Washing machine and method for controlling supply of water thereof

Abstract

A washing machine for preventing contaminants from degenerating and laundry from being damaged when water is supplied in a washing operation, and a method for controlling the supply of water thereof. Particularly, a washing machine for supplying cold water to laundry for sufficiently soaking the laundry and then supplying warm water at a high temperature to the laundry so as to prevent contaminants from degenerating, and a method for controlling the supply of water of the washing machine, thereby preventing the deterioration of washing performance of the washing machine. The method includes determining whether or not a water supply operation is selected, supplying cold water to soak laundry when it is determined that the water supply operation is selected and supplying warm water, after the soaking of the laundry in the cold water, to prevent contaminants of the laundry from degenerating.

1 . A method for controlling the supply of water of a washing machine comprising: 
 determining whether or not a water supply operation is selected;    supplying cold water to soak laundry when it is determined that the water supply operation is selected; and    supplying warm water after the soaking of the laundry in the cold water to prevent contaminants of the laundry from degenerating.    
   
   
       2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the water supply operation is a water supply step of a washing operation.  
   
   
       3 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein cold water is supplied for a predetermined time.  
   
   
       4 . The method as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the predetermined time is set according to the quantity of the laundry.  
   
   
       5 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein cold and warm water is supplied, after the soaking of the laundry in cold water, so that the level of the supplied water reaches a predetermined level.  
   
   
       6 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined level is a quantity of the washing water set according to the quantity of the laundry.  
   
   
       7 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein cold and warm water is supplied, after the soaking of the laundry in the water, so that the temperature of the supplied water reaches a predetermined temperature.  
   
   
       8 . The method as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined temperature is a temperature set by a user.  
   
   
       9 . A method for controlling the supply of water of a washing machine having a rotary drum for containing laundry comprising: 
 determining whether or not a water supply operation is selected;    supplying cold water to soak the laundry when it is determined that the water supply operation is selected; and    supplying cold water and warm water, after the soaking of the laundry in cold water, to control the level and the washing temperature of the supplied water.    
   
   
       10 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein a motor drives to rotate the rotary drum during the soaking of the laundry in cold water.  
   
   
       11 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the level and the washing temperature of the supplied water are controlled by simultaneously or alternately supplying warm water and cold water.  
   
   
       12 . A method for controlling the supply of water of a washing machine, in which cold water or warm water is supplied directly to laundry, comprising: 
 determining whether or not a water supply operation is selected;    supplying cold water for a designated time to soak the laundry when it is determined that the water supply operation is selected;    simultaneously supplying cold water and warm water, after the soaking of the laundry in cold water, so that the level of the supplied water reaches a predetermined level; and    alternately supplying cold water and warm water, after the soaking of the laundry in cold water, so that the temperature of the supplied water reaches a predetermined washing temperature.    
   
   
       13 . A washing machine having a rotary drum for containing laundry comprising: 
 a water supply unit for supplying cold water or warm water directly to the laundry; and    a control unit for controlling supply of water, wherein when a water supply operation is selected, cold water is first supplied to the rotary drum to soak the laundry and warm water is then supplied to the rotary drum.    
   
   
       14 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the control of the supply of the water is performed during a washing operation.  
   
   
       15 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the control unit controls the water supply unit so that cold and warm water is simultaneously supplied to the rotary drum after the soaking of the laundry in cold water and the level of the supplied water reaches a predetermined level.  
   
   
       16 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the control unit controls the water supply unit so that cold water and warm water are alternately supplied to the rotary drum after the soaking of the laundry in the water and the temperature of the supplied water reaches a predetermined temperature.  
   
   
       17 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the water supply unit comprises: 
 a cold wafer valve opens or closes based on a command from the operating unit; and    a hot water valve that opens or closes based on a command from the operating unit.    
   
   
       18 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the water supply unit further comprises a detergent supply device.  
   
   
       19 . The washing machine as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the control unit comprises a read-only memory for storing data associated with predetermined times for supplying hot and cold water and predetermined water levels according to a quantity of laundry.