SAME

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a washing machine and a method for controlling the same, and in particular, to a method for controlling a washing machine to prevent washings from producing malodour.

In current families, generally, washing machines are used to perform processing such as washing, dewatering, and drying on washings. It is known to all that, a washing procedure of a washing machine generally includes processes of washing, rinsing, and dewatering. Moreover, a washing machine with a drying function (also referred to as a washing and drying machine) further includes a process of drying the washings. Definitely, the foregoing procedures may be selectively performed according to an instruction input by a user.

Taking an ordinary drum-type washing machine for example, a washing procedure of such a washing machine is simply described in the following. The drum-type washing machine includes an external barrel and a drum for receiving washings. The drum is mounted in the external barrel, can rotate at a high speed around an axis under the drive of an electric motor, and then drives the washings to rotate together. Meanwhile, a plurality of lifting devices mounted on an internal wall of the drum can also continuously lift the washings together with washing water mixed with detergent to a certain height and then throw down, so as to clean the washings. In order to flush out the detergent remaining on the washings during the washing process, after the washing procedure is finished, a rinsing procedure is further set in the washing machine. Generally, after the rinsing procedure is finished, a dewatering procedure is further set so as to drain the water out of the washing machine. However, in the washing machine in the prior art, after all working procedures input in the washing machine and for processing the washings are finished, if drying is no longer performed and the user does not open a door of the washing machine to take out the washings, water remaining in the washings will cause a phenomenon that the washings produce malodour. When the washings are not taken out for a long time, the produced malodour is left in the washings, thereby affecting a washing effect. In addition, in order to remove the produced malodour, in a duration after all washing procedures input in the washing machine are finished, the driving electric motor is controlled to enable the drum to rotate so as to rotate the washings. However, in this case, the rotation of the washings cannot effectively remove the produced malodour.

In view of the foregoing problems, the objective of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling a washing machine, so as to more effectively and automatically remove malodour produced by washings.

The foregoing objective is implemented, according to the invention, as defined in the attached independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are subjects of dependent claims, the subsequent disclosure and the attached drawing. Preferred embodiments of the method correspond to preferred embodiments of the washing machine and vice versa, even if not indicated expressly herein.

Accordingly, a method for controlling a washing machine according to the invention includes steps as follows: a) executing a timing procedure after running of all working pro- cedures input in the washing machine is finished; b) finishing the timing procedure after a preset time T, and executing a deodorizing procedure by the washing machine; and c) returning to performing step a after the deodorizing procedure is finished. The deodorizing procedure is cyclically run in this manner, so that the malodour phenomenon produced by the washings due to not being taken out for a long time can be effectively and completely removed.

As an improvement of the present invention, the method for controlling the washing machine further includes steps as follows: further executing an operation checking procedure while executing the timing procedure after the running of all working procedures input in the washing machine is finished, where if it is detected that a user does not perform operation on the washing machine, the timing procedure is continued; and if it is detected that the user performs operation on the washing machine, the timing procedure is terminated and the washing machine stops working. In this way, the washing machine is prevented from starting to execute the timing procedure after the running of the working pro- cedures is finished in any situations. If an execution result of the operation checking procedure is that the user performs operation on the washing machine, it indicates that the user has ever come to the side of the washing machine and should know that the washing of the washings is finished. Therefore, the washing machine on longer needs to execute the timing procedure at this time, and the washing machine stops working and waits for the user to take out the washings.

As another improvement of the present invention, the deodorizing procedure is a washing procedure or a rinsing procedure. In a deodorizing step in the prior art, a driving electric motor is adopted to drive a drum, so as to rotate the washings to remove a malo- dour phenomenon produced by the washings. Since the washings are twined in a round mass, the malodour produced by the washings cannot be completely removed by rotating the washings. Upon comparison, re-washing or re-rinsing of the washings which generate the malodour due to not being taken out for a long time can completely remove the malo- dour produced by the washings.

As a further improvement of the present invention, the preset time T is 24 hours.

As yet another improvement of the present invention, the method for controlling the washing machine may further include steps as follows: first executing a type judging procedure of an original working procedure after the running of all working procedures input in the washing machine is finished; where if it is judged that the original working procedure is a washing procedure or a rinsing procedure, the washing machine proceeds to execute the timing procedure and/or the operation checking procedure; if it is judged that the origi- nal working procedure is a drying procedure or a washing and drying procedure, the washing machine stops working. In this manner, if it is judged that the finished original working procedure is the drying procedure or the washing and drying procedure, the washing machine does not need to start to execute the timing procedure after the original working procedure is finished in any situations, but rather that the washing machine may stop working and wait for the user to take out the washings. The control method is particularly applicable to a washing and drying integrated machine.

In addition, the present invention further provides a washing machine for controlling running of working procedures of the washing machine by applying the foregoing control method. The washing machine includes: a tank body; a water barrel mounted in the tank body; a drum driven by an electric motor, mounted in the water barrel in a rotatable manner, and for receiving washings; and a control device for controlling running of working procedures of the washing machine.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is now further illustrated in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a washing machine; and

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for controlling a washing machine.

