Washing machine having drying function and method for controlling the same

Abstract

A washing machine having a drying function and a method for controlling the same. The washing machine includes a tub for containing wash water; a drum rotatably placed in the tub for containing laundry, and provided with through holes for circulating the wash water or air therethrough; a drying device provided with a circulation fan and a heater for drying the laundry in the drum; and a pumping device for pumping the wash water in the tub so that the wash water in the tub is circulated into the drum or heated by the air passing through the drying device, and is then circulated into the drum. The washing machine performs washing of laundry without any additional heater for heating the wash water, thereby having low production costs and a simple structure of the tub.

1 . A washing machine having a drying function comprising: 
 a tub for containing wash water;    a drum rotatably placed in the tub for containing laundry, and provided with through holes for circulating the wash water or air therethrough;    a drying device provided with a circulation fan and a heater for drying the laundry in the drum; and    a pumping device for pumping the wash water in the tub so that the wash water in the tub is circulated into the drum, or is heated by the air passing through the drying device and circulated into the drum.    
   
   
       2 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the drying device includes: 
 a drying duct containing the heater and the circulation fan for discharging hot air to the inside of the tub;    a condensing duct for guiding the air in the tub to the drying duct;    a water supply nozzle for spraying cooling water to the inside of the condensing duct so that moisture in the air passing through the condensing duct is condensed;    a cooling water hose for guiding the cooling water to the water supply nozzle; and    a cooling water valve for intermitting the flow of the cooling water supplied to the cooling water hose.    
   
   
       3 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the pumping device includes: 
 a drainage bellows connected to the tub for discharging the wash water in the tub;    a circulation pump for pumping the discharged wash water to the drainage bellows; and    a circulation channel for guiding the wash water pumped by the circulation pump to the inside of the drying device or the inside of the drum.    
   
   
       4 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the circulation channel includes: 
 a common channel connected to the circulation pump;    a drying device connection channel communicating with the common channel; and    a drum spray channel communicating with the common channel.    
   
   
       5 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the pumping device further includes a wash water circulation control valve for opening and closing the drying device connection channel or the drum spray channel.  
   
   
       6 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the common channel includes a common hose having one end connected to the circulation pump and the other end connected to the wash water circulation control valve.  
   
   
       7 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the drying device connection channel includes a drying device connection hose having one end connected to the wash water circulation control valve and the other end connected to the drying device.  
   
   
       8 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the drying device connection channel further includes a spray nozzle for spraying the wash water, having passed through the drying device connection hose, to the rear part of the heater so that the wash water is heated by the air heated by the heater.  
   
   
       9 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the spray nozzle has a mesh structure for causing the wash water to collide therewith and to be sprayed.  
   
   
       10 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the drum spray channel includes a drum spray hose having one end connected to the wash water circulation control valve and the other end located in front of the drum.  
   
   
       11 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the drum spray channel further includes a spray nozzle connected to the other end of the drum spray hose and provided with an opening facing toward the inside of the drum so that the wash water having passed through the drum spray hose is sprayed to the inside of the drum.  
   
   
       12 . A washing machine having a drying function comprising: 
 a tub for containing wash water;    a drum rotatably placed in the tub for containing laundry, and provided with through holes for circulating the wash water or air therethrough;    a drying device provided with a circulation fan and a heater for drying the laundry in the drum; and    a pumping device for pumping the wash water in the tub so that the wash water in the tub is heated by the air passing through the drying device, and is then circulated into the drum.    
   
   
       13 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the drying device includes: 
 a drying duct containing the heater and the circulation fan for discharging hot air to the inside of the tub;    a condensing duct for guiding the air in the tub to the drying duct;    a water supply nozzle for spraying cooling water to the inside of the condensing duct so that moisture in the air passing through the condensing duct is condensed;    a cooling water hose for guiding the cooling water to the water supply nozzle; and    a cooling water valve for intermitting the flow of the cooling water supplied to the cooling water hose.    
   
   
       14 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the pumping device includes: 
 a drainage bellows connected to the tub for discharging the wash water in the tub;    a circulation pump for pumping the discharged wash water to the drainage bellows; and    a circulation channel for guiding the wash water pumped by the circulation pump to the drying device.    
   
   
       15 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the circulation channel includes a drying device connection hose having one end connected to the wash water circulation control valve and the other end connected to the drying device.  
   
   
       16 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the circulation channel further includes a spray nozzle for spraying the wash water, having passed through the drying device connection hose, to the rear part of the heater so that the wash water is heated by the air heated by the heater.  
   
   
       17 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the spray nozzle has a mesh structure for causing the wash water to collide therewith and to be sprayed.  
   
   
       18 . A method for controlling a washing machine having a drying function comprising: 
 turning on a circulation fan and a heater of a drying device in a washing or rinsing mode; and    turning on a circulation pump so that wash water in a tub is heated by air having passed through the heater and supplied to the inside of a drum, or is supplied from the front part of the drum to the inside of the drum.    
   
   
       19 . The method as set forth in  claim 18 , 
 wherein a wash water circulation control valve installed on a circulation channel is controlled in a synchronous mode so that a portion of the wash water pumped by the circulation pump is heated by the air having passed through the heater, and the remainder of the wash water is supplied to the inside of the drum.    
   
   
       20 . The method as set forth in  claim 19 . 
 wherein a wash water circulation control valve installed on a circulation channel is controlled in an alternate mode so that the wash water pumped by the circulation pump is alternately heated by the air having passed through the heater or supplied to the inside of the drum.