Washing method capable of preventing the formation of suds in a washing machine

• US 5,687,440 A
• Filed: 11/16/1995
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Daewoo Electronics (Government of South Korea)
• Inventors: Lee, Seung-Jun, Jung, Chung-Sik, Min, Tae-Sik
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson, Frankie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/558,889
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 8/159, 8/158, 68/12.05, 68/12.19, 68/12.21, 68/207
• US Class Current: 8/158
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/006 for washing or rinsing only
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/06 Arrangements for preventing or destroying scum

Abstract

Disclosed is a washing method which can eliminate suds or foam created in the course of washing by a washing machine and can effectively prevent the creation of foam, thereby improving the washing efficiency of the washing machine. In the washing method, a part of the washing liquid is continuously recirculated and sprayed during the washing process while the washing liquid is partially drained at each predetermined time interval. In the rinsing process, a part of the rinsing water is also continuously recirculated and sprayed during the rinsing process while the rinsing water is partially drained at each predetermined time interval.

Claims

1. A washing method by a washing machine having a spin tub for accommodating articles to be washed and a container for mounting the spin tub in the container, the spin tub having means for interconnecting a space in the container and a gap between the spin tub and the container, the washing method comprising the steps of:

(1) introducing a first amount of a washing liquid into the spin tub until a height of the washing liquid in the container reaches a first height;

(2) recirculating a first portion of the washing liquid in the container, and spraying the first portion of the washing liquid into the spin tub, while introducing a second amount of the washing liquid into the spin tub until the height of the washing liquid reaches a second height;

(3) washing the articles in the spin tub during a first period;

(4) draining a predetermined amount of the washing liquid in the container out of the washing machine;

(5) recirculating a second portion of the washing liquid remaining in the container, and spraying the second portion of the washing liquid into the spin tub, while washing the articles during a second period; and

(6) repeating steps 4 and 5 at least once.

2. A washing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the articles are washed in the spin tub in step 2.

3. A washing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second height is higher than the first height.

4. A washing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first portion of the washing liquid is recirculated and sprayed into the spin tub while the articles in the spin tub are washed in step 3.

5. A washing method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spin tub has a peripheral wall, and the washing liquid is sprayed toward the peripheral wall in steps 2, 3 and 5.

6. A washing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the articles in the spin tub are washed while the predetermined amount of the washing liquid in the container is drained out of the washing machine in step 4.

7. A washing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and the second heights, and the first and the second periods are variably preset by a user according to a required washing condition.

8. A washing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount of the washing liquid in step 4 is one-third of a quantity of the washing liquid in the container when the height of the washing liquid is the second height, and steps 4 and 5 are repeated three times in step 6.

9. A washing method as claimed in claim 1, said method further comprising the step of draining the washing liquid out of the container after step 6.

10. A washing method as claimed in claim 1, said method further comprising a rinsing process after step 6.

11. A washing method as claimed in claim 10, said rinsing process comprising the steps of:

(7) introducing a first amount of a rinsing water into the spin tub until a height of the rinsing water in the container reaches a third height;

(8) recirculating a first portion of the rinsing water in the container, and spraying the first portion of the rinsing water into the spin tub, while introducing a second amount of the rinsing water into the spin tub until the height of the rinsing water reaches a fourth height;

(9) agitating the articles in the rinsing water in the spin tub during a third period;

(10) draining a predetermined amount of the rinsing water in the container out of the washing machine;

(11) recirculating a second portion of the rinsing water remaining in the container, and spraying the second portion of the rinsing water into the spin tub, while agitating the articles in the rinsing water in the spin tub during a fourth period; and

(12) repeating steps 10 and 11 at least once.

12. A washing method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the articles are agitated in the rinsing water in the spin tub in step 8.

13. A washing method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the fourth height is higher than the third height.

14. A washing method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first portion of the rinsing water is recirculated and sprayed while the articles are agitated in the rinsing water in the spin tub in step 9.

15. A washing method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the spin tub has a peripheral wall, and the rinsing water is sprayed toward the peripheral wall in steps 8, 9, and 10.

16. A washing method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the articles are agitated in the rinsing water in the spin tub while the predetermined amount of the rinsing water in the container is drained out of the washing machine in step 10.

17. A washing method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the third and the fourth heights, and the third and the fourth periods are variably preset by a user according to a required washing condition.

18. A washing method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the predetermined amount of the rinsing water in step 10 is one-third of a quantity of the rinsing water in the container when the height of the rinsing water is the fourth height, and steps 4 and 5 are repeated three times in step 12.

19. A washing method as claimed in claim 1, said method further comprising the step of draining the rinsing water out of the container after step 12.

20. A washing method by a washing machine having a spin tub for accommodating articles to be washed and a container for mounting the spin tub in the container, the spin tub having means for interconnecting a space in the container and a gap between the spin tub and the container, the method comprising the steps of:

(1) introducing a first amount of a washing liquid into the spin tub until a height of the washing liquid in the container reaches a first height;

(2) recirculating a first portion of the washing liquid in the container, and spraying the first portion of the washing liquid into the spin tub, while introducing a second amount of the washing liquid into the spin tub until the height of the washing liquid reaches a second height higher than the first height;

(3) washing the articles in the spin tub, while recirculating and spraying the first portion of the washing liquid during a first period;

(4) draining a predetermined amount of the washing liquid in the container out of the washing machine, while washing the articles in the spin tub, the predetermined amount being one-third of a quantity of the washing liquid in the container when the height of the washing liquid is the second height;

(5) recirculating a second portion of the washing liquid remaining in the container, and spraying the second portion of the washing liquid into the spin tub, while washing the articles during a second period;

(6) repeating steps 4 and 5 three times;

(7) introducing a first amount of a rinsing water into the spin tub until a height of the rinsing water in the container reaches a third height;

(8) recirculating a first portion of the rinsing water in the container, and spraying the first portion of the rinsing water into the spin tub, while introducing a second amount of the rinsing water into the spin tub until the height of the rinsing water reaches a fourth height higher than the third height;

(9) agitating the articles in the rinsing water in the spin tub, while recirculating and spraying the first portion of the rinsing water during a third period;

(10) draining a predetermined amount of the rinsing water in the container out of the washing machine, while agitating the articles in the rinsing water in the spin tub, the predetermined amount being one-third of a quantity of the rinsing water in the container when the height of the rinsing water is the fourth height;

(11) recirculating a second portion of the rinsing water remaining in the container, and spraying the second portion of the rinsing water into the spin tub, while agitating the articles in the rinsing water in the spin tub during a fourth period; and

(12) repeating steps 10 and 11 three times.