Control method of a laundry machine

Abstract

A laundry machine and a control method thereof are provided in which laundering ability may be improved while also improving efficiency and noise/vibration. The laundry machine employs a plurality of drum motions by varying drum rotational speed, drum rotational direction, and drum starting and stopping point, to provide different motion of laundry items in the drum.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a laundry machine including a rotatable drum, the method comprising:
 (a) rotating the drum at a first predetermined rotational speed;   (b) rotating the drum at a second predetermined rotational speed that is greater than the first predetermined rotational speed;   (c) (i) rotating the drum at a third predetermined rotational speed that is greater than the first and second predetermined rotational speeds, (ii) pausing rotation of the drum at a first predetermined position for a predetermined period, and (iii) repeating steps (c) (i) and (c) (ii);   (d) (i) rotating the drum in a first direction at a fourth predetermined rotational speed (equal to the first predetermined rotational speed) until the drum reaches a second predetermined position, (ii) rotating the drum in a second direction opposite the first direction at the fourth predetermined rotational speed until the drum reaches a third predetermined position, and (iii) repeating steps (d) (i) and (d) (ii);   (e) (i) rotating the drum in the first direction at a fifth predetermined rotational speed until the drum reaches a fourth predetermined position, (ii) rotating the drum in the second direction opposite the first direction at the fifth predetermined rotational speed until the drum reaches a fifth predetermined position, and (iii) repeating steps (e) (i) and (e) (ii); and   (f) rotating the drum at a sixth predetermined rotational speed.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (c) (i) rotating the drum at a third predetermined rotational speed comprises rotating the drum in the first direction, and wherein (ii) pausing rotation of the drum at a first predetermined position for a predetermined period comprises temporarily stopping rotation of the drum at approximately 180 degrees of rotation, and then resuming rotation of the drum in the first direction at the third predetermined rotational speed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein temporarily stopping rotation of the drum comprises applying a reverse torque to generate a sudden brake of the drum prior to resuming rotation of the drum in the first direction at the third predetermined rotational speed. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (d) (i) rotating the drum in a first direction at a fourth predetermined rotational speed until the drum reaches a second predetermined position comprises rotating the drum approximately 90 degrees in the first direction at a fourth predetermined rotational speed that is equal to the first predetermined rotational speed until the drum reaches the second predetermined position. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein (d) (ii) rotating the drum in a second direction opposite the first direction at the fourth predetermined rotational speed until the drum reaches a third predetermined position comprises rotating the drum in the second direction approximately 180 degrees at the fourth predetermined rotational speed until the drum reaches the third predetermined position. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (e) (i) rotating the drum in the first direction at a fifth predetermined rotational speed until the drum reaches a fourth predetermined position comprises rotating the drum in the first direction more than 90 degrees at the fifth predetermined rotational speed that is greater than the fourth predetermined rotational speed until the drum reaches the fourth predetermined position. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein (e) (ii) rotating the drum in the second direction opposite the first direction at the fifth predetermined rotational speed until the drum reaches a fifth predetermined position comprises rotating the drum approximately 240 degrees to the fifth predetermined position. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (f) rotating the drum at a sixth predetermined rotational speed comprises rotating the drum at the sixth predetermined rotational speed that is greater than the first, second and fourth predetermined rotational speeds, and substantially the same as the third and fifth predetermined rotational speeds. 
     
     
         9 . A method of treating laundry in a laundry machine, the method comprising:
 providing a first motion to the laundry based on a first movement of a drum of the laundry machine;   providing a second motion to the laundry based on a second movement of the drum;   providing a third motion to the laundry based on a third movement of the drum;   providing a fourth motion to the laundry based on a fourth movement of the drum;   providing a fifth motion to the laundry based on a fifth movement of the drum; and   providing a sixth motion to the laundry based on a sixth movement of the drum, wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth motions are different from each other.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein providing a first motion comprises:
 rotating the drum in a first direction at a first predetermined rotational speed approximately 90 degrees to a first predetermined position;   temporarily pausing rotation of the drum at the first predetermined position such that laundry items in the drum are dropped from the first predetermined position to a lower position in the drum;   resuming rotation of the drum in the first predetermined position; and   repeating the rotating, pausing and resuming steps until a predetermined cycle time has elapsed.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first predetermined rotational speed is approximately 40 RPM. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein providing a second motion comprises:
 rotating the drum in a first direction at a second predetermined rotational speed greater than 90 degrees to a second predetermined position;   temporarily pausing rotation of the drum at the second predetermined position such that laundry items in the drum are dropped from the second predetermined position to a lower position in the drum;   resuming rotation of the drum in the first direction; and   repeating the rotating, pausing and resuming steps until a predetermined cycle time has elapsed.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second predetermined rotational speed is approximately 46 RPM. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein providing a third motion comprises:
 rotating the drum in a first direction at a third predetermined rotational speed approximately 180 degrees to a third predetermined position;   temporarily pausing rotation of the drum at the third predetermined position such that laundry items in the drum are dropped from the third predetermined position to a lower position in the drum;   resuming rotation of the drum in the first direction; and   repeating the rotating, pausing and resuming steps until a predetermined cycle time has elapsed.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein temporarily pausing rotation of the drum at the third predetermined position comprises applying a reverse braking torque to the drum in a direction that is opposite the first direction to suddenly stop the rotation of the drum in the first direction, and thereafter resuming rotation of the drum in the first direction. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second predetermined rotational speed is approximately 60 RPM. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein providing a fourth motion comprises:
 rotating the drum in a first direction such that a reference point on the drum rotates approximately 90 degrees from an initial reference position to a fourth predetermined position, at a fourth predetermined rotational speed;   temporarily pausing rotation of the drum at the fourth predetermined position such that laundry items in the drum are dropped from the fourth predetermined position to a lower position in the drum;   rotating the drum in a second direction that is opposite the first direction such that the reference point on the drum passes through the initial reference position to a fifth predetermined position that approximately 90 degrees from the initial reference position in the opposite direction; and   temporarily pausing rotation of the drum at the fifth predetermined position such that laundry items in the drum are dropped from the fifth predetermined position to a lower position in the drum.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fourth predetermined rotational speed is approximately 40 RPM. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein providing a fifth motion comprises:
 rotating the drum in a first direction such that a reference point on the drum rotates more than an absolute value of 90 degrees from an initial reference position at a fifth predetermined rotational speed;   thereafter temporarily pausing rotation of the drum such that laundry items in the drum are dropped from a current position to a lower position in the drum;   rotating the drum in a second direction that is opposite the first direction such that the reference point on the drum passes through the initial reference position to a position that is more than an absolute value of 90 degrees from the initial reference position in the opposite direction; and   thereafter temporarily pausing rotation of the drum such that laundry items in the drum are dropped from a current position to a lower position in the drum.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein temporarily pausing rotation of the drum comprises applying a reverse braking torque to the drum in a direction that is opposite the direction in which the drum is rotation so as to suddenly stop the rotation of the drum. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the fifth predetermined rotational speed is approximately 60 RPM. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein providing a sixth motion comprises continuously rotating the drum at a sixth predetermined rotational speed such that a centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the drum causes laundry items in the drum to disperse along and cling to an inner circumferential surface of the drum. 
     