As shown in FIG. 1 , a washing machine 1 includes a tank body 2. A water barrel 3 is mounted in the tank body 2. A drum 5 driven by an electric motor 4 is mounted in the water barrel 3 in a rotatable manner, so as to receive fabric to be washed. The water barrel 3 is connected to an air circulation passage 6. The air circulation passage 6 is provided with a condensing device 7 for condensing hot and humid air from the water barrel 3 and the drum 5, a heating device 8 for heating the condensed air, and a blowing device 9 for promoting circulation of air in the air circulation passage 6 and the water barrel 3. The washing machine 1 further includes: a control device 10 for controlling running of working procedures for processing washings, and a display device 1 1 connected to the control device 10, for displaying information of the washing machine 1 in a manner of words, symbols and/or patterns. A deodorizing procedure is set in the washing machine 1 . Specifically, as shown in

FIG. 2, after all working procedures input in the washing machine 1 for processing the washings are finished, if drying is no longer performed and a user does not open a door of the washing machine to take out the washings, at this time, it is necessary to start the deodorizing procedure to remove a malodour phenomenon produced by the washings due to not being taken out for a long time. The washing machine 1 first executes a timing procedure after running of all input working procedures is finished. After a preset time T, the washing machine 1 executes the deodorizing procedure when the timing procedure is finished. The preset time T is a buffer time for the user. Within the buffer time, the user may recollect and take out the washings at any time. Meanwhile, the washings can't go so far as to produce a malodour phenomenon within the time T. Generally, the present time T is set to be 24 hours. As soon as the timing of 24 hours is finished, the washing machine 1 automatically executes the deodorizing procedure. The deodorizing procedure is generally a washing procedure, a rinsing procedure, or the like, so as to completely remove a malo- dour phenomenon produced by washings due to not being taken out for a long time. After the deodorizing procedure is finished, the washing machine 1 re-executes the timing procedure and enters a cycle of waiting for executing the deodorizing procedure. The washing machine 1 stops working until the washings are taken out. In another implementation method, the foregoing method for controlling the washing machine 1 further includes: executing an operation checking procedure, that is, a procedure for checking whether a user performs operation on the washing machine 1. The operation checking procedure is performed while executing the timing procedure after running of all input working procedures is finished. Moreover, it is determined whether to continue to execute the timing procedure according to an execution result of the operation checking procedure. If the execution result of the operation checking procedure is that the user does not perform operation on the washing machine 1 , the washing machine 1 continues to execute the timing procedure. If the execution result of the operation checking procedure is that the user performs operation on the washing machine 1 , the washing machine 1 terminates the timing procedure, stops working, and waits for the user to take out the washings. The timing time T is set to be 24 hours. If the user does not perform any operation on the washing machine 1 within 24 hours, the washing machine 1 automatically run a preset deodorizing procedure after the timing of 24 hours is finished. If the user performs operation on the washing machine 1 within 24 hours, it indicates that the user has ever come to the side of the washing machine 1 and should know that the washing of the washings is finished. Moreover, at this time, the washings are not malodourous and can be directly taken out for airing. At this time, the timing procedure is terminated, and the washing machine 1 stops working and on longer performs any processing. In addition, in another implementation method, when the foregoing method for controlling the washing machine 1 is applied to controlling a washing and drying machine, the foregoing control method further includes: executing a type judging procedure of an original working procedure, that is, judging whether the original washing procedure whose running is finished is a washing procedure, a rinsing procedure, a drying procedure, or a washing and drying procedure. First, it is judged which procedure the original working procedure is after running of the working procedures of the washing and drying machine 1 is finished. If the working procedure whose running is just finished includes a drying procedure or a washing and drying procedure, the washing machine 1 stops working. Since the washings have been dried and are unlikely to be malodourous, the washing machine does not perform any processing and the washings are left in a washing drum, waiting for the user to take out. If the working procedure whose running is just finished is a washing procedure or a rinsing procedure, the washings in the washing drum are wet and may be malodorous if not being taken out for a long time. Therefore, the washing machine 1 , as in the foregoing two implementation methods, must proceed to execute a timing procedure and/or an operation checking procedure, a deodorizing procedure, and the like.

In addition, the present invention also provides a washing machine 1 for controlling running of working procedures of the washing machine by applying the foregoing control method. The washing machine includes: a tank body 2; a water barrel 3 mounted in the tank body 2; a drum 5 driven by an electric motor 4, mounted in the water barrel 3 in a rotatable manner, and for receiving washings; and a control device 10 for controlling running of working procedures of the washing machine 1 . The present invention may be applied to washing machines of various types, that is, may be further applied to a washing and drying integrated machine in addition to a washing device having a single washing function.

The alterations in any forms made by persons of ordinary skill in the technical field related to present invention within the scope of the basic technical concept of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of the patent application of the present invention. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

washing machine 1

tank body 2

water barrel 3

electric motor 4

drum 5

circulation passage 6

condensing device 7

heating device 8

blowing device 9

control device 10

display device 1 1