Patent Abstract:
A method of controlling water supply in an automatic washer controls one or more water supply valves according to predetermined times for momentarily turning off the water supply valve until a predetermined water level is reached, to prevent flooding and a resulting contamination of a detergent box area and to control a mixing of agents with the supplied water. The automatic washer has at least one water supply valve for supplying the water to a tub via a detergent box and a water level detector for detecting a level of the water suppled to the tub. The method includes turning on the at least one water supply valve during a first predetermined time; and turning off, after elapse of the first predetermined time, the at least one water supply valve during a second predetermined time and further comprises repeating the above turning on and turning off until the level of the water supplied to the tub reaches a predetermined water level. The first predetermined time is proportional to a volume of the detergent box, and the second predetermined time is inversely proportional to the volume of the detergent box

Full Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 10-2004-0025965 filed on Apr. 14, 2004, which is/are hereby incorporated by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to automatic washers, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling water supply in an automatic washer, in which one or more water supply valves are controlled according to predetermined times for momentarily turning off the water supply valve until a predetermined water level is reached.  
         [0004]     2. Discussion of the Related Art  
         [0005]     An automatic washer is an apparatus for cleaning laundry by receiving a controlled supply of water, typically from both hot and cold water sources, to be mixed with controlled quantities of detergents, bleach, softening agents, and the like. A general automatic washer, such as that shown in  FIG. 1 , essentially comprises a tub  10  for holding washing water; a cylindrical drum  20 , which is perforated and rotatably provided within the tub, for receiving laundry; a water supply device  40  for supplying to the tub  10  water from an external source; and a detergent supply device  50  having internal compartments for storing detergent and other agents to be mixed with the supplied water via internal passages connected to the water supply device. The tub  10  and drum  20  are provided in an outer casing  2  on which the water supply device  40  and detergent supply device  50  are typically installed.  
         [0006]     The water supply device  40  comprises a plurality of water supply valves  42   a,    42   b,    42   c,  and  42   d  variously connected to a pair of external hoses  41   a  and  41   b,  respectively connected to external water sources, for controlling the external supply of water; a plurality of water supply hoses  43   a,    43   b,    43   c,  and  43   d  respectively connecting the water supply valves to entrances of the detergent supply device  50 ; and a bellows tube  44 , connected to the exit of the detergent supply device, for conveying washing water to the tub  10 . Here, the washing water is water having passed through the detergent supply device  50  and being mixed with the detergent and other agents stored in the detergent supply device. The water supply valves include first, second, and third cold water valves  42   a,    42   b,  and  42   c  and a hot water valve  42   d,  and the water supply hoses include first, second, and third cold water hoses  43   a,    43   b,  and  43   c  and a hot water hose  43   d.    
         [0007]     The detergent supply device  50  comprises a detergent box housing  52  connected to the bellows tube  44 , a detergent box  54  arranged within the detergent box housing and disposed adjacent a control panel  7 , and a dispenser cover  70  provided above the detergent box housing and connected to each of the water supply hoses  43   a,    43   b,    43   c,  and  43   d.  Thus, the water from the external source is supplied via one or more of the water supply valves  42   a,    42   b,    42   c,  and  42   d  to enter the detergent box  54  through the dispenser cover  70  and to exit the detergent box through the detergent box housing  52 , to be mixed with the stored agents and supplied as washing water to the tub  10  via the bellows tube  44 .  
         [0008]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , illustrating a water supply control method in a washer as described above, one of the water supply valves  42   a,    42   b,    42   c,  and  42   d  is turned on (S 1 ) to thereby supply water (S 2 ) to the detergent supply device  50 . While the water supply valve is turned on, water is passed through the corresponding water supply hose and the level of washing water, exiting the detergent supply device  50  and filling the tub  10  via the bellows tube  44 , is detected. The water supply continues until a predetermined level is reached (S 3 ), whereupon the water supply valve is turned off (S 4 ).  
