Patent Abstract:
An operating method of a laundry device is disclosed. The present invention relates more particularly, to an operation method for a combination dryer which enables air in a drying drum and a cabinet for drying the laundry to circulate continuously and enables water generated in the circulation process to perform a refreshing cycle by using the water.

Full Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of the Patent Korean Application No. P2004-99244, filed on Nov. 30, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a laundry device, and more particularly, to a new type of laundry device provided with a washing machine and a cabinet dryer as one body.  
         [0004]     2. Discussion of the Related Art  
         [0005]     In general, laundry devices including washing machines and dryers are electric home appliances which can wash or dry cloth items, cloths and beddings (hereinafter, “the laundry”).  
         [0006]     A dryer of the laundry devices used in a house usually dries a small amount of the laundry.  
         [0007]     That is, the dryer receives the laundry washed by the washing machine, and dries the laundry by supplying hot air.  
         [0008]     However, the related art dryer has a problem that drying for a tangled portion of the laundry is not dried smoothly, because the drying cycle is in process in a state of the laundry being introduced together at one time.  
         [0009]     There is another problem that it is impossible to keep the laundry for a long time in the related art dryer.  
         [0010]     Thus, recently demands have been increasing accordingly for a new type of a dryer having a drying capacity thereof enlarged as well as capable of keeping the laundry for a long time. There are various kinds of combination dryers provided with tumble dryers and auxiliary cabinet dryers therewith, for example, U.S. Laid-open Patent Application No. 2004-0194339 A1 or U.S. Laid-open Patent Application No. 2004-0154194.  
         [0011]     The above combination dryer allows a cabinet dryer provided on a top of a conventional dryer having a rotatory drum.  
         [0012]     The cabinet dryer has space for the laundry and receives hot air used to dry or keep the laundry for a long time.  
         [0013]     However, the combination dryer described above has an inconvenience that it performs only a drying cycle and keeping of the laundry, not a washing cycle.  
         [0014]     That is, since an auxiliary washing machine should be provided for washing the laundry, a user should purchase a washing machine and a combination dryer separately. Thus, it is difficult to secure an installation space, and production cost may rise due to overlapping of some configurations.  
         [0015]     Especially, when it comes to a washing machine with a drying function out of various kinds of washing machines, there is an inconvenience that the laundry should be taken out of right after completing a drying cycle, because the washing machine with a drying function performs only a drying cycle for the laundry.  
         [0016]     That is, in spite of completing a drying cycle, when the laundry is kept for a long time there may be too severe wrinkles to iron out easily.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to and an operating method of a laundry device that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
         [0018]     An object of the present invention is to provide a new operating method of a laundry device provided with a washing machine with a drying function and a cabinet dryer sharing a structure supplying hot air and steam for washing, drying and refreshing the laundry using the washing machine with a drying function and the cabinet.  
         [0019]     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.  
         [0020]     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, an operating method of a laundry device comprising a first step of identifying a kind of an operation selected by a user out of a washing, a drying and a refreshing cycle; a second step of generating steam by operating a heating element in case the identified operation is a refreshing cycle; and a third step of selectively supplying the steam into a washing machine with a drying function and/or a cabinet dryer using the same drying heater, fan and steam generating part together.  
         [0021]     The second step includes a step of identifying an operation object performing a refreshing cycle, and a step of opening a first steam supplying pipe, or a second steam supplying pipe connecting the identified operation object with the steam generating part.  
         [0022]     In another aspect of the present invention, an operating method of a laundry device comprising a first step of a washing cycle for washing the laundry by using a washing machine with a drying finction, out of the washing machine with a drying finction and the cabinet dryer using the same drying heater, fan and steam generating part together; a second step of a drying cycle for drying the laundry by using the washing machine with a drying function or the cabinet dryer; and a third step of a refreshing cycle for refreshing the laundry by supplying steam into at least one of the washing machine with a drying function and the cabinet dryer, after drying the laundry.  
         [0023]     The first step comprises a step of drying another laundry within the cabinet dryer by using the cabinet dryer.  
         [0024]     Also, the first step comprises a step of a refreshing cycle for another laundry within the cabinet dryer by using the cabinet dryer.  
         [0025]     Furthermore, the second step comprises a step of a washing, a drying or a refreshing cycle by using one of the washing machine with a drying function and the cabinet dryer, which is not performing a drying cycle.  
