Washing machine and control method thereof

Abstract

A washing machine operates in stand by for a predetermined time, under the condition that rinse water is not drained during first rinsing out of a plurality of rinsings constituting a rinsing cycle of the washing machine, so as to allow contaminants in the rinse water to settle, performs partial drainage to drain a part of the rinse water is performed, when the predetermined time has elapsed, and performs second rinsing by supplying an amount of water equal to that of the drained rinse water, when the partial drainage has been completed.

1 . A control method of a washing machine comprising:
 operating the washing machine in stand by for a predetermined time, under the condition that rinse water is not drained during first rinsing, so as to allow contaminants in the rinse water to settle;   performing partial drainage to drain a part of the rinse water, when the predetermined time has elapsed; and   performing second rinsing by supplying an amount of water equal to that of the drained rinse water, when the partial drainage has been completed.   
     
     
         2 . The control method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second rinsing is the final rinsing out of a plurality of rinsings, and the first rinsing is rinsing performed just prior to the second rinsing. 
     
     
         3 . The control method according to  claim 1 , wherein spin-drying is omitted while the first rinsing and the second rinsing are performed. 
     
     
         4 . The control method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined standby time is about 2 minutes. 
     
     
         5 . The control method according to  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the drained rinse water is less than 50% of the total amount of the rinse water. 
     
     
         6 . A control method of a washing machine comprising:
 judging whether or not a water-saving washing mode is selected;   operating the washing machine in stand by for a predetermined time, under the condition that rinse water is not drained during first rinsing, so as to allow contaminants in the rinse water to settle, when it is judged that the water-saving washing mode has been selected;   performing partial drainage to drain a part of the rinse water, when the predetermined time has elapsed; and   performing second rinsing by supplying an amount of water equal to that of the drained rinse water, when the partial drainage has been completed.   
     
     
         7 . The control method according to  claim 6 , wherein the second rinsing is the final rinsing out of a plurality of rinsings, and the first rinsing is rinsing performed immediately prior to the second rinsing. 
     
     
         8 . The control method according to  claim 6 , wherein spin-drying is omitted while the first rinsing and the second rinsing are performed. 
     
     
         9 . The control method according to  claim 6 , wherein the selection of the water-saving washing mode is achieved by operating a water-saving button provided to switch from a washing mode being performed currently to the water-saving washing mode. 
     
     
         10 . The control method according to  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined standby time is about 2 minutes. 
     
     
         11 . The control method according to  claim 6 , wherein the amount of the drained rinse water is less than 50% of the total amount of the rinse water. 
     
     
         12 . A control method of a washing machine comprising:
 judging whether or not a water-saving washing mode is selected;   performing intermediate spin-drying in the water-saving washing mode differently from intermediate spin-drying in other washing modes, when it is judged that the water-saving washing mode has been selected; and   performing water-saving rinsing during a rinsing cycle, when it is judged that the water-saving washing mode has been selected.   
     
     
         13 . The control method according to  claim 12 , wherein the water-saving rinsing includes:
 operating the washing machine in stand by for a predetermined time, under the condition that rinse water is not drained during first rinsing, so as to allow contaminants in the rinse water to settle;   performing partial drainage to drain a part of the rinse water, when the predetermined time has elapsed; and   performing second rinsing by supplying an amount of water equal to that of the drained rinse water, when the partial drainage has been completed.   
     
     
         14 . The control method according to  claim 12 , wherein the second rinsing is the final rinsing out of a plurality of rinsings, and the first rinsing is rinsing performed just prior to the second rinsing. 
     
     
         15 . The control method according to  claim 12 , wherein in the performing of the intermediate spin-drying in the water-saving washing mode differently from the intermediate spin-drying in other washing modes, the intermediate spin-drying in the water-saving washing mode is performed for a longer time than the intermediate spin-drying in other washing modes. 
     
     
         16 . The control method according to  claim 12 , wherein in the performing of intermediate spin-drying in the water-saving washing mode differently from the intermediate spin-drying in other washing modes, a rotational speed RPM of a spin basket during the intermediate spin-drying in the water-saving washing mode is higher than a rotational speed RPM of the spin basket during the intermediate spin-drying in other washing modes. 
     
     
         17 . The control method according to  claim 12 , wherein spin-drying is omitted while the first rinsing and the second rinsing are performed. 
     
     
         18 . The control method according to  claim 15 , wherein an increase in the intermediate spin-drying time in the water-saving washing mode is determined according to an amount of laundry put into the washing machine. 
     
     
         19 . The control method according to  claim 15 , wherein an increase in the intermediate spin-drying time in the water-saving washing mode is determined according to a contamination degree of laundry put into the washing machine. 
     
     
         20 . The control method according to  claim 12 , wherein the selection of the water-saving washing mode is achieved by operating a water-saving button provided to switch from a washing mode being performed currently to the water-saving washing mode. 
     
