Washing machine detecting condensed water temperature and drying control method of the same

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a washing machine with a drying unit and a drying control method of the same that is capable of controlling a drying time based on a temperature of condensed water used during a drying operation to accomplish optimum drying efficiency. The drying control method includes detecting the temperature of condensed water supplied during drying the laundry, setting the drying time based on the detected temperature of the condensed water, and operating the drying unit according to the set drying time to perform a drying operation.

1 . A drying control method of a washing machine with a drying unit to dry laundry, the drying control method comprising:
 detecting a temperature of condensed water supplied during the drying of the laundry;   setting a drying time based on the detected temperature of the condensed water; and   operating the drying unit according to the set drying time to perform a drying operation.   
   
   
       2 . The drying control method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detecting the temperature of the condensed water includes detecting the temperature of cool water supplied to remove moisture contained in the laundry. 
   
   
       3 . The drying control method according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of setting the drying time includes:
 setting the drying time such that the drying time is decreased when the detected temperature of the condensed water is low, and the drying time is increased when the detected temperature of the condensed water is high.   
   
   
       4 . The drying control method according to  claim 1 , the setting the drying time comprising:
 detecting a weight of laundry to be dried;   searching the drying time of a plurality of drying times corresponding to the detected weight of the laundry; and   adjusting the searched drying time based on the detected temperature of the condensed water to set the set drying time.   
   
   
       5 . The drying control method according to  claim 4 , wherein the adjusting the drying time is decreasing the drying time when the temperature of the condensed water is lower than a reference temperature range, and increasing the drying time when the temperature of the condensed water is higher than the reference temperature range. 
   
   
       6 . The drying control method according to  claim 5 , wherein the reference temperature range is approximately 15.1 to 25°. 
   
   
       7 . A washing machine, comprising:
 a rotary drum receiving laundry to be dried;   a drying unit supplying hot air into the rotary drum such that the laundry is dried;   a duct guiding the hot air to the rotary drum;   a valve controlling a supply of condensed water during drying of the laundry;   a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of the condensed water supplied; and   a control unit controlling the valve to supply the condensed water to the duct, setting a drying time based on the temperature of the condensed water detected by the temperature sensor, and operating the drying unit according to the set drying time to perform a drying operation.   
   
   
       8 . The washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the drying unit includes a heater generating hot air and a fan supplying the hot air into the rotary drum. 
   
   
       9 . The washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the hot air supplied into the rotary drum is changed into high-temperature, high-humidity air due to moisture contained in the laundry, and the high-temperature, high-humidity air is guided to the drying unit through the duct. 
   
   
       10 . The washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the temperature sensor detects the temperature of cool water supplied to the duct to remove moisture contained in the laundry. 
   
   
       11 . The washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the control unit sets the drying time such that the drying time is decreased when the detected temperature of the condensed water is low, and the drying time is increased when the temperature of the condensed water is high. 
   
   
       12 . The washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the control unit detects a weight of laundry to be dried and adjusts the drying time searched according to the detected weight of the laundry based on the temperature of the condensed water. 
   
   
       13 . The washing machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the control unit compares the temperature of the condensed water with a predetermined reference temperature range and decreases the drying time when the temperature of the condensed water is lower than the reference temperature range, and increases the drying time when the temperature of the condensed water is higher than the reference temperature range. 
   
   
       14 . The washing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the reference temperature range is approximately 15.1 to 25°. 
   
   
       15 . A method of controlling a washing machine including a condensing duct, comprising:
 detecting a weight of laundry to be dried;   determining a drying time to perform a drying operation based on the detected weight of the laundry;   detecting a temperature of water supplied to the condensing duct; and   increasing, decreasing or maintaining the determined drying time based on the detected temperature.   
   
   
       16 . A method of controlling a washing machine including a condensing duct, comprising:
 detecting a weight of laundry to be dried;   detecting a temperature of water supplied to the condensing duct; and   setting a drying time to perform a drying operation of the laundry based on the detected weight of the laundry and the detected temperature of the water.   
   
   
       17 . A washing machine, comprising:
 a drying unit supplying hot air to laundry to be dried;   a condensing duct introducing air to the drying unit;   a temperature sensor detecting a temperature of water supplied to the condensing unit; and   a control unit detecting a weight of the laundry, selecting a drying time from a plurality of stored drying times based on the detected temperature of the condensed water and the detected weight of the laundry, and operating the drying unit according to the selected drying time to perform a drying operation.