Method of controlling a washing machine

• US 7,171,714 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2002
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Hyung-kyoon, Lee, Myung-gyu, Kim, Hyun-sook, Park, Chan-woo, Park, Seon-woo, Pyo, Sang-yeon
• Primary Examiner(s): Perrin; Joseph L.
• Application Number:
  US10/216,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20030154558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,639 Days
• Field of Search: 8158-159, 68131-134, 68/120.4, 68/120.5
• US Class Current: 8/159
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 13/08 wherein the agitator has a gyratory or orbital motion

Abstract

A method of controlling a washing machine is provided. The washing machine control method executes a washing process with a wobbling device. In the method, an operation of causing a washboard to wobble and an operation of rotating a spin-drying tub in the washing process are alternately performed. An operation of causing a washboard to wobble in a wobbling position and an operation of rotating a spin-drying tub in a washing process several times to mix laundry is performed, such that upper laundry and lower laundry can be uniformly washed, thus improving a laundry cleaning performance. Further, entangled laundry can be prevented from being rinsed by causing the washboard to wobble in the wobbling position before rinsing water is supplied.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a washing machine having a washboard, the washing machine executing a disentangling process to disentangle laundry after a washing process using a wobbling device, the disentangling process comprising:

alternately performing an operation of causing the washboard to wobble and an operation of rotating a spin-drying tub, wherein the wobbling operation is initiated immediately after the rotation operation of the spin-drying tub is completed and immediately before water is applied to laundry in the spin-drying tub to disentangle the laundry.

2. The washing machine control method according to claim 1, wherein the operation of causing the washboard to wobble includes the washboard wobbling upwardly and downwardly from a current position of the washboard with a predetermined amplitude in response to a rotating speed of an inclined rotary shaft.

3. The washing machine control method according to claim 1, wherein the washing process includes sensing a weight of laundry to be washed and supplying washing water in accordance with the sensed weight of the laundry.

4. The washing machine control method according to claim 1, wherein the operation of causing the washboard to wobble includes simultaneously inclining the washboard to an inclined position, with respect to a horizontal surface, and wobbling the washboard upwardly and downwardly from the inclined position.

5. A method of controlling a washing machine having a spin-drying tub and a washboard, the washing machine executing a disentangling process to disentangle laundry after a washing process and before a rinsing process with a wobbling device, the disentangling process comprising:

rotating the spin-drying tub after the washing process is completed;

causing the washboard to begin wobbling immediately after rotation of the spin-drying tub is completed and immediately before the rinsing process is initiated to disentangle the laundry; and

supplying water to be used in the rinsing process.

6. The washing machine control method according to claim 5, wherein the causing the washboard to wobble includes wobbling the washboard upwardly and downwardly from a current position of the washboard with a predetermined amplitude in response to a rotating speed of an inclined rotary shaft.

7. The washing machine control method according to claim 5, wherein upper and lower laundry are substantially uniformly washed.

8. The washing machine control method according to claim 5, wherein the causing the washboard to wobble includes simultaneously inclining the washboard to an inclined position, with respect to a horizontal surface, and wobbling the washboard upwardly and downwardly from the inclined position.

9. The washing machine control method according to claim 5, wherein said supplying water comprises:

sensing a water supply level;

calculating a target water level based on the sensed water supply level; and

determining whether to continuously supply washing water according to the calculated target water level.

10. The washing machine control method according to claim 5, wherein the rotating the spin-drying tub comprises leveling the wobbling device prior to rotation of the spin-drying tub.

11. The washing machine control method according to claim 10, wherein when the spin-drying tub is rotated, the wobbling device is prevented from wobbling by the leveling.

12. The washing machine control method according to claim 5, wherein the rotating the spin-drying tub and the causing the washboard to wobble are performed whenever the rinsing process is repeatedly executed.

13. The washing machine control method according to claim 5, further comprising alternatively performing the step of causing the washboard to wobble using the wobbling device and the step of rotating the spin-drying tub in the washing process.

14. A method of controlling a washing machine having a washboard, the washing machine executing a spin-drying process, executing a disentangling process to disentangle laundry with a wobbling device, and applying water to the laundry, the disentangling process comprising:

causing the washboard to wobble using the wobbling device to disentangle laundry immediately after the spin-drying process is completed, and immediately before water is applied to laundry in the washing machine.

15. The washing machine control method according to claim 14, wherein during the spin-drying process, the wobbling device is prevented from wobbling by leveling the wobbling device.