     
         23 . A method of treating laundry item received in a drum of a laundry machine, the method comprising:
 creating a first friction effect on laundry items based on a first motion of the drum;   disentangling the laundry items based on a second motion of the drum;
 maximum falling and striking effect on the laundry items based on a third motion the drum; 
   minimizing falling and striking effect on laundry items based on a fourth motion of the drum;
 creating a second friction effect on laundry items based on a fifth motion of the drum, the second friction effect being greater than the first friction effect; and 
 squeezing and circulating the laundry items based on a sixth motion of the drum. 
   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein providing a first motion comprises:
 rotating the drum in a first direction at a first predetermined rotational speed approximately 90 degrees to a first predetermined position;   temporarily pausing rotation of the drum at the first predetermined position such that laundry items in the drum are dropped from the first predetermined position to a lower position in the drum;   resuming rotation of the drum in the first predetermined position; and   repeating the rotating, pausing and resuming steps until a predetermined cycle time has elapsed.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first predetermined rotational speed is approximately 40 RPM. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein providing a second motion comprises:
 rotating the drum in a first direction at a second predetermined rotational speed greater than 90 degrees to a second predetermined position;   temporarily pausing rotation of the drum at the second predetermined position such that laundry items in the drum are dropped from the second predetermined position to a lower position in the drum;   resuming rotation of the drum in the first direction; and   repeating the rotating, pausing and resuming steps until a predetermined cycle time has elapsed.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the second predetermined rotational speed is approximately 46 RPM. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein providing a third motion comprises:
 rotating the drum in a first direction at a third predetermined rotational speed approximately 180 degrees to a third predetermined position;   temporarily pausing rotation of the drum at the third predetermined position such that laundry items in the drum are dropped from the third predetermined position to a lower position in the drum;   resuming rotation of the drum in the first direction; and   repeating the rotating, pausing and resuming steps until a predetermined cycle time has elapsed.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein temporarily pausing rotation of the drum at the third predetermined position comprises applying a reverse braking torque to the drum in a direction that is opposite the first direction to suddenly stop the rotation of the drum in the first direction, and thereafter resuming rotation of the drum in the first direction. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the second predetermined rotational speed is approximately 60 RPM. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein providing a fourth motion comprises:
 rotating the drum in a first direction such that a reference point on the drum rotates approximately 90 degrees from an initial reference position to a fourth predetermined position, at a fourth predetermined rotational speed;   temporarily pausing rotation of the drum at the fourth predetermined position such that laundry items in the drum are dropped from the fourth predetermined position to a lower position in the drum;   rotating the drum in a second direction that is opposite the first direction such that the reference point on the drum passes through the initial reference position to a fifth predetermined position that approximately 90 degrees from the initial reference position in the opposite direction; and   temporarily pausing rotation of the drum at the fifth predetermined position such that laundry items in the drum are dropped from the fifth predetermined position to a lower position in the drum.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the fourth predetermined rotational speed is approximately 40 RPM. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein providing a fifth motion comprises:
 rotating the drum in a first direction such that a reference point on the drum rotates more than an absolute value of 90 degrees from an initial reference position at a fifth predetermined rotational speed;   thereafter temporarily pausing rotation of the drum such that laundry items in the drum are dropped from a current position to a lower position in the drum;   rotating the drum in a second direction that is opposite the first direction such that the reference point on the drum passes through the initial reference position to a position that is more than an absolute value of 90 degrees from the initial reference position in the opposite direction; and   thereafter temporarily pausing rotation of the drum such that laundry items in the drum are dropped from a current position to a lower position in the drum.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein temporarily pausing rotation of the drum comprises applying a reverse braking torque to the drum in a direction that is opposite the direction in which the drum is rotation so as to suddenly stop the rotation of the drum. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the fifth predetermined rotational speed is approximately 60 RPM. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein providing a sixth motion comprises continuously rotating the drum at a sixth predetermined rotational speed such that a centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the drum causes laundry items in the drum to disperse along and cling to an inner circumferential surface of the drum.