         [0009]     In the above-described method of the related art, however, the agents stored in the detergent supply device  50  may fail to be properly drained with the water, such as if an excessive amount of detergent is stored in the detergent supply device  50  or if the stored detergent blocks the internal passages of the detergent supply device, whereby washing water may overflow the detergent supply device and contaminate the area. In doing so, there is a further failure to control the quantity of agents being mixed with the water.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method of controlling water supply in an automatic washer that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.  
         [0011]     An object of the present invention, which has been devised to solve the foregoing problem, lies in providing a water supply control method, which prevents flooding and a resulting contamination of a detergent box area and controls a mixing of agents with the supplied water.  
         [0012]     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from a practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the subject matter particularly pointed out in the specification and claims hereof as well as in the appended drawings.  
         [0013]     To achieve these objects and other advantages in accordance with the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a method of supplying water in an automatic washer having at least one water supply valve for supplying the water to a tub via detergent box and a water level detector for detecting a level of the water suppled to the tub. The method comprises turning on the at least one water supply valve during a first predetermined time; and turning off, after elapse of the first predetermined time, the at least one water supply valve during a second predetermined time and further comprises repeating the above turning on and turning off until the level of the water supplied to the tub reaches a predetermined water level. The first predetermined time is proportional to a volume of the detergent box, and the second predetermined time is inversely proportional to the volume of the detergent box.  
         [0014]     It is to be understood that both the foregoing explanation and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and illustrative and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective diagram of a general automatic washer;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a water supply control method according to a related art;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a water supply device and a detergent supply device of an automatic washer adopting a water supply control method of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the detergent supply device of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view cut along a line V-V in  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view cut along a line VI-VI in  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of an automatic washer adopting a water supply control resent invention; and  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart of a water supply control method according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the drawings, like elements are indicated using the same or similar reference designations where possible.  
         [0025]     As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , an automatic washer adopting the water supply control method of the present invention includes a water supply device  40  and a detergent supply device  50 .  
         [0026]     The water supply device  40  comprises of a plurality of water supply valves  42   a,    42   b,    42   c,  and  42   d  for controlling the supply of water from an external source, including cold water and hot water, a plurality of water supply hoses  43   a,    43   b,    43   c,  and  43   d  respectively leading the water having passed through the water supply valves to the detergent supply device  50 , and a bellows tube  44  leading the water having passed through the detergent supply device to a tub. The bellows tube  44 , which includes an air trap composed of a first bend  44   a  extended downward and connected to a second bend  44   b  extending above the first bend by a height h, is configured to allow upstream air to move to the tub  10  and to allow steam flowing backward from the tub to be condensed into the water remaining in the first bend of the bellows tube.  
         [0027]     The detergent supply device  50  comprises a detergent box  54  detachably provided within the detergent box housing  52 , which has an open front and top and is connected at a low point to the bellows tube  44  and covered by a dispenser cover  70  selectively receiving water via the water supply hoses  43   a,    43   b,    43   c,  and  43   d  to be supplied (drained) to the detergent box disposed below via its open top. A liquid detergent receptacle  80  for mixing a liquid detergent with the water supplied to the detergent box  54  is detachably provided (loadable) to the detergent box. Washing water exits the detergent box housing  52  at an outlet  53  for receiving the bellows tube  44 .  
         [0028]     The detergent box  54  comprises a powder detergent compartment  56  for storing a powder detergent to be mixed with water and a front  54   a,  coupled to a forward end of the powder detergent compartment and provided with a grip  54   b  where ventilation holes  54   c  are formed to introduce air into an interior of the detergent box housing  52 . The powder detergent compartment  56  includes sidewalls  54   d  and  54   e  and is partitioned by a partition  54   f  into a main detergent compartment  58  and a preliminary detergent compartment  62 . Respectively disposed on either side of the upper rear of the detergent box  54 , a bleach compartment  59  for storing bleach is integrally formed with the main detergent compartment  58  and a softening agent compartment  63  for storing a softening agent is integrally formed with the preliminary detergent compartment  62 . The main detergent compartment  58  includes a main detergent blocking rib  61  for preventing detergent from clogging the bleach compartment  59 , and the preliminary detergent compartment  62  includes a preliminary detergent blocking rib  65  for preventing detergent from clogging the softening agent compartment  63 .  