     
         21 . A washing machine comprising:
 a tub;   a spin basket rotatably installed in the tub;   a water supply valve to supply water to the spin basket;   a drain valve to drain water in the spin basket; and   a control unit to operate the washing machine in stand by for a predetermined time, under the condition that rinse water is not drained during first rinsing, by closing the drain valve so as to allow contaminants in the rinse water to settle, to perform partial drainage to drain a part of the rinse water by opening the drain valve, when the predetermined time has elapsed, and to perform second rinsing by supplying an amount of water equal to that of the drained rinse water by closing the drain valve and opening the water supply valve, when the partial drainage has been completed.   
     
     
         22 . The washing machine according to  claim 21 , wherein the second rinsing is the final rinsing out of a plurality of rinsings, and the first rinsing is rinsing performed just prior to the second rinsing. 
     
     
         23 . The washing machine according to  claim 21 , wherein the control unit omits spin-drying while the first rinsing and the second rinsing are performed. 
     
     
         24 . The washing machine according to  claim 21 , further comprising a water-saving button provided to switch from a washing mode being performed currently to the water-saving washing mode,
 wherein the selection of the water-saving washing mode is achieved by operating the water-saving button.   
     
     
         25 . The washing machine according to  claim 21 , wherein the predetermined standby time is about 2 minutes. 
     
     
         26 . The washing machine according to  claim 21 , wherein the amount of the drained rinse water is less than 50% of the total amount of the rinse water. 
     
     
         27 . A washing machine comprising:
 a tub;   a spin basket rotatably installed in the tub;   a water supply valve to supply water to the spin basket;   a drain valve to drain water in the spin basket; and   a control unit to judge whether or not a water-saving washing mode is selected, to operate the washing machine in stand by for a predetermined time, under the condition that rinse water is not drained during first rinsing, by closing the drain valve so as to allow contaminants in the rinse water to settle, when it is judged that the water-saving washing mode has been selected, to perform partial drainage to drain a part of the rinse water by opening the drain valve, when the predetermined time has elapsed, and to perform second rinsing by supplying an amount of water equal to that of the drained rinse water by closing the drain valve and opening the water supply valve, when the partial drainage has been completed.   
     
     
         28 . The washing machine according to  claim 27 , wherein the second rinsing is the final rinsing out of a plurality of rinsings, and the first rinsing is rinsing performed just prior to the second rinsing. 
     
     
         29 . The washing machine according to  claim 27 , wherein the control unit omits spin-drying while the first rinsing and the second rinsing are performed. 
     
     
         30 . The washing machine according to  claim 27 , wherein the control unit sets an intermediate spin-drying time in the water-saving washing mode to be longer than an intermediate spin-drying time in other washing modes. 
     
     
         31 . The washing machine according to  claim 27 , wherein the control unit sets a rotational speed RPM of a spin basket during intermediate spin-drying in the water-saving washing mode to be higher than a rotational speed RPM of the spin basket during intermediate spin-drying in other washing modes. 
     
     
         32 . The washing machine according to  claim 27 , further comprising a water-saving button provided to switch from a washing mode being performed currently to the water-saving washing mode,
 wherein the selection of the water-saving washing mode is achieved by operating the water-saving button.   
     
     
         33 . The washing machine according to  claim 27 , wherein the predetermined standby time is about 2 minutes. 
     
     
         34 . The washing machine according to  claim 27 , wherein the amount of the drained rinse water is less than 50% of the total amount of the rinse water. 
     
     
         35 . A washing machine comprising:
 a tub;   a spin basket rotatably installed in the tub;   a water supply valve to supply water to the spin basket;   a drain valve to drain water in the spin basket; and   a control unit to judge whether or not a water-saving washing mode is selected, to perform intermediate spin-drying in the water-saving washing mode for a longer time than intermediate spin-drying in other washing modes, when it is judged that the water-saving washing mode has been selected, and to perform water-saving rinsing during a rinsing cycle in the water-sawing washing mode, when it is judged that the water-saving washing mode has been selected.   
     
     
         36 . The washing machine according to  claim 35 , wherein the water-saving rinsing includes:
 operating the washing machine in stand by for a predetermined time, under the condition that rinse water is not drained during first rinsing, so as to allow contaminants in the rinse water to settle;   performing partial drainage to drain a part of the rinse water, when the predetermined time has elapsed; and   performing second rinsing by supplying an amount of water equal to that of the drained rinse water, when the partial drainage has been completed.   
     
     
         37 . The washing machine according to  claim 35 , wherein the second rinsing is the final rinsing out of a plurality of rinsings, and the first rinsing is rinsing performed just prior to the second rinsing. 
     
     
         38 . The washing machine according to  claim 35 , wherein the control unit omits spin-drying while the first rinsing and the second rinsing are performed. 
     
     
         39 . The washing machine according to  claim 35 , wherein the control unit determines an increase in the intermediate spin-drying time in the water-saving washing mode according to an amount of laundry put into the washing machine. 
     
     
         40 . The washing machine according to  claim 35 , wherein the control unit determines an increase in the intermediate spin-drying time in the water-saving washing mode according to a contamination degree of laundry put into the washing machine. 
     
     
         41 . The washing machine according to  claim 35 , further comprising a water-saving button provided to switch from a washing mode being performed currently to the water-saving washing mode,
 wherein the selection of the water-saving washing mode is achieved by operating the water-saving button.