Method for Washing and Washing Machine

Abstract

A washing machine includes an outer tub and an inner tub rotatably provided in the outer tub, a spray nozzle spraying wash water into the inner tub, a circulation passage connecting the outer tub to the spray nozzle, and a filter provided in series with the circulation passage. A first pump directs the wash water from the outer tub to the circulation passage and to the spray nozzle so that foreign substances suspended in the wash water can be collected in the filter. A drain passage between the filter and spray nozzle connects the outer tub to the circulation passage. A second pump directs the wash water supplied to the circulation passage through the drain passage such that the wash water passes through the filter in a reverse direction and thus the foreign substances collected in the filter are exhausted out of the washing machine together with the wash water.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising:
 an outer tub for storing wash water;   an inner tub that is rotatably provided in the outer tub and in which laundry is loaded;   a spray nozzle configured to spray the wash water into the inner tub;   a circulation passage connecting the outer tub to the spray nozzle;   a filter provided in series with the circulation passage;   a first pump that directs the wash water circulated from the outer tub to the circulation passage to the spray nozzle so that foreign substances suspended in the wash water can be collected in the filter;   a drain passage that connects the outer tub to the circulation passage and is connected between the filter and the spray nozzle; and   a second pump that directs the wash water supplied to the circulation passage through the drain passage such that the wash water passes through the filter in a reverse direction and thus the foreign substances collected in the filter are exhausted out of the washing machine together with the wash water.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pulsator rotatably provided in the inner tub, wherein the pulsator rotates during operation of the first pump.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the pulsator alternately rotates in a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the inner tub continuously rotates in one direction during operation of the second pump. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 4 , the wash water is sprayed into the inner tub by the spray nozzle during the operation of the second pump and continuous rotation of the inner tub in the one direction. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 4 , wherein the inner tub rotates at an RPM at which the laundry adheres to the inner tub by centrifugal force and rotates together with the inner tub. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 5 , wherein the inner tub rotates at an RPM at which the laundry adheres to the inner tub by centrifugal force and rotates together with the inner tub. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a first valve for controlling the wash water drained from the outer tub to the circulation passage. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 8 , wherein the first valve is opened when the first pump operates. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a second valve for controlling the wash water directed from the circulation passage to the second pump. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the second valve is opened when the second pump operates. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a third valve for controlling the wash water directed from the drain passage to the circulation passage. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the third valve is opened when the second pump operates. 
     
     
         14 . A washing machine comprising:
 an outer tub for storing wash water;   an inner tub that is rotatably provided in the outer tub and in which laundry is loaded;   a spray nozzle configured to spray the wash water into the inner tub;   a circulation passage connecting the outer tub to the spray nozzle;   a filter provided in series with the circulation passage;   a drain passage that connects the outer tub to the circulation passage and is connected between the filter and the spray nozzle; and   a pump that directs the wash water circulated from the outer tub to the circulation passage such that the wash water passes through the filter in a forward direction and thus foreign substances suspended in the wash water can be collected in the filter or directs the wash water supplied to the circulation passage through the drain passage such that the wash water passes through the filter in a reverse direction and thus the foreign substances collected in the filter are exhausted out of the washing machine together with the wash water.   
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a pulsator rotatably provided in the inner tub, wherein the pulsator alternately rotates in a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction when the pump operates to allow the wash water to pass through the filter in the forward direction.   
     
     
         16 . The washing machine of  claim 15 , wherein the inner tub continuously rotates in one direction when the pump operates to allow the wash water to pass through the filter in the reverse direction. 
     
     
         17 . A washing method comprising:
 performing washing by alternately rotating the pulsator in a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction;   circulating wash water from an outer tub into an inner tub after the wash water passes through a filter provided in series with a circulation passage in a forward direction; and   allowing the wash water drained out of the outer tub to pass through the filter in a reverse direction and drain out of a washing machine so that foreign substances collected in the filter can be exhausted out of the washing machine together with the wash water.   
     
     
         18 . The washing method of  claim 17 , wherein discharging wash water from the spray nozzle occurs while continuously rotating the inner tub in one direction. 
     
     
         19 . The washing method of  claim 18 , wherein the inner tub rotates at an RPM at which laundry within the inner tub adheres to the inner tub by centrifugal force and rotates together with the inner tub. 
     
     
         20 . The washing method of  claim 19 , wherein the circulating the wash water comprises discharging the wash water from a spray nozzle into the inner tub.