         [0029]     The bleach compartment  59  includes an inner bleach siphon tube  59   a  extending upward from a bottom wall spaced apart from an inner bottom surface of the main detergent compartment  58  and has an open top covered by a bleach siphon cover  60 , which has an outer bleach siphon tube  60   c  extending downward to receive the inner bleach siphon tube and form a drain passage from a bleach inlet  60   b  to the bleach compartment below. One end of the bleach siphon cover  60  has a recess  60   a  for receiving a hook  59   b  provided to the bleach compartment  59 . A top surface of the bleach siphon cover  60  has a catch  60   d  protruding upward to be caught on the control panel  7  or the dispenser cover  70  when pulling the detergent box  54  forward and an elastic release  60   e  for, when pushed, lowering the protruding height of the catch and thereby releasing its catching function.  
         [0030]     The softening agent compartment  63  includes an inner softening agent siphon tube  63   a  extending upward from a bottom wall spaced apart from an inner bottom surface of the preliminary detergent compartment  62  and has an open top covered by a softening agent siphon cover  64 , which has an outer softening agent siphon tube  64   c  extending downward to receive the inner softening agent siphon tube and form a drain passage from a softening agent inlet  64   b  to the softening agent compartment below. One end of the softening agent siphon cover  64  has a recess  64   a  for receiving a hook  63   b  provided to the softening agent compartment  63 .  
         [0031]     The dispenser cover  70  includes a top panel  72  and a bottom panel  78  to form a main detergent water supply passage  73 , a preliminary detergent water supply passage  74 , a bleach water supply passage  75 , and a softening agent water supply passage  76 . The bottom panel  78  of the dispenser cover  70  is provided with a main detergent water supply rib  73   a  forming the main detergent water supply passage  73 , a preliminary detergent water supply rib  74   a  forming the preliminary detergent water supply passage  74 , a bleach water supply rib  75   a  forming the bleach water supply passage  75 , and a softening agent water supply rib  76   a  forming the softening agent water supply passage  76 . A multitude of main detergent water supply holes  73   b  and preliminary detergent water supply holes  74   b  are formed in the bottom panel  78  to be disposed over forward portions of the main detergent and preliminary detergent compartments  58  and  62 , respectively, and a bleach water supply hole  75   b  and a softening agent water supply hole  76   b  are formed in the bottom panel to be disposed over the bleach and softening agent compartments  59  and  63 , respectively. A plurality of bypass openings  73   c  and  74   c  are formed in the main detergent water supply rib  73   a  and in the preliminary detergent water supply rib  74   a,  respectively, to allow water passing through the main detergent water supply passage  73  and through the preliminary detergent water supply passage  74  to be directly drained via the main detergent water supply holes  73   b  and the preliminary detergent water supply holes  74   b.  The top and bottom panels  72  and  78  are assembled to each other by thermal fusion. The bottom panel  78  of the dispenser cover  70  is provided with first to fourth hose connectors  79   a,    79   b,    79   c,  and  79   d,  which are respectively connected to the first to third cold water hoses  43   a,    43   b,  and  43   c  and the hot water hose  43   d,  such that the first and second cold water hoses and the hot water hose can selectively supply cold or hot water to each of the main detergent water supply passage  73 , the preliminary detergent water supply passage  74 , and the softening agent water supply passage  76  and such that the third cold water hose can selectively supply cold water to the bleach water supply passage  75 .  