         [0026]     Still further the third step comprises a step of a washing, drying or refreshing cycle by using one of the washing machine with a drying function and the cabinet dryer which is not performing a refreshing cycle.  
         [0027]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0028]     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a diagram schematically illustrating an exterior of a laundry device according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram schematically illustrating the laundry device according to the embodiment of the present.  
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart schematically illustrating an operating process of a laundry device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart schematically illustrating an operating process of a laundry device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart schematically illustrating an operating process of a laundry device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0034]     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0035]     As shown in FIGS.  1  to  2 , a laundry device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a washing machine with a drying function  100 , a cabinet dryer  200 , and a controller  300 .  
         [0036]     The washing machine with a drying function  100  will be described.  
         [0037]     The washing machine with a drying function  100  includes a tub  110 , a drum  120 , a hot air supplying pipe  130 , hot air supplying part  140  and a steam generating part  160 . The washing machine with a drying function performs a washing cycle and a drying cycle.  
         [0038]     The drum  120  capable of rotating/agitating is mounted within the tub  110  for performing a washing and a drying cycle in a state of the laundry being introduced.  
         [0039]     The hot air supplying pipe  130  as a pipe guiding an inflow of hot air into the drum  120  is formed for re-supplying air into the tub  110  after receiving and circulating the air within the tub  110 .  
         [0040]     Also, the hot air supplying part  140  is provided within the hot air supplying pipe  130 .  
         [0041]     The hot air supplying part  140  includes a drying heater  141  for heating flowing air, and a fan  142  for forcibly ventilating the air within the hot air supplying pipe  130 .  
         [0042]     At that time, the fan  142  may be provided at an air outlet of the hot air supplying pipe  130  where the air of the drying heater  141  is discharged.  
         [0043]     That is for preventing damage of a fan motor (not shown) in advance which may be caused when the air containing much moisture within the hot air supplying pipe  130  passes through the fan motor driving fan  142 .  
         [0044]     Alternatively, the fan  142  may be provided at an air inlet of the hot air supplying pipe  130  where the air of the drying heater is drawn with respect to a direction of an air inflow.  
         [0045]     The steam generating part  160  generates steam and supplies the steam into the tub  110  (or the drum  120 ) of the washing machine with a drying function  100  and the cabinet dryer  200 .  
         [0046]     The steam generating part  160  and the washing machine with a drying function  100  are connected by a first steam supplying pipe  171 , and the steam generating part and the cabinet dryer  200  are connected by a second steam supplying pipe  172 .  
         [0047]     Furthermore, an air channel valve  180  is provided at a branched portion between the first and second steam supplying pipes  171  and  172  for selectively opening/closing the first and second steam supplying pipes  171  and  172 . The air channel valve  180  may be a 3-way valve.  
         [0048]     The steam generating part  160  includes a water chamber  161  for storing water, a water supplying pipe  162  connected with the water chamber  161  for receiving the water from the water chamber  161 , a heat radiating part  163  for temporarily storing the water received from the water chamber  161 , and a heating element  164  provided within the heat radiating part  163  for heating and evaporating the stored water into steam.  
         [0049]     Preferably, the steam generating part  160  is provided at one of corners in upper space of the washing machine with a drying function  100 . That is why the steam generating part  160  may be provided safely without any interferences of the drum  110 .  
         [0050]     Especially, a user should replenish the water chamber  161  of the steam generating part  160  with water. Thereby, a water chamber holding part  101  is further provided at an upper corner of the washing machine with a drying function  100  for holding the water chamber  161  therein as well as being replenished with water.  
         [0051]     As described before, hot air generated by operating the hot air supplying part  140  and steam generated by operating the steam generating part  160  are used by the cabinet dryer  200  as well as the washing machine with a drying function  100 , which will be described. That will be re-described more specifically in the detailed description of the cabinet dryer  200 .  
         [0052]     Next, the cabinet dryer  200  will be described.  
         [0053]     The cabinet dryer  200  includes a keeping part  220  for keeping the laundry therein, and is mounted on a top of the washing machine with a drying function  100 .  
         [0054]     The cabinet dryer  200  includes a hot air inlet pipe  241  and an air outlet pipe  242 .  
         [0055]     The hot air inlet pipe  241  receives hot air flowing in the hot air supplying pipe  130 , and guides the hot air into the keeping part  220 .  
