Washing machine and method for controlling spin-drying thereof

Abstract

Disclosed are a washing machine having a drying device, which performs a spin-drying operation at a maximally low RPM and supplies cold air to clothes in a delicate course so as to minimize damage to the clothes and improve rinsing and spin-drying efficiencies, and a method for controlling spin-drying of the washing machine. The method for controlling spin-drying of the washing machine, which has a rotary drum for containing clothes, a motor for rotating the rotary drum, and a fan for circulating air into the rotary drum, includes determining whether or not a delicate course is selected; performing low-speed spin-drying in which the rotary drum is rotated at a low speed by operating the motor at a low RPM, when it is determined that the delicate course is selected; and supplying cold air to the inside of the rotary drum by operating the fan together with the low-speed spin-drying.

1 . A method for controlling spin-drying of a washing machine, which has a rotary drum for containing laundry, a motor for rotating the rotary drum, and a fan for circulating air, comprising:
 determining whether a delicate course is selected;   performing low-speed spin-drying in which the rotary drum is rotated at a low speed by operating the motor at a low revolutions per minute (RPM), when the delicate course is selected; and   supplying cold air to the inside of the rotary drum by operating the fan together with the low-speed spin-drying.   
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the low RPM of the motor is at least 250 RPM. 
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the low RPM of the motor is in the range of 250˜400 RPM. 
   
   
       4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the low-speed spin-drying is performed such that the motor is operated at the low RPM in a middle spin-drying operation after a washing operation. 
   
   
       5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the low-speed spin-drying is performed such that the motor is operated at the low RPM in a final spin-drying operation. 
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cold air is supplied to the inside of the rotary drum such that the fan is operated during operation of the motor at the low RPM so as to supply the cold air generated from the fan to the inside of the rotary drum rotating at the low speed. 
   
   
       7 . A washing machine comprising:
 a rotary drum to contain laundry;   a motor to rotate the rotary drum;   a fan to circulate air; and   a control unit to control spin-drying in a delicate course by operating the motor at a low revolutions per minute (RPM) so as to perform low-speed spin-drying in which the rotary drum is rotated at a low speed, and to operate the fan together with the low-speed spin-drying so as to supply cold air to the inside of the rotary drum.   
   
   
       8 . The washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the control unit controls the motor such that the low-speed spin-drying is performed in a middle spin-drying operation after a washing operation. 
   
   
       9 . The washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the control unit controls the motor such that the low-speed spin-drying is performed in a final spin-drying operation. 
   
   
       10 . The washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the low RPM of the motor is at least 250 RPM. 
   
   
       11 . The washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the low RPM of the motor is in the range of 250˜400 RPM. 
   
   
       12 . The washing machine according to  claim 7 , further comprising a duct for guiding the route of the air circulated by the fan, wherein the fan is installed in the duct. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 performing washing and rinsing operations; and   skipping a middle spin-drying operation after washing and rinsing operations are completed to perform the low-speed spin drying.   
   
   
       14 . The washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the control unit controls the washing machine to perform washing and rinsing operations and to skip a middle spin-drying operation after washing and rinsing operations are completed in order to perform the low-speed spin drying.