Patent Publication Number: US-9840801-B2

Title: Washing machine and washing method thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based on and claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 2014-0086050, filed on Jul. 9, 2014, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments according to the present invention relate to a washing machine with an auxiliary washing unit, and a washing method using such a washing machine, to improve washing performance. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A washing machine uses power from an electric motor as main power, and performs washing, rinsing, and dehydrating (e.g., spin-drying) processes to clean laundry through the action of detergent and water. The washing machine includes the electric motor, a mechanical part for transferring power to the components used to wash the laundry, a controlling part for controlling the washing process, a water supply apparatus, and a water draining apparatus. 
     Washing machines may be classified into agitator type washing machines, pulsator type washing machines, and drum type washing machines, depending on their washing schemes. An agitator type washing machine performs washing by horizontally rotating a wing-shaped agitator in the center of a washing tub, and the pulsator type washing machine performs washing using waves generated by rotating a disk-shaped pulsator. A drum type washing machine includes a drum having a plurality of protrusions formed thereon. The drum type washing machine performs washing using the impact generated when the laundry is lifted by a lifter in the drum and then dropped into the wash water and detergent contained in the drum as a result of rotating the drum around a horizontal axis. 
     A washing machine is for washing the laundry as cleanly as possible. For this purpose, efforts to improve washing performance are ongoing. 
     As a part of the efforts to improve washing performance, the Applicant applied for a patent application for an apparatus for circulating water remaining between the tub and the drum such that the water between the tub and drum is forced to circulate into the drum. Such an apparatus is disclosed in the Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No, 2006-0114121, laid-open on Nov. 6, 2006, entitled “REMAINING WATER CIRCULATION SYSTEM FOR A DRUM TYPE WASHING MACHINE.” Such an apparatus is configured in a way that when the drum is rotated, washing water remaining between the tub and the drum is drawn up and then falls down into the drum. 
     Such an apparatus was configured so that the impact of the water failing on the laundry would improve washing performance. However, the improvement was limited. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments according to the present invention provide a washing machine that includes an auxiliary gashing unit, and a washing method thereof, that improve washing performance by utilizing the speed of flow of the washing water caused by a rotational force generated using an electric motor during a washing cycle and a rinsing cycle, causing the washing water to impact the laundry. 
     Embodiments according to the present invention provide a washing machine including an outer tank in which washing water can be held, an inner tank which is installed rotatably inside the outer tank, and an auxiliary washing unit which is installed inside the inner tank. The auxiliary washing unit is configured to rotate integrally with the inner tank and has a water channel formed therein that is configured so that the laundry in the inner tank is impacted by the washing water which, after flowing into and through the water channel from the side of the outer tank, flows out of the water channel to the inside of the inner tank due to the rotational force generated when the inner tank is rotated. 
     In an embodiment, the auxiliary washing unit includes a supporting member in which the water channel is formed, and a projection member which is supported by coupling to the supporting member and that lifts the laundry by trapping; the laundry then dropped while the inner tank is rotated. 
     The water channel has a shape in which the inner diameter of the outlet positioned inside the inner tank is narrower than that of an inlet positioned in the side of the outer tank, and the inner diameter is narrower toward the inside of the inner tank and away from the side of the outer tank. 
     In an embodiment, the outlet includes a nozzle that spouts washing water into the inner tank. 
     The nozzle can be a circular nozzle, a fan-shaped nozzle, or a porous nozzle, for example. 
     In another embodiment according to the present invention, a washing method includes rotating an inner tank of the washing machine, thus causing washing water to contact an auxiliary washing unit in the side of an outer tank, by rotation of the inner tank; passing the washing water through a water channel in the washing auxiliary unit and then into the inner tank; and washing laundry through contact with the washing water flowing out of the water channel and into the inner tank. 
     In embodiments according to the present invention, the speed of flow of the washing water caused by the rotational force generated an electric motor, which is a power unit for a washing cycle and a rinsing cycle, causes the washing water to directly impact the laundry, thereby improving washing performance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a washing machine in an embodiment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of an auxiliary washing unit in a washing machine in an embodiment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an auxiliary washing unit in a washing machine in an embodiment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of an auxiliary washing unit in a washing machine in an embodiment according to the present invention, which shows an example using a circular nozzle. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of an auxiliary washing unit in a washing machine in an embodiment according to the present invention, which shows an example using a fan-shaped nozzle. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of an auxiliary washing unit in a washing machine in an embodiment according to the present invention, which shows an ample using a porous nozzle. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of an auxiliary washing unit in a washing machine in an embodiment according to the present invention, which shows a path that washing water stored in an outer tank takes into a water channel and then toward the inside of the inner tank. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of a washing machine with an auxiliary washing unit in an embodiment according to the present invention, which shows a path that washing water stored in an outer tank takes into a water channel of the auxiliary washing unit and then toward the inside of the inner tank. 
         FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating a washing method using a washing machine with an auxiliary washing unit in an embodiment according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     In the following description, well-known functions or components will not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic front view of a washing machine in an embodiment according to the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a washing machine  100  in an embodiment according to the present invention includes a cabinet  110  forming the exterior, a washing body  120  for washing laundry, and an auxiliary washing unit  200  that improves washing performance. 
     The cabinet  110  is formed in a shape that accommodates and supports the washing body  120 . For example, the cabinet  110  may have a hexahedral shape. Also, a control panel (not shown) that includes buttons and the like is provided in the front or upper surface of the cabinet  110  so that a user can select a washing function. 
     In an embodiment, the washing body  120  is disposed inside the cabinet  110  and includes an inner tank  121  which is installed so that it can be rotated by a motor that has a horizontal rotating shaft. In an embodiment, the washing body  120  includes an outer tank  122  which supports the inner tank  121  and can hold water for washing. If the washing machine  100  is a drum type washing machine, then the inner tank  121  may be referred as a drum, and the outer tank  122  may be referred to as a tub. 
     As mentioned above, the inner tank  121  can rotate on a shaft that is parallel with the ground (hereinafter, referred to as “the horizontal direction”) on which the cabinet  110  is disposed. The inner tank  121  may have a cylindrical shape with an open end which may be opened and closed selectively by a door (not shown). In addition, a washing space  124  in which the laundry can be washed is provided in the inner tank  121 . 
     The upper portion of the outer tank  122 , which supports the inner tank  121 , may be fixed elastically to the cabinet  110  by an elastic member  130  such as a spring, and the lower portion of the outer tank  122  may be supported by a fixing member  140 . The fixing member  140  may be a dampener which can reduce vibration caused by rotation of the inner tank  121 . 
     In an embodiment, the auxiliary washing unit  200  includes a supporting member  210  which rotates integrally with the inner tank  121 . Also, in an embodiment, the auxiliary washing unit  200  further includes a projection member  220  which is supported by coupling to the supporting member  210  so that it projects toward the inside of the inner tank  121 , and is configured so that laundry in a washing space  124  of the inner tank  121  will be lifted by trapping it with the projection member and then dropped while the inner tank  121  is rotated. In another embodiment, the supporting member  210  is formed high enough so that laundry in the washing space  124  will be lifted by trapping it with the supporting member, in which case the projection member  220  may be excluded from the design. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of an auxiliary washing unit that can be used in a washing machine in an embodiment according to the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a side view of an auxiliary washing unit in a washing machine in an embodiment according to the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a top view of an auxiliary washing unit in a washing machine in an embodiment according to the present invention, which shows an example using a circular nozzle.  FIG. 5  is a top view of an auxiliary washing unit in a washing machine in an embodiment according to the present invention, which shows an example using a fan-shaped nozzle.  FIG. 6  is a top view of an auxiliary washing unit in a washing machine in an embodiment according to the present invention, which shows an example using a porous nozzle. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 6 , a water channel  211  is formed in the supporting member  210  of the washing auxiliary unit  200  in an embodiment according to the present invention. The water channel  211 , which is configured so that laundry trapped by the projection member  220  will be impacted by washing water which, after flowing in from the side of the outer tank, flows out to the inside of the inner tank due to the rotational force being generated when the inner tank is rotated. As shown in  FIGS. 4 through 6 , the water channel  211  is formed inside of the supporting member  210 , and is shown as a dotted line. 
     In an embodiment, the water channel  211  has a shape such that the inner diameter of the outlet positioned inside of the inner tank  121  is narrower than that of the inlet positioned in the side of the outer tank  122 , and also the inner diameter is narrower toward the inside of the inner tank  121  and away from the side of the outer tank  122 . Further, around the outlet of the inside of the inner tank  121 , a nozzle which directs washing water toward the inside of the inner tank  121  is formed. The nozzle may be any one of various shapes, such as but not limited to a circular nozzle or a fan-shaped nozzle  213 . 
     Also, as the inner tank  121  is repeatedly rotated forward and in reverse during a washing cycle and a rinsing cycle, washing water in the supporting member  210  moves in the forward direction, in which the washing water moves forward after flowing in while the inner tank  121  is rotated in the forward direction, and in the reverse direction, in which the washing water moves in reverse after flowing in while the inner tank  121  is rotated in the reverse direction. 
       FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating a washing method using a washing machine with an auxiliary washing unit in an embodiment according to the present invention. 
     As described in  FIG. 9 , the washing method in an embodiment according to the present invention includes rotating the inner tank (block S 501 ). 
     The washing method further includes the washing water in the side of the outer tank getting in contact with the auxiliary washing unit while the inner tank is rotating (block S 503 ). 
     Next, the washing method further includes the washing water passing through the water channel formed in the auxiliary washing unit and flowing out to the inside of the inner tank (block S 505 ). 
     Finally, the washing method further includes washing the laundry by contacting the laundry with the washing water that flows out of the water channel to the inside of the inner tank as mentioned above (block S 507 ). 
     Hereinafter, operation of a washing machine according to an aspect of the present invention will be described. 
     First, during a washing cycle or a rinsing cycle, washing water is held in the outer tank  122 , and the inner tank  121  is rotated by a motor that has a rotational shaft that is disposed horizontally to the ground, at block S 501 . 
     In an embodiment, laundry in the washing space  124  is lifted and dropped repeatedly by the projection member  220  of the auxiliary washing unit  200  while the inner tank  121  is rotated. That is, the projection member  220  performs a function similar to a lifter in a drum type washing machine. In another embodiment, laundry is lifted and dropped repeatedly by the supporting member  210  in lieu of the projection member  220  as described above. 
     When the inner tank  121  is rotated as described above, the auxiliary washing unit  200  is contacted by the washing water in the outer tank  122 , at block S 503 , and the washing water in the outer tank  122  flows into the water channel  211  in the supporting member  210  of the auxiliary washing unit  200  due to the rotational force of the inner tank  121 , and then passes through then out of the water channel to the inside of the inner tank  121 , at block S 505 . That is, washing water spouts from the circular nozzle  212 , the fan-shaped nozzle  213 , or the porous nozzle  214  positioned in the inner tank  121 . Accordingly, the laundry trapped by the projection member  220  is contacted by the washing water and is impacted by the flow of the washing water, and is thereby washed, at block S 507 . For example, the circular nozzle  212  can direct an impact intensely to a specific part of the laundry, and the fan-shaped nozzle  213  can direct an impact to larger area of the laundry. 
     Because, in an embodiment, the water channel  211  has a shape such that the inner diameter of the outlet positioned in the inside of the inner tank  121  is narrower than that of the inlet positioned in the side of the outer tank  122 , the speed of the washing water passing through the water channel  211  is increased as the water flows toward the outlet from the inlet, and increases further while passing through the circular nozzle  212  or the fan-shaped nozzle  213 , thereby providing sufficient impact to the laundry trapped by the projection member  220 . 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , when the auxiliary washing unit  200  proceeds in the direction of the arrow  301  due to rotation of the inner tank  121 , the washing water flows into and through the water channel  211  in the supporting member  210  in the direction of the arrow  302  and spouts out of the water channel in the direction of the arrow  303  via the circular nozzle  212 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , for example, the water channel  211  is formed in the supporting member  210 , which is shown using dotted lines. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 7 , when the inner tank  121  is rotated in the direction of the arrow  401 , the washing water  403  flows into and through the water channel  211  in the supporting member  210  in the direction of the arrow  402  and spouts out of the water channel and into the inner tank  121  in the direction of the arrow  405 . Consequently, laundry  406  that is trapped on the projection member  220  is subject to an impact caused by the speed of flow of the washing water  403  out of the water channel/nozzle. 
     Thus, as described above, in an embodiment according to the present invention, when the inner tank  121  is rotated during the washing cycle or the rinsing cycle, washing water passing through the auxiliary washing unit  200  impacts the laundry which is trapped on the projection member  220 , thereby improving washing performance. 
     As set forth above, while the present invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments of a washing machine, is the embodiments are only examples and the present invention is not limited thereto. It should be construed that the present invention has the widest range in compliance with the basic ideas disclosed in this disclosure. Although it is possible for those skilled in the art to combine and substitute for the disclosed embodiments to embody other wash machine types that may not be specifically disclosed in this disclosure, they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In addition, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made with respect to the disclosed embodiments based on this disclosure and those changes and modifications also fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Embodiments according to the invention are thus described. While the present disclosure has been described in particular embodiments, it should be appreciated that the invention should not be construed as limited by such embodiments, but rather construed according to the below claims.