         [0056]     A first end of the hot air inlet pipe  241  is connected with the keeping part  220 , and a second end thereof is connected with the hot air supplying pipe  130 .  
         [0057]     Preferably, a hot air inlet of the hot air inlet pipe  241  is connected with an air outlet of the fan  142  in the hot air supplying pipe  130 .  
         [0058]     Also, the air inlet pipe  242  supplies air containing moisture, after flowing within the keeping  220 , into the hot air supplying pipe  130 . Then, an air inlet of the air outlet pipe  242  is connected with the keeping part  220 , and an air outlet of the air outlet pipe  242  is connected with the hot air supplying pipe  130 .  
         [0059]     Next, the controller  300  will be described.  
         [0060]     The controller  300  controls the washing machine with a drying function  100  and the cabinet dryer  200   
         [0061]     At that time, the controller  300  is provided in at least one of the washing machine with a drying function  100  and the cabinet dryer  200 , but preferably provided only in the washing machine with a drying function  100  as shown in the embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0062]     If the controller  300  is provided in both the washing machine with a drying function  100  and the cabinet dryer  200 , the controller  300  are connected by a data cable (not shown) to make it possible to intercommunicate information.  
         [0063]     Also, the controller  300  may control the washing machine with a drying function  100  and the cabinet dryer  200  respectively, and may control the washing with a drying function  100  and the cabinet dryer  200  to communicate each other.  
         [0064]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , an operating method of a laundry device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.  
         [0065]     First of all, the controller  300  identifies a kind of cycles the user select (S 10 ).  
         [0066]     The kinds of the cycles include a washing, a drying and a refreshing.  9 .  
         [0067]     Next, based on the identified kind of the cycles, the controller  300  performs the selected cycle by selectively controlling the washing machine with a drying function  100  and/or the cabinet dryer  200 .  
         [0068]     Each kind of the cycles will be described in detail.  
         [0069]     First, a case of a washing cycle will be described.  
         [0070]     The washing cycle is performed by the controller  300 &#39;s control of the washing machine with a drying function  100 .  
         [0071]     That is, the washing machine with a drying function  100  is controlled for washing the laundry (S 120 ).  
         [0072]     The control for washing the laundry is operated by combination of controlling a driving of the drum  110  and controlling water supply. The washing cycle includes a washing, a rinsing, and a spinning.  
         [0073]     Also, when washing the laundry, the cabinet dryer  200  is not operated.  
         [0074]     Next, a case of a drying cycle will be described.  
         [0075]     The drying cycle is operated by the controller  300 &#39;s selective control of the washing machine with a drying function  100  and/or the cabinet dryer  200 .  
         [0076]     That is, the laundry is dried by using the washing machine with a drying function  100  (S 130 ) or using the cabinet dryer  200 , or the laundry is dried by controlling the washing machine with a drying function  100  and the cabinet dryer  200 .  
         [0077]     At that time, the laundry is dried by hot air. The hot air is generated by operating the hot air supplying part of the washing machine with a drying function  100 , and supplied into the washing machine with a drying function  100  and/or the cabinet dryer  200  by operating the fan.  
         [0078]     Next, a case of a refreshing cycle will be described.  
         [0079]     Once the refreshing cycle is selected, the controller  300  identifies an operation object (S 140 ).  
         [0080]     At that time, the controller  300  selectively opens the first and second steam supplying pipes  171  and  172  through the control of the air channel valve  180 .  
         [0081]     The selective opening of the first and second steam supplying pipes  171  and  172  is a series of processes controlling steam to be supplied only into the washing machine with a drying function  100  and/or the cabinet dryer, of which an operation is performed, based on the data identified in the above process.  
         [0082]     For example, when the operation object is identified as the washing machine with a drying function  100 , the air channel valve  180  is controlled to open only the first steam supplying pipe  171  connected with the washing machine with a drying function  100  (S 150 ).  
         [0083]     Whereas, once the operation object is identified as the cabinet dryer  200 , the air channel valve  180  is controlled to open only the second steam supplying pipe  172  connected with the cabinet dryer  200  (S 160 ).  
         [0084]     Once the operation object is identified as the washing machine with a drying function  100  and the cabinet dryer  200 , the air channel valve  180  is controlled to open both of the first and second steam supplying pipe  171  and  172  (S 170 ).  
