Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a method for controlling a washing apparatus, and more particularly, a method for controlling a spin-drying operation of a washing apparatus which may shorten a time required for the spin-drying operation of the washing apparatus.

In general, washing apparatuses are configured to remove contaminants from laundry such as clothes through a washing process of the laundry.

Such washing apparatuses may be divided into a top loading type washing apparatus having a rotary shaft of a drum arranged to be perpendicular to the ground and a front loading type washing apparatus having a rotary shaft of a drum arranged to be parallel to the ground.

In the front loading type washing apparatus, the rotary shaft of the drum is arranged to be substantially horizontal to the ground, and the washing operation is performed in a drum washing manner in which washing is performed using friction between the drum, which is rotated by driving force transmitted from a motor with a detergent, washing water and laundry loaded into the drum, and the laundry, and a impact on dropped laundry. In washing in the drum washing manner, there may be almost no damage to the laundry, the laundry may not be tangled with each other, and an effect of washing through tapping and rubbing may be obtained.

In the top loading type washing apparatus, the rotary shaft of the drum is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the ground, and the drum is provided inside a tub where washing water is stored. The washing operation is performed in a pulsator manner in which washing is performed with the laundry immersed in the washing water supplied into the drum. In the pulsator manner, washing is performed by friction between the washing water and the laundry caused by rotation of the drum or rotation of a pulsator arranged under the drum to create water streams, and an action of the detergent. Accordingly, washing can be performed only when washing water is supplied as to make the laundry submerged in the washing water, and thus a large amount of washing water is used.

The washing process of the washing apparatus includes a washing operation of washing laundry by supplying washing water and a detergent, a rinsing operation of supplying rinsing water and removing the contaminants and remaining detergent separated from the laundry, and a spin-drying operation of removing water and the like from the laundry from which the contaminants and remaining detergent have been removed.

The spin-drying operation is a process in which water contained in the laundry is removed as the laundry that has undergone the washing and rinsing operations is rotated at a high speed along with the drum. In the spin-drying operation, the drum rotates at a high speed, and accordingly the laundry is not uniformly distributed on the inner circumferential surface of the drum. Rather, the laundry is eccentrically maldistributed to one side, resulting in severe vibration and noise during high-speed rotation of the drum.

Accordingly, in the conventional spin-drying operation, the degree of eccentricity is sensed according to eccentric distribution of the laundry, and when the sensed degree of eccentricity exceeds an allowable eccentricity degree, the rotating drum is stopped or decelerated and then accelerated to uniformly disperse the laundry on the inner circumferential surface of the drum. Then, the drum is rotated at a high speed to remove water from the laundry. In this case, the time for which the drum rotates at spin-drying RPM is usually fixed.

However, if a series of operations is repeated according to the degree of eccentricity exceeding an allowable eccentricity degree as described above, the drum rotates at the spin-drying RPM in the spin-drying operation for the initially fixed time even when water is removed from the laundry to a certain degree in the middle of the repeated operations. As a result, the time required for the spin-drying operation may be excessively long.

Further, in the case where the time for which the spin-drying operation is performed is pre-fixed, the spin-drying operation may be terminated without water sufficiently removed from the laundry.

<CIT> presents a control method of a laundry machine. The control method of a laundry machine comprising a balancer includes a step configured to determine an irregular vibration region of the laundry machine and a balancing step implemented at least one time before a rotation speed of a drum enters the irregular vibration region, while the rotation speed is passing the irregular vibration region and after the rotation speed passes the irregular vibration region. According to the method, a rotation time, at which the drum rotates at a final spin-drying RPM, may be reduced in case a third balancing step has been performed.

<CIT> presents a method of operating a drum washing machine that comprises driving the drum at a predetermined rotational speed which is below the resonance speed and when the laundry lies against the inner circumference of the drum, the imbalance of the laden drum being measured. Subsequently, the main spinning phase is carried out at a final speed which is above the resonance speed and is set, in dependence on the measured amount of imbalance, between two limit values. The spinning phase is also variable in respect of rate of acceleration to the final speed and spinning duration. The setting of rate of acceleration and spinning duration can be carried out in dependence on laundry quantity and/or laundry kind making up the drum load.

<CIT> presents a washing machine having a control means that controls each process of washing, rinsing and dehydration, and also, controls the subsequent consecutive operations, based on an input from a time deciding means and an input from a dehydration continuation deciding means at the time of dehydration. After dehydration is started, an eccentric degree detector detects the eccentric degree of a dehydrating tank by synchronizing with a power source period, inputs its output to the dehydration continuation deciding means and decides whether it is dangerous to continue dehydration or not. In the case it is decided to be dangerous, whether an elapsed time from a start of dehydration reaches <NUM>% of a prescribed dehydration time or not is decided by the time deciding means, and in the case it reaches, it is decided that dehydration is finished at that time point and the subsequent dehydration is omitted, and the control is executed so that dehydration is finished. In the case it does not reach <NUM>%, dehydration is suspended and the control is executed so that an unbalance correction is executed.

<CIT> presents a washing machine having a pressure sensor in a suspension-stick receiver metallic material which fixes a suspension stick, and detects in real time the magnitude of the vibration of an outer tank at the time of dewatering by this pressure sensor. The rotation acceleration of a washing and dewatering tank at the start-up of dewatering is set up relatively small, and the acceleration is increased in accordance with that the rotation velocity approaches to the resonance point and vibration is strengthened. When the rotation velocity is further increased and passes through the resonance point and vibration damps, the acceleration is reduced. Since, in this way, the rotation velocity increases radically near the resonance point where vibration reaches its maximum, vibration is suppressed. The velocity increases gradually anywhere other than the neighborhood of the resonance point, and the washing machine can avoid that a great amount of water is sent forth from the washing within a short time, and also can prevent a large amount of water from staying at the bottom of the outer tank.

