Washing machine having rinse agent dispenser and control method thereof

Abstract

A washing machine having a rinse agent dispenser and control method thereof. The rinse agent dispenser is directly connected with a water tub to automatically dispense a rinse agent into the water tub via an adjustment of a level of wash water contained in the water tub without requiring a separate water supply device. The washing machine includes the water tub, the rinse agent dispenser connected with the water tub to dispense the rinse agent into the water tub via an adjustment of the level of the wash water contained in the water tub, water supply means to supply the wash water into the water tub, drainage means to drain the wash water from the water tub, and a controller to control the supply and drainage of the wash water by the water supply means and drainage means, thereby adjusting the level of the wash water in the water tub.

1 . A washing machine comprising: 
 a water tub to contain wash water therein: and    a rinse agent dispenser connected with the water tub to dispense a rinse agent into the water tub via adjustment of a level of the water contained in the water tub.    
   
   
       2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the rinse agent dispenser is connected with the water tub via connection tubes thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the rinse agent dispenser is mounted outside of the water tub at a position higher than a middle position of the water tub by a predetermined height.  
   
   
       4 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the predetermined height is at least 3 cm.  
   
   
       5 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 water supply means to supply the wash water into the water tub;    drainage means to drain the wash water from the water tub; and    a controller to control water supply and drainage operations of the water supply means and drainage means, thereby adjusting the level of the wash water contained in the water tub.    
   
   
       6 . The washing machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the controller determines whether a remaining cycle is a rinsing cycle, 
 wherein when the remaining cycle is the rinsing cycle, the controller controls the supply of the wash water so that the wash water reaches a predetermined rinse agent dispensing level.    
   
   
       7 . The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the rinsing cycle is a final rinsing cycle.  
   
   
       8 . The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined rinse agent dispensing level is higher than a predetermined rinsing level.  
   
   
       9 . The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein after completion of the supply of the wash water, the controller controls the drainage of the wash water so that the wash water reaches the predetermined rinsing level.  
   
   
       10 . A method of controlling a washing machine having a water tub and a rinse agent dispenser connected with the water tub to receive a rinse agent, the method comprising: 
 controlling the supply of wash water when a remaining cycle is a rinsing cycle, thereby introducing the wash water into the rinse agent dispenser; and    controlling the drainage of the wash water after the wash water is introduced into the rinse agent dispenser, thereby allowing the rinse agent to be dispensed into the water tub.    
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the rinsing cycle is a final rinsing cycle.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the controlling of the supply of the wash water is performed to supply the wash water into the water tub to reach a predetermined rinse agent dispensing level.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined rinse agent dispensing level is higher than a predetermined rinsing level.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the controlling of the drainage of the wash water is performed to drain the wash water from the water tub to reach the predetermined rinsing level.  
   
   
       15 . A method of controlling a washing machine having a water tub and a rinse agent dispenser directly connected with the water tub to receive a rinse agent, the method comprising: 
 determining whether the washing machine is at a final rinsing cycle;    supplying a predetermined amount of wash water into the water tub above a half level of the water tub and allowing the wash water to be introduced into the rinse agent dispenser and mixed with the rinse agent;    stopping and draining the predetermined amount of wash water to the half level of the water tub while dispensing the rinse agent into the water tub; and performing a final rinsing cycle.