         [0032]     The liquid detergent receptacle  80  includes a first liquid detergent receptacle  82  detachably provided to the main detergent compartment  58  and a second liquid detergent receptacle  92  detachably provided to the preliminary detergent compartment  62  but may include just one of the first and second liquid detergent receptacles. Each of the first and second liquid detergent receptacles  82  and  92  is loaded in a forward portion of the main detergent compartment  58 , and when loaded, its upper end is disposed lower than an upper end of the main detergent compartment. The first and second liquid detergent receptacles  82  and  92  include a plurality of first bottom protrusions  83  and a plurality of second bottom protrusions  93 , respectively, to be seated on an inner bottom surface of the powder detergent compartment  56 , while leaving a predetermined space between an outer bottom surface of the corresponding liquid detergent receptacle and the inner bottom surface the powder detergent compartment. Each of the first and second liquid detergent receptacles  82  and  92  is narrower than a horizontal distance between the sidewalls  54   d  and  54   f  or between the sidewalls  54   f  and  54   e,  such that a gap t exists between each sidewall and one side of the first and second liquid detergent receptacles, which are supported by a plurality of side protrusions  84  and  94  extending laterally from the sides of the first and second liquid detergent receptacles, so that any overflow of either the first or second liquid detergent receptacle is drained via the gap t, without entering adjacent areas. The first and second liquid detergent receptacles  82  and  92  have open tops and include first and second inner liquid detergent siphon tubes  85  and  95  extending upward from a bottom wall connected to a sloped wall  87  or  97  and first and second liquid detergent siphon covers  86  and  96 , each of which has an outer liquid detergent siphon tube  86   c  or  96   c  extending downward to receive the inner liquid detergent siphon tubes and form a drain passage from the open tops to the powder detergent compartment  56  below. The first and second liquid detergent siphon covers  86  and  96  are respectively provided with flat tops  86   a  and  96   a,  hanging on a sidewall of the first or second liquid detergent receptacle and thereby inhibiting a rotational movement, and liquid quantity viewing means  86   b  and  96   b  for providing a visual representation of an upper limit of the liquid detergent.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a control portion of an automatic washer adopting a water supply control method of the present invention comprises a water level detector  98  for detecting a water level within the tub and a controller  99  for individually controlling the water supply valves  42   a,    42   b,    42   c,  and  42   d  to intermittently supply the water via the water supply valves on water supply and to end the water supply by terminating the on/off control of the water supply valves when the water level detected by the water level detector  98  reaches a predetermined level.  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , illustrating a water supply control method according to the present invention, at least one of the water supply valves  42   a,    42   b,    42   c,  and  42   d  is turned on for a first predetermined time x and is then turned off for a second predetermined time y (S 11 ). The value of each predetermined time is set according to the configuration of the detergent box  54 , and in particular, according to the configuration of a corresponding compartment of the detergent box, including one or more of compartments  58 ,  59 ,  62 ,  63 ,  80 , and  92 , with the first predetermined time x being preferably set up in proportion to the respective volumes of the compartments and the second predetermined time y being preferably set up in inverse proportion to the respective volumes of the compartments. While the water supply valve is turned on, i.e., during the first predetermined time x, water is passed through the corresponding water supply hose and the level of washing water, exiting the detergent supply device  50  and filling the tub  10  via the bellows tube  44 , is detected. In doing so, the water from the external source is supplied via one or more of the water supply valves  42   a,    42   b,    42   c,  and  42   d  to enter the detergent box  54 , to be therein mixed with the stored agents, and to exit the detergent box and supplied as washing water to the tub  10  via the bellows tube  44 . After the first predetermined time x has elapsed, the water supply valve  42   a  is turned off for the duration of the second predetermined time y. In doing so, the detergent contained in the detergent supply device  50  is dissolved in the water to be slowly drained via the bellows tube  44 . Hence, a fixed quantity of the detergent can be supplied to the tub without flooding. By detecting the level of the washing water in the tub using the water level detector  98  and the controller  99 , the washer repeats the above water supply and cut-off steps by controllably turning on and off the water supply valves until the detected water level reaches a predetermined water level (S 12 ). Once the detected level of washing water supplied to the tub reaches the predetermined water level, the turning on and off of the water supply valve is terminated, whereupon the washer performs a wash or rinse cycle.  
         [0035]     The water supply control method according to the present invention will be explained in detail for each agent species, i.e., a powder detergent, a liquid detergent, a bleach, and a softening agent.  
