Washing machine and control method thereof

Abstract

A washing machine and a control method thereof that are capable of improving washing and rinsing efficiencies of large-volume laundry (for example, bedclothes). When large-volume laundry is washed and rinsed, a drum is accelerated to a predetermined velocity such that the laundry clings to the drum, and therefore, wash liquid (or water) comes into uniform contact with the entire surface of the laundry while the laundry widely spreads, is stopped such that the laundry is separated from the drum, and is rotated in alternating directions to change the position of the laundry such that a surface of the laundry contacting the wash liquid (or the water) is turned, and therefore, even contaminants inside the laundry are removed.

1 . A control method of a washing machine having a drum to receive laundry and a motor to rotate the drum, the control method comprising:
 determining whether a large-volume laundry washing course has been selected;
 accelerating the drum to a predetermined velocity which causes the laundry to cling to the drum upon determining that the large-volume laundry washing course has been selected; and 
   rotating the drum in alternating directions to change a position of the laundry.   
   
   
       2 . The control method according to  claim 1 , wherein the large-volume laundry washing course comprises a bedclothes course or a towel course. 
   
   
       3 . The control method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined velocity is approximately 75 RPM or more. 
   
   
       4 . The control method according to  claim 1 , wherein the accelerating the drum and the rotating the drum are performed during washing or rinsing. 
   
   
       5 . A control method of a washing machine having a drum to receive laundry and a motor to rotate the drum, the control method comprising:
 determining whether large-volume laundry washing or rinsing has been selected;   accelerating the drum to a first velocity which causes the laundry to cling to the drum upon determining that the large-volume laundry washing or rinsing has been selected; and   rotating the drum at a second velocity in alternating directions to change a position of the laundry.   
   
   
       6 . The control method according to  claim 5 , wherein the accelerating the drum comprises causing a surface of the laundry to cling to an inner wall of the drum using a centrifugal force generated by the accelerating of the drum. 
   
   
       7 . The control method according to  claim 6 , further comprising stopping the drum, after accelerating the drum, to separate the laundry from the inner wall of the drum. 
   
   
       8 . The control method according to  claim 7 , wherein the rotating the drum at the second velocity comprises rotating the drum in alternating directions, after stopping the drum, to turn the surface of the laundry clinging to the inner wall of the drum. 
   
   
       9 . A control method of a washing machine, comprising:
 selecting a washing course by a user;   determining whether the selected washing course is a course set to wash large-volume laundry;   accelerating and rotating a drum at a velocity which causes laundry to cling to an inner wall of the drum upon determining that the selected washing course is the course set to wash large-volume laundry; and   stopping and rotating the drum in alternating directions to change a position of the laundry.   
   
   
       10 . The control method according to  claim 9 , wherein the course set to wash large-volume laundry comprises a bedclothes course or a towel course. 
   
   
       11 . The control method according to  claim 9 , wherein the stopping and rotating the drum comprises:
 stopping the drum such that the position of the laundry changes from a first position to a second position; and   rotating the drum in alternating directions such that the position of the laundry changes from a third position to a fourth position.   
   
   
       12 . The control method according to  claim 11 , wherein the stopping the drum and the rotating the drum are repeatedly performed at least twice in the course set to wash large-volume laundry. 
   
   
       13 . The control method according to  claim 11 , wherein the first to fourth positions are positions of the laundry changed to turn a surface of the laundry clinging to the inner wall of the drum. 
   
   
       14 . The control method according to  claim 9 , wherein the accelerating and rotating the drum and the stopping and rotating the drum in alternating directions are performed during washing or rinsing. 
   
   
       15 . The control method according to  claim 9 , wherein the accelerating and rotating the drum which causes the laundry to cling to the inner wall of the drum also causes the laundry to spread widely along the circumference of the drum. 
   
   
       16 . The control method according to  claim 9 , wherein the rotating the drum rotates the drum at about 45 RPM in alternating directions. 
   
   
       17 . The control method according to  claim 9 , wherein in the stopping and rotating the drum, the stopping of the drum occurs for a period of time equal to the rotating the drum in one direction before rotating the drum in another direction. 
   
   
       18 . The control method according to  claim 9 , wherein the accelerating and rotating the drum is alternately performed with the stopping and rotating the drum until a washing or rinsing time has lapsed. 
   
   
       19 . The control method according to  claim 9 , wherein the accelerating and rotating the drum is performed before the stopping and rotating the drum. 
   
   
       20 . The control method according to  claim 11 , wherein the stopping the drum and the rotating the drum are repeatedly performed for a predetermined number of times. 
   
   
       21 . The control method according to  claim 20 , wherein the predetermined number of times depends upon a load amount of the laundry. 
   
   
       22 . A washing machine comprising:
 a drum to receive laundry;   a motor to rotate the drum; and   a control unit to control the motor to accelerate the drum to a predetermined velocity and to rotate the drum in alternating directions, such that washing or rinsing is performed, for a large-volume laundry washing course.   
   
   
       23 . The control method according to  claim 22 , wherein the control unit controls a surface of the laundry to cling to an inner wall of the drum using a centrifugal force generated by accelerating the drum to the predetermined velocity. 
   
   
       24 . The control method according to  claim 23 , wherein the control unit controls the drum to be stopped, before rotating the drum in alternating directions after accelerating the drum, such that the surface of the laundry is separated from the inner wall of the drum. 
   
   
       25 . The control method according to  claim 24 , wherein the control unit controls the drum to be rotated in alternating directions, after stopping the drum, to turn the surface of the laundry clinging to the inner wall of the drum.