Heating apparatus of washing machine and washing method thereof

Abstract

A heating apparatus of a washing machine and a washing method thereof. The heating apparatus includes a circulation channel installed outside a tub for connecting one side of the tub to the other side of the tub, and an orifice, water drop supply device for supplying water, an air blower for circulating the water, and a heater, which are sequentially installed in the circulation channel. The heating apparatus supplies steam or hot wind to the tub in a washing or rinsing operation, thereby improving the washing capacity of the washing machine, minimizing the time taken to perform the washing or rinsing operation and an energy consumption rate, and allows the washing machine to perform a drying operation using hot wind without any additional element, thereby diversifying its functions and minimizing production costs.

1 . A heating apparatus of a washing machine comprising: 
 a circulation channel for connecting one side of a tub to the other side of the tub so that air of the tub is circulated therethrough;    an air blower installed in the circulation channel for generating air-blowing force;    a heater installed in the circulation channel for heating air of the circulation channel; and    water drop scattering device installed in the circulation channel for scattering water drops in air blown by the heater so that steam is supplied to the tub.    
   
   
       2 . The heating apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the circulation channel includes: 
 a condensing duct connected to one side of the tub for condensing the air of the circulation channel; and    a drying duct connecting the condensing duct to the other side of the tub and including the heater installed therein.    
   
   
       3 . The heating apparatus as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the water drop scattering device is installed in the condensing duct.  
   
   
       4 . The heating apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the water drop scattering device includes: 
 water drop supply device including a nozzle for spraying water drops into the circulation channel; and    an orifice installed in the circulation channel for scattering the water drops supplied into the circulation channel.    
   
   
       5 . The heating apparatus as set forth in  claim 4 , 
 wherein the orifice is obtained by forming a protrusion along the inner wall of the air blower.    
   
   
       6 . The heating apparatus as set forth in  claim 4 , 
 wherein the orifice has a shape such that the width of the orifice is gradually narrowed and then gradually broadened in the direction of blowing air of the air blower.    
   
   
       7 . The heating apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , 
 wherein the water drop scattering device is located in front of the air blower in the direction of blowing air of the circulation channel.    
   
   
       8 . A heating apparatus of a washing machine comprising: 
 a condensing duct connected to one side of a tub;    a drying duct connecting the condensing duct to the other side of the tub, and including a heater installed therein;    an air blower for generating air-blowing force in the direction from the condensing duct to the drying duct;    a nozzle installed in the condensing duct for spraying water into the condensing duct; and    water drop scattering device installed in the condensing duct, and including an orifice for scattering the water sprayed into the condensing duct.    
   
   
       9 . The heating apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , 
 wherein the orifice has a shape such that the width of the orifice is gradually narrowed and then gradually broadened in the direction of blowing air of the air blower.    
   
   
       10 . A washing method of a washing machine comprising: 
 circulating air of a tub into a circulation channel in a washing or rinsing operation, and spraying and scattering water in a dropping state into the circulation channel;    producing steam by operating a heater installed in the circulation channel; and    supplying the steam to the tub.    
   
   
       11 . The washing method as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 supplying a larger quantity of water in a drying operation to the circulation channel than that of the washing or rinsing operation during the circulation of the air of the tub into the circulation channel;    condensing the air of the circulation channel using the supplied water, and producing hot wind by heating the condensed air using the heater; and    supplying the hot wind to the tub.    
   
   
       12 . The washing method as set forth in  claim 11 , 
 wherein the velocity of air blown into the circulation channel when the steam is supplied to the tub is higher than the velocity of air blown into the circulation channel when the hot wind is supplied to the tub.    
   
   
       13 . The washing method as set forth in  claim 10 , 
 wherein wash water is supplied to the tub through the circulation channel in the washing or rinsing operation.    
   
   
       14 . A washing method of a washing machine comprising: 
 circulating air of a tub into a circulation channel in a washing or rinsing operation;    heating the air of the circulation channel to produce hot wind; and    supplying the hot wind to the tub.    
   
   
       15 . The washing method as set forth in  claim 14 , 
 wherein wash water is supplied to the tub through the circulation channel in the washing or rinsing operation.    
   
   
       16 . The washing method as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising drying laundry of the tub using the hot wind in a drying operation.  
   
   
       17 . The washing method as set forth in  claim 14 , 
 wherein water drops are sprayed selectively into the circulation channel and scattered so that steam is supplied to the tub.    
   
   
       18 . The washing method as set forth in  claim 17 , 
 wherein the velocity of air blown into the circulation channel when the steam is supplied to the tub is higher than the velocity of air blown into the circulation channel when the hot wind is supplied to the tub.    
   
   
       19 . The washing method as set forth in  claim 17 , 
 wherein a larger quantity of water when the hot wind is supplied to the tub is supplied to the circulation channel than when the water drops are sprayed into the circulation channel.    
   
   
       20 . The washing method as set forth in  claim 17 , further comprising drying laundry of the tub using the hot wind in a drying operation.