         [0000]     Preliminary And Main Detergent Water Supply Modes  
         [0036]     With a powder detergent stored in one or both of the main and preliminary detergent compartments  58  and  62  (without loading the first and second liquid detergent receptacles  82  and  92 ), laundry placed in the drum, a wash cycle selected, and the washer actuated, the water supply for washing the laundry is initiated. Here, taking the preliminary detergent water supply mode as an example, the first cold water valve  42   a  is turned on to supply water to the preliminary detergent compartment  62  via the preliminary detergent water supply passage  74  and the preliminary detergent water supply holes  74   b  formed in the bottom panel  78  of the dispenser cover  70 . The water thus draining into the preliminary detergent compartment  62  becomes mixed with the powder detergent, and the draining mixture proceeds to the rear of the preliminary detergent compartment, exits the open rear side of the detergent box  54  to enter the detergent box housing  52 , and then enters the bellows  44  via the outlet  53  to be supplied to the tub and used for main washing.  
         [0037]     In the preliminary detergent water supply mode, whereby the first cold water valve  42   a  is controlled according to the present invention by being firstly turned on during a third predetermined time (x−3) and then turned off during a fourth predetermined time (y+3), a controlled water supply is carried out by repetitiously turning the cold water valve on and off until the water level in the tub reaches the predetermined water level, whereupon the repetition is terminated. Each of the third and fourth predetermined times has a value set according to a volume of the preliminary detergent compartment  62 , so that the intermittent application of a water supply from the above control of the first cold water valve  42   a  prevents the flooding of the detergent box area with a mixture of liquid detergent and water.  
         [0038]     Thereafter, to perform a main washing with a liquid detergent after completion of a preliminary washing using liquid detergent, the first and second liquid detergent receptacles  82  and  92  are loaded in the main and preliminary detergent compartments  58  and  62 , respectively, so that liquid detergent may be stored in either receptacle.  
         [0000]     Second Liquid Detergent Water Supply Mode  
         [0039]     With laundry placed in the drum, a wash cycle selected, and the washer actuated, the first cold water valve  42   a  is turned on to supply water to the preliminary detergent compartment  62  via the preliminary detergent water supply passage  74  and the preliminary detergent water supply holes  74   b  formed in the bottom panel  78  of the dispenser cover  70 . The water in the second liquid detergent receptacle  92  is mixed with liquid detergent, and the mixture ascends via the outer liquid detergent siphon tube  96   c  of the second liquid detergent siphon cover  96  and then descends via the inner liquid detergent siphon tube  95  of the second liquid detergent receptacle  92  to drain into the preliminary detergent compartment  62 . The draining mixture proceeds to the rear of the preliminary detergent compartment  62 , exits the open rear side of the detergent box  54  to enter the detergent box housing  52 , and then enters the bellows  44  via the outlet  53  to be supplied to the tub and used for preliminary washing.  
         [0040]     In the second liquid detergent water supply mode, whereby the first cold water valve  42   a  is controlled according to the present invention by being firstly turned on during a fifth predetermined time (x−1) and then turned off during a sixth predetermined time (y+1), a controlled water supply is carried out by repetitiously turning the cold water valve on and off until the water level in the tub reaches the predetermined water level, whereupon the repetition is terminated. Each of the fifth and sixth predetermined times has a value set according to a volume of the second liquid detergent receptacle  92 , so that the intermittent application of a water supply from the above control of the first cold water valve  42   a  prevents the flooding of the detergent box area with a mixture of liquid detergent and water.  
         [0000]     First Liquid Detergent Water Supply Mode  
         [0041]     On the other hand, the second cold water valve  42   b  is turned on to supply water to the main detergent compartment  58  via the main detergent water supply passage  73  and the main detergent water supply holes  73   b  formed in the bottom panel  78  of the dispenser cover  70 . The water in the first liquid detergent receptacle  82  is mixed with liquid detergent, and the mixture ascends via the outer liquid detergent siphon tube  86   c  of the first liquid detergent siphon cover  86  and then descends via the inner liquid detergent siphon tube  85  of the first liquid detergent receptacle  82  to drain into the main detergent compartment  58 . The draining mixture proceeds to the rear of the main detergent compartment  58 , exits the open rear side of the detergent box  54  to enter the detergent box housing  52 , and then enters the bellows  44  via the outlet  53  to be supplied to the tub and used for main washing.  
