US2007130697A1PendingUtilityA1

Method for smoothing wrinkles of laundry in washing machine

58
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Aug 13, 2003Filed: Feb 1, 2007Published: Jun 14, 2007
Est. expiryAug 13, 2023(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Soo Young OhKyung Chul WooJin Woong KimSi Moon Jeon
D06F 39/08D06F 35/00D06F 39/40
58
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Claims

Abstract

A method for smoothing the laundry wrinkled during a washing process in the washing machine is disclosed. When a command signal for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in the washing machine is inputted, water supplied in the washing machine is heated to generate steam and then the generated steam is injected to the laundry in the washing machine while rotating a drum of the washing machine. Thus, wrinkles of the laundry can be smoothed in the washing machine without causing a trouble of ironing.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine comprising steps of: 
 rotating a drum;    supplying water into a steam generator of a washing machine;    heating water by means of a heater installed in the steam generator to generate steam; and    injecting steam generated in the drum for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry.    
   
   
       2 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the step of injecting steam generated in the drum for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry is performed during the step of rotating the drum of the washing machine.  
   
   
       3 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the step of injecting steam generated in the drum for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry is performed after a washing process is completed.  
   
   
       4 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the washing process comprises a water supplying process and a dewatering process.  
   
   
       5 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the heater installed in the steam generator is off after the operation for a pre-set time in the step of injecting steam generated in the drum for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry.  
   
   
       6 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the heater installed in the steam generator is off once the temperature of the tub reaches the pre-set temperature in the step of injecting steam generated in the drum for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry.  
   
   
       7 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the step of rotating a drum is performed longer for a pre-set cooling time after the heater is off.  
   
   
       8 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the step of injecting steam generated in the drum for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry is performed after completing a washing and drying process.  
   
   
       9 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the steam is injected into the drum in the step of injecting steam generated in the drum for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry.  
   
   
       10 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the drum is tumbled in the step of rotating a drum.  
   
   
       11 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of informing a user of completion of smoothing wrinkles of the laundry after completing the step of injecting steam generated in the drum for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry.  
   
   
       12 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the step of informing a user of completion of smoothing wrinkles of the laundry is performed by means of at least an alarm sound or an LED (Light Emitting Diode).  
   
   
       13 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the step of rotating a drum is performed for a longer time than the step of injecting steam generated in the drum for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry.  
   
   
       14 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 13 , wherein the drum is rotated longer for a second pre-set time.  
   
   
       15 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of selecting a wrinkle-smoothing process.  
   
   
       16 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the step of injecting steam generated in the drum for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry is performed while or after, or while and after, performing the drying process.  
   
   
       17 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the step of injecting steam generated in the drum for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry comprises a step of supplying dry hot air into the drum.  
   
   
       18 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 17 , wherein the step of supplying hot air into the drum is performed before or after, or before and after, the step of injecting steam generated in the drum for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry.  
   
   
       19 . A method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine comprising step of: 
 injecting steam generated by means of a heater in a steam generator into a drum after completing a washing process; and    rotating the drum.    
   
   
       20 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 19 , wherein the step of injecting steam and the step of rotating the drum is performed simultaneously and the drum is driven longer for a pre-set cooling time even after the operation of the heater is stopped.  
   
   
       21 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 5 , wherein the step of rotating a drum is performed longer for a pre-set cooling time after the heater is off.  
   
   
       22 . The method for smoothing wrinkles of the laundry in a washing machine of  claim 6 , wherein the step of rotating a drum is performed longer for a pre-set cooling time after the heater is off.

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