<CIT> relates to a washing machine and a method of controlling a washing machine. The drum is operated at a first speed so that laundry tumbles within the drum. A laundry amount within the drum during the first speed operation is sensed. The drum is driven at a second speed so that part of the laundry tumbles within the drum and another part of the laundry adheres to the drum. Operation commands for driving the drum subsequent to the first speed operation are changed based on the sensed laundry amount. Accordingly, at the time of a dehydration cycle, stability of the washing machine and laundry balancing can be ensured.

<CIT> provides a method for controlling the off-balance state of the load of a washing machine. The method comprises a run-up phase in which the drum of the washing machine is accelerated from a low rotating speed up to an intermediate rotating speed so as to distribute the washload along the walls of the drum. During this phase, the instant off-balance state of the drum is detected periodically and, in response to each such detection, the drum is accelerated by an increment, or decelerated by an increment, according to whether said detected off-balance is smaller or greater, respectively, than a pre-set threshold value. A spin-extraction phase is finally started with the drum rotating at a high speed.

<CIT> presents a drum type washing machine and controlling method thereof is provided. In the drum type washing machine, a tub is provided, a drum is installed in the tub to rotate about a horizontal axis, a driving motor rotates the drum, a key input unit receives a washing instruction from a user, a memory stores a reference value for an eccentricity of the drum, a microcomputer controls washing and rinsing operations in accordance with a procedure set by the user upon an input of a start command through the key input unit and its prevents repetition of a preliminary spin drying operation using a measured eccentricity of the drum, and a driving control unit controls velocity of the driving motor in accordance with a control signal of the microcomputer.

An object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies in a method for controlling a spin-drying operation of a washing apparatus to adjust a time required for the spin-drying operation according to a condition of the laundry in the spin-drying operation.

The object of the present invention is achieved by the invention set out by the features of claim <NUM>.

As described above, a method for controlling a spin-drying operation of a washing apparatus according to the present invention has the following effects.

First, the spin-drying operation does not take much time even when a fabric dispersion step is repeated several times.

Second, since the time required for the spin-drying operation is adjusted according to the condition of the laundry, the spin-drying operation is terminated after water is sufficiently removed from the fabrics.

Third, energy is saved because spin-drying operation does not take too much time.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the following description of the configuration and control method of the apparatus described below are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used to refer to the same or like parts.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein have the general meanings as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. If a term used herein conflicts with the general meaning of the term, it shall be subject to the definition as used herein.

As used herein, terms including ordinal numbers such as first, second, etc. may be used to explain various elements. However, it will be appreciated that the elements are not limited to such terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element from another.

Furthermore, terms used in this specification are merely adopted to explain specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. A singular expression includes a plural expression unless the two expressions are contextually different from each other. In this specification, the term "include" or "have" is intended to indicate that characteristics, figures, steps, operations, constituents, and components disclosed in the specification or combinations thereof exist, and should be understood as not precluding the existence or addition of one or more other characteristics, figures, steps, operations, constituents, components, or combinations thereof.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view schematically showing configuration of a washing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a block diagram showing a control relationship between main elements of the washing apparatus shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a washing apparatus <NUM> having a drum <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet <NUM> having a laundry loading port <NUM> formed on a front surface thereof, a door <NUM> openably arranged in the laundry loading port <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM>, a tub <NUM> arranged in the cabinet <NUM> to store washing water, a motor <NUM> provided to the tub <NUM> to generate a driving force, a rotary shaft <NUM> connected to the motor <NUM>, the drum <NUM> connected to the rotary shaft <NUM> to wash laundry using the driving force transmitted from the motor <NUM>, and a control panel <NUM> including an input unit configured to receive various control commands from a user, and a display unit configured to display an operating state of the washing apparatus.

While <FIG> shows a direct connection type drive structure in which the motor <NUM> is directly connected to the rotary shaft <NUM> to drive the drum <NUM>, embodiments are not limited thereto. In addition, while the figure illustrates that the control panel <NUM> is provided on the front surface of the cabinet <NUM>, embodiments are not limited thereto.

The cabinet <NUM> defines an outer appearance of the washing apparatus <NUM> having the drum <NUM>, and is provided, in the front surface thereof, with the laundry loading port <NUM> allowing the inside of the cabinet to communicate with the outside therethrough. The door <NUM> configured to selectively open and close the laundry loading port <NUM> is pivotably provided on the front surface of the cabinet <NUM>. Accordingly, the user is allowed to load the laundry into the drum <NUM> or retrieve the laundry from the drum <NUM> by opening or closing the door <NUM>.

Here, the door <NUM> is configured such that an inner side surface <NUM> of the door facing the drum <NUM> protrudes toward the drum <NUM>. Thus, when the user pushes and closes the door <NUM>, a part of the inner side surface of the door <NUM> is positioned inside the drum <NUM>. Accordingly, the laundry is washed only within the drum <NUM>. In addition, during washing by rotation of the drum <NUM>, the laundry is not discharged to the outside of the drum <NUM>.

The tub <NUM> is provided in the cabinet <NUM> to accommodate washing water. The washing water is supplied into the tub <NUM> from an external water source. Further, the tub <NUM> is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and may be divided into a circumferential surface and opposite end portions. The front end portion of the opposite end portions forms a front surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM> and the rear end portion of the tub <NUM> forms a rear surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM>. A front opening is formed in the front surface <NUM> of the tub <NUM> at a position corresponding to the laundry loading port <NUM> of the cabinet <NUM> such that the inside and the outside of the drum <NUM> communicate with each other.

The circumferential surface of the tub <NUM> is elastically supported by a spring <NUM> and a damper <NUM>, which are arranged inside the cabinet <NUM>. Further, the tub <NUM> is not allowed to rotate because the circumferential surface thereof is directly supported by the spring <NUM> and the damper <NUM>. Accordingly, unlike the drum <NUM>, the tub <NUM> receives no rotational force from the motor <NUM>.

A water supply device configured to supply water containing a detergent or clean water containing no detergent into the tub <NUM> is connected to an upper side of the tub <NUM>.

The water supply device includes a water supply valve <NUM> configured to regulate clean water supplied through an external hose, a water supply hose <NUM> configured to guide water passing through the water supply valve <NUM>, a detergent supply device <NUM> configured to mix and discharge the water supplied through the water supply hose <NUM> and a pre-stored detergent, and a water supply pipe <NUM> having one end connected to a discharge port of the detergent supply device <NUM> and the other end connected to an upper portion of the tub <NUM> such that the water containing the detergent discharged from the detergent supply device <NUM> or clean water containing no detergent is guided into the tub <NUM>. The water supply pipe <NUM> may be formed as a bellows pipe to prevent vibration of the tub <NUM> from being transmitted to the detergent supply device <NUM>.

A drainage device configured to drain water is connected to a lower side of the tub <NUM>. The drainage device includes a drainage pump <NUM> configured to supply power for discharging the accommodated washing water from the tub <NUM>, a first drainage pipe <NUM> having one end connected to the lower side of the tub and the other end connected to the drainage pump <NUM> to guide the washing water accommodated in the tub <NUM> to the drainage pump <NUM>, and a second water pipe <NUM> having one end connected to the drainage pump <NUM> and the other end connected to the rear surface of the cabinet <NUM> to discharge the washing water from the drainage pump <NUM> to the outside of the cabinet <NUM>. The first drainage pipe <NUM> may be formed as a bellows pipe such that the vibration of the tub <NUM> is not transmitted to the drainage pump <NUM>.

Since the tub <NUM> and the cabinet <NUM> are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, washing water may flow into the gap between the door <NUM> and the front opening of the tub <NUM>, namely, between the front surface of the cabinet <NUM> and the front opening of the tub <NUM>. To prevent such inflow of the washing water, a gasket <NUM> is provided in the gap between the front surface of the cabinet <NUM> and the front opening of the tub <NUM>. The gasket <NUM> is formed of a flexible material to prevent vibration of the motor <NUM> from being transmitted to the cabinet <NUM> through the gasket <NUM>.

The drum <NUM> is rotatably arranged in the tub <NUM> and allows laundry to be loaded thereinto. The drum <NUM> may be formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The drum <NUM> may be divided into a circumferential surface and opposite end portions in the same manner as the tub <NUM>. The front end portion of the opposite end portions of the drum <NUM> forms a front surface <NUM> of the drum <NUM> and the rear end portion forms a rear surface <NUM> of the drum <NUM>.

The rear surface <NUM> of the drum <NUM> is directly connected to the rotary shaft <NUM> connected to the motor <NUM> and receives the rotational force from the motor <NUM>. The drum <NUM> is provided with a lifter <NUM> on an inner circumferential surface thereof so as to lift and drop a part of the laundry or washing water accommodated therein when the drum <NUM> is rotated by the motor <NUM>. Accordingly, when the drum <NUM> is rotated by the motor <NUM>, the lifter <NUM> functions to lift and drop a part of the laundry or washing water to one side while rotating together with the drum <NUM>.

The drum <NUM> is provided with a plurality of through holes <NUM> formed on a side wall thereof, that is, the circumferential surface thereof. The drum <NUM> communicates with the tub <NUM> through the plurality of through holes <NUM>. Accordingly, when the washing water is supplied to the tub <NUM> to a certain level or higher, the drum <NUM> is immersed in the washing water, and a part of the washing water is drawn into the drum <NUM> through the through holes <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the washing apparatus is configured to implement a method for controlling the spin-drying operation, which will be described later. The washing apparatus includes a fabric amount sensing unit <NUM>, an eccentricity sensing unit <NUM>, a vibration intensity sensing unit <NUM>, a drive unit <NUM>, and a controller <NUM>. Here, the fabric refers to the laundry, and the fabric amount refers to the weight of the laundry. Hereinafter, the terms fabric and fabric amount will be used according to the meanings given above.

The fabric amount sensing unit <NUM> is configured to sense the amount of fabrics loaded into the drum <NUM> and may sense the fabric amount based on the driving properties of the drive unit <NUM> that vary according to the fabric amount, for example, the time required to reach a predetermined rotational speed, an acceleration slope or speed increase rate during accelerated rotation, a deceleration slope or speed decrease rate during braking, the time taken until braking, and the like.

The eccentricity sensing unit <NUM> senses the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM>. The eccentricity sensing unit <NUM> may sense the degree of eccentricity based on the degree of change of the rotational speed of the drive unit <NUM>, which varies depending on the distribution condition of the fabrics in the drum <NUM>. For this purpose, a speed sensing unit configured to sense the rotational speed of the drive unit <NUM> may be provided separately from the drive unit <NUM>. Alternatively, an output current may be measured using a current sensing unit such as an encoder provided to the drive unit <NUM>, and the degree of eccentricity may be sensed based on a change in the output current.

The vibration intensity sensing unit <NUM> is configured to sense vibration generated during rotation of the drum <NUM> and is provided separately from the eccentricity sensing unit <NUM>. The vibration intensity sensing unit <NUM> may sense a vibration intensity based on the displacement or vibration period of a mass that moves according to the vibration generated during rotation of the drum <NUM>.

The drive unit <NUM> provides a driving force for rotating the drum <NUM> or the pulsator (not shown). In the present embodiment, the drive unit includes the motor <NUM> described above, and the rotary shaft <NUM> having one end connected to the motor <NUM> and the other end connected to the drum <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> according to a signal input through the input unit and a pre-input process such that the washing process including a washing operation, a rinsing operation, and a spin-drying operation is performed. In performing the washing process, the controller <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> by continuously receiving signals generated by the fabric amount sensing unit <NUM>, the eccentricity sensing unit <NUM> and the vibration intensity sensing unit <NUM>, and controls the display unit to display each step through the display unit.

Hereinafter, a control method for the washing apparatus configured as above will be described. The washing apparatus generally includes a washing operation, a rinsing operation, and a spin-drying operation. The control method according to the present invention, particularly, the spin-drying operation will be described in detail with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a spin-drying step S200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a graph depicting a change in rotational speed of the drum <NUM> with time in a method for controlling a spin-drying operation of a washing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a spin-drying operation control method for the washing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a fabric dispersion step S100 and a spin-drying step S200.

The fabric dispersion step S100 is a step of rotating the drum <NUM> at a relatively low speed and uniformly dispersing the fabrics therein. The spin-drying step S200 is a step of rotating the drum <NUM> at a relatively high speed to remove water from the laundry.

It should be noted that the fabric dispersion step S100 and the spin-drying step S200 are named according to the main functions thereof, and the functions of each step are not limited by the name of the step. For example, in the fabric dispersion step S100, fabrics may be dispersed and water may be removed from the fabrics by rotating the drum <NUM>. Such operations may also be performed during the spin-drying step S200.

The fabric dispersion step S100 includes at least one of a wet fabric sensing step S110 and a fabric untangling step S120. Hereinafter, each of the steps will be described in detail.

The wet fabric sensing step S110 is a step of sensing the amount of wet fabrics containing water after the rinsing operation is completed. Specifically, in the wet fabric sensing step S110, which is the first step that is performed in the spin-drying operation, the fabric amount sensing unit <NUM> senses the amount of fabrics in the drum <NUM>, namely, a wet fabric amount (S110). After sensing the wet fabric amount, the fabric amount sensing unit <NUM> transmits information on the sensed wet fabric amount to the controller <NUM>.

The reason for sensing the wet fabric amount is that the weight of fabrics containing water is different from the weight of the dry fabrics even though the amount of the dry fabrics, namely, a dry fabric amount, is sensed at the beginning of the washing operation. The sensed wet fabric amount serves as a factor for determining a condition for accelerating the drum <NUM> in an acceleration step, which will be described later, or for determining to decelerate the drum <NUM> in the acceleration step to perform the fabric dispersion step S100 again.

The wet fabric amount in the drum <NUM> is measured when the drum <NUM> is accelerated to a first rotation speed RPM <NUM>, for example, about <NUM> to <NUM> RPM, preferably <NUM> RPM, operated at a constant speed for a predetermined time, and then decelerated. When the drum <NUM> is decelerated, power-generation braking is used. Specifically, the wet fabric amount is sensed using an acceleration-period rotation rate in acceleration of the drive motor <NUM>, a deceleration-period rotation rate in deceleration, DC power applied to the motor, and the like.

After the wet fabric sensing step S110 is performed, the fabric untangling step S120 is performed. The fabric untangling step S120 is a step in which the controller <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> to accelerate the drum <NUM> such that the fabrics in the drum <NUM> are evenly dispersed. The fabric untangling step S120 prevents the fabrics from being concentrated in a specific area in the drum <NUM>, which increases the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM>. If the degree of eccentricity is increased, noise and vibration are increased when the rotational speed of the drum <NUM> increases. Specifically, the fabric untangling step S120 is performed until a rotational speed for the eccentricity sensing step, which will be described later, is reached by accelerating the drum <NUM> in one direction at a predetermined slope.

While the fabric dispersion step S100 has been described as including the wet fabric sensing step S110 and the fabric untangling step S120, embodiments are not limited thereto. In this step, at least one of sensing of the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM> and sensing of the vibration intensity of the drum <NUM> may be performed.

Referring to <FIG>, the spin-drying step S200 of the control method for the spin-drying operation of the washing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is a step of removing water contained in the laundry by rotating the drum <NUM>, and includes a sequential process described below at least once.

First, in the spin-drying step S200, the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM> rotating at a constant speed is sensed (S310).

Then, when the degree of eccentricity exceeds a reference eccentricity degree which a reference allowable value (S320-N), the fabric dispersion is performed again (S380).

When the degree of eccentricity does not exceed the reference eccentricity degree which is the reference allowable value (S320-Y), the drum <NUM> is accelerated and the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM> that is being accelerated is sensed (S330).

Then, when the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree which is the reference allowable value (S340-N), the fabric dispersion is performed (S380).

When the degree of eccentricity does not exceed the reference eccentricity degree which the reference allowable value (S340-Y), a spin-drying degree indicating a dewatered state of the fabrics is set (S350).

Thereafter, a rotation time for which the drum <NUM> is to be rotated at spin-drying RPM is set according to the spin-drying degree. In other words, an execution time for a spin-drying RPM maintenance step is set according to the spin-drying degree (S360). Here, the spin-drying degree indicates the degree of dewatering of the laundry, and is set from the time when the degree of eccentricity exceeds a reference eccentricity degree. A detailed description of the spin-drying degree will be given later.

Thereafter, the drum <NUM> rotates at the spin-drying RPM for the execution time set according to the spin-drying degree (S370).

While it is described that a degree of eccentricity is sensed during acceleration of the drum <NUM> after a degree of eccentricity is sensed during a constant-speed rotation of the drum <NUM>, embodiments are not limited thereto. A degree of eccentricity may be sensed during a constant-speed rotation of the drum <NUM> after a degree of eccentricity is sensed during acceleration of the drum <NUM>.

The spin-drying step S200 may be performed by repeating a series of such operations several times. In addition, this series of operations may be applied to both a preliminary spin-drying step of preliminarily spin-drying the laundry and a main spin-drying step of finally spin-drying the laundry, which will be described later. In addition, the series of operations constitutes a preceding preliminary drying step and a following preliminary drying step, which will be described later.

Hereinafter, the spin-drying step S200 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

The spin-drying step S200 includes a preliminary drying step in which the laundry is spin-dried in a preliminary manner, and a main spin-drying step S270 in which the drum <NUM> finally rotates at a high speed to spin-dry the laundry.

The preliminary drying step is performed after the fabric dispersion step S100 is completed. The preliminary drying step includes a preceding preliminary drying step in which the laundry is preliminarily spin-dried for the first time, and a following preliminary drying step in which the laundry is spin-dried again after the preceding preliminary drying step.

As described above, a first preliminary drying step S210 is included in the preceding preliminary drying step, and a second preliminary drying step S230 and a third preliminary drying step S250 are included in the following preliminary drying step.

Both a reference eccentricity degree and a reference vibration intensity described below may be collectively referred to as a reference allowable value. The first preliminary drying step S210 includes a first eccentricity sensing step S211 of sensing the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM> rotating at a constant speed, a first acceleration step S213 of accelerating the drum <NUM> and sensing the degree of eccentricity of the accelerated drum <NUM> after the first eccentricity sensing step S211, and a first spin-drying RPM maintenance step S215 in which the drum <NUM> rotates while maintaining the spin-drying RPM after the first acceleration step S213.

The first eccentricity sensing step S211, which is performed after the fabric dispersion step S100, is a step in which the controller <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> to rotate the drum <NUM> at a constant speed of <NUM> RPM to <NUM> RPM (RPM1), preferably <NUM> RPM. Then, the eccentricity sensing unit <NUM> senses the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM>. After sensing the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM>, the eccentricity sensing unit <NUM> transmits the sensed degree of eccentricity to the controller <NUM>. Upon receiving the degree of eccentricity, the controller <NUM> determines whether to accelerate the drum <NUM>. This is because if the fabrics in the drum <NUM> are not dispersed evenly but are concentrated in a predetermined area inside the drum <NUM>, the degree of eccentricity will be increased and increasing the rotational speed of the drum <NUM> will cause noise and vibration.

In an example, in the first eccentricity sensing step S211, when the drum <NUM> rotates, eccentricity may be sensed using, for example, a difference in acceleration. The drum <NUM> having eccentricity differs in acceleration between a case of rotating downward along the gravity and a case of rotating upward against the gravity, according to the degree of eccentricity. The eccentricity sensing unit <NUM> senses the degree of eccentricity by measuring the difference in acceleration using a speed sensor such as a Hall sensor provided in the drive motor <NUM>, and then transmits the degree of eccentricity to the controller <NUM>.

Therefore, in order for the eccentricity sensing unit <NUM> to sense the eccentricity in the first eccentricity sensing step S211, the fabrics in the drum <NUM> should remain stuck to the inner circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> without being separated from the inner circumferential surface of the drum <NUM> even when the drum <NUM> rotates. For this purpose, the drum <NUM> rotates at a rotational speed of approximately <NUM> to <NUM> RPM. When the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM> accommodating a certain amount of wet fabrics exceeds a reference eccentricity degree, vibration and noise of the drum <NUM> becomes remarkably large during acceleration of the drum <NUM> at a high speed. Accordingly, predetermined data about a reference eccentricity degree that allows acceleration according to the amount of the wet fabrics may be pre-stored in the controller <NUM> in the form of a table, and the controller <NUM> may determine whether to accelerate the drum by applying the sensed amount of wet fabrics and the sensed degree of eccentricity to the table. If the degree of eccentricity according to the sensed amount of wet fabrics exceeds the reference eccentricity degree, the fabric dispersion step S100 is performed again, and then the eccentricity sensing step is performed again.

In the case where the fabrics intensely tangled with each other in the drum <NUM> are not uniformly dispersed in the drum <NUM> by the fabric dispersion step S100 or an abnormality occurs in the washing apparatus, the sensed degree of eccentricity may exceed the reference eccentricity degree, and thus the fabric dispersion step S100 and the eccentricity sensing step may be continuously repeated. Accordingly, if the drum <NUM> is not accelerated for a predetermined time, for example, about <NUM> to <NUM> minutes after the spin-drying operation starts, the controller <NUM> stops rotating the drum <NUM>, and notifies the user that the spin-drying operation has not terminated normally. When the degree of eccentricity according to the sensed amount of fabrics is lower than or equal to the reference eccentricity degree, the condition for acceleration is satisfied, and thus the spin-drying step S200 including a subsequent acceleration step is performed.

In the first acceleration step S213, the controller <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> to accelerate the drum <NUM> to a speed of <NUM> RPM to <NUM> RPM (RPM <NUM>), and the eccentricity sensing unit <NUM> senses the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM>. While the eccentricity sensing unit <NUM> is described in this embodiment as sensing the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM> in the first acceleration step S213, this step does not exclude sensing, by the vibration intensity sensing unit <NUM>, the intensity of vibration of the drum <NUM>. The same is applied to the second acceleration step S233, the third acceleration step S253, and a main spin-drying acceleration step S271 as well.

The first spin-drying RPM maintenance step S215 is a step of controlling, by the controller <NUM>, the drive unit <NUM> to rotate the drum <NUM> at a first spin-drying RPM, namely a preceding-preliminary-spin-drying RPM, of about <NUM> to <NUM> RPM (RPM <NUM>) to remove water from the fabrics.

In the first preliminary drying step S210, even if the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM> exceeding the reference eccentricity degree which is the reference allowable value is measured, the controller <NUM> may not control the drive unit <NUM> to stop the rotation of the drum <NUM> or rotate the drum at a very low speed to perform the fabric dispersion step S100. In the first preliminary drying step S210 in which the drum <NUM> rotates at relatively low RPM, the noise or vibration caused by the rotation of the drum <NUM> is not large, and accordingly the drum <NUM> does not need to be stopped or rotated at a low rotational speed. In addition, as water is pre-removed from the fabrics to a predetermined extent or higher, the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM> caused by the subsequent spin-drying steps S200 carried out at a high speed may be lowered.

In addition, the execution time T1 for which the first spin-drying RPM maintenance step S215 is performed may not be adjusted but be fixed depending on the spin-drying. According to the present invention, the first execution time T1 is fixed.

The spin-drying degree includes a first spin-drying degree, a second spin-drying degree, a third spin-drying degree and a fourth spin-drying degree, which will be described later. The spin-drying degree in the first preliminary drying step is the first spin-drying degree. The first spin-drying degree indicates a degree to which the laundry is spin-dried from the time at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree for the first time after initiation of the fabric untangling step S <NUM> to the initiation time of the first spin-drying RPM maintenance step S215. The time at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree for the first time may be regarded as about the initiation time of re-execution of the fabric dispersion step S100 due to the degree of eccentricity exceeding the reference eccentricity degree.

In an example, the first spin-drying degree may be set by at least one of the number of times the fabric dispersion step S100 is re-executed and an average RPM of the drum in a period from the time at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree for the first time to the time at which the first spin-drying RPM maintenance step S215 is reached.

In this case, spin-drying data indicating the spin-drying degree is pre-stored in the controller for respective sections according to a sensed fabric amount and a progress of the spin-drying operation. The first spin-drying degree may be set in such a manner that a first weight corresponding to the number of times of the re-execution among a set of first weights sequentially set so as to be proportional to the number of times the fabric dispersion step S100 is re-executed is applied to the spin-drying data. Then, among a set of second weights set so as to be proportional to the average RPM of the drum, a corresponding second weight may be applied to the first spin-drying degree.

In another example, the first spin-drying degree may be set by at least one of a rotation time and an average RPM of the drum in a period from the time at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree for the first time to the time at which the first spin-drying RPM (RPM <NUM>) is reached.

Even in this case, spin-drying data indicating the spin-drying degree is preset in the controller for respective sections according to a sensed fabric amount and a progress of the spin-drying operation. The first spin-drying degree may be set in such a manner that a third weight corresponding to the number of times of the re-execution among a set of third weights sequentially set so as to be proportional to the rotation time of the drum from the time at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree for the first time to the time at which the first spin-drying RPM (RPM <NUM>) is reached. Then, among a set of fourth weights set so as to be proportional to the average RPM of the drum, a corresponding fourth weight may be applied to the first spin-drying degree.

After the first preliminary drying step S210 is performed, the second preliminary drying step S230 is performed. The second preliminary drying step S230 includes a second eccentricity sensing step S231 of sensing the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM> rotating at a constant speed, a second acceleration step S233 of sensing a vibration intensity of the drum <NUM> accelerated after the second eccentricity sensing step S231, and a second spin-drying RPM maintenance step S235 in which the drum <NUM> rotates while maintaining the spin-drying RPM after the second acceleration step S233.

In the second eccentricity sensing step S231, the controller <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> to rotate the drum <NUM> at about <NUM> to <NUM> RPM (RPM <NUM>) as in the first eccentricity sensing step S211. Then, the eccentricity sensing unit <NUM> senses the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM>. In a case where the sensed degree of eccentricity exceeds a reference eccentricity degree that is a reference allowable value, the controller <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> to stop the rotation of the drum <NUM> or rotate the drum <NUM> at a very low rotational speed and then perform the fabric dispersion step S100 again.

The second acceleration step S253 is performed in such a manner that the controller <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> to accelerate the drum <NUM> from approximately <NUM> to <NUM> RPM (RPM <NUM>) to approximately <NUM> to <NUM> RPM (RPM <NUM>), and the eccentricity sensing unit <NUM> senses the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM>. The second acceleration step S253 is performed when the degree of eccentricity according to the sensed wet fabric amount is lower than or equal to the reference eccentricity degree which is the reference allowable value, that is, when the condition for acceleration is satisfied.

During the second acceleration step S253, the rotational speed of the drum <NUM> may pass through a transient region. Here, the transient region may be defined as a predetermined RPM band including one or more resonance frequencies at which resonance occurs depending on the system of the washing apparatus. Once the system of the washing apparatus is determined, the transient region has a characteristic of unique vibration that occurs according to the determined system. The transient region varies depending on the system of the washing machine. For example, the washing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention may have a transient region in the range of approximately <NUM> to <NUM> RPM. When the rotational speed of the drum <NUM> passes through the transient region, resonance occurs in the washing apparatus, which greatly increases the noise and vibration of the washing apparatus. The noise and vibration of the washing apparatus cause the user to feel uncomfortable, and even obstructs acceleration of the drum <NUM>. Therefore, when the speed passes through the transient region, the acceleration slope needs to be appropriately adjusted to minimize noise and vibration.

During the second acceleration step S253, the eccentricity sensing unit <NUM> continuously senses the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM>. This is because the vibration intensity of the drum <NUM> can be greatly increased if the eccentricity of the drum <NUM> becomes worse according to rotation of the drum <NUM> as the rotational speed of the drum <NUM> passes through the transient region or the degree of dewatering differs among the types of fabrics.

When the degree of eccentricity sensed by the eccentricity sensing unit <NUM> exceeds the reference eccentricity degree which is a reference allowable value, the controller <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> to stop the rotation of the drum <NUM> or rotate the drum <NUM> at a very low rotational speed and then perform the fabric dispersion step S100 again.

In the second spin-drying RPM maintenance step S235, the controller <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> to rotate the drum <NUM> at a second spin-drying RPM, namely the following-preliminary-spin-drying RPM, of approximately <NUM> to <NUM> RPM (RPM <NUM>) for a preset time. A large portion of dewatering performed in the second preliminary drying step S230 occurs in the second spin-drying RPM maintenance step S235.

The execution time T2 of the second spin-drying RPM maintenance step S235 may be fixed, according to an example not falling within the scope of the present invention. If the execution time of the second spin-drying RPM maintenance step S235 is fixed, the second spin-drying RPM maintenance step S235 is performed for the fixed execution time even if the fabric dispersion step S100 is repeated several times as the degree of eccentricity continues to exceed the reference allowable value before the second spin-drying RPM maintenance step S235.

If the fabric dispersion step S100 is repeated several times, the main spin-drying step S270, which is the last step of the spin-drying operation, may not be sufficiently performed. Particularly, in the case where the execution time of the entire spin-drying operation is set, the apparatus may not even enter the main spin-drying step S270. In the case where the execution time of the entire spin-drying operation is not set, the execution time required for the entire spin-drying operation may be excessively increased.

However, since the water can be removed from the fabrics to a certain degree by the fabric dispersion step S100, which is repeatedly performed, the above-mentioned issue is addressed by the present invention in that the controller <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> to adjust the execution time T2 of the second spin-drying RPM maintenance step S235 according to the spin-drying degree, which indicates the degree of dewatered state of the laundry, i.e., the fabrics.

The spin-drying degree may depend on the rotational speed of the drum <NUM> and the rotation time of the drum <NUM>. The spin-drying degree in the second preliminary drying step S230 is the second spin-drying degree. Hereinafter, the second spin-drying degree will be described except for parts overlapping with those of the first spin-drying step.

The second spin-drying degree is set after initiation of the second preliminary drying step S230, and indicates a degree to which the laundry is spin-dried from the time at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree for the first time after initiation of the second preliminary drying step S230 to the initiation time of the second spin-drying RPM maintenance step S235. Here, the time at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree for the first time is approximately after the initiation of the second preliminary drying step S230, and may be regarded as an initiation time of re-execution of the fabric dispersion step S100 due to the degree of eccentricity exceeding the reference eccentricity degree after the initiation of the second preliminary drying step S230.

In an example, the second spin-drying degree indicates the degree to which the laundry is spin-dried after initiation of the second preliminary drying step S230, and may be set by at least one of the number of times the fabric dispersion step S100 is re-executed after the initiation of the second preliminary drying step S230, and an average RPM of the drum in a period from the time at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree for the first time to the time at which the second spin-drying RPM maintenance step S235 is reached.

In another example, the second spin-drying degree may be measured after the initiation of the second preliminary drying step S230, and may be set by at least one of a rotation time and an average RPM of the drum from the time at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree for the first time to the time at which the second spin-drying RPM (RPM3) is reached.

The method of specifically setting the second spin-drying degree is the same as the method of setting the first spin-drying degree, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

After the second preliminary drying step S230 is performed, the third preliminary drying step S250 is performed. The third preliminary drying step S250 includes a third eccentricity sensing step S251 of sensing the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM> rotating at a constant speed, a third acceleration step S253 of sensing a vibration intensity of the drum <NUM> accelerated after the third eccentricity sensing step S251, and a third spin-drying RPM maintenance step S255 in which the drum <NUM> rotates while maintaining the spin-drying RPM after the third acceleration step S253. Some parts of the third preliminary drying step S250 are included in the second redundant step S230, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

In the third eccentricity sensing step S251, the controller <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> to rotate the drum <NUM> at about <NUM> to <NUM> RPM (RPM <NUM>) as in the second eccentricity sensing step S231. Then, the eccentricity sensing unit <NUM> senses the eccentricity of the drum <NUM>.

In the third acceleration step S253, the controller <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> to accelerate the drum <NUM> from a speed of approximately <NUM> to <NUM> RPM (RPM <NUM>) to a third spin-drying RPM, namely the following-preliminary-spin-drying RPM, of approximately <NUM> to <NUM> RPM (RPM <NUM>) as in the second acceleration step S233.

In the third spin-drying RPM maintenance step S255, similar to the second spin-drying RPM maintenance step S235, the controller <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> to rotate the drum <NUM> at a constant speed of the third spin-drying RPM after the third acceleration step S253.

In the third spin-drying RPM maintenance step S255, the execution time T3 for which the third spin-drying RPM maintenance step S255 is performed is adjusted according to the spin-drying degree as in the second spin-drying RPM maintenance step S235.

The spin-drying degree in the third preliminary drying step S250 is the third spin-drying degree. Hereinafter, the third spin-drying degree will be described except for parts overlapping with those of the first and second spin-drying degree.

The third spin-drying degree is set after initiation of the third preliminary drying step S250, and indicates a degree to which the laundry is spin-dried from the time at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree for the first time to an initiation time of the third spin-drying RPM maintenance step S255. Here, the time at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree for the first time is approximately after the initiation of the third preliminary drying step S250, and may be regarded as an initiation time of re-execution of the fabric dispersion step S100 due to the degree of eccentricity exceeding the reference eccentricity degree.

In an example, the third spin-drying degree indicates the degree to which the laundry is spin-dried after the initiation of the third preliminary drying step S250, and may be set by at least one of the number of times the fabric dispersion step S100 is re-executed after the initiation of the third preliminary drying step S250, and an average RPM of the drum in a period from the time at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree for the first time to the time at which the third spin-drying RPM maintenance step S255 is reached.

In another example, the third spin-drying degree may be measured after the initiation of the third preliminary drying step S250, and may be set by at least one of a rotation time and an average RPM of the drum from the time at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree for the first time to the time at which the third spin-drying RPM (RPM <NUM>) is reached.

The method of specifically setting the third spin-drying degree is the same as the method of setting the first spin-drying degree, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

Accordingly, the dewatering of the fabrics according to the fabric dispersion step S100 re-executed before or in the second preliminary drying step S230 is reflected in adjusting the execution time of the second preliminary drying step S230. That is, the execution time T2 of the second preliminary drying step S230 is adjusted by at least the second spin-drying degree, and optionally additionally also the first spin-drying degree.

In addition, the dewatering of the fabrics according to the fabric dispersion step S100 re-executed in the third preliminary drying step S250 after the second preliminary drying step S230 is reflected in adjusting the execution time T3 of the third preliminary drying step S250. That is, the execution time T3 of the third preliminary drying step S250 is adjusted by the third spin-drying degree.

After the preliminary drying steps are performed, the main spin-drying step S270 is performed. The main spin-drying step S270 includes a main spin-drying acceleration step S271 and a main spin-drying RPM maintenance step S273, but the rotational speed of the drum <NUM> is not reduced to <NUM> to <NUM> RPM (RPM <NUM>). Accordingly, after the third spin-drying RPM maintenance step S255 of the third preliminary drying step S250 is completed, the drum <NUM> is not decelerated, but is accelerated as it enters the main spin-drying acceleration step S271.

In the main spin-drying RPM maintenance step S273, the controller <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> to accelerate the drum <NUM> from about <NUM> to <NUM> RPM (RPM <NUM>) to a main spin-drying RPM of about <NUM> to <NUM> RPM (RPM <NUM>). In addition, the main spin-drying RPM maintenance step S273 is the same as the second acceleration step S233 and the third acceleration step S253 in that the eccentricity sensing unit <NUM> measures the degree of eccentricity of the drum <NUM> and then the fabric dispersion step S100 is repeated when the measured degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree.

In the main spin-drying RPM maintenance step S273, the controller <NUM> controls the drive unit <NUM> to rotate the drum <NUM> at a constant RPM. The main spin-drying RPM maintenance step S273 is performed when the degree of eccentricity measured in the main spin-drying acceleration step S271 does not exceed the reference allowable value. As in the second spin-drying RPM maintenance step S235 and the third spin-drying RPM maintenance step S255, the execution time for which the main spin-drying RPM maintenance step S273 is performed may be adjusted according to the fourth spin-drying degree indicating the degree of dewatering of the fabrics occurring in the fabric dispersion step S100 or the like repeated several times.

The fourth spin-drying degree is set after initiation of the main spin-drying step S270, and indicates a degree to which the laundry is spin-dried from the time at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree for the first time to an initiation time of the main spin-drying RPM maintenance step S273. The time at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree for the first time is approximately after the initiation of the main spin-drying step S270, and may be regarded as an initiation time of re-execution of the fabric dispersion step S100 due to the degree of eccentricity exceeding the reference eccentricity degree.

In an example, the fourth spin-drying degree indicates the degree to which the laundry is spin-dried after the initiation of the main spin-drying step S270, and may be set by at least one of the number of times the fabric dispersion step S100 is re-executed after the initiation of the main spin-drying step S270, and an average RPM of the drum in a period from the time at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree for the first time to the time at which the main spin-drying RPM maintenance step S273 is reached.

In another example, the fourth spin-drying degree may be set by at least one of a rotation time and an average RPM of the drum from the time at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree for the first time to the time at which the main spin-drying RPM is reached.

The method of specifically setting the fourth spin-drying degree is the same as the method of setting the first spin-drying degree, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

Accordingly, the execution time for which the main spin-drying RPM maintenance step S273 is performed may be adjusted in consideration of dewatering of the fabrics between the end of the third simplepreliminary drying step S250 and the start of the main spin-drying RPM maintenance step S273.

In the main spin-drying acceleration step S271, the slope may be adjusted to secure the execution time for which the main spin-drying RPM maintenance step S273 is performed. In other words, the time required for the drum <NUM> to accelerate from approximately <NUM> to <NUM> RPM (RPM <NUM>) to the main spin-drying RPM of approximately <NUM> to <NUM> RPM (RPM <NUM>). The execution time of the main spin-drying RPM maintenance step S273 may be secured to a certain level or more because the water is mostly removed from the fabrics as the drum <NUM> rotates at the highest rotational speed in the main spin-drying RPM maintenance step S273.

Therefore, if the time of entry into the main spin-drying step S270 measured according to several times of repetition of the fabric dispersion step S100 is later than a pre-set entry time, the drum <NUM> is rotated faster in the main spin-drying acceleration step S271 to shorten the execution time of the main spin-drying acceleration step S271 as much as possible so as to promptly enter the main spin-drying RPM maintenance step S273.

In another example, the main spin-drying acceleration step S271 may be set such that the execution time of the main spin-drying acceleration step S271 is shortened as much as possible even by the fourth spin-drying degree.

Claim 1:
A method for controlling a spin-drying operation of a washing apparatus, the method comprising:
a fabric dispersion step (S <NUM>) of dispersing laundry in a drum by accelerating the drum;
a main spin-drying step (S270) of rotating the drum at main-spin-drying RPM such that the laundry is finally spin-dried; and
a preliminary spin-drying step (S210, S230, S250) of sensing a degree of eccentricity of the drum and of performing spin-drying by accelerating the drum to spin-drying RPM, wherein the preliminary spin-drying step comprises:
a preceding preliminary spin-drying step (S210) of rotating the drum at a preceding-preliminary-spin-drying RPM (RPM <NUM>) for a first execution time (T1), and
a following preliminary spin-drying step (S230, S250) of rotating the drum at a following-preliminary-spin-drying RPM (RPM3) after the preceding preliminary spin-drying step (S210);
wherein the fabric dispersion step (S100) is re-executed if the degree of eccentricity exceeds a reference eccentricity degree, and
wherein the
first execution time (T1), for which the drum rotates at the preceding-preliminary-spin-drying RPM (RPM2) in a maintenance step (S215) of the preceding preliminary spin-drying step (S210), is fixed,
wherein a second execution time (T2, T3), for which the drum rotates at the following-preliminary-spin-drying RPM (RPM3) in a maintenance step (S235, S255) of the following preliminary spin-drying step, is adjusted according to a spin-drying degree after the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree,
wherein the spin-drying degree indicates a dewatered state of the laundry in the following preliminary spin-drying step;
wherein the spin-drying degree is set based on at least one of:
- the number of times the fabric dispersion step (S100) has been re-executed between an exceeding time point at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree and a time point at which the following-preliminary-spin-drying RPM (RPM3) is reached, and
- an average RPM of the drum between an exceeding time point at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree and a time point at which the following-preliminary-spin-drying RPM (RPM3) is reached, and
- a rotation time of the drum between an exceeding time point at which the degree of eccentricity exceeds the reference eccentricity degree and a time point at which the following-preliminary-spin-drying RPM (RPM3) is reached.