         [0085]     The opening range of the first steam supplying pipe  171  and/or the second steam supplying pipe (or the quantity of steam) may be as changeable as necessary. For example, when a large amount of the steam is needed, the first steam supplying pipe  171  and/or the second steam supplying pipe  172  is/are opened as much as possible. When a small amount of the steam is needed, the first steam supplying pipe  171  and/or the second steam supplying pipe  172  is/are opened relatively little.  
         [0086]     As described above, once the first and second steam supplying pipe  171  and  172  are selectively opened based on the identified operation object, the controller  300  radiates heat of the heating element  164  within the heat radiating part  163  of the steam generating part  160 . At that time, water is stored in the heat radiating part  163 . The water is supplied from the water chamber  161  into the heat radiating part  163  by the water supplying pipe  162 .  
         [0087]     The water stored within the heat radiating part  163  by the heating element  164  is evaporated, thereby hot steam being generated. The steam is flown through the opened first and/or second steam supplying pipe  171  and  172 , and supplied into the washing machine with a drying function  100  and/or the cabinet dryer  200  (S 180 ).  
         [0088]     For example, in case only the first steam supplying pipe  171  is opened, the hot steam is supplied only into the washing with a drying function  100  through the first steam supplying pipe  171 . In case only the second steam supplying pipe  172  is opened, the hot steam is supplied only into the cabinet dryer  200  through the second steam supplying pipe  172 . In case the first and second steam supplying pipes  171  and  172  are all opened, the hot steam is supplied into both the washing machine with a drying function  100  and the cabinet dryer  200  through the first and second steam supplying pipes  171  and  172 .  
         [0089]     Thus, the laundry within the washing machine with a drying function  100  and/or the cabinet dryer  200  may be refreshed, in other words, lets its wrinkles smoothed out and get sterilized.  
         [0090]     When a refresh cycle is selected during the drying cycle of the washing machine with a drying function  100 , the controller  300  closes the hot air inlet pipe  241  which supplies hot air into the cabinet dryer  200 , and at the same time controls the air. channel valve  180  to open the second steam supplying pipe  172  and radiates heat of the heating element  164  of the steam generating part  160 .  
         [0091]     Thus, the hot air is supplied into the washing machine with a drying function  100  to perform a drying cycle, and high temperature steam is supplied into the cabinet dryer to perform a refreshing cycle for dried clothes.  
         [0092]     On the other hand, an operating method of a laundry device according to a second embodiment of the present invention allows it possible that another cycle using the other one is performed at the same time during one of the washing, drying and refreshing cycles using the washing machine with a drying function  100  or the cabinet dryer  200 .  
         [0093]     For example, while a washing cycle or a drying cycle using the washing machine with a drying function  100  is getting performed, a refreshing cycle using the cabinet dryer  200  may be performed at the same time.  
         [0094]     Referring to the flow chart of  FIG. 4 , the above method will be described more specifically.  
         [0095]     First, while a washing cycle using the washing machine with a drying function  100  is performed, the controller  300  consistently identifies a request for controlling the cabinet dryer (S 121 ).  
         [0096]     Once the user selects an operation of the cycles during that process, the controller  300  identifies the selected kind of operations ( 122 ).  
         [0097]     At that time, the kinds of operations includes a drying cycle and a refreshing cycle.  
         [0098]     When the selected kind of operation is identified to be a drying cycle using the cabinet dryer  200 , the controller  300  operates the drying heater  141  and drives the fan  142 .  
         [0099]     Hence, hot air is generated within the hot air supplying pipe, and then the hot air is supplied into the keeping part  220  of the cabinet dryer  200  after passing through the hot air inlet pipe  241  by driving the fan  142  (S 124 ). Thus, the laundry within the laundry keeping space  220  is dried.  
         [0100]     When the selected kind of operation is identified to be a refreshing cycle using the cabinet dryer  200 , the controller  300  controls the air channel valve  180  to open the second steam supplying pipe  172  (S 125 ). Also, the controller  300  operates the heating element  164  of the heat radiating part  163 .  
         [0101]     Thus, water stored within the heat radiating part  163  is evaporated, and hot steam is generated. Hence, the hot steam is flowing along the opened second steam supplying pipe  172  to be supplied into the keeping part  220  (S 126 ). Thus, the laundry such as clothes is refreshed by the hot steam.  
