Washing machine and controlling method therof

Details Washing machine and controlling method therof Washing machine and controlling method therof

2001-08-01

2004-09-14

Stinson, Frankie L. (Department: 1746)

Textiles: fluid treating apparatus

Machines

Combined

C068S184000, C068S196000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06789404

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a washing machine and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a washing machine and a control method thereof, which are improved in circulation mechanism of washing water.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, various washing machines have spread to a household according to the developments of washing technology such as a washing by means of air bubbles, a washing by striking the laundry with washing water, etc. Thus, the time and labor required for washing is greatly saved.
Nevertheless, there is a shortcoming that dirt is not completely removed in the case of washing white clothes. Moreover, in the case of washing underwears or baby clothes, a user wants not only a washing but also a bleaching and sterilization. Also, it is necessary to boil underwears contacting with a human body, because of an environmental contamination.
As shown in
FIG. 8
, a conventional washing machine having a boiling function is comprised of a cabinet
110
having a top opening
112
through which the laundry and a detergent are received; and a cover
114
opening and closing the top opening
112
.
The cover
114
is comprised of an inside cover
116
for covering a heating tank
140
and an outside cover
122
above the inside cover
116
.
Outside the cabinet
110
are installed a selection button
136
allowing a user to control to machine and a power controller
132
controlling a heater
150
according to a temperature signal from a temperature sensor
152
.
Inside the cabinet
110
is provided the heating tank
140
, being separated from the cabinet
110
by a predetermined distance, accommodating the washing and the detergent.
In the lower part of the heating tank
140
is installed the heater
150
boiling the washing by heating washing water. One side of the heater
150
is provided the temperature sensor
152
sensing a washing water temperature in the heating tank
140
heated by the heater
150
. Above the heater
150
is horizontally provided a blocking plate
154
preventing the washing in the heating tank
140
from contacting with the heater
150
. The blocking plate
154
has a plurality of holes
156
through which washing water flows.
With this configuration, in the conventional washing machine having the boiling function, a user puts washing water in the heating tank
140
with the washing and the detergent, and closes the inside and outside covers
116
and
122
. Thereafter, the user sets up a washing time and operates the heater
150
to heat the washing water until a temperature of the washing water rises to a predetermined temperature. If the temperature of the washing water sensed by the temperature sensor
152
rises to the predetermined temperature, the heater
150
stops operating. Contrarily, if the temperature of the washing water in the heating tank
140
is lower than the predetermined temperature, the heater
150
is continuously operated to make the washing water rise to the predetermined temperature during the set up time in the power controller
132
.
If the above operations continue by the set up time, then the heater
150
stops operating, and the user picks out the washing from the heating tank
140
and washes it a separate washing machine or a hand washing.
However, in the conventional washing machine having the boiling function, while the lower part of the heating tank is heated to a relatively high temperature, the upper part thereof is heated to a relatively low temperature because the washing interrupts heat transfer.
That is, even if the lower part temperature of the heating tank rises to the predetermined temperature, the upper part does not. Therefore, the temperature of the washing in the upper part of the heating tank does not reach the predetermined temperature. Consequently, the conventional boiling washing machine cannot boil the washing evenly, thereby lowering the efficiency of sterilization, bleaching and washing.
Moreover, the washing efficiency of the washing floating in washing water becomes sharply lower than to the washing efficiency of the washing soaked therein. If the temperature of washing water rises, the part of the washing contacting with air is oxidized, and therefore it may be damaged.
In addition, in the conventional boiling washing machine boiling the washing is restricted according to a material of the washing, and it is difficult to boil the washing with low temperature in the case of the washing which is not allowed to wash with a high temperature, thereby lowering the washing efficiency.
Further, since there is no drain system in the heating tank, it is required to wait until washing water becomes cool, in order that a user pumps out hot washing water with user's own hands.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above-described shortcoming and user's need, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine and a control method thereof, which can prevent the washing from oxidizing and improve the washing efficiency.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine and a control method thereof, which can improve the washing efficiency irrespective of a material of the washing
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine and a control method thereof, which can easily supply and drain washing water.
This and other objects of the present invention may be accomplished by the provision of a washing machine comprising: a heating tank accommodating the washing and washing water; a heating part heating the washing water in the heating tank; and a circulation pump circulating the washing water in the heating tank.
Preferably, the washing machine further comprises a cabinet accommodating and supporting the heating tank, having an opening at the upper part thereof, a cover provided at the upper part of the cabinet, opening and closing the opening of the heating tank; and a controller controlling the heater to heat the washing water in the heating tank and controlling the circulation pump to circulate the washing water.
Desirably, the washing machine further comprises a control part selecting a washing course according to a washing material, and wherein the controller adjusts an operating time of the circulating pump according to the washing course selected by the control part.
Preferably, the controller controls the heating part according to the washing course selected by the control part to adjust a washing temperature, and the washing course includes a boiling course.
Preferably, the washing machine further comprises washing water circulation pipes having a washing water suction pipe communicating with one part of the heating tank, guiding the washing water from the heating tank to the circulation pump, and a washing water discharge pipe communicating with another part of the heating tank, transferring the washing water from the circulation pump to the heating tank.
Preferably, the washing water discharge pipe has at least one spray hole for spraying the washing water in the heating tank, and the washing machine further comprises a spray plate provided at the lower part of the washing water discharge pipe and having a plurality of holes for evenly supplying the washing water into the heating tank.
Preferably, the height of the washing water suction pipe is higher than the height of the heating part, and the heating part is comprised of a heater being at the below part of the heating tank.
Preferably, the washing machine further comprises a water supply pipe having a first end connected to a water supply source outside the cabinet, and a second end connected to the heating tank; and a water supply valve provided in the water supply pipe, adjusting a washing water flow in the water supply pipe.
Preferably, the washing machine further comprising a water drain pipe having a first end connected to a water drain source outside the cabinet, and a second end connected to the washing water s

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