16. A method of controlling a washing machine having a spin-drying tub and a washboard, the washing machine executing a disentangling process to disentangle laundry after a washing process, a rinsing process and a spin-drying process with a wobbling device, the method comprising:

alternately performing an operation of causing the washboard to wobble using the wobbling device and an operation of rotating the spin-drying tub in the washing process;

rotating the spin-drying tub after the washing process is completed;

causing the washboard to begin wobbling immediately after the rotating of the spin-drying tub is completed and immediately before the rinsing process is initiated to disentangle laundry in the disentangling process;

supplying water to be used in the rinsing process; and

causing the washboard to wobble after the spin-drying process is completed to disentangle laundry in the disentangling process.

17. The washing machine control method according to claim 16, wherein both of the rotating the spin-drying tub and the causing the washboard to wobble after the rotating the spin-drying tub are performed whenever the rinsing process is repeatedly executed.

18. The washing machine control method according to claim 16, wherein the operation of causing the washboard to wobble includes the washboard wobbling upwardly and downwardly from a current position of the washboard with a predetermined amplitude in response to a rotating speed of an inclined rotary shaft.

19. The washing machine control method according to claim 16, wherein the operation of causing the washboard to wobble includes simultaneously inclining the washboard to an inclined position, with respect to a horizontal surface, and wobbling the washboard upwardly and downwardly from the inclined position.

20. A method of controlling a washing machine having a spin-drying tub and a washboard, the washing machine executing a disentangling process to disentangle laundry after a washing process with a wobbling device, the disentangling process comprising:

performing a wobbling operation to disentangle laundry, using the wobbling device immediately before rinsing water is supplied, to prevent laundry from being entangled if water is supplied after the spin-drying tub rotates.

21. A method of controlling a washing machine having a spin-drying tub and a washboard, the washing machine executing a disentangling process to disentangle laundry with a wobbling device, the disentangling process comprising:

performing a wobbling operation, using the wobbling device causing the washboard to wobble immediately after the spin-drying operation is completed and immediately before water is applied to laundry, to disentangle laundry in the spin-drying tub.

22. A method of controlling a washing machine having a spin-drying tub containing laundry and a washboard, the washing machine executing a shower rinsing process, a rinsing drying process and a main rinsing process with a wobbling device, comprising:

rotating the spin drying tub in the rinsing drying process after the shower rinsing process is complete;

causing the washboard to wobble using the wobbling device immediately before and during the main rinsing process and after the rinsing drying process is completed to disentangle the laundry; and

rotating the spin-drying tub in the main rinsing process after causing the washboard to wobble.

23. The washing machine control method according to claim 22, further comprising:

causing the washboard to wobble using the wobbling device in the shower rinsing process after rotation of the spin-drying tub in the main rinsing process is completed;

rotating the spin-drying tub in the shower rinsing process after causing the washboard to wobble; and

supplying water in the shower rinsing process after rotating the spin-drying tub supplying water.

24. A method of controlling a washing machine having a spin-drying tub and a washboard, the washing machine executing a main rinsing process, a disentangling process, and a shower rinsing process with a wobbling device, comprising:

causing the washboard to wobble immediately before the shower rinsing process using the wobbling device and immediately after rotation of the spin-drying tub in the main rinsing process is completed to disentangle laundry;

causing the washboard to wobble during the shower rinsing process;

rotating the spin-drying tub in the shower rinsing process after causing the washboard to wobble; and

supplying water in the shower rinsing process after rotating the spin-drying tub supplying water.

25. A method of controlling a washing machine having a washboard, the washing machine executing a disentangling process with a wobbling device, the method comprising:

placing laundry in the washing machine;

starting the washing machine by sending a control signal to a motor driving unit;

rotating a spin-drying tub using the motor driving unit while maintaining the wobbling device in a level position

sensing a weight of laundry to be washed based on evaluating a time taken for a driving speed of the drive motor to reach a preset speed;

supplying washing water in accordance with the sensed weight of the laundry; and

alternately performing an operation of causing the washboard to wobble and an operation of rotating a spin-drying tub, wherein the wobbling operation is initiated immediately after the rotation operation of the spin-drying tub is completed and immediately before water is applied to laundry in the spin-drying tub to disentangle laundry.

26. The washing machine control method according to claim 25, wherein the step of supplying washing water further comprises:

calculating a target level of the water corresponding to the sensed weight of the laundry;

opening a water supply valve; and

supplying washing water in accordance with the calculated target level of water.