Washing machine and control method thereof

• US 7,421,866 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson; Frankie L
• Application Number:
  US10/719,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20040149315A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: 68/17.R, 682/07.R
• US Class Current: 68/17.00R
• 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 detergent reservoir for receiving a detergent;

a bleaching agent reservoir for receiving a bleaching agent;

a fabric softener reservoir for receiving a fabric softener;

a first water supply valve for supplying water, wherein said first water supply valve is configured to introduce the detergent to a tub;

a second water supply valve for supplying water, wherein said second water supply valve is configured to introduce the bleaching agent and the fabric softener to the tub;

a first conduit connected to the detergent reservoir, wherein the first water supply valve controls water flow through the first conduit and the detergent reservoir; and

a second conduit connected to the bleaching agent reservoir, wherein the second water supply valve controls water flow through the second conduit and the bleaching agent and the fabric softener reservoirs.

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 of claim 1, 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 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 valve 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.

8. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the first water supply valve is connected to the detergent reservoir.

9. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the second water supply valve is connected to the bleaching agent reservoir.

10. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the first and second water supply valves are directly connected to the detergent reservoir and the bleaching agent reservoir, respectively.

11. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the fabric softener reservoir is directly connected to the bleaching agent reservoir.

12. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the fabric softener reservoir is connected only to the bleaching agent reservoir and the tub.

13. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the second water supply valve is configured to selectively introduce the bleaching agent and the fabric softener.

14. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the second water supply valve is configured to introduce the bleaching agent to the tub upon initiating a washing step.

15. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the second water supply valve is configured to introduce the fabric softener to the tub upon initiating a final rinsing step.

16. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the second water supply valve supplies the water to the fabric softener reservoir through the bleaching agent reservoir directly connected thereto for a first predetermined time upon initiating a final rinsing step.

17. The washing machine of claim 16, wherein the water in the bleaching agent reservoir flows into the fabric softener reservoir using a siphonic effect.

18. The washing machine of claim 16, wherein the second water supply valve supplies the water to the bleaching agent reservoir for a second predetermined time upon initiating a washing step, while preventing the water from passing by the fabric softener reservoir.

19. The washing machine of claim 18, wherein the first predetermined time is longer than the second predetermined time.

20. A washing machine including a tub, said washing machine comprising:

a detergent reservoir for receiving a detergent;

a bleaching agent reservoir for receiving a bleaching agent;

a fabric softener reservoir for receiving a fabric softener;

a first water supply valve configured to supply water to the detergent reservoir, thereby introducing the detergent to the tub;

a second water supply valve configured to supply water to the bleaching agent reservoir and the fabric softener reservoir, thereby introducing the bleaching agent and the fabric softener to the tub;

a first conduit connected to the detergent reservoir, wherein the first water supply valve controls water flow through the first conduit and the detergent reservoir; and

a second conduit connected to the bleaching agent reservoir, wherein the second water supply valve controls water flow through the second conduit and the bleaching agent and the fabric softener reservoirs;

wherein the bleaching agent reservoir and the fabric softener reservoir are coupled together.

21. The washing machine of claim 20, wherein the first water supply valve is in the first conduit.

22. The washing machine of claim 20, wherein the second water supply valve is in the second conduit.