water flow formed by the rotation of the drum can remove lint accumulated on the lower side of the gasket.

[0317] And when the drum is accelerated to a first rotational speed while the rotation of the drum is stopped in the second section (G2), the sixth section (G6), and the tenth section (G10), the water level inside the tub maintains the first water level. As the drum accelerates, the washing water rises along the inner surface of the drum, so the washing water supplied to the first water level lowers the water level on the central side of the drum and raises the water levels on both sides of the drum. Therefore, referring to FIG. 9(b), the lint accumulated on both lower sides of the gasket can be removed through the water level formed in the acceleration section of the drum.

[0318] And in the 11th section (G11), the water level inside the tub maintains the 1st water level throughout the time the drum rotates at the 1st rotational speed. Therefore, compared to the 3rd section (G3) and 7th section (G7) where the water level is variable, the change in the water level of the washing water supplied up to the 1st water level can form a larger water flow. Accordingly, referring to FIG. 9(C) and FIG. 9(D), the water flow formed in the 11th section (G11) is transmitted to the upper sides of the gasket and door, and can remove accumulated lint.

[0319] And when the rotation of the drum decreases from the first rotation speed in the 12th section (G12), the water level inside the tub maintains the first water level. In this case, as the laundry attached to the inner surface of the drum falls onto the surface of the washing water, the height at which water splashes forward of the tub can be formed at its highest. Therefore, referring to FIG. 9(c), the lint located on the upper side of the inner surface of the gasket can be removed by the splashing phenomenon that occurs as the laundry falls in the 12th section (G12).

[0320] In addition, referring to FIG. 9(d), in the lint removal motion, the lint attached to the central part of the inner surface of the door can be removed by supplying washing water through the water supply unit.

[0321] Certain embodiments or other embodiments of the disclosure described above are not mutually exclusive or distinct from each other. Any or all elements of the embodiments of the disclosure described above may be combined with another or combined with each other in configuration or function.

[0322] For example, this means that configuration A described in a specific embodiment and / or the drawings may be combined with configuration B described in another embodiment and / or the drawings. In other words, even if the combination between the configurations is not directly described, it means that the combination is possible except in the case where it is described as impossible.

[0323] The foregoing detailed description should not be interpreted restrictively in all respects but should be considered exemplary. The scope of the invention should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within the equivalent scope of the invention are included within the scope of the invention (Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and / or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and / or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art).

Claims

Claim 1 A clothing processing device comprising: a cabinet having an input opening on a front surface; a door coupled to the cabinet to open and close the input opening; a tub disposed inside the cabinet, having an opening communicating with the input opening of the cabinet, and providing a space for receiving water; a drum rotatably provided inside the tub and providing a space for receiving laundry; a driving unit for rotating the drum; a gasket having an inner surface connecting the input opening of the cabinet and the opening of the tub, and providing a passage for the entry and exit of laundry; and a water supply unit for supplying water to the tub, wherein the water supply unit supplies water to the tub up to a first water level higher than the lowest part of the inner surface of the gasket, the driving unit rotates the drum at a first rotational speed in which the centrifugal force acting on the laundry inside the drum by the rotation of the drum is greater than the gravitational force acting on the laundry, and the driving unit accelerates the drum to the first rotational speed in which the water level of the tub is at the first water level. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 A clothing processing device according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit accelerates the drum to the first rotational speed in the section where the drum is accelerated to the first rotational speed, passing through a second rotational speed slower than the first rotational speed, and the second rotational speed is a rotational speed at which the laundry inside the drum rises above a height corresponding to the center of rotation of the drum due to the rotation of the drum and then separates from the drum and falls. Claim 4 In paragraph 3, the driving unit is a garment processing device that rotates the drum while maintaining the second rotational speed while the water level of the tub is the first water level. Claim 5 A clothing processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a water level sensor for detecting the water level of the tub, wherein the driving unit stops after rotating the drum at the first rotational speed, and the water level sensor detects the water level of the tub while the drum is stopped. Claim 6 In claim 5, the above-mentioned water supply unit is a clothing processing device that re-supplies water to the tub up to the first water level when the water level of the tub is lower than the first water level after the drum has rotated at the first rotational speed. Claim 7 In claim 6, the driving unit is a garment processing device in which the drum is rotated again at the first rotational speed after the water supply unit re-supplies water to the tub. Claim 8 In claim 1, the driving unit is a garment processing device that brakes the drum after rotating the drum at the first rotational speed. Claim 9 In claim 8, the phase of the power applied to the driving unit in the braking section of the drum is reversed from the phase of the power applied to the driving unit in the section where the drum rotates at the first rotational speed. Claim 10 In claim 8, the driving unit accelerates the drum to the first rotational speed before rotating the drum to the first rotational speed, and the magnitude of the acceleration in the braking section of the drum is greater than the magnitude of the acceleration in the section where the drum accelerates to the first rotational speed. Claim 11 In claim 8, the driving unit rotates the drum at the first rotational speed by a rotational angle within the range of 90 to 180 degrees while the water level in the tub is at the first water level, then brakes the drum, and alternately repeats the rotation and braking of the drum. Claim 12 In claim 1, a circulation pump for pumping water discharged from the tub; a nozzle provided in the gasket and having an outlet located in the laundry entry / exit passage; and further comprising a circulation path connecting the circulation pump and the nozzle, wherein the circulation pump is driven when the driving unit rotates the drum. Claim 13 A garment processing device according to claim 1, further comprising an induction heater disposed on the outer surface of the tub and heating the drum, wherein the induction heater heats the drum when the water in the tub is drained, and when the induction heater heats the drum, the driving unit rotates the drum. Claim 14 A clothing processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that controls the driving unit and the water supply unit.

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