Laundry Machine Steam Refreshing Without Drum Water Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry machines that generate steam using a washing heater face challenges in effectively utilizing steam for refreshing without requiring a separate drying procedure, as the steam generation process necessitates water washing, leading to high moisture content and the need for additional drying steps.
Innovation Solution
A laundry machine control method that selectively supplies wash water to prevent it from passing through the drum during steam generation, using a separate water supply passage to maintain optimal steam generation and temperature control, allowing for effective steam-based refreshing without excessive drying, and includes alternating tumbling and spin driving operations to enhance crease removal and odor elimination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If steam is generated by heating wash water in conventional laundry machines, then washing effects are enhanced through high temperature, but laundry becomes overly moist requiring additional drying steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the steam generation function from the washing function by providing a dedicated steam generation chamber distinct from the washing drum. This allows steam to be generated independently without directly contacting the laundry during washing, thus enhancing washing effects through steam temperature while preventing excessive moisture transfer to the laundry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the steam generation process from the main washing cycle by creating a separate steam generation system that supplies steam to the washing drum through controlled pathways. This extraction allows the washing heater to serve dual purposes: heating wash water for washing and generating steam for refreshing, without causing excessive moisture accumulation on laundry.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separate steam generator is employed to generate steam for refreshing, then steam generation capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the washing heater multi-functional by enabling it to serve both as a heating device for wash water during washing cycles and as a steam generator during refreshing cycles. This eliminates the need for a separate steam generator, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining steam generation capability for laundry refreshing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the steam generation function with the existing washing heater and water supply system. By integrating steam generation capabilities into the conventional washing apparatus, the system achieves enhanced versatility without adding separate steam generating equipment, thus avoiding increased device complexity.
3Quantity of substance
If wash water is supplied to the drum during steam generation, then steam generation is facilitated, but wash water interferes with the refreshing process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality control by providing separate water supply pathways: one for supplying water to the steam generation chamber and another for supplying wash water to the washing drum. This localized water supply control ensures that water necessary for steam generation is provided without interfering with the refreshing process in the drum, allowing independent optimization of both functions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables enhanced crease removal and odor elimination while allowing garments to be worn immediately after the refreshing cycle without additional drying, optimizing steam generation and supply for improved washing effects and reduced energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
washing heater for heating wash water
Implementation Method 2
water is heated to the boiling point thereof or above, to generate steam
Implementation Method 3
steam is generated and supplied to a drum in order to create a hot and humid washing environment
Implementation Method 4
mechanical actions to wash laundry in the horizontal-axis laundry machine may include friction among clothes of laundry, friction between the laundry and the drum
Implementation Method 5
impact force applied to the laundry
Implementation Method 6
water is heated to a temperature lower than the boiling point of water, to generate steam
Data Source
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AI summary
A laundry machine and a control method of the same are disclosed. The disclosed method, which controls a laundry machine to execute a refreshing course through supply of steam, includes a course selection operation of selecting one of a plurality of washing courses, a steam water supply operation of supplying wash water to a tub (200) up to a water level for generation of steam while preventing the wash water to pass through a drum (300), when the refreshing course is selected, a steaming operation of heating the wash water by driving a washing heater, thereby generating steam, and a refreshing operation of refreshing the laundry by alternately executing, after the steaming operation, a tumbling driving operation to tumble the laundry within the drum through rotation of the drum and a spin driving operation to rotate the laundry within the drum in close contact with an inner surface of the drum, in accordance with high-speed rotation of the drum (300).