Washing machine and control method thereof

• US 20040149315A1
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Jong Ho
• Granted Patent: US 7,421,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/005 Methods for washing, rinsing or spin-drying
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/028 Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments

Abstract

A washing machine and control method thereof is provided, by which a bleaching agent and a fabric softener are supplied to the washing machine using a single water supply valve. The washing machine includes a first water supply valve for supplying water to a tub upon input of a wash command; and a second water supply valve for supplying water to the tub upon input of the wash command and upon a determination of a final rinse step; a detergent reservoir, coupled to the first water supply valve, for receiving a detergent for a wash step; a bleaching agent reservoir, coupled to the second water supply valve, for receiving a bleaching agent for the wash step; and a fabric softener reservoir, coupled to the bleaching agent reservoir, for receiving a fabric softener for a final rinse step, wherein the first water supply valve is used as a dedicated valve for the detergent and said second water supply valve is used as a common input valve for the bleaching agent and fabric softener, to introduce the detergent and bleaching agent to the water in the tub for the wash step and to introduce the fabric softener to the water in the tub for the final rinse step only. The method includes steps of determining a water level; supplying water to a tub according to the determined water level, by turning on the first and second water supply valves simultaneously and turning off the second water supply valve after a first predetermined time; performing a wash step and at least one rinse step according to a selected wash course based on the determined water level; determining a final rinse step among the at least one rinse step; and performing the final rinse step according to the determined water level, by turning on the first and second water supply valves simultaneously and turning off the second water supply valve after a second predetermined time. The final rinse performing step makes use of a siphonic effect applied to the fabric softener reservoir after performing the wash step.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

a first water supply valve for supplying water to a tub upon input of a wash command; and

a second water supply valve for supplying water to the tub upon input of the wash command and upon a determination of a final rinse step;

a detergent reservoir, coupled to said first water supply valve, for receiving a detergent for a wash step;

a bleaching agent reservoir, coupled to said second water supply valve, for receiving a bleaching agent for the wash step; and

a fabric softener reservoir, coupled to said bleaching agent reservoir, for receiving a fabric softener for a final rinse step,

wherein said first water supply valve is used as a dedicated valve for the detergent and said second water supply valve is used as a common input valve for the bleaching agent and fabric softener, to introduce the detergent and bleaching agent to the water in the tub for the wash step and to introduce the fabric softener to the water in the tub for the final rinse step only.

2. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bleaching agent reservoir is arranged between said second water supply valve and said fabric softener reservoir.

3. A method of controlling a washing machine having first and second water supply valves, comprising steps of:

determining a water level;

supplying water to a tub according to the determined water level, by turning on the first and second water supply valves simultaneously and turning off the second water supply valve after a first predetermined time;

performing a wash step and at least one rinse step according to a selected wash course based on the determined water level;

determining a final rinse step among the at least one rinse step; and

performing the final rinse step according to the determined water level, by turning on the first and second water supply valves simultaneously and turning off the second water supply valve after a second predetermined time.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first predetermined time is shorter than the second predetermined time.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first predetermined time is set to introduce to the water in the tub a detergent from a detergent reservoir and a bleaching agent from a bleaching agent reservoir.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second predetermined time is set to introduce to the water in the tub a fabric softener from a fabric softener reservoir.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said final rinse performing step makes use of a siphonic effect applied to the fabric softener reservoir after performing the wash step.