         [0042]     In the first liquid detergent water supply mode, the second cold water valve  42   b  is controlled according to the present invention by being firstly turned on during a seventh predetermined time (x−1) and then turned off during a eighth predetermined time (y+1), a controlled water supply is carried out by repetitiously turning the cold water valve on and off until the water level in the tub reaches the predetermined water level, whereupon the repetition is terminated. Each of the seventh and eighth predetermined times has a value set according to a volume of the first liquid detergent receptacle  82 , so that the intermittent application of a water supply from the above control of the second cold water valve  42   b  prevents the flooding of the detergent box area with a mixture of liquid detergent and water.  
         [0043]     After completion of the main washing, the washer is drained and a subsequent cycle such as rinsing or dewatering cycle is carried out. If a rinsing cycle is to be performed, the second cold water valve  42   b  is turned on to supply the tub with a predetermined level of fresh water via the dispenser cover  70 , the main detergent compartment  58 , the detergent box housing  52 , and the bellows tube  44 .  
         [0000]     Bleach Water Supply Mode  
         [0044]     With bleach stored in the bleach compartment  59  and the washer actuated to perform a main washing cycle, the third cold water valve  42   c  is turned on to supply water to the main detergent compartment  58  via the bleach water supply passage  75  and the bleach water supply hole  75   b  formed in the bottom panel  78  of the dispenser cover  70 . The water mixed with the bleach contained in the bleach compartment  59  drains into the main detergent compartment  58  by ascending via the outer bleach siphon tube  60   c  of the bleach siphon cover  60  and then descending via the inner bleach siphon tube  59   a  of the bleach compartment to settle in the bottom of the main detergent compartment. The mixture is then supplied from the main detergent compartment  58  to the tub.  
         [0045]     In the bleach water supply mode, whereby the third cold water valve  42   c  is controlled according to the present invention by being firstly turned on during a ninth predetermined time (x−1) and then turned off during a tenth predetermined time (y+1), a controlled water supply is carried out by repetitiously turning the cold water valve on and off until the water level in the tub reaches the predetermined water level, whereupon the repetition is terminated. Each of the ninth and tenth predetermined times has a value set according to a volume of the bleach compartment  59 , so that the intermittent application of a water supply from the above control of the third cold water valve  42   c  prevents the flooding of the detergent box area with a mixture of bleach and water.  
         [0000]     Softening Agent Water Supply Mode  
         [0046]     With a softening agent stored in the softening agent compartment  63  and the washer actuated to perform a rinse cycle, the first and second cold water valves  42   a  and  42   b  are simultaneously turned on to supply water to the preliminary detergent compartment  62  via the softening agent water supply passage  76  and the softening agent water supply hole  76   b  formed in the bottom panel  78  of the dispenser cover  70 . The supplied water is mixed with the softening agent contained in the softening agent compartment  63  and drains into the preliminary detergent compartment  62  by ascending via the outer softening agent siphon tube  64   c  of the softening agent siphon cover  64  and then descending via the inner softening agent siphon tube  63   a  of the softening agent compartment to settle in the bottom of the preliminary detergent compartment. The mixture is then supplied from the preliminary detergent compartment  62  to the tub.  
         [0047]     In the softening agent water supply mode, whereby each of the cold water valves  42   a  and  42   b  are controlled according to the present invention by being firstly turned on during an eleventh predetermined time (x−4) and then turned off during a twelfth predetermined time (y+4), a controlled water supply is carried out by repetitiously turning the cold water valves on and off until the water level in the tub reaches the predetermined water level, whereupon the repetition is terminated. Each of the eleventh and twelfth predetermined times has a value set according to a volume of the softening agent compartment  63 , so that the intermittent application of a water supply from the above control of the first and second cold water valves  42   a  and  42   b  prevents the flooding of the detergent box area with a mixture of softening agent and water.  
         [0048]     In the water supply control method according to the present invention, a water supply valve is firstly turned on during the first predetermined time and is then turned off during the second predetermined time, which is repeated to produce an intermittent water supply to the tub. The present invention prevents a flooding of the detergent box area with washing water to maintain a clean interior environment and enables the detergent to be introduced to the supplied water in a fixed quantity.  
         [0049]     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations, provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3