Washing machine having a rinse mode

• US 5,743,115 A
• Filed: 11/04/1996
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Yoshimi
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US08/743,036
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 68/12.01, 68/12.02, 68/12.04, 68/12.05, 68/12.06, 68/12.12, 68/23.5
• US Class Current: 68/12.12
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/04 Quantity, e.g. weight or variation of weight
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/52 Changing sequence of operational steps; Carrying out additional operational steps; Modifying operational steps, e.g. by extending duration of steps
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/38 of rinsing
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/40 of centrifugal separation of water from the laundry
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/44 Control of the operating time, e.g. reduction of overall operating time
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

A washing machine having a rinse mode for rinsing laundry placed in a tub of the washing machine. Rinse mode control means controls water supply to the tub and rotation of the tub to carry out a spin dry rinse mode. The spin dry rinse mode includes a first operation during which water is supplied into the tub while the tub is rotated and a second operation during which the supply oft water is stopped and the tub is rotated. The washing machine further includes means for detecting the amount of laundry put into the tub. A rinse time change means controls the time for spin dry rinse mode in accordance with the amount of laundry detected. Thus, time can be saved and water conserved while still effectively rinsing the laundry.

Claims

1. A washing machine, comprising:

a tub for receiving laundry to be washed;

means for supplying water into the tub;

means for rotating the tub;

rinse mode control means for controlling

     1) water supplied into the tub and

     2) rotation of the tub to carry out a spin dry rinse mode which includes a plurality of spin dry rinse cycles, each spin dry rinse cycle including;

a first operation during which water is supplied into the tub while the tub is rotated, and

a second operation during which water is not supplied into the tub and the tub is rotated;

rinse degree selecting means for manually selecting a degree of rinse desired; and

rinse time changing means for controlling a time period of the spin dry rinse mode by changing a time period of each second operation in accordance with the degree of rinse selected by the rinse degree selecting means.

3. A washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the rotating speed of the tub during the first operation is less than the rotating speed of the tub during the second operation.

2. A washing machine, comprising:

a tub for receiving laundry to be washed;

means for supplying water into the tub;

means for rotating the tub;

rinse mode control means for controlling

     1) water supplied into the tub and

     2) rotation of the tub to carry out a spin dry rinse mode which includes a plurality of spin dry rinse cycles, each spin dry rinse cycle including;

a first operation during which water is supplied into the tub while the tub is rotated, and

a second operation during which water is not supplied into the tub and the tub is rotated;

rinse degree selecting means for manually selecting a degree of rinse desired; and

operation number changing means for controlling the number of spin dry rinse cycles carried out during the spin dry rinse mode by changing a time period of each second operation in accordance with the degree of rinse selected by rinse degree selecting means.

4. A washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the rotating speed of the tub during the first operation is less than the rotating speed of the tub during the second operation.

5. A washing machine, comprising:

a tub for receiving laundry to be washed;

means for supplying water into the tub;

means for rotating the tub;

rinse mode control means for controlling

     1) water supplied into the tub and

     2) rotation of the tub to carry out a spin dry rinse mode which includes a plurality of spin dry rinse cycles, each spin dry rinse cycle including;

a first operation during which water is supplied into the tub while the tub is rotated, and

a second operation during which water is not supplied into the tub and the tub is rotated;

rinse degree selecting means for manually selecting a degree of rinse desired; and

rinse time changing means for controlling a time period of the spin dry rinse mode by changing a time period of each first operation and each second operation in accordance with the degree of rinse selected by the rinse degree selecting means.

7. A washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the rotating speed of the tub during the first operation is less than the rotating speed of the tub during the second operation.

