Laundry machine having induction heater and control method thereof

A laundry machine comprising:

• a tub having a front wall and a rear wall opposite to the front wall, the tub including a tub opening at the front wall;
• a drum rotatably arranged in the tub and configured to receive an object through the tub opening, the drum having a through hole at a circumferential surface thereof;
• a steam induction heater mounted to (i) the front wall of the tub or (ii) the rear wall of the tub, and configured to heat at least a portion of a heating surface of the drum that faces the steam induction heater on an outer surface of the drum;
• a motor configured to rotate the drum;
• a spray nozzle configured to spray water onto the portion of the heating surface of the drum that faces and is heated by the steam induction heater to generate steam;
• and
• a processor configured to rotate the drum with the steam being introduced into the drum through the through hole of the drum from a space between the tub and the drum,
• wherein the steam induction heater is configured to generate the steam, and
• wherein the laundry machine further comprises:
• a main induction heater mounted to an outer circumferential surface of the tub separately from the steam induction heater and configured to heat at least a part of the heating surface of the drum, the part of the heating surface positioned on the circumferential surface of the drum to heat water or the object inside the tub.

A laundry machine comprising:

• a tub having a front wall and a rear wall opposite to the front wall, the tub including a tub opening at the front wall;
• a drum rotatably arranged in the tub and configured to receive an object through the tub opening, the drum having a through hole at a circumferential surface thereof;
• a steam induction heater mounted to (i) the front wall of the tub or (ii) the rear wall of the tub, and configured to heat at least a portion of a heating surface of the drum that faces the steam induction heater on an outer surface of the drum;
• a motor configured to rotate the drum;
• a spray nozzle configured to spray water onto the portion of the heating surface of the drum that faces and is heated by the steam induction heater to generate steam;
• a processor configured to rotate the drum with the steam being introduced into the drum through the through hole of the drum from a space between the tub and the drum;
• and
• a water supply valve configured to supply water to the spray nozzle from (i) an external water supply source or (ii) a pump configured to supply stored water to the spray nozzle,
• wherein the spray nozzle comprises:
• a swirler having a swirling region and configured to generate a rotationally-moving component in water flowing into the spray nozzle;
• a diffusion region arranged adjacent the swirling region of the swirler and extending in a longitudinal direction of the spray nozzle to expand a spray region;
• an outlet arranged adjacent the diffusion region and allowing water to be sprayed to an outside of the spray nozzle therethrough;
• and
• a diffuser configured to surround the outlet and expand radially outward to define a spray angle of water from the spray nozzle.