Washing machine and method for controlling washing machine

• US 10,526,738 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2014
• Issued: 01/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Cho, Hyun Gu, Jo, Young Chul, Ryu, Koang Hun
• Primary Examiner(s): Adhlakha, Rita P
• Application Number:
  US15/307,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20170159221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,988 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2101/20 Operation modes, e.g. delicate laundry washing programs, service modes or refreshment cycles
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/00 Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/40 Opening or locking status of doors
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/02 Water supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/54 Changing between normal operation mode and special operation modes, e.g. service mode, component cleaning mode or stand-by mode
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/60 Audible signals
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/43 Control of cleaning or disinfection of washing machine parts, e.g. of tubs
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/04 adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/02 Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/085 Arrangements or adaptations of pumps

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a washing machine and a method for controlling a washing machine. The washing machine may include: a body; a tub provided inside of the body to store water; a detergent supply unit disposed adjacent to the tub to supply detergent to the tub during an operating mode for washing laundry and to receive water during a cleaning mode; and a controller configured to allow a cleaning of the detergent supply unit to be performed by controlling a flow of water of the detergent supply unit and the tub during the cleaning mode of the detergent supply unit.

The present disclosure may be possible to keep the washing machine clean by automatically cleaning a detergent supply unit. In addition, it may be possible to improve the quality and the reliability of the product by automatically cleaning a detergent supply unit by using an input.

Claims

1. A washing machine having an operating mode for washing laundry and a cleaning mode, the washing machine comprising:

a body;

a tub provided inside of the body to store water;

a detergent supply unit including a housing and a detergent container housable in the housing and in which detergent is containable;

a detergent container detector configured to detect whether the detergent container is separated from the housing or not separated from the housing; and

a controller configured to,

based on the washing machine being in the cleaning mode and the detergent container detector detecting the detergent container is separated from the housing, control a flow of water to the detergent supply unit to clean at least the housing, and

based on the washing machine being in the operating mode for washing laundry and the detergent container detector detecting the detergent container is not separated from the housing, control the flow of water so that the detergent contained in the detergent container is supplied to the tub for washing laundry.

2. The washing machine of claim 1 wherein

the housing is installed in the body,

the detergent container has an opening,

the washing machine further comprises a cover configured to open and close the opening, and

a detergent discharge unit is configured to control the cover to discharge the detergent contained in the detergent container based on a command of the controller.

3. The washing machine of claim 2 further comprising

a door configured to open and close an inlet formed in the tub;

and

a door detector configured to detect whether the door is closed or not closed,

wherein the controller is further configured to,

based on the washing machine being in the cleaning mode, the detergent container detector detecting the detergent container is separated from the housing, and the door detector detecting the door is closed, control the flow of water to the detergent supply unit to clean at least the housing.

4. The washing machine of claim 3 further comprising:

an input configured to receive an input from a user for entering the cleaning mode, wherein the controller controls cleaning of the at least the housing when the cleaning mode is input.

5. The washing machine of claim 2 wherein

the detergent discharge unit comprises a first motor configured to allow a first detergent contained in the detergent container to be discharged and a second motor configured to allow a second detergent contained in the detergent container to be discharged, wherein the controller controls driving of the first motor and the second motor in order when performing the cleaning of the at least the housing.

6. The washing machine of claim 5 further comprising:

a pump configured to pump water inside of the tub, wherein the controller controls driving of the pump when performing the cleaning.

7. The washing machine of claim 1 further comprising:

a display configured to display information, wherein the controller controls the display so that preparation information for preparing the cleaning is displayed on the display prior to performing the cleaning of the at least the housing.

8. A washing machine having an operating mode for washing laundry and a cleaning mode, the washing machine comprising:

a body;

a tub provided inside of the body to store water;

a detergent supply unit including a housing installed the body and a detergent container housable in the housing and in which detergent is containable;

a door configured to open and close an inlet formed in the tub;

a first detector configured to detect whether the door is closed or not closed; and

a second detector configured to detect whether the detergent container is separated from the housing or not separated from the housing; and

a controller configured to,

based on the washing machine being in the cleaning mode, the first detector detecting the door is closed, and the second detector detecting the detergent container is separated from the housing, control a flow of water to the detergent supply unit to clean at least the housing, and

based on the washing machine being in the operating mode for washing laundry, the first detector detecting the door is closed, and the second detector detecting the detergent container is not separated from the housing, control the flow of water so that the detergent contained in the detergent container is supplied to the tub for washing laundry.

9. The washing machine of claim 8 wherein

the detergent container has an opening,

the washing machine further comprises a cover configured to open and close the opening, and

the controller is configured to control the cover to discharge the detergent contained in the detergent container based on a command of the controller.

10. The washing machine of claim 9 wherein

the detergent discharge unit comprises a first motor configured to allow a first detergent contained in the detergent container to be discharged and a second motor configured to allow a second detergent contained in the detergent container to be discharged, wherein the controller controls driving of the first motor and the second motor in order when performing the cleaning of the at least the housing.

11. The washing machine of claim 10 further comprising:

a pump configured to pump water inside of the tub, wherein the controller controls driving of the pump when performing the cleaning of the at least the housing.

12. The washing machine of claim 8 further comprising:

an input configured to receive an input from a user for entering the cleaning mode, wherein the controller controls cleaning of the at least the housing when the cleaning mode is input.

13. The washing machine of claim 8 further comprising:

a display configured to display information, wherein the controller controls the display so that preparation information for preparing the cleaning is displayed on the display prior to performing the cleaning of the at least the housing.