6. A washing machine, comprising:

a tub for receiving laundry to be washed;

means for supplying water into the tub;

means for rotating the tub;

rinse mode control means for controlling

     1) water supplied into the tub and

     2) rotation of the tub to carry out a spin dry rinse mode which includes a plurality of spin dry rinse cycles, each spin dry rinse cycle including;

a first operation during which water is supplied into the tub while the tub is rotated, and

a second operation during which water is not supplied into the tub and the tub is rotated;

rinse degree selecting means for manually selecting a degree of rinse desired; and

operation number changing means for controlling the number of spin dry rinse cycles carried out during the spin dry rinse mode by changing a time period of each first operation and each second operation in accordance with each degree of rinse selected by rinse degree selecting means.

8. A washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the rotating speed of the tub during the first operation is less than the rotating speed of the tub during the second operation.

9. A washing machine, comprising:

a tub for receiving laundry to be washed;

a water supplying unit for supplying water into the tub;

a mechanism for rotating the tub;

a rinse mode controller for controlling

     1) water supplied into the tub and

     2) rotation of the tub to carry out a spin dry rinse mode which includes a plurality of spin dry rinse cycles, each spin dry rinse cycle including;

a first operation during which water is supplied into the tub while the tub is rotated, and

a second operation during which water is not supplied into the tub and the tub is rotated;

a rinse degree selector for manually selecting a degree of rinse desired; and

a rinse time controller for controlling a time period of the spin dry rinse mode by changing a time period of each second operation in accordance with the degree of rinse selected by the rinse degree selector.

11. A washing machine according to claim 9, wherein the rotating speed of the tub during the first operation is less than the rotating speed of the tub during the second operation.

10. A washing machine, comprising:

a tub for receiving laundry to be washed;

a water supplying unit for supplying water into the tub;

a mechanism for rotating the tub;

a rinse mode controller for controlling

     1) water supplied into the tub and

     2) rotation of the tub to carry out a spin dry rinse mode which includes a plurality of spin dry rinse cycles, each spin dry rinse cycle including;

a first operation during which water is supplied into the tub while the tub is rotated, and

a second operation during which water is not supplied into the tub and the tub is rotated;

a rinse degree selector means for manually selecting a degree of rinse desired; and

an operation number controller means for controlling the number of spin dry rinse cycles carried out during the spin dry rinse mode by changing a time period of each second operation in accordance with the degree of rinse selected by rinse degree selector.

12. A washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the rotating speed of the tub during the first operation is less than the rotating speed of the tub during the second operation.

13. A washing machine, comprising:

a tub for receiving laundry to be washed;

a water supplying unit for supplying water into the tub;

a mechanism for rotating the tub;

a rinse mode controller for controlling

     1) water supplied into the tub and

     2) rotation of the tub to carry out a spin dry mode which includes a plurality of spin dry rinse cycles, each spin dry rinse cycle including;

a first operation during which water is supplied into the tub while the tub is rotated, and

a second operation during which water is not supplied into the tub and the tub is rotated;

a rinse degree selector for manually selecting a degree of rinse desired; and

rinse time controller for controlling a time period of the spin dry rinse mode by changing a time period of each first operation and each second operation in accordance with the degree of rinse selected by the rinse degree selector.

15. A washing machine according to claim 13, wherein the rotating speed of the tub during the first operation is less than the rotating speed of the tub during the second operation.

14. A washing machine, comprising:

a tub for receiving laundry to be washed;

a water supplying unit for supplying water into the tub;

a mechanism for rotating the tub;

a rinse mode controller for controlling

     1) water supplied into the tub and

     2) rotation of the tub to carry out a spin dry rinse mode which includes a plurality of spin dry rinse cycles, each spin dry rinse cycle including;

a first operation during which water is supplied into the tub while the tub is rotated, and

a second operation during which water is not supplied into the tub and the tub is rotated;

a rinse degree selector for manually selecting a degree of rinse desired; and

a operation number controller for controlling the number of spin dry rinse cycles carried out during the spin dry rinse mode by changing a time period of each first operation and each second operation in accordance with each degree of rinse selected by rinse degree selector.

16. A washing machine according to claim 14, wherein the rotating speed of the tub during the first operation is less than the rotating speed of the tub during the second operation.