Washing machine and control method thereof

Abstract

A washing machine for reducing vibration and noise during a spin-drying cycle, and a control method thereof. According to the washing machine and the control method thereof, cloth piled up randomly in the washing tub is shaken and loosened through the stirring from side to side of the pulsator or the washing tub before water is supplied after putting the cloth therein, so that distribution of the cloth is made uniform to reduce vibration and noise during the spin-drying cycle. Further, unsatisfactory spin-drying due to abnormal vibration is prevented so that it is possible to reduce unnecessary consumption of water and spin-drying time. Further, even when the user does not put detergent in the detergent box but puts it directly onto the cloth, the detergent is shaken by the movement of the cloth, so it is possible to improve washing performance as the detergent and water are mixed well.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2012-0028089, filed on Mar. 20, 2012 and No. 2012-0056832, filed on May 29, 2012 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field[0003]Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a washing machine for reducing vibration and noise during a spin-drying cycle, and a control method thereof.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]In general, a washing machine (for example, a fully automatic washing machine) includes a water tank for storing water (wash water or rinse water), a washing tub for accommodating laundry (hereinafter referred to as “cloth”), a pulsator rotatably installed in the washing tub to generate water current, and a motor for generating a driving force to rotate the washing tub and the pulsator. When the washing tub rotates, the cloth is washed by the interfacial operat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a washing machine that evenly distributes clothes during the spin-dry cycle to reduce vibration and noise. The invention also includes a control method for the machine.

Problems solved by technology

When the washing tub is rotated in an imbalanced state with the cloth not distributed uniformly in the washing tub while washing proceeds in such a series of operations, a biased force is applied to a rotation shaft of the washing tub so that the washing tub makes eccentric motion, thereby causing vibration of the water tank.

Such vibration of the water tank becomes more severe when the washing tub rotates at high speed for the spin-drying cycle, thereby causing greater vibration and noises.

Recently as the size of the washing tub increases with the increase of the capacity of the washing machine, vibration of the water tank becomes so severe that the water tank collides with a frame of the washing machine, so the whole of the washing machine vibrates abnormally to impede the spin-drying cycle and cause unsatisfactory spin-drying.

However, such a method has drawbacks including decreased energy efficiency and increased water consumption and spin-drying time.

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