         [0102]     Alternatively, the operating method of the laundry device according to the second embodiment of the present invention allows it possible to perform a refreshing cycle by using the cabinet dryer  200  during a drying cycle using the washing machine with a drying function  100 .  
         [0103]     In that case, the controller  300  closes the hot air inlet pipe  241  supplying hot air into the cabinet dryer  200 . Also, the controller  300  opens the second steam supplying pipe  172  by controlling the air channel valve  180  and operating the heating element  164  of the steam generating part  160 .  
         [0104]     Thus, hot air is supplied into the washing machine with a drying function  100  to perform a drying cycle, and at the same time hot steam is supplied into the cabinet dryer  200  to perform a refreshing cycle by the hot steam.  
         [0105]     On the other hand,  FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating an operating method of a laundry device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0106]     According to the third embodiment of the present invention, the operating method of the laundry device allows a washing, drying and refreshing cycle performed successively.  
         [0107]     That operating method classified into 3 processes, as described as follows.  
         [0108]     First, a washing cycle is performed by using the washing machine with a drying function  100  (S 310 ).  
         [0109]     Second, a drying cycle is performed by using the washing machine with a drying function  100  or the cabinet dryer  200  (S 340 ).  
         [0110]     Third, a refreshing cycle is performed by using the washing machine with a drying function  100  or the cabinet dryer  200  (S 370 ).  
         [0111]     Therefore, the third embodiment of the present invention has an advantageous effect that washing, drying and refreshing the laundry is performed by one laundry device successively.  
         [0112]     The controller  300  identifies an operation object for the next cycle (S 320  and S 350 ), and allows the laundry supplied into the identified operation object (S 330  and S 360 ).  
         [0113]     For example, when a washing cycle is completed, the operation object for a drying cycle is identified to be the cabinet dryer  200 . Hence, the laundry of the washing machine with a drying function  100  is moved into the cabinet dryer  200  for performing a drying cycle. That process is the same as a refreshing cycle is performed after completing the drying cycle.  
         [0114]     The laundry is moved by the user, and the controller  300  is employed to notify the user of that information.  
         [0115]     Alternatively, while performing the washing, drying, or refreshing cycle using the washing machine with a drying function  100  or the cabinet dryer  200 , the other one identified not to be the operation object also may performed one of the cycles at the same time.  
         [0116]     For example, while performing the washing cycle of the washing machine with a drying function  100 , a drying cycle or a refreshing cycle using the cabinet dryer  200  may be performed at the same time.  
         [0117]     Furthermore, while performing a drying cycle using the washing machine with a drying function  100 , a drying cycle or a refreshing cycle using the cabinet dryer  200  may be performed at the same time. Also, while performing a drying cycle using the washing machine with a drying function  100 , a drying cycle or a refreshing cycle using the washing machine with a drying function  100  may be performed at the same time.  
         [0118]     Still further, while performing a refreshing cycle using the washing machine with a drying function  100 , a drying cycle or a refreshing cycle using the cabinet dryer  200  may be performed at the same time. Alternatively, while performing a refreshing cycle using the cabinet dryer  200 , a washing cycle, a drying cycle or a refreshing cycle using the washing machine with a drying function  100  may be performed at the same time.  
         [0119]     Especially, of the above series of the processes, it is preferred but not necessary that in the drying cycle the washing machine with a drying function  100  dries the laundry roughly, and then the roughly dried laundry is loaded into the cabinet dryer  200  for re-drying the laundry.  
         [0120]     Preferably, the refreshing cycle is performed right after the drying cycle using the cabinet dryer  200 .  
         [0121]     Alternatively, the refreshing cycle may be performed in the cabinet dryer  200  during the drying cycle using the washing machine with a drying function  100  at the same time, and may be successively performed in the washing machine with a drying function  100  after the drying cycle using the washing machine with a drying function  100 .  
         [0122]     The operating method of the laundry device according to each embodiment of the present invention may have an advantageous effect that a drying and a refreshing cycle as well as a washing cycle are performed successively.  
         [0123]     Especially, even while a washing or a drying cycle using the washing machine with a drying function  100  is performed, a refreshing cycle using the cabinet dryer  200  may be performed at the same time. Thereby, reducing the time taken for the entire washing.  
         [0124]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3