Laundry machine and controlling method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9441323-B2
Application number	US-201414454529-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2014
Priority date	Jul 1, 2009
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

A controlling method of a laundry machine including a tub and a drum, the controlling method includes steps of: sensing selection of a tub drying step and performing the tub drying step.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A laundry machine comprising:
a tub drying step selecting part configured to dry a tub;
a heater provided in the tub; and
a control part configured to control the tub dried in case the tub drying step selecting part is selected,
wherein the control part controls an operation of the heater so as to dry an inside of the tub after all laundry is unloaded from the tub.

2. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tub drying step selecting part is provided in a control panel of the laundry machine.

3. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the control panel comprises a course selecting part configured to allow a user to select a course of the laundry machine and the tub drying step selecting part is provided in the course selecting part.

4. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the tub drying step selecting part is selectable together with a course of the course selecting part.

5. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the control panel comprises an option selecting part configured to allow a user to select options of at least one of washing, rinsing, dry-spinning and drying cycles composing the selected course of the laundry machine, and the tub drying step selecting part is provided in the option selecting part.

6. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control part dries the inside of the tub by driving the heater provided in the tub and the control part rotates the drum, in case the tub drying selecting part is selected.

7. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the control part comprises on-off-control of the heater performed at a predetermined interval.

8. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one air path configured to communicate the inside of the tub with an outside of the laundry machine.

9. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the air path comprises a first air path provided in a front portion of the tub and a second air path provided in a rear portion of the tub.

10. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising a third air path having an end in communication with an outside of the laundry machine and the other end directly connected with an inside of the drum.

11. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a cabinet configured to define an exterior of the laundry machine and receive the tub therein;
a door coupled to the front surface of the cabinet; and
a drum rotatably provided in the tub.

12. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising:
a drainage pump configured to drain the water held in the tub; and
a circulation pump configured to circulate the wash water held in the tub.

13. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising a motor configured to provide a rotational force to the drum,
wherein the motor is provided in a rear surface of the tub.

14. The laundry machine as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising:
a sensor provided in the door to sense whether the door is opened by a user to unload the laundry and closed again,
wherein the sensor transmit a door open signal or door closed signal to the control part, and the control part controls an operation of the heater so as to dry the inside of the tub after laundry is unloaded, and
wherein the heater is located between the tub and the drum.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Son Young Bok
• You Myoung Suk
• Ye Sung Min
• Lee Tae Hee
• Lee Deug Hee
• Chae Ae Kyung
• Eom Yoon Seob

Classifications

• F26B21/50

  Ducting arrangements from the source of air or other gases to the materials or objects being dried · CPC title

• D06F2105/28

  Electric heating · CPC title

• D06F25/00

  Washing machines with receptacles, e.g. perforated, having a rotary movement, e.g. oscillatory movement, the receptacle serving both for washing and for centrifugally separating water from the laundry and having further drying means, e.g. using hot air  (control of washing or of washing and drying D06F33/00, D06F34/00; domestic laundry dryers D06F58/00) · CPC title

• F26B23/04

  using electric heating (F26B23/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y10T70/7062

  Electrical type [e.g